ISSUE #87
BEAM FROM THE BOOTH | GRAND RAPIDS FILM SOCIETY
[EDITED BY: GRIFFIN SHERIDAN & SPENCER EVERHART]
Hello and welcome back to an all-new installment of BEAM FROM THE BOOTH brought to you by GRAND RAPIDS FILM SOCIETY!
THIS THURSDAY (2/6), join us for the final screening in our MOVIES AT THE MUSEUM series with Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND FANTASY, hosted at the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
We also have an opportunity for you, the GR film community, to share your love and appreciation for the late David Lynch ahead of our TWIN PEAKS DAY event later this month. We’ll be running a SPECIAL DAVID LYNCH MEMORIAL ISSUE, and we want to include as many of you as we can. We are accepting submissions via a Google Form. Submissions must be appropriate for public release, are subject to editing, and should be no more than 200 words — though we understand that may be difficult to do when talking about such a profoundly impactful artist. If you’re interested, hit the link below and send us your submission by 2/14.
Check out the rest of the issue to see what’s coming up in our February programming and more!
COMING UP IN FEBRUARY 2025…
FEBRUARY 6th: WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND FANTASY
[MOVIES AT THE MUSEUM]
Join the Grand Rapids Art Museum and the Grand Rapids Film Society for Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s 'Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy'.
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s evocative triptych surveys a series of relationships muddied and tormented by miscommunication. Each encounter explores the lush, ambiguous terrain of things unsaid, misremembered, overwrought, and yearned for – sometimes grappled with in the subject’s imagination, or in the wake of the events happening offscreen.
Speaking of the film, New York Times chief film critic, Manohla Dargis wrote, “[m]ore challenging still, presumably, are his narrative choices and understated visuals, which don’t conform to the current template for American indie cinema with its dramatic problems, moral instruction and enough pictorial prettiness to make the emotional bloodletting go down smoothly.”
A celebration – an exaltation – of the quotidian, Hamaguchi’s triumph is in his enthusiasm for the gray areas of our messiest, and often most impactful, interpersonal encounters.
FEBRUARY 10th: MOONLIGHT
A look at three defining chapters in the life of Chiron, a young black man growing up in Miami. His epic journey to manhood is guided by the kindness, support and love of the community that helps raise him.
We’re excited to partner with Campus Elementary again for this screening! Building on the partnership we have with the school, we will be accepting donations the evening of the event to supply games and a meal for the elementary’s Black History Month assembly celebration.
FEBRUARY 12th: OPEN PROJECTOR NIGHT
[SUPPORT MICHIGAN INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING]
Celebrate short films with the Open Projector Night series, a recurring cinematic event presenting the work of local, regional, and national filmmakers with a Michigan connection. Enjoy a diverse range of movies from animated narratives, and commercial work, to experimental pieces. After the event, participate in a question-and-answer panel with the filmmakers and vote for your favorite short film.
FEBRUARY 16th: WILD TALES
[CHIAROSCURO INTERNATIONAL FILM SERIES]
Films are shown in their original language with English subtitles. After each screening, a film scholar and a cultural representative lead a thought-provoking panel discussion, offering insights into the film’s themes and cultural context. The experience continues with a casual reception featuring complimentary food and drink, creating an inviting space for conversation and connection.
A waitress adds a special ingredient to an arrogant loan shark's meal in one of several tales dealing with extremes of human behaviour.
FEBRUARY 20th: IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS
[MICHIGAN PREMIERE]
'It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This' can't be seen any where else other than a theater. The filmmakers have stated the film will NOT have an online or physical release. Your only opportunity to see the film will be at the cinema.
Two horror fans buy a creepy duplex to shoot a film. They find cult members gathering outside in a trance. The friends investigate the phenomenon, their obsession escalating as they pursue real-life horror thrills.
FEBRUARY 24th: MULHOLLAND DRIVE
[TWIN PEAKS DAY 2025]
Join us for a special one night screening of 'Mulholland Drive' to celebrate Twin Peaks Day and life of the late David Lynch.
