The Charleston Gazette - Film

Another You indie film wraps in Charleston

lynch@wvgazette.com (Bill Lynch) — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:31:36 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Tiny Dominique Carino stood in the middle of the second floor hallway at the University of Charlestons pharmacy school and bellowed, "Quiet. Be still!" and then, "Rolling!"Others repeated her words and passe...

Theater offers all-you-can-eat popcorn

(Megan Workman) — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:56:18 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Larry Miller topped his movie theater popcorn with butter, filled his drink cup with Sierra Mist and started back for seconds before his 2:40 p.m. showing Thursday. The 27-year-old planned to add more of the buttery, salty snack and a...

Local actress, director hope Unlovable finds love

lynch@wvgazette.com (Bill Lynch) — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:42:41 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Charleston attorney-turned-filmmaker Jon Matthews and actress Abby Wathen hope to bring their big-screen dreams home to West Virginia. The two started a Kickstarter proj...

In Short: May 2-8, 2013

(Staff reports) — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:57:00 -0400

Crowns play The gospel musical "Crowns" will be staged this weekend at 110 Marshall in Beckley. The dinner theater begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 per person or $25 for couples and $7...

Film on last doughboy to screen in Mo., Ark.

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:11:47 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- A documentary film about the last American veteran of World War I is being screened throughout May in Missouri and Arkansas to help continue the late Frank Buckles fight for a memorial to his comrades on the National Mall in Washingt...

Sensory-sensitive take in a film

lori.kersey@wvgazette.com (Lori Kersey) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:00:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Sissonville resident John Ward hadnt heard much about the film, but he was still excited to see "The Croods" on Tuesday morning. "I like the movies," said Ward, 52. For many people, a trip to a movie theater lik...

Faith-based drama opens at Nitro theater Friday

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:05:54 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The faith-based drama "Home Run" opens Friday at Regal Cinemas in Nitro. Local support group Celebrate Recovery is sponsoring its run here, w...

Things to do Sunday, April 14, 2013

( ) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 23:00:00 -0400

Music SAXTONS CORNET BAND: 3 p.m., Riggleman Hall, University of Charleston. A historically accurate performance of the sound, appearance and conduct of the touring brass bands during the Civil War. Tickets are $35 for adults, $10 for...

Senate approves cut to film tax credit

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:49:44 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginias tax credit meant to lure movie and other film productions may soon become less generous. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has proposed cutting the capacity of the Film Industry Investment Act in half, to $5 million. The Senate ...

Pocahontas Co. student brings zombie film to life

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amanda Gibson, Pocahontas County High School) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:52:52 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Pocahontas County High School junior Joey Friel has recently completed the script for his first movie, "Forsaken." It is about a normal guy trying to survive the zombie apocalypse while protecting his respiratory crippled...

Spring W.Va. International Film Festival ends Saturday

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:00:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The 2013 West Virginia International Film Festival spring festival begins Sunday at the Capitol Center Theater, 123 Summers St. Titled "Love Springs Eternal," its seven days of films with a primarily roman...

Wil Haygood did it

lynch@wvgazette.com (Bill Lynch) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:00:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Texas columnist David Lieber remembers his friend Wil Haygoods time at The Charleston Gazette. "Nobody believed in him," he said. At least, he thought, nobody believed in Wil Haygood very much. Lieber and Haygood worked ...

Evil Dead a fun, frightening flick

flipside@wvgazette.com (Nicholas Ransbottom, Home study) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 18:54:39 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Well folks, you can go ice skating with Satan, and you might see some pigs in the air because Hollywood has finally remade what is considered a classic and didnt screw it up at all. Who would have thought it possible.By todays horr...

Film Festival hosts Motion Picture Mixer

(Staff reports) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:18:32 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The W.Va. International Film Festival hosts a "Motion Picture Mixer" fundraiser starting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Sams Uptown, 28 Capitol St. Suggested donation is $8, which ben...

Spring Breakers comes to town

(Staff reports) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:24:55 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Harmony Korine is perhaps best known for writing the controversial 1995 film, "Kids." Hes also written and directed several films including "Gummo,&qu...

W.Va. House votes to cut film tax credit by half

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:01:53 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Filming on location in West Virginia might bring in fewer tax credits under legislation advancing this session. The House of Delegates passed a bill Friday that would cut the maximum credits offered by the Film Industry Investment A...

WVU hosting competitive film festival this weekend

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:37:02 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The fourth annual West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival is getting underway in Morgantown. The West Virginia University School of Art & Design is hosting the competitive event through Sunday at the Creative Arts Center. ...

