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Jonathan McNeal

Sundance Hit THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION Starts Friday at The Neon

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This weekend, we’re adding a new film to the mix – a first time feature film from veteran playwright and television writer Radha Blank – THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION. This film was a huge hit at Sundance, and it’s currently rated “98% Fresh” on rottentomatoes. In addition, we are going to hold both ON THE ROCKS and THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7…and we have a couple special events coming next week too.

In our Virtual Cinema, we have two new films. MY NAME IS PEDRO, a film about a hero in public education, opened today. DATING AMBER, a coming-of-age film set in Ireland in the mid 90’s, opens Friday. More about both of those below.
Rave reviews for The 15th Annual Dayton LGBT Film Festival have been pouring in. People have loved our selections, and the virtual format seems to be going over very well. Many thanks to everyone who has supported this fest. There are still a couple selections you can check out before they expire. Check out the line-up at www.daytonlgbt.com
New Booking for In-Person Screenings:
Synopsis for THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION: This new, award-winning film from Radha Blank was a big hit at Sundance and is currently rated “98% Fresh” on rottentomatoes. “Radha is a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, who is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. Reinventing herself as rapper RadhaMUSPrime, she vacillates between the worlds of Hip Hop and theater in order to find her true voice.” Click this LINK to watch the trailer and click the image below to watch the a special piece about the creation of the film with Radha Blank.
New to our Virtual Cinema
Synopsis for MY NAME IS PEDRO: “Lillian LaSalle’s documentary explores what public education meant to South Bronx Latino maverick educator, Pedro Santana, and what he, in turn, meant to public education.” Click HERE to watch the trailer and click on the image below to purchase the film for $8.99.
Synopsis for DATING AMBER: “DATING AMBER is a poignant, honest and funny look at the highs and lows of teenage life where the only way to fit in is to not be yourself, even if this goes against your very being. Set-in Ireland during the mid-90’s, Eddie and Amber decide to stage a relationship in order to stop everyone speculating about their sexuality. Eddie is keen to follow his Dad into the military, while Amber dreams of moving to the liberal hub of London. However, their ‘ideal’ arrangement begins to fall apart, forcing Eddie deeper into denial as Amber realizes that a perilous future awaits her best friend unless she intervenes. DATING AMBER is a love letter to all those kids who grew up in a small town and who needed to escape in order to be themselves.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access for $12.
Continuing in our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for SAUL AND RUBY’S HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR BAND: Available now. “Like many survivors of the Holocaust, after World War II, Saul and Ruby moved to America, started families and careers, grew old, and retired to South Florida. For them, retirement could have been the last chapter in their story. But then they decided to start a klezmer band, named the Holocaust Survivor Band. This unique and compelling story is about having the courage to live one’s dreams, finding purpose and meaning in life at any age, the transcendent power of music, and the importance of speaking out against anti-Semitism and bigotry.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and then gain access to the film for $12.
Synopsis for AGGIE: Available now! “AGGIE is a feature-length documentary that explores the nexus of art, race, and justice through the story of art collector and philanthropist Agnes “Aggie” Gund’s life. Emmy-nominated director Catherine Gund focuses on her mother’s journey to give viewers an understanding of the power of art to transform consciousness and inspire social change. Aggie is internationally recognized for her robust and prescient support of artists–particularly women and people of color–and her unwavering commitment to social justice issues. After falling in love with art as a high-school student, Aggie discovers a new way of looking at the world.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and then access the film for $12.
A customer recently asked me to repost instructions as to how to use our Virtual Cinema. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how it all works. Click HERE to see all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema.
Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) On Oct. 21, we’ll open the festival hit MAJOR ARCANA, and on Oct. 23 we’ll open a doc about photographer Burk Uzzle (you might not know his name, but you’ve seen his work) – F11 AND BE THERE. On Oct. 28, we’ll open the recently restored (both in quality and length) important documentary from William Greaves – NATIONTIME, and on Oct. 30 we’ll open the Spanish/French thriller MADRE (if you come to THE NEON for Oscar nominated shorts, you’ve likely seen the short film on which this feature is based). On Nov. 6, we’ll open Fredrick Wiseman’s new highly acclaimed doc CITY HALL as well as RADIUM GIRLS (we’re hoping to set up a special Q&A with the film’s directors). More titles are on the way…stay tuned!
As a reminder…tickets for STEVIE NICKS 24 KARAT GOLD THE CONCERT are on sale now. Current scheduled shows are for Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7:00 and Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1:00 and 7:00. If you’re a Stevie fan, you don’t need more than an announcement to get your tickets…but if you’re not sure, here’s a TRAILER.
Local filmmaker and author Mathew Klickstein has a new book hitting the shelves, so we’re taking a look at a film that he produced & directed about the same kids.”ACT YOUR AGE: THE KIDS OF WIDNEY HIGH STORY (2010) is a rollicking rollercoaster of a rowdy ride up the West Coast during the world-famous Kids of Widney High’s 2008 headlining tour from Los Angeles to Seattle and back. Intimately chronicled through a punk-influenced DIY ‘video diary’ lens, ACT YOUR AGE takes the viewer into the green rooms, hotel rooms, bars, onstage and into the road-tripping van of the Kids, a group of singer-songwriters with developmental disabilities initially based out of an East Los Angeles special-ed music program.
This new tenth anniversary edition of ACT YOUR AGE has been polished and remastered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking Americans with Disabilities Act and the release of the Kids’ first book, THE KIDS OF WIDNEY JUNIOR HIGH TAKE OVER THE WORLD!, out in stores now. Come see the world through the eyes of a ‘Kid.’ ACT YOUR AGE director/producer Mathew Klickstein – a longtime author/filmmaker/journalist and recent transplant to Dayton – will be in-person for a brief introduction and follow-up Q&A after the film.” (taken from press notes) Tickets, $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors, are now available on our website. We had this event on the books before we knew about the presidential debate…alas this is a one-time only event that celebrates differently abled young people. After that first debate, didn’t you wish you’d had other plans???
Because distributors continue to push back their titles, we will have more weeks when we need to explore some classics. So on Oct. 23, we’re going to take a look at some early favorites from Tim Burton – PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE and BEETLEJUICE. Please help us spread the word…these should be a lot of fun. (Maybe even free prizes for people who ride their bikes to THE NEON for Pee Week!! We’ll see.). We also plan to open POSSESSOR UNCUT – the new film from Brandon Cronenberg (a filmmaker who has a lot in common with his father – David Cronenberg).
We got news this week that we can open Ron Howard’s new film HILLBILLY ELEGY on Nov. 11. This highly anticipated film was partially shot in Middletown – home of the famous book’s author J.D. Vance.

This Week at The Neon & The Dayton LGBT Film Fest starts Friday

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Two new films that are already hot with Oscar buzz open this Friday at THE NEON. If you need to see THE WAY I SEE IT (which received rounds of applause this weekend), SAVE YOURSELVES! (the sci-fi/comedy with lots to say about today’s social media obsessed culture), or KAJILLIONAIRE (Miranda July’s latest Sundance hit), you only have until Thursday. ON THE ROCKS and THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 open on Friday!

