hyde park on hudson

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK & HYDE PARK ON HUDSON Continue at THE NEON

January 23, 2013 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

We’ve had a tremendous start to 2013. Thanks to all of you who continue to support the films we bring to town. This past weekend was fantastic, and audiences are loving SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK. In fact, we’re going to hold both films. That said, this will be the final week for HYDE PARK ON HUDSON. Hurry down if you still need to see it! For remaining showtimes this week, visit our official site at www.neonmovies.com.

By now, I’m sure you’re aware of our upcoming screening of the new documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon – THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE. We’re set to play it thanks to your support of a new distribution model called GATHR. Because 25 people have already purchased tickets to the screening, the date and time are secure. We’ll play the film on Thursday, February. 7 at 7:30. Tickets are $9 each. Visit our box office or the Gathr site to purchase advanced tickets (this is the LINK to the gathr site…enter “45402” for the zip code). Please help us spread the word…we would love to bring even more smaller films to town, but we have to make certain there’s adequate support before we bring them. Here’s a brief synopsis of the film – “In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers were arrested and chared with brutally attacking and raping a white female jogger in Central Park. News media swarmed the case, calling them a ‘wolfpack.’ The five would spend years in prison for a crime they didn’t commit before the truth about what really happened became clear…”

“January 1863 marked the first legal idea of freedom for slaves in the United States of America, but 150 years later there are more slaves and humans trafficked than ever before. Ohio is #5 in the nation for the most number of humans trafficked. Peace on Fifth presents a one-time movie screening of NOT MY LIFE in honor of Human Trafficking Prevention Month and as a part of Start Freedom Dayton, a local human trafficking awareness campaign. With a reported 27 million people enslaved in the world, many US Americans may think this is a global problem that does not touch the shores of the US. In fact, who would ever think that Dayton is at risk or involved? The film covers five continents and shows multiple forms of trafficking/slavery. You will hear from victims, advocates and abolitionists that are on the ground living and fighting for freedom every day. Come out and see about modern day slavery and learn how you can change the world…right now! Tickets at $10 at the door or $8.50 in advance at Peace on Fifth (located at 508 E Fifth Street).”

ThinkTV has once again offered to help us get a signal for our FREE Annual Oscar Party. Mark you calendars for Sunday, February 24. Ballots are now available in our lobby (though you must be present at the party in order to win prizes). 15 films that are nominated for Academy Awards have screened at (or are coming soon to) THE NEON. Between these 15 films, there are 34 nominations. We hope you’ll make plans to spend this fun night with us. We will begin seating for this party as close to 7pm as possible…which is when the Red-Carpet pre-show begins. (We will begin collecting ballots on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Noon…collected ballots (only one per person present) will result in our seating priority.)

Next week, we play to open RUST AND BONE…and incredible film with n amazing performance by Marion Cotillard. Check out the trailer.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg7skcyYolU’]

We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Jan. 25 – Thur, Jan. 31:

HYDE PARK ON HUDSON (R) 1 Hr 34 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Wednesday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:50
Thursday: 3:00, 5:15

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (R) 2 Hr 02 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:15, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00

NOT MY LIFE (NR) 1 Hr 23 min + Discussion
Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Feb. 1 – RUST AND BONE
Feb ? – A ROYAL AFFAIR
Feb. 15 – AMOUR
Feb ? – QUARTET
Feb ? – WEST OF MEMPHIS
Late Winter/Spring – NO
Late Winter/Spring – THE GATEKEEPERS
Spring – ON THE ROAD

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK at THE NEON Plus New Special Events

January 15, 2013 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

We had another solid weekend…due especially to HYDE PARK ON HUDSON. Though that film will hold for another week, our other two films are in their last days. If you still need to see DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL or PROMISED LAND, Thursday will be your last chance to see them at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open a film that is up for 8 Academy Awards including “Best Picture” – SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK. For this week’s remaining showtimes, visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK: “Life doesn’t always go according to plan…Pat Solitanohas lost everything — his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother and father after spending eight months in a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat’s parents want is for him to get back on his feet – and to share their family’s obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he’ll do something very important for her in return…” (The Weinstein Company) Click this LINK to visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj5_FhLaaQQ’]

