Cinema Speakeasy

April 25, 2012 • 11:01 am 0

Occupy Film: LA, May 8

OCCUPY FILM
Shorts from the movement.
A panel with radical filmmakers
A call to create.

When the Occupy movement hit the streets of the US and abroad, we here at Cinema Speakeasy were over the moon. As an organization devoted to furthering independent media, we know first-hand how artists of all stripes suffer under a corporate-led system. With little to no public support for the arts, most filmmakers turn to sponsorship or advertisement — with all the strings attached. In short: A new system for our country means a potentially more supportive environment for artists; a world where success is not defined by winning a crowd-sourced Doritos commercial competition.

With all this in mind, Cinema Speakeasy is thrilled to partner with the vital new organization Occupy.com to bring you a free night of short films about the Occupy movement. The film program will last about an hour, with plenty of time for drinking and socializing beforehand. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Occupy.com’s David Sauvage.

Tuesday, May 8th

8PM Doors
8:30PM Screening

9:30PM Join us for a post-screening panel on filmmaking and activism, featuring:
Gina Levy (filmmaker)
Abraham Heisler (filmmaker)
Sandrine Orabona (filmmaker)
Lisa Clapier (OccupyLA media producer)
Moderated by David Sauvage (filmmaker, Occupy.com)

Space 15 Twenty
1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles CA. 90028

Entry is free.
Cash bar, bring your designated driver!
RSVP: heythere@cinemaspeakeasy.com

Download the flyer here.

Filed under: Screening, Abraham Heisler, Cinema Speakeasy, David Sauvage, Georgi Goldman, Gina Levy, Occupy, Sandrine Orabona, Saskia Wilson-Brown, Space 15 Twenty

April 4, 2012 • 10:43 am 0

‘Tierra Brillante’: LA, Apr. 15

Estamos muy feliz to team up with Mexican directors José Luis Figueroa Lewis and Sebastián Díaz Aguirre to present their newest film, ‘Tierra Brillante‘ (Brilliant Soil). We’ll be screening the movie at East LA’s coolest new arts space and our new semi-permanent home, Atwater Crossing!

‘Tierra Brillante‘ is a moving and compelling documentary that gives voice to the spirit and aspirations of a Purepecha artisan from Michoacan.

We will also be hosting a lead-free pottery exhibit and sale from the Michoacan communities of Santa Fe de la Laguna and Capula. Proceeds from sales benefit Purepecha artisans and the D.I.Y. distribution of Brilliant Soil.

By custom, thousands of artisans in Mexico still use lead based glazes in their pottery without knowing the damage that this toxic element causes to their health. Herlinda, an indigenous Purepecha potter, is one of the few artisans in her community who uses alternative lead-free glazes. Having achieved safer and healthier living conditions for her family, she faces the difficult task of finding a market for her impressive pieces.

But this does not dull her dreams of having her shop thrive and her brothers return from the United States to rejoin the family tradition. An unexpected trip could crystallize this dream.

There will be beer and wine for sale at the venue, so bring your favorite designated driver.

Check out the trailer

Brilliant Soil (Tierra Brillante)
Sunday April 15^th, 7PM
Atwater Crossing Screening Space (3245 Casitas Ave., LA 90039)
Followed by a Q&A with the producer & directors
$5 at the door (goes to the filmmakers and the venue)

Filed under: Screening, atwater crossing, mexican film, mexico, michoacan, purepecha, tierra brillante

March 8, 2012 • 12:02 pm 0

‘We Are Legion’: LA, Mar. 29

‘We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists’
Thursday March 29
Doors at 6:30
Program starts at 7:00
Crawford Family Forum (474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena 91105)
Free Sneak Preview, preceded by a discussion: ‘Civil Disobedience Meets the Internet: Activism in the Digital Age’
RSVP required

Cinema Speakeasy is thrilled to team up with Southern California Public Radio, 89.3 KPCC and the Crawford Family Forum to present a free sneak preview of director Brian Knappenberger’s festival buzz-maker: ”We are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists“.

