Out @ Wide Open Wide

What is Wide Open Wide? Well, it's from Queer City Cinema. What is Queer City Cinema? well, it's "the largest and oldest ongoing lesbian and gay film arts festival between British Columbia and Ontario." And this year, they're doing a road show to Halifax! Look for 28 short films and videos, including some locally made ones!

The plan: ...This is a lot less organized than our typical outing. Basically, all you have to do is show up. It does run late (I believe ending around 11) so there won't be time for post-event discussion for many.

Here are the details:

• Saturday, June 25, starting at 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Carbon Arc Cinema @ The Khyber
• Cost: Just $6!!
• RSVP via Facebook
• More info? Official site.

A brief description (via their Facebook event): Wide Open Wide brings you twenty-eight queer films and videos that examine and play with notions of queer identity and that use queer experimental artistic expression to propose diverse ways of looking at sexuality, politics and queer media art itself. The films and videos selected represent artists from Victoria to Halifax and beyond and a variety of genres that collectively profile the interests and concerns of queer media artists.

I'll be there! Hope to see you there too.

-Kirk

Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog & Serenity

On Friday, August 13th, Hal-Con hosted an late-night screening of Joss Whedon's Serenity, preceded by a big-screen showing of the very popular Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Hal-Con was also nice enough to give us two free tickets to give away to the screening.

Doug B won our contest but generously gave his tickets to boyfriend Richard S. Here's Richard's review:

"Having seen both “Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog” and “Serenity” before, I went to the theatre, roommate in tow, prepared to be delighted and entertained by the double feature. When I arrived at the theatre, there was already a sizable line of expectant movie-goers waiting for admittance. Rather than being an off-putting experience, it added to the anticipation. Most people attending were talking amongst themselves and had obviously seen at least one, if not both, of the movies before. Die-hard fans could be spotted by their Jayne Hats – garish knit toques with ear-flaps made to look like the hat a character in “Serenity” received from his mother in one episode of the TV series “Firefly”- or dressed as their favourite character.

The event was well attended, with few empty spots in the upper tier of seating. The organizers were good natured and provided pre-show entertainment, singing “The Ballad of Jayne Cobb” accompanied by the ukelele. Free t-shirts were also lobbed at the crowd, which resulted in a particularly athletic display as one patron vaulted over the railing for the stairs in order to secure some swag for himself.

The first movie, Dr. Horrible, began with a cheer from the crowd, many of whom chanted “Play!” as the DVD menu was projected on the screen. A goodly proportion of the audience also sang along as Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion once more surprised me with their singing abilities. If you've seen Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog before, you can take it from me that seeing it on big screen makes it that much better. If you haven't, then I totally suggest that you go out and watch it so you can realize how much you missed out.

After Dr. Horrible, there was a brief intermission where the audience was briefly decimated by the need for concession and bathroom breaks. The opening credits for “Serenity” were also met with a great cheer from the crowd. After seeing “Serenity” now for the third time in theatre and the umpteenth time in total, I'm still not certain what my favourite part is. Summer Glau's character, River, has got to be one the biggest highlights. She goes from an unusual and unsettled young girl whose only response to a high-speed chased culminating in a near-crash experience is to say that she swallowed a bug, to an unusual young girl who can totally kick some ass. The writing is also in contention for favourite part of the movie. The banter between the characters and the juxtaposition of that humour with a bleak situation makes for an entertaining movie. The cast also helps to maintain the suspension of disbelief necessary for science fiction. Their chemistry is such that you can easily let yourself believe in the story for that hour and a half."

Well said.

Thanks again to Hal-Con for giving us the tickets!

Find out more about the Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Comic Convention (starting October 29th at the Lord Nelson) via:

• Hal-Con's Web site
• Hal-Con's Twitter
• Hal-Con's facebook page

Win Two Tickets to Serenity!

Hey moviegoers and film fans!

What are your plans for the night of Friday, August 13th? How would you like two free tickets to see the movie Serenity at Park Lane at 11 pm? That can be done. Read on for details on the first-ever Out @ the Movies ticket giveaway!

First: who's giving away the tickets? Well, the fine folks at Hal-Con, of course! HAL-CON is a not-for-profit association that will be holding a Science Fiction/ Fantasy/ Comic/ Gaming convention in Halifax on October 29 to 31, 2010 at the Lord Nelson Hotel. They've been hosting a wide variety of screenings and other special events during the summer to build interest.

On Friday, they'll screen Serenity; the movie follow-up to the acclaimed (but short-lived) TV series Firefly. Does that mean you had to watch the TV show to understand the movie? Heck, no! The movie's accessible to all with a great cast and, oh, did I mention, written and directed by Joss Whedon?!

