WED SEPT 2 - TONY @ 2:30 & 4:45. COYOTE VS ACME @ 7

THU SEPT 3 - TONY @ 2:30 & 4:45 & COYOTE VS ACME @ 7 & 9

FRI SEPT 4 - COYOTE VS ACME @ 2:50 & 7, ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA @ 5 & LATE FAME @ 9

SAT SEPT 5 - COYOTE VS ACME @ 1, 5 & 7, ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA @ 3 & LATE FAME @ 9

SUN SEPT 6 - COYOTE VS ACME @ 2:45 & 7, ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA @ 5

MON SEPT 7 - COYOTE VS ACME @ 12:30, 2:45 & 7, ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA @ 5 & LATE FAME @ 9

TUE SEPT 8 - ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA @ 5 & LATE FAME @ 7

WED SEPT 9 - LATE FAME AT 5 & ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA 7

THU SEPT 10 -  LATE FAME AT 5 & ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA 7

FRI SEPT 11 -  THE UPRISING @ 4:25 & 7

SAT SEPT 12 - THE UPRISING @ 1:45, 4:25 & 7

SUN SEPT 13 - STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER @ 2, THE UPRISING @ 4:25 & 7

MON SEPT 14 - THE UPRISING @ 4:25 & 7

TUE SEPT 15 - THE UPRISING @ 4:25 & 7

MORE SEPTEMBER SPECIAL EVENTS:

FRI & SAT SEPT 18 & 19 - BERNSTEIN’S WALL @ 7

SUN SEPT 20 - THE PLASTIC DETOX @ NOON

SAT SEPT 26 - ISLAND COMEDY GROUP @ 7 

THE COMMENTARY.

Whew, that was a rough couple of days. But, we're back and ready to go with added shows and extended runs. Please check our website for details on advance ticket sales and showtimes. EVERYONE WHO PURCHASED ADVANCE TICKETS FOR ANY SHOW CANCELLED BY OUR SHUTDOWN MAY PRESENT PROOF OF PURCHASE (QR CODE, HARD COPY OR PHYSICAL TICKET) FOR ADMISSION TO ANY SHOW THIS WEEK AND NEXT.

TONY. Rated R, 1:46, from A-24. Heading into it’s second week as part of our two-show stack along with CVA, there are a couple of items of note that have captured my attention; 1) This is a compelling and blatantly honest focus on the arc of AB as he learns some of life’s more important lessons - and not just those found in the fast lane back end, and 2) If you are still wondering how on-screen chemistry works, please see the how DOMINIC SESSA and ANTONIO BANDERAS compliment each other like lobster and butter. OSCAR ALERT: You will recall the closing scene from CODA that earned a Best Picture award waaaaaaay back in 2021 and the BOTH SIDES NOW closing number by EMILIA JONES. She is back as AB’s (fictitious) GF here sharing screen time with BANDERAS who might - should - get a Best Supporting nod for his role as Chef. People are already talkin’ about it. A must see. Additionally, climbing out further on the limb, both THE INVITE and now, TONY are more compelling all-around films than the most recent pair of summer blockbusters, the one about the Greek Sailor and the one about ET’s Uncle. Bigger isn’t always better and sometimes small takes all. Don’t ya know. 

COYOTE VS ACME. Rated PG, 1:41. Opens on 8.28, but NOW RESCHEDULED to Sunday Sept 6 @ 7, local NED THORNE, will join us on-stage for a Q&A after the screening for a under-the-hood look at how this incredible live-action animation was produced, with a emphasis on editing. Ned worked on the project as a post-production artist and I am sure he will enjoy your questions on exactly how it was done as well as, perhaps, why WB sat on it for several years prior to selling distribution rights to V10 and Ketchup Entertainment earlier this year. 

December of 2020 - WB announces release date of 7.21.23.

April of 2023 - Filming begins with release date delayed to make room for BARBIE.

November of 2023, WB shelves the release for tax write-off.

March of 2025 - WB sells distribution rights to Ketchup Entertainment.

July of 2025 - KE announces release at Comic Con in SD.

