The most meta moment of my life happened this past weekend, and it was amazing. I went to the world premiere of “The Last Blockbuster,” a movie that I’m in, about a dying form of entertainment, shown at a pop-up drive-in movie theater, which is in itself a dead form of entertainment, during a global […]
Film
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Pop-Up Culture
Blockbusters, drive-ins and alleys, oh my
Some of the most defining moments of my life took place at the local drive-in near where I went to high school in Grants Pass, Oregon. Sitting in the bed of a filthy pick-up truck watching Jodie Foster’s “Contact” is where I had my first beer and kiss, within about five minutes of each other. […]
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BendFilm Announces Pop Up Drive-In Movies
Eclectic lineup includes the highly anticipated documentary, “The Last Blockbuster”
Watch films this summer from the comfort of your car or from the open air of Tin Pan Alley. BendFilm announced the lineup July 14 which includes a wide range of classics, movie documentaries, adventures, blockbusters and more. Seeing these movies in-person has its advantages: Many screenings include appearances by the filmmakers, a chance to […]
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Checking in Halfway
Best movies, shows and books of 2020 (so far)
As we pass the halfway point of any given year, it’s always nice to look back at all the pop-cultural shenanigans from the first few months just to see how the year is shaping up artistically. With movie theaters closing, new books going straight to digital and all television shows halting production months ago, 2020 […]
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May the Source Be With You
July Edition
Hey everybody! Remember that time we were in the middle of a pandemic and it got politicized but instead of our president trying to bridge the gap between us, he gave a speech at Mt. Rushmore comparing Black Lives Matter protesters to fascists and Nazis? Me, too. I’m super ready to wake up now. Once […]
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Tin Pan Theater is Ready for Visitors
Still as expertly curated as ever
A few weeks ago, I was afraid the magic of the theatrical experience had died for me. I went to the lovely Odem Theater Pub to see a movie and I completely failed to get caught up and swept away by the experience like I normally do. Odem is a wonderful space, so I thought just […]
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The Quality and Quantity of A24
Can one production company save movies?
The older I get, the more I need to feel something from the movies I watch. Don’t get me wrong, I still love a good disposable comedy or an almost instantly forgettable horror flick, but it’s comforting to feel like the two hours you gave a movie was reciprocated somehow. Like your time was taken […]
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May the Source Be With You
June Edition
Hello you magnificent Oregonians and welcome to another entry into the May the Source Be With You canon, where I share some of the pop cultural things that are keeping me going as of late. We seem to be stuck in the middle of an episode of “Black Mirror” where everyone on Earth is trapped […]
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Where Can You Watch Movies?
Phase Two is officially in effect, but that doesn’t mean every theater is open
The smell of popcorn and a giant soda in hand seems like a piece of nostalgia from long ago. And even as Deschutes County enters into Phase Two reopening guidelines, which gives theaters the green light, there are still obstacles preventing all of the theaters in the area from opening. One, obviously, is space. Making […]
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Not Back to Normal
Trying to have a staycation in a time of unrest
In January, I made plans with a lady friend to go on a little mini-vacation. We reserved three nights in May at McMenamin’s Crystal Hotel in Downtown Portland and got tickets to see Girl Talk at the Crystal Ballroom. We would have checked out the Rose Festival, spent an entire day in record stores and […]