That's right: the guy behind Buffy and Angel! Which means you know you can expect sharp writing and biting dialogue.

Take a look at the trailer:

And here's a summary on the plot:
Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family--squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal. When Mal takes on two new passengers--a young doctor and his unstable sister--he gets much more than he bargained for. The pair are fugitives from the coalition dominating the universe, who will stop at nothing to reclaim the girl. The crew that was once used to skimming the outskirts of the galaxy unnoticed find themselves caught between the unstoppable military force of the Universal Alliance and the horrific, cannibalistic fury of the Reavers, savages who roam the very edge of space. Hunted by vastly different enemies, they begin to discover that the greatest danger to them may be on board Serenity herself.

Oh and there's some "internet sensation" thing called Dr Horrible's Sing-Along screening before the movie. It would appear that gay fave Neil Patrick-Harris is in that. Huh.

Okay, got your interest? Here's how the contest will work:

1. Guess a number between 1 and 200.
2. E-mail your name, phone number and guess to halifax.out.movies@gmail.com.
3. Only one entry per e-mail address. Entries must be received by 6 p.m. AST on Thursday, August 12th.
4. The person who comes closest to the number (without going over - just like The Price is Right) wins! In the event that two people submit the same guess, whoever submitted it first wins.
5. Winner* will be announced on Thursday evening.
6. The winner will be contacted to confirm if they are able to attend. If not, the person who was second closest wins.
7. Winner will pick up their tickets from the Hal-Con volunteers on the night of Friday, the 13th.

For those of you who aren't lucky enough to win, you can still attend! Tickets are only $6 and can be purchased in advance (cash only) at Strange Adventures, Quantum Frontier and the Last Game Store. You can also purchase them online or at the door.

To find out more about the screen and Hal-Con, check out:

• The official facebook event
• Hal-Con's Web site
• Hal-Con's Twitter
• Hal-Con's facebook page

So, get guessing!

And take a look at what that asterisk next to "Winner" up above meant:
*Please note - Winner must agree to:

• Have their name and image published on this blog and related electronic media (e-mail, facebook, Twitter, etc).
• Write a short review of the movie-going experience; both the movie itself and the experience. Said review to be submitted by e-mail no later than Sunday the 15th.

Halifax Pride - Late Night Film Series

Hey moviegoers and film fans!

Want to support Pride while seeing some great LGBTQ flicks at a great price? Halifax Pride has the answer!

In the weeks leading up to Pride (July 18-26), the organizers of Halifax Pride have teamed up with Empire Theatres for a series fundraising film screenings. Tickets are only $6.99. Or, for only three dollars more, you get a ticket/popcorn/drink combo. Just $9.99! You can pre-purchase movie tickets online but not ticket/popcorn/drink combo. Net box office proceeds will be donated by Empire Theatres to the Halifax Pride 2010 Festival.

Each movie is being played at Empire 8 Park Lane at 11:30 p.m. on a Friday and Saturday night. So if you can't make it to one night, you can try the other! For more info, you can check out the facebook event.

A Single Man

IMDB entry

Friday, June 25 & Saturday, June 26 @ 11:30 p.m.

In Los Angeles 1962, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis George Falconer, a 52 year old British college professor is struggling to find meaning to his life after the death of his long time partner, Jim. George dwells on the past and cannot see his future as we follow him through a single day, where a series of events and encounters, ultimately lead him to decide if there is a meaning to life after Jim. George is consoled by his closest friend Charley, a 48 year old beauty who is wrestling with her own questions about the future. A young student of George's, Kenny, who is coming to terms with his true nature, stalks George as he feels in him a kindred spirit. A romantic tale of love interrupted the isolation that is an inherent part of the human condition and ultimately the importance of the seemingly smaller moments in life.

Transamerica

IMDB entry

Friday, July 9 & Saturday, July 10 @ 11:30 p.m.

Bree is a highly educated, conservative transsexual woman who passes as a G.G., living in a poor section of Los Angeles and working two jobs to save money for her final sexual reassignment surgery. Her life takes an unexpected journey when she learns that when she was a he, she fathered a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the streets of New York. When she receives a phone call from Toby, who's looking for his father, she realizes she must confront her past. She flies to New York to bail Toby out of jail and offers him a ride cross-country, secretly plotting to abandon him with the stepfather he ran away from.

The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert

IMDB entry

Friday, July 16 & Saturday, July 17 @ 11:30 p.m.