July of 2026 - KE premieres at Comic Con

August of 2026 - National release (including HLT)

Sept 6, 2026 - Reschedule date for CVA with NED THORNE (@7) 

 ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA. Set in a down-at-heel Limerick cinema in 1984, it’s a big Friday night open for a Richard Gere film. Whatever could possibly go wrong has a 50/50 chance of manifesting chaos, impacting profits and ruining the night as a major suitor makes another visit in the hope of becoming landlord. I do have a soft spot for movies about movies, especially those about movie theaters and their neurotic owner/operators. 

LATE FAME. Is a deliciously acidic examination of the thin line between creative aspiration and pretentious poseurdom. Stars the great Willem Dafoe as a retired poet who returns to 1978 New York prominence as the result of a gaggle of young student fans egging him back. 92% at RT is nothing to thumb a Ginsberg nose at. 

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER II. By popular demand we have added a second screening to the history of the Indipinos of Bainbridge Island on Sunday, Sept 13 at Noon. Tickets here.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND COMEDY GROUP, returns on Sat night, Sept 26 at 7. We have a 7pm Prime-Tome start this round. Tix, on-sale very soon.

DANNY & THE FIGGATONES return on Oct 3.

THE PLASTIC DETOX. Sponsored by Sustainable Bainbridge with a raffle from T&C, and including a pair of expert toxicologists as guest speakers. Tickets are free by RSVP here. Sunday, Sept 20 at Noon. 

The DANA LYONS performance, rescheduled from May 16 is on for Sat Oct 10 

Jesse Kogita presents her work EVE on Sunday, Sept 11 at Noon

The Charter for Compassion presents I SHALL NOT HATE on Sunday, October 25 from 11-2. RSVP here.

All for today friends, should you be interested in hosting a public or private cinematic, musical, stage or political event, the number here is 206.451.4336. Again, we are putting together cast and crew for our very own movie. All I can say at this point is that it is a movie about saving a 90 year old Historic one-screen theatre. Maybe THE FULL MONTE meets ED WOOD on (near) SUNSET BOULEVARD. If only we could find such a location to shoot. If you would like to invest (without joining the Producers Guild of America) that number, again, is 206.451.4336. And yes, tickets will go on-sale soon. Should you be an actor, director, cinematographer, gaffer, composer, musician, caterer, editor, animator, sound designer, driver, make-up artist, set designer, painter, or eccentric philanthropist, that number again Rikki, is…..

Ciao,

Kevin

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• MON AUG 24 - TONY @  4:45 & 7
• TUE AUG 25 - TONY @ 4:45 & 7
• WED AUG 26 - TONY @ 4:45 & 7
• THU AUG 27 - TONY @ 4:45 & 7
• FRI AUG 28 - TONY @ 4:45 & COYOTE VS ACME @ 7
• SAT AUG 29 - TONY @ 2:30, COYOTE VS ACME @ 4:45 & 7
• SUN AUG 30 - TONY @ 2:30 & 4:45 - COYOTE VS ACME @ 7, WITH NED THORNE
• MON AUG 31 - COYOTE VS ACME @ 4:45 , TONY @ 7
• TUE SEPT 1 - TONY @ 4:45 & COYOTE VS ACME @ 7
• WED SEPT 2 - TONY @ 4:45 & COYOTE VS ACME @ 7
• THU SEPT 3 - TONY @ 4:45 & COYOTE VS ACME @ 7
• FRI SEPT 4 - ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA @ 5 & LATE FAME @ 7
• SAT SEPT 5 - ONCE UPON A TIME IN a CINEMA @ 3 and 5 & LATE FAME @ 7
• SUN SEPT 6 - LATE FAME @ 3 & 5 - ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA @ 7
• MON SEPT 7 - ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA @ 5 & LATE FAME @ 7
• TUE SEPT 8 - ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA @ 5 & LATE FAME @ 7
• WED SEPT 9 - LATE FAME AT 5 & ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA 7

