#cineNOLA Weekly - Episode 1

Just a few weeks ago, I attended a meeting of local New Orleans cinema presenters and aficionados. It was fun, getting to meet those I've interviewed in the past in person. Many ideas were suggested, but the one that has carried over onto an email chain has been the creation of a twitter hashtag - #cineNOLA.

We've been pushing it pretty aggressively, mostly on posts that promote film events in town. In an effort to continue the conversation beyond the 140 character twitter limit, I took it upon myself to produce a new podcast, debuting here on the blog.

This first episode features reviews of Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombie, Curio Shop: A Post Apocalyptic Acid Western, an editorial and a rundown of some events for the week. This is a work in progress - please leave a comment if you have any suggestions for future episodes. Thanks, and enjoy!




If you liked this podcast, feel free to visit patreon.com/neauxreelidea for information on how you can support my efforts!

NOLA Could Use A Tugg

I used to operate a group called the SLU Film Critic's Association. Our function was to screen a variety of films on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University for the benefit of all students. Sometimes, when a previously scheduled room was unavailable, we would improvise and just take another. We kind of liked doing those renegade events, but if showing our own choice of flick in a real theatre - without paying a rental fee - had been an option...

If only Tugg had been around in the groups' prime. Through this service, anybody who registers with the site can choose a movie from its collection, pick a local theatre they want to see it at, promote the event, and, if enough people agree to show up, it happens! Giving this kind of control to the audience is not only a great way of bringing classics and independents to the big screen, but an excellent way to get people back into the cinema!

If you scroll through this blog, you'll find a post where I recommend that MoviePass be given a chance in New Orleans. Well, of course, I suggest the same for Tugg. I recently had a facebook conversation with the operator of Chalmette Movies, where I asked if his theatre was participating with the service. He was unaware of it at the time, but hopefully he'll find it just as cool as I do. His theatre has great programming month to month; it makes sense to add another incentive for the audience. In the area, you have scores of film students and cast/crew members who are just itching to curate.

Why shouldn't a theatre partner with Tugg? I don't think there is an appropriate answer to that, as it only helps that theatres bottom line to promote an audience created event. If an exhibitor promotes Tugg, this increases the likelihood of a ticket buyer to create an event. If that same exhibitor promotes that event, more people will find out about it and reserve tickets. If that event happens, that exhibitor will have GUARANTEED customers coming in, probably wanting to buy some snacks as well. More moviegoers for you, more screenings for moviegoers to attend, more attendance for a movie - everybody wins.

And the city could see it's first Tugg screening next week. A local moviegoer is trying to setup a showing of Sergio Leone's "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" at Canal Place. So far, 11 people have signed up - 39 more are needed to make this happen. We have just under 5 days...

<Update: With just a little over an hour before the deadline, the event reached the required number of audience members! 10 seats are still available...>

<Update 2: The event has now SOLD OUT! Fret not; go and register on Tugg, and start your own screening.>

Tugg only has 14 pages worth of movies to choose from, but, the more people show up to local events, the more other movies will become available, which will lead to more events. Maybe my old group should setup a revival event at The Prytania. I know there's an audience out there. 

The Joy Is Back! Let's Book A Movie...

Since posting my previous entry on The Joy, the theatre has re-opened and played host to musical acts and stage productions. It's great to know that the venue is up and running again, but one thing concerns me; no movie screenings have been scheduled.

With its' history as one of THE premiere movie palaces on Canal St., it surprises me that a screening hasn't at least been booked. It can't be a lack of interest from the local film community, can it? Whatever the reason, I have a few ideas for possible movie events at the revamped Joy: 

Movie Pitchers Revival

I never had the opportunity to visit when it was in operation, but from the stories I've listened to and read, Movie Pitchers was a house with character. From Mike Miley Online:

"Yes, Movie Pitchers was a complete dump, but it was a film lover’s dump. For $5, you could see all the foreign and arty indie films that didn’t play anywhere else in town other than the overpriced Canal Place in the French Quarter … and you could drink while you were there. Magnolia, The Big Lebowski, Deconstructing Harry,Hands on a Hardbody - I saw them all at least twice at Movie Pitchers. Plus, they showed Disco Dolls in Hot Skin, which, if you don’t know, is a 3-D porno starring John Holmes (remember what I said about the couches?). It was disappointing, but it has one of the most messed-up flashback structures ever put on film. How could a film lover not live at a place like this?"

