Here is the info from the website www.deadcenterfilm.org

WHY IS IT CALLED deadCENTER?
The name “deadCENTER” refers to the geographic location of Oklahoma City within the continental United States. And in downtown OKC … we’re at the center of everything!

WHAT IS deadCENTER?
The deadCENTER Film Festival was founded by Justan and Jayson Floyd in 2001. The mission of the festival is to promote independent film arts. We envision a thriving, interactive global film community. We provide a competitive platform for independent filmmakers and a dynamic educational forum. As a result, the festival attracts filmmakers and festival attendees from around the nation. Designed to inspire growth in the local film industry and energize visiting film professionals, the deadCENTER Film Festival will continue to encourage the film arts through screenings, discussions, competition, special events, panels, and focused programming.

2006 SCREENING VENUES
Oklahoma City Museum of Art 415 Couch Drive
Stage Center 400 West Sheridan
IAO Gallery 811 N. Broadway
Untitled [ArtSpace] 1 N.E. 3rd
Metropolitan Library Downtown 300 Park Avenue
Harkins Bricktown Cinemas 150 East Reno Ave
Kerr Park corner of Robert S. Kerr and N. Broadway
The side of a fabulous downtown building – TBD

OTHER deadCENTER DETAILS FOR 2006
Projected audience of 3,500 film enthusiasts
National and international award-winning independent films
A myriad of Oklahoma films
Over 100 films will be shown at 8 different locations throughout downtown
A free kickin’ ”Kid’s Festival” – fun for the whole family.
Multiple film professional panels.
“Midnight Shorts” to showcase edgy, alternative films.
Visiting filmmakers from around the globe.
Food, fun and cocktails

It takes dozens of volunteers to pull this off and volunteer opportunities increase as the size and scope of the festival grows, and 2006 is even more ambitious than last year's event. The only thing better than attending the deadCENTER events and film screenings is attending the events and film screenings and being part of the festival. If you're interested in participating, contact:

Kim Haywood - Clubhouse Captain
kim@deadcenterfilm.org

dates?

:congrats:

dates?

June 7th - 11th

Looking forward to it!

This is a great event. I'm a huge film buff and I attending last year with a friend. I'm looking forward to this year.

June 7 - 11th? Good luck on them keeping any screens at the Harkins Bricktown theater at that time. Various "summer movie" would-be blockbusters are going to be flooding multiplex sites with many thousands of prints. Decent commercial screens will be hard to come by for any festival screenings during that time.

It would be better for any film festival to choose a time more traditionally in the doldrums if they want to involve commercial theaters. January is usually slow in terms of new releases. Mid-August through early September usually stinks pretty bad as well. Much of April is usually slow every year. Most major film distributors try to unload a lot of junk movie product off their shelves ahead of the start of the "summer movie season." That "season" used to begin at Memorial Day, but over the past decade the start date has been getting earlier. The X-Men sequel will kick off the summer movie season this year when it launches May 3.

June 7 - 11th? Good luck on them keeping any screens at the Harkins Bricktown theater at that time..

This is the sixth year for deadCENTER Bobby and Harkins has made the screen commitment, so I don't anticipate a problem with that venue. Last year was the first time that the festival has had a major commercial theater available downtown and Harkins was delighted to have the opportunity to participate in this important OKC film event. They felt that it brought new viewers through their doors and that the festival elevated awareness of quality independent film in the OKC market.

Of course, the festival was excited to have this important venue to showcase some of the feature films. Last year, the Jewish Cinema hit, When Do We Eat was among the films shown at the Harkins and it has gone on to be distributed across the US as well as internationally. deadCENTER is still broadening its audience and sponsorship base and obviously has not reached the status of Austin's SXSW but it is well on its way to becoming an important annual US independent film showcase.

I hope you can take in some of the films this year. I'll put up the titles as they are scheduled.

Thank You so much for this info! This is the first I've heard of it, and am looking forward to checking out some great films.

Hi Film Fans!

Sam Sims and I are actually heading-up the pr/marketing committee for deadCENTER. The programming committee met this weekend and finalized the films and schedules. I will post the final schedule later this week. Expect some fab films this year and please make plans to support this great Downtown event!

Kim

Harkins was delighted to have the opportunity to participate in this important OKC film event.