Have you heard of the new documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon – THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE. We’re gonna play it thanks to your support of a new distribution model called GATHR. Here’s the synopsis of the film – “In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers were arrested and charged with brutally attacking and raping a white female jogger in Central Park. News media swarmed the case, calling them a ‘wolfpack.’ The five would spend years in prison for a crime they didn’t commit before the truth about what really happened became clear…this incendiary film tells the riveting tale of innocent young men scapegoated for a heinous crime, and serves as a mirror for our times.” This documentary was not slated to play in town…so we tried Gathr – which is an “on-demand” distribution model. Because 25 people have already purchased tickets to the screening…we can proceed. We’ll play the film on Thursday, February. 7 at 7:30. Tickets are $9 each. Visit the Gathr site to purchase your advanced tickets by clicking this LINK (enter “45402” for the zip code, and the information for THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE will appear). Please help us spread the word…we would love to bring even more smaller films to town, but we have to make certain there’s support for these titles.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AehmA3hTLmA’]

If you were a fan of the one-night only screening of RIDE THE DIVIDE, mark your calendars now for January 23. We will host a one-night only screening of the new film REVEAL THE PATH. “REVEAL THE PATH is a genre-defying adventure film that contemplates what it means to live an inspired life using the bicycle as a mechanism to explore, dream and discover. Regions explored include Scotland’s lush valleys, Europe’s snow capped mountains, Morocco’s high desert landscapes, Nepal’s rural countryside and Alaska’s rugged coastal beaches…Meet the locals living modest yet seemingly fulfilling lives, leading us to question what it means to live an inspired life – however humble or extravagant. Join in as the creators of RIDE THE DIVIDE take you on an adventure that will leave you with an eager desire to chart your own course to far away lands or simply to discover with eyes wide open what’s right around the bend.” (taken from press notes) Check out the official site to find out more about the film and to purchase advanced tickets – which are $11 each. (We will not be selling advanced tickets for this event at our box office…they will only be available on the official site. If tickets are still available on the night of the screening, they will be $15 each.)

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnuW4gdtQxI’]

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBlifdh911A’]

ThinkTV has once again offered to help us get a signal for our FREE Annual Oscar Party. Mark you calendars for Sunday, February 24. Ballots will soon be available in our lobby (but you must be present at the party in order to win prizes). More details will be available in next week’s newsletter…but we’re excited about seeing some of this year’s favorites on the ballot. 15 films that are nominated for Academy Awards have screened at (or are coming soon to) THE NEON. Between these 15 films, there are 34 nominations. We hope you’ll make plans to spend this fun night with us.

We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Jan. 18 – Thur, Jan. 24:

HYDE PARK ON HUDSON (R) 1 Hr 34 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday: 3:15, 5:30, 7:50
Tuesday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:50
Wednesday: 3:00, 5:15
Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:50

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (R) 2 Hr 02 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:15, 9:45
Monday: 3:15, 5:45, 8:10
Tuesday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00

REVEAL THE PATH(NR) 1 Hr 14 min
Wednesday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Jan 25 – RUST AND BONE
Soon – A ROYAL AFFAIR
Feb. 15 – AMOUR
Feb ? – WEST OF MEMPHIS
Late February – QUARTET
Late Winter/Spring – NO
Late Winter/Spring – THE GATEKEEPERS
Spring – ON THE ROAD

DIANA VREELAND Doc at THE NEON Plus Fun Announcements

January 9, 2013 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

Thanks to all of you who came out over the weekend. It was a great way to start off 2013! HYDE PARK ON HUDSON was a big hit, and we’re going to hold it steady. PROMISED LAND, though well-liked, wasn’t so hot. We’re going to hold it for a few screenings a day for one more week…but we’re also going to add something new to the mix. Diana Vreeland, the style icon and “Auntie Mame” of the fashion world, is featured in a new documentary that will appeal to all lovers of fashion, music and art – DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL. This film will only play for one week…one screening per day. For this week’s remaining showtimes, visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL: “During Diana Vreeland’s fifty year reign as the “Empress of Fashion,” she launched Twiggy, advised Jackie Onassis, and established countless trends that have withstood the test of time. She was the fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar where she worked for twenty-five years before becoming editor-in-chief of Vogue, followed by a remarkable stint at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, where she helped popularize its historical collections. Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel is an intimate portrait and a vibrant celebration of one of the most influential women of the twentieth century, an enduring icon who has had a strong influence on the course of fashion, beauty, publishing and culture.” (Samuel Goldwyn) Click this LINK to visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq3pWc-CMXw’]