THE COMMENTARY

TONY. Rated R, 1:46, from A-24. The formative years of ANTHONY BOURDAIN, as an adapted screenplay from the hit memoir KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL, starring DOMINIC SESSA (The Holdovers) and ANTONIO BANDERAS. Directed by MATT JOHNSON (NIRVANA MOVIE).  I have been recommending everyone who has liked TONY (everyone) to watch THE HOLDOVERS. In December. Right now, as the summer of 2026 recedes into the past like a spent wave back into the sea, anyone who has ever worked in a restaurant, cafe, bistro, bar or chow hall will appreciate this look at a snobbish brat coming of age on Cape Cod in 1975. Deliciously Orwellian with a dash of Kerouac. And please take note of Director Johnson’s use of foreshadowing symbolism. 

COYOTE VS ACME. Rated PG, 1:41. Opens on 8.28, but on Sunday, Aug 30, local NED THORNE, will join us on-stage for a Q&A after the screening for a under-the-hood look at how this incredible live-action animation was produced, with a emphasis on editing. Ned worked on the project as a post-production artist and I am sure he will enjoy your questions on exactly how it was done as well as, perhaps, why WB sat on it for several years prior to selling distribution rights to V10 and Ketchup Entertainment earlier this year. Ned will be here on Aug 30 @ 7, to tell of his work on the film. Tix on-sale aqui.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA. Set in a down-at-heel Limerick cinema in 1984, it’s a big Friday night open for a Richard Gere film. Whatever could possibly go wrong has a 50/50 chance of manifesting chaos, impacting profits and ruining the night as a major suitor makes another visit in the hope of becoming landlord. I do have a soft spot for movies about movies, especially those about movie theaters and their neurotic owner/operators. 

LATE FAME. Is a deliciously acidic examination of the thin line between creative aspiration and pretentious poseurdom. Stars the great Willem Dafoe as a retired poet who returns to 1978 New York prominence as the result of a gaggle of young student fans egging him back. 92% at RT is nothing to thumb a Ginsberg nose at. 

Now that we are on the cusp of being in post Labor Day doldrums, the blockbusters in rear-view mirror, back to school, after vacation, tourists gone, normality, it might be worth looking at what we have on-tap down the line. Mostly due to a pair of ever present realities. One, as we segue into NPO status it is a time of no man’s land budgetary belt-tightening, where all maintenance, repairs and emergency stop-gap, whatever it takes triage, keeps the lights on and the movies playin. There is no staff to ask for a little extra effort and no surplus slush funds screaming for use. Our cash flow is you, one ticket and one bag of popcorn at a time. Making two, or course, the power of advance ticket sales. With that bit of bell-weather melodrama, here are a few of the special events currently lined up and (almost) ready to roll:

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER II. By popular demand we have added a second screening to the history of the Indipinos of Bainbridge Island on Sunday, Sept 13 at Noon. Tickets here.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND COMEDY GROUP, returns on Sat night, Sept 26 at 7. We have a 7pm Prime-Tome start this round. Tix, on-sale very soon.

DANNY & THE FIGGATONES return on Oct 3.

THE PLASTIC DETOX. Sponsored by Sustainable Bainbridge with a raffle from T&C, and including a pair of expert toxicologists as guest speakers. Tickets are free by RSVP here. Sunday, Sept 20 at Noon. 

The DANA LYONS performance, rescheduled from May 16 is on for Sat Oct 10 

Jesse Kogita presents her work EVE on Sunday, Sept 11 at Noon

The Charter for Compassion presents I SHALL NOT HATE on Sunday, October 25 from 11-2. 

All that, for starters. If you would like to host a party, sponsor an event, curate a film, or, with this news being introduced for the first time, get involved with the making of our movie (you read that right - OUR film), call me day or night 24/7 at 206.451.4336. Especially if you are an Executive Producer type looking to make your mark upon the cultural sophistication of the arts and humanities community film scene on our loverly polished rock in the South Salish Sea. You can even call me if you need to vent about movies, movie theaters closing, scores, soundtracks, music, musicians or guitars, drums and the noises they produce. Please be advised that I prefer these cultural exchanges over those related to the present day Nazi criminals currently, and however temporarily, in power. But I will if pressed. Guaranteed. 