Two down-at-heels transvestites and an older transsexual travel by bus from Sydney to a cabaret engagement in the Australian outback.

...Hm. Since that description doesn't do it justice, here's a trailer:

See you at the cinema!

Kirk

Out @ Iron Man 2

With 43.8% of the total vote, our movie night, our one-year anniversary, our outing on Tuesday, May 18th is:

IRON MAN 2

Looks like the awesomeness of the original (including the amazing performance of Robert Downey Jr) plus all the hype have convinced you that this is a movie worth seeing!

How did the competition do? Letters to Juliet and Robin Hood garnered 25% each and Takers brought in ... 8%. Well, it tried.

The Plan: We're going to see Iron Man 2 on Tuesday, May 18th at 7:10 p.m. at Park Lane. (Important note: There's also a 6:30 showing. We're going to 7:10. 7:10.). We'll gather at the tables besides the arcade starting at 6:30. If this is your first time coming, look for the guy in the orange ball cap and glasses. That's me (Kirk, the organizer of all this craziness) - come on over and say "Hi."
At 6:50, we'll head in to grab seats and snacks.

After the movie there are two options:
1) Head on over to Dairy Queen. That's right, it's the one-year anniversary of the first Out @ the Movies outing, so we're getting dessert.
2) Stay through the (rather long) credits to see a 30-second "sneak peak" at the next movie; then join us at Dairy Queen.

What it's about: In "Iron Man 2," the world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark is the armored Super Hero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts and James "Rhodey" Rhodes at his side, Tony forges new alliances and confronts powerful new forces.

Who's in it: Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Paul Bettany, Samuel L. Jackson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jon Favreau, Kate Mara, Leslie Bibb

Where you can learn more: http://ironmanmovie.com

Watch the trailer:

Don't forget to invite your friends! Send them the blog post (http://bit.ly/outmay18) or the facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108504202526768).

See you at the cinema!

Kirk

May 17th = IDAHT

Monday, May 17th is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (either IDAHO or IDAHT depending on who you ask). Why am I mentioning this? Besides the obvious fact that this is a group for those who are targeted by such things? Because there's a movie of course!

But we'll get to that.

Let's start with NSRAP's rally at Grand Parade Square in Halifax. If you're able to attend, the event starts at 5 and lasts one hour (giving you time to get to the movie, but again, we'll get to that). Speakers will include Catherine Meade of NSRAP, the Honourable Scott Brison (MP for Kings-Hants) and Michael Gills of Dalhousie Allies. There will also be performances from DaPoPo Theatre and The Women Next Door. The entire event is free! There is, of course, a facebook event.

But what if you don't live in Halifax? Don't worry, NSRAP's Web site (http://nsrap.ca) lists events for:

• Antigonish
• Sydney
• Truro

And now, the movie!

Cultulralproduct.com is showing Word Is Out! in honour of IDAHT. What is Word Is Out? Well, it's groundbreaking and historic. Watch a short (4 minutes, 46 seconds) retrospective to truly grasp how important this documentary was in its time and still is today:

Intrigued? Good! Here are the details.

Date: Monday, May 17th
Time: 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: CBC Radio Room (1599 South Park Street)
Cost: $10
Summary: In 1978, Word is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives, directed by several filmmakers including Peter Adair, Nancy Adair, Andrew Brown, Robert Epstein, Lucy Massie Phenix, Veronica Selver, startled audiences across the country when it appeared in movie theaters and on television. Interviewed were twenty-six homosexuals, who comprise a sample of American society: women and men, liberals and conservatives, civilians and military officers, students and professionals -- all across the subdivisions of class, ethnicity and race.
The first feature-length documentary about lesbian and gay identity made by gay filmmakers, the film had a huge impact when it was released and became an icon of the emerging gay rights movement of the 1970s.
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=341680803204

So why not head out to see a landmark documentary and support a great cause!

And, of course, the day after is our next movie outing.

Happy birthday to us!

Happy birthday to us

Happy birthday to us
Happy birthday dear Out @ the Movies
Happy birthday to us!

That's right, today is the anniversary of Out @ The Movies! On April 29, 2009 I wrote up the first blog post, created the facebook group and first tweet. And on Tuesday, May 18th, we'll celebrate the anniversary of our first movie outing. True, it's a day early (the actual anniversary is Wednesday, May 19th) but what can ya do? The Poll for that night will be released next week.