In our Virtual Cinema, we have two new films. SAUL AND RUBY’S HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR BAND opened today, and AGGIE (about Agnes Gund) opens Friday. More about both of those below.
On top of all that, The 15th Annual Dayton LGBT Film Fest starts Friday! Though most films are virtual, there is also one package of terrific short films that will be offered 4 times in-person at THE NEON. If you’re not interested in a pass that gets you everything…and you just want to support a film or two…I highly recommend the documentaries KEYBOARD FANTASIES (I just bought Beverly Glenn-Copeland’s new album) and AHEAD OF THE CURVE. If you’re more interested in a narrative, fiction film, TWILIGHT’S KISS is one that our regulars would love, and SHIVA BABY is the edgy comedy that has been a big hit on the festival circuit. BREAKING FAST is labeled as “A Ramadan Rom-Com” – and it’s the charming, feel-good film that we’ve chosen to open our festival. If you need a tutorial about how to access films and purchase tickets for the festival, this LINKwill take you to a video I made. Click on the image below to go right to the festival’s official site.
New Bookings for In-Person Screenings:
Synopsis for ON THE ROCKS: “A young New York mother faced with sudden doubts about her marriage teams up with her larger-than-life playboy father to tail her husband. What follows is a sparkling comic adventure across the city—drawing father and daughter closer together despite one detour after another. Acclaimed filmmaker Sofia Coppola brings a light touch to this blend of an exuberant love letter to New York, a generation-clash comedy about how we see relationships differently from our parents, and a funny celebration of the complications that bind modern families even as they tie us in crazy knots. Laura (Rashida Jones) thinks she’s happily hitched, but when her husband Dean (Marlon Wayans) starts logging late hours at the office with a new co-worker, Laura begins to fear the worst. She turns to the one man she suspects may have insight: her charming, impulsive father Felix (Bill Murray), who insists they investigate the situation. As the two begin prowling New York at night, careening from uptown parties to downtown hotspots, they discover at the heart of their journey lies their own relationship.” Click the image below to watch the trailer.
Synopsis for THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7: Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin (THE WEST WING), this film with a stellar cast is already getting major Oscar buzz! “The film follows the Chicago Seven, a group of anti-Vietnam War protesters charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines with the intention of inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. It features an ensemble cast that includes Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Daniel Flaherty, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Noah Robbins, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, and Jeremy Strong. Sorkin originally wrote the screenplay in 2007, with the intent of Steven Spielberg directing the film with mostly unknown actors. After the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike and budget concerns forced Spielberg to drop out as director, Sorkin was announced as director in October 2018, and much of the cast joined that same month.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
New in our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for SAUL AND RUBY’S HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR BAND: Available now! “Like many survivors of the Holocaust, after World War II, Saul and Ruby moved to America, started families and careers, grew old, and retired to South Florida. For them, retirement could have been the last chapter in their story. But then they decided to start a klezmer band, named the Holocaust Survivor Band. The band summons the bittersweet memories of childhood in Poland, but more than that, it is a celebration of life. In this utterly heart-affecting and enthralling film, we follow Saul and Ruby’s musical journey, which begins in total obscurity, playing in residential homes for the elderly and small Jewish community organizations, to being invited to perform at venues across the country, including a coveted performance at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. This unique and compelling story is about having the courage to live one’s dreams, finding purpose and meaning in life at any age, the transcendent power of music, and the importance of speaking out against anti-Semitism and bigotry.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and then gain access to the film for $12.
Synopsis for AGGIE: Available Starting Oct. 9! “AGGIE is a feature-length documentary that explores the nexus of art, race, and justice through the story of art collector and philanthropist Agnes “Aggie” Gund’s life. Emmy-nominated director Catherine Gund focuses on her mother’s journey to give viewers an understanding of the power of art to transform consciousness and inspire social change. Aggie is internationally recognized for her robust and prescient support of artists–particularly women and people of color–and her unwavering commitment to social justice issues. After falling in love with art as a high-school student, Aggie discovers a new way of looking at the world. The film opens with Aggie selling Roy Lichtenstein’s “Masterpiece” For $165 million to start the Art for Justice Fund. The proceeds from one of the highest grossing artworks ever sold fuel a monumental effort to reform the American criminal justice system and end mass incarceration. The film captures Aggie as a true maverick who demonstrates the unique role and potential of collectors and benefactors to use art to fight justice. This is untapped terrain, and we see Aggie leading the way.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and then preorder access to the film for $12. (The film will be available starting this Friday!)
Continuing in our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for ONCE UPON A RIVER: “Based on the best-selling novel by Bonnie Jo Campbell, ONCE UPON A RIVER is the story of Native American teenager Margo Crane in 1970s rural Michigan. After enduring a series of traumas and tragedies, Margo (newcomer Kenadi DelaCerna) sets out on an odyssey on the Stark River in search of her estranged mother. Jane Smiley for The New York Times wrote, ‘an excellent American parable about the consequences of our favorite ideal, freedom.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and unlock the film for $12.
Synopsis for THE DISRUPTED: “What do a farmer in Kansas, a laid-off factory worker in Ohio, and an Uber driver in Florida have in common? All three are resourceful, positive thinkers who strive to adapt and thrive despite dehumanizing forces at play in the American economy. As the film’s heroes face these roadblocks with courage, certain ideals remain sacred: family, love, and staying strong in the face of adversity.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and unlock the film for $12.
A customer recently asked me to repost instructions as to how to use our Virtual Cinema. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how it all works. Click HERE to see all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema.
Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) On Oct. 14, we’ll open MY NAME IS PEDRO – an inspiring documentary about a teacher and how transformative a single person can be to the community at large. On Oct. 16, we’ll open the sweet and funny DATING AMBER. On Oct. 21, we’ll open the festival hit MAJOR ARCANA, and on Oct. 28, we’ll open the recently restored (both in quality and length) important documentary from William Greaves – NATIONTIME (trailer will be available soon). On Nov. 6, we’ll open Fredrick Wiseman’s new highly acclaimed doc CITY HALL. We’re still trying to nail down RADIUM GIRLS and other titles…so stay tuned!
As a reminder…tickets for STEVIE NICKS 24 KARAT GOLD THE CONCERT are on sale now. Current scheduled shows are for Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7:00 and Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1:00 and 7:00. If you’re a Stevie fan, you don’t need more than an announcement to get your tickets…but if you’re not sure, here’s a TRAILER.
Local filmmaker and author Mathew Klickstein has a new book hitting the shelves, so we’re taking a look at a film that he produced & directed about the same kids.”ACT YOUR AGE: THE KIDS OF WIDNEY HIGH STORY (2010) is a rollicking rollercoaster of a rowdy ride up the West Coast during the world-famous Kids of Widney High’s 2008 headlining tour from Los Angeles to Seattle and back. Intimately chronicled through a punk-influenced DIY ‘video diary’ lens, ACT YOUR AGE takes the viewer into the green rooms, hotel rooms, bars, onstage and into the road-tripping van of the Kids, a group of singer-songwriters with developmental disabilities initially based out of an East Los Angeles special-ed music program.
This new tenth anniversary edition of ACT YOUR AGE has been polished and remastered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking Americans with Disabilities Act and the release of the Kids’ first book, THE KIDS OF WIDNEY JUNIOR HIGH TAKE OVER THE WORLD!, out in stores now. Come see the world through the eyes of a ‘Kid.’ ACT YOUR AGE director/producer Mathew Klickstein – a longtime author/filmmaker/journalist and recent transplant to Dayton – will be in-person for a brief introduction and follow-up Q&A after the film.” (taken from press notes) Tickets, $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors, are now available on our website.
Because distributors continue to push back their titles, we will have more weeks when we need to explore some classics. So on Oct. 23, we’re going to take a look at some early favorites from Tim Burton – PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE and BEETLEJUICE. Please help us spread the word…these should be a lot of fun. (Maybe even free prizes for people who ride their bikes to THE NEON for Pee Week!! We’ll see.)

At The Neon: 9 New Engagements This Week!

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Jonathan McNeal

This week, we have two new films and three retrospective films for in-person screenings…and we’re adding 3 new films to our Virtual Cinema.  On top of that, we’ve got a new film starting next Wednesday – so we’ve got a lot of ground to cover.

