Synopsis: In 1990, to protect his fragile mother from a fatal shock after a long coma; a young man must keep her from learning that her beloved nation of East Germany as she knew it has disappeared.

What: GOOD BYE LENIN, rated R; German with English subtitles.
When: Tuesday May 10, 6:30 pm
Where: Brentwood Branch Library
2214 Brentwood Blvd.
Springfield, MO 65804

Popcorn and lemonade are also provided. The films are shown the 2nd Tuesday every month.

Synopsis: Monika, Tonik and Dasha grew up together, but now as adults, each possess something the others intensely desire–uncovering hidden feelings of longing, desire and loneliness. Czech Republic. Official Selection – New York Film Festival.

What: SOMETHING LIKE HAPPINESS no rating; Czech w/ Eng subtitles.
When: Tuesday April 12, 6:30 pm
Where: Brentwood Branch Library
2214 Brentwood Blvd.
Springfield, MO 65804

Popcorn and lemonade are also provided. The films are shown the 2nd Tuesday every month. The upcoming schedule is listed below the trailer.

Tuesday, May 10: Good Bye Lenin!, rated R; German with English subtitles.

What: Beginning Filmmaking Workshop
When: Sunday, March 27 · 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Where: Creamery Arts Center
411 N Sherman Parkway, Springfield, MO 65802

Register on our Facebook Event page

Count Zee (John Senovich) is in Production on his next feature – Dystopia:2013 – but’s he’s taking a break to offer this FREE two hour session on how you can start making films. SATO48 is coming up April 15th – come out and hear from this experienced filmmaker on what it takes. Check out the clip below from the Dystopia:2013 shoot.

Synopsis: Two competitive friends, fueled by literary aspirations and youthful exuberance, endure the pangs of love, depression and burgeoning careers.

What: REPRISE rated R; Norwegian with English subtitles.
When: Tuesday March 8th, 6:30 pm
Where: Brentwood Branch Library
2214 Brentwood Blvd.
Springfield, MO 65804

Popcorn and lemonade are also provided. The films are shown the 2nd Tuesday every month. The upcoming schedule is listed below the trailer.

Tuesday, April 12: Something Like Happiness, not rated; Czech with English subtitles.
Tuesday, May 10: Good Bye Lenin!, rated R; German with English subtitles.

The free film series, which will take place the first Tuesday of the month January through May, 2011 is at the Moxie Cinema. Supported by a grant from the Arts Sustainability Initiative of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, its goal is to build the audience for independent films created locally.

So pull out that masterpiece, or get it done, and submit it so that we can include your work. The process is simple – drop off 2 DVD copies of your film at the Moxie. Be certain and leave your contact information so we can follow up with you after we’ve had a chance to watch it.

As an example from our first evening of films, check out Brook Linder’s short film “Loose Cannon”. Brooks a junior at Missouri State and pulled together a wonderful film. Set aside 20 minutes and enjoy!

Loose Cannon from Brook Linder on Vimeo.

The film stars Greg Schultz in the title role of Bruce Cannon and includes Bobby Hearn, Max Rosen, Brett Neckermann, Charles McDonald and includes Brook as “the bomber” (watch for the eyepatch).

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As the mother of 4 boys, I think it’s safe to say that sports have played a major part in our lives. The sport of choice, in my family, is soccer. And, interestingly enough, soccer has played a key role in my youngest son’s interest in acting. It was while we were on the SGFsoccer.com website, that we came across a casting call, in Springfield, MO, for a major feature film entitled “The Road”. My son, Noah, fit the breakdown, and we thought it might be fun to attend. This was back in 2007. Upon reflection, I find it interesting that a movie called “The Road” has changed the direction of our lives, even though we never made it past the cattle call.