It's been an exciting year full of watching movies, drinking coffee, eating ice cream and making friends. I thought I'd share some of the highlights:

• Angels & Demons - our first outing. I was incredibly nervous that no one would show up, even though I had several friends coming. I've always said that I'd be happy with a dozen but the first night? The first night ever we had almost 20 people. Also a lesson learned: make sure your post-movie venue is actually open late enough for people to enjoy.
• The Taking of Pelham 123 - our second outing. The numbers went up to 25 and more importantly, everyone had a great time! Afterwards, we headed down to Second Cup (which soon became our usual post-movie place) and friends and connections were made.
• Brüno - Hilarious! This over-the-top movie inspired more feedback than most.
• Mamma Mia - the Pride outing that never happened due to rain at alFresco Film Festo.
• GI Joe - the first outing I missed (I was away for work in Montreal).
• MacBeth - We tried something a little bit different at the end of August and went to see Shakespeare By The Sea's production of MacBeth. Not a great turnout but those who came had a good time.
• Gremlins - notable for two reasons; 1) Bad weather kept most away; 2) it started a mini-horror streak in our films that continued until March.

And most importantly...

Friendships and fun - I've seen several connections and friendships made through our movie nights. And heard a lot of laughs and seen a lot of smiles.

If you'd like to share some of your memories, post them in the comments section below!

So thanks to everyone who's come out to one of our movie nights, whether it's once or a dozen times. We've got another year of movies (both good and bad) ahead of us!

Kirk Furlotte

Out @ In The Loop

Q: Where will you be on November 9th?

A: In The Loop

Our first movie outing for November will be to see Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative's Monday Night Movies' presentation of the hit indie British comedy In The Loop.

What's it all about?

"The film tracks the lies, misunderstandings, good and bad intel, and PR blunders that escalate into a full-blown (fictional) crisis in the Middle East over the course of a few days, in a few conversations and meetings, in a few corridors of British and American power. Though played for laughs, the movie demonstrates how the most incidental factors (leaked papers, hastily spoken soundbites) and players (aides, interns, and low-level government officials) can influence the course of history. "

If that description didn't help, take a look at the trailer:

Why see it? Because it's going to be hilarious! And that's practically fact: it has a 95% approval rating on RottenTomatoes! With comments like those of Lou Lumenick from the New York Post ("In the Loop is certainly the smartest and funniest movie inspired by the Iraq war."), you know you're curious!

You can sort of find out more at the movie's official site http://www.intheloopmovie.co.uk/ but you might be better off with the IMDB page.

THE PLAN:

We'll meet on Monday, November 9th for 6:30 when we'll head in to grab seats before the movie starts at 7. We'll meet by the tables in front of the arcade. In honour of the British/American theme, why not dress in red, white and blue? I'll wear my typical orange ballcap of course.

Tickets are $10 and are available for purchase starting at 6 that night.

After the movie, we'll head out to the Second Cup for some post-movie discussion and drinks!

You can RSVP to the facebook event (http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=171273910842) or share the blog with this quick link: http://bit.ly/3dI6gG.

October 10: Tosca!

Out @ The Movies is hosting a special event on October 10th: an outing to see some opera!

Read on for the details...

WHAT?

A live production of Puccini's Tosca by the Metropolitan Opera.

The opera tells the story of three people—a famous opera singer, a free-thinking painter, and a sadistic chief of police—caught in a net of love and politics. Soprano Karita Mattila, sings the title role for the first time outside her native Finland. Luc Bondy, acclaimed for his imaginative theater and opera productions, directs. The cast also includes Marcelo Álvarez as Cavaradossi and Juha Uusitalo as Scarpia.

WHO?

The Out @ the Movies crew and me and you! Got friends who might be interested? Send them to the blog or facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=164928651420).

WHEN?

Saturday, October 10th; the performance begins at 2 p.m. Approximate Running Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes - includes 2 intermissions. The O@M crew will meet at 1:00 beforehand by the arcade.

WHERE?

Empire 8 Park Lane (5657 Spring Garden Rd)

WHY?

A whole bunch of reasons:

• Everyone should go to the opera at least once in their life. Plus, you can wear jeans!
• “Tosca combines Puccini’s glorious musical inspiration with the melodramatic vitality of one of the great Hitchcock films,” says Met Music Director James Levine, who conducts this new production.
• It's sub-titled so you can follow along (but no singing along, please).
• The opening night gala had an audience of 3,800 who gave a standing ovation to the primary performers. ...That's almost four thousand people!
• Have you noticed how cold it's getting outside!?

HOW (much)?

Tickets are $21.95+tax for adults ($18.95 for seniors, $12.95 for children). Tickets can be purchased at the box office or at http://www.empiretheatres.com/met.

See you at the theatre!

-Kirk F

Atlantic Film Festival - That's So Gay!