Have you heard of the new documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon – THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE? “In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers were arrested and charged with brutally attacking and raping a white female jogger in Central Park. News media swarmed the case, calling them a ‘wolfpack.’ The five would spend years in prison for a crime they didn’t commit before the truth about what really happened became clear…this incendiary film tells the riveting tale of innocent young men scapegoated for a heinous crime, and serves as a mirror for our times.” This documentary is not currently slated to play in town. That said, we’re trying something new. It’s called Gathr. If 25 people buy tickets in advance, we’ll play the film on Thursday, February. 7 at 7:30. Tickets will be $9 each. Visit the Gathr site to purchase your tickets by clicking this LINK (enter “45402” for the zip code, and the information for THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE will appear…along with a trailer). Don’t worry – If you “buy” a ticket but there’s not enough interest, we won’t hold the screening and you won’t be charged. Please help us spread the word…we need to sell 25 tickets in advance in order to proceed!

If you were a fan of the one-night only screening of RIDE THE DIVIDE, mark your calendars now for January 23. We will host a one-night only screening of the new film REVEAL THE PATH. “REVEAL THE PATH is a genre-defying adventure film that contemplates what it means to live an inspired life using the bicycle as a mechanism to explore, dream and discover. Regions explored include Scotland’s lush valleys, Europe’s snow capped mountains, Morocco’s high desert landscapes, Nepal’s rural countryside and Alaska’s rugged coastal beaches…Meet the locals living modest yet seemingly fulfilling lives, leading us to question what it means to live an inspired life – however humble or extravagant. Join in as the creators of RIDE THE DIVIDE take you on an adventure that will leave you with an eager desire to chart your own course to far away lands or simply to discover with eyes wide open what’s right around the bend.” (taken from press notes) Check out the official site to find out more about the film and to purchase advanced tickets. (We will not be selling advanced tickets for this event at our box office…they will only be available on the official site.)

ThinkTV has once again offered to help us get a signal for our FREE Annual Oscar Party. Mark you calendars for Sunday, February 24. More details will be available soon.

On January 18, we will open SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK. The Weinstein Company wanted us to open the film on Dec. 25, but we had obligations with our other titles at that time…so we think adding it after tomorrow’s Oscar nominations will be a good fit. Please help us spread the word. If you haven’t seen this film yet, we hope you’ll wait to see it with us. If you’ve already seen it, perhaps you’d consider telling friends to see it here (or maybe even see it again).

We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Jan. 11 – Thur, Jan. 17:

HYDE PARK ON HUDSON (R) 1 Hr 34 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:50

PROMISED LAND (R) 1 Hr 46 Min
Friday, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45
Saturday, Sunday: 12:45, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 8:00

DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL
(PG-13) 1 Hr 26 min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 3:00
Monday – Thursday: 5:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Jan. ? – A ROYAL AFFAIR
Jan 25 – RUST AND BONE
Feb. 15 – AMOUR
Feb ? – WEST OF MEMPHIS
Late February – QUARTET
Spring – ON THE ROAD

HYDE PARK ON HUDSON and PROMISED LAND at THE NEON

January 2, 2013 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

Everything must go! If you still need to see ANNA KARENINA, HITCHCOCK or SMASHED, you only have until Thursday (Jan. 3) to see them at THE NEON! On Friday (Jan. 4), we will open two new, exciting films – HYDE PARK ON HUDSON (starring Bill Murray as FDR) and PROMISED LAND (the new film from Gus Van Sant starring Matt Damon). For this week’s remaining showtimes, visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for HYDE PARK ON HUDSON: “In June 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor host the King and Queen of England for a weekend at the Roosevelt home at Hyde Park on Hudson, in upstate New York – the first-ever visit of a reigning English monarch to America. With Britain facing imminent war with Germany, the Royals are desperately looking to FDR for support. But international affairs must be juggled with the complexities of FDR’s domestic establishment, as wife, mother, and mistresses all conspire to make the royal weekend an unforgettable one. Seen through the eyes of Daisy, Franklin’s neighbor and intimate, the weekend will produce not only a special relationship between two great nations, but, for Daisy – and through her, for us all – a deeper understanding of the mysteries of love and friendship.” (Focus Features) Click HERE to visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqQzNyxSShM’]

