An exciting development is taking place at the 5 Points Theatre. Local cinema director, Tim Massett and his wife, are in the planning stages of negotiating a new lease to take over and re-energize the theatre.

If he pulls it off, it would add a vital cultural spark to an eclectic collection of close-in neighborhoods that would welcome such a spruced-up amenity, Riverside Avondale Preservation founder Wayne Wood said.

The Plans: Think Alamo Draft House

Plans include a larger screen, improved sound and acoustics, theater seats with a bar running the length of each row, and full-on kitchen where food will be delivered to your seat.

It will provide a unique combination of movie theatre and dining, showing first-run and independent films while offering beverage and expanded concession service that includes a carefully selected menu of freshly prepared appetizers, sandwiches, and pizzas as well as a wide selection of handcrafted, local beers and great wines.

Tim’s has a background in re-developing theatres and turning them into successful businesses. He got his start at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas, where he worked in 1997. The Alamo Drafthouse is quite possibly the most famous movie theatre in Texas and maybe the US.

You may know also Tim from his involvement in many local film projects which include running the San Marco Theatre, The Pit, The Brooklyn Microcinema and The Talkies.

Crowdsource the $$$! An Innovative Funding Model

The business plan that has been reviewed and approved by the Small Business Association office in Jacksonville, now they need to raise about $95,000. So, Tim is taking his cause to the people and using the crowd-funding site Ulule to help fund the project.

Learn more about innovative ways to fund your next project in a recent article I wrote for One Spark, a movement dedicated to highlighting and fostering innovation in Jacksonville. @BeOneSpark

It should be noted that Tim and his wife plan to invest $10,000 of their own money in the redevelopment.

Plans to raise the money mirror an NPR pledge drive. There are pre-defined contribution levels and each has a reward associated with it. If you choose to pledge, the money will not be removed from your bank account until the project reaches it’s goal. If the project does not reach it’s goal in a stated time frame, no money will change hands.

For example, the $100 pledge level includes twelve movie tickets and twelve popcorns. With the average cost of a movie ticket around $7.50 this contribution pays for itself.

The Urban Jacksonville Matching Challenge & Other Ways to Help Launch This Project

I will match up to $100 contributed by Urban Jacksonville readers. I believe this could help elevate Jacksonville culturally and improve our quality of life. If you think so too, I challenge you to contribute.

Once you have contributed, forward me a copy of your contribution conformation email from Ulule. If there is anyone else out there who is interested in providing a match grant, let me know and I will help facilitate. Let’s amplify our efforts!

Here are some other ways to help. If you can do two of the items below, that would be awesome.

• Visit the project page, contribute and get some great rewards.
• Write a blog post, feel free to use any of the content on this post.
• Share the project page on Twitter or Facebook.
• Convince a family member or friend to contribute.
• Share this blog post with others.

I’m interested to hear your thoughts and comments if you have any. What do you think about this project?

The 904 from EnFocus Media on Vimeo.

Jacksonville, Florida- area code 904- has been the Sunshine State’s murder capital for the last 10 years. The homicide rate in Jacksonville has consistently topped other major metropolitan areas across Florida, including Miami, Orlando, and Tampa.

This past Thursday, the documentary The 904,” produced by First Coast Connect host and producer Melissa Ross had its debut screening at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Natalie Halpern from Jax Indie Film was there and interviewed Melissa Ross. Watch to Melissa describe the making of The 904 and the biggest lesson she learned.

Viva Cinema celebrates the best in Latino Filmmaking. This is a Jacksonville Film Events program in association with the NY Int’l Latino Film Festival. There will be movie screenings, workshops, and parties and I have two VIP Passes to give away.

Check out the schedule and the venues.

The Giveaway Details

I have two tickets to give away and here’s how it will work: You must be able to come to Five Points to pick up the tickets.

All you have to do is tweet this post.

At the end of the day (Wednesday) I’ll randomly choose a winner. If you’ve won before I’ll pick someone new. I’ll announce the winner on this post and I’ll let the winner know personally when they can come pick up their tickets.

Listen and Subscribe

Download audio file (urban-jacksonville-weekly-episode36.mp3)
Subscribe with iTunes

You can now listen right now, click the play button above.

