PhilaCulturati

WRITTEN YOUR FIRST FEATURE FILM SCREENPLAY BUT THINK IT MIGHT TOTALLY SUCK?

Michael A. Carson is facilitating a first-time screenwriter’s workshop on Saturday, August 15th, from 2pm-4pm, at Walking Fish Theatre, 2509 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125. Workshop info: 215-828-7629 or cinescripts@gmail.com.

Attendees must bring the following:
TEN bucks for Walking Fish Theatre
The first TEN pages of your copyrighted spec-screenplay. note: Workshop is limited to TEN participants.

Topics covered:
Confronting your Three-Act phobia.
The bottom line on Loglines & Sluglines.
Beat-sheet beatitude.
Why managers are better than therapy or mood-altering drugs – and how to get one.

BIO Michael A. Carson is represented by Max Freedman Management (mfmanage.com) in Los Angeles and London. His latest action-adventure screenplay, “GATEKEEPER 7″, is currently in the hands of several A-list Hollywood independent producers and studios.

Tuesday, March 3rd: First Person Arts Story Slam at World Cafe Live and 10% off dinner at White Dog Cafe or at The Bubble House (University City).

Click here to buy tickets

First Person Arts Story Slams are 5-min improv sessions by ten volunteer storytellers who will recount a personal anecdote on a specific theme. This month First Person Arts presents a special “Hidden Talents” edition of their wildly popular StorySlams held at the World Cafe Live.

Jean-Michel Basquiat was best known for the graffiti work he did under the SAMO moniker until he was propelled into international recognition by gallery owner Annina Nosei. Nathaniel Ayers was a musical virtuoso hidden in plain sight on the streets of Skid Row until a fateful meeting with reporter Steve Lopez changed his life forever. Do you have a secret ability? Have you ever been surprised by someone else’s? Hosted by DJ Robert Drake and with featuring guest storytellers Ryan T. Barlow and Eun Strawser (in video to the right).

DINNER: Not far from World Cafe Live is the lovely, socially active White Dog Café. With both a magnificent bar & grill menu and full dinner menu, White Dog Café has something for everyone’s tastes and pocketbook. The bar menu has mouth-watering burgers, gourmet wraps and a free-range chicken cobb salad with avocadoes and apple smoked bacon that puts ‘salad’ on the dinner table as an entrée. Not to go unmentioned, the bar also has nachos, calamari and organic chicken wings that pair flawlessly with the reputable beer list, if you’re dropping in for a small bite.

Looking for something a little more substantial? Walk through the bar to be seated in the White Dog Café’s elegant dining room. Pepper Crusted Hawaiian Ahi Tuna, Maine Diver Scallops, Fennel Crusted Wild Striped Bass, Berkshire Pork Tenderloin, and Sesame Crusted Tofu top the menu of delectable favorites, but really I could list the whole menu for you because there’s no going wrong here. Supporting local, organic, sustainable farmers and paying employees a living wage, the White Dog Café is in a class of its own. And with entrées ranging from $17-$28 in the dining room (about $12 at the bar) its an affordable way to have gourmet food while being socially and environmentally concerned.

Another option: The Bubble House is a great place to stop for some Asian-inspired light fare, affordable entrees, or just a cup of exotic tea! Located at 3406 Sansom, its a short walk from the World Cafe Live and very close to other bars and hangouts.

The Bubble House also has a great bar with specialty drinks such as the Saketini (Nigori Sake, vodka and plum wine), a Snow Tiger (Bacardi Coco, Godiva, soy cream with a chocolate and coconut rim), and if that’s not decadent enough for you, try the Caramel Apple (Chilled Makers Mark, Apple Pucker and a hint of Buttershots). Bubble House is offering 10% off discount on checks at a total of $10 and abover. Just bring in or mention this post.

Wednesday, February 18th, 6:30pm. FREE. Whenever Wednesday’s at the Institute of Contemporary Art @ 36th and Sansom in University City.

Dinner: 10% off food total at the White Dog Cafe, 3420 Sansom Street, 215-386-9224 (about one block east on Sansom from the ICA; when you leave the ICA with the building behind you, walk straight on Sansom. The White Dog is on the right hand side.) www.whitedog.com

What does a 28-min film about French pop-musician’s Serge Gainsbourg’s love songs have to do with a feature-length film about puppy love? Well, for starters they were both filmed in 1971; are both titled “Melody;” and they are both part of this week’s aptly named “Melody, Melody and Meg” Whenever Wednesday programming at the ICA.

Starting at 6:30pm, the ICA will host a wine and cheese screening of filmmaker Jean-Christophe Averty’s music video to Gainsbourg’s provocative album Histoire de Melody Nelson.  Directly after the screening, artist Anthony Campuzano and curator Kate Kraczon will tour and discuss the exhibition “Touch Sensitive” on view till March 29^th in the Project Space at the ICA. 

And then at 8pm the International House at 3701 Chestnut Street will play a different Melody. This film is much lighter and quasi-innocent, Waris Hussein’s Melody is a love story between two twelve year-olds who want to get married ASAP. The film features hit music by the BeeGees and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Following the film at the International House, Philadelphia-native Meg Baird, a founding member of the folk band Espers, will perform.

There are enough cultural things to do in University City any given Wednesday to make a full night of it, so pick and choose wisely and don’t forget to eat! Just down the road from the ICA is the lovely, socially active White Dog Café.  With both a magnificent bar & grill menu and full dinner menu, White Dog Café has something for everyone’s tastes and pocketbook. The bar menu has mouth-watering burgers, gourmet wraps and a free-range chicken cobb salad with avocadoes and apple smoked bacon that puts ‘salad’ on the dinner table as an entrée. Not to go unmentioned, the bar also has nachos, calamari and organic chicken wings that pair flawlessly with the reputable beer list, if you’re dropping in for a small bite.

Looking for something a little more substantial? Walk through the bar to be seated in the White Dog Café’s elegant dining room. Pepper Crusted Hawaiian Ahi Tuna, Maine Diver Scallops, Fennel Crusted Wild Striped Bass, Berkshire Pork Tenderloin, and Sesame Crusted Tofu top the menu of delectable favorites, but really I could list the whole menu for you because there’s no going wrong here. Supporting local, organic, sustainable farmers and paying employees a living wage, the White Dog Café is in a class of its own. And with entrées ranging from $17-$28 in the dining room (about $12 at the bar) its an affordable way to have gourmet food while being socially and environmentally concerned.

Image: Anthony Campuzano, Domestic Affairs/Foreign Affairs (P. Mondrian, Pier and Ocean, 1915), 2008.