Synopsis for PROMISED LAND: “In Promised Land, Matt Damon stars as Steve Butler, a corporate salesman whose journey from farm boy to big-time player takes an unexpected detour when he lands in a small town, where he grapples with a surprising array of both open hearts and closed doors. Gus Van Sant (GOOD WILL HUNTING and MILK) helms the film from an original screenplay written by John Krasinski & Matt Damon.” (Focus Features) Also stars John Krasinski, Frances McDormand, Hal Holbrook and Rosmarie DeWitt. This film about fracking and the strength of small town communities should hit close to home for many in the Miami Valley. Click HERE to visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBqPv6xO6es’]

A few NEON regulars have asked if I would publish my “Top 10” list for the year. Unfortunately, I just can’t. I feel as though I still need to see so many movies before I decide. (I have yet to see ZERO DARK THIRTY, ARGO, HOLY MOTORS and dozens more.) One thing is for certain. Of the films I have seen, AMOUR is my favorite…and we will bring it to town in February (if you’ve seen the trailer for this film and were unimpressed, you’re not alone…I don’t think the trailer does any service for the brilliant film). Other films that I really liked that have yet to show in town are RUST AND BONE (perhaps you’ve seen the gorgeous and intriguing trailer at THE NEON), QUARTET (Maggie Smith in Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut) and IN THE HOUSE (Ozon’s new, incredible film).

In reviewing our 2012 numbers, here are the Top 10 films at THE NEON (in order of box office performance) –
MOONRISE KINGDOM (the best by far!), THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, THE ARTIST (this film didn’t open until January of 2012 in Dayton), ANNA KARENINA, THE INTOUCHABLES, TO ROME WITH LOVE, THE MASTER, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD and JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME (Though the #10 almost went to HITCHCOCK …it was that close!).

We’ve never announced anything like this before, but we thought that some of you might be interested…
THE NEON is excited to spread the word about an investment opportunity for people who love good, independent filmmaking. This Spring, a Dayton-native who currently lives and works in NYC will return to town in order to shoot a feature-length film. We’ve shown her work in the past, and we believe in her Dayton-centric screenplay and vision. If you’d like to find out more about the opportunity to invest in this project, please respond to me via e-mail or telephone. Someone associated with the film will contact you with more details. My contact info: [email protected] or (937)222-8452

If you were a fan of the one-night only screening of RIDE THE DIVIDE, mark your calendars now for January 23. We will host a one-night only screening of the new film REVEAL THE PATH. “REVEAL THE PATH is a genre-defying adventure film that contemplates what it means to live an inspired life using the bicycle as a mechanism to explore, dream and discover. Regions explored include Scotland’s lush valleys, Europe’s snow capped mountains, Morocco’s high desert landscapes, Nepal’s rural countryside and Alaska’s rugged coastal beaches…Meet the locals living modest yet seemingly fulfilling lives, leading us to question what it means to live an inspired life – however humble or extravagant. Join in as the creators of RIDE THE DIVIDE take you on an adventure that will leave you with an eager desire to chart your own course to far away lands or simply to discover with eyes wide open what’s right around the bend.” (taken from press notes) Check out the official site to find out more about the film and to purchase advanced tickets. (We will not be selling advanced tickets for this event at our box office…they will only be available on the official site.)

