• Asheville-based Solis Films’ local production of the feature film Luke and Jo wraps Friday, Dec. 16. Shooting began Dec. 1 and has incorporated various locations in Black Mountain, Old Fort and Asheville, including the Fine Arts Theatre.
Directed by Joshua Overbay, the film explores the power and complexity of human connection, following the titular characters as they collide, at the lowest point in their lives, during a winter film festival. Throughout a bizarre and unexpected week, their lives become increasingly connected, ultimately revealing the depth of their individual scars, fears and the meaning of trust. The cast includes local actors as well as Erik Odom, who played the nomadic vampire Peter in the hit Twilight series.
Solis Films’ first feature, As It Is in Heaven, played in major markets across the country and earned acclaim from major publications, including RogerEbert.com and The New York Times, which named it a “Critic’s Pick.” It is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime. solisfilms.com
• On Thursday, Dec. 15, from 7-8:30 p.m., Mechanical Eye Microcinema hosts an open screening at Grail Moviehouse. Asheville filmmakers and video artists are invited to share a work of 10 minutes or less with a live audience. All genres, styles and films old, new or works-in-progress are welcome.
Films will be accepted in DVD, QuickTime or MPEG file, 16mm or Super 8 form. Submit work early by email to mechanicaleyemicrocinema@gmail.com to secure a spot. Other works will be screened on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be a short discussion after each piece with a chance to gather feedback from the audience. Free and open to the public. mechanicaleyecinema.org
• West Asheville Public Library’s Pixar Film Series continues Friday, Dec. 16, at 4:30 p.m. with Monsters, Inc. The feature will be preceded by the Pixar short For the Birds. Free and open to the public. avl.mx/37m
• Asheville School of Film students of Filmmaking 201/301 will screen their student projects on Sunday, Dec. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. at Grail Moviehouse. Over the span of two eight-week courses, students produced their own short digital film from conception to completion under the guidance of ASoF co-owners Brad Hoover and W.S. Pivetta. Free and open to the public. ashevilleschooloffilm.com
• Registration is open for Asheville School of Film’s Youth Winter Filmmaking sessions, which run from Wednesday, Dec. 28, to Friday, Dec. 30. Careers and Crew Positions runs from 9 a.m. to noon daily and takes students behind the scenes of filmmaking, from pre-production to post-production, and introduces them to the array of jobs and careers available on film sets. Green Screen Fundamentals goes from 1 to 4 p.m. each day and covers everything necessary for achieving believable green-screen effects on a budget. The sessions cost $150, or $250 for both. Register online. ashevilleschooloffilm.com
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.