Andrea James' Shared Experiences

Tonight I went to the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles to see the premiere of a friend’s film (which kicked bootay). It’s called Sari (W)rap (see trailer) and premiered Thursday as part of the narrative shorts program. The program plays again on Saturday 26 April at 2pm at the Arclight. Several standouts for me in the program included Love Story (beautifully shot), Midnight Lost and Found (clean storytelling), and Rewind (one of the best shorts I have seen this year).

The festival continues through the 27th.

http://www.indianfilmfestival.org/

It’s at the Arclight Hollywood, which is one of the best film venues in North America (not just the Cinerama Dome in the background below, but the whole theater).

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Events and Appearances, Movies I've seen, Stuff to check out

My producer pal JD has a great film called Shelter coming out in limited release nationwide. It’s a surfing movie and a coming out movie. I have never mentioned it, but I am obsessed with surfing and could watch people surf all day. It’s just so graceful and risky all at once.

Anyway, I saw this movie last summer at Outfest and loved it.

“SHELTER is a gorgeous and seductive film that captures the restlessness of adolescence, the magic of newfound love and the bonds of family” Seattlelgff.bside.com

“The most realistic gay love story since BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN.” Jeremy Kinser, FRONTIERS

SHELTER IS OPENING IN THEATRES STARTING MARCH 28th, 2008*

03/21/08 – Seattle, WA @ Landmark Varsity

03/28/08 – New York, NY @ Tribeca Cinemas

03/28/08 – Boston, MA @ Kendall Square

03/28/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Sunset 5

03/28/08 – San Francsico, CA @ Embarcadero Center Cinema

03/28/08 – Palm Springs, CA @ Cinemas Palme d’Or

04/04/08 – Minneapolis, MN @ Landmark Lagoon

04/04/08 – Chicago, IL @ Music Box

04/04/08 – Atlanta, GA @ Midtown Art

04/04/08 – Fort Lauderdale, FL Gateway

04/04/08 – San Diego, CA @ Ken Cinema

04/11/08 – Portland, OR @ Living Room Theaters

*If you’re in Los Angeles, save your ticket stub from any of the first weekend screenings and then attend our SHELTER SUNSET SOIREE poolside at the fabulous Standard Hotel on the Sunset Strip, where you can exchange it for two free drinks and a gift bag.  March 30th, 4-10 pm.  Fashion show of surf wear at Sunset! Also, a photo opportunity with our stars taken by Adam Bouska (photographer FRONTIERS Shelter cover and above photo) in our California Surf Set

To read the article in Frontiers:  Frontiers Magazine ::.. ..:: Features ::..

http://www.frontierspublishing.com/2623/features/feat.html

To read the article in THE ADVOCATE:  Issue Number 1003 | Gimme Shelter | Advocate.com

http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid52308.asp

If you live in LA, here are some chances to get some SHELTER in your life

Meet cast and filmmakers, watch our lovely trailer, get fabulous presents from here! films and get a chance to win tickets to the March 27th Los Angeles VIP Premier and Red Carpet After Party for SHELTER at the following club nights this week:

FUBAR Karaoke

Tuesday, March 18

7929 Santa Monica Blvd.

10 pm

Sing to win tickets to our premiere

TheSmokingCocktail.com LGBT Entertainment Mixer

Wednesday, March 19

The Standard Hotel

8300 Sunset Blvd.

8 pm

Network and mingle to win tickets to our premiere

TIGER HEAT

Thursday, March 20

Avalon 1735 Vine Street Hollywood

10 pm $10 cover

Dance your ass off and win tickets to our premiere

O BAR

Friday, March 21

8279 Santa Monica Blvd.

9:30 pm

Have an after work cocktail and dinner then win tickets to our premiere

Movies I've seen, Stuff to check out

OK, it had been a while since I saw the 1974 Bob Fosse masterpiece Lenny, but it was on HDNet a couple of days ago, so I thought I’d catch it in HD. Now, I should say that this film has one of the all-time best actors (Dustin Hoffman) directed by one of my all-time favorite directors (Bob Fosse) in a biopic about my all-time favorite comedian (Lenny Bruce). It’s like a perfect storm of coolness.

Lenny’s book How to Talk Dirty and Influence People is one of the most important books I have ever read. I believe in the power of “obscenity” as a tool to point out hypocrisy, as a way to cut through a lot of nonsense and get right to the point. What’s great about the film is that you really get a sense of his trajectory as a person, not just as a comic, but as one of the most important figures of the 20th century.

Is that enough hyperbole? Probably not. Just go see it if you haven’t. Or at least read his book.

Movies I've seen

As a fitting after-event to a Super Bowl party at my friend Willam’s, I decided to go see There Will Be Blood. Wow, I expected it to be good because I love Paul Thomas Anderson, but I was absolutely blown away by Daniel Day-Lewis. He is always good as a period character (Age of Innocence, Gangs of New York), but this was just beyond the beyond. It’s a long film and not an easy one to watch because of the relentless hatred of his character Daniel Plainview. There’s just a sense of dread that hangs over the movie. You get the sense he is one step away from killing anyone he’s near, either accidentally or more likely on purpose. Paul Dano was really great, too, as twins Paul and Eli Sunday.

Movies I've seen, Stuff to check out

It’s the rare film that can capture the visceral sense of fading in and out of consciousness from first-person POV, but this film not only does that, it also gives the slightest sense of how difficult it must be to have full awareness yet be completely unable to move (save one eyelid). That Mr. Bauby was able to write a book in that state is simply astonishing, and a testament to his caregivers. This is the most finely crafted film I have seen since No Country for Old Men. Just amazing. It’s up for a bunch of well-deserved awards and is definitely worth seeing.

Movies I've seen

I saw this at a friend’s house the other day. I liked the look – clean and spare. I thought the Brooks/Smith relationship was great (though Strangers on a Train is still a better partner in crime story if you ask me). It was quite satisfying until the “it was only a dream” rugpull at the end. I cannot abide that cheap trick. A good thriller, though, besides the problem at the end.

Mr. Brooks article on Wikipedia

Movies I've seen