The Atlantic Film Festival kicks off on September 17th and runs until September 26th. As part of their programming, they offer That's So Gay - a selection of movies of interest to our community. Given the number of movies, there will be no official Out @ the Movies event but I do encourage you to go as many as you can! Show the AFFA that there is interest!

Look below to find out the movies and their screenings.

Tickets are $11.30. You can purchase tickets online at http://atlantic.bside.com/2009/films.

Friday, September 18th @ 9:35 PM @ Park Lane - 3

J’ai tué ma mère (I Killed My Mother)

97 min.

ATTENTION: Cette film est présenté en Français seulement (this film will be presented in French only)

Hubert Minel n’aime pas sa mère. Du haut de ses 17 ans, il la jauge avec mépris, ne voit que ses pulls ringards, sa décoration kitsch et les miettes de pain qui se logent à la commissure de ses lèvres quand elle mange bruyamment. Au-delà des irritantes surfaces, il y a aussi la manipulation et la culpabilisation, mécanismes chers à sa génitrice. Confus par cette relation amour/haine qui l’obsède un peu plus chaque jour, Hubert vague dans les arcanes d’une adolescence à la fois marginale et typique - découvertes artistiques, ouverture à l’amitié, ostracisme, sexe - rongé par la hargne qu’il éprouve à l’égard d’une femme qu’il aimait pourtant jadis.

Saturday, September 19th @ 7:15 PM @ Park Lane - 3

Drool

85 min.

http://www.uploadfilms.com/drool/

Anora Fleece has got it rotten. Her husband is abusive, her children are disrespectful and she lives in the middle of nowhere, feeling like a nobody. Then Imogene Cochran moves into the neighbourhood. Imogene sells Kathy K. Kosmetics makeup for the cocoa-skinned woman. The neighbours don’t like cocoa-skinned anything but that doesn’t stop Imogene and Anora from becoming friends and, well, more than friends. When Anora’s husband Cheb finds them, all hell breaks loose but the tables are turned when Anora accidentally shoots Cheb dead. Anora and Imogene then pile the kids in the Kathy K. car, throw the corpse in the trunk and ride off on a family road trip to bury Daddy.

Sunday, September 20th @ 9:35 PM @ Park Lane - 3

Shank

89 min.

http://www.shank-movie.co.uk/

Teenage gang member Cal, hides his sexuality from the his fellow happy slapping gang members despite their often futile and violent dislike of anyone that isn't the same as them be they unsuspecting shoppers, foreign students, gays etc. Hooking up with a random stranger (Scott), Cal is unaware that this chance meeting will eventually provide him with choices and routes of escape from the tedium of his unambitious and depraved life. When his world collides with Olivier, a student he rescues from a pointless beating, he encounters a lifestyle that presents as many new experiences as it does obstacles.

Monday, September 21st @ 9:25 PM @ Park Lane - 7

Men For Sale

145 min.

http://films.nfb.ca/men-for-sale/

New Brunswick filmmaker Rodrigue Jean filmed male prostitutes in Montreal over the span of a year to create this vastly unconventional but startlingly illuminating documentary. Between the candid conversations are cool, nighttime urban compositions that blend austerity with a rigorous formalism; Jean’s origins as an experimental filmmaker are clearly on display as he gently explores the sex workers’ stark—and sometimes darkly humorous—confessions.

Tuesday, September 22nd @ 9:35 PM @ Park Lane - 3

Pornography

113 min.

http://www.pornographythemovie.com/

A journalist named Michael moves into a too-good-to-be-true Manhattan apartment with his partner and begins to notice strange details about the space. As he investigates the situation, Michael uncovers mysterious activity surrounding the haunting disappearance of an adult film star and an engrossing darker conspiracy. As he closes in on the truth, the lines of reality start to blur and the increasingly surreal twists of this bold, psychological thriller prompt echoes of David Lynch's work.

Wednesday, September 23rd @ 9:35 PM @ Park Lane - 3

Fig Trees

104 min.

http://www.yorku.ca/greyzone/figtrees/

Winner of the Teddy Award for Best Documentary at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival, multitalented and versatile director John Greyson (The Law of Enclosures, Proteus) delivers a poignant message about HIV with this beautiful collision of music, art and film. A visually stunning experimental documentary opera about pills, Gertrude Stein and AIDS activism. Possibly one of the most important and creative statements this year from a Canadian artist and filmmaker.

