samsara

True Nature | For A Good Time Call – at THE NEON

November 8, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

This should be a fun weekend. We have two new films – a big festival winner made right here in Dayton and a charmingly raunchy comedy from a director I love. TRUE NATURE, the supernatural thriller that has played in over 40 film festivals around the world, was made in Dayton by local filmmakers (keep reading for details about special Q&As). FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL was made by Jamie Travis – the maker of one of my favorite short films ever (THE SADDEST BOY IN THE WORLD).
We will hold SAMSARA and LIBERAL ARTS for one more week. On Nov. 15, we’ll clean house. On Nov. 16, we have 2 new films slated to open, and all other films will have to leave in order to make room. Hurry down if we have films you want to see!

Synopsis for TRUE NATURE: “The Pascal family has it all – wealth, power, privilege – but their picture perfect lives change forever when their college-athlete daughter Marianne disappears one night while running. She mysteriously returns a year later with no recollection of where she’s been. Haunted by violent visions, she begins to suspect that her family is hiding dark secrets and that the key to her disappearance may be linked to them. As the fragile web of lies unravels, she fears that her own life and sanity may be the price for discovering the truth.” (taken from press notes) Special Q&As with filmmakers Patrick Steele and Ann Rotolante will take place after the screening on Friday, Nov. 9 at 9:30 and on Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 10 & 11 following the 5:00 screenings. Visit the official site.

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Synopsis for FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL…: “The reserved Lauren and the irrepressible Katie are polar opposites… and past enemies. But when both come up short on the funds needed to afford their dream New York City apartment a mutual friend re-introduces them and they reluctantly agree to room together. These apartment-mates have nothing in common – until Lauren discovers that Katie is working as a phone-sex operator, and recognizes a good business opportunity. But as their business partnership takes off, their newfound friendship finds unexpected challenges that may leave them both, as they say, hanging on the telephone.” (Focus Features) Visit the official site.

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On Sunday, November 18 at 3:00, The Dayton International Peace Museum, Wright State Peace Lecture Committee, Pi Beta Phi at the University of Dayton and The Dayton Council on World Affairs will present a special, free screening of IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY.
“Dayton has made its place in history as the host city for the Dayton Peace Accords. A historic achievement in 1995, the Accords helped bring an end to the tragic civil war of the Former Yugoslavia. With the end in fighting, a horrific reality of ethnic cleaning and genocide was revealed, especially after the international community had pledged ‘No More’ after the end of the Holocaust in 1945. The Angelina Jolie-directed movie, IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY portrays a bittersweet love story during the war. It brings to light the tragic reality of war and its impact on our humanity. In the aftermath of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, a major trial at the International Criminal Court at The Hague took place that led to
international recognition of rape as a weapon of war. At this screening, we will be commemorating the historic Dayton Peace Accords and how Dayton was instrumental in the process. There will also be a Q&A panel after the movie to discuss ongoing violence issues against women that sadly continue domestically and internationally. Please join us for this important movie and stimulating discussion on how we can contribute to peace and humanity in our world today.” (taken from press notes) Visit the film’s official site.

The first three Saturdays at Noon in December will mark the return of the Family Holiday Film Series. In next week’s newsletter, I’ll announce the films…which 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. Nov. 9 – Thur, Nov. 15:

TRUE NATURE (NR) 1 Hr 32 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:45, 5:00, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 5:00, 9:30

FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL… (R) 1 Hr 25 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 5:15, 7:30, 9:40

LIBERAL ARTS (PG-13) 1 Hr 37 Min
Friday – Thursday: 3:10

SAMSARA (PG-13) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday – Wednesday: 2:50, 7:20
Thursday: 2:50

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Nov. 16 (2 weeks only) – A LATE QUARTET
Nov. 16 THE SESSIONS
Nov. 30 ANNA KARENINA
Dec. TBD – 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

SAMSARA at THE NEON + Exciting Local News

November 1, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

We’ve got a new, stunningly gorgeous film opening on Friday (11/2). I refer to it as cinematic poetry. If you recall the hit BARAKA that played more than decade ago, this film – SAMSARA – was made by the same people. In addition to the new film, we’ll hold LIBERAL ARTS, KILLER JOE and one more week of SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN. Don’t forget that Omega Music, just a block from THE NEON, has the soundtrack on hand for SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN. If you’re interested in the music, we hope you’ll support another locally owned business (they even have the soundtrack available on vinyl)!

Be sure to read all the way to the end of this blog for fun, breaking news.

Synopsis for SAMSARA: “Expanding on the themes they developed in Baraka (1992) and CHronos (1985), Samsara explores the wonders of our world from the mundane to the miraculous, looking into the unfathomable reaches of man’s spirituality and the human experience. Neither a traditional documentary nor a travelogue, Samsara takes the form of a nonverbal, guided meditation. Through powerful images, the film illuminates the links between humanity and the rest of nature, showing how our life cycle mirrors the rhythm of the planet.” (Oscilloscope Pictures) Click THIS LINK to visit the film’s 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.

And here’s some exciting, breaking news! Many of you have read about, asked about, or maybe even had your hand in on the locally produced film TRUE NATURE. After a very successful film festival run (it played and won awards at numerous festivals around the world), TRUE NATURE will finally play at THE NEON. TRUE NATURE will play for one week starting on Friday, Nov. 9, and I’ll announce showtimes and filmmaker Q&As in next week’s blog. To learn more about the film, visit its OFFICIAL SITE.

