deadCENTER Film

Pick of the Week: WINNEBAGO MAN at the OKCMOA

You may have noticed it on our main page, but there’s a little shindig we’re pretty excited about this Thursday night at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The festival smash hit WINNEBAGO MAN is screening as a co-presentation with deadCENTER Film, followed by a meet-and-greet with festival staff and complementary Stella Artois. (what’s that? free beer?)

Why this film, why now? Well, there are some fresh faces around the deadCENTER Film offices these days, namely new Executive Director Lance McDaniel and Programming Director Kevin Ely. We thought it would be a good idea to give us all a chance to bond the deadCENTER way… with fine movies and great beer. But we’re also celebrating all that has come before, by honoring our two outgoing angels, Cacky Poarch and Melissa Scaramucci, who helped build this crazy ship and steered it to where we are today. And while we’re at it, what better way to celebrate deadCENTER’s impact than showing a successful film that was partially funded through our fiscal sponsorship program?

So head down to the OKC Museum of Art at 7:30pm for the screening, and stick around and say hi afterwards. We’d love to see you.

For information on ticket pricing, directions and other fun happenings at the OKCMOA, please visit, www.okcmoa.com.

Pick of the Week: THE RED SHOES

Darren Aronofsky’s new thriller BLACK SWAN premiered this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, and while it may be a few months before local audiences get to experience it ourselves, the trailer has been making the rounds as a pretty suspenseful piece of cinema in itself.

Aronofsky’s story of a ballerina on the edge has already drawn comparisons to THE RED SHOES, another epic ballet drama directed by Michael Powell.  While the comparisons may be unfair (SWAN promises to be a nerve-wracking horror while SHOES is classic melodrama), both films focus on the psychological toll caused by the pursuit of perfection, and could easily make an interesting double bill.

So this week we’re recommending checking out THE RED SHOES, available now in a gorgeous new Criterion Collection edition.  It’s also available on Netflix Instant if you just can’t wait for the DVD to arrive in your mailbox.  Check it out, and when BLACK SWAN hits theaters we’ll meet up and compare notes.

Pick of the Week – WINTER’S BONE

Remember last year when THE HURT LOCKER won Best Picture and you felt all cool because you saw it in theaters before anyone else way back in July?  Here’s your chance to feel that cool all over again.

2010 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner WINTER’S BONE played a few weeks at the AMC at Quail Springs, but now gets the posh treatment of a weekend at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.  Click here for times and ticket info.

Pick of the Week: OFFICIAL REJECTION

Beginning this week, every Tuesday we’ll be pointing out a new film in theaters, on demand, or on DVD that we think you should know about. This week Program Director Kevin Ely looks at 2009 Best Documentary Award Winner OFFICIAL REJECTION. Got a pick of the week? Post your picks in the comments below.

In 2006, writer Paul Osborne and director Scott Smith brought their indie thriller TEN TILL NOON to deadCENTER, walked away with the Jury Prize for Documentary Feature, and hit the festival trail in search of fame and glory. In 2009, Paul and Scott returned to deadCENTER with a new film and a huge chip on their shoulder.

OFFICIAL REJECTION tells the sordid tale of Scott and Paul’s death march through the highs and lows of the independent film festival circuit, debunking the rags-to-riches myths perpetuated by festival behemoths like Sundance, and providing a firm-but-loving slap in the face to delusional filmmakers around the world. Did I mention that it’s hilarious?

Somehow director Osborne manages to create an unflinching, (semi) sober and jaded look at the politics of the festival process without losing the enthusiasm and love for movies that brought him there in the first place. Maybe it’s the genuine camaraderie between him and TTN director Scott Storm that comes through in every scene. Maybe it’s the good experiences they have along the way in places like Phoenix (and Oklahoma City, sadly relegated to the end credits). Maybe it’s the drinks. Whatever. Paul Osborne made a great doc that should be seen by indie-film lovers everywhere, and should be required viewing in every film program in the country.

Get OFFICIAL REJECTION on Netflix starting today, or purchase your own copy here.