Ciao,

Kevin

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THE PRICE OF PLACE roundtable is a group panel discussion on the pressing issues of gentrification, property management, affordable housing, displacement and resulting homelessness for thousands of people calling the Pacific Northwest home. Moderation by JULIA BENZINGER of the RISING WATERS COLLECTIVE. 

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MON AUG 17 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & GHOST IN THE MACHINE @ 7
TUE AUG 18 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7 (OCAP)
WED AUG 19 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7
THU AUG 20 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7
FRI AUG 21 - TONY @ 4:45 & 7
SAT AUG 22 - TONY @ 2:30, 4:45 & 7
SUN AUG 23 - TONY @ 2:30, 4:45 & 7
MON AUG 24 - TONY @  4:45 & 7
TUE AUG 25 - TONY @ 4:45 & 7
WED AUG 26 - TONY @ 4:45 & 7
THU AUG 27 - TONY @ 4:45 & 7
FRI AUG 28 - TONY @ 4:45 & COYOTE VS ACME @ 7
SAT AUG 29 - TONY @ 2:30, COYOTE VS ACME @ 4:45 & 7
SUN AUG 30 - TONY @ 2:30 & 4:45 - COYOTE VS ACME @ 7, WITH NED THORNE
MON AUG 31 - COYOTE VS ACME @ 4:45 , TONY @ 7

THE COMMENTARY

THE ODYSSEY. I am becoming a fan of open-caption formatting. Not so much because I am now accustomed to ‘watching’ every Tuesday as part of our Senior Tuesday promotion, but due more to its value. Even with Christopher Nolan’s propensity to jack the volume, a cachaphonic mashup of atmospherics, effects, dialogue and score, to often painful levels, there remain key passages where I wonder, sometimes aloud, what did he/she say? And let’s face the facts, in former lifetimes toiling as a heavy construction carpenter (on the largest concrete structure attempted by man), a rock ’n roll drummer (Dead covers) and a Department of Defense remote & isolated G-10 (Indian Ocean base on 9.11), my hearing currently operates at a less-than-perfect level of tinnitus overdrive, a muted and muddy soundscape, most often causing my first repose to ask, ‘what?’ I should be wearing aids, but decent ones cost more than my last truck. All leading to the present day reality that, subtitles help. They actually dialed up my appreciation of THE ODYSSEY about 88 decibels as I became acutely aware of the sub-story behind all the action and adventure in CN’s epic narrative retelling of Homer’s mythical morality play. Bang the staff upon the floor, and show the words forevermore, tell me of the man of many wiles, the man who wandered paths of exile. But, Dear Mr Nolan, had I of been on your film crew and saw the opacity with which you chose to display the closing credits, my despair would have been of tragic proportions.

GHOST IN THE MACHINE. BIHS class of 2003, VALERIE VEATCH, now living in London, will be back to intro and host a Q&A tonight, August 17 @ 7, after the screening of her latest doc on the dangers of AI, THE GHOST IN THE MACHINE. Val and I sat down for a chat at the Baby Grand last week, talking through an hour to produce this podcast gem, listen here. TONIGHT @ 7, walk-ups always welcome.

TONY. Rated R, 1:46, from A-24. The formative years of ANTHONY BOURDAIN, as an adapted screenplay from the hit memoir KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL, starring DOMINIC SESSA (The Holdovers) and ANTONIO BANDERAS. Getting solid, if not superlative, directed by MATT JOHNSON (NIRVANA MOVIE).

COYOTE VS ACME. Rated PG, 1:41. Opens on 8.28, but on Sunday, Aug 30, local NED THORNE, will join us on-stage for a Q&A after the screening for a under-the-hood look at how this incredible live-action animation was produced, with a emphasis on editing. Ned worked on the project as a post-production artist and I am sure he will enjoy your questions on exactly how it was done as well as, perhaps, why WB sat on it for several years prior to selling distribution rights to V10 and Ketchup Entertainment earlier this year. Ned will be here on Aug 30 @ 7, to tell of his work on the film. Tix on-sale aqui.