Starting today, we have the new powerful documentary that The Hollywood Reporter calls “An exemplary civics lesson” – ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY.  And starting Friday, we’ll open John Leguizamo’s cinematic directorial debut – CRITICAL THINKING.  In addition, we’re going to bring a trilogy of cult favorites throughout the week –  the British comedies SHAUN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ and THE WORLD’S END (each film will only screen a couple times…so we suggest getting your tickets early).  On Wednesday next week, we will open a new period thriller – THE SECRETS WE KEEP – starring Noomi Rapace (the star of all the original Dragon Tattoo films).
In our Virtual Cinema, we introduce three new films.  Starting today, we have JIMMY CARTER: ROCK AND ROLL PRESIDENT.  On Friday, we’ll have the highly anticipated MEETING THE BEATLES IN INDIA as well as the gorgeous doc OUR TIME MACHINE.
Before I get too much further, I want to mention a big change that’s happening at THE NEON.  Shortly after Labor Day in 2001, I sat down and interviewed Diana Cordero for a management position at THE NEON.   I knew immediately that I wanted her on the team as we prepared to reopen after major renovations (THE NEON was transforming from one screen to two).  After 19 years in management with us, Diana will be leaving her role as “Assistant Manager” after this Thursday.  She’ll be sticking around as our bookkeeper (a few hours a week), but you won’t be seeing her with any regularity.  This will be quite a change for me and the business as a whole. THE NEON owes a lot to Diana for her dedicated time and talents over the years. I know all of you are joining me in wishing Diana the very best as she pursues other endeavors…she’ll be greatly missed!
On a related note, we have two promotions to celebrate.  Many of you know Ian Bonnett – he’s been with us for several years.  Ian started as a part-timer and was promoted to “Third Keyholder” four years ago.  He has been promoted to “Assistant Manager.”  Jessica Walker, a recent addition to THE NEON’s team, has been promoted to “Third Keyholder.”  Please join me in congratulating both of them!
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New Bookings for In-Person Screenings:
Synopsis for ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY: “ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY examines the often overlooked, yet insidious issue of voter suppression in the United States. The film interweaves personal experiences with current activism and historical insight to expose a problem that has corrupted our democracy from the very beginning. With the perspective and expertise of Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, the documentary offers an insider’s look into laws and barriers to voting that most people don’t even know is a threat to their basic rights as citizens of the United States.” (Amazon) Click the image below to watch the trailer.
Synopsis for CRITICAL THINKING:  “It’s 1998 in Miami. Rampant poverty, broken families, and a prejudiced system push underprivileged youth to the fringes of society. But for a magnetic group of teens, there’s a reprieve. A game where it’s not about where you come from, but how you play. That equalizer is chess. Mr. ‘T’ Martinez, a chess militant and passionate coach, leads them to a completely foreign field of battle: the National Chess Championship. With an underfunded school district, Martinez and his team can’t just waltz into the arena. They have to fight for it. Chess runs parallel to their own experiences as Martinez teaches them that the power of Critical Thinking can not only save their kings, but also their lives.” THE SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER writes that Leguizamo’s film “features lively interactions, embraceable characters and credibly depicted struggles. The tournament scenes contain sports-movie adrenaline.”  We’re excited to share this film with you! Click on the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
We’ve had some recent success with cult favorites…from the Coen Brothers to Wes Anderson.  And because we’ve got a little extra room this weekend, we’ve added Edgar Wright’s “The Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy” to the mix – each an irreverent blend of comedy and different genres. SHAUN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ and THE WORLD’S END will all be back on the big screen, and we know Edgar Wright has a lot of fans!  Tickets are available now on our website. (Click the image below to watch the trailer for SHAUN OF THE DEAD.)
Synopsis for THE SECRETS WE KEEP: “In a small U.S. town, far from the horrors of the Nazi labor camp where Maja (Noomi Rapace) was held with other Romani prisoners, she and her American husband Lewis (Chris Messina) have built a cozy life. But as she runs errands along the main street of her small town, Maja glimpses a stranger (Joel Kinnaman) whistling a nightmarishly familiar tune. Spiraling back to a night she has tried to forget, she fears he is the German soldier named Karl who brutalized her and murdered her younger sister. But after 15 years,can she be sure? Fearful that her tragic past has come back to haunt her, she begins to stalk the man,hoping to convince herself she is wrong.” (Bleecker Street) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
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New in our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for JIMMY CARTER: ROCK AND ROLL PRESIDENT: “If it hadn’t been for a bottle of scotch and a late-night visit from musician Gregg Allman, Jimmy Carter might never have been elected the 39th President of the United States. JIMMY CARTER, ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT charts the mostly forgotten story of how Carter, a lover of all types of music, forged a tight bond with musicians Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan and others. Low on campaign funds and lacking in name recognition, Carter relied on support from these artists to give him a crucial boost in the Democratic primaries. Once Carter was elected, the musicians became frequent guests in the White House. The surprisingly significant role that music played throughout Carter’s life and in his work becomes a thread in this engaging portrait of one of the most enigmatic Presidents in American history.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order access to the film.
Synopsis for OUR TIME MACHINE: Rated 100% Fresh, this film will become available in our Virtual Cinema on Sept. 11. “Shaken by the news of his father’s dementia, artist Maleonn creates “Papa’s Time Machine,” a wondrous time-travel adventure performed on stage with life-size mechanical puppets. Through the play’s production, he confronts his own mortality. Maleonn finds grace and unexpected joy in this moving meditation on art, the agonies of love and loss, and the circle of life.” VARIETY calls it “Moving… Compelling… A thoughtful, sensitive, brilliant subject.” SCREEN DAILY says, “An uplifting celebration of the love between a son and his father.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order access to the film for $12!
Synopsis for MEETING THE BEATLES IN INDIA: Starts Sept. 11 in our Virtual Cinema! “In 1968, with the eyes of the world upon them, The Beatles traveled to Rishikesh, India, to study transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In one of the most anticipated Beatles documentaries, Filmmaker Paul Saltzman, retraces his journey of 50 years ago when he spent a life-changing time with John, Paul, George and Ringo. Fifty years later he reveals previously unknown details of this pivotal moment in the Beatles’ career and the inner workings of the masterful White Album. Starting with ‘Bungalow Bill’ in Hawaii; connects with David Lynch about his own inner journey; as well as preeminent Beatles historian, Mark Lewisohn; Academy Award nominated film composer, Laurence Rosenthal.: and Pattie and Jenny Boyd. And much of this is due to Saltzman’s own daughter, Devyani, reminding him that he had put away and forgotten these remarkably intimate photographs of that time in 1968.” Click the image below
To find out about all the films that we’re offering virtually, please visit our Virtual Cinema page on our official site.  Here’s the LINK.
Last night, I had a fun chat with a couple former NEON employees about the film VINYL NATION – a documentary we are offering in our Virtual Cinema.  Tomiwa works in L.A. with film and television music and Luke is the owner of Skeleton Dust Records in downtown Dayton.  I greatly appreciate them taking time to share their responses to the film.  If you weren’t able to join us on-line, you can check out a recording of that discussion HERE.
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Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.)  On September 18, we’ll bring the film festival hit BLACKBIRD – starring Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet and Sam Neill. And then on September 23, we’ll start the touching and inspiring documentary OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE. And finally, on September 25, we’ll start THE ARTIST’S WIFE – featuring incredible performances from Lena Olin and Bruce Dern. On October 2, we’ll open the award-winning coming-of-age film ONCE UPON A RIVER. More to come!
“All Access” passes for The 15th Annual Dayton LGBT Film Festival are now on sale.  We had to make a major pivot this year to make the festival happen – so about 90% of it will take place virtually.  A $50 pass will get you access to all 6 virtual screenings (5 features and a package of shorts) as well as a ticket to our one in-person package – TOP DRAWER SHORTS VOL #2.  The line-up is strong, and we’re still ironing out lots of details (virtual filmmaker Q&A’s, video work with our sponsors, etc.).  Click the image below to check out all that we have posted so far…and get your pass ASAP.  The festival is set for Oct. 9-15. Virtual components will be accessible to anyone in Ohio…so please help spread the word. (The image below is from the incredible documentary AHEAD OF THE CURVE.)
Did you know that THE NEON is included in the new downtown DORA program?  DORA stands for “Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.” If you’re out and about in the Oregon District, you can swing by THE NEON and get a beer or cocktail to go.  We’ll pour it in a special cup, and you can walk through the Oregon District while you enjoy your beverage.  This policy is good daily from Noon until 10:00…but on weekends for the next few weeks, 5th Street will be blocked off in the Oregon District – so you can socialize and grab dinner while maintaining lots of outdoor distance.
We hope to see you soon!
Be safe & well.
My best,
Jonathan

The Latest from The Neon: ALL IN News + 2 New Virtual Films!

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Hello Neon Fans,
We’ve got some good news.  This past weekend’s films performed well enough to stick around!  We’re going to keep both FATIMA and THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD until we open the new, powerful film about voter suppression next Wednesday – ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY – featuring Stacey Abrams.
This Friday, in our Virtual Cinema, we will introduce two new films – CRITICAL THINKING with John Leguizamo and a documentary about the resurgence of records – VINYL NATION.  (And just wait until you see other Virtual Cinema titles coming down the road…from Jimmy Carter to Susan Sarandon to The Beatles!)
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Continued In-Person Screenings:
THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD – In-Person Engagement: Click the image below to watch the trailer.
FATIMA – In-Person Engagement:  Click the image below to watch the trailer.
Starting Next Wednesday – In-Person Screenings:
Synopsis for ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY: Opening Sept. 9! “ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY examines the often overlooked, yet insidious issue of voter suppression in the United States. The film interweaves personal experiences with current activism and historical insight to expose a problem that has corrupted our democracy from the very beginning. With the perspective and expertise of Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, the documentary offers an insider’s look into laws and barriers to voting that most people don’t even know is a threat to their basic rights as citizens of the United States.” (Amazon) Click the image below to watch the trailer.
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New in our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for CRITICAL THINKING: Available September 4th! “It’s 1998 in Miami. Rampant poverty, broken families, and a prejudiced system push underprivileged youth to the fringes of society. But for a magnetic group of teens, there’s a reprieve. A game where it’s not about where you come from, but how you play. That equalizer is chess. Mr. ‘T’ Martinez, a chess militant and passionate coach, leads them to a completely foreign field of battle: the National Chess Championship. With an underfunded school district, Martinez and his team can’t just waltz into the arena. They have to fight for it. Chess runs parallel to their own experiences as Martinez teaches them that the power of Critical Thinking can not only save their kings, but also their lives.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order 72 hour access for $6.99
Synopsis for VINYL NATION: “The vinyl record renaissance over the past decade has brought new fans to a classic format and transformed our idea of a record collector: younger, both male and female, multicultural. This same revival has made buying music more expensive, benefited established bands over independent artists and muddled the question of whether vinyl actually sounds better than other formats. VINYL NATION digs into the crates of the record resurgence in search of truths set in deep wax: Has the return of vinyl made music fandom more inclusive or divided? What does vinyl say about our past here in the present? How has the second life of vinyl changed how we hear music and how we listen to each other?” Click image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access for $12. On Tuesday, September 8 at 7:00, you can join our Facebook Live event – where we will discuss the film with special guests. Two of our guests will be former NEON employees who now work in different aspects of the music business – Luke Tandy owns Skeleton Dust Records and Tomiwa Balogun lives in L.A. and works for Warner Music.  Stay tuned to our Facebook Page for more details!
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Continuing in our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for MR. SOUL – Virtual Cinema: “Before Oprah, before Arsenio, there was MR. SOUL! Ellis Haizlip ensures the Revolution will be televised, with “SOUL!,” America’s first ‘Black Tonight Show.’ …Featuring rare live performances and interviews from the legendary Al Green, heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, Sidney Poitier, Cicely Tyson, James Baldwin, Nikki Giovanni, The Last Poets, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Ashford & Simpson, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, Billy Preston, Black Ivory, The Delfonics, Bill Withers, Sonia Sanchez, Wilson Pickett, Odetta, Merry Clayton, Mandrill, Kool & the Gang, Toni Morrison, Kathleen Cleaver, Betty Shabazz, Stokely Carmichael, Mrs. Georgia Jackson, George Faison, Patti LaBelle, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and many more.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order 72 hour access for $12.
Synopsis for MADE IN BANGLADESH – Virtual Cinema: Rated “100% FRESH!”  “Shimu, 23, works in a clothing factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Faced with difficult conditions at work, she decides to start a union with her co-workers. Despite threats from the management and disapproval of her husband, Shimu is determined to go on.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order 48 access to the film for $10.
Synopsis for HOUSE OF CARDIN – Virtual Cinema: Rated “100% FRESH!” “A rare peek into the mind of a genius, an authorized feature documentary chronicling the life and design of Pierre Cardin.” This film will open in our Virtual Cinema on Friday, Aug. 28 for $10…but accessing it is a little different.  Click the image below to watch the trailer, and if you want to proceed, click on pre-order the film.  You will have to create an account with your email address and credit car.  And upon checking out, be sure to use the code “neon” to get a $2 discount (this will also let the site know that we sent you here – thus giving THE NEON credit).
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Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.)  On September 9, we will open JIMMY CARTER: ROCK&ROLL PRESIDENT. On September 11, we’ll open two new films – first is a lovely film about a family dealing with Alzheimer’s and a autobiographical stage play they produce before memories are lost forever – OUR TIME MACHINE – second is the highly anticipated documentary MEETING THE BEATLES IN INDIA. On September 18, we’ll bring the film festival hit BLACKBIRD – starring Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet and Sam Neill. And then on September 23, we’ll start the touching and inspiring documentary OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE. And finally, on September 25, we’ll start THE ARTIST’S WIFE – featuring incredible performances from Lena Olin and Bruce Dern. More to come!
We hope to see you soon!
Be safe & well.
My best,
Jonathan