Special Guests: Jack & Pete from 5 Points Theatre

We move the show to the AM just for Tony and he skips out for a golf tournament.

Breakfast Sponsor: Uptown Market (we love it!)

5 Points Theatre
started on Hollywood model
switching to concentrated programming

challenges
“big, weird space”

Joey’s big idea - jaxindiefilm.com
blog for the theater
build buzz for independent film

“hub” for film buffs
resource for film makers
able to see your film on the big screen

upcoming events
Jacksonville Latino Film Festival

5 Points Horror Fest
October 23-30
Costume Party October 30

Friday Midnight Movies
all October movies = horror

Weekend Football Games
regional games
unique way to watch sports
FREE

First Fridays
open house

Facebook page
Twitter

Recommendations
Joey – TU article about Jags
Jonathan – bus shelters/ads article
Jack Diablo – Neon Indian @ TSI (Saturday)
Jack Shad – October 19 @ 9pm 1970 concert film
Pete – 5 Points Horror Fest

The 5 Points Theatre is looking for someone passionate about the Jacksonville film community to blog, tweet and help with theatre promotion ideas.

In exchange for helping, the theatre will grant this person, plus one guest, all access to every event at the theatre. No Exceptions.

If you want to apply you can read all the details here »

The Background

The theatre came to me and my partner David Wingard looking for ideas to promote the new indie/community theater format. When they realized community and independent film events brought in more people than the big, Hollywood films, they decided to do away with the big features and embrace the local film community.

My idea is to make the 5 Points Theatre a go-to place for local and independent film events. I hope to create a connection between the physical venue and the film community. I thought if the theatre opened up to the film community, local filmmakers would open up to the theatre.

So we are looking for that one person who can be an online advocate for the film community and let people know what’s going on around Jacksonville. You’ll get to work closely with the theatre and have an impact on your local community.

The deadline for applications is October 16th, so spread the word and tell your friends who might be interested in being this person in the film community.

It’s a big week for bike events. This weekend is the Night Ride and they need volunteers:

Just an hour or two of your time is all that is required and most of it can be done while you are out enjoying the different festival happenings. None it requires anything in the way of labor or heavy lifting. If you can help out email bikejax@gmail.com

1. I need a couple of people to split time and help out at Fuel (festival central)
2. I need a couple of people to hawk raffle tickets throughout the day. (Can be done while out enjoying the fest.)
3. I am going to need several ride guides for The Night Ride itself.
4. I am in need of a couple of people with digital video cameras that would be willing to document the event in all of it’s glory.

Here is the massive Night Ride schedule. The Night Ride is a day long celebration of the bicycle and it’s rider. All events are Free to all that attend and are held throughout Riverside and Five Points.

• Bike Art Show – All Day @ Flux Galley – Creations of Local And Not So Local Artists Held at Flux Gallery.
• Bike Tour of Bold City Brewers – Noon to 5 PM – Celebrate the Opening of Bold City Brewery With a Tasty Bike Tour. Tours are on the hour every hour Noon thru 5 PM.
• Bike Film Festival – Starting 1 PM @ Fuel – Features and Shorts staring the bike and those who ride it. Films will be running thoughout the day starting 1 pm at Fuel in Five Points.
• Bike Polo – 1 – 2 PM
• Woman’s Workshop – 2 PM @ Jax EBikes – A ladies only workshop. Learn how to maintain your bike along with basic repairs from the gang at Zombie Bikes CoOp.
• Bike Polo – 3 – 4 PM
• Bike Maintenance Workshop – 4 PM @ Jax EBikes – A workshop open to all. Learn how to maintain your bike along with basic repairs from the gang at Zombie Bikes CoOp.
• 70′s Theme Costume Contest – 5:00 PM @ Fuel – Funkyist Male & Female Receive a hand made bomb proof Burro Bag.
• Raffle – 5 PM @ Fuel – Sweet swag from the fine merchants in Five Point and Jacksonville Area Bike Shops.
• The Night Ride – Ride starts 6:30 PM – The Night RIde is the culmination of our day long celebration of the bike. I hope you will make plans to join us on this epic event for and about cyclists. Where: Riverwalk Under the Fuller Warren Bridge When: leaving at 6:30 PM Oct. 11th
• 8:00 PM – Bike Films @ Fuel

On to other bike related events. Yes, there are more.

