Big Screen Dreams

The curtain rises on homegrown talent at Local Filmmaker and Community Night at Visions.

By Joe Flood

No matter what the name, these events are an integral part of Washington’s moviemaking scene. They offer the chance for moviegoers to “get involved with a local organization, see a selection from a filmmaker in their hometown, and then meet the filmmaker,” says Heather Huston, Marketing and Events Manager at Visions. Struggling filmmakers get valuable exposure and the chance to be a star, at least for a night. “It’s their chance to see their dreams on the big screen,” she adds.

Visions, an independently owned theater, is devoted to bringing independent, foreign and art films to the metro area. There’s a snazzy concession stand that serves Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian tapas, including some tasty pizzas and wraps. The bar serves up a full selection of beer, wine, and mixed drinks, which you can take with you into the theater.

Over the past year, LFCN has offered an eclectic line up of independent movies and documentaries. One of the most popular features was “Washington Interns Gone Bad” by writer/director Jason Buckley and a cast and crew of local talent. This raucous political satire, which was made for less than a thousand dollars, played to a packed house.

For his “intern exploitation” picture, Buckley used locations around DC, including Adams Morgan, Malcolm X Park, and the scenic alleyways of Shaw. The movie also features the contributions of several Adams Morgan musicians, including Adam Kroloff of the Captain Paradox band

Cultureflux hosted a popular Local Film and Community night for Judwood.com, a hilarious documentary about two bickering brothers and their hapless pursuit of dotcom dreams.

A question and answer session with the filmmaker follows each screening. Filmmakers and audiences seem to benefit from this intimate setting. “The questions from the audience enabled me to grasp how the film was received,” says Ian Rummer, editor of Judwood.com. “There is a buzz circulating about Judwood.com largely due to the reaction it received at Visions. It confirmed my belief that the film is entertaining and appreciated when it reaches an unbiased grassroots audience. I am grateful for that opportunity.”

These Q&A sessions naturally spill over into the lounge afterwards, where a lively crowd of local movie lovers enjoy drink specials and a passionate discussion of cinema. “The Visions audience has an appetite for cinema that transcends the Hollywood formula,” adds Rummer.

Commenting on the busy Tuesday night scene, cinephile Scott Mueller says, “It’s like a film festival every week.”

So, end the Tuesday blahs and add some movie magic to your week with Local Filmmaker and Community Night at Visions.