Spotlight: ‘Home of the Brave’ gets do-over
Looks like “Home of the Brave,” the Spokane-filmed movie about Iraq war veterans, will get one more chance.
The film will have a limited re-release on May 11.
It was first released in December, but only in New York and Los Angeles and only for one weekend.
Director Irwin Winkler told Entertainment Weekly in the March 30 issue that “we got drowned in the Christmas rush.”
Yet he also added, “It could reflect a lack of appetite for this kind of material.”
Winkler warned that any movie attempting to dramatize this war runs the risk of being immediately outdated.
“The truth is that when we started working on the film, we thought the war would be well over before the picture came out,” he said.
It’s too early to say if Spokane will be included in the May 11 release. Interest should be especially high here, since the cast features a number of local actors, including Nike Imoru, Ron Ford, Jhon Goodwin, Jerry Sciarrio, Wes Deitrick and Dennis Patchin.
Yes, KXLY-4’s Dennis Patchin. He’s billed as playing a “male news anchor.”
The cast also includes a few nonlocals you may be familiar with: Samuel L. Jackson, 50 Cent, Christina Ricci and Jessica Biel.
The film’s first limited release in December was a box office dud. Its total gross so far is $6,000 – on a $12 million movie.
Best of Broadway on Web
If you want to order subscriptions online for the Best of Broadway’s 2007-08 season, here’s the Web site: www.bestofbroadwayspokane.com.
If you go to that site and click on season tickets, you’ll find an online order form.
In case you didn’t catch the announcement Wednesday, the season will consist of “Movin’ Out,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “The Wedding Singer” and “Gypsy.”
Add-on shows, available in addition to the subscription package, are: The Chad Mitchell Trio Reunion, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Riverdance” and “Mamma Mia!”
Sweeney’s new projects
Spokane native Julia Sweeney was at the Bing Crosby Theater over the weekend for two performances of “Letting Go of God,” her one-woman show that ran for nearly two years in Los Angeles.
What does this writer-performer have in the pipeline next?
“A hybrid music/storytelling act called “The Jill and Julia Show” starring singer-songwriter Jill Sobule and Sweeney.
Sobule had a few cult hits in the ‘90s. After she and Sweeney discovered they were neighbors in L.A., they became friends.
One day Sobule said, “I’m really bad at the patter between songs. Why don’t you do the patter? Come on stage and tell stories between songs.”
They tried it and it was, said Sweeney, “kismet.” In March, they took their act to Joe’s Pub, the famous New York cabaret, and performed two sold-out shows. More shows are planned.
“A book. This memoir, not yet finished, has the working title “My Beautiful Loss of Faith Story.”
“ The film version of “Letting Go of God.” She’ll film it live in L.A. on May 5, enter it into film festivals, and try to land a distribution deal.
And if none of that works out? She’ll get a TV writing or performing job.
She has written for “Desperate Housewives” and “Sex in the City.”
Traveling Smithsonian exhibit
A traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibit, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Root Music,” will visit several towns in Eastern Washington and North Idaho this spring and summer.
The exhibit tells the story of American roots music through photographs, instruments, lyrics and artist profiles.
The itinerary includes:
“Kellogg – The Shoshone County Mining and Smelting Museum, June 22-Aug. 4.
“Lewiston – LCSC Center for Arts and History, Nov. 16-Jan. 5.
“Moses Lake – The Moses Lake Museum and Art Center, July 20-Sept. 2.
“Metaline Falls, Wash. – The Cutter Theater, Sept. 7-Oct. 21.
Watch for further details.
‘Different Drummers’
An inspirational screenplay, “Different Drummers,” by Spokane’s Lyle Hatcher and Don Caron, has won first prize in the Best Screenplay competition at the San Fernando Valley International Film Festival.
It’s based on a true story from 1965 about the friendship between two North Spokane boys, a 10-year-old with muscular dystrophy and his hyperactive friend (modeled after Hatcher himself).
Hatcher said that some big names in Hollywood have already come calling. Meanwhile, he and Caron hope to produce the film independently, shooting entirely in Spokane.
Opera Buffs trip
Do you want to go with the Opera Buffs to Puccini’s “La Boheme” at the Seattle Opera via motorcoach, May 19-21?
Get on the phone right away to John Bouchard at (509) 624-6230 or Barbara Haynes at (509) 535-4777 to reserve your spot.
Living History
Thursday will be Living History Day at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC), 2316 W. First. Fur traders will be gathered around a camp; pioneer women will be making soap; housemaids will be making Victorian lace.
There will also be displays about old-time firefighting, law enforcement and railroads. Activities will be available.
Regular admission applies, but a special admission fee of $10 per family will also be offered. The event runs Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.