Cinema al Fresco— Factory on 5th Art Space (1715 Fifth Street NW) is sponsoring a series of outdoor film screenings this summer. The Outdoor Movie Festival began last Thursday with the classic adventure Raiders of the Lost Ark . Things pick up again this Thursday, June 14, with the awesome Paul Newman prison drama Cool Hand Luke . Future screenings include 2001: A Space Odyssey (June 21), The Pink Panther (June 28) and Easy Rider (July 5). Screenings start at dusk (approximately 8:30 p.m.). Bring your own lawn chair and a suggested $5 donation. For more info, log on to www.factoryon5.com.
Reel World
Sounds Good To Me— Local visual arts org Friends of Film, Video and Arts will host a monthly gathering on Sunday, June 17, at the Harwood Arts Center (1114 Seventh Street NW). Things get underway at 3 p.m. with an informal networking session. Aspiring amateur and working professional filmmakers are encouraged to attend and meet fellow compatriots. From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. there will be an informative presentation, demonstration and Q&A session on the art of sound recording. Professional sound guys Jim Cochran and Fritz Eberle, and Hear Kitty Studio owners Tor Kingdon and Kathleen Edwards will cover topics like “capturing good in-the-field sound” and “how post-production sound can improve your project.” This presentation is free to FoFV&A members and a mere $5 for guests/nonmembers. You can visit the organization’s website (www.filmvideoarts.org) or call 897-2101 for more info.
Reel World
Poetic Premiere— The documentary film Committing Poetry in Times of War will have its premiere Albuquerque screening on Saturday, June 16, at the KiMo Theatre as part of the WORD! KiMo Poetry Circus! The film examines freedom of speech and creative expression in New Mexico and in the U.S.A. in the early months of the Iraq War. When bombs began to fall on Iraq, Humanities teacher and Youth Poetry Coach Bill Nevins and his Rio Rancho High School Poetry Slam Team continued to express themselves artistically through spoken word. The result was the firing of Nevins and the disbanding of the Poetry Team. Days after Nevins’ removal, hundreds of peaceful protestors were assaulted by police as they attempted to demonstrate against the suppression of free speech. The response was to move them into “Free Speech Zones” away from traffic and public view—and anyone who attempted to venture out of these designated zones was met with the drawn guns of the police force. Out of this dark series of events arose a diverse community of artisans, poets and musicians whose words could not be silenced. Beginning in New Mexico and growing across the country, this grassroots effort became known as Poetic Justice. This free event, presented by the Poetic Justice Institute, begins at 6:30 p.m.