Occupy Wall Street, the Arab Spring, the London riots – all point to social media and the Internet as driving factors for their movements. And then there’s Anonymous, the radical “hacktivist” collective that has redefined civil disobedience as they set their sights on everyone from big banks to Scientology. Is there still a role for “boots on the ground” or has the digital age changed activism forever?

Join KPCC’s social media editor P. Kim Bui, Brian Knappenberger, writer/director of “We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists”, and community activist Manuel Criollo for talk about modern activism, followed by a sneak preview screening of the film. Free with RSVP.

Check out the trailer.

RSVP HERE

Filed under: Screening, Anonymous, Brian Knappenberger, Crawford Family Forum, documentary, KPCC, Pasadena, public radio, SCPR, We Are Legion

February 20, 2012 • 11:04 am 0

‘The 5 for 5 Clothing Swap for the East Side Lady’: LA, Feb. 23

Cinema Speakeasy is proud to team up with ATX to present
The 5 for 5 Clothing Swap for the East Side Lady

February’s event has nothing to do with film, but you know what? We’re diverse people with diverse tastes that need to be explored. So, we decided to take it to the east side to host our inaugural clothing swap.

This is just what it sounds like: This thursday, we’re giving you a chance to exchange your boring old duds for someone else’s more awesome and fashionable duds. And to drink and make new friends, barside.

Bring:
5 items of clothing – no more, no less
A persuasive smile
$5 bucks for the kitty

The better your items, the better stuff you’ll be able to trade them for. Focus on things that are adaptable to different sized people for maximum trade efficiency. All clothing must be laundered, please. Also: Accessories TOTALLY count as an item of clothing.

The format will be individual transactions: Browse and strike deals to your heart’s content. Persuade your new trader friends to swap your old sweaters for their awesome chanel gowns. Hey, it could happen.

Patient boyfriends, girlfriends, stylist friends or passive voyeurs get in for free, in exchange for comedic relief or awesome shwag to throw into the mix.

Thurs. 23 February
7PM to 9PM
ATX Restaurant (3245 Casitas Ave., L.A. CA. 90039)
$5 per trader at the door
Info & Directions: http://atwatercrossing.com/index.html

ATX Restaurant will be providing $2 PBRs, and wine for the classy folks.

Filed under: Screening, atwater crossing, clothing swap

December 29, 2011 • 3:22 pm 0

‘Funny Shorts To Drink To’: PS, Jan. 15

Cinema Speakeasy returns to Ace Hotel for another round. This time, we’re tackling comedy.

With some of our old favorites, plus some new offerings hot off the 2011 presses, we think this will be a program worth laughing to, and – most importantly perhaps- drinking to.

On that note, we’re screening these shorts right above Ace Hotel + Swim Club’s beautiful outdoor bar. Dip your toes in the water as you sip your gin and tonic, play some ping-pong, and – most importantly – join us on January 15th!

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Sun. January 15th, 2012
Program starts at 9:00PM
ACE Hotel & Swim Club (701 E. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92264)
at the poolside bar
Tickets: Free at the door, 21+ only
Alcohol: ACE’s mixologists will brew up their funny juices to help you get the yuks flowing.
Bring cash, and tip your bartenders.

To RSVP for the screening at Ace Hotel and Swim Club:
Email heythere@cinemaspeakeasy.com and tell us who’s coming!

Filed under: Screening

November 1, 2011 • 8:32 am 0

‘They Live’: SF, Nov. 3

Thursday, Nov. 3rd
Occupy GAFFTA!
John Carpenter’s They Live

Hey 99%-ers! What if we told we had these magical sunglasses that you could put on to see that the upper 1% were really free enterprising aliens from another planet? That’s what happens in They Live (1989). And that’s what you can see November 3rd at GAFFTA.

