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SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN & Digital News at THE NEON

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Hello Everyone,

All of us at THE NEON have been working long hours the past several days, and I hope you’re able to discern this newsletter – my eyelids are quite heavy as I type this note. As soon as the benefit was over on Sunday night, we began prepping our projection booth, auditoriums and lobby for some major changes and improvements. On Monday morning, the 35mm projection gear was removed, and new digital projectors (and servers and cases and lenses and cables and monitors and…) began to arrive that afternoon. While technicians have been preparing our new system, the staff has been busy painting, cleaning and painting some more. Our old carpet is being torn up right now, and the new carpet will be laid this afternoon.

Sunday’s benefit was a big success! Thanks so much to all of you who attended. We set our limit to 120 tickets…and we sold the 120th ticket just as the party was getting started. Additional thanks to everyone who made a donation to our cause! Our goal for fundraising was set at $25,000, and we’re currently at $22,160. That’s really wonderful!

On Friday, we will open with all new digital projection. While we will hold onto our last two titles – SLEEPWALK WITH ME and ARBITRAGE – we’ll also open a new documentary that has been a huge hit on the festival circuit. SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN is part mystery part historical document, and music lovers can’t get enough.

Synopsis for SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN: “Searching for Sugar Man tells the incredible true story of Rodriguez, the greatest ’70s rock icon who never was. Discovered in a Detroit bar in the late ’60s by two celebrated producers struck by his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics, they recorded an album which they believed would secure his reputation as the greatest recording artist of his generation. In fact, the album bombed and the singer disappeared into obscurity amid rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide. But a bootleg recording found its way into apartheid South Africa and, over the next two decades, he became a phenomenon. The film follows the story of two South African fans who set out to find out what really happened to their hero. Their investigation leads them to a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths about the artist known as Rodriguez.” (Sony Pictures Classics) Click this link to visit the official site.

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“Help support DATV and be inspired by short films that aim to make a difference in our lives. DATV presents the MEDIA THAT MATTERS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL on Thursday, November 8th at 7:30pm, at THE NEON in Downtown Dayton. The MEDIA THAT MATTERS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL is the premier national showcase for short films on the most important topics of the day. The films engagediverse audiences and inspires them to take action. The festival features 12 jury selected short films that tackle a broad range of social issues with humor, humanity and honesty in 12 minutes or less.” (provided by DATV) Tickets are $10 each, and we have a few available at our box office and on DATV’s site. For more details about the event and the films, visit the official site.

Though we’ve got lots to still learn (training on the new projection equipment will begin this afternoon), this weekend marks the start of a new era for THE NEON – the culmination of months worth or research and preparation. We hope to see you soon.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!
All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Oct. 19 – Sun. Oct. 25:

ARBITRAGE (R) 1 Hr 47 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 5:15, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 5:15

SLEEPWALK WITH ME (NR) 1 Hrs 30 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 3:10, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:10, 7:30

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN (PG-13) 1 Hr 26 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear
very soon – KILLER JOE
very soon – LIBERAL ARTS
Nov. ? SAMSARA
Nov. 16 (2 weeks only) – A LATE QUARTET
Nov. 21 – THE SESSIONS
Nov. 30 – ANNA KARENINA

ARBITRAGE Now Playing at THE NEON!

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Hello Everyone,

Special thanks to everyone who came out and supported THE DOWNTOWN DAYTON LGBT FILM FESTIVAL. With enthusiastic crowds, 3 visiting directors, and 4 sold-out shows, this turned out to be the most successful festival in THE NEON’s history. I’m pleased to announce that the votes for our audience awards were very tight…which means that audiences were really liking several selections. Our “Audience Award – Best Feature” went to LOVE FREE OR DIE, and our “Audience Award – Best Short” went to SABBATICAL. Many congrats to those filmmakers!

We’ve moved forward this weekend at THE NEON.  ROBOT AND FRANK just left, and today we opened the new thriller starring Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon – ARBITRAGE.  If you still need to see THE MASTER, you have one more week.

Synopsis for ARBITRAGE: “When we first meet New York hedge-fund magnate Robert Miller on the eve of his 60th birthday, he appears the very portrait of success in American business and family life. But behind the gilded walls of his mansion, Miller is in over his head, desperately trying to complete the sale of his trading empire to a major bank before the depths of his fraud are revealed. Struggling to conceal his duplicity from loyal wife Ellen and brilliant daughter and heir-apparent Brooke, Miller’s also balancing an affair with French art-dealer Julie Cote. Just as he’s about to unload his troubled empire, an unexpected bloody error forces him to juggle family, business, and crime with the aid of Jimmy Grant, a face from Miller’s past.” (Roadside Attractions) Click this LINK to visit the official site for ARBITRAGE.