Burro Bags is planning a birthday party for this January
Movie Night! Tomorrow Night at Zombie Bikes: 12-4 and MOVIE NIGHT at the shop bring blankets/chairs we’ll be watching Quicksilver at 8pm

Editors Note: This post was written by Tim Massett, the film programmer of San Marco Theater. Tim is also a friend of Urban Jacksonville.

Heavy Metal in Baghdad
San Marco Theatre
June 13th & 14th at 11:55pm

In 2003 the folks over at Vice were tipped off about the only metalband in Iraq, Acrassicauda. They became immediately obsessed:

We’re in Baghad to interview the only IRAQI heavy metal band called, ACRASSICAUDA, we have been calling them for three years and we needed to check in on them to see if they are still alive. This is risky, it s dangerous an people would say it s really fucking stupid for us to be doing this but uh… you know HEAVY METAL RULZ!! -Suroosh Alvi

The band formed during the reign of Saddam Hussein and even had the chance to play a few times while the country was still under his thumb. The band (and the people of Iraq) saw some relief after the initial invasion but then soon after the country began to spiral out of control. In 2005 Vice, despite mortars flying overhead and having to jump through an exhausting series of hoops, arranged a show for them at a hotel in Baghdad that went off without a hitch minus a short-lived power outage. Unfortunately that was to be the last show Acrassicauda would ever play in Iraq.

In 2006, through a precarious set of travel arrangements, the filmmakers make itto Baghdad to finally meet the band after all these years. What they find in Iraq is a “gangster’s paradise” — rampant kidnappings and up to 300 murders in a day. The filmmakers first hook up with Firas, the bass player, and discuss the current situation. He sums it up with “They took Ali-Baba and left the 40 thieves.” The band is on hiatus as Marwan has fled to Syria. The meeting arranged by Vice was the first time Firas and Faisal (best friends and bandmates) had seen each other in six months though they live 15 minutes apart.

The film presents a small but incredibly powerful window into the complete chaos the good ol US OF A helped to create through a common story to which every Westerner can relate …rock n roll. It seems to me that the existence of a bandlike Acrassicauda created under Saddam was evidence of the west s real secret weapon to overturn the tyrannical regime that was in place. It may have been a slower process but one that would have avoided the cataclysmic shock and suffering that has befallen the citizens of Iraq.

I don’t know whether or not you’ll come see Heavy Metal in Baghdad because of the time slot. Perhaps scheduling it as a midnight movie isn’t the smartest programming choice I have made but uh…you know HEAVY METAL RULEZ!!

San Marco Theatre
June 13th & 14th
11:55pm

NY Post and IMDB Reviews

If you missed viewing Inside the Circle Sunday night, you missed a great documentary, great break dancing and a great drum line.  And it all took place inside the Florida Theatre.

I sat around reading most of the afternoon and watching the looming clouds that never opened up until I left for the Festival; at which point, the sky fell in. 

I parked, quickly ran into the theatre and found a seat upstairs next to a B-Boy team that had more energy than anyone should ever have on a Sunday evening.  Their clapping and screaming got me fired up about the film, though, and it was especially entertaining when any one of the boys would see someone they knew on screen or when Florida was mentioned.

The film was well executed and entertaining.  I love learning about interesting sub-cultures and the way they exist.  Watching the lives of B-Boys on screen was revelatory mostly because it removed me from everyday living and threw me into another social scene.  I came away with so much knowledge about a facet of life that I knew nothing about.

Marcy Garriott is my new favorite person.  She is the director and producer of Inside the Circle.  She and members of the film answered questions from the audience.  Garriott is a slender blonde with a soccer-mom type appearance, a far stretch from her B-Boy counterparts on stage.  When asked how she came to be involved in the B-Boy scene, she stated that she found it fascinating and began to follow competitions.  She was slowly accepted by Romeo of B-Boy City (an organization that holds competitions) who agreed to be a part of the documentary.

The film and question and answer period were followed up by an introduction to the Theatre’s Plan B.  Originally, a street party was to be held but because of the rain, the party was moved indoors.  As this was being explained, a drum line started in the downstairs lobby and the audience moved out.  I was able to look over the balcony and get a couple shots. 

