The first annual “Salt Lake City Gay and Lesbian Film Festival” – January 30–February 5
View the list of films being shown and their synopses.
Today in Salt Lake the Sundance Film about Ralph Nader,AN UNREASONABLE MAN, is being shown (details below). It is sure to be a sell-out. Please write in your comments about the film if you have seen it or will see it today but clicking on “speak” at the bottom of this post.
—————————————————————————
The name Ralph Nader sparks fiery debate among people across the country. To some, he is an icon of rare idealism, while others see him simply as the political spoiler of the last two elections. No matter what you think of the man, the fact remains that he is a tireless crusader.
Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged film, Green Party, politics, ralph nader, sundance, Utah, volunteerism
Sundance would probably function a lot differently were it not for its volunteers who are crucial in making Sundance happen.
The people that I know who volunteer for the famous film festival event do it because they love independent film, utah, and the festival – not because they want to see celebrities or mingle with them. Volunteers get to see films for free (in their spare time!) and they love meeting people who travel to Utah from all over to attend the event.
Many of the volunteers work full time jobs in addition to volunteering. One friend of mine (also a sister Radical Cheerleader!)spends 30 hours per week on top of her 40 hour per week social work job to volunteer at this event……and she loves it.
Thanks to all the volunteers out there who are making this happen!
Today’s Deseret News has published an entitled ‘Transamerica’ not set for Megaplex, about a rumor that Miller’s Megaplex had an ad in a local GLBT newspaper for a “controversial” movie that was then pulled. Here is the article:
A movie about a pre-operative, male-to-female transsexual has not been pulled from Larry Miller’s Megaplex 17 theater, contrary to a report on a Web site.
“This film was not pulled from the theater because it was never scheduled to be shown — it’s not scheduled to be in that theater,” said Sarah Rothman, spokeswoman for The Weinstein Company in New York.
The movie, “Transamerica,” is planned for eventual release in the Salt Lake market, Rothman said, but there is no date set for the movie’s arrival here. “I don’t have a specific theater in mind yet,” she added.
However, Salt Lake Metro, which bills itself as Utah’s gay and lesbian biweekly newspaper, said on its Web site, http://www.slmetro.com, that the movie had been advertised on an Internet site for Miller’s theater and then the ad was reportedly removed over the weekend. The newspaper cited another Web site as its source for news of the cancellation.
Calls to a theater representative and a spokesman for Miller were not returned.
Miller’s Jordan Commons theater has received international attention for pulling “Brokeback Mountain,” a movie about two gay cowboys.
Last night’s Slamdance Film Festival‘s very first Poetry Slam was a huge success!
It was held at Free Speech Zone in Sugarhouse.
Poets from across the country participated. Salt Lake’s Radical Cheerleaders, Pom Poms Not Bomb Bombs made an appearance!
I have posted photos here of the event.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Activism, film, poetry, salt lake city, slamdance, Utah
This year’s Slam Dance Film Festival, the “poorer” film festival that coincides with the larger and flashier Sundance, has begun. With over 90 films and loads of other entertaining activities, Slamdance has events in Park City and Salt Lake City.
Sugarhouse is a featured venue area for some of the films and events. Tonight at 7pm Slamdance is featuring a poetry slam at in Sugarhouse, the little retail activist shop, the owner (who is also one of my fellow cheerleaders!) of which opens the doors of her shop to activist groups for films, meetings and other events.
This is exciting for our little activist community here in Utah!
Today is the opening day of the Sundance Film Festival.
Both The Deseret News and the Salt Lake Tribune have guides to the festival as well as the festival site itself. The newspaper sites include blogs.
The Salt Lake City Weekly also has articles, reviews, and guides to the films.
Today’s Salt Lake Tribune has as its online headline Sundance: Unsung staffers are festival’s real stars–Sundance ’06:The movies roll today, an article about the people who work for the festival.
This is an exciting and positive time in Utah every year.