At the Neon: Ethan Hawke in TESLA and Jacki Weaver in STAGE MOTHER

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Hello NEON Fans!
We’re bringing new films in across the board this week – both in-person and virtually.  That said, we’re keeping a couple too.  We thought we were done with MADE IN ITALY…but it performed better than anticipated and merits a few more screenings – so we’re bringing it back for the weekend.  If you haven’t had a chance to see HOW TO BUILD A GIRL, FARGO or THE BIG LEBOWSKI, Thursday will be your last chance.  On Friday, we’ll start a period drama about the scientist Nikola Tesla starring Ethan Hawke – TESLA.  We will also open a funny and touching film about a deeply religious woman who inherits her son’s gay bar – STAGE MOTHER – starring the incredible, Oscar-nominated Jacki Weaver.  And BURNT ORANGE HERESY will stick around for one show per day for one more week.
In our virtual cinema, today marks the start of a new documentary that uncovers some dark secrets in American history – COUP 53.  On Friday, we’ll virtually start Barbara Kopple’s thrilling new doc DESERT ONE.
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New In-Person Screenings:
Synopsis for TESLA – In-Person Engagement: “”Brilliant, visionary Nikola Tesla (Ethan Hawke) fights an uphill battle to bring his revolutionary electrical system to fruition, then faces thornier challenges with his new system for worldwide wireless energy. The film tracks Tesla’s uneasy interactions with his fellow inventor Thomas Edison (Kyle MacLachlan) and his patron George Westinghouse (Jim Gaffigan).  Another thread traces Tesla’s sidewinding courtship of financial titan J.P. Morgan (Donnie Keshawarz), whose daughter Anne (Eve Hewson) takes a more than casual interest in the inventor.  Anne analyzes and presents the story as it unfolds, offering a distinctly modern voice to this scientific period drama which, like its subject, defies convention.” (IFC Films) Click the image below to watch the trailer.
Synopsis for STAGE MOTHER – In-Person Engagement:  “When conservative, Texas church-choir director Maybelline inherits her recently deceased son’s drag club, she surprises her closed-minded husband and everyone else she knows by moving alone to San Francisco to save the club from bankruptcy. In this raucous, racy new environment, she begins to open up and find new meaning for her life, even becoming a mother-figure to the club’s flamboyant performers… until a surprise visit threatens to upend her new life.” (Momentum Pictures) Click the image below to watch the trailer.
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New to our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for COUP 53: Allen Hunter of SCREEN DAILY says the film is “as compelling as a John Le Carre novel or a Costa-Gavras classic.” THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER raves, “Passionate, Fearless and Jaw-Dropping.” And VARIETY says this doc is full of “Spine-Tingling Revelations.” And in addition to the documentary, you’ll get bonus footage starting tomorrow, August 20 – an exclusive live Q&A with Ralph Feines, the editor Walter Murch and director Taghi Amirani! “The story of the 1953 Anglo – American coup in Iran that overthrew the democratically elected Prime Minister Mossadegh and reinstalled the Shah. Featuring never seen before archive which had been hidden for decades. While making a documentary about the Anglo – American coup in Iran in 1953, Iranian director Taghi Amirani and editor Walter Murch (Apocalypse Now, The Conversation, The English Patient) discover extraordinary never seen before archive material hidden for decades. The 16mm footage and documents not only allow the filmmakers to tell the story of the overthrow of the Iranian government in unprecedented detail, but also lead to explosive revelations about dark secrets buried for 67 years. What begins as a history documentary about 4 days in August 1953 turns into a live investigation, taking the filmmakers into uncharted cinematic waters. The roots of Iran’s volatile relationship with Britain and America has never been so forensically and dramatically exposed.”  Click the picture below to gain access to the film for $12.  (Once you start watching, you’ll have 24 hours to complete watching.)
Synopsis for DESERT ONE: Opens Virtually Aug.21! Master filmmaker Barbara Kopple has crafted a new documentary that plays like a thriller. “Using new archival sources and unprecedented access to key players on both sides, master documentarian Barbara Kopple (Harlan County, USA) reveals the true story behind one of the most daring rescues in modern US history: a secret mission to free hostages captured during the 1979 Iranian revolution.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order access to the film for $12.
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Continuing in our Virtual Cinema:

Synopsis for CREEM – Virtual Cinema:  “Capturing the messy upheaval of the ’70s just as rock was re-inventing itself, CREEM: AMERICA’S ONLY ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MAGAZINE explores CREEM Magazine’s humble beginnings in post-riot Detroit, follows its upward trajectory from underground paper to national powerhouse…” Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access to the film for $9.99.
Synopsis for JAZZ ON A SUMMER’S DAY – Virtual Cinema:  “Filmed at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island and directed by world-renowned photographer, Bert Stern. JAZZ ON A SUMMER’S DAY features intimate performances by an all-star line-up of musical legends including Louis Armstrong, Thelonius Monk, Gerry Mulligan…This 1959 classic is considered one of the most extraordinary and possibly the first concert film ever made.” (Kino Lorber) Click on the image below to visit the site where you can watch the trailer and gain 5 day access to the film for $10.

Synopsis for REPRESENT – Virtual Cinema:  “Equal parts personal and political, REPRESENT follows three women on both sides of the aisle who share the singular goal of improving their community through public service.” (Music Box Films) Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order 72 hour access to the film for $12.  (This film will be available starting Friday.)

Check out all the titles we’re currently offering in our Virtual Cinema HERE.
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Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.)  On Aug 28, we’ll open an award-winning, crowd-favorite narrative MADE IN BANGLADESH as well as an award-winning, fascinating doc MR. SOUL!  Also on Aug. 28, we’ll open a fascinating fashion doc – HOUSE OF CARDIN. On Sept 4, we’ll open a doc about the growing love of records – VINYL NATION as well as an inspiring film about underprivileged students learning chess starring John Leguizamo – CRITICAL THINKING. On September 11, we’ll open a lovely film about a family dealing with Alzheimer’s and a autobiographical stage play they produce before memories are lost forever – OUR TIME MACHINE. More to come!
We hope to see you soon!
Be safe & well.
My best,
Jonathan

Wes Anderson, More Hitchcock, FLANNERY & More

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Hello NEON Fans!
We’ve got a whole new slate this week!  Audiences have been loving the classic Hitchcock films, so we’re bringing two more – Tippi Hedren in THE BIRDS and Hitchcock’s personal favorite, SHADOW OF A DOUBT.  In addition, many of you chimed in and said you wanted to see Wes Anderson films back on the big screen – so we’re bringing two big hits back – MOONRISE KINGDOM and GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (we’ll consider these the precursor to FRENCH DISPATCH – Anderson’s next film due later this year). In our Virtual Cinema, we just added a documentary about the famous author, FLANNERY, and on Friday, you’ll be able to virtually access NEVER TOO LATE.  If you need to see any of our current selections – MARNIE, REAR WINDOW, NEVER TOO LATE or BLADE RUNNER, Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON.
In the past few days, I’ve been a part of two great virtual discussions. On Sunday, we assembled four special guests to talk about CREATING A CHARACTER.  If you’d like to check out that free discussion, click the image below.  If you haven’t yet seen CREATING A CHARACTER, here’s the LINK where you can gain 72 hour access for $12.  One of our special guests was WSU grad Jasmine Batchelor – she appeared in the documentary and is the star of another film in our Virtual Cinema THE SURROGATE.  If you haven’t seen her critically-acclaimed, incredible performance in this film, you can gain 72 hour access to THE SURROGATE by clicking this LINK.  On Monday evening, The Jewish Community Center of Greater Dayton invited me to take part in a discussion about THE TOBACCONIST.  You can watch that community discussion HERE, and you can gain 72 hour access to THE TOBACCONIST HERE.
On July 31, we will open 3 NEW films in person at THE NEON – THE FIGHT, SUMMERLAND, and GORDON LIGHTFOOT: IF YOU COULD READY MY MIND.  Please help us spread the word.  Social distancing measure will certainly still be in place…but results will help us determine how we need to proceed regarding our hours of operation.
 
