Spokane film gets art house opening
Wayne Wang’s award-winning Chinese-American family drama, “A Thousand Years of Good Prayers,” opens Sept. 19 in selected art-house theaters across the U.S.
Why is this big news in Spokane?
Because this movie was filmed on location in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene in 2006, and it includes several local actors, including Patrick Treadway and Wes Deitrick.
The movie swept four major awards at the prestigious San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain, including Best Film.
The Hollywood Reporter called it “a finely observed portrait of a father-daughter relationship.” It has already been released in Europe, where it has also been well-reviewed.
Its stars Henry O and Feihong Yu in the lead roles. Yu’s character lives in Spokane and her father comes to visit from China.
Will it open in Spokane? We’ll just have to wait and see.
‘Golden Door’ falls ‘Up’
Meanwhile, another Spokane-filmed movie has a new name.
The comedy originally titled “The Golden Door” has been renamed “Falling Up.”
Under any name, it remains a romantic comedy about a rich girl who falls in love with the cute, but lowly, doorman in her Manhattan building. It stars Joseph Cross, Snoop Dogg, Rachael Leigh Cook, Sarah Roemer, Annette O’Toole, Mimi Rogers and Joe Pantoliano.
Yes, we said a Manhattan building. Spokane stands in for Manhattan, which is easier to do than you might think in this age of computer-generated effects (i.e, a Manhattan skyline inserted behind a Riverfront Park scene).
Sharp-eyed Spokane residents will recognize the Paulsen Building, the Davenport Hotel, the Masonic Temple and many other local landmarks in the movie’s trailer, which is available online.
At this point, “Falling Up” is not scheduled for a theatrical release. It may go straight to DVD.
Upside down with the SYS
The Spokane Youth Symphony’s newly announced season includes guest artist Janice Martin, a violinist, pianist, singer, gymnast and acrobat.
Gymnast and acrobat?
You heard right. Martin is a nationally acclaimed concert artist whose symphony shows are anything but routine.
She’s known for, among other things, hanging upside down from a trapeze while playing the violin. Her performances are fully choreographed with dance and gymnastic moves.
Youth Symphony artistic director Verne Windham said it will give the students and the audience “a concert experience they’ve never had.”
Here’s the season lineup. All concerts are at 4 p.m. at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox:
• “First Edition” – Featuring all four of the SYS youth orchestras, Nov. 2
• “Heroes and Legends” – A celebration of musical mentors, Feb. 8
• “Stop the Presses” – With guest artist Janice Martin, April 26
• “Here Comes the Sun” – Featuring the senior orchestra, May 17
For season subscriptions and other information, call (509) 448-4446.
Music of Southeast Asia
Here’s an out-of-the-ordinary concert in Pullman: Oboist Keri E. McCarthy and pianist Jeffrey Savage will perform the American premieres of four new works by leading Southeast Asian composers, Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. in Bryan Hall Theatre on the Washington State University campus.
McCarthy and Savage, both WSU faculty members, just returned from a summer concert tour through Bangkok, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The four works were commissioned for that tour.
It’s part of an initiative by McCarthy to combine Western oboe-piano ensembles with modern Asian styles.
Admission is free.
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