Unfortunately, the theatre was demolished in the early 00's.

So, what am I proposing? Let Movie Pitchers take over The Joy for a night! Call it a revival of sorts; the original owners/fans, programming a series of films they used to show. Original ticket prices, original drink brands/prices (The Joy has a bar), maybe even decorate the screening room with original furniture (a longshot), all for one night of nostalgia. Currently, there is a Facebook group, set up by dedicated fans, calling for their return - they might have some ideas...

Film Festivals

The New Orleans Film Society presents, every fall, the New Orleans Film Festival, and books screenings at theatres across the city. Maybe this year, The Joy can play host to the opening/closing night events? 

Taking place soon after is the NOLA Horror Film Fest. To screen on Canal St. would bring plenty of attention to this young fest.

And, of course, there is this:

Our Worst Film Festival (which also played at Movie Pitchers) was revived a few years ago, and has since existed as gatherings held throughout the year. Why not give it a bigger venue? Maybe it could become a regular thing; showing bad movies once a month. People show up to Prytania's midnight movies, why not come to The Joy for notoriously bad/incredibly obscure films? And maybe this could merge with B Fest; 24 hours of bad movie programming. Consider that ticket bought.

Hollywood South Premieres 

New Orleans has seen many major film productions, but very few film premieres. Let's fix that. I call on all producers and distributors to world premiere your NOLA shot films IN NOLA. You did a red carpet type event for Sandra Bullock at The Prytania, you can do the same for Sylvester Stallone at The Joy.

However it happens, I'm sure a movie will eventually screen at The Joy. When it does, I'll be there. Unless it stars Dane Cook.

Help Kickstart The Alamo Underground

Not too long ago, a friend and I drove from the northshore to catch a free movie screening at this run down, danky, humid garage - the kind that might host a kidnapping. And it was fun. 

The Alamo Underground, named for it's architectural similarity to The Alamo, was an ambitious, community driven venue for artists of all kinds. I only ever attended one event (a "Battle Royale" screening), but from what I observed, the people behind the operation were pretty serious about becoming an alternative space for creativity. I hadn't heard from the group for months, until the other day:

The Alamo Underground got it's start in 2006 (post Katrina) as an underground theater operated inside an old horse stable. It had to shut its doors in 2008. In 2010, I found the treasure and resurrected the space [with great help] for movie nights, live music, local events, and fundraisers. Movie nights were free and bands worked for tips. It was a lot of hard work, turning a swamp infested roach eaten space into an underground community, but it was done.
From August 2010 until April 2011, the Alamo greeted great New Orleans talent such as Aurora Nealand, Debauche, Tuba Skinny, Never Ever, Tom Worell, as well as visiting acts such as David Bazan and Zeina Mokaiesh.
Then the roof collapsed.

The people behind The Alamo Underground have just started a kickstarter page, and hope to re-open in November:

Now, I have the opportunity to re-open the Alamo on the up and coming Freret Street. The space is connected to La Nuit Theater- which got its start as a speakeasy theater for local comics.
New Orleans has a surge of amazing talent operating underground, in speakeasies and abandoned building. The idea is to have a collective venue for these like minded people. A bagel bar will be constructed courtesy of Sugerman's Bagel Speakeasy, and local artists will display their art for reasonable prices. Freret Street currently has little-to no live local music acts, even though the street is permitted for such use.

I haven't seen the new property, but I'm really excited about this. Aside from being a new performance space for bands like Tuba Skinny, Egg Yolk Jubilee and Arajay, we might also see unique film events, like a performance of "Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then" or Crispin Glover screening either of his "It" films. Along with Nola DriveIn, it looks like New Orleans might be seeing a slight surge in community/guerrilla film screenings.

As of this posting, $870 have been raised. Help them reach their $4,000 goal. Every little bit counts.