Thanks so much for your ongoing support throughout the year!
It’s officially Oscar season, and we hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Jan. 4 – Thur, Jan. 10:

HYDE PARK ON HUDSON (R) 1 Hr 34 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:50

PROMISED LAND (R) 1 Hr 46 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45
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.
Jan. 11 – DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL
Jan 25 – RUST AND BONE
Jan. ? – A ROYAL AFFAIR
Feb. 15 – AMOUR
Feb ? – WEST OF MEMPHIS
Spring – ON THE ROAD

SMASHED and Exciting Announcement at THE NEON

December 26, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

HITCHCOCK and ANNA KARENINA are still performing well for us, so we’re going to keep both…but we’ll also add a new film into the mix for one week. On Friday, we will open SMASHED – the new film which just earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Synopsis for SMASHED: “A married couple whose bond is built on a mutual love of alcohol gets their relationship put to the test when the wife decides to get sober.” (taken from Sony Classics) Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Octavia Spencer and Megan Mullally. Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVZmINZyj-U’]

If you were a fan of the one-night only screening of RIDE THE DIVIDE, mark your calendars now for January 23. We will host a one-night only screening of the new film REVEAL THE PATH. “REVEAL THE PATH is a genre-defying adventure film that contemplates what it means to live an inspired life using the bicycle as a mechanism to explore, dream and discover. Regions explored include Scotland’s lush valleys, Europe’s snow capped mountains, Morocco’s high desert landscapes, Nepal’s rural countryside and Alaska’s rugged coastal beaches…Meet the locals living modest yet seemingly fulfilling lives, leading us to question what it means to live an inspired life – however humble or extravagant. Join in as the creators of RIDE THE DIVIDE take you on an adventure that will leave you with an eager desire to chart your own course to far away lands or simply to discover with eyes wide open what’s right around the bend.” (taken from press notes) Check out the official site to find out more about the film and to purchase advanced tickets. (We will not be selling advanced tickets for this event at our box office…they will only be available on the official site.)

On January 4 we will open 2 new films – HYDE PARK ON HUDSON (with Bill Murray as FDR) and PROMISED LAND (starring Matt Damon, John Krasinski and Frances McDormand – directed by Gus Van Sant)! I think we’ll start the year off with some enthusiastic audiences…this also means that everything on this week’s playlist will leave on January 3. We hope you’ll hurry down.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!
Just a reminder – we’re open 365 Days a Year!

We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Dec. 28 – Thur, Jan. 3:

ANNA KARENINA (R) 2 Hr 10 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:10
Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:15, 8:00

HITCHCOCK (PG-13) 1 Hr 38 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 7:50

SMASHED (R) 1 Hr 21 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 5:30

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Jan. 4 – HYDE PARK ON HUDSON
Jan. 4 – PROMISED LAND
Jan. 11 – DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL
Jan 25 – RUST AND BONE
Jan. ? – A ROYAL AFFAIR
Feb. 8 – ON THE ROAD
Feb. 15 – AMOUR
Feb ? – WEST OF MEMPHIS

ANNA KARENINA and HITCHCOCK are Hits At THE NEON!

December 19, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

HITCHCOCK and ANNA KARENINA are performing quite well for us, so we’ll hold both for another week!
I’m happy to announce that along with our upgrade to digital projection, we also installed hearing assisted devices. These headphones are available for check-out when you purchase your tickets, and the devices work for all titles. For select titles, “Audio Description” is available. This is a service for the blind and visually impaired…and HITCHCOCK makes use of this technology. (A person narrates the on-screen action via headphones.) Please let us know if you’d like to try these out…and please help us spread the word to people who might be interested in these services.

Check out this lovely featurette about ANNA KARENINA:

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSmPXiGVjnI’]

Check out this fun scene from HITCHCOCK…it’s all about editing and makes me nostalgic for our 35mm projectors (not to mention the way I learned to edit 16mm film at WSU).

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOTq6KYDTfI’]

Do you use Facebook? If so, we’ve got a fun contest going on that uses the HITCHCOCK photobooth in our lobby. Check out our Facebook page for details on how you could win a HITCHCOCK prize pack – which includes dvds of PSYCHO and NORTH BY NORTHWEST. Only a handful of people have entered, so your chances are very good! But hurry up – the contest ends on Dec. 23! Here’s our page – www.facebook.com/neonmovies