Things to do today Friday, March 15, 2013

( ) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:06:18 -0400

Music CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE: 8 p.m., Clay Center. With the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Tickets: $39, $55 and $67. Call 304-561-3570 or visit www....

Who will be next behind the camera for Bond.

(Nathan Thomas, George Washington High School) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:49:59 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Earlier this year, film geeks played the game of guessing who would be the director of "Star Wars VII." Now, we get to play the game all over again. Sadly, earlier this week, Sam Mendes officially announced he will not be ret...

Volcanoes of the Deep Sea offers different kind of deep-sea exploration

lynch@wvgazette.com (Bill Lynch) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:48:07 -0500

WANT TO GO. "Volcanoes of the Deep Sea" WHEN: Saturday through July 5 SHOWTIMES: noon, 1, 3 and 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 1, 3 and 4 p.m. Sunday WHERE:

Small-screen hits get big-screen treatment

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:37:07 -0500
One small screen show is getting big Thursday night. "PaleyFest featuring The Walking Dead" comes to two area theaters, Regal Nitro 12 and Cinemark Huntington Mall (in Barboursville), beginning at 8 p.m. The two-hour event fe...

Estrada to appear at Beckley premiere

( ) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:31:32 -0500
BECKLEY, W.Va. -- Actor Eric Estrada is coming to Beckley for his latest films premiere. WVNS-TV reports the movie "Finding Faith is about a 14-year-old girl who falls victim to an online predator. West Virginia state troopers appear in the film. ...

5 Questions about Finding Faith

lynch@wvgazette.com (Bill Lynch) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:34:43 -0500

WANT TO GO. "Finding Faith" WHERE: Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 2150 Mount Vernon Road, Hurricane WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday TICKETS:

Oscars 2013: Argo wins best picture

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:14:23 -0500
LOS ANGELES -- Ben Afflecks "Argo," a film about a fake movie, has earned a very real prize: best picture at the Academy Awards.From the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama joined Jack Nicholson to help present the final prize.&q...

MacFarlane aims to perk up stodgy Oscars show

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:56:24 -0500
LOS ANGELES -- You think the Academy Awards are boring. Try the nominations. They only last a few minutes, but its generally a sleepy academy suit and a sleepy starlet droning a list of names at 5:30 in the morning. Except last time. Some baby-faced guy...

Die Hard disaster

flipside@wvgazette.com (Katherine Burgess, Winfield High School) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:05:23 -0500
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "A Good Day to Die Hard." More like a good day to fall short of everyones expectations. This is by far the worst of the "Die Hard" movies, and even if it werent part of the franchise, it still would not be a good mo...

In Short: Feb. 21-27, 2013

(Staff reports) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:13:43 -0500
Black History Month poetry event Crystal Good will perform from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Culture Center Theater in a free multimedia poetry event in celebration of Black History Month. Good is an Affrilachian (Appalachian African-Am...

Gazzopolis: New acts debut on RFC

douglas@cnpapers.com (Douglas Imbrogno) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:16:28 -0500
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The newest episode of "Radio Free Charleston" is online now at the PopCult blog, featuring music from Undersocial, Science of the Mind and Cat Schrodinger w...

Twitter hits hyperdrive in mocking Oscars

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:14:07 -0500
NEW YORK -- You can simply tune into the Oscars -- or you can watch them with the peanut gallery on Twitter. While Hollywood parades in tuxedos and gowns, grandly celebrating itself, a freewheeling...

Judge blocks NYC from Ken Burns film footage

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:37:17 -0500
NEW YORK -- A federal judge on Tuesday blocked New York City from getting footage gathered by documentary filmmaker Ken Burns in research for his movie about the five men exonerated in the Central Park jogger rape case. U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald L....

In Short: Feb. 14-20, 2013

(Staff reports) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:51:30 -0500
Valentines Day cabaret LOVE/HATE Valentines Day, a special edition of the Third Eye Cabaret, runs 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday at The Cellar, 8 Capitol St. Christopher Harris (of Qiet), Sierra Ferrell, Marium Bria, The BrotherSisters, Tiffany ...

Music and animation on latest Radio Free Charleston

(Staff reports) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:37:20 -0500
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "Radio Free Charleston" offers up a music-rich episode this week at the PopCult Blog with music videos from Byzantine and Radiohead, plus a performance from the...

Familys Impossible journey of healing captured on big screen

( ) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:45:32 -0500
By Nicole Sperling Los Angeles Times Maria Belon wasnt proud of her dumb luck. It had been nearly three years since the Indian Ocean tsunami roared into her familys Christmas vacation in Thailand, killing 230,000 people but ...