Our lives didn’t change immediately. Soccer was still the predominating force that propelled our family. But, in the beginning of 2009, Noah decided that acting was something he’d like to pursue. I was certainly game for it, and signed him up for an acting class at Springfield Little Theatre. While he thoroughly enjoyed it, he let me know immediately that singing and dancing were not part of his game plan. In his words “I’m just a soccer player who likes to act.” In my ignorance, I didn’t know if any other options would be available to him, so I went back to the drawing board, and contacted Steve Ole Olson, to give me some direction. I was surprised when, within the hour, he’d responded with names and numbers of people for me to contact. One of the names on that list was Scott-Arthur Allen of Creative Actor’s Workshop. We contacted him, and it turned out to be the perfect fit for Noah. April will mark Noah’s 2 yr anniversary with CAW.

Scott, having been a past President of the Talent Manager’s Association, in LA has been a wealth of information and a huge life line for us. In January of 2010, we were contacted by a current member of the Talent Managers Association, for possible representation. After having Scott make some inquiries, and receiving a big thumbs up, we decided to sign with them, which has turned out to be a very good thing. She was able to get Noah some important meetings with top agencies in LA, and he was fortunate enough to get signed by a fairly powerful one. Hint: They represent Dakota Fanning.

Over the last year, Noah has auditioned, on tape, for many feature films. A breakthrough finally came with Dolphin’s Tale, which stars Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr, and Ashley Judd. His audition tape made it past casting and on to the Director. And, while he didn’t book it, it marked the next step in the process. It was time to meet the casting directors in person. One of the problems of submitting audition tapes, is that Casting Director’s don’t get a feel for your personality, presence, or your ability to take direction. And when you come from the Midwest, and don’t have a lot of credits to your name, this certainly poses some problems.

Which brings me to the present. Today is February 1st, 2011, and I am writing to you from an Oakwood apartment complex in the hills of Burbank, CA. We are just a stone’s throw away from Universal Studio’s and Warner Brother’s. In the 3 weeks since we’ve been here, Noah has had numerous auditions, many call back’s, has booked the lead role in a National Mattel Green Lantern commercial, and is currently on “Avail” for another job. In 2 hrs, we will go to an audition for a feature film, in the office of Deborah Dion, who is a heavy hitter, here in LA, in the world of Casting Director’s. Hint: She cast The Sixth Sense.

The biggest thing we’ve learned over the past several years is that this is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time. There are many steps involved. It takes a level of dedication that many people, not in the industry, do not understand. This is not a willy-nilly endeavor. The reason they call it show business, is because it is, indeed, just that. It’s a business. And, that’s fine. Great, even. Noah has had a lot of preparation in getting to this point, and has enjoyed every minute of it. In his perfect world, he will be a successful, working actor in LA. Stardom is not part of his requirement. He just wants the chance to be successful, doing something he enjoys. It’s hard to say what the future will hold, or where it will take us. We will just continue forward on the road we are on, follow all of the twists and turns, hurdle the road blocks, and enjoy the ride.

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I hope you enjoyed this Hollywood update. Noah’s oldest brother Colton graduates from Marshfield this May where he was Captain of the soccer team and set the career scoring record for the Blue Jays this year. His twin brothers, Christian and Nicholas, are members of the Blue Jays as well.

Here’s a video of Noah early in his career at an Acting Showcase put on by Creative Actors Workshop.

The film was made in 1965 on Catalina Island and locations around LA. The movie was shot by Vilmos Zsigmond, Academy award winning cinematographer (Close Encounters of the Third Kind); he ranks SUMMER CHILDREN as one of “my best early works” in regards to his important efforts in America after escaping from the Hungarian revolution in the 1960’s.

This American New Wave neo-noir film was produced in 1965, yet it never reached the screen.

As the original producer, I (Jack) thought this film had been lost, but through a serendipitous occurrence, re-discovered SUMMER CHILDREN in 2008. Edie Robinette –Petarchi and I then spent two years restoring and digitizing the film. From excitement shown by the Slamdance staff and other film buffs, it appears to be one of the most interesting offerings for the 2011 season.