If you were a fan of the one-night only screening of RIDE THE DIVIDE, mark your calendars now for January 23. We will host a one-night only screening of the new film REVEAL THE PATH. “REVEAL THE PATH is a genre-defying adventure film that contemplates what it means to live an inspired life using the bicycle as a mechanism to explore, dream and discover. Regions explored include Scotland’s lush valleys, Europe’s snow capped mountains, Morocco’s high desert landscapes, Nepal’s rural countryside and Alaska’s rugged coastal beaches…Meet the locals living modest yet seemingly fulfilling lives, leading us to question what it means to live an inspired life – however humble or extravagant. Join in as the creators of RIDE THE DIVIDE take you on an adventure that will leave you with an eager desire to chart your own course to far away lands or simply to discover with eyes wide open what’s right around the bend.” (taken from press notes) Check out the official site to find out more about the film and to purchase advanced tickets. (We will not be selling advanced tickets for this event at our box office…they will only be available on the official site.)

If you are in need of a fun stocking stuffer, we have day planners featuring The Rubi Girls in our lobby for $20 each or 2 for $30. The Rubi Girls are a comedic drag troupe here in Dayton who have now helped to raise over One Million Dollars for HIV Charities in Ohio. 100% of the price of the planner goes back to AIDS Resource Center Ohio. (These planners are intended for mature audiences.)

We just confirmed our line-up for the next few weeks. On December 28, we will open SMASHED for one week – featuring a fantastic performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (who was just nominated for an Independent Spirit Award). On January 4 we will open 2 new films – HYDE PARK ON HUDSON (with Bill Murray as FDR) and PROMISED LAND (starring Matt Damon, John Krasinski and Frances McDormand – directed by Gus Van Sant)! I think we’ll start the year off with some enthusiastic audiences.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBqPv6xO6es’]

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!
Just a reminder – we’re open 365 Days a Year!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Dec. 21 – Thur, Dec. 27:

ANNA KARENINA (R) 2 Hr 10 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:10, 9:45
Monday: 2:30, 5:15
Tuesday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:15, 8:00

HITCHCOCK (PG-13) 1 Hr 38 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Monday: 3:00, 5:30
Tuesday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 7:50

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Dec. 28 – SMASHED
Jan. 4 – HYDE PARK ON HUDSON
Jan. 4 – PROMISED LAND
Jan. 11 – DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL
Jan 25 – RUST AND BONE
Jan. ? – A ROYAL AFFAIR
Feb. 8 – ON THE ROAD
Feb. 15 – AMOUR
Feb ? – WEST OF MEMPHIS

HITCHCOCK Now Playing At THE NEON

December 14, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

ANNA KARENINA is still going strong…and we’re opening a film today that I think will continue to keep us quite busy. HITCHCOCK – a film about the making of PSYCHO and the relationship between Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville – is lots of fun. The performances are stellar and the story is great. Rex Reed of THE NEW YORK OBSERVER gave the film a 100% review. He wrote, “This is one of the best movies of 2012. With rich performances, a riveting and articulate screenplay, meticulous direction and enough grounded emotional intensity to keep your pulse pounding, Hitchcock grabs you by the lapels like a suspense classic by Hitch himself – a knockout from start to finish.”

Synopsis for HITCHCOCK: “Lurking behind Alfred Hitchcock, cinema’s ‘master of suspense’ — the extraordinary film icon known for orchestrating some of the most intense experiences of menace and intrigue audiences have ever seen, was a hidden side: his creatively explosive romance with his steadfast wife and filmmaking collaborator, Alma Reville. Now, for the first time, Sacha Gervasi’s HITCHCOCK lays bare their captivating and complex love story. It does so through the sly, shadowy lens of their most daring filmmaking adventure: the making of the spine-tingling 1960 thriller, PSYCHO, which would become the director’s most controversial and legendary film. When the tumultuous, against-the-odds production was over, nothing about movies would ever be the same – but few realized that it took two to pull it off.” (Fox Searchlight) Click this link to visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rQuRLERl6A’]

Do you use Facebook? If so, we’ve got a fun contest going on that uses the HITCHCOCK photobooth in our lobby. Check out our Facebook page for details on how you could win a HITCHCOCK prize pack – which includes dvds of PSYCHO and NORTH BY NORTHWEST. Here’s our page – www.facebook.com/neonmovies

The Family Holiday Film Series picked up quite a bit this past weekend. Thanks to everyone who came out for IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE…the crowd was awesome. This Saturday marks the final film in the series. Many thanks to the Dayton Holiday Festival, DP&L, and Channel 99.9 for their sponsorship.
Here is the last film of this year’s line-up:
DEC. 15 at Noon – ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
This film is free for children 12 & under and only $2 for everyone else.

