November Not Happening...

After a week-long stint on crutches, I can finally walk again, with only a slight limp. The experience killed my urge to see films or leave the house, but I managed to make it to work and watch some DVDs. My familty, currently visiting, is on a war movie or war-themed films kick, so the latest films I've seen are as follows:

• Across The Universe
• The Deer Hunter

On the complete opposite spectrum, there's opening weekend of the highly anticipated final film (part 1) of the Twilight saga. Will I be in the crowds  when Twilight fans come out in the masses?  Probably, yes. What can I say? I'm a sucker for romance and vampires.I may be in line, but not overnight, just for entrance into a matinee-priced viewing. I may even wait until another weekend has passed to avoid the super-fans. I've got plenty to do this weekend without film, but I'm tempted to squeeze in a viewing.

There were many great film opportunities this month, but unfortunately, I slacked and did not bring them all to you in time. Below is a current festival coming up.

• Myanmar Film Festival of Los Angeles (MFFLA)

I'll see what more I can add as we start toward the holiday release season. Perhaps I can share my picks for a night out at the movies.

Ode to the Bay Area:

• Top 5 Bay Area Movie Theaters 

(Repeat) Trailer (extended) pick:

• War Dance

The LA Film Circut in October

Film, film and more film!

Am I moving too fast? Still need to see what's happening in September? Click here.

My October Film Wishlist:

• New Filmmakers of Los Angeles (short films: trailers):

• Leap Before You Look
• The Potential Wives of Norman Mao
• Dilli
• Framly 

See unique perspectives of Los Angeles through these short films: here.
Perhaps the films inspired you to Explore Los Angeles.

Take My Queue:

• In theaters now...
• Moneyball - A film about the team I followed throughout my childhood. Loved it!
• Colombiana - Seeing Zoe Saldana kick butt is reason enough.I must see this.
• Dolphin Tale - I love a family movie based on a true story, plus Morgan Freeman is in it.

• Netflix
• Next film in my queue: Vitus (2006, Switzerland)
• Hulu
• Last show I watched: Wilfred

OCTOBER FILM FESTIVALS

Continuing through October 2, 2011

• Singafest Asian Film Festival 
• Los Angeles Irish Film Festival 
• SoCal Film Festival

October  11 - 20, 2011

• The 12 Annual Polish Film Festival -

October 13 - 16, 2011

• The Other Venice Film Festival -

October 20 - 24, 2011

• The Hollywood Film Festival 

October 20 - 26, 2011

• The Chinese Film & Culture Festival @ CSU Long Beach

Starting sometime in October (or November)...

• Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival

Ode to Film Soundtracks: 
Below are a few samples of songs and artists I discovered via film soundtracks.

Film: The Girl Next Door  |  Song: This Year's Love  |   Artist: David Gray


Film: Brown Sugar  |  Song: Brown Sugar (fine)  | Artist: Mos Def


Film: Cruel Intentions  |  Song:  Secretly  |  Artist/Group: Skunk Anansie


Film: Go  |   Song:  Swords  |  Artist: Leftfield


Film: Once  |  Song: When Your Mind's Made Up  | Artists: Glen Hasard and Marketa Irglova
[edited version - shortened for clip]


Film: Feel the Noise  | Song: Chevere  |  Artist: Voltio (feat. Notch)


Film: Paperheart  |   Song: Magic Perfume
Film: The Red Violin  |  Song: The Monastery 

Other artists I found through film/tv:
Me'Shell Ndegéocello

Fall into Film - September

 Summer is ending!  Yikes! 
Summer 2011 passed by in a blink of an eye. How did I even notice the end? The end officially comes with the final film viewing of the Movies in the Park series. It's sad to see the City of Long Beach ending their outdoor film series. Don't worry though. I found a few other outdoor film events to satisfy those still chasing summer through the month of September. Take a look at my film event highlights, trailer of the week, etc. below. Enjoy!


Thursday, September 1, 2011 @ ~ 8 PM

• Movies in the Park - Justin Beiber Never Say Never [I may go to see this. Don't judge me.] 

Friday, September 2, 2011 - 8:30 PM - FREE!

• 4 the Camera Outdoor Film Festival

Multiple dates September 2011 - December 2012 - FREE!

Banned, Blacklisted and Boycotted: Censorship and the Response to It (The B-Word Project) is an 18-month campus-wide initiative, running from September 2011 through December 2012, at California State University, Long Beach and some off-site venues. Lectures, films, events. 