When I started down the stairs, a group of teenagers had created their own B-Boy circle complete with moms taking pictures and boys taking turns.  I stood around and watched for a bit and then headed downstairs.  The Theatre had turned into a massive dance party.  The drum line was getting down, the B-Boys were getting down, the old people were getting down and I was trying to take as many pictures as possible.  I apologize for the bad views though, I’m pretty short.

This year marks my third Film Festival attendance and I have to say it just keeps getting better.  Jacksonville is lucky to have such an awesome event.  The Florida Theatre, as usual, is a gracious host and throws a fun party.  If you couldn’t get out to any events this year, make sure to do so next year.  You won’t be disappointed.

Two of your best bets for achieving awesome during the 2008 Jacksonville Film Festival are the parking garage party on Thursday the 15th and Hip-Hop For The Masses on Sunday the 18th.

I’m stunned that Jacksonville came up with something as awesome as a parking garage party. I went to one called Austin Blowout when I was at SXSW and it was the most fun I had in a while. Granted this COJ sponsored event will likely be much more domesticated, but fun none the less.

Thursday, May 15 (also the 22nd and 29th)
5 – 8 p.m, Rooftop of the Water Street Garage
Free Admission

6 pm. – 8 p.m. – Ceremony and Screening of Inside The Circle
8 p.m. – 11 p.m. – Hip-Hop For The Masses street party

Hip-Hop For The Masses is a Sunday street party that will include a screening of Inside the Circle

The multi-award-winning documentary “Inside the Circle, tells the story of two strikingly talented b-boys (break-dancers), Josh and Omar, best friends who become rivals when they join competing dance crews. Immersed in the b-boy culture of defiant creativity, Omar rises to international renown, while Josh tangles with the criminal justice system.

The Hip-Hop for the Masses street party will take place outside of the Florida Theatre with a one-on-one b-boy battle for $200, live graffiti artists and a hip-hop stage with guest DJ’s and performers.

$15 Includes film presentation and street party. Buy Tickets

UPDATED: 1:47 PM

Alright Jacksonville, let’s blow the Jacksonville Film Festival out this year. Last year’s festival came and went without me even noticing it. Urban Jacksonville will be having film festival related posts all week. Screw all the other cool stuff going on!

My goal for this year’s Film Festival is to see one more movie than I did last year, which was zero, so I should be able to meet that goal. On Friday Adrienne kicked off the coverage with ARolling Out the Red, The 2008 Jacksonville Film Festival calling it her favorite time of the year.

Today I’m going to let you know all the place, besides Urban Jacksonville, you can get news, showtimes, venue locations and anything else you need to know about the festival. This should be a fun week so let’s get started.

The JaxCal blog will be covering the festival all week. They have an interesting art-oriented point of view so I’m sure they will have some good posts.

EU Jacksonville posted their 2008 Jacksonville Film Festival guide (PDF). Pick up this weeks EU for a printed pull-out guide. Here’s what the guide says:

Our writers have already watched a good deal of the films featured, so we have some reviews from a local perspective. Whether you’re looking for a complete schedule of where, when and what films or just some insight to select the features you are most interested in, there isn’t a better partner you could have at the Film Fest than the EU.

There’s also the official Jacksonville Film Festival website, which is very nice by the way, where you can sign up for email updates and schedule changes. Check out the Jacksonville Film Festival blog where you can find bits of information like this:

The opening night of the Jacksonville Film Festival, May 15, will feature the independent film Crazy…and the appearance of the film’s leading actress, Ali Larter. Larter will be taking a break from her role in Heroes over in L.A. to jet to the River City to be a part of the premier. The film holds a special connection to Jacksonville, as it tells the story of the legendary Nashville guitarist Hank Garland, who in his final years of life called Orange Park his home

The official site has pretty much any information you might need about the festival including:

1. Films
2. Programs
3. Events
4. Panels
5. Schedule
6. Tickets
7. Venues

Don’t even bother going to the Times Union website. Uhhg. You’ll be greeted by something like this, if you find it. You might be safer sticking with the print version.

Which will no doubt be competing with Folio Weekly for print eyeballs. Especially after last weeks Folio cover story which pretty much said the Times Union is a sinking ship.

Updates
The Downtown Jacksonville website lists restaurants, bars and clubs and hotels for the Jacksonville Film Festival.