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In addition, we will also have a one-week run of FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL – the sweetly raunchy tale of two young women who start a phone sex business. This little film – which is as fun and charming as it is dirty – was made by Jamie Travis, director of some of my favorite short films of all time (THE SADDEST BOY IN THE WORLD being one of them). To find out more about this film, visit the FOCUS SITE.

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And check out our “Coming Soon” list below. Dates are shifting and our line-up for the coming weeks is really coming along. I’m hoping you’re interested in several of our upcoming engagements.

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

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Nov. 2 – Thur, Nov. 8:

KILLER JOE (NC-17) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday – Thursday: 5:00, 9:30

LIBERAL ARTS (PG-13) 1 Hr 37 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:45, 3:00, 7:20
Monday – Wednesday: 3:00, 7:20
Thursday: 3:00

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN (PG-13) 1 Hr 26 Min
Friday – Wednesday: 5:15, 9:30
Thursday: 5:15

SAMSARA (PG-13) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 7:15
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 7:15

DATV presents MEDIA THAT MATTERS
Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Nov. 9 (1 Week Only!) – FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL
Nov. 9 (1 Week Only!) – TRUE NATURE
Nov. 16 (2 weeks only) – A LATE QUARTET
Nov. 16 THE SESSIONS
Nov. 30 ANNA KARENINA
Dec. TBD – HITCHCOCK

KILLER JOE and LIBERAL ARTS at THE NEON!

October 24, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

We’ve got two new films opening this weekend. First off is a film with Ohio & Dayton connections. LIBERAL ARTS – directed by and starring Josh Radnor (an Ohio native) – was shot mostly at Kenyon College. In addition to Elizabeth Olsen, the film also stars Dayton’s own Allison Janney. Our second film is a darkly comic crime thriller directed by William Friedkin (director of THE EXORCIST and THE FRENCH CONNECTION) starring Matthew McConaughey – KILLER JOE. (KILLER JOE is rated NC-17 for graphic violence & sexuality…no one under 17 will be admitted.)

In addition to our two new films, we will hold SLEEPWALK WITH ME and SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN for limited screenings. Audiences are loving SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN. People who gave the film a chance (knowing nothing about the subject) are so glad they came! Many folks are coming out of the auditorium wondering if the music is available. It is! Omega Music, just a block from THE NEON, has the soundtrack on hand. If you’re interested in the music, we hope you’ll support another locally owned business (they even have the soundtrack available on vinyl)!

Synopsis for LIBERAL ARTS: “Newly single and uninspired by his job in college admissions, the introverted Jesse Fisher (Josh Radnor) lives with his head buried in a book. His deep nostalgia for his own alma mater in Ohio – the dining halls and dorm rooms, the parties and poetry seminars – makes him wonder if his best days are behind him. So when his favorite professor (Richard Jenkins) invites him back to campus to speak at his retirement dinner, Jesse jumps at the chance. Meeting Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen) – a precocious classical music-loving sophomore – awakens in Jesse long-dormant feelings of possibility and connection.” (IFC Films) Visit the official site.

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Synopsis for KILLER JOE: “When 22 year-old drug dealer Chris (Hirsch) has his stash of drugs stolen from him by his mother, he has to come up with six-thousand dollars quick, or he’s dead. Desperate, he goes to the trailer-park to see his father, Ansel (Hayden Church), and he lays out the plan. Chris’s mother, who everyone hates, has a life insurance policy that would clear up his debt and make them all rich. The problem is that Chris’ mother is very much alive. Enter Detective “Killer” Joe Cooper, a hired hit man with the manners of a Southern gentleman, who will do the job – for an upfront fee, that Chris and Ansel can’t pay. Just as Joe is about to leave, he spots Dottie (Temple), Chris’ innocent younger sister. Joe makes Chris an offer, he’ll keep Dottie as sexual collateral until the money is collected and his fee can be paid.” (Voltage Pictures) Visit the official site.

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It’s unusual for me to talk about movies that aren’t playing at THE NEON…but I need to make an exception. SPARKLE, a new documentary made by NEON supporters and local filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar, will premiere next week at Dayton Art Institute. “The evening will be quite unusual – a night of dance and cinema. SPARKLE is the story of legendary dancer Sheri ‘Sparkle’ Williams, who at age 50 (!) is still dancing with the world renowned Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Our film is the story of how Sheri faces a devastating injury, which actually happened on stage. The evening will include the movie premiere, plus the world premiere of a new dance work choreographed specifically for Sheri Williams by Rodney A. Brown, a rising star in the world of contemporary dance choreography. The evening will also include a performance by the entire DCDC ensemble, AND several surprise guests. It promises to be a memorable night. Friday, Nov. 2 at 7 PM at the Dayton Art Institute’s newly renovated Renaissance Auditorium. Tickets are available at Ticket Center Stage, 937-228-3630, or at http://www.dcdc.org/ .” (taken from press notes) You can also join the conversation on the official facebook page.

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

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Oct. 26 – Thu. Nov. 1:

KILLER JOE (NC-17) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday – Thursday: 5:00, 9:30

LIBERAL ARTS (PG-13) 1 Hr 37 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 7:20

SLEEPWALK WITH ME (NR) 1 Hrs 30 Min
Friday – Thursday: 5:15, 9:30

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

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear
Nov. 2 – SAMSARA
Nov. 9 – FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL
Nov. 16 (5 Days Only) – THE DETAILS
Nov. 16 (2 weeks only) – A LATE QUARTET
Nov. 21 – THE SESSIONS
Nov. 30 – ANNA KARENINA
Dec. TBD – HITCHCOCK

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN & Digital News at THE NEON

October 17, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

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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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