Tuesday, September 12 from 7:30 to 10 PM

• Pop Fresh Flicks series starts @ the SWRC - CSULB - (free popcorn, movie and fun by the pool at CSULB SRWC).  Additional dates:  September 12^th & 26^th, October 10^th & 24^th, November 7^th & 21^st, December 5th 

Friday, September 16 - Sunday, September 18

• Long Beach Q Film Festival - hosted by the Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Center at one of my favorite theaters: The Historical Art Theatre. If you love film, you've gotta check out some of these selections. This will be the first time I attend this film festival, so I've already chosen my top five to see. 
• Student Discounts available!  Select films offer $5 ticket prices with proof of valid student ID. You can purchase tickets now at The Center or at will-call during during festival hours only – no online sales of Student Discount tickets are available.

Monday, September 19 to October 2, 2011

• Singafest Asian Film Festival - "The focus will be new Asian and Asian-American films from a number of countries -- the U.S., China, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and more -- and will include features, shorts, documentaries, 3D cinema and animation, plus in-person guests and seminar panels with visiting filmmakers and Hollywood industry professionals. The goal is to introduce films and emerging filmmakers to an L.A. audience that wouldn't normally have a chance to experience them."

Thursday, September 22, 2011 - Sunday, September 25, 2011

• The 2nd Annual 3D film Festival - Check out films, concerts on film, etc. Save time and money by taking the LA Metro to W Hollywood/Vine Station. Most events are within 2 blocks of the station. Bring your Metro tickets to 3DFF for special discounts and gifts. Most programs are FREE and open to the public.

Friday, September 30th - Sunday, October 2nd, 2011

•  The 4th Annual Los Angeles Irish Film Festival -

Shout out to TV (& DVD)

• Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics - A nine-part documentary series featured on PBS television stations this fall and recently out on DVD.

Movies @ the Beach/Park

Free outdoor summer movie viewings. What better way to relax on a summer night. Some locations even offer free or cheap popcorn, but you can bring your own for these events. Below are the dates I'm saving to catch up with some missed films (or those film I didn't want to pay for in the theater).

Moonlight Movies on the Beach - full schedule
7/21 -Tales of Desperaux (animated children's film)
7/26 - Rango (feat. voice talent of Johnny Depp) - great ratings
7/28 - Indian Jones and the Crystal Skull (because I'm nostalgic for these films)

Movies in the Park - full schedule & alternate dates/locations for films
8/5 - Tron Legacy
8/22 - Shrek for Ever After
9/1 - Justin Beiber Never Say Never [Don't judge me for this one.]

Film Festivals

• Aug 11 - 18 - HollyShorts 2011

Less traditional movie outings:

• Hollywood Forever Cemetery - outdoor screening - Cinespia | Yelp Reviews

Contemplating Harry Potter

I have not yet decided if I want to admit that the marketing strategy of showing part 1 & 2 of the final Harry Potter films is starting to get to me. A few weeks ago I knew I wanted to see the final film, but I was not wrapped up in the excitement swirling around online by super fans. Now, I'm considering buying a ticket to see a film I've already seen so that I can better prepare to see the new film. Considering I've already read all of the books too, this is sort of crazy. But hey, anyone want to join me? Leave a comment or find me on Facebook and we can get caught up in the HP craze together. Next it's Twilight fever.

On the smaller screen I have been succumbing to my sometime addictive viewing of YouTube films. I've been checking out music, but I also find obscure shows from the past or international TV shows not available to me in other ways. Currently I keep coming back again and again to the collaboration between Lykke Li and Keerup for the following song.

Until We Bleed


I'm slowing down my Netflix viewing, but sitting my home now is a Japanese film called Departures. I have yet to watch it cause I'm either too tired or not in the mood for some reason. The film looks like it will be very entertaining though, so I'm gonna clean up my place and it more DVD worthy.

Film Festival Fever: Part II

OutFest 2011
July 7 - 17
Need I say more?

Films I want to see at the Festival:
Gun Hill Road - USA
Kawa - New Zealand
Apflickorna - Sweden
Private Romeo - USA
No Look Pass (Doc) - USA
Orchid: My Intersex Adventure (doc) - Australia
Angel (doc) - Ecuador
and of course...
The Short Films Series

I will only be able to go to the festival for one day, but I hope to see some good films.
- - - - -

This week's Netflix viewing:

Departures [Japan, 2008] - Trailer

Film Festival Fever!

Come on, you know you want to go.