And you wouldn't know it by the movies they show here, but the Harkins organization is very supportive of independant work. They have film festivals at their Arizona theaters all the time, all year. And I don't think they'll have any problem giving up one screen for a few showings, even if X-Men 3-6 came out at the same time.

Harkins did say they were going to bring more independant work to Oklahoma. This is actually the one thing have done to do so.

I have to disagree as well. This is the 6th year of the festival. Last year the festival just exploded with worldwide attention. As someone else already said, this festival is well on its way to becoming one of the big US festivals. I hope you all can plan on attending this year. I happened to catch the Flaming Lips documentary, "Fearless Freaks" last year. Well worth my time! I'm also in the film industry and see a huge potential for this festival!! No need to worry if this film festival will thrive during peak season, it already has proven itself!!




June 7 - 11th? Good luck on them keeping any screens at the Harkins Bricktown theater at that time. Various "summer movie" would-be blockbusters are going to be flooding multiplex sites with many thousands of prints. Decent commercial screens will be hard to come by for any festival screenings during that time. No need to worry this festival working during peak season, it already has!!

It would be better for any film festival to choose a time more traditionally in the doldrums if they want to involve commercial theaters. January is usually slow in terms of new releases. Mid-August through early September usually stinks pretty bad as well. Much of April is usually slow every year. Most major film distributors try to unload a lot of junk movie product off their shelves ahead of the start of the "summer movie season." That "season" used to begin at Memorial Day, but over the past decade the start date has been getting earlier. The X-Men sequel will kick off the summer movie season this year when it launches May 3.

And you wouldn't know it by the movies they show here, but the Harkins organization is very supportive of independant work. They have film festivals at their Arizona theaters all the time, all year. And I don't think they'll have any problem giving up one screen for a few showings, even if X-Men 3-6 came out at the same time.

Harkins did say they were going to bring more independant work to Oklahoma. This is actually the one thing have done to do so.

I think the problem is that AMC has for several years been the theatre that showed the more limited releases in this market, and ultimately it's up to the distributor. If the distributors only think OKC can support one screen for such and such film, they seem to like to put it at AMC because that's who these smaller companies have been dealing with. Every now and then Harkins does get one of the more limited releases.

That's true, jbrown. But you would think that the Harkins company would have good relationships with some indies through their work with the AZ theaters. I think if they really wanted to bring something to OK, they could get it done. There is still a lot of stuff that does not come here.

In the end, though, their involvement with deadCENTER is appreciated. Hopefully, they will work as hard in promoting it as they do with their festivals in AZ. If you're curious, sign up for the Harkins e-newsletter. I did when they first came here and I get about one a month pumping some festival at one of their AZ locations. I have never gotten one single e-mail about anything in OK.

Below is a review of the new Robert Altman film, A Prairie Home Companion, which kicks of this year's deadCENTER festival on Thursday evening June 8th with an Oklahoma City premier screening at the OKCMOA.

BY CHRIS HEWITT
Movie Critic

AUSTIN, Texas — Moviegoers who attended the North American premiere of "A Prairie Home Companion" Friday night finally found out whether the movie is a comedy or a tragedy or a musical. The answer is: "Yes."

Based on the long-running radio show created by Garrison Keillor, "A Prairie Home Companion" is about the fictional final broadcast of the series. About half of the movie, which premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival and will open in the Twin Cities in June, focuses on behind-the-scenes melodrama with Keillor (as himself), Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin and Lindsay Lohan (as a singing family), Kevin Kline (as "Prairie Home" character Guy Noir), Tommy Lee Jones (as the financier who is closing down the show) and others. The other half of the movie — shot, as the closing credits say, "entirely on location in St. Paul, Minnesota" — is a relatively faithful, music-filled re-creation of what takes place on an episode of "Prairie Home."

"Meryl Streep's singing was fantastic. I loved it. When can I get the soundtrack?" asked Jill Street of Austin, Texas, the festival's host city, who will have to wait until the CD is released in late spring.

"It's funnier than I thought it would be," said Minnesota-based singer Prudence Johnson, who has a small role in the film and who timed a visit with family in Texas to coincide with the premiere. "The process of making it is so laborious, as you're working on it over the course of a month, that you forget how funny it will be when all the bits and pieces are put together."

"Prairie Home" was enthusiastically applauded at the sold-out screening at Austin's Paramount Theatre, where the line of ticket hopefuls wound around the block. But some moviegoers were still trying to put the bits and pieces together for themselves.