Directed by Halloween’s John Carpenter, They Live blends action, politics and horror, as WWF wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper chews bubblegum and opens up a can of whoop ass on Reagan-era zombie Republicans. Seriously, everyone should see this movie. Not convinced yet? OK:

1. This film inspired Shepard Fairey’s Obey the Giant campaign. Which sparked a chain of events that put Obama in the White House. Just saying.

2. It also inspired the cripple fight scene in South Park. Over 6 wonderful minutes of over the top fighting.

3. It’s another great movie from the 80s featuring the iconic RayBan Wayfarers. (Free raffle ticket if you wear yours.)

As always, only $5, desirable raffle prizes, and the savviest movie-lovers in San Francisco to kick back, watch a film and have a beer with. Come take notes on how to fight the alien elite upper class before the world goes down the toilet.

When? Thursday November 3.

Where? GAFFTA! 998 Market St at Taylor St.
Time? Doors at 7:30PM, movie at 8PM
How much? $5 (cash-only)

More information!

Filed under: Screening

October 31, 2011 • 2:46 pm 0

‘There’s No There, There: LA Films LA’ : LA, Nov. 16

CS + Big City Forum present ‘There’s No There, There: LA Films LA’ 
Weds. November 16, 7:00-9:00 PM, Goethe-Institut
Admission Free

Big City Forum & Cinema Speakeasy present an evening of short films that examine what LA means to those that inhabit it, in a program and discussion about our public urban identity. We will be screening pieces that capture the complexity and reality of living in our de-centralized – yet mythical – metropolis.

Before you moved here, and you thought of Los Angeles, what came to mind? Hollywood? Getty Center? Strip malls and traffic? Urban sprawl? Hardened cops? Gang warfare? Chicks in bikinis filing their nails under towering palm trees?

LA is the constantly shifting metropolis constructed entirely for mass consumption by fantastical and fevered minds with nary a glance at the rich complexity roiling beneath its shimmering skin. From gritty downtown cop dramas to technicolor Hollywood fantasies, it has been omnipresent in American celluloid, but rarely truly captured. It is, in short, the most filmed yet least understood megalopolis in modern American history.   Filmmakers will be on hand for a post-screening discussion about their sense of place, moderated by Saskia Wilson-Brown and Big City Forum.

PROGRAM

Part 1: LA Isn’t a Real City, It Just Plays One on Camera (Observations)
‘I Hate LA’ by Suzy Barrett (TRT 2.5 min)
‘Los Angeles: A Love Poem’ by Dylan King (TRT 2.25 min)
‘Not West of Western’ by Clay Dean (TRT 13.5 min)

Part 2: Interlude (Moments)
‘Javelin @ Bob Baker Marionette Theatre’ by Alex Pelly, Dublab (TRT. 10 min)
‘Mall Mania’ by Joel Fletcher (TRT 4.5 min)
‘Intolerance’ by Lisa Marr and Paolo Davanzo (TRT 2.25 min)

Part 3: A Manufactured Narrative (Stories)
‘Untitled (Perlman Place)’ by Vera Brunner-Sung (TRT 1 min)
‘Dos, Por Favor’ by Fabian Euresti (TRT 15 min)
‘The Worm, Episode 10′ by Austin Young (TRT 10 min)

More information

Filed under: Screening

September 22, 2011 • 9:58 pm 0

‘Evil Dead’ and ‘Evil Dead 2′ Drink-Along & Zombie Dress Up: SF, Oct. 6

Why are cobwebs all over the corner store? This wine better not be that old. What is with all this orange and black? No one is celebrating the Giants. And why are all horror films just a little more…horrifying? You know why. Halloween is here! Almost.

And we’re here to raise the hairs on the back of your neck with a few cold beers during our next DRINK-A-LONG to the indie cult classic THE EVIL DEAD. Thursday October 6th!

We’re taking horror to the next level by making it a DOUBLE FEATURE: The Evil Dead and EVIL DEAD 2 Costume Party. Wow! We’re kind of scaring ourselves right now. Scared of how incapacitated you’ll be at the end of it.

