Movies on a smaller scale

February is a busy month for movie lovers.

We cram into theater after packed theater, eagerly absorbing the year’s best films in anticipation of that giant circus-cum-popularity contest known as the Oscars. By the actual awards ceremony rolls around, we can barely keep our glazed eyes open.

If you’re weary of big-budget bonanzas like “Atonement” and “There Will Be Blood,” try a few of SLO County’s less frenzied screenings.

No Joan Rivers. No Gucci. We promise.

On Wednesday, take a peak into the life of William Randolph Hearst.

The Cambria Film Society will screen "The Cat's Meow," about the newspaper magnate and silent film star Charlie Chaplin, vying for the affection of the same woman.

That screening is 7 p.m. at the Theatre at the Old Grammer School, 1350 Main St. in Cambria. Tickets are $3. Call 927-8190 to learn more.

Also on Wednesday, head to Templeton for a potluck dinner and HopeDance magazine’s screening of “Two Angry Moms.” The documentary chronicles Amy Kalafa and Susan Rubin’s mission to get school districts to serve fresh, healthy foods.

Dinner starts at 6 p.m. at Dancing Deer Ranch, 2975 Vineyard Drive in Templeton, followed by the movie at 7 p.m. A donation of $5 to $10 is suggested.

Sandra Dimond of North County Farmers Markets will hold a Q&A session following the screening.

Miss “Moms”? You can catch two more screenings on Friday, Feb. 25, at the San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo.

Kim Pasciuto will speak at the 10 a.m. screening.

The panel for the 7 p.m. screening features Kathleen deChadenedes, director of SLOW Food of San Luis Obispo, Eric Michaelsson of Clark Valley Organic Farm in Los Osos, and Nature’s Touch owner Melanie Blankenship, among others.

A donation of $5 is suggested for both screenings.

Visit www.hopedance.org or call 544-9663 for details.

-- Sarah Linn

A star is born?

Think you have what it takes to hit the big time?

The Pewter Plough Playhouse is searching for a female singer to perform on New Year’s Eve.

Vocalists should be versatile and familiar with the Great American Songbook repertoire, as well as jazz and pop styles.

The chosen vocalist will perform pop and jazz standards with pianist David Manion at the Pewter Plough Playhouse Café in Cambria. The gig lasts from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Dec. 31.

To audition, contact James Buckley at 927-3031 or cafelounge@pewterploughplayhouse.org.

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The New Year’s Eve Bash starts with a performance of the musical tribute “Over the Rainbow with Harold Arlen.” He’s the American Songbook composer behind such standards as “Stormy Weather,” “Get Happy,” “That Old Black Magic” and, of course, “Over the Rainbow.”

There’s also champagne, a buffet and cabaret music. Tickets are $125.

The fun starts Dec. 31at the Pewter Plough Playhouse, 824 Main St. in Cambria’s West Village. www.pewterploughplayhouse.org or call 927-3877 for more information.

Central Coast filmmaker gets "Luck"-y

Film buffs can see the work of a Central Coast native this week in southern California.

"Luck of the Draw," directed by Cambria's own Summer-joy Main, makes its world premiere at the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films. Also known as ShortFest, the event runs through Wednesday.

Main filmed "Luck of the Draw," a comedic Western that's just 13 minutes long, in March 2006 in Santa Clarita. It stars James Duval, Chris Mulkey, Kristoffer Winters and Susan Duerden.

The Palm Beach film festival gives this description:
"A 'High Noon'-style showdown between a wanted desperado and two gunslingers who are fighting for the hand of the lady who loves him sets the stage for this wry tale of love and bullets set in the wild, wild west."

The short film will be screened Tuesday as part of the festival's "Show Down" section – featuring a full 90 minutes of footage about opposing sides and their struggles.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
Summer-joy Main, who goes by the professional name “S.J. Main,” graduated from Coast Union High School in 1996 before studying at UCLA and Columbia University. Her parents, semi-retired radiologist Gerry Main and teacher Marty Muñoz-Main, still live in Cambria.

The filmmaker formed her own production company, Tica Productions, in 2000.
Her graduate thesis film for Columbia University, “La Cerca” (“The Fence”), was screened at more than 20 film festivals and won a handful of award nominations.

Main made her first trip to the Sundance Film Festival this winter as producer of “Bitch,” a short film about a sour young woman who finally meets her match.

For more information, check out the film festival’s Web site or Tica Productions.

-- Sarah L.