Teachers in the school in which I teach are taking advantage of an opportunity to take our juniors and seniors to see the film Journey from the Fall on Monday the 23rd (for free!), by screen writer Ham Tran. Students will have the opportunity to meet with the filmmaker after the screening.
Here is more info on this film:
JOURNEY FROM THE FALL
Thailand/U.S.A., 2005, 135 Minutes, color – Director: Ham Tran
Journey from the Fall actually follows two journeys, both of which begin as Vietnam’s civil war ends. On the day Saigon falls, Long Nguyen and his wife, Mai, reluctantly part ways.
Continue reading
The 2006 Sundance Film Festival takes place January 19-29 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah.
There is a new procedure for the purchase of tickets for the Sundance Film Festival. This year, instead of waiting in long lines to purchase tickets, film goers should report for the “Festival Kick-Off” gatherings on Friday (today) from 5 to 7 p.m. at the main box offices – Trolley Square in Salt Lake City, and the Gateway Center in Park City. Wristbands will be distributed randomly, with numbers that correspond to a half-hour time slot to buy tickets Saturday or Sunday.
Best of Festival: Free tickets for the annual “Best of Festival” screenings will be distributed the weekend of Jan. 13-15.
Further details can be found at Sundance. Here you can also get a list of films being shown and sign up for email newsletters for Utah based events.
Below this post I wrote about one of the GPUT’s co-coordinators, Shane Cutler, being a panelist at the showing of “This Divided State” at UVSC tomorrow (Wednesday) night.
Today we found out that Jeff Beardall will also be a panelist as a representative of the “Green Party”. Beardall is the person who stole the GPUT’s website and has wreaked havoc with the GPUT since December of 2004. A never-before-heard-of person, Beardall “appeared” on the scene shortly after the GPUT split.
You can read more at:
Beardall’s threats
Beardall also showed up in Tulsa and unsuccessfully attempted to unseat the recognized delegation from Utah. He has also appeared at various places in Salt Lake to harass and threaten members of the GPUT.
Beardall made a loud disturbance with another person while Moore was speaking at the Moore event (October 20, 2004) by unfurling a banner that said “Vote Nader”. This disturbance of Beardall’s appears in the film. He was escorted out of the arena. His partner called Michael Moore “chicken shit” in the films. This was prior to anyone ever heard of Beardall.
Steven Greenstreet, filmmaker of “This Divided State” and I had several email exchanges today over the panel. His final decision is to allow both Beardall and Shane to be panelists. I assured him that Shane and anyone else from the nationally affiliated GPUT would display the utmost respect and professionalism.
I just watched the film tonight. It is very professionally done and all sides of the issue are given equal time, presenting a very objective perspective. I am impressed.
And guess what?!!? The Salt Lake Radical Cheerleaders, , Pom Poms, Not Bomb Bombs, of which I am a member, as is Jen of Jen’s Journal, are also in the movie!
Steve Greenstreet has agreed to appear at the GPUT’s showing of the film on November 12. He will be speaking and will have some DVD’s on hand for those who wish to purchase it.
Unfortunately I cannot attend tomorrow’s event at UVSC. I’ll be anxious to hear what happens.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged film, Green Party, michael moore, movies, this divided state
Steven Greenstreet’s film This Divided State – about the Michael Moore visit at Utah Valley State College (UVSC)- will be shown tomorrow, Wednesday, November 2nd at 6:00pm at UVSC Center Stage.
It’s being hosted by the UVSC Repulicans with a panel discussion afterwards with reps from the Republicans, Democarats, Libertarians, Socialists and Greens.
A Co-Coordinator of the Green Party of Utah, Shane Cutler, will be a panelist.
This should be interesting and I’ll be sure to post on the event itself.
The GPUT, ironically, is holding a showing of the same film on Saturday, Nov.12.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged film, Green Party, michael moore, movies, this divided state
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 