"I'm not sure if I liked it," said Kathy Marcus, also of Austin and a fan of the radio show and of the film's director, Robert Altman. "I'm still figuring it out, but I can tell you my favorite part was the dirty jokes song."

That song, "Bad Jokes," performed by "Prairie Home" characters Dusty (John C. Reilly) and Lefty (Woody Harrelson), got the biggest laughs of the evening. (Its risqué humor is also what earned the movie a PG-13 rating.) "Bad Jokes" was also a favorite of Dotty and Joe Scott, from New Canaan, Conn., frequent listeners of the radio show.

"We were definitely looking forward to this," said Dotty Scott, who wishes the movie focused more on the show itself. "I did think it was very moving when the sisters (Streep and Tomlin) were singing about their mother. But I love the tales Garrison Keillor weaves, and I would like to have seen more of the 'Prairie Home' people like the sound effects guy and Sue Scott (no relation)."

Johnson said she's not surprised fans of the radio show needed some time to get used to the movie. "I thought it was a blast, but some people might have a problem with it because it is 'Prairie Home' but it isn't," said Johnson, who was most jazzed by Kline's slapstick and by scenes featuring Jones, because he didn't report to filming until she was already done.

According to Johnson, the behind-the-scenes action in the film is nothing like what actually goes on. But she said the movie does capture the sometimes-chaotic process of putting on a show and "it has the feel of camaraderie, where everybody knows everybody else."

That sort of camaraderie was on the mind of Reilly, who introduced the film, explaining that Altman couldn't attend because he is directing a play in London. Referring to filming last summer at the Fitzgerald Theatre, Reilly said, "It really was this incredible month of love in St. Paul, honoring the great legacy Garrison Keillor created."

Wow, that's a pretty major film to be showing at the festival.

Yeah, pretty cool. If you liked that Streep-Tomlin sketch at the Oscars, you'll get more of it here.

I saw When Do We Eat? Amazingly funny stuff. It should be going into national release about now.

Wow, that's a pretty major film to be showing at the festival.

I think we can thank Brian Hearn at OKCMOA for getting Prairie Home Companion to OKC prior (ok, it's only one day prior, but that's still prior) to it's official US release. The deal may have been done at SXSW in Austin where it was a major hit.

Here is the schedule for this years festival.


Wednesday June 7th at Untitled Gallery Opening Night Frolic 7:30PM 3rd & Broadway Outdoor Screening at 9:00 PM "Stomp, Screem & Shout"

Thursday June 8th Harkins
"Dressed To Kill, 5:00 PM
Women Who Hunt"
"When I Find Bin Laden" 7:00 PM

"Radient" 9:00 PM

OKCMOA Cocktails On The Roof Party 5:30 PM 6:00 PM

Special Feature 8:00 PM
"Maxed Out"



IAO Shorts 1 7:45 PM 8:30 PM

"Ten Til Noon" 10:00 PM


Untitled Documentary Shorts 8:00 PM 8:30 PM


Makers Cigar After Party 11:00 PM
Lounge

DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Friday June 9th Stage Center Filmmaker Coffee 11:00 AM
Panel 1:00 PM
2:30 PM
4:00PM
Young Filmmaker Shorts 12:30 PM 1:00 PM

Shorts 2 3:00 PM

"Occupation 101" 4:30 PM 5:00 PM

Okie Shorts 7:30 PM

"Documentary Shorts" 9:00 PM


Library Kids Fest 9:30 AM 10:00 AM

"Music is My Life, Politics 1:30 PM
My Mistress"

Harkins "Last Stop For Paul" 2:30 PM 3:00 PM

"Seawood" 5:00 PM

"Outside Sales 6:30 PM 7:00 PM

"Sex Machine" 9:00 PM


Untitled "Caught In The Paint" 6:30 PM 7:00 PM
"Sandman's Garden"
"The Third Parent" 9:00 PM
"The Shape of Water"

DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Friday June 9th OKCMOA "Survelliance" N/A 5:30 PM

"Brothers of The Head" N/A 8:00 PM

IAO Shorts 3 7:30 PM 8:00 PM

Shorts 4 10:00 PM
Friday Night Frolic 11:00 PM

Midnight Shorts Midnight


DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Saturday June 10th Stage Center Filmmaker Coffee N/A 11:00 AM
Panel Workshop N/A 12:30 PM
Panel Workshop N/A 3:00 PM