PipeSounds sets silent film to music

( ) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:38:04 -0500
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Say "Ben-Hur" and youre likely to conjure the 1959 version starring Charlton Heston. There was an earlier silent film version released in 1925, though: "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ." Starring Ramon Novarro, it was...

W.Va. filmmaker-activist Bob Gates dies at 69

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:21:58 -0500
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Robert F. "Bob" Gates Jr., a noted West Virginia filmmaker who focused on the impacts of mining on coalfield residents and the environment, died Saturday at the age of 69. Gates helped found the West Virginia Filmmaker...

Warm Bodies heats up box office with $20 million

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:02:34 -0500

NEW YORK -- The love-struck zombies of "Warm Bodies swarmed the box office on Super Bowl weekend with a $20 million opening.
On a weekend that Hollywood largely punts to football, ...

In short: Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, 2013

(Staff reports) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 21:22:58 -0500
Fleck, Washburn on Mountain Stage "Mountain Stage" goes on the road to West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon for an April 7 show at the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts. The lineup includes two of the...

Josh Groban LIVE. -- sort of

(Staff reports) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 21:29:32 -0500
NITRO, W.Va. -- Josh Groban fans will have a rare opportunity to attend a decently priced live concert featuring the big-voiced international sensation -- but to do so in the comfort of a movie theater. Fathom Events and Warner Music Group present "Jo...

Things to do Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013

( ) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 23:00:00 -0500
Music "MOUNTAIN STAGE" : 7 p.m. Advance tickets $15, at the door $25. With Calexico, Camper Van Beethoven, Bonnie Prince Billy, Bahamas and Piney Gir. Culture Center Theater. Call 800-594-TIXX or visit

RFC without words

douglas@cnpapers.com (Douglas Imbrogno) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:16:00 -0500
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Episode 178 of "Radio Free Charleston" is online now at the PopCult blog at blogs.wvgazette.com/popcult. This is the fourth "Show Without Words" f...

In Short: Jan. 24-30, 2013

(Staff reports) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:19:57 -0500
Cranky Show Anna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPrelle bring their "crankies" to St. Johns Episcopal Church, on the corner of Quarrier Street and Leon Sullivan Way, on Friday. Theyll weave collected stories, old ballads and fidd...

Adele to sing her James Bond Skyfall theme song at Oscars

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:37:36 -0500
NEW YORK -- Adele will perform her James Bond theme song, "Skyfall," at the Oscars, her first U.S. performance since last years Grammy Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Wednesday that the British singer/songwriter wi...

Filming on Hollow Creek wrapping up in W.Va.

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:34:18 -0500
HARRISVILLE, W.Va. -- Actress, producer and director Guisela Moro says a visit to West Virginia to buy a puppy inspired her to make a movie in the state. Filming on Newfoundland Films "Hollow Creek" wraps up Thursday in Cairo. The film was shot i...

In Short: Jan. 17-23, 2013

(Staff reports) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:48:19 -0500
An evening with Dreama Denver Beckleys 110 Marshall will host a free book signing and discussion with Dreama Denver beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Denver, Bobs wife, wrote the book "Gilligans Dreams." The night also includes...

List of Golden Globe winners

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:11:04 -0500
Winners of the 70th annual Golden Globe Awards, announced Sunday in Beverly Hills, Calif.:
MOTION PICTURES
-- Picture, Drama: "Argo.

Argo, Les Miserables win best-pic Globes

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:15:24 -0500
By David Germain
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- The Iran hostage thriller "Argo was a surprise best-drama winner at Sundays Golden Globes, beating out the Civil War epic "Lincoln, which had emerged as a...

Academy shows love for Amour with 5 Oscar nods

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:40:04 -0500

By Jill Lawless
LONDON -- Hollywoods movie elite sent their love to "Amour on Thursday, giving director Michael Hanekes searing portrait of old age five Academy Award nominations ...

RFC starts anew in a new year

(Staff reports) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 19:49:40 -0500
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The first "Radio Free Charleston" of 2013, "Sock em Who-Bots" is online now at the PopCult blog at blogs.wvgazette.com. Host segments were recorded at The Dale Morton Mascot and Costume Studio in Hurricane. Mu...

In Short: Jan. 10-16, 2013

(Staff reports) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 19:51:50 -0500
Social action plays Three shows remain in the Contemporary Youth Arts Company week of social-action plays. They are "The Girls Room," dealing with date rape, at 7 p.m. Thursday; "Gone Tomorrow," about HIV, at 8 p.m. ...