deadCENTER Film

Announcing The deadCENTER Movie Club Podcast.

We here at the deadCENTER film festival are always trying to think of new ways to get in touch with you, our favorite independent film audience members. Usually, this involves a few of us sitting down with some beers and debating the merits of an idea. During one such session, I proposed that we start showing up at your houses, DVD in hand, drink your beer, and then argue with you about the movie we brought. After a few calls to their locksmiths, the other staff members said that idea was far too creepy, and we could probably use that newfangled internet device to accomplish the same thing.

So here we are a few weeks later to announce the deadCENTER Movie Club Podcast. Here’s how it works: Once a month, we’ll announce the movie selection via blog post. You’ll update your Netflix queues, and a week later we’ll post a podcast of Kevin Ely, myself, and a few guests discussing the film. You’ll listen, marvel at our genius, and keep the conversation going in the comments section. Hopefully they’ll be at least half as fun for you to listen to as they are for us to make.

We’re going to kick things off with Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call: New Orleans. The film is available through Netflix, though sadly not on instant viewing. If you really want to stream it, you can “rent” it through Amazon’s video on demand service.

Toronto Dispatch: Mike Mills’ BEGINNERS

OKCMOA Film Curator Brian Hearn is at the Toronto International Film Festival, and will be posting some of his thoughts on what he’s seeing. Here’s his latest report:

I like Mike Mills. He seems like a cool guy. He’s a graphic designer, musician, and film director, perhaps best known for his music videos and his debut feature THUMBSUCKER (2005) which featured his distinctly “indie” visual style. I was lucky enough to catch the world preem of his new film BEGINNERS starring Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, and Melanie Laurent. Despite the $40 ticket at the old school, cushy red velvet seated Elgin Theater (probably my favorite venue at TIFF), it was worth every penny. Read More »

Son of a %@#*%! “Winnebago Man” screening and FREE Stella Artois? #&%^ Yeah!!!

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art and deadCENTER Film present the hilarious and charming film “Winnebago Man” – Thursday, September 30th at 7:30PM. In “Winnebago Man”, director Ben Steinbauer sets out in search of the legendary RV salesman whose hilarious, foul-mouthed outbursts were caught on video and became an online phenomenon. “Winnebago Man” is a laugh-out-loud look at viral culture and an unexpectedly poignant tale of one man’s response to unintended fame.

That night, deadCENTER will also be honoring past and present staff members…and drinking lots of complimentary Stella Artois. Audience members are encouraged to stay after the film for a meet-n-greet with the staff…and drink delicious, complimentary Stella Artois with us.

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.

TORONTO DISPATCH: Out for a Very Long Walk

OKCMOA Film Curator Brian Hearn is at the Toronto International Film Festival, and will be posting some of his thoughts on what he’s seeing. Here’s his second report:

For my generation (X that is), Emilio Estevez will forever be associated with his acting roles in THE OUTSIDERS, THE BREAKFAST CLUB, ST. ELMO’S FIRE and REPO MAN. We’ll forgive him the rest; errr…THE MIGHTY DUCKS!? Anyway, then he turns up a few years back with a pretty decent film that he wrote and directed, BOBBY. Yesterday I saw the world premiere of his new film THE WAY starring who else, his dad. Why wouldn’t you cast Martin Sheen? Read More »

deadCENTER TEAMS UP IN SUPPORT OF OKC AIDS Walk

deadCENTER is pleased as punch to be creating a walking team for the AIDS Walk of Oklahoma City, Sunday, September 19th. Joining our team is easy and FREE. Just head over to our FirstGiving page and click “join this team” on the right side. We highly encourage you to create your own profile and help us spread the word, and/or share the page on the social media sites you kids are so crazy about.

Oh, and after you register, send a confirmation email to info@deadcenterfilm.org so you can keep you up to date on all the details for the day.

Thank you for supporting deadCENTER and AIDS Walk of Oklahoma City.

Elvis Mitchell set to host “At The Movies”

2010 deadCENTER Film Festival panelist Elvis Mitchell has been tapped to co-host Roger Ebert’s revived “At The Movies” show on PBS. Ebert announced the news on his blog Friday, and news spread throughout the indie film world over the weekend.

“Roger Ebert Presents At The Movies” will feature Mitchell and AP critic Christy Lemire in the traditional “Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down” roles, with contributions from Kim Morgan, Omar Moore, and Ebert himself. The show is scheduled to begin airing in January 2011. Congrats to Elvis and all involved. (Just make sure you make time to return to the festival next year!)

For the official announcement (and a truly awesome photo of Elvis with a moustache), head over to Roger Ebert’s Journal.

TORONTO DISPATCH: C’EST WHAT? GODARD IS HARD

OKCMOA Film Curator Brian Hearn is at the Toronto International Film Festival, and will be posting some of his thoughts on what he’s seeing. Here’s his first report:

Greetings from lovely and amazing Toronto. The 35th Toronto International Film Festival, arguably THE main event in North America, (other than deadCENTER of course!) kicked off last night and I got things started with the 100 proof stuff. By that I mean Jean-Luc Godard’s latest, “Film Socialism.” It’s incredible to think that Godard helped reinvent the language of cinema fifty years ago with his first feature “Breathless.” We’re in a different century now and he is still pushing the envelope of what cinema can be and do. “Film Socialism” could be described as anti-narrative and decidedly experimental. Read More »

deadCENTER Film @ Studio 222

The deadCENTER Film team headed over to Studio 222 to teach a one day class on short films to 24 students from Taft Middle School. Students watched other student-made films and discussed the differences between narrative, documentary and animated films. The students also brainstormed ideas for the films they will create in October during a one week deadCENTER Film seminar. Studio 222 is a tuition free, arts based after-school program for inner city middle schoolers founded by St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

Celebrating Melissa & Cacky

deadCENTER Film hosted an intimate Rooftop Luau to honor the amazing work of Melissa Scaramucci and Cacky Poarch. These two rock star women jumped on board eight years ago and helped transform the deadCENTER Film Festival from a respected, local event to an internationally recognized celebration of independent film with world premieres, renowned filmmakers and more fantastic parties than a Motley Crue reunion tour. Melissa Scaramucci served as Programming Director and Cacky Poarch was our Executive Director. Oklahoma filmmakers and long time deadCENTER Film volunteers Kevin Ely and Lance McDaniel have taken on their respective roles.