Shorts 1 12:30 PM 1:00 PM

"Last Stop For Paul" 3:00 PM

"The Third Parent" 4:30 PM 5:00 PM
"The Shape of Water"
"Inlaws And Outlaws" 7:00 PM


Library Kids Fest 10:30 AM 11:00 AM

"Music Is My Life, Politics 1:30 PM
My Mistreess"

Harkins "Downtown Locals" 2:30 PM 3:00 PM

"Surveillance" 5:00 PM

"Rank" 6:30 PM 7:00 PM

"Outside Sales" 9:00 PM


Untitled Shorts 2 6:00 PM 6:30 PM

"Occupation 101" 8:30 PM


IAO Shorts 5 7:00 PM 7:30 PM

DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Saturday June 10th OKCMOA "Road Does Not End" N/A 5:30 PM
"Art From The Streets"
"Word Play" N/A 8:00 PM


Kerr Park Awards Presentation 8:30 PM 9:00 PM

"Awsome, I Shot That" 9:15 PM


Nona's Purple Bar After Party N/A 11:00 PM


DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Sunday June 11th OKCMOA Best of Fest N/A 2:00 PM

Here is the schedule for this years festival.


Wednesday June 7th at Untitled Gallery Opening Night Frolic
7:30PM
3rd & Broadway Outdoor Screening at 9:00 PM "Stomp, Screem & Shout"

Thursday June 8th Harkins
"Dressed To Kill, 5:00 PM
Women Who Hunt"
"When I Find Bin Laden" 7:00 PM
"Radient" 9:00 PM

OKCMOA Cocktails On The Roof Party 6:00 PM

Special Feature 8:00 PM
"Maxed Out"



IAO Shorts 1 7:45 PM 8:30 PM

"Ten Til Noon" 10:00 PM


Untitled Documentary Shorts 8:00 PM 8:30 PM


Makers Cigar After Party 11:00 PM
Lounge

DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Friday June 9th Stage Center Filmmaker Coffee 11:00 AM
Panel 1:00 PM
2:30 PM
4:00PM
Young Filmmaker Shorts 12:30 PM 1:00 PM

Shorts 2 3:00 PM

"Occupation 101" 4:30 PM 5:00 PM

Okie Shorts 7:30 PM

"Documentary Shorts" 9:00 PM


Library Kids Fest 9:30 AM 10:00 AM

"Music is My Life, Politics 1:30 PM
My Mistress"

Harkins "Last Stop For Paul" 2:30 PM 3:00 PM

"Seawood" 5:00 PM

"Outside Sales 6:30 PM 7:00 PM

"Sex Machine" 9:00 PM


Untitled "Caught In The Paint" 6:30 PM 7:00 PM
"Sandman's Garden"
"The Third Parent" 9:00 PM
"The Shape of Water"

DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Friday June 9th OKCMOA "Survelliance" N/A 5:30 PM

"Brothers of The Head" N/A 8:00 PM

IAO Shorts 3 7:30 PM 8:00 PM

Shorts 4 10:00 PM
Friday Night Frolic 11:00 PM

Midnight Shorts Midnight


DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Saturday June 10th Stage Center Filmmaker Coffee N/A 11:00 AM
Panel Workshop N/A 12:30 PM
Panel Workshop N/A 3:00 PM

Shorts 1 12:30 PM 1:00 PM

"Last Stop For Paul" 3:00 PM

"The Third Parent" 4:30 PM 5:00 PM
"The Shape of Water"
"Inlaws And Outlaws" 7:00 PM


Library Kids Fest 10:30 AM 11:00 AM

"Music Is My Life, Politics 1:30 PM
My Mistreess"

Harkins "Downtown Locals" 2:30 PM 3:00 PM

"Surveillance" 5:00 PM

"Rank" 6:30 PM 7:00 PM

"Outside Sales" 9:00 PM


Untitled Shorts 2 6:00 PM 6:30 PM

"Occupation 101" 8:30 PM


IAO Shorts 5 7:00 PM 7:30 PM

DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Saturday June 10th OKCMOA "Road Does Not End" N/A 5:30 PM
"Art From The Streets"
"Word Play" N/A 8:00 PM


Kerr Park Awards Presentation 8:30 PM 9:00 PM

"Awsome, I Shot That" 9:15 PM


Nona's Purple Bar After Party N/A 11:00 PM


DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Sunday June 11th OKCMOA Best of Fest N/A 2:00 PM

OK, let's try this again.

