Movie drips and drabs for April

Ah, spring. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and spring cleaning is upon us.

While emptying the recycling bins here at Movies HQ, I found a few movie-related tidbits.

HopeDance magazine offers two more movies this month in its HopeDance FiLMs series.

First up is “Everything’s Cool”, a look at the history of global warming.
Filmmakers Daniel B. Gold and Judith Helfand examine the movement from the viewpoints of scientists, activists and politicians. Hear interviews with Bill McKibben, Ross Gelbspan and others.

“Everything’s Cool” will be screened at 7 p.m. Monday at the San Luis Obispo library, in San Luis Obispo. A $5 donation is encouraged.

On Wednesday, the film series takes a look at health care with “Cuba: An Accidental Revolution.”

The documentary, narrated by scientist/environmentalist David Suzuki, looks at the island nation’s surprisingly strong health care system.

It’s paired with the PBS documentary “Critical Care,” about U.S. health care.

Moviegoers are encouraged to donate $5 to $10.

“Cuba: An Accidental Revolution” and “Critical Care” play at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the San Luis Obispo library.

More information about both films is available at www.hopedance.org/.


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The Palm Theatre in San Luis Obispo kicks off its new movie series on Wednesday with “Trainspotting.”

Palm Wednesdays will offer a different flick each Wednesday. The emphasis here is on cult classics: quirky comedies, action flicks and thrillers with a strong following among Generations X and Y.

Few movies fall into that category better than “Trainspotting,” Danny Boyles’ darkly comic look at the Edinburgh drug scene. It’s smart, slick and frequently pretty damn unsavory.

“Trainspotting” will screen at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo.

Tickets are $7.50. You can also snag a six-movie pass for $35 — provided you buy it before Wednesday.

The series continues May 7 with the big-wave surfing documentary “Billabong Odyssey.” Check out the full list at www.thepalmtheatre.com/.

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The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival drew more than 7,500 moviegoers, organizers said this week, the “best ever” in the festival’s 14-year history.

About 12 percent came from outside the county, said Wendy Eidson, the film festival’s executive director.

Top events at the film festival, which ran March 7 to 16, included a train-themed opening night, an awards ceremony honoring “Easy Rider” star Peter Fonda and Surf Night, featuring a tribute to pioneer surf filmmaker Bud Browne.

This year, festival organizers introduced Western Night and the Hollywood and Vines series, which pairs movies with local wineries. They also added venues in Santa Margarita, Paso Robles and Shell Beach.

For more information, visit www.slofilmfest.org.

-- Sarah L.

Brolin's coming but Madsen's a no show at SLO film fest

This just in:

Michael Madsen can't make it to the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival this weekend.

Due to "personal issues," the actor best known for his roles in "Reservoir Dogs" and "Kill Bill" will have to skip his scheduled appearances on Saturday and Sunday, Executive Director Wendy Eidson announced this morning.

However, organizers will screen two of Madsen's films: the boxing drama "Strength and Honor" (noon, Saturday, Downtown Centre Cinemas) and "Through Your Eyes," a documentary about deaf-blind triplets (4 p.m., Sunday, Palm Theatre).

"No Country for Old Men" star Josh Brolin is still scheduled to appear this afternoon at a screening of his short film "X."

The movie, Brolin's directorial debut, co-stars his daughter, Eden Brolin, and features music by his son, Trevor.

Vincent Riverside stars as a guilt-ridden, escaped inmate searching for his murdered wife's body.

Meet Brolin and get insights from SLO County's former native son this afternoon at 4 p.m. at Downtown Centre Cinemas, 888 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo.

-- Sarah L.

Gumby, "Hairspray" and monsters at SLO film festival

As you no doubt read in The Tribune last week, the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival has begun.

The festival kicked off Friday with a train-themed gala at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch.

On Saturday, organizers offered a host of features and documentaries from "The Little Red Truck," a look at one far-reaching children's theater group, to a sing-along version of "Hairspray."

(Unfortunately for female fans, star Zac Efron couldn't make the screening. He's off filming in England, undoubtedly the period flick "Me and Orson Welles.)

