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Posts Tagged ‘conway’

Golden Oldies

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Just a quick heads up today about an interesting (free) event going on next week: AETN, along with Hendrix College, is hosting a showing of Young@Heart at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, at the Murphy Building on the Hendrix campus in Conway (corner of Washington Avenue and Winfield Street).

I remember seeing the trailer for this film some time ago, but I never caught it. It’s a documentary about the group, Young@Heart, which is a collection of senior citizen singers with an average age of 80 who sing popular rock songs from the Rolling Stones to Coldplay. The film, shot by Stephen Walker, follows the group over seven weeks in 2006 as they prepare for an “Alive and Well” concert in their hometown of Northampton, Mass.

As one coworker put it, how can you not want to see your grandmother singing “I Wanna Be Sedated”?

Also, there’s a giveaway for the DVD of the movie and free refreshments. Following the screening, a community discussion will be held with panelists from the Arkansas Department of Health Services Division of Aging and Adult Services and other senior services organizations. More details on the Hendrix website.

lol at 1:38

Music and a movie

Friday, January 15th, 2010

“Storage” writer/director Austin Franke

“Storage” writer/director Austin Franke

If you’re in Conway this weekend or downtown Little Rock next week, consider stopping by the Bear’s Den or On the Rocks to help support a local film.

Organized by writer/director Austin Franke, an undergrad film student at UCA, parties at both locations will feature live music, with proceeds from the cover charges being donated to help with production costs of Storage, a project that will be shot this semester.

The Conway gig will be on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. and will feature performances by Natural State, Chase Pagan, Townsend and Don’t Stop Please. The On the Rocks show will be Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 9 p.m. and will feature Natural State, Apartment 5, This Holy House and Sean Michel.

Both shows should be around $5 cover, according to Franke, who hosts a radio show about local music called “Under the Radar” on 91.3 The Bear. Franke said knowing the bands through his show, he approached them, himself, to ask they’d be willing to do the pro bono gig to help the cinematic production and all agreed.

The movie itself, which will be shot, edited and go through post-production this semester, is about a divorced couple rummaging through their son’s things in an attic. Despite the current distance between them, particularly from the frosty, remarried female half of the pair, the assorted junk sparks memories of their time together, including both being part of a band in the early 1980s.

The money raised from the shows, said Franke, will help pay for things like costumes – some 40-50 period ’80s outfits were mentioned – as well as funds to pay festival fees when the film is finished.

See also the Facebook page for the Conway event.

God hates shrimp

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

For those interested in documentaries, arguing or both, the Faulkner County Library in Conway is hosting a showing and discussion of the award-winning and controversial film For the Bible Tells Me So, which tackles the topic of reconciling homosexuality and Christian scripture. The film will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3.

The full announcement from the library (i.e., I am not the author of the opinions expressed herein):
The Faulkner County Library is proud to announce a Doc and Talk Movie night and discussion concerning the consequences of homophobia. The documentary to be screened is For the Bible Tells Me So. The screening of the film will be followed by a community discussion and presentation by Mary Lou Wallner of T.E.A.C.H. ministries. This movie night and presentation will take place on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 6:30 p.m. The film will start at 6:30 p.m. followed by the discussion. The community is welcome to participate in the discussion following the movie. There will be free popcorn and drinks! Help the library reduce and reuse by bringing your own bowl for popcorn!
The documentary For the Bible Tells Me So asks, “Does God really condemn loving homosexual relationships? Is the chasm separating Christianity from gays and lesbians too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate?”
These questions and more are answered in this award-winning documentary, which brilliantly reconciles homosexuality and Biblical scripture – and reveals that religious anti-gay bias is based almost solely upon a misinterpretation of the Bible.
Through the experiences of five very normal, Christian, American families – including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson – we discover how people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child or family member. Offering healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual orientation, this landmark film “boldly takes on a loaded topic and examines it both intellectually and emotionally; the result may well leave you blinking away a few tears.” (Seattle Times).  Honors for the documentary include a nomination for a grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007 and the audience award for best documentary at the Seattle Film Festival.
Mary Lou Wallner (also featured in the film) of T.E.A.C.H. ministries will host the community discussion. Mary Lou Wallner lost her lesbian Christian daughter to suicide in February of 1997. Being raised in a fundamentalist, legalistic church environment, Mary Lou was taught the untruth that homosexuality is a sin. Her journey from “tragedy to transformation” is nothing short of amazing. She and her husband, Bob, are strong allies for Gays, Lesbians, Bisexual and Transgender people. They have a sincere desire to see the church accept and welcome GLBT people just the way God made them. The mission of T.E.A.C.H. ministries is To Educate About the Consequences of Homophobia through public speaking, brochures, workshops, videos, books, and any and all other appropriate means.
For more information on this event contact the Faulkner County Library at 501-327-7482. Refreshment donations are always needed for special events (2-liters of soda especially!) The event is free and open to the public.