Wednesday June 7th
Untitled Gallery Opening Night Frolic
7:30PM
3rd & Broadway Outdoor Screening9:00 PM "Stomp, Screem & Shout"

Thursday June 8th Harkins
"Dressed To Kill, 5:00 PM
Women Who Hunt"
"When I Find Bin Laden" 7:00 PM
"Radient" 9:00 PM

OKCMOA Cocktails On The Roof Party 6:00 PM

Special Feature 8:00 PM
"Maxed Out"



IAO Shorts 1 7:45 PM 8:30 PM

"Ten Til Noon" 10:00 PM


Untitled Documentary Shorts 8:00 PM 8:30 PM


Makers Cigar After Party 11:00 PM
Lounge

DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Friday June 9th Stage Center Filmmaker Coffee 11:00 AM
Panel 1:00 PM
2:30 PM
4:00PM
Young Filmmaker Shorts 12:30 PM 1:00 PM

Shorts 2 3:00 PM

"Occupation 101" 4:30 PM 5:00 PM

Okie Shorts 7:30 PM

"Documentary Shorts" 9:00 PM


Library Kids Fest 9:30 AM 10:00 AM

"Music is My Life, Politics 1:30 PM
My Mistress"

Harkins "Last Stop For Paul" 2:30 PM 3:00 PM

"Seawood" 5:00 PM

"Outside Sales 6:30 PM 7:00 PM

"Sex Machine" 9:00 PM


Untitled "Caught In The Paint" 6:30 PM 7:00 PM
"Sandman's Garden"
"The Third Parent" 9:00 PM
"The Shape of Water"

DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Friday June 9th OKCMOA "Survelliance" N/A 5:30 PM

"Brothers of The Head" N/A 8:00 PM

IAO Shorts 3 7:30 PM 8:00 PM

Shorts 4 10:00 PM
Friday Night Frolic 11:00 PM

Midnight Shorts Midnight


DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Saturday June 10th Stage Center Filmmaker Coffee N/A 11:00 AM
Panel Workshop N/A 12:30 PM
Panel Workshop N/A 3:00 PM

Shorts 1 12:30 PM 1:00 PM

"Last Stop For Paul" 3:00 PM

"The Third Parent" 4:30 PM 5:00 PM
"The Shape of Water"
"Inlaws And Outlaws" 7:00 PM


Library Kids Fest 10:30 AM 11:00 AM

"Music Is My Life, Politics 1:30 PM
My Mistreess"

Harkins "Downtown Locals" 2:30 PM 3:00 PM

"Surveillance" 5:00 PM

"Rank" 6:30 PM 7:00 PM

"Outside Sales" 9:00 PM


Untitled Shorts 2 6:00 PM 6:30 PM

"Occupation 101" 8:30 PM


IAO Shorts 5 7:00 PM 7:30 PM

DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Saturday June 10th OKCMOA "Road Does Not End" N/A 5:30 PM
"Art From The Streets"
"Word Play" N/A 8:00 PM


Kerr Park Awards Presentation 8:30 PM 9:00 PM

"Awsome, I Shot That" 9:15 PM


Nona's Purple Bar After Party N/A 11:00 PM


DAY/DATE VENUE EVENT REPORT EVENT
LOCATION DESCRIPTION TIME TIME

Sunday June 11th OKCMOA Best of Fest N/A 2:00 PM
__________________

OK, let's try this again.

2006 deadCENTER Film Festival Schedule

Wednesday June 7th

UNTITLED GALLERY
7:30 PM Opening Night Fun

3rd & BROADWAY OUTDOOR SCREENING
9:00 PM "Stomp, Scream & Shout"

This is a new event and location this year, the grass lawn between Broadway and the elevated railroad tracks just south of the historic Oklahoma Publishing and new YMCA buildings. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs for a great evening of film under the stars. Beverages will be available on site.