Thursday, September 24th @ 7:15 PM @ Park Lane - 3

It Came From Kuchar

86 min.

http://kucharfilm.com/

Before John Waters, there were the Kuchars. Early pioneers of the low-fi, camp aesthetic, the Kuchars became unlikely heroes of the New York underground film scene of the 1960s. Inspired by the Hollywood movies of their youth, these filmmaking twins began making their own homespun melodramas using just an 8mm camera, friends, family and their love of movies.

Combining interviews with the Kuchars and their famous admirerers (including John Waters and Guy Madden) and a hit parade of Kuchar movie clips, director Jennifer M. Kroot pieces together an inspiring portrait that should be required watching for all aspiring filmmakers.

Friday, September 25th @ 9:35 PM @ Park Lane - 3

Pop Star On Ice

85 min.

http://www.popstaronice.com/

Olympic skater and three-time National Champion Johnny Weir taught Kathy Griffin to skate, modelled for Heatherette and rocked the skating world with his irreverent public remarks. This playful documentary reveals how a young Russophile and Chihuahua lover from rural Pennsylvania rose to pop stardom.

Out @ MacBeth

The votes have been cast and we are off to see our first play: The Scottish Play AKA MacBeth!

Who? You, me and some friends.

When? Thursday, September 3. We will be meeting at 6:30. The performance begins at 7.

Where? Cambridge Battery, Point Pleasant Park.

We will be meeting at the upper parking lot (Tower Road & Point Pleasant Drive). This is the preferred parking lot because A) it is open 24 hours; B) it's closer to Cambridge Battery.

From the parking lot, we will walk straight down the main path to the Cambridge Battery. The walk takes about 12 minutes so we will head into the woods around 6:45.

If you haven't been to one of our events yet, look for the guy in glasses and an orange baseball cap!

What (is the cost)? $15 suggested donation (though they would not turn down larger donations!).

Why? It's one of Shakespeare's greatest plays!

Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy. In the back-stage world of theatre, some believe the play is cursed and will not mention its name aloud, referring to it instead as The Scottish play.

Over the centuries, the play has attracted the greatest actors in the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The play has been adapted to film, television, opera, novels, comic books, video games and other media.

Here's what Kate Watson's review from the Coast:

"Good news. If you’re tired of those SVU and CSI summer reruns but really need a fix of blood, sex and madness, Shakespeare by the Sea’s Macbeth is the perfect answer. The production literally drips with blood and crackles with energetic sword fights. Genevieve Steele as Lady Macbeth wields sex as handily as the men wield their swords. But the true scene stealers are Caitlin Stewart, Carly Chamberlain and Mary Fay Coady, the three witches. These twisted sisters entrance and repel with their dead eyes and zombie gaits. David Patrick Flemming does a fine job as Macbeth, making his transformation from shrinking violet to power-mad murderer believable. The woods are dark by the time this show is over, so bring a flash light to light your way and dispel all things wicked."

Some quick tips:

• Bring something warm to wear. Once the sun sets, it gets quite cold in the park.
• Bring bug spray; sunscreen won't be necessary but you will be in the middle of the woods and the bugs come out!
• Bring a folding chair; if you don't have one, there are chairs to rent ($2??)
• Bring a flashlight; after the sun sets it can be a long dark walk back to the parking lot.
• Bring snacks and drinks or...
• Bring some extra cash for snacks and drinks.

If it rains:

• We'll make a game day decision; they have an alternate indoor venue (in the lower parking lot).

If you're on facebook, you can RSVP to the facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122283842077)!

See you in the park!

Kirk F

Out @ the Park

I love movies. I love the experience. The smell of popcorn in the lobby. The anticipation generated by the previews. That moment immediately after the previews where I inevitably forget what movie I'm seeing because I was so enamored with the previews.

I'm guessing you love movies too! That's probably why you joined Out @ the Movies.

Now, having said all that... Sometimes you have to expand your boundaries. So instead of a movie outing during the first week of September, we're going to see a play! That's right actual people on an actual stage!

But which play? Which day? Good questions all. And you have a choice of three; both three days and three plays. Because it's not just theatre; it's theatre in the park. If you hadn't already guessed, we're going to see Shakespeare by the Sea!

They have three different plays on offer, each on a different day. You'll be able to vote for which play/day further below.

