The strange love triangle theme of "Cherry" is depicted by stars Kyle Gallner and Laura Allen, right, joined by youngster Brittany Robertson, left. HELL'S HALF MILE Comes to Life Again With Film Festival
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Are you interested in love triangles, women with tattoos, the sinking of the steamer Bradley, cowboy culture, the decline of Detroit?
Those topics, and many more, are on tap as the curtain is nearly ready to rise on the fifth year of the Hell's Half Mile Film and Music Festival in Bay City, Sept. 30-Oct. 3.
After half a decade, the festival is achieving maturity and value to the viewing/listening public. It is definitely worth a look, especially if you are from out of town and have never experienced Bay City. If you live in the area you will find an interest area in the film offerings that is readily accessible.
Festival goers traditionally have fun along with pondering the serious aspects of the films. An opening night street party is on tap Thursday, September 30, 5-8 p.m. on Saginaw Street, between Center and 5th in Downtown Bay City.
Tickets are available at the event or in advance at Old City Hall Restaurant and the State Theatre Box Office.
The film portion of the festival features 16 films on a wide variety of subjects, playing at several venues: the State Theatre, the old Masonic Temple, and Delta College.
The opening night film, "Cherry," a stunning social commentary filmed in Kalamazoo, is slated at 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30 at the State Theatre. Outtakes and previews are on line at www.baycityhhmfest.com.
"Cherry" stars Kyle Gallner (Smallville, Veronica Mars, Jennifer's Body), Laura Allen (Terriers, The 4400), Brittany Robertson (Dan in Real Life) and Esai Morales (LaBamba, Bad Boys).
When Aaron (Kyle Gallner from Smallville, Veronica Mars and Jennifer's Body) starts classes at his Ivy League College, he's ready for the tough curriculum but not for the complications that come from meeting a nontraditional student in his art elective. Upon meeting and falling for Linda (Laura Allen from Terriers, The 4400), a 34-year-old former wild child, he immediately meets her 14-year-old similarly reckless daughter (Brittany Robertson from Dan in Real Life). The result is one of the oddest love triangles to grace the screen. Filmed entirely in Kalamazoo, the film explores just how the rules of attraction work and just how relative they can be.
SCHEDULED TO ATTEND: Matthew Fine/Producer and Laura Allen/Actress.
The promoters of HHM Fest declare "it is more than an event for those who simply appreciate film and music. It's a grassroots effort to develop a community that participates in the arts. The festival idea developed from a "wouldn't it be great..." conversation, into "we can do it" action. We hope our actions will inspire others to develop new arts and culture opportunities in our community."
Festival organizers Alan J. LaFave, Tom Jenkins and Avram Golden have reached out to schools with film programs locally, and around the country to give students the opportunity to show their talents. "We're placing our call for submissions on industry web sites to connect with current and aspiring film makers, and attending regional film festivals to extend personal invitations. Through these efforts we're positioning Bay City as a progressive arts and culture community."
Music will come to the fore at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1 at The Vault, 505 E. Midland St., with bands including Neighborhood Muscle, Saginaw; Business Midgets, Bay City; Two Roads to Mexico, Ypsilanti; Mirata, Grand Rapids; Vanagon, Saginaw; and Arts of Life, Arts of Death, Bay city/Saginaw.
A big event is slated Saturday night, Oct. 2, featuring music at the Masonic Temple, Madison and Sixth, with limited tickets available at the Bay Arts Council or at the door. Bands include Headliner, Matt Pond, Pennsylvania; Ghost Heart, Grand Rapids; and Kid Coma, Flint.
Music Night Special Presentation: This film will be presented as part of Music Night festivities, Saturday, October 2 at The Masonic Temple, "Rapping in Tehran," Director: Hassan Khademi.
The 37 minute film eyes the struggle of young people against the rigid rules of a government of old men. Music and a lifestyle that are strictly forbidden fruit.
Other films slated for airing are:
"Blondes in the Jungle," Friday 11 p.m., Masonic. Three affluent college students trek through the Honduras jungle seeking drugs and their own sense of self importance.
"Broken Dreams," Sunday 2 p.m. State Theatre. Exploring themes of passion and craving. (Director David Crabtree scheduled to attend.)
"Budrus," Saturday 8:30 p.m., State Theatre, Sunday noon Delta College. Award winning documentary about a Palestinian community organizer trying to save a village from destruction.
"Covered," Saturday 11 a.m., Masonic Temple. Documentary exploring the world of heavily tattooed women and female tattoo artists.
"Deforce," Sunday 4 p.m., State Theatre. Documentary on Detroit's current predicament, the auto industry, gentrification, political corruption and educational neglect in the nation's most racially divided city. Scheduled to attend: Daniel Falconer, director.
"Drawing With Chalk," Saturday 6 p.m., Delta College. Band mates in a dying mill town confront limitations as they approach 40. Scheduled to attend: Togg Giglio, actor.
"Earthling," Saturday 3:30 p.m., Masonic Temple. After a car crash, mysteries plague Judith (Amelia Turner). Provocative science fiction. Scheduled to attend and conduct workshop, former Bay Cityan Matt Socia.
"El Monstro del Mar!" Saturday 11 p.m., State Theatre. Campy monster film starring three femme fatales in Australia.
"The Happy Poet," Sunday 6:30 p.m., State Theatre. Creative writer Bill (Paul Gordon) opens organic food stand with two slackers. Theme: Hope during hard times.
"I Am That Girl," Friday 8 p.m., State Theatre, Sunday 2 p.m., Masonic Temple. Aging party girl Maxine (Grace Rowe) camps in Sierras with "Noodle," (Mike Jaworski) who has deep secret. Scheduled to attend: Rowe, Jaworski.
"The Exchange," Saturday 1 p.m., Masonic Temple. Siblings are perplexed when their father admits he is gay.
"Lebanon, Pa.," Saturday 6 p.m., State Theatre, Sunday 4 p.m., Delta College. Will (Josh Hopkins from "Cougar Town), confronts conservative values of small town when he returns after his father's death. Scheduled to attend: Ben Hickernell (director-producer), Matt Pond, (music).
"November Requiem," Sunday 2 p.m., Delta College. Documentary on sinking of steamer Carl D. Bradley in November, 1958, and death of 25 men from Rogers City.
"Roll Out, Cowboy," Friday 9 p.m., Sunday noon, Masonic Temple. Rapper (Chris Sand) tries to bring culture to small town during 2008 Presidential election campaign. Scheduled to attend: Elizabeth Lawrence (director).
"X's & O's," Friday 6 p.m., Masonic Temple, Sunday noon, Delta College. Group of college friends learn lessons in love. Scheduled to attend, Kedar Korde (director-producer-writer).
What's with the name (Hell's Half Mile)? Hear it from LaFave and Jenkins:
"In the late 1800's, a certain stretch of Bay City's riverfront was known as Hell's Half Mile. A strip lined with raucous saloons and two-bit hotels where turn-of-the-century loggers and shipmen would go to blow off steam and take in more than a little local color.
"Time has passed but the same rough-and-tumble spirit of the day is reborn in the Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival. Early in its history, Bay City had over 80 hotels, hundreds of saloons and countless movie houses and theaters making it the entertainment capitol of Northern Michigan. This festival is a celebration of Bay City's history as an entertainment destination.
"Today, the city boasts a beautiful downtown riverfront with boutiques, restaurants, theatres, pubs, hotel accommodations and other points of interest....a state of the art planetarium, art galleries, a thriving business community, an active shipping lane for Great Lakes freighters...Downtown Bay City is alive with activity."
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