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We’re less than 2 weeks away from our big benefit…and I’ve got some new details for you (if you didn’t read the e-mail I sent out a few weeks ago, you can check it out here). Tickets can now be purchased at our box office and on-line via paypal. WDTN recently did a story about our conversion and benefit…if you didn’t catch it, you can see the video by visiting their site. I also stopped by LIVING DAYTON last week…to see that piece, visit their site. The items for our auction are rolling in. J Todd Anderson of Oakwood – well-known for being the storyboard artist to The Coen Brothers – has donated a hand-signed print of a storyboard from THE BIG LEBOWSKI. Martin Sheen has donated 2, autographed screenplays from THE WEST WING (we even sent the pilot to Allison Janney and had her sign it, too). Local filmmakers Julia Reichert, Steve Bognar and Jim Klein have added an exciting package of award-winning films – A LION IN THE HOUSE, THE LAST TRUCK and GROWING UP FEMALE. I’m supplying a copy of THE RUBI GIRLS documentary (which has yet to be released on DVD) as well as an autographed poster of the Girls. And lastly, THE NEON will auction off naming rights to the small auditorium. Stay tuned to next week’s newsletter for your chance to submit a bid if you’re unable to attend the benefit. Click the AMELIE picture below to visit the benefit website – where you can purchase tickets or make a donation to our campaign.

SLEEPWALK WITH ME – a film that many people have been asking about (due to Ira Glass urging his listeners) – is set to open October 12!

All the best.
I hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Oct. 5 – Thu. Oct. 11:

ARBITRAGE (R) 1 Hr 47 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Tuesday: 2:50, 5:10
Wednesday & Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30

THE MASTER (R) 2 Hrs 17 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:15, 8:00

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear
Oct. 12 SLEEPWALK WITH ME
Oct. 19 SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN
Nov. ? SAMSARA
TBD LIBERAL ARTS
TBD THE SESSIONS
TBD KILLER JOE
TBD NEIL YOUNG JOURNEYS
TBD ANNA KARENINA
TBD HYDE PARK ON HUDSON

THE MASTER Opens Friday at THE NEON

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Hello Everyone,

The Toronto International Film Festival was great. I saw 29 films in 9 days (plus a few partials). If you’re interested to know about the movies I saw, click the picture below to be directed to my blog . In the coming days (once I’m caught up on NEON matters), I’ll post one last entry with my wrap-up. For now, I hope you enjoy this little collage of some of the people I saw during introductions and Q&As. These are all from pictures I took at the festival. Can you name everyone? (I’ll list all their names in next week’s newsletter.)

At THE NEON, we’re moving forward again this week. FAREWELL, MY QUEEN did not perform well enough to stick around for a second week. If you still need to see this film, you only have through Thursday to see it at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open one of the best reviewed films of the year – THE MASTER. This film broke records over the weekend in NYC and LA, and we’re hoping that fans of Paul Thomas Anderson (THERE WILL BE BLOOD, MAGNOLIA and BOOGIE NIGHTS) will be out en masse. ROBOT & FRANK will stick around for another week. (remaining showtimes for this week can be found at our site: neonmovies.com)

Synopsis for THE MASTER: “A Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future – until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader.” (taken from imdb.com) “In the years after WWII, an American intellectual creates a religion. When he meets a troubled drifter, he invites the man to help him spread the new faith. As their congregation increases, the drifter begins to question the religion he once accepted and the mentor who gave his life direction.” (taken from metacritic.com)

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Earlier today, we had another director confirm that he will attend this year’s Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival. That makes three directors attending our fest…and I think that’s pretty incredible. Jonathan Lisecki – director of GAYBY, Travis Mathews – director of I WANT YOUR LOVE, Glenn Kiser – director of SABBATICAL (part of the TOP DRAWER SHORTS program) will attend and answer your questions. Read all about the films on the official website. The 7th Annual Fest is set for Sept. 28-30. Watch the trailers and mark your calendars…it’s gonna be great! Special thanks to DAYTON MOST METRO, WYSO and DAYTON DAILY NEWS for already committing to provide stories about this year’s films. To hear an interview I recently did about the festival on WYSO, please click this link.

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And on the horizon is our benefit to assist with our digital conversion – set for October 14 (if you didn’t read that e-mail, you can check it out here). Tickets can now be purchased at our box office and on-line via paypal. If you’re not able to attend our benefit, you can also make a donation on the benefit page. WDTN recently did a story about our conversion and benefit…if you didn’t catch it, you can see the video by visiting their site.

All the best.
I hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Sept. 21 – Thu. Sept. 27:

ROBOT & FRANK (PG-13) 1 Hr 29 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20

THE MASTER (R) 2 Hrs 17 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:15, 8:00

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear
Sept. 28-30 DOWNTOWN DAYTON LGBT FILM FESTIVAL
Sept. 21 ARBITRAGE
Oct. 5 SLEEPWALK WITH ME
Oct. ? SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN
Nov. ? SAMSARA
TBD THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES
TBD 2 DAYS IN NEW YORK