Synopsis for THE BIRDS – In Person Screenings:  “Loosely based on the 1952 story by Daphne du Maurier, THE BIRDS focuses on a series of sudden and unexplained violent bird attacks on the people of Bodega Bay, California, over the course of a few days. The film stars Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren in her screen debut, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette and Veronica Cartwright. The screenplay is by Evan Hunter, who was told by Hitchcock to develop new characters and a more elaborate plot while keeping du Maurier’s title and concept of unexplained bird attacks. In 2016, The Birds was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress, and selected for preservation in its National Film Registry.” (wikipedia) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for SHADOW OF A DOUBT – In Person Screenings:  We’re wrapping up our 6-film HITCHCOCK 101 Series with the film that was Hitch’s personal favorite! “Charles Oakley lives alone in a rooming house. One day, his landlady tells him that two men came looking for him; he sees the two men waiting on the street in front of his room and he decides to leave town. Charlotte (Charlie) Newton is a bored teen-age girl living in the idyllic town of Santa Rosa, California. She receives wonderful news: Her mother’s younger brother (her eponym), Charles Oakley, is arriving for a visit. Her uncle arrives and at first everyone is delighted with his visit, especially young Charlie. Uncle Charlie brings everyone presents. He gives his niece an emerald ring which has someone else’s initials engraved inside…” (wikipedia) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for MOONRISE KINGDOM – In Person Screenings:  NEON audiences have expressed their love of Wes Anderson numerous times to us…so we’re bringing back a couple favorites! “Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in every which way. Bruce Willis plays the local sheriff, Captain Sharp. Edward Norton is a Khaki Scout troop leader, Scout Master Ward. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand portray the young girl’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bishop. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Bob Balaban; and introduces Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as Sam and Suzy, the boy and girl.” (Focus Features) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL – In Person Screenings:  One of our highest grossing and most beloved films of all time at THE NEON is coming back as we look at the work of Wes Anderson. See it back on the big screen the way it’s meant to be seen! “THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune — all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent.” (Searchlight) The all-star cast of this visually stunning film is too lengthy to list (but I can’t help myself in mentioning Saoirse Ronan and Tilda Swinton)! Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for FLANNERY – Virtual Engagement: “Winner of the first-ever Library of Congress / Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, FLANNERY is the lyrical, intimate exploration of the life and work of author Flannery O’Connor, whose distinctive Southern Gothic style influenced a generation of artists and activists. With her family home at Andalusia (the Georgia farm where she grew up and later wrote her best known work) as a backdrop, a picture of the woman behind her sharply aware, starkly redemptive style comes into focus. Including conversations with those who knew her and those inspired by her (Mary Karr, Tommy Lee Jones, Lucinda Williams, Hilton Als and more), Flannery employs never-before-seen archival footage, newly discovered personal letters and her own published words (read by Mary Steenburgen) alongside original animations and music to examine the life and legacy of an American literary icon. Content Advisory: This film contains offensive language, including an ethnic slur that-in an effort to retain the integrity of the literary works examined therein-has not been muted or otherwise distorted in the presentation of the documentary. Racist language was wrong during Flannery O’Connor’s lifetime and is wrong today. This film, the filmmakers and those presenting the film do not condone, support or promote the use of racist language in any way.” Click the image below to gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.
On Friday, we will begin offering NEVER TOO LATE in our Virtual Cinema. This senior-driven romantic dramedy stars James Cromwell and Jacki Weaver.  Starting Friday, you can click the image below to gain 72 hour access for $12.

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Continuing in our Virtual Cinema:
JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE in our Virtual Cinema. Synopsis: “Rated “100% Fresh” on Rottentomatoes! “Using interviews and rare archival footage, JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE chronicles Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration.”  Click the image below to gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.
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Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.)  On July 31, we will open the doc about the resilient work of the ACLU – THE FIGHT (this one is also opening in person). Additionally on July 31, we will open Ron Howard’s latest doc REBUILDING PARADISE (Ron Howard’s doc about Pavorotti was a big hit for us – you can watch the trailer as well as pre-order the film via the link).  On August 7, we will open 2 new films –  GORDON LIGHTFOOT: IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND (which opens in person on July 31) as well as OUT STEALING HORSES.  More to come!
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We’re on the last leg of this little fundraising effort to help keep our numbers afloat. Through the month of July, for a minimum of $100 donation, your name (or company name) will be added to a new NEON t-shirt (which will go on sale later in August). Donations can be made in person or via the “donate” button on our official site…and of course you’ll get a complimentary t-shirt when they’re ready! Click the image below to visit our donation page…just be sure to leave your email address and the name you’d like on the shirt in the “notes” section upon checking out (max. 20 characters).  Thanks for considering!

We hope to see you soon!
Be safe & well.
My best,
Jonathan

Blade Runner, More Hitchcock & Artists’ Roundtable!

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Hello NEON Fans!
We’ve gotta keep moving.  Audiences have been loving the Hitchcock films on the big screen (they look and sound incredible), so we’re bringing two more.  If you still need to see VERTIGO or PSYCHO, you only have until Thursday.  On Friday, we’re bringing MARNIE (with Tippi Hedren & Sean Connery) and REAR WINDOW(with Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly). Additionally this week, we will bring back the crowd-favorite BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT as well as a new senior-driven romantic dramedy – NEVER TOO LATE. If you still need to see THE TOBACONNIST (which audiences are raving about), it will continue in-person screenings through the weekend and its virtual engagement will also continue.
Synopsis for MARNIE: Our “Hitchcock 101 Series” continues this weekend with two familiar leads – Tippi Hedren & Sean Connery in MARNIE! This brilliant film is a favorite of professor emeritus Charles Derry of Wright State’s renowned film program…and Hitchcock was someone we studied quite a bit in film school.  That said, I feel as though this film is not mentioned nearly as often as PSYCHO and VERTIGO.  I think it deserves to be seen on the big screen! “Mark Rutland (Sean Connery) is a customer of one Mr. Strutt, whose business was robbed by his secretary, the mysterious Marnie Edgar (Tippi Hedren). When Marnie applies for a job with Mark, with the intention of stealing from him, Mark — who is obsessively in love with her — blackmails her into marrying him. However, he soon discovers that she has severe psychological issues regarding men, thunderstorms and the color red, and resolves to help her come to terms with her past trauma.”  Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for REAR WINDOW:  We’re delighted to continue our classic Hitchcock retrospectives with 2 Hollywood icons – Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart in REAR WINDOW. “The story of a recuperating news photographer who believes he has witnessed a murder. Confined to a wheelchair after an accident, he spends his time watching the occupants of neighboring apartments through a telephoto lens and binoculars and becomes convinced that a murder has taken place.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT: “Deckard (Harrison Ford) is forced by the police Boss (M. Emmet Walsh) to continue his old job as Replicant Hunter. His assignment: eliminate four escaped Replicants from the colonies who have returned to Earth. Before starting the job, Deckard goes to the Tyrell Corporation and he meets Rachel (Sean Young), a Replicant girl he falls in love with.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for NEVER TOO LATE: “It’s been decades since Caine, Bronson, Angus and Wendell escaped a POW camp. Now, they’re sharing a new prison, Hogan Hills Retirement Home. The four band together for an escape plan, but the rules of engagement have changed-and so has what they’re fighting for. Never Too Late is a heartwarming story about how you’re never too old to chase your dreams.” Starring James Cromwell, Jacki Weaver, Dennis Waterman, and Jack Thompson. If you’re still not up for in-person screenings, this film will be available in our Virtual Cinema starting next Friday.  Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Don’t forget that you can join Dr. Judy Schwartzman and me for a discussion about the film THE TOBACCONIST on Monday, July 20 at 7pm.  If you haven’t seen the film yet, you still have plenty of options to see it in person at THE NEON…or you can rent it in our Virtual Cinema! Synopsis for THE TOBACCONIST – In-Person & Virtual Cinema  Engagement: “Seventeen-year-old Franz journeys to Vienna to apprentice at a tobacco shop. There he meets Sigmund Freud (Bruno Ganz), a regular customer, and over time the two very different men form a singular friendship.” I saw this lovely gem of a film at The Cleveland International Film Festival in 2019, and I’ve been waiting ever since to bring it to THE NEON.  On July 20 at 7pm, Dr. Judy Schwartzman and I will co-facilitate a special “post screening discussion” via Zoom, hosted by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Dayton.  You can sign up for that HERE, and you can click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.
New this week in our Virtual Cinema is a documentary about a professor at Julliard who has helped lead many great actors on their path to greatness.  The film is about his life and and also about the philosophy of his craft. Synopsisfor CREATING A CHARACTER: “What do Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, and Adam Driver have in common?  They are but a few of the extraordinary actors who have studied under the renowned acting teacher Moni Yakim at Julliard – America’s greatest performing arts school. Born in Jerusalem, Moni was a principal performer with Marcel Marceau’s mime company before becoming a director and teacher.  CREATING A CHARACTER explores his extraordinary life and includes insightful interviews with luminaries like Laura Linney, Anthony Mackie, Kevin Kline and more.” As a special bonus to fans of THE NEON and the Dayton Performing Arts Community, a special Artists’ Roundtable has been scheduled for Sunday, July 19 at 5:00.  You’ll be able to tune in via our Facebook page or our new Youtube page.  The Artists’ Roundtable will include Kevin Moore from The Human Race Theatre Company, Joe Deer from Wright State University, and two New York performing artists who have both worked in Dayton as well as studied with Moni – Colby Lane Chambers and Jasmine Batchelor.  (Batchelor appears in this documentary and is also the star of the critically acclaimed film THE SURROGATE – also offered in THE NEON’s Virtual Cinema.) Click the image below to gain 72 hour access to CREATING A CHARACTER for $10.
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These films are sticking around in our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for ONE SMALL STEP – Virtual Engagement: We know that Daytonians love a collection of short films! So here’s one that’s good for the entire family. “Embark on a roller coaster of imagination and possibility in this ShortsTV-presented compilation of new and acclaimed, family-friendly animated short films.” For instructions on how you can watch this film beyond your laptop or pad, visit the distributor’s Help Page HERE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access to this collection for $7.99.
JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE in our Virtual Cinema. Synopsis: “Rated “100% Fresh” on Rottentomatoes! “Using interviews and rare archival footage, JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE chronicles Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration.”  Click the image below to gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.
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Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.)  On July 15, we’ll open the wonderful documentary about a beloved Julliard professor –  On July 22, we will open FLANNERY – a film about Flannery O’Connor that Ken Burns calls “an extraordinary documentary.” On July 24, we plan to begin offering NEVER TOO LATE – starring James Cromwell and Jacki Weaver.
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Over the last past few weeks, I’ve been chatting about the changes we’ve made in order to keep people safe and healthy during this unprecedented time.  One item I want to remind  you is that seating is available for each show at least 40 minutes before the start time.  Please arrive at least a few minutes early so you can find your assigned seat while the lights are still up! 
We’re doing a little fundraising to help keep our numbers afloat. Through the month of July, for a minimum of $100 donation, your name (or company name) will be added to a new NEON t-shirt (which will go on sale later in August). Donations can be made in person or via the “donate” button on our official site…and of course you’ll get a complimentary t-shirt when they’re ready! Click the image below to visit our donation page…just be sure to leave your email address and the name you’d like on the shirt in the “notes” section upon checking out (max. 20 characters).  Thanks for considering!