Tuesday, September 1 - Love Labour's Lost

The Coast's review: "Before seeing Shakespeare by the Sea’s Love’s Labour’s Lost, I would have said it was one of The Bard’s least-likeable comedies. It requires a lot of work to decipher the dense language and silly plot and all the effort can seem to pay off with scant laughter. Not this production! It’s as if the young and energetic cast has some magical universal translator that makes even the longest speeches easily understandable. The play is a perfect mix of a charming love-story powered by the believable performances of the four love-struck swains and their sharp-witted--and tongued--objects of affection, and the over-the-top comedy of the secondary characters. This production is infused with 1950’s flavor reflected in the swell costumes and the harmony-ladened music. People of all ages should see this show-- even the pre-teens who attended looked enthralled and entertained." -Kate Watson

Wednesday, September 2 - Jack and the Beanstalk-Market

Here's what the Coast had to say: "Those quick-as-lightning minds at Shakespeare by the Sea have again managed to combine a classic fairy tale with some modern and local references to produce another fun family show. Although *Jack and the Beanstalk Market* is set in the 1930s, all the references to belt-tightening and economic woes are sadly apt today. But that’s not to say there’s anything dark or sad about this show. It’s fueled by laughter, and kids and adults alike will be laughing at the repeated gags, zany plot and Keystone Cop-esque chase scene. Tom Smith is charming as the gormless man-child Jack, and Carly Chamberlain does a wonderful job as his mother, humanizing a character who usually comes off as a cruel shrew. The ending is satisfying, with all loose ends neatly tied up and with a nice moral about sharing the wealth with the less fortunate—and with SBTS—gently delivered." -Kate Watson

Thursday, September 3 - MacBeth

The Coast.... has no review. But here's a little bit about the play from Wikipedia:

Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy. In the back-stage world of theatre, some believe the play is cursed and will not mention its name aloud, referring to it instead as The Scottish play.

Over the centuries, the play has attracted the greatest actors in the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The play has been adapted to film, television, opera, novels, comic books, video games and other media.

Shakespeare by the Sea's shows are by donation with a suggested donation of $15. All performances start at 7 p.m. All performances are at the Cambridge Battery in Point Pleasant Park (unless it rains - then it's in their performances space in the lower parking lot).

Vote before 9 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26th!

See you in the Park!

-Kirk F

Can't see the poll? Go to http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/1803633/.

Out @ Mamma Mia Update!

I hope you haven't forgotten about this Friday's outing to see Mamma Mia at alFresco filmFesto! Some of the details of our plans have changed, so I'd encourage you to re-check. the Plan below.

alFresco filmFesto will be showing the ABBA-inspired musical on their new inflatable outdoor screen on Friday, July 24th. This will be their first movie of the season and the debut of their new location.

THE STORY
In the past alFresco used the side of Electropolis to screen movies and those watching sat on the dock. However, things have changed with upcoming construction on Electropolis.

Starting this year, they have inflatable screen and will be at Pavilion 20 (right next to the NSCAD port campus). You can Google map it here: http://bit.ly/alFresco.

The best part of the new location is that they have an indoor space to use! So if it rains (and that looks likely at this point), they can go inside.

You can find out more at http://www.atlanticfilm.com/alfresco.

Admission is by donation of $5 and the movie usually starts around 9 (or dusk, whichever comes first). This is an all-ages event so you can bring your younger (or older, I guess) loved ones.

THE MOVIE

It's Mamma Mia. uh... The ABBA-inspired musical that's been a stage sensation across the entire planet and was made into a smash hit movie?

THE PLAN

• 7:45 p.m. - Moviegoers [That's you!] will meet up near Pavilion 20 just before the doors open at 8 so we can ensure we all sit together. How will you know who's with the group? We'll rally near NSCAD (about mid-way through the brown section; see the image on the right). Look for the guy in the Halifax Pride, glasses and orange baseball cap! [That'd be me, Kirk, the organizer.]
• 8 p.m. - The "doors" open and we'll grab some space for our seats and spend some time socializing before the movie begins.
• 9ish - We start singing! [I've confirmed it may be the sing-along version. They have both and will put it up to a vote!]
• 11ish - We head home to get some sleep before the Halifax Pride parade [Or whatever you feel like doing, I'm not the boss of you!]

THE TIPS

First, remember that you have to carry everything you bring in so don't over pack! But here's what you'll need:

• Cash for admission; there is no debit or credit card at these events so you'll want to have cash-in-hand. They always appreciate exact change, of course! Suggested donation is $5.
• Cash for snacks; the infamously long line for popcorn is also a cash event. They also have other snacks and beverages as well. Or...
• Snacks/Beverages; something to munch on during the movie.
• Lawn/Folding chair; preferably one you can carry easily.
• Blanket; not for sitting (though you can try and find a space for that) but because after the sun goes down, it gets cold on the waterfront! You can also bring a warm jacket to fight the cold.