It was another wild weekend with special events dominating the stage, screen and marquee. Big HLT thanks to filmmakers, artists, authors, musicians and our participating community who came out for inspiration, entertainment and the sharing of the performative community experience. We witnessed Island author JOHN PERKINS and his film crew present his doc, Seattle filmmaker COLTON VAN TIL presented his latest film, MELTDOWN, JULIA BENZINGER orchestrated a mash-up of artistry and issues with THE PRICE OF PLACE, and tonight is VALERIE VEATCH’s cautionary documentary tale, GHOST IN THE MACHINE. I cannot begin to tell you how important these storytellers are to our community, without this robust and fearless content, we would be like any other one-screen theater in America, living -and mostly dying - on whatever juvenile slop Hollywood (MCU and Disney) sends our way under obsolete terms and untenable conditions. In other words, YOU make it happen. 

Need to chat? Have an idea? Want to host a screening, throw a party or book your Band? The number is 206.451.4336. Let’ make it happen. 

Ciao,

Kevin

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Our guest today Valerie Veatch, a 2003 graduate of Bainbridge Island High School, is a filmmaker, director, writer, editor and producer. Her directorial debut was at the 2012 Sundance film festival with "ME @ THE ZOO" (HBO), with her highly acclaimed follow-up feature documentary, LOVE CHILD chronicling the first court case of Internet Addiction in Korea. Her latest work, GHOST IN THE MACHINE, will make its debut on Monday night, August 17 at 7pm, at THE HISTORIC LYNWOOD THEATRE, where she will introduce her work and host a subsequent post screening audience talk back. Last minute tickets for the event are available here. Also, of note, Valerie's Dad, Kevin, has been on our stage as a member of the DANNY & THE FIGATONES BAND, and also runs a recording studio over on Day Rd. We are working on a few collaborations so please check back with us for the latest updates. 

For additional information on Valerie and her outstanding creative endeavors, please check out the sites below. Thanks to Valerie and we all here at the HLT look forward to Monday’s special event. 

VVvideo

Interview

Kevin  

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MON AUG 10 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7
TUE AUG 11 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7 (OCAP)
WED AUG 12 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7
THU AUG 13 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 ONLY
FRI AUG 14 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & MELTDOWN @ 7
SAT AUG 15 - ODYSSEY @ 12:25, 3:40 & MELTDOWN @ 7
SUN AUG 16 - MELTDOWN @ NOON, THE PRICE OF PLACE @ 4 & ODYSSEY @  7
MON AUG 17 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & GHOST IN THE MACHINE @ 7
TUE AUG 18 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7 (OCAP)
WED AUG 19 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7
THU AUG 20 - ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7
FRI AUG 21 - TONY @ 4:45 & 7
SAT AUG 22 - TONY @ 2:30, 4:45 & 7
SUN AUG 23 - TONY @ 2:30, 4:45 & 7
MON AUG 24 - TONY @  4:45 & 7
FRI AUG 28 - TONY @ 4:45 & COYOTE VS ACME @ 7

Data analysts will tell you that someone who fails at their primary job seven out of every ten times, probably is a liability to their company. In baseball, however, it might get you enough votes for the Hall of Fame. This has to do mostly with the degree of difficulty in hitting major league pitching. The correlation with, say, George Brett, a lifetime .305 hitter with 319 career dingers, and someone I had the privilege of competing against in High School, (even marrying his HS sweetheart), it sometimes is emotionally soothing to know that on those days when no one shows up at the theatre and I feel like a complete and total loser, that I could, and probably next time up will, nail a 2-2 fastball right back up the middle and into our auditorium where 200 seats and a great film await. Time traveling like a frozen rope into Cooperstown. The moral of this pithy opening anecdote simply being, that if you stay in the game long enough you are bound to either get better, or get luckier. With many wishing to be lucky rather than good. I have long considered that the secret to success, or survival, lies in one’s ability to constructively deal with the failures while awaiting the next success. And what does it say when success; sold out locally produced shows like STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER and DETENTION are followed by the eerie emptiness of universal superstar CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’s ODYSSEY on this beautiful, if smokey, August afternoon? This is what it says: DON’T LET IT GET YA DOWN, KID. And so…..