One of the afternoon's highlights was "Gumby Dharma," which chronicled the fascinating life and times of "Gumby" creator Art Clokey.

Clokey himself was present at Downtown Centre Cinemas in San Luis Obispo. Moviegoers spotted the claymation pioneer and Los Osos resident being wheeled around in a wheelchair with son Joel by his side.

I caught a screening of "Monster Camp," filmmaker Cullen Hoback's documentary about the weird, wonderful world world of live-action role playing, or, LARPing.

Inviting comparisons to "Trekkies" and the arcade game doc "King of Kong," "Monster Camp" offers a fun, even sympathetic look at the dedicated fantasy fans who meet every few months to dress up and engage in mock combat.

They're drawn by a desire to escape from their humdrum lives, hang out with friends and even meet mates. These are the same folks who dedicate untold hours to the online phenomenon "World of Warcraft." Call 'em nerds with a niche.

"Monster Camp" is funny, wince-worthy and infinitely entertaining. Until the movie finds its way into regular theaters, learn more at www.monstercampthemovie.com.

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For more about the San Luis Obispo International Film Festivals, including ticket prices and screening locations, go here.

-- Sarah L.

Peter Fonda, wild and on wheels

Talk about a spooky coincidence.

Just hours before local movie maven Wendy Eidson announced that Oscar nominee Peter Fonda will be coming to San Luis Obispo next month, Ticket editor Justin Hoeger and I were talking about the lanky blonde actor's cameo in "Ghost Rider."

Fonda, you see, was the only bright spot in the otherwise dismal "Ghost Rider," starring Nicolas Cage as a demon-possessed vigilante on wheels. Fonda played Mephistopheles -- a role that seemed to fit his mystique as a rough-riding rebel.

Somehow, it's hard to imagine Peter Fonda without a motorcycle.

He played a Hell's Angel named Heavenly Blues in 1966's "The Wild Angels," and the "chief biker" in "The Cannonball Run."

As Captain America, the iconic anti-hero of "Easy Rider," he went on the ultimate roadtrip -- smuggling cocaine with Dennis Hopper, introducing Jack Nicholson to weed, and tripping on LSD with two hookers in a New Orleans graveyard.

Fonda even made an appearance in "Wild Hogs," last year's paen to middle-aged men and their love for burning rubber.

In 2000, the American Motorcyclist Association inducted Fonda into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, praising him as a "motorcycling ambassador providing positive exposure for the sport."

When Fonda rolls into town on Saturday, March 15, I hope he's riding a stars-and-stripes-spangled hog.

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Peter Fonda will appear at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, which runs March 7 through March 16.
He's the recipient of this year’s King Vidor Career Achievement Award, which recognizes career achievement in filmmaking.
For more information about the SLO film festival, visit www.slofilmfest.org.

-- Sarah L.

How They Do It

Ever wonder how they do it? The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival offers a series of workshops and panel discussions this weekend aimed at showing how filmmakers perfect their craft.

Today, start your day with "Hollywood Dreams," a discussion about the challenges of acting and directing in Hollywood.
The panel discussion features Oscar-nominated actor James Cromwell and indie director Henry Jaglom, as well as "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" star Melissa Joan Hart, who directed the short film "Mute."
It starts at 10 a.m. at the Oddfellows Hall, 520 Dana Street in San Luis Obispo.

Next at the Oddfellows Hall is "Meet the Filmmakers," a panel discussion about the trials and thrills independent cinema. The talk, which features many of the filmmakers involved in this year's festival, starts at 12:30 p.m.

"Behind the Scenes with CafeFX," 3 p.m. at the Oddfellows Hall, highlights Santa Maria special effects firm CafeFX, which handles visual effects for some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters.

On Sunday, Hollywood screenwriters Gregg Rosen, Brian Sawyer and David Garrett share their tips for writing a marketable script.
Garrett is the co-writer of such hits as "Deuce Bigalow: American Gigolo," "First Pet" and "Corky Romano." Rosen and Sawyer have collaborated on a number of television and film projects.
That workshop goes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo City/County Library, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo.

All workshops and panel discussions are $15 or $10 for students and film society members. For more information, call 543-3456 or visit www.slofilmfest.org.