The holidays are upon us, and we hope you won’t forget that NEON gift certificates make great presents! Whether they’re for the film-lover in your life…or the person who still needs to discover THE NEON…we sell them at our box office in $5 and $10 denominations.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Dec. 14 – Thur, Dec. 20:

ANNA KARENINA (R) 2 Hr 10 Min
Friday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:10, 9:45
Saturday: 4:00, 7:10, 9:45
Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:10, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:15, 8:00

HITCHCOCK (PG-13) 1 Hr 38 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 7:50

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (NR) 1 Hr 37 Min
Saturday: 12:00 (Noon)

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Dec. ? – SMASHED
Dec. ? – A ROYAL AFFAIR
Jan. 4 – HYDE PARK ON HUDSON
Jan ? – RUST AND BONE
Jan ? – ON THE ROAD
Feb ? – WEST OF MEMPHIS
Feb. ? – AMOUR
TBD – DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL

CHASING ICE & IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE at THE NEON

December 5, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

We’ve got a hit! ANNA KARENINA had a great opening weekend. Thanks to everyone who came out to support it. If you were at THE NEON over the weekend, you more than likely saw the trailer for CHASING ICE – the beautiful and scary documentary that will open this Friday. If you still need to see THE SESSIONS (one of my favorite films of the year) or THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER (a great little film that has helped us find a younger audience at THE NEON), you only have until Thursday to see them at THE NEON.

CHASING ICE is only slated to play for one week! Hurry down!!

Synopsis for CHASING ICE: “In the spring of 2005, acclaimed environmental photographer James Balog headed to the Arctic on a tricky assignment for National Geographic: to capture images to help tell the story of the Earth’s changing climate. Even with a scientific upbringing, Balog had been a skeptic about climate change. But that first trip north opened his eyes to the biggest story in human history and sparked a challenge within him that would put his career and his very well-being at risk. Chasing Ice is the story of one man’s mission to change the tide of history by gathering undeniable evidence of our changing planet.” (National Geographic Channel) Click this LINK to visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIZTMVNBjc4′]

The Family Holiday Film Series was off to a slow start this past weekend, but there are still 2 films left. If you know someone who might be interested in these special holiday films, we hope you’ll help us spread the word. Many thanks to the Dayton Holiday Festival, DP&L, and Channel 99.9 for their sponsorship.
Here are the last 2 films of this year’s line-up:
DEC. 8 at Noon – IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
DEC. 15 at Noon – ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
These films are FREE for children 12 & under and only $2 for everyone else.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Dec. 7 – Thur, Dec. 13:

ANNA KARENINA (R) 2 Hr 10 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45
Monday – Wednesday: 2:30, 5:15, 8:00
Thursday: 2:30, 8:00

CHASING ICE (PG-13) 1 Hr 16 Min
Friday: 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:20, 9:30
Saturday: 3:15, 5:15, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday: 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Wednesday: 3:30, 5:30, 7:30
Thursday: 3:30, 7:30

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (NR) 2 Hr 10 Min
Saturday: 12:00 (Noon)

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Dec. 14 – HITCHCOCK
Dec. ? – SMASHED
Dec. ? – A ROYAL AFFAIR
Jan. 4 – HYDE PARK ON HUDSON
Jan ? – RUST AND BONE
Jan ? – ON THE ROAD
Feb ? – WEST OF MEMPHIS
Feb. ? – AMOUR
TBD – DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL

SLEEPWALK WITH ME at THE NEON + Big Benefit News!

October 9, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

Huge changes are just around the corner for THE NEON. Before I get to the source of my anxiety, let’s talk movies. If you still want to see THE MASTER, Thursday will be your last chance to see it with us. On Friday, we will open a film that has had the most requests this year – SLEEPWALK WITH ME. ARBITRAGE had a solid opening weekend…so it will stick around.