Thursday June 8th

HARKINS THEATER - BRICKTOWN
5:00 PM "Dressed To Kill,Women Who Hunt"
7:00 PM "When I Find Bin Laden"
9:00 PM "Radient"

OKCMOA
6:00 PM Cocktail Party On The Roof, Open Bar.
....... All Access Pass Holders Only

OKCMOA
8:00 PM Special Feature "Maxed Out"

IAO
.8:30 PM "Shorts 1"
10:00 PM "Ten Til Noon"

UNTITLED GALLERY
8:30PM "Documentary Shorts"

Makers Cigar Lounge After Party
11:00 PM (All Access Pass Holders Only)

Friday June 9th

STAGE CENTER
11:00 AM Filmmaker Coffee
Panels
1:00 PM 2:30 PM 4:00PM
1:00PM "Young Filmmaker Shorts"
3:00 PM "Shorts 2"
5:00 PM "Occupation 101"
7:30 PM "Okie Shorts"
9:00 PM "Documentary Shorts"

LIBRARY
10:00 AM "Kids Fest"
.1:30 PM "Music is My Life, Politics My Mistress"

HARKINS THEATER - BRICKTOWN
3:00 PM "Last Stop For Paul"
5:00 PM "Seawood"
7:00 PM "Outside Sales
9:00 PM "Sex Machine"

UNTITLED GALLERY
7:00 pm "Caught In The Paint"
9:00 PM "Sandman's Garden"
....... "The Third Parent"
....... "The Shape of Water"

Friday June 9th

OKCMOA
5:30 pm "Survelliance"
8:00 PM "Brothers of The Head"

IAO
.8:00 PM "Shorts 3"
10:00 PM "Shorts 4"
11:00 PM "Friday Night Frolic"
Midnight "Midnight Shorts"

Saturday June 10th

STAGE CENTER
11:00 AM Filmmaker Coffee
12:30 PM Panel Workshop 12:30 PM
.3:00 PM Panel Workshop

1:00 PM "Shorts 1"
3:00 PM "Last Stop For Paul"
5:00 PM "The Third Parent"
7:00 PM "The Shape of Water"
....... "Inlaws And Outlaws"

LIBRARY
11:00 AM "Kids Fest"
.1:30 PM "Music Is My Life, Politics My Mistreess"

HARKINS THEATER - BRICKTOWN
3:00 PM "Downtown Locals"
5:00 PM "Surveillance"
7:00 PM "Rank"
9:00 PM "Outside Sales"

UNTITLED GALLERY
6:30 PM "Shorts 2"
8:30 PM "Occupation 101"

IAO
7:30 pm "Shorts 5"

Sunday June 11th

OKCMOA
2:00 PM Best of Fest

The best deal is the All Access Pass for $50. It provides admission to all of the films (show pass and get tickets to OKCMOA screenings at their box office) and gets you into all of the parties and special events. Individual screening tickets are $7. Great T-Shirts again this year with a new design, short and long sleeve. Passes, gear and other stuff can be purchased at The OKCMOA beginning Thursday evening.

See you at deadCENTER

__________________

This is the last call for volunteers. A committee meeting and goodie bag stuffing will be held at the Downtown Library at 5:30 PM Today on the 4th Floor. It's OK if you're a little late; I'm going to be. Show up to get a chance to participate in a growing OKC annual event. Great films this year. Two free outdoor screenings. More parties and events. More film floks coming to town. Also some very exciting and attractive new designs presented on both long and short sleve tee shirts. An All Access Pass is only $50. Hell, I can't fill up the tank on my Volvo for $50. How can you not want to be in on this deal?

I unfortunately will be out of town for the festival this year. I hope it goes great.

It all begins tomorrow evening at The Untitled Gallery about 7:30PM with a FREE outdoor screening of "Stomp, Scream & Shout" around 9:00 PM on the lawn at 3rd And EK Gaylord. Cold beverages available. BYOLC

The 6th annual deadCENTER Film Festival opens Wednesday, June 7 screening local, national and international films through Sunday, June 11. Once again the festival is in the deadCENTER of downtown Oklahoma City with screenings at the Stage Center, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery, the Untitled ArtSpace, the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library and the Harkins Bricktown Theater.

The festival kicks-off on Wednesday, June 7 with an Opening Night Party at Untitled [ArtSpace] at 7:30 pm – followed at 9:00 pm by a special outdoor screening at 3rd and E.K. Gaylord of Stomp! Shout! Scream! a “beach party rock-n-roll monster movie” by filmmaker Jay Edwards. Edwards is best known as editor and producer of “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. His Cartoon Network credits also include “Space Ghost Coast-to-Coast”. Stomp! Shout! Scream! is Edward’s first feature film.