Marking the 30th anniversary of its release, we’re resurrecting The Evil Dead to witness Sam Raimi make movie magic (and history) with a scary small budget, THEN compare it to the Hollywood budget he had for Evil Dead 2. The basics are the same: a creepy cabin in the woods, some book and audio recording conjuring evil spirits from beyond, and this dude Ash running around in the woods dismembering people possessed by demons. If that doesn’t raise goosebumps on your arms, then you’re probably the evil dead too.

Here are some rules to follow lest YOU get dismembered. Every time:

A human gets possessed by an evil spirit: DRINK!
Someone suggests going out on their own (or something equally stupid): Yell NOOO! Then DRINK!
A milky white substance excretes from someone’s face: CHEERS and DRINK!
You’re a little scared: LAUGH and DRINK! It’ll help. Trust us.

And get your most blood-curdling scream ready, because during intermission, we’ll have a screaming contest! The best, loudest, most terrifying scream gets a spooky surprise! And the winning doesn’t stop there. Come dressed as an evil dead flesh-possessing demon zombie and get a free raffle ticket! (Raffle tickets lead to amazing prizes, as usual.)

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

You know the drill. 5 bucks. Prizes. Beer. Film lovers so sexy it’s scary.

When? Thursday October 6.
Where? GAFFTA! 998 Market St at Taylor St.
Time? Doors at 7:30PM, movie at 8PM
How much? 5 squeamish dollars

Be there, or be haunted by the remorse you’ll feel if you miss out. THAT is scary.

Filed under: Screening, drink-along, Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, San Francisco

September 16, 2011 • 9:26 pm 1

‘Relationship Therapy for the Modern Human’: LA, Oct. 15; PS, Oct. 16

Cinema Speakeasy is proud to present a special double screening in Los Angeles and Palm Springs of our newest, edgiest, most ridiculously scandalous shorts program yet.

We’re calling it ‘Relationship Therapy for the Modern Human’. Decidedly not for the squeamish (or the prudish) these shorts examine love in all its facets: How it works, how it’s lived, how it starts, how it ends, how some of us may have just decided to sod it all and commit our hearts to… well… more original things. Hey, it takes all types to make up our world. We’re not judging.

On Saturday October 15^th, we’ll be screening the program in LA at Space 15 Twenty in Hollywood, CA. We’ll start the program at 8:00, but come early for some Umami Burger and lèche-vitrine at Urban Outfitters’ experimental and shop-alicious courtyard of cool.

Since these films will leave you in a love daze, and hopefully, with a foggy hangover, we decided to provide some good old fashioned hair o’ the dog with a second screening in Palm Springs. On Sunday October 16th, grab your homies and homegirls and drive, walk or bike over to the hippest swim club and hotel we know to help us launch our first Palm Springs screening, and our newest collaboration with the legendary Ace Hotel & Swim Club.

The program starts at sundown, and it’s the perfect way to cement the mutual adoration that you KNOW has been budding all day between you and that hottie in the red trunks sitting two cabana chairs over. To seal the deal, Ace’s mixologists will be whipping up love-related alcoholic potions at special rates, and of course the food at their amazing diner (King’s Highway) is delicious.

So come watch some brilliant and sometimes shocking films on Oct. 15^th in Hollywood and on Oct. 16^th in Palm Springs, and help us raise a glass to love, lust or hate. Whichever it is that floats your boat.

—————-

PROGRAM

We combed through just over 100 ridiculously good films to bring you this program. These were just too juicy to pass up.

