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.

Seaport Starlight Cinema

Tuesday, August 18, 7 pm

“Throw Things at Popeye!”

Enjoy an evening of madcap mayhem at Independence Seaport Museum’s outdoor amphitheatre showing of the Robert Altman film, Popeye, starring Robin Williams and Shelly Duval with audience participation a la The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Could Olive be Janet, Popeye Brad, and Bluto Dr. Frank-N-Furter? Hit the thrift shops and come dressed as your favorite Popeye character (Popeye, Olive Oyl, Bluto, Swee’pea, Wimpy, Poopdeck Pappy or any of the cartoon’s characters) and compete for the rare and coveted Golden Can of Spinach Award.  Audience members will be armed with fun “props” to interact with the movie, including green confetti to throw at the sight of spinach, bubbles to blow when Popeye smokes his pipe, kazoos to toot whenever a character breaks out in song, and more. There will be free popcorn, give-aways, activities, trivia contests, and a life-size Popeye to pose with – bring your camera, family, friends, a blanket, and a picnic supper for a delightful evening.

Doors open at 7 pm; movie begins at sunset. The Seaport’s featured exhibit, Skin & Bones – Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor, will be open for viewing prior to the movie.  Find the tattooed Popeye in the exhibit. Admission is $5 per person.  In case of rain, movie will be shown in tented second-floor balcony overlooking the Delaware River. Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd. & Walnut St., Philadelphia.  215-413-8655. www.phillyseaport.org

WHAT TO DO NEARBY?

The easiest way to get to and from the Independence Seaport Museum is by foot over the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge. If you’re parking, there is a lot at Penns Landing or metered parking on Front Street. If you’re bussing, the 21, 42, 17, and 12 all take you within blocks of Front and Walnut St. Or the El drops you off at 2nd and Market. Old City is chock full of eating establishments for all culinary inclinations and wallet sizes.

An outdoor movie a la Rocky Horror screams date night so why not hit up The Franklin Fountain for a Sundae (open til midnight!) or try happy hour at Positano.

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.