We hope to see you soon!
Be safe & well.
My best,
Jonathan

JOHN LEWIS, Catherine Deneuve & virtually THE LAST TREE!

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Hello NEON Fans!
Thanks to everyone who came out for our soft reopening.  We learned some important things along the way, and patrons reported that they had great experiences at THE NEON while adhering to our new safety measures.  If you still need to see MISS JUNETEENTH (and you want to see it on the big screen), you only have until Thursday…that said, we will continue our virtual engagement until July 9.  On Friday, we will open two brand new films – the inspiring doc JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE and the star-studded gem THE TRUTH!  In addition, we’ve just added a brand new, powerful film to our virtual offerings – THE LAST TREE.
Be sure to check out the Virtual news further down.  We have a couple awesome announcements about special virtual events!
Synopsis for JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE – In-Person Engagement: Rated “100% Fresh” on Rottentomatoes! “Using interviews and rare archival footage, JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE chronicles Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. Using present-day interviews with Lewis, now 80 years old, Porter explores his childhood experiences, his inspiring family and his fateful meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. In addition to her interviews with Lewis and his family, Porter’s primarily cinéma verité film also includes interviews with political leaders, Congressional colleagues, and other people who figure prominently in his life.” (Magnolia Pictures) This feature-length documentary will be followed by a 16 minute pre-recorded discussion between Representative Lewis and Oprah. Leah Greenblatt of ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY wrote, “Excellent. A joyful, galvanizing portrait of a life radically and fully lived.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for THE TRUTH – In-Person Engagement: “Legends of French cinema Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche join masterful filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda (SHOPLIFTERS, STILL WALKING) to paint a moving portrait of family dynamics in THE TRUTH. Fabienne (Catherine Deneuve) is an aging French movie star who, despite her momentary lapses in memory, remains a venerable force to be reckoned with. Upon the publication of her memoirs, her daughter Lumir (Juliette Binoche) returns to Paris from New York with her husband (Ethan Hawke) and their young daughter to commemorate its release. A sharp and funny battle of wits ensues between the mother-daughter duo, as Lumir takes issue with Fabienne’s rose-colored version of the past. Reflected cleverly by Fabienne’s latest role in a sci-fi drama, their strained relationship takes a poignant journey toward possible reconciliation. Charming, bold, and imbued with endless emotional insight, THE TRUTH offers a relatable look at human relationships, featuring exquisite performances from its all-star cast.” (IFC Films) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for THE LAST TREE – Virtual Engagement: “THE LAST TREE is the semi-autobiographical story of Femi (as a child played by newcomer Tai Golding), a British boy of Nigerian heritage who, after being fostered in rural Lincolnshire, moves to inner-city London to live with his birth mother. In his teens, Femi (Sam Adewunmi) is struggling with the culture and values of his new environment. Femi must decide which path to adulthood he wants to take, and what it means to be a young black man in London during the early 00s. Going back home to Nigeria with his mum to find his Nigerian roots will help adolescent Femi find grounding and hope for a better future…THE LAST TREE scooped two wins for Best Supporting Actress and Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Award. Its Sundance 2019 World Premiere screening was followed by multiple festival screenings in the USA and Canada.” Click the image below to gain 72 hour access for $10.
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We’re delighted to announce that these films will continue in our Virtual Cinema for one more week (until July 9):
SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER in our VIRTUAL CINEMA: “Alan (Bill Nighy) is a stylish tailor with moves as sharp as his suits. However, he’s spent years searching for his missing son Michael, who stormed out over a game of Scrabble and hasn’t been seen since…” You can watch this film on your computer or mobile device as well as some smart TVs.  For more details about available devices, please visit the Eventive’s HELP

page. Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access for $12.
ELLA FITZGERALD: JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS in our Virtual Cinema: “Ella Fitzgerald was a 15 year-old street kid when she won a talent contest in 1934 at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Within months she was a star…”  You can watch this film on your computer or mobile device as well as some smart TVs.  For more details about available devices, please visit the Eventive’s HELP page. This film will be available starting this Friday, June 26 in our Virtual Cinema.  Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order 72 hour access to the film for $12.
MISS JUNETEENTH in our Virtual Cinema: “Turquoise was once crowned Miss Juneteenth, a title commemorating the day slaves in Texas were freed – two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Life didn’t turn out as beautifully as the title promised, but Turquoise, determined to right her wrongs, is cultivating her daughter, Kai, to become Miss Juneteenth, even if Kai wants something else.”

Click the image below to gain 72 hour access to this film for $6.99.

