By Aaris A. Schroeder
October 25, 2008
I didn't even know what I was going to be seeing when my boyfriend invited me to go see First Person Shooter, a play written by Aaron Loeb and directed by Molly Aaronson-Gelb but I tagged along anyways -- my boyfriend's friend, Adrian Roberts had a couple of tickets comped for us at the door and he was playing a roll in the play.
It started with loud gangsta rap and a nery looking guy, back slumping over a computer as he was pushing buttons on a keyboard; obviously playing a video game. This play is based upon Loeb's journalistic video game coverage in the late 90s. The play covers a lot of emotions as white children at a high school are involved in a shooting involving a young black student. The play gets heated as the video game producer seen opening the play is sat next to the father of the young black student and has to explain why it is okay that his video game exisits.
There are some twists in the play which is why everyone needs to go see it. If you can't catch it in Sacramento, where it played at the Delta King's Capital Stage you can view this play based on the ethics surrounding video games and choices young people make in the bay area. For more information, please visit www.capstage.com.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Soul of Justice
By Kirk Parker
Staff Writer
Universal laws can’t be measured in mass appeal. Those are the words of an Immortal, the Hip Hop artist named Immortal Technique. They are appropriate to any continued discussion of this year’s Sacramento International Film Festival.
There are simply times when being ignored means that you’re so far ahead of your time that it truly does take the public at large time to catch up. This is the state this year’s SIFF finds itself in this year.
However, the greatness of its vision is something that’s undeniable. Sacramento needs this event more than other popular area festivals held annually.
This is the season when collectively we rise like bears from our hibernation and make plans for a brilliant spring and summer. Nothing can prepare us for this New Year, more than attending this event.
Let me explain. The SIFF wears it’s “independence” proudly on its sleeve. This is a quality our collective consciousness both wants and needs. Inundated by “popular” culture, we are near a state of mind where little can
be perceived as important unless it’s first placed in the machinery of mass media.
The bottom line is that many of the SIFF movies will not make it into theatres simply because they don’t regurgitate some well traveled premise. Our intellects should naturally crave much more than that.
The movies of the SIFF have more than delivered the mental stimulation that we need. Two notable entries that validate this point are, a moving documentary called, The Soul of Justice, and an award winning feature called, The Pacific and Eddy that is easily one of the most visually stunning movies recently made.
The movie, Soul of Justice is the story of a current federal judge, Thelton Henderson. It’s amazing that more is not known about the astute, soulful, and integrity motivated man. He was one of the first afro American federal judges and has been on the front line for the cause of justice for over 25 years. His vigilance in the face of injustice has been integral to our country’s growth. He still fights a daily battle in our courts and has taken on he biggest monopoly in our state, the Prison Industry.
This is a compelling biography of a well lived life is brought to us through the vision of award winning filmmaker Abbey Ginsberg. Find a way to view this film and you will easily recognize the power of her visual storytelling.
In The Pacific and Eddy, you have a mystery wrapped in an enigma cloaked in a conundrum, wrapped in a secret scenario. Yet, all this obfuscation leaves you begging for more. In scenes that are more reminiscent of a canvassed dream, brought to us by director, Matthew Nourse, we see what we think is a drifter, return to his small town and attempt to reconnect with intimate friends who he suddenly left behind. Their reactions to him over this span a few days are complex and moving. The lead actor Ryan Donawho is most reminiscent of Leonardo DiCaprio in his ability to display a range of emotions that make you empathize with him no matter what you see him do.
This year’s SIFF is far from over. There is ample opportunity over this weekend to view the most stellar moments in Sacramento’s cinematic world.
After the film’s, be sure to stop in on SIFF’s legendary after parties. Become part of this world, and star in your own motion picture. No one can tell your compelling story better than you.
Staff Writer
Universal laws can’t be measured in mass appeal. Those are the words of an Immortal, the Hip Hop artist named Immortal Technique. They are appropriate to any continued discussion of this year’s Sacramento International Film Festival.