THE ODYSSEY. Is both epically spectacular and monumentally disappointing in back-to back notations on the parchment, the minor fall and the major lift, in a desperate winner take all battle Royale. Maybe it was all the hype, the metrics, the buzz. Dunno. Quite possibly it was my expectations from CN, hoping he, and perhaps only he, could somehow rise above what I saw as hopelessly boring source material. Sacrilege and monocular, I understand, but, historically, just not my cup of Earl Grey. It was Napoleon, Gladiator, Spartacus and The Ten Commandments all searching for the proper narrative tone. Birkenstocks and broad-swords? No, thanks. Sure it is big, sprawling, intimidating and often ethereal, but mostly hollow, just missing several key opportunities to truly excel. Still good, yes, very good, but awesome? Sadly, no. Worth the price of admission? Without question.

THE ART OF THE STEAL. Islander and former Economic Hit Man, JOHN PERKINS, will be hosting a private screening of his documentary on Thursday night with his production crew winging up from LA for the debut. If you know John and would like an invite, give him a ring. He and I chatted yesterday about his life and times. Link here.

MELTDOWN. FRI, SAT & SUN AUG 14-16, Director COLTON VAN TIL will be with us Saturday night after the screening for a talkback. We had a podcast chat on Thursday and looking forward to sharing more with you this coming Sat evening. Please make your plans to join us.

THE PRICE OF PLACE. Not to be outdone, longtime Islander and part-time Spaniard, JULIA BENZINGER has assembled a collective of talented artists, activists, filmmakers and actors to present a multi-media opportunity to engage with your community on the subject of housing. Short films, a panel discussion and some operatic divertimenti are all part of the festivities. Sunday, Aug 16 @ 4.

GHOST IN THE MACHINE. Islander VALERIE VEATCH, now living in London, will be back to intro and host a Q&A on Monday, August 17 @ 7, after the screening of her latest doc on the dangers of AI, THE GHOST IN THE MACHINE. From the peoples viewpoint, not the dastardly Tech Bros. Tickets here.

COYOTE VS ACME. On Sunday, Aug 30, local NED THORNE, will join us on-stage for a Q&A after the screening for a under-the-hood look at how this incredible live-action animation was produced. Ned worked on the project as a post-production artist and I am sure he will enjoy your questions on exactly how it was done as well as why WB sat on it for several years prior to selling distribution rights to V10 and Ketchup Entertainment earlier this year. Ned is here on Aug 30 @ 7.

All for today folks, thanks for your loyalty and support, looks like we’ve found an assistant to help out around here, and our conversion therapy to 501(c)3) is actually going very well. Should you be interested in joining forces with us in a managerial, development, outreach or volunteer capacity, please initiate contact in your chosen manner and at your earliest convenience. I like it best when you come in and say hello. Enjoy the rest of summer my friends and please make a date to attend one of our many special events before Labor Day signals it’s about Back to School time in the GPNW. Lastly today, be sure to secure your grip on the bat (or reality) with a little pine tar. Just not too much, or as JULIA B might request, Allegro Non Troppo. 

Ciao,

Kevin

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My guest today unabashedly calls himself an Economic Hit Man. After an episodic career in the administration of US interests in every global hot-spot known to man and media, Islander JOHN PERKINS had, on 9.11, the inspiration to write about his work. This decision, as one might expect, was not met with universal approval, even leading to an assassination attempt. Undaunted, John tells of his adventures in a series of books, all New York Times best-sellers. He apprenticed with shamans when he lived in the Amazon rainforest from 1968 to 1971 and has since studied with shamans from many different cultures. His eleven books on economics, shamanism, and transformation have been on the New York Times bestseller list for more than 70 weeks, sold millions of copies, and are published in at least 38 languages.

In our discussion today, we create the verbal bridge between his covert dealings in the International Intelligence communities, to his writing - and now with the release of a feature length documentary that we will debut in two weeks.