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Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.)  On July 8, we will open ONE SMALL STEP – a collection of critically acclaimed and award-winning animated short films that are family-friendly!  On July 15, we’ll open the wonderful documentary about a beloved Julliard professor – CREATING A CHARACTER (and here’s the fun news: On Sunday, July 19 at 5:00, we’ll host a special Zoom Artists’ Roundtable with Kevin Moore from The Human Race Theatre Company, Joe Deer from Wright State University,  and actors Jasmine Batchelor (the lead actress from THE SURROGATE) and Colby Lane Chambers – both who have performed in Dayton productions and studied with Moni at Julliard – the subject of this film!!) On July 17, we will open THE TOBACCONIST – both virtually and in-person – a film I saw and loved at The Cleveland International Film Festival last year (and here’s the fun news: you can join a post-screening discussion that Judy Schwartzman and I will co-facilitate on Monday, July 20 at 7pm). More details about the zoom discussions will be available next week.  On July 22, we will open FLANNERY – a film about Flannery O’Connor that Ken Burns calls “an extraordinary documentary.” At the end of July, we plan to bring NEVER TOO LATE – starring James Cromwell and Jacki Weaver.
In case you didn’t get last week’s newsletter, here’s a reminder about our new policies. Due to new guidelines for keeping staff and customers healthy during the current crisis, we now offer reserved seating.  If you want to sit next to someone, you’ll need to purchase tickets in the same transaction.  The software we are using will automatically block off three seats between parties – so if you buy a single ticket, there’s no chance for someone to sit next to you. If you’re the first person to reserve a seat in a row (on-line or in-person), we ask that you choose a seat that’s on the aisle or along the wall…this will allow us to maximize our capacity.  This is going to be a big learning curve for us – a full house will now be approximately 35% of our actual capacity.
Here is some of what we’re initially doing TO ENSURE THAT STAFF AND GUESTS STAY HEALTHY:
  • Masks are required for all staff and guests except when eating in an auditorium.
  • Our entrance to the building has moved to THE NEON’s patio doors.  This will streamline transactions and separate ticketing from food purchases.  Additional time between screenings will also minimize lobby traffic.
  • Commonly touched surfaces (door handles, will be sanitized every 30 minutes.
  • Floor markers will assist with social distancing, and hand sanitizers are located throughout the lobby.
  • Please arrive before the scheduled showtime.  Seating will begin approximately 40 minutes before each show.
  • In the auditoriums, every other row will be unavailable. Groups may sit together, but 3 seats will be required between parties in each row.
  • We have increased the time between screenings to allow us sufficient time to sanitize the auditoriums.  For additional assurance, seat wipes will also be available for customer use.
  • Please stay home if you have any of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, sore throat or new loss of taste/smell.
We’ve had a couple people express that they’re still not comfortable leaving their homes during this crazy time.  Though we have gone above and beyond the required guidelines, I understand that some people are hesitant to make the leap of coming to a movie in person.  So I’m asking for your help.  Please know that you can still support us by watching our virtual selections (and by spreading the word)…and if you’re so inclined, donations are always appreciated.  We finally have a DONATE button on our website.  Donations to our cinema are tax-deductible, and they’re easy to do at this LINK.
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While distributors continue moving opening dates of some highly anticipated films, we are thinking of offering some retrospective titles over the next few weeks.  Some distributors are offering us great deals to license some of the films from their libraries, and I want to know what you would support in person at THE NEON.  Would you come out for a Wes Anderson fest?  How about first films from acclaimed directors like Barry Jenkins, Miranda July or Steve McQueen?  Do you want some Coen Brothers?  Or do you prefer some classic Hitchcock?  How about a NEON favorite – AMELIE?  Unfortunately, WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? wasn’t much of a draw this week…so I need your honest opinions as to what you’d support.  Thanks in advance for your input!
We hope to see you soon!
Be safe & well.
My best,
Jonathan
IN-PERSON SHOWTIMES for Wednesday, July 1 – Thursday, July 9:
MISS JUNETEENTH (NR) 1 Hr 34 Min
Wed & Thu (July 1 & 2): 3:30, 7:30
FINAL DAY – July 2!
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR (PG-13) 1 Hr 35 Min
Wed & Thu (July 1 & 2): 3:00, 7:00
FINAL DAY – July 2!
JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE (PG) 1 Hr 34 Min + 16 Min Oprah discussion
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (July 3-5): 1:30, 4:30, 7:30
Monday (July 6): 3:30, 7:30
Tuesday (July 7): 3:30
Wednesday & Thursday (July 8): 3:30, 7:30
THE TRUTH (PG) 1 Hr 46 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (July 3-5): 1:00, 4:00, 7:00
Monday – Thursday (July 6-9): 3:00, 7:00
COMING SOON – In-Person Screenings:
(All Dates Are Tentative.  Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
July 10 – FIRST COW
July 17 – THE TOBACCONIST 
July 31 – SUMMERLAND
Aug 7 – BURNT ORANGE HERESY
TBD – MADE IN ITALY
SAVE YOURSELVES!
GORDON LIGHTFOOT: IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND
THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD

NEON Newsletter: Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Nighy & ReOpening News!

By

Hello NEON Fans.
Once again, we’re moving right along in our Virtual Cinema.  Today marks the start of a new, charming & stylized dramedy starring Bill Nighy – SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER.  On Friday, we will open a fantastic new documentary about the “First Lady of Song” – ELLA FITZGERALD: JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
Also this Friday, we’re doing a very soft, quiet reopening.  Just 2 shows per day for one week so we can get our feet wet again and introduce some new mechanics of our operations. (Below, I have outlined some of our new procedures.)  For one week only, starting this Friday, you can come see MISS JUNETEENTH or WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR on the big screen for just $5.

 

On July 3, we’ll open two brand new films in person. First off is the inspiring documentary JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE.  We’ll also open THE TRUTH – starring the powerhouse talents of Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche, and Ethan Hawke – directed by Hirokazu Koreeda (director of SHOPLIFTERS).

 

Synopsis for SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER in our VIRTUAL CINEMA: “Alan (Bill Nighy) is a stylish tailor with moves as sharp as his suits. However, he’s spent years searching for his missing son Michael, who stormed out over a game of Scrabble and hasn’t been seen since. With a body to identify and his family torn apart, Alan must repair his relationship with his youngest son. Worst of all, he must solve the mystery of an online player who might just be Michael–and find the right words before it’s too late.” You can watch this film on your computer or mobile device as well as some smart TVs.  For more details about available devices, please visit the Eventive’s HELP page. Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access for $12.
Synopsis for ELLA FITZGERALD: JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS in our Virtual Cinema: “Ella Fitzgerald was a 15 year-old street kid when she won a talent contest in 1934 at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Within months she was a star. ELLA FITZGERALD: JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS follows her extraordinary journey over six decades as her sublime voice transforms the tragedies of her own life and the troubles of her times into joy. The film uses never-before-seen images and unheard interviews to bring Ella Fitzgerald to life and to tell the story of her music – a black woman who makes her career in the face of horrifying racism. Here is an Ella the world never knew – tough, thoughtful, funny, a dazzling musical innovator. The film also uncovers Ella’s commitment to the battle for Civil Rights; and it explores the conflicts that always haunted this intensely private woman: the struggle to reconcile her hunger for adoring audiences with her longing for a domestic life with her husband and son. At a time when she was the biggest singing star in the world, her pianist and friend Oscar Peterson said Ella was ‘the loneliest woman in the world.’ But as Jamie Cullum says ‘her music is one of the reasons it’s worth being on this planet.’ Featuring interviews with: Tony Bennett, Jamie Cullum, Laura Mvula, Johnny Mathis, Smokey Robinson, Cleo Laine, Andre Previn, Norma Miller, Patti Austin, Izsak Perlman, Margo Jefferson, Will Friedwald and a rare interview with Ella’s son, Ray Brown Jr.” (Eagle Rock Entertainment) Here’s a bonus for our virtual fans: Join us for a live video conversation on Sunday, June 28 at 7PM with author & music critic WIll Friedwald, the film’s producer Reggie Nadelson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author/journalist Margo Jefferson and composer, multi-instrumentalist & vocalist Camille Thurman.  Click this LINK to sign up for this special Q&A.  You can watch this film on your computer or mobile device as well as some smart TVs.  For more details about available devices, please visit the Eventive’s HELP page. This film will be available starting this Friday, June 26 in our Virtual Cinema.  Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order 72 hour access to the film for $12.
Synopsis for MISS JUNETEENTH – In-Person Screenings: “Turquoise Jones is a single mom who holds down a household, a rebellious teenager, and pretty much everything that goes down at Wayman’s BBQ & Lounge. Turquoise is also a bona fide beauty queen — she was once crowned Miss Juneteenth, a title commemorating the day slaves in Texas were freed – two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Life didn’t turn out as beautifully as the title promised, but Turquoise, determined to right her wrongs, is cultivating her daughter, Kai, to become Miss Juneteenth, even if Kai wants something else.” (Vertical Entertainment) Click the image below to watch the trailer!
Synopsis for WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? – In-Person Screenings: In the summer of 2018, we opened this quiet and lovely film…and it quickly skyrocketed to becoming our biggest hit of the year and our highest grossing documentary of all time at THE NEON.  We’re bringing it back…because we need Mr. Roger’s wisdom and compassion more than ever. “For over thirty years, Fred Rogers, an unassuming minister, puppeteer, writer and producer was beamed daily into homes across America. In his beloved television program, MISTER ROGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, Fred and his cast of puppets and friends spoke directly to young children about some of life’s weightiest issues, in a simple, direct fashion. There hadn’t been anything like Mr. Rogers on television before and there hasn’t been since. Though he may be best known today as a soft-spoken, cardigan-wearing children’s television host, in reality, Fred Rogers’ career represents a sustained attempt to present a coherent, beneficent view about how we should best speak to children about important matters and how television could be used as a positive force in our society.” (Focus Features) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
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We are delighted to keep the following films available in our Virtual Cinema for another week (they will only be available until June 30):
 
Don’t Miss This Film starring WSU grad Jasmine Batchelor!  Local critic Russell Florence calls this film the “First best film of 2020.” THE SURROGATE: “Jess is thrilled to be the surrogate for her best friend and his husband, but when a prenatal test comes back positive, it creates a moral dilemma that threatens their friendship.” (Monument Releasing)  You can watch the film on your computer or mobile device as well as AppleTV, Roku and Chromecast. Click the image below to gain 72 hour access to this film for $12.
Synopsis for MISS JUNETEENTH: You can watch the film on your computer or mobile device as well as AppleTV, Roku and Chromecast. Click the image below to gain 72 hour access to this film for $6.99.
Synopsis for QUARANTINE CAT FILM FEST: “QUARANTINE CAT FILM FESTIVAL is a compilation reel that brings together the cutest, funniest, bravest, and most loving cat videos from more than 1,200 submissions filmed during the COVID-19 Quarantine.” This collection is available to watch on your computer or mobile device.  It is also available for your SmartTV via mirroring or via an HDMI hookup.  Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access for $12.
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The DAYTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL has already nearing an end…how is that possible?  That said, there are still a few films for you to see, and you can gain FREE access to their virtual selections and on-line events! Though we certainly miss hosting this fantastic festival at THE NEON, we think they’ve made a wise decision to move forward virtually this year!! Check out their awesome line-up by clicking the image below!  It’s their 20th anniversary, and they’re making all the screenings and on-line discussions FREE (including talk-backs & comedians)…and it’s very easy to sign up!
Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.)  On July 1, we will open a powerful Sundance film about a young Black man exploring his roots and struggling with what it all means – THE LAST TREE.  On July 8, we plan to open ONE SMALL STEP – a collection of animated short films that are family-friendly!  On July 17, we hope to open THE TOBACCONIST – both virtually and in-person – a film I saw and loved at The Cleveland International Film Festival last year. And sometime later in July, we will open a film called CREATING A CHARACTER – a film about a famous Julliard acting instructor who has helped many incredible performers reach greatness.  We’re also hoping to pair this with a community discussion from a handful of directors & performing artists with local ties.