On Thursday, June 8, the festival kicks into full gear with a film at 5:00 p.m. at the Harkins Theater by Enid-born, OU grad film maker Carol Wagner. Wagner’s film “Dressed to Kill, Women Who Hunt” Dressed to Kill chronicles women's experiences, motivations, and complicated emotions on five hunts across Texas in an unsettling and thought-provoking journey about ways we obtain our food and how that impacts who we are.

Later Thursday evening at 8:00 p.m. at that Oklahoma City Museum of Art, filmmaker James Scurlock will screen his film “Maxed Out” an incredibly moving documentary about credit card debt in this country. The film includes interviews with family of two University of Oklahoma students who committed suicide because of massive credit card debt.

Films continue all day Friday, June 9 including a free Kids Film Fest at Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library. Later that day at the Harkins Theater, catch Oklahoma director Fritz Kiersch’s movie “Surveillance”, filmed entirely in the state of Oklahoma, it tells the story of an obsessive department store security guard whose spotless record at crime prevention marks the horrifying reality of blackmail, deception and murder.

On Saturday, June 10 grab a spot on the amphitheatre and enjoy the stars beneath the stars. “Awesome, I F@$!*n’ Shot That!” features a live performance shot by audience members at a 2004 Beastie Boys concert at Madison Square Garden. The awards ceremony and free screening starts at 9:00 p.m. at Kerr Park on the corner of Robert S. Kerr and Broadway.

The festival wraps with a “Best of the Fest” showing of the week’s winning films at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art at 2:00 p.m.

All-access passes are $50 and include entry into all festival screenings, parties, and panels, and a goodie bag. Friday and Saturday day passes are also available for $25. Tickets for most individual screenings are $7 and are available at each venue. For more information, please visit the website at www.deadcenterfilm.org.

Last night's opening party at Untitled Gallery followed by the FREE outdoor screening of Stomp! Shout! Scream! on the grassy lawn at 3rd & EK Gaylord, was a major success. About 250 were treated to Jay Edward's first feature film along with unexpected showers from the sprinkler system. Various parts of the crowd scurried as each sprinkler station came to life and plastic trash cans were distributed to cover the sprinkler heads as the film rolled on uninterupted. A night to remember.

Besides the sprinklers, the smokers, and the loud obnoxious talkers, the movie was good. Ironically, most of the loud talkers and laughers were volunteers and staff (not laughing at the movie). The movie was good and humorous though.

Sorry your experience was deminished by the chatter on the sidelines. I was probably one of the overly loud talker/laughers. I will mention to the organizers that the volunteers should hold it down during the movie in the future. Thanks for bring the problem to our attention and glad you liked the flick.

Lots more film all weekend.

Did Prairie Home Companion show last night?

Did Prairie Home Companion show last night?

No floater, the festival had a tentative commitment from the distributor of this film and we felt we were on firm ground in going public with that info a couple of months back, but when it came down to it, we were unable to close the deal for Prairie Home Companion showing in OKC the day before it opened in theaters nationwide. So, we went with Maxed Out, a great documentary about America's astounding pile of credit card debt; well received by the audience.

More gret films continue today and tomorrow. Be sure to catch "Awsome, I #$%^@ing Shot That" tomorrow evening at about 9:15 in Kerr Park. Day Passes for all of Saturday's films and special events can be picked up at Stage Center for $25 starting at 10AM tomorrow.

Still lots of flicks yet today, so why not drop by Stage Center after work and pick up a $50 All Access Pass that get's you into everything tonight, all day tomorrow and Sunday's Best of Fest at OKCMOA. Big party tomorrow night at Nonna's Purple Bar. Free for Pass Holders. You can do it!!!!

Here's a little report on my experience at deadCENTER. I hadn't been able to attend Wedneday - Friday's events, so I got an all-Saturday pass for $23 and change - worth the price of three movies and the program, which was exactly what I got from it.

First was the Shorts 1 set at Stage Center. I was disappointed in the turnout (only about 20 viewers), but the shorts were very entertaining and well-done. Diverse genres and styles, which is what you want. Of these my favorites were Rusty Forkblade (another take on the fish-out-of-water story) and the lyrical A Cigar at the Beach, which showed where our imaginations can take us.

I then trekked to Bricktown to sample the outdoor jazz festival and cool down at Uncommon Grounds. I waited for the 5PM showing of Surveillance, which was shot entirely in OK, mostly at Penn Square. This showing packed its Harkins theater, with 50+ attendees. Among them was Fritz Kiersch, its director. He preluded the screening by saying how dynamic the film industry is here and that he ultimately wants future OK filmmakers to outdo his Surveillance.