If this all sounds like something from a James Bond or Jack Bauer episode, you have the right idea. Fascinating, dramatic, dangerous and as important as any back-story could want to be, the arc of John’s transformation holds the keys to the successful sustainability of our community, and quite possibly to our civilization. Please take a listen and for deeper detail check out his sites. Here is his link at IMDB. 

 Please note that advance orders for his latest work, The Art of the Steal, yes, it is exactly what you think it is, can be found here. Signed copies from Eagle Harbor Books are also available. I highly recommend. 

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My guest today is filmmaker Colton Van Til, a Northwesterner by birth in Redmond and graduate of the infamous Loyola/Marymount school of Film and Television. Currently living in LA, Colton’s sophomore feature film, MELTDOWN, will do a three-day weekend run at the HLT, Friday, August 14th at 7, Saturday, August 15th at 7 and Sunday August 16th at Noon. Mr Van Til will be live in-house for the intro and post screening Q&A for Saturday’s event. Here lies the link to CVT's production company's website. You can purchase your tickets for either of the three shows here. But please give extra consideration to seeing Colton live with us after the Saturday screening. I guarantee you will enjoy his enthusiasm for the craft and his already vast library of film knowledge. Ask him about Michael Mann. 

K

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HLT # 172 - JULIA BENZINGER

I have had the pleasure of knowing Julia Benzinger for many years. Through that time I have always been impressed by her effervescent personality and massive talent. It provides great satisfaction as a result, to be honored in providing the venue with which to allow her talents to flourish. Her latest work is called THE PRICE OF PLACE, and will take place on Sunday, August 16 @ 4pm at our place, The Historic Lynwood Theatre. It is produced by her creative group, RISING WATERS COLLECTIVE. Being multi-media in format, the event will feature a pair of short documentary films, a panel discussion and rely heavily on themes of community, social interaction and the issues facing a modern society in desperate need of more art and music and less bombast and anger. From their site: Through bold storytelling, innovative collaborations, and a relentless pursuit of artistic integrity, Rising Waters Collective cultivates a space where opera is not just performed but lived—where history, engagement, and creativity converge to inspire lasting impact. THAT is a beefy rhetorical construct - and one in which I wholeheartedly encourage. On Sunday, Aug 16th at 4pm, we’ll share a dance with this monumental challenge, wrap the timely issues of the modern world around the rise of fascism, oppression, gentrification, affordability and hope they can impact even the most insular of seemingly safe locations, such as those surrounded by the precious waters of the South Salish Sea, and share a dialogue in the hopes of finding common ground, and the peace they promise. For a deeper dive into the supporting cast, please visit (and support) the following so-sponsors - and then please navigate over to our site to purchase your advance tickets for this exciting opportunity to be a part of the solution. Hope to see you here on the 16th. Namaste. 

RISING WATERS COLLECTIVE

MARY'S PLACE

AUG 16 TICKETS

Kevin

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MON AUG 3 - THE LAST PICTURE SHOW @ 4:30 & 7
TUE AUG 4 - THE LAST PICTURE SHOW @ 4:30 & THE LAST PICTURE SHOWS @ 7
WED AUG 5 - THE LAST PICTURE SHOWS @ 4:30 & THE ODYSSEY @ 6:30
THU AUG 6 - THE ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7
FRI AUG 7 - THE ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7
SAT AUG 8 - THE ODYSSEY @ 12:25, 3:40 & 7
SUN AUG 9 - THE ODYSSEY @ 12:25, 3:40 & 7
MON AUG 10 - THE ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7
TUE AUG 11 -THE ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7 (OCAP)
WED AUG 12 - THE ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7
THU AUG 13 - THE ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & 7
FRI AUG 14 - THE ODYSSEY @ 3:40 & MELTDOWN @ 7
SAT AUG 15 - THE ODYSSEY @ 12:25 & 3:40 & MELTDOWN @ 7
SUN AUG 16 - MELTDOWN @ NOON & RISING WATERS COLLECTIVE @ 4, THE ODYSSEY @ & 7
MON AUG 17 - GHOST IN THE MACHINE @ 7

COMMENTARY.