 

Due to new guidelines for keeping staff and customers healthy during the current crisis, we are in the process of “figuring out” reserved seating.  If you want to sit next to someone, you’ll need to purchase tickets in the same transaction.  The software we are using will automatically block off three seats between parties – so if you buy a single ticket, there’s no chance for someone to sit next to you. If you’re the first person to reserve a seat in a row (on-line or in-person), we ask that you choose a seat that’s on the aisle or along the wall…this will allow us to maximize our capacity.  This is going to be a big learning curve for us – a full house will now be approximately 35% of our actual capacity.

 

Here is some of what we’re initially doing TO ENSURE THAT STAFF AND GUESTS STAY HEALTHY:
  • Masks are required for all staff and guests except when eating in an auditorium.
  • Our entrance to the building has moved to THE NEON’s patio doors.  This will streamline transactions and separate ticketing from food purchases.  Additional time between screenings will also minimize lobby traffic.
  • Commonly touched surfaces (door handles, will be sanitized every 30 minutes.
  • Floor markers will assist with social distancing, and hand sanitizers are located throughout the lobby.
  • Please arrive before the scheduled showtime.  Seating will begin approximately 40 minutes before each show.
  • In the auditoriums, every other row will be unavailable. Groups may sit together, but 3 seats will be required between parties in each row.
  • We have increased the time between screenings to allow us sufficient time to sanitize the auditoriums.  For additional assurance, seat wipes will also be available for customer use.
  • Please stay home if you have any of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, sore throat or new loss of taste/smell.
After all these weeks and hurdles, we finally have a DONATE button on our website.  If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit, please visit this LINK.
We hope to see you soon!
Be safe & well.
My best,
Jonathan

3 New Virtual Treats, ReOpening Film & More News From The Neon

By

I appreciate so many of you reaching out with suggestions as to films I should explore or revisit to expand my knowledge of the struggle and inequalities that face Black people in our society — great recommendations like Ryan Coogler’s FRUITVALE STATION, Spike Lee’s 4 LITTLE GIRLS, and Sabaah Folayan’s WHOSE STREETS? I also loved hearing back from so many of you regarding the list of films on my screening list last week.  If you’re looking for a particular film and you can’t seem to easily find it on Netflix or Amazon, there’s a great resource called justwatch.com that can help you find the film in question on-line.

This week, we’re starting three new films in our virtual cinema.  The dark, comedic heist film  LUCKY GRANDMA and the cine-essay YOU DON’T NOMI (about the cult status of the trainwreck-of-a-film SHOWGIRLS) are already available, and the powerful doc FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO will be available starting Friday.  ( Be sure sure to read about our first Virtual Community Discussion.  This on-line discussion with local partners will center around the film FOR THEY KNOW NOW WHAT THEY DO.)  More details are below. We will hold over 1 ANGRY BLACK MAN, PAHOKEE, CORPUS CHRISTI and MR. JONES for one more week.

 

As I mentioned last Friday, we are targeting early July as our opening date.  If all goes as planned, we will open a terrific, important, and perfect documentary for July 4th weekend – JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE.  Check out this trailer when you get a moment!  (I’ll announce our 2nd new film here next week.)
I am looking to fill at least one part-time position.  If you know someone who is at least 21 years old and loves independent cinema and is looking for a little extra money, please send them to this LINK.  In the coming weeks, we may also start looking for some volunteers.  We will have limited seating capacity upon reopen, and I think I may need the help of ushers during our busier times. I’ll keep you posted!

Synopsis for LUCKY GRANDMA: Critics everywhere are loving Tsai Chin’s central performance. “Set in New York’s Chinatown, Chin portrays an ornery, newly-widowed 80-year-old eager to live life as an independent woman, despite her family’s concerns. When a local fortune teller (Wai Ching Ho) predicts a most auspicious day in her future, she decides to head to the casino, only to land herself on the wrong side of luck by suddenly attracting the attention of local gangsters. She then employs the services of a bodyguard from a rival gang. LUCKY GRANDMA is a dynamic comedy with a stand-out performance by Tsai Chin. A new song by Akwafina is also featured.” (Good Deed Entertainment) Jude Dry of indieWire writes, ” LUCKY GRANDMA is a wickedly entertaining dark comedy, steeped in the colors and characters of New York City’s Chinatown.”  And Peter Debruge of VARIETY wrote, ” Chin is plainly the film’s greatest asset, a terrific actor with great comic timing and a tendency to underplay her character’s reactions…” This film can be watched on your computer, mobile device or on your TV via the KinoMarquee app on a variety of sources. Scroll to the bottom of the purchasing page for further details.  Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 5 day access to the film for $12.

Synopsis for YOU DON’T NOMI: “A chorus of film critics and fervent devotees explore the complicated afterlife of 1995’s biggest film flop, Paul Verhoeven’s salacious SHOWGIRLS, from disastrous release to cult adoration and extraordinary redemption. The film features Adam Nayman (Vice Guide to Film), April Kidwell (I, Nomi) and Peaches Christ (Milk) along with archive interview footage with the cast and crew of SHOWGIRLS.” David Rooney of THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER wrote that the film presents ” a compelling case that the much-maligned pop-culture landmark can be judged as either tawdry rubbish or subversive comic triumph.” And Peter Travers of ROLLING STONE wrote,
” Jeffrey McHale’s feature debut doc is a raucous hoot that also generates a grudging appreciation for the 1995 trashathon that really might be so bad it’s good.” This film will be available to watch on your computer, mobile device and many TVs.  For more details, visit the platforms HELP page.  Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access for $9.99.

 

Synopsis for FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO: “From the director of the landmark film FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO comes a new documentary that explores the intersection of religion, sexual orientation and gender identity in present day America.” THE ADVOCATE wrote, “In this vital, authentic follow-up to FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO, filmmaker Daniel Karslake returns a decade later to the religious right, embittered by the Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision and emboldened by the rise of Trump. Heartbreaking – and inspirational.”    This film will be available starting this Friday and throughout  the rest of June. On Sunday, June 28 at 5:00, I will host a Community Discussion via Zoom with a variety of Spiritual leaders from around the Miami Valley. Click HERE if you’d like to RSVP  for the Community Discussion. This film will be available to watch on your computer or mobile device and on some SmartTVs.  For more details about how you can watch the film, visit First Run Feature’s HELP page.  Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order 72 hour access to the film for $10 .
These films are continuing for one more week!
1 ANGRY BLACK MAN:   Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 48 hour access to the film for $4.99.
PAHOKEE: To purchase 72 hour access of the film for $12, c lick on the image below to be directed to the film’s official site.  You will get a small pop-up that will allow you to purchase the film for $12.  If you get to a screen that quotes you $18, enter the word “neon” as your promo code…this will get your our $12 screening price (instead of $18) and will give us proper credit for your purchase.
CORPUS CHRISTI:  Click the picture below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.
MR. JONES:  Click the picture below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.
HAIL SATAN? Don’t forget that the Q&A with director Penny Lane in conversation with Lucien Greaves, head of The Satanic Temple is tonight!  Watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access to the film for $5 by clicking the image below.

The DAYTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL is already underway, and you can gain FREE access to their virtual selections and on-line events! Though we certainly miss hosting this fantastic festival at THE NEON, we think they’ve made a wise decision!! Check out their awesome line-up by clicking the image below!  It’s their 20th anniversary, and they’re making all the screenings and on-line discussions FREE…and it’s very easy to sign up!
Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? ( Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) On June 17, we plan to open a film that was supposed to have its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival – THE SURROGATE.  On June 19, we’ll open the Sundance hit MISS JUNETEENTH as well as a project that might include some of your work – THE QUARANTINE CAT FILM FEST.  NEON regulars love Bill Nighy, and he’s the star of SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER – it opens for us on June 24. On June 26, we will open a new doc that I know many of you will love – ELLA FITZGERALD: JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS.  And sometime in early July, we hope to open THE TOBACCONIST – a film I saw and loved at The Cleveland International Film Festival last year. On July 1, we will open a powerful Sundance film about a young Black man exploring his roots and struggling with what it all means – THE LAST TREE.

 

After all these weeks and hurdles, we finally have a DONATE button on our website.  If you would like to make a donation to our non-profit, please visit this LINK.
Wishing you all good health!
Be safe & well.
My best,
Jonathan