Seafishing, by Mary Costa, Lauren Randolph, Jessica Kucinskas (1 min.)
Venus, by Tor Fruergaard (8 min)
Two, by Maya Newell (17 min)
Gayby, by Jonathan Lisecki (12 min)
Fancy , by Chris Olsen (3 min)
Love Hurts, by Christian Simmons (5 min)
I Fucking Hate You, by Zak Forsman (9 min)
The Virgin Herod, by Xander Robin (8 min)
Time After Time, by Laurie Thomas (4 min)
Megafauna, by Kaz Phillips Safer (14.5 min)
Porch Casserole, by Douglas Burgdorff (7 min)
Coffee and Cream, by G. Lewis Heslet (5 min)
Love Fucked, by Anthony Ferraro (3.5 min)

—————-

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

LOS ANGELES

Sat. October 15th, 2011
Doors at 7:00PM, Program at 8:00PM
Space 15 twenty (1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028)
Tickets: Free (Suggested donation $5), 21+ only
Alcohol: We’ll keep you posted
Wear a sweater- this screening is outdoors.
Bring $3 for a raffle ticket, and park in the Arclight parking lot

To RSVP for the screening at Space 15 Twenty: Email heythere@cinemaspeakeasy.com and tell us who’s coming! Also, tell us a quick story about love gone wrong, or love gone right. We’ll be reading the best stories at the screenings but don’t worry we’ll keep it anonymous.

—————-

PALM SPRINGS
Sun. October 16th, 2011
Doors at 7:00PM, Program at 8:00PM
ACE Hotel & Swim Club (701 E. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92264)
Tickets: Free at the door, 21+ only
Alcohol: ACE’s mixologists will brew up their special love potions

Ace Hotel + Swim Club is offering a 10% discount on a Saturday night stay for Cinema Speakeasy guests. Book online or over the phone and enter the code ‘Cinema’.

To RSVP for the screening at Ace Hotel and Swim Club: Email heythere@cinemaspeakeasy.com and tell us who’s coming! Also, tell us a quick story about love gone wrong, or love gone right. We’ll be reading the best stories at the screenings but don’t worry we’ll keep it anonymous.

—————-

PRESS RELEASES, FOR YOUR DOWNLOADING PLEASURE

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR RAFFLE SPONSORS

Plus awesome bags and scarves from Lulu, MAC cosmetics, and more.

Filed under: Screening, Ace Hotel, Anthony Ferraro, Chris Olsen, Douglas Burgdorff, G. Lewis Heslet, Jessica Kucinskas, Jonathan Lisecki, Kaz Phillips Safer, Lauren Randolph, Laurie Thomas, Love sucks, Mary Costa, Maya Newell, Space 15 Twenty, Tor Fruergaard, Xander Robin, Zak Forsman

September 8, 2011 • 7:10 am 0

‘Humpday’ + Indie Erotic Film Fest Shorts: SF, Sep. 8

This Thursday, September 8: SEXY September!

We’re getting between the sheets and bringing you our Sexy September programming. We’re proud to present our friend Lynn Shelton’s clever comedy, HUMPDAY. L.A. Times writes, “In Lynn Shelton’s comedy, two old college friends decide to have sex with each other for a porn festival. Feelings ensue…Could two straight pals have sex on camera for a local amateur porn festival?” Good question. Check out the trailer here.

To get you excited about independent adult programming, we’ll be starting off the night with a short film or two from the Bay Area’s own Indie Erotic Film Festival brought to you by our pals at Good Vibrations! We’re going to get intimate with shorts from last year’s competition to get your juices flowing for this year’s festivities, starting on September 17 and culminating in the Short Erotic Film Competition on September 22 at the Castro Theater.

Come out on September 8 and GET SEXY. As usual we’ll have beer, wine, awesome raffle prizes, and the best-looking film lovers this side of the Mississippi. Bringing sexy back, one movie at a time.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Thursday Sep 8th, 2011
Doors at 7:30

GAFFTA (998 Market St. @ Taylor St. 94102).
Street parking: Carpool!

$5 at the door
This event is 21+

Filed under: Screening, Lynn Shelton, San Francisco

Contact us anytime by emailing heythere@cinemaspeakeasy.com, or through the following fine online outlets.

Join Our Mailing List
On Kickstarter
On Vimeo
On Flickr
On Facebook
On Twitter