THE LAST PICTURE SHOW. Oh, the painful loss of innocence in small town America. 1950. “There ought to be a law against gossiping. Gossip does a lot more damage than drugs.” This film is, and rightly so, on the list of first quarter syllabus for every Film School this side of the Big River. A black and white, mono, coming of age spellbinder from the book by Larry McMurtry as Directed by Peter Bogdanovich in 1971. The controversy over then 20 year-old Cybill Shepherd skinny-dipping almost says it all. Almost. A bittersweet must see for all students of cinema - and no need to take out a student loan for tuition.

THE LAST PICTURE SHOWS. PLEASE note the plural. As in many. Many are the shuttered theaters of the American West who, faced with modern technology and dwindling audiences, made, what I am sure was a pain-filled and traumatic decision to close up shop and go dark. I get misty just thinking about it. Seattle Filmmaker RUSTIN THOMPSON spent the better part of three years, in ten states, visiting 123 theaters crafting this elegy for small-town cinemas. Rus will be on-hand to host our Tuesday night screening at 7. A continuation of the HLT Film School. Serious bonus credits for those partaking in this once-in-a-lifetime double bill.

THE ODYSSEY. Tell me about a complicated man. Sure, it opened at Bainbridge Cinemas over two weeks ago, with a good percentage of our regulars unable to resist the lure of Christopher Nolan’s IMAX charm, but I think this is as safe a programming gamble as we’re going to get. I am willing to take the chance that this one has the legs to go the distance. For those of you who held out waiting for it to screen here, please allow my candid expressions of total and complete love to flow forth everlastingly in your direction. And WTG Devyn Dalton. Trivia is all but impossible these days as a result of Mr Google’s residency on Jeopardy! Production costs for 250 million please, Alex.

MELTDOWN. This is COLTON VAN TIL’S (another Loyola/Marymount alum) latest effort, an trippy tale of a 50’s family ascension into madness, resulting from spiked LSD at a dinner party. I am hosting CVT on the podcast this week, so stand by for additional details shortly.

RISING WATERS COLLECTIVE presents THE PRICE OF PLACE, The latest multi-media extravaganza from Islander JULIA BENZINGER, she our favorite Mezzo Soprano, director, organizer, advocate and storyteller.

GHOST IN THE MACHINE. Former Islander VALERIE VEATCH, now living in London, is credited with four films at IMDB, GITM being her latest. The AI debate has two sides: The Tech Bro’s capitalistic dream of world domination and the Peoples hope of it somehow improving their lives. As of this moment on the time line of that drama, we (the people) are getting creamed. Hoping to have Val on board for intro and Q&A. Stand by.

NOTES: We have what we all hope to be the final meeting with counsel on Tuesday in the transition to 501(c)(3) status. This cannot happen too soon. We have reached critical mass in the already grossly over-extended life expectancy of almost all our utilities, functional, structural and practical. After 90 years of (mostly) 7 days a week performances, the bones begin to creak with the wear and tear of a thousand shows manifesting in rust, decay and mechanical failure. Add Hollywood’s latest self-invention, a desperate dystopian nightmare of monopolies and gorilla style marketing, and it’s hardly surprising that we are one of the last remaining historic one-screens still standing. Heck, take a look at the titles above, two of them spell it out: THE LAST PICTURE SHOWS. Still, we persevere, keeping the duct tape, bailing wire and Bazooka Bubble Gum at the ready. Until the day arrives where we can, again, go boldly forth to the inner sanctum of our community and…ask…for…ideas…content… and support. And you thought it was all about money, ha!

All for today my friends, hope you take advantage of this robust programming we’ve lucked into and head out for a visit. The streets of Lynwood Center, that might be called The Strip this time of year, beckon you and yours. Whether it’s NOLAN, CAMERON OR BAGDANOVICH, one thing is certain in our view, when it comes to movies, bigger is definitely better. And thank you Norah.

Ciao,

Kevin

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