A dark-haired woman (Laura Elena Harring) is left amnesiac after a car crash. She wanders the streets of Los Angeles in a daze before taking refuge in an apartment. There she is discovered by Betty (Naomi Watts), a wholesome Midwestern blonde who has come to the City of Angels seeking fame as an actress. Together, the two attempt to solve the mystery of Rita's true identity. The story is set in a dream-like Los Angeles, spoilt neither by traffic jams nor smog.
FEBRUARY 26th: FILM SOCIETY ROUNDTABLE
[FREE SOCIAL EVENT]
Our signature FREE social event returns! Join like-minded Grand Rapids film fans and filmmakers for an evening of discussion and mingling.
***
Tickets for all events— and more— are available now at GRFILM.ORG
Tell your friends. We hope to see you there!
MICHIGAN FILMMAKERS AT SUNDANCE
This past weekend saw another Sundance Film Festival take place, and Michigan creatives were present! We wanted to shout out two productions specifically...
Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)
Filmed in and around Interlochen using mostly Michigan natives.
U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Sierra Falconer, Producer: Grant Ellison) — Lives intertwine around Green Lake as a girl learns to sail, a boy fights for first chair, two sisters operate a bed-and-breakfast, and a fisherman is after the catch of his life. Cast: Maren Heary, Jim Kaplan, Karsen Liotta, Dominic Bogart, Tenley Kellogg, Emily Hall. World Premiere. Available online for Public.
PREDATORS
Shot by Adam Minnick — a native of Alpena, Michigan
Predators / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: David Osit, Producers: Jamie Gonçalves, Kellen Quinn) — To Catch a Predator was a popular television show designed to hunt down child predators and lure them to a film set, where they would be interviewed and eventually arrested. An exploration of the scintillating rise and staggering fall of the show and the world it helped create. World Premiere. Available online for Public.
Congrats to these films and filmmakers for showcasing Michigan and its talent!
GRFS ON GVSU’S ALUMNI LIVE
GRFS committee members Spencer Everhart, Jackson Ezinga, Nicholas Hartman, and Breana Malloy stopped by GVSU’s Alumni Live podcast to chat about building a community through film. Produced by Professor Suzanne Zack, Alumni Live is the podcast created by and for GVSU film and video alumni and current students.
We encourage you to check out this most recent episode, and explore the catalog of episodes covering a variety of film/video topics!
UPCOMING EVENTS
WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND FANTASY (Hamaguchi, 2021)
WHAT: MOVIES AT THE MUSEUM CONCLUDES! This triptych surveys a series of relationships muddied and tormented by miscommunication. Each encounter explores the lush, ambiguous terrain of things unsaid, misremembered, overwrought, and yearned for – sometimes grappled with in the subject’s imagination, or in the wake of the events happening offscreen.
WHEN: Thursday, February 6th, 7:00pm
WHERE: The Grand Rapids Art Museum
MOONLIGHT (Jenkins, 2016)
WHAT: A look at three defining chapters in the life of Chiron, a young black man growing up in Miami. His epic journey to manhood is guided by the kindness, support and love of the community that helps raise him.
WHEN: Monday, February 10th, 8:00pm
WHERE: The Wealthy Theatre
WHAT: Our returning program of curated short films from all genres and mediums by independent filmmakers with a MI connection!
WHEN: Wednesday, February 12th, 7:00 pm.
WHERE: The Wealthy Theatre
And so we’ve arrived at the end of another BEAM FROM THE BOOTH! We appreciate you taking the time to read it and truly hope you’ll continue to do so. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to get each issue in your inbox every week, and stay up-to-date on all things GRFS.
Plus, join us on social media! We’d love to chat with everyone and hear YOUR OWN thoughts on everything above (you can also hop in the comments section below).
Know someone you think will dig BEAM FROM THE BOOTH? Send them our way!
Look for ISSUE #88 in your inbox NEXT WEEK!
Until then, friends...