What if it rains?

alFresco filmFesto has juts sent out an e-mail advising that if it rains, they will move it to Saturday night. However, if it's cancelled tomorrow, night there will be no official Out @ Mamma Mia event on Saturday. I know it's Pride Day night and lots of people have plans.

I will post an entry to the blog, and send a message to the mailing list/facebook group if our event is cancelled.

And that's about it. I hope to see you this Friday night!

If you're on facebook, you can RSVP to (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117240344011).

Looking forward to singing with you!

-Kirk F

Flag Wars

Hey Moviegoers!

I just wanted to let you know about a special movie screening coming up. It's not an Out @ the Movies event but I thought it might interest you.

Queer and Rebel Days (http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/CommunitySupport/QueerAndRebelDays) will be hosting a screening of Flag Wars on Tuesday, July 14th at the Roberts Street Social Centre (5684 Roberts St). The event is at 7 p.m; it's free and all are welcome. After the movie, there will be a discussion.

Queer and Rebel Days 2009 is a week of performances, discussions, food, and workshops in Halifax, NS, running from July 10 - 16, 2009. All events are free, trans and queer positive, and childcare is available upon request. You can learn more at their Web site or by sending an e-mail to queer.and.rebel.days.2009@gmail.com.

"Flag Wars" is a 2003 cinema verite documentary that follows the conflicts that arise when gay white professionals move into a black working-class neighborhood. Filmed over a four years in Columbus, Ohio, "Flag Wars" leads viewers on an eye-opening journey into a divided community. You should be advised that the movie has strong content.

You can learn more about the movie here by watching an interview with the directors (see below) or visiting the PBS site for an extended trailer (http://www.pbs.org/pov/flagwars/).

-Kirk F

Special Event: Out @ Mamma Mia @ alFresco filmFesto

DON'T READ THIS! ...Well, read this. But the below post is out of date. Instead, read the updated post for Mamma Mia (July 22)

[Phone rings]

You: Hello?

Me: Hey! It's Kirk.

You: Oh, hey Kirk. What's up?

Me: Not much. Just calling to see what you are doing on July 24th?

You: Did you say July 24th? That's, like, a month away.

Me: Yeah. It's a Friday. It's the night before the Halifax Pride parade.

You: I dunno. ...Because it's a month away. Why do you ask?

Me: I was wondering if you might want to go to an Out @ the Movies event.

You: I thought we were going to Park Lane on the 7th and 21st.

Me: We are.

You: And again on the 24th?

Me: Well, this is a special event: Mamma Mia!

That's right, folks! Mamma Mia is back on the big screen!

And Halifax's GLBT movie group is going to see it!

alFresco filmFesto will be showing out their new inflatable outdoor screen on Friday, July 24th. This will be their first movie of the season and the debut of their new location.

For those of you who haven't been to alFresco before; the concept is pretty simple: watch a movie outside! They had previously screened movies on the side of Electropolis but NS Power will soon be renovating that location so they found new digs at Pavilion 20 (map: http://bit.ly/alFresco). Their new location also allows them to screen movie indoors so you don't have to worry about rain! You can find out more at http://www.atlanticfilm.com/alfresco.

Admission is by donation of $5 and the movie usually starts around 9 (or dusk, whichever comes first).

THE PLAN

• 7:30 p.m. - We meet up at Pavilion 20 (by the rail car) to get good seating! If this is your first time coming to one of our events, look for the guy in the orange baseball cap! [That'd be me, Kirk, the organizer.]
• 8 p.m. - The "doors" open and we'll grab some space for our seats and spend some time socializing before the movie begins.
• 9ish - We start singing! [Note: I don't actually know if it's the sing-along version, but I plan on singing anyway!]
• 11ish - We head home to get some sleep before the Halifax Pride parade [Or whatever you feel like doing, I'm not the boss of you!]

THE GOODS

First, remember that you have to carry everything you bring in so don't over pack!

• Cash for admission; there is no debit or credit card at these events so you'll want to have cash-in-hand. They always appreciate exact change, of course!
• Cash for snacks; the infamously long line for popcorn is also a cash event. They also have other snacks and beverages as well. Or...
• Snacks/Beverages; something to munch on during the movie
• Lawn chair; preferably one you can carry easily.
• Blanket; not for sitting (though you can try and find a space for that) but because after the sun goes down, it gets cold on the waterfront! You can also bring a warm jacket to fight the cold.
• ...To check the forecast beforehand. Because...

RAIN!?!

Even if it rains, the movie will continue on; alFresco will shift the movie indoors!

If you're on facebook, you can RSVP to (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117240344011).

Looking forward to singing with you!

-Kirk F