Screen scene: Local film news

RETURN TO SPAMALOT: Asheville Community Theatre hosts a 40th anniversary screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The event is co-sponsored by the Grail Moviehouse, whose name is inspired by the comedy classic. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

• To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the Asheville Community Theatre is hosting a screening of the comedy classic Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by the forthcoming downtown theater Grail Moviehouse, whose name was divined when partner and co-owners Davida Horwitz and Steve White saw ACT’s production of Spamalot last year with all five of their children in tow.

“We’ve always been Python fans, but that performance of ‘Find Your Grail’ made an impact. We were already looking for a location for our theater, but hadn’t settled on a name yet,” White says. “When we approached ACT, they were immediately on board with the idea. We’ve found kindred spirits when it comes to wonderfully silly movies.”

Tickets are $8 (plus a $2 fee) and available online through the ACT box office or at the theater. ashevilletheatre.org

• The latest one-day workshop from award-winning documentarian Kevin Peer is titled “Hands-On Field Production: Digital Cinematography, Lighting and Sound” and takes place Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Marshall High Studios.

The day will be devoted to learning the core elements of digital cinematography, lighting and sound recording that will allow aspiring filmmakers to bring their vision to vibrant life. While the workshop will cover the basics, it will also go beyond that to provide students with the tools they need to take their existing level of camerawork and lighting to a more compelling and subtle level. Bringing one’s own camera and tripod is encouraged but not required.

Additional workshops on different topics will be offered in November and December. The cost is $175 for a single workshop, but students who sign up for multiple classes receive a discounted rate. avl.mx/1g2

Asheville School of Film is offering a weekend seminar on location sound recording Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The course will teach students the craft of professional audio as it applies to capturing dialogue and sound effects on location. Instructor Sid Williams is a renowned local sound engineer with experience on numerous national and regional projects, including The Hunger Games. The cost is $175 for the weekend and includes access to all necessary sound equipment.

Sign-ups are also open for an eight-week Screenwriting 101 course that starts Monday, Nov. 9, 6:30-9:30 p.m. This class will meet weekly and be taught by screenwriter Rodney Rogers. The course is a detailed instruction on the process of screenwriting and will explore the craft using appropriate writing exercises. It will guide students through the development of a personal screenplay, teleplay or series. The course costs $495, and a $99 deposit is due by Monday, Oct. 26. avl.mx/1g1

Send your local film news to ae@mountainx.com

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About Edwin Arnaudin
Edwin Arnaudin is a staff writer for Mountain Xpress. He also reviews films for ashevillemovies.com and is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) and North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA). Follow me @EdwinArnaudin

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3 thoughts on “Screen scene: Local film news

  1. luluthebeast

    But are you going to give away coconuts like they did in Milwaukee when it first opened?

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