There are simply times when being ignored means that you’re so far ahead of your time that it truly does take the public at large time to catch up. This is the state this year’s SIFF finds itself in this year.
However, the greatness of its vision is something that’s undeniable. Sacramento needs this event more than other popular area festivals held annually.
This is the season when collectively we rise like bears from our hibernation and make plans for a brilliant spring and summer. Nothing can prepare us for this New Year, more than attending this event.
Let me explain. The SIFF wears it’s “independence” proudly on its sleeve. This is a quality our collective consciousness both wants and needs. Inundated by “popular” culture, we are near a state of mind where little can
be perceived as important unless it’s first placed in the machinery of mass media.
The bottom line is that many of the SIFF movies will not make it into theatres simply because they don’t regurgitate some well traveled premise. Our intellects should naturally crave much more than that.
The movies of the SIFF have more than delivered the mental stimulation that we need. Two notable entries that validate this point are, a moving documentary called, The Soul of Justice, and an award winning feature called, The Pacific and Eddy that is easily one of the most visually stunning movies recently made.
The movie, Soul of Justice is the story of a current federal judge, Thelton Henderson. It’s amazing that more is not known about the astute, soulful, and integrity motivated man. He was one of the first afro American federal judges and has been on the front line for the cause of justice for over 25 years. His vigilance in the face of injustice has been integral to our country’s growth. He still fights a daily battle in our courts and has taken on he biggest monopoly in our state, the Prison Industry.
This is a compelling biography of a well lived life is brought to us through the vision of award winning filmmaker Abbey Ginsberg. Find a way to view this film and you will easily recognize the power of her visual storytelling.
In The Pacific and Eddy, you have a mystery wrapped in an enigma cloaked in a conundrum, wrapped in a secret scenario. Yet, all this obfuscation leaves you begging for more. In scenes that are more reminiscent of a canvassed dream, brought to us by director, Matthew Nourse, we see what we think is a drifter, return to his small town and attempt to reconnect with intimate friends who he suddenly left behind. Their reactions to him over this span a few days are complex and moving. The lead actor Ryan Donawho is most reminiscent of Leonardo DiCaprio in his ability to display a range of emotions that make you empathize with him no matter what you see him do.
This year’s SIFF is far from over. There is ample opportunity over this weekend to view the most stellar moments in Sacramento’s cinematic world.
After the film’s, be sure to stop in on SIFF’s legendary after parties. Become part of this world, and star in your own motion picture. No one can tell your compelling story better than you.
Danos Del Amor
By Kirk Parker
Nov. 29, 2006
In the last decade, independent film has launched the careers of many talented aspiring filmmakers. Steve Kahn of Konspire Filmworks joins this auspicious group. In the tradition of writer/director/actor greats like Woody Allen and Spike Lee, he brings us the inspired short film, Danos Del Amor.
This film mixes ‘70’s style martial arts with a more modern day situational comedy/drama. While it doesn’t have the production level of a big studio film, the movie more than makes up for it with the freshness of its comedic voice. It cleverly borrows from the silent film era replacing speech with subtitles during a climatic scene. The credits rolled too soon on a film that delivers a playful romp through the suburban ‘underworld.’
Nov. 29, 2006
In the last decade, independent film has launched the careers of many talented aspiring filmmakers. Steve Kahn of Konspire Filmworks joins this auspicious group. In the tradition of writer/director/actor greats like Woody Allen and Spike Lee, he brings us the inspired short film, Danos Del Amor.
This film mixes ‘70’s style martial arts with a more modern day situational comedy/drama. While it doesn’t have the production level of a big studio film, the movie more than makes up for it with the freshness of its comedic voice. It cleverly borrows from the silent film era replacing speech with subtitles during a climatic scene. The credits rolled too soon on a film that delivers a playful romp through the suburban ‘underworld.’
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