Vilmos is known world-wide for his expert use of light and shadows in filming. Besides a gripping plot, SUMMER CHILDREN highlights one of America’s first looks at Vilmos’ masterful cinematography.

Check out the website at www.summerchildren.com and then plan to attend the Missouri premiere:

What: SUMMER CHILDREN – part of the Queen City Cinema series
When: Tuesday February 8th, 8:00 pm – FREE
Location: Moxie Cinema
431 S Jefferson Avenue, Springfield, MO 65806

The Queen City Cinema film series is funded by a grant from the Arts Sustainability Initiative of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

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Dr Monty Dobson

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Jan. 21, 2011 —Visiting Assistant Professor Dr. Monty Dobson received a $10,000 grant from the Kirby Foundation for the production of a documentary film about the Native American culture near St. Louis. Dobson’s company ShovelReady Productions will produce the film Cahokia: Native American City of Mystery.

The film examines the Cahokia Mounds, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, in Collinsville, Ill., located approximately 18 miles to the east of St. Louis, Mo. “We are terrifically excited by the opportunity this generous grant from the Kirby Foundation offers to bring attention to the truly unique nature of the Cahokia site,” Dobson said.

Dobson partnered with Drury’s Artist in Residence, Patrick Mureithi, to produce the film. The 30-minute documentary will delve into the history of the Mississippian culture epicenter at Cahokia that flourished between A.D. 800 and 1400.

Visit Dr Dobson’s website for more information. The entire press release can be seen on the Drury University website.

The film was produced by Springfield native (Greenwood 1955/Southwest Missouri State 1959) and resident Jack Robinette and was recently remastered and released on DVD. The film’s Director of Photography was future Academy Award winner Vilmos Zsigmond, with lighting by László Kovács. Zsigmond and Kovács fled Hungary in 1956 after shooting footage of the Soviet Invasion. Zsigmond rose to prominence in the 1970s, winning his Oscar for Best Cinematography on Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) as well as receiving three more Oscar nominations and a long list of additional honors.

His friend Kovács is best known for his work as Cinematographer on “Easy Rider” as well as “Five Easy Pieces”, he also shot “Two Weeks Notice” and “Miss Congeniality” more recently. According to his bio on IMDB, Dennis Hopper asked Kovács to film “Easy Rider”. At first, Kovács turned it down, but Hopper was persistent. It was filmed entirely on location, during a 12-week trip from Los Angeles to New Orleans. Later, Kovács said that they knew the film was special, but didn’t realize it would win awards and become an influential, iconic movie.

From the Slamdance press release

Our Special Screenings this year showcase the creative spirit that defines Slamdance. From Summer Children’s lost 1960s indie neo-noir to Gandu’s progressive smack and rap Indian fantasy, this unique program is made by filmmakers driven to create their own vision, whatever it takes,” stated Peter Baxter, Slamdance President and Co-founder.

This year’s Special Screenings program is comprised of world premiere “Summer Children,” a neo-noir dramatic feature film shot in black and white in 1965 with Academy Award® winner cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and fully restored from the negatives and optical tracks in 2010;

About Slamdance
As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent and is dedicated to the nurturing and development of new independent artists and their vision. For the 2011 Festival, Slamdance received a record number of over 5,000 submissions. Slamdance Film Festival, presented again by Kodak, will run concurrently with the Sundance Film Festival, January 21-27, 2011 in Park City, Utah. Slamdance lives by its mantra: “By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers.”

From IMDB, Summer Children (1965)
A competition erupts between two young men over their feelings for one woman throughout a sailing adventure to Catalina Island and throughout the night at a dance.
Director: James Bruner
Writer: Norman Handelsman
Stars: Stuart Anderson, Valora Noland and John Hanek

Visit the film’s website for more information on the film that was filmed in and around Los Angeles, Bel-Air, at the Gardena Raceway, the Wilmington Harbor, on Catalina Island and on the 130 foot sailing schooner, the “Mayflower”.

You can also follow the film on their Facebook page or their Twitter account.

