filming

Arlington Lawyer Moonlights as Award-Winning Filmmaker

By ARLnow.com

If you were to create a list of professions least likely to count an award-winning creator of abstract and experimental films among their ranks, lawyers would probably rank just below accountants.

But Clarendon resident H. Paul Moon is not your average government lawyer. He’s a composer, playwright and blogger who only recently added filmmaking to his list of side-projects. Earlier this month, he became an “award-winning” filmmaker at Arlington’s Rosebud Film and Video Festival.

Moon won the festival’s “Best of Show” award for El Toro, a short experimental film that seeks to make a visual connection between Spanish bullfighting and the passion of the Christ.

Armed with “modest” video equipment during a trip to Madrid, Moon attended a bullfight in the Plaza de Toros, a violent experience he says he does not want to repeat. Several months after returning home, Moon found inspiration and decided to turn his travel video into a film.

“I juxtaposed those bloody bullfighting scenes with carefully composed shots inside Madrid’s central cathedral, and heavily processed my edit with light manipulation and other visual effects to create a sort of dream-like meditation set to music,” he said. Then, one year after his trip, the Rosebud judges bestowed “an unexpected an encouraging honor” — the festival’s top prize.

“This was the first festival screening that I ever received since starting to make films 1-1/2 years ago,” Moon said.

It will almost certainly not be his last. Moon has continued cranking out experimental/environmental/landscape films inspired by his extensive international travels. In addition to the abstract and non-narrative, he has also been working on documentaries that profile performing artists.

Currently, Moon says he’s hard at work on a “biographical portrait of the American composer Samuel Barber.” The choice of documentary subject reflects the fact that Moon — a prolific creator of art — is also a voracious consumer of art.

“When something fascinates me, now I can’t stop myself from making a project out of it,” he said.

El Toro currently is not available online, but you can watch some of Moon’s other films here.

Photos from El Toro courtesy of H. Paul Moon

Library to Screen Film About Violence in Lesbian Relationships

By ARLnow.com

Domestic violence against women isn’t always committed by men. One in four women experience domestic violence in their lifetime regardless of the sexual orientation, race, socioeconomic status, age or educational background.

To help mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Arlington Central Library will be screening three films that explore the subject.

“My Girlfriend Did It” was first released in 1995, but its message is still as relevant and powerful now as it was back then. The documentary by Casa de Esperanza will be screened on Sunday, Oct. 17, at 2:00 p.m. at the Arlington Central Library Auditorium.

Also on the film agenda is “Telling Amy’s Story,” which explores the events leading up to a domestic violence murder. That will be screened this Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Next Sunday “Sin by Silence,” about female prison inmates learning to stop the cycle of domestic abuse, will also be shown at 2:00.

Hollywood Comes to Arlington: Outdoor Film Series

By ARLnow.com

Another outdoor film series is coming to Arlington, but this one has a bit more of a local flare.

While Rosslyn is showing ’90s movies and Crystal City is showing Star Trek movies, Lubber Run Amphitheatre (N Columbus St and 2nd St N) will be showing Arlington movies.

The series will kick off on Friday at 8:30 p.m. with a “tour of Arlington as seen through the eyes of Hollywood producers in ways both novel and creative.” The presentation will feature video clips and photos from the dozens of movies and TV shows filmed in Arlington, along with commentary from former Arlington Film Commissioner, current Arlington Virginia Network executive producer, and long-time movie buff Robert Farr.

Then, on Saturday, the films themselves will begin. Like Friday’s presentation, the films will start at 8:30 and admission is free. Here’s the schedule and each film’s Arlington connection.

  • June 19: The Blind Side (starring Arlingtonian Sandra Bullock)
  • June 25: Breach (scenes filmed in Arlington)
  • June 26: Heaven Can Wait (starring Arlingtonian Warren Beatty)
  • July 9: Clear and Present Danger (scenes filmed in Arlington)
  • July 10: Sweet Charity (starring Arlingtonian Shirley MacLaine)
  • July 23: Mission Impossible III (scenes filmed in Arlington)
  • July 24: Shark Tales (voice work by Arlingtonian Katie Couric)

Unleash Your Inner Film Critic

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Independent Media and the D.C. Film Salon are holding a live script reading tomorrow, with feedback provided by local professionals and amateur film critics.

Hear screenplays written by budding (and brave) local screenwriters — then offer gratuitous praise or withering (constructive) criticism.

The colorful list of screenplays to be read include “Plus One,” about a retired couple who “attempt” to have a threesome, and “BETA VHS R.I.P.” about a Betamax salesman whose world is turned upside down in 1982 when a Japanese salesman comes into town with a VHS player.

Anyone planning to attend is asked to RSVP here. It’s free and organizers say the public is welcome to participate.