Well, unfortunately, that shouldn't be too hard. The acting was okay, but the production left a lot to be desired. You could see shots repeated despite the advancement of story between them. The music was monotonous and overbearing, the story itself was underdeveloped, and some scenes didn't get the buildup they deserved. Anyway, it was nice to see the OKC shots -- the Myriad Gardens, Robinson and Park downtown, Penn Square, and the skyline. The best part of the movie was the performance of Armand Assante, whose maniacal security guard could have been phenomenal in a richer context.

Last at OCMOA was my favorite film of the day, Wordplay, about the NY Times' crossword editor Will Shortz and other crossword devotees. The almost eccentric brainpower of its writers and solvers is remarkable. How many people look at a Dunkin Donuts sign and think, "Change the d and you have unkind donuts!" The film climaxed with a crossword championship, whose players are so devoted they treat the contest as a family reunion. Commentaries came from Ken Burns, President Clinton, Bob Dole, the Indigo Girls, and Jon Stewart.

Afterword, I walked over to Kerr Park hoping to catch the awards ceremony, but was too late. They started Awesome: I F*&^%ing Shot That, a Beastie Boys concert documentary where they gave 50 fans cameras to film the concert. Not being a Beastie Boys fan, I left, but the turnout was great, 50+.

I checked out 'Sex Machine' Friday night. It wasn't just sold-out, it was oversold. They were bringing in chairs from outside to seat everyone and had to turn people away. I was very impressed with the film, especially what it had done on $8,000. It was kind of a modern day horror/sci-fi Frankenstein movie It was shot entirely in OKC, mainly in its seedier elements, which made for great atmosphere throughout. 66 Bowl was a prominent location.

It played a little disjointed as it was obviously an experimental vehicle for its filmmakers, but it had many impressive moments and never lost its focus on the story. As the filmmakers worked through their inspirations, you could see elements of Sam Raimi, Oliver Stone (Natural Born Killers), and several B-movie standards that actually came off as upbeat and fresh rather than tired or too clichéd.

John Howell, the lead, was very good at times and many of the supporting character actors had some shining moments. In all, it's a great one for horror and b-movie fans made by competent first time feature filmmakers.

Afterwards, we packed the rooftop at Lit for an after party that was going strong at least until I left (around 1). It was a great evening and, to me, exactly what deadCENTER is all about: a great way for local talent and Oklahoma based productions to showcase their works and network with each other. I could very easily see it becoming an important vehicle for regional indie filmmaking, if it isn't already.

This event, along with Momentum and other smaller events, shows that the creative class in OKC is not only strong, but very talented. It’s great to see it being nurtured and supported now, instead of almost exclusively exported, as in the recent past. Yes, these talented people will probably have to leave to “make it big” or even just “make a career” out of it, but you can tell they all want more for OKC in way of the arts and we should thank all of the participants and organizers for working so hard towards that goal. They truly make this a better place to live, work, raise a family, and to visit.

Glad you had a good time BDP and I appreciate your taking the time to comment on the film and the positive impact of the arts on the quality of life in OKC.

Overall, deadCENTER was a great success. The mix of films was much improved over past years and considering that the festival is just now six years old, I think we can all look forward to an even better event next year. It's all about the quality of the films and filmmakers. From opening night on Friday at Untitled Gallery to Best of The Fest at OKCMOA on Sunday Afternoon, it was a lot of fun and another great event for the Okie City to host. . . deadCENTER Film Festival, Charlie Christian Jazz and Ringling Brothers Circus all on the same weekend . . . . it was jumpin' downtown for sure.

An unexpected bonus is that Harkins has tentatively offered one of their screens to deadCENTER one evening per month for screenings, so it's possible that we can offer more indie films year round as a suplement to what Brian Hearn is doing at OKCMOA, and at the same time build a broader base for next year's festival.

An unexpected bonus is that Harkins has tentatively offered one of their screens to deadCENTER one evening per month for screenings, so it's possible that we can offer more indie films year round as a suplement to what Brian Hearn is doing at OKCMOA, and at the same time build a broader base for next year's festival.

That's great news. I have been waiting for Harkins to get more involved here, as they alluded to initially. Obviously, it's improtant that it doesn't hurt OKCMOA's operation, but I think it's great they are willing to work with the local scene.