Sophie Parker and Chris Beckman viewing Sundance Short Film Competition announcement

Included in that exclusive list of films is oops, a short film by local filmmaker and Drury graduate (2010), Chris Beckman. Competing in the U.S. DOCUMENTARY SHORTS competition, the film is described as
oops (Director: Chris Beckman) – A metaphorical elucidation exploring the Internet’s infinite repository of ‘throwaway’ social documentation.

The competition includes Animals Distract Me, by Director and Screenwriter Isabella Rossellini among others.

You first heard about Chris and his film when he won in the Experimental category of the Vimeo National competition. The film also screened at the London Anti-Design Festival in September and came to the attention of the Sundance competition committee who reached out to Chris and requested that he enter the film in their competition. Today’s announcement is the culmination of that effort.

The next step is raising funds to help Chris and his girlfriend (dare I say muse as well, as they have been together for four years and is his primary producer) Sophie Parker attend the Festival screening. The photo of Sophie and Chris above was shot today as we discussed the film and their plans at Big Momma’s Coffee, as they read the official announcement that had just been posted. If you would like to help them represent the Springfield film community, a fund has been established by the Drury Alumni and Development Office to help Chris to Utah. It is called the Chris Beckman Sundance Fund. To contribute to the fund, which will be used to help Chris travel to Sundance and participate in the screening,

Send a check made out to Drury University, noting that it is for the Chris Beckman Sundance Fund. Mail it to

Alumni and Development Office, attn. D. Course
Drury University
900 N. Benton Ave
Springfield, MO 65802

Your donation will be tax-deductible and the Drury Alumni office will issue you a letter indicating your contribution.

Chris, like artists throughout history, keeps digital notebooks of ideas. As Sophie described, he has many hard drives full of material he has collected through the years and the film is the culmination of his fascination with Youtube from its inception. As described in the Sundance synopsis above, Youtube offers a wide range of material and once he developed the concept of video associated with dropping a videocamera, it was approximately 10 days of work to come up with the original video. When the Vimeo competition was announced, a second edit with some additional material culminated in the video you can see below.

If you like what you see, a remarkable film for it’s seamless blend of disparate environments bound only by their common situation, then consider contributing to the fund that will allow Chris the opportunity to share his vision with the Sundance audience.

You can also become a fan of his next project Thin Air, a Missouri State Electronic Arts senior thesis film written and directed by by his friend and regular collaborator Max Rosen. With sound design and original music composition by Sam Gibson and David Bae. And assistant direction and special effects by Garrett Layman, Chris will be the Editor on the film.

oops from Chris Beckman on Vimeo.

Chris Beckman
oops, 2009
digital video art
concept by Billy Rennekamp

Somewhere between a home-video mixtape and a postmodern travelogue, “oops”—a ten-minute art video composed entirely of appropriated YouTube videos, seamlessly stitched together via a motif of camera drops—serves both as transportative adventure and metaphorical elucidation of YouTube itself (i.e. endless related videos), exemplifying the Internet’s infinite repository of “throwaway” social documentation. From suburbia to subterranea, the radically shuffling environs induce a vertiginous yet aesthetically contextual thread—a transcendent, reincarnating POV; our omnipresent Camera—by which, the nature of the ultra-verité videos, eschewing any filmic grounding, plunges the viewer into a relationship of fleeting immediacy w/ its many videographers: a self-portrait at arms length, the digital blur of an obscuring thumb, a disembodied narrating voice. This abstractly voyeuristic portrayal of an ever-filming generation (who won’t let the transcendence of being in A Moment inhibit their document-everything impulse) presages a future where every instant of our existence, from the mundane to the sublime, is preserved and catalogued for all to see.

Other examples of Chris’ work can be found on his Vimeo page including a new Director’s Cut of his 2008 SATO48 award winner “GOODBYE EARTH” and last year’s The Maiden Voyage of August Juncture’s Incredible Time Machine that won Matt Stout the Screenwriting Award (say hi to Matt next time you visit the Moxie)