Synopsis for SLEEPWALK WITH ME: From the producers of THIS AMERICAN LIFE, this is the film that Ira Glass has been talking about! “When an aspiring stand-up fails to express his true feelings about his girlfriend and his stalled career, his anxiety comes out in increasingly funny and dangerous sleepwalking incidents.” (IFC Films)

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9tRN7bok4o’]

This weekend is the last chance to see movies via 35mm film at THE NEON. On Sunday evening, we will close our doors for 4 days as we make the transition to digital projection (the new industry standard). Our “Things To Do” list is jam-packed. Over the past 11 years, we’ve opened our doors for business every single day…while we’re closed, we’re going to take advantage of the opportunity and do some major cleaning, lay some new carpet and add some fresh paint to floors and walls.

And speaking of this weekend, Sunday marks the day for our big Digital Conversion Benefit featuring AMELIE. (If you missed Sunday’s nice article from Dayton Daily News, you can check it out here.) The festivities will start at 4:00 with delicious appetizers provided by Meadowlark, Roost and Coco’s Bistro. Around 5:00, everyone will head to the large auditorium for our “Dayton Meets Hollywood” auction (more details below) We’ll plan to begin our 35mm presentation of AMELIE by 5:30. Tickets are still available! 100% of the proceeds will go toward helping us make the switch to digital. They can be purchased at our box office or by visiting this link.

To check out all the items in our auction, we’ve listed each item (along with a picture below). Here’s the skinny:

If you’re unable to attend the benefit but would like to place a bid on one of the auction items, you can send me an email with your name, phone number, and your highest bid. I will need this e-mail by Saturday at noon. send to: [email protected] (If you’d like to see one of the items in person, you can schedule an appointment with me for this Saturday.)

We hope to see you this weekend.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!

All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Oct. 12 – Sun. Oct. 14:
(We will be closed Mon, Oct 15 – Thu, Oct 18)

ARBITRAGE (R) 1 Hr 47 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday: 12:30, 8:30

SLEEPWALK WITH ME (NR) 1 Hrs 30 Min
Friday, Saturday: 1:00, 3:10, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday: 1:00, 8:30

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear
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

AUCTION ITEMS:

Screenplay from the Pilot episode of THE WEST WING – Signed by Martin Sheen & Allison Janney. Includes signed Martin Sheen Photograph. Starting Bid: $75

Screenplay for THE WEST WING, Season 1, Finale – Signed by Martin Sheen + Signed Photograph. Starting Bid: $50

THE WEST WING Lot of Call Sheets and Script Changes with Signed Martin Sheen Photograph. Starting Bid: $50.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI Storyboard Print. Hand-signed by The Coen Brothers’ storyboard artist and Oakwood resident J. Todd Anderson. Includes $25 gift certificate from Patterson Chase – perfect to use toward framing your storyboard. Starting Bid: $50.

3 DVDs from local filmmakers Julia Reichert, Steve Bognar & Jim Klein. Emmy-Winning A LION IN THE HOUSE, Oscar-Nominated THE LAST TRUCK and recently inducted into The National Film Registry – GROWING UP FEMAL. It’s incredible that all these award-winning films were born right here in the Miami Valley. These films will be personalized by the filmmakers for your collection. Starting Bid: $75.

THE RUBI GIRLS documentary on DVD & Poster (which will be kissed and signed by The Rubi Girls before THE NEON’s benefit). This award-winning documentary has played at numerous film festivals around the world…but has not yet been released on DVD. Starting Bid: $50.

2 Original Chairs from THE NEON. These chairs, with their original upholstery, are 27 years old. Though they have slight imperfections, they still are quite cozy and would make a perfect addition to you screening room. (As a note of caution, these chairs require being bolted to the ground.) Starting Bid: $50.

Naming Rights to our Small Auditorium. Our small auditorium seats 74 people. The name you chose (perhaps your name, your company name or the name of your favorite director) will be placed on a plaque above the door to the auditorium. (The name is subject to approval from THE NEON’s Board…vulgarity or insensitive language will not be permitted.) Starting Bid: $100.

ARBITRAGE Now Playing at THE NEON!

October 5, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

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.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmJSV9ePx7c’]

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