The reading is being held at Arlington Independent Media HQ (2701-C Wilson Boulevard, next to Comcast). Doors open at 7:00.

See a list of the screenplays to be read, after the jump.

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What Do You Call a Group of Trekkies?

By Ashley Houghton

A Federation? A ghom? Whatever you want to call it, a heck of a lot of Star Trek fans attended the  Crystal Screen showing of Star Trek: The Motion Picture last night on Bell Street in Crystal City.

Star Trek, featuring the swashbuckling William Shatner and measured voice-of-reason Leonard Nimoy, was the first film shown as part of Crystal City’s Star Trek-themed, summer-long outdoor film festival.

Each installment of the Star Trek series plays Monday evenings at dusk in chronological order, which means next week will spotlight the 1982 classic Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*.

Audience members are encouraged to bring blankets and a few snacks. While a few Star Trek fans could be seen in Federation t-shirts, it seemed that most fans left their Spock ears and other costumes at home.

Following yesterday’s boffo Trekkie turnout, Crystal City announced today a new contest for residents who want to vote on which films will be featured during next year’s film film. The series will adopt the theme “By the Numbers” and feature twelve films with numbers in their title (for example: The Whole Nine Yards or The 40 Year Old Virgin).

Visit http://www.crystalcity.org/ to vote for your favorite numbered film (or suggest your own, although the existing list of numbered films is pretty exhaustive). Crystal City will announce the twelve winning films on August 16, before the last film of the season (last year’s Star Trek, the blockbuster J. J. Abrams relaunch of the franchise).

* Speaking of Wrath of Khan (fun fact), did you know that Marc Okrand of the Washington Shakespeare Company is the original inventor of the Klingon language? Furthermore, the Rosslyn Spectrum and Marc Okrand are producing the Shakespeare play By Any Other Name entirely in Klingon this September, and it will feature George Takei in person. Repeat: George Takei reciting Shakespeare in Klingon at the Rosslyn Spectrum this September.

To Do This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Another weekend, another long list of things to do in Arlington.

Friday

“The Shat Ball” with The Raspberry Brothers — NYC comedy duo The Raspberry Brothers is back at Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike) to rip on another classic cheeseball movie. This time, they aim their barbs at William Shatner’s performance in Star Trek V. From 9:30 to midnight.

Edward Scissorhands Under the Stars — Speaking of cheeseball movies, the latest installment of Rosslyn’s I Love the ’90s outdoor film festival brings us Johnny Depp’s 1990 classic Edward Scissorhands. The flick starts around 7:30 at Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway).

Saturday

Fifth Annual Arlington Youth Film Festival Premiere — Arlington Independent Media will screen the finalists for the 2010 Arlington Youth Film Festival. The festival was created to showcase the talents of our local middle and high school students. Doors open at 3:00 p.m. at The Comedy Spot in Ballston Common Mall (4238 Wilson Boulevard).

Classic Rock Concert At Potomac Overlook Regional Park — Local classic rock band Second Wind will headline the first outdoor concert of the season at Potomac Overlook Park amphitheater (2845 N. Marcey Road). The family and picnic-friendly concert will start around 7:00 p.m.

Sunday

Bike DC Community Bike Ride — See more info from our earlier post.

Virginia’s Fastest Bartender Contest Finals — Crystal City Sports Pub (529 23rd Street South) will host the final round of the Virginia’s Fastest Bartender Contest, starting at 8:30 p.m. The proceeds will go to the Tender Hearts Foundation, which helps children with congenital heart defects.

There’s a lot more on the agenda for Sunday — browse our events calendar for a full list.

Miss an Outdoor Showing of Clueless? As if…

By Ashley Houghton

Rosslyn’s “I Love the ’90s” outdoor film series started off with a crowd-pleaser Friday night. About 150 people crammed onto the field at Freedom Park to watch Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy, and Paul Rudd in the 1995 classic teen comedy “Clueless”.

Space was at a premium. Most of the crowd arrived with picnic blankets in tow about an hour before show time.

Sultana Khan was there with friends about an hour and a half before the movie started with plenty of sandwiches, cheese, hummus, and other munchies.

“Seriously, this movie is, like, amazing,” she enthused, chanelling the flick’s San Fernando Valley spirit. “It’s a standard, and Cher is a total Betty.”

Several picnicking groups knew the script by heart, which meant a good section of the audience recited aloud one of the most memorable lines in the film:

“Why should I listen to you, anyway? You’re a virgin who can’t drive.”

“That was way harsh, Ty.”

This coming Friday the “gnarly” SNL-skit-turned-blockbuster Wayne’s World will be playing on the big screen. Others films in the series include Airheads, Home Alone, and Johnny Depp’s highly underrated Cry Baby.