Day: September 18, 2020

The Antenna: Opening in virtual cinemas on October 2

The Antenna opens in Virtual Cinemas on October 2. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The Antenna is a horror film with political elements that serves as a metaphor for the lack of freedom of speech in today’s Turkey. It stars Ihsan Önal, Gül Arici, Levent Ünsal, Isil Zeynep, Murat Saglam, Elif Çakman, Mert Toprak Yadigar and Eda Öze and was an official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Fantasia International Film Festival, Sitges Film Festival and many more.  (Dark Star Pictures, 2020)

Release Date/ Theaters:

Virtual Theaters (October 2)-Including: Los Angeles (Laemmle), New York and major cities (Museum Of The Moving Image (MOMI), Alamo On Demand) and Philadelphia (Film Society).

Video on Demand (US & Canada) (October 20): Including: iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Xbox, Vudu, Dish Network and all major cable providers.

Synopsis – In a dystopian Turkey, the Government installs new networks throughout the country to monitor information. The installation goes wrong in a crumbling apartment complex and Mehmet (Ihsan Önal), the building intendant, will have to confront the evil entity behind the inexplicable transmissions that threaten the residents.

Running time:  115 minutes; Color; Language: Turkish with English subtitles; Rating: Not Rated (Horror)

Written and directed by Orçun Behram. Born in 1987, filmmaker Orçun Behram graduated from Columbia College, Chicago majoring in film in 2011. Establishing himself in Istanbul, he has worked on variety of projects from music videos and short films to documentaries. The Antenna (2019) is the director’s first feature. 

Distributed in North America by Dark Star Pictures – a new-age North American distribution company, focused on bringing unique and targeted content to audiences across the country. The company is committed to releasing auteur-driven, original cinema in the theatrical, digital and home video space. Dark Star’s goal is to create original marketing campaigns directly catered to audiences who will embrace our brand of thought-provoking cinema. The company also services distribution companies and producers in the theatrical, digital, and festival space.

New release: ‘Total Power’ by Vince Flynn/Kyle Mills

‘Total Power’ is the new novel in the Mitch Rapp series by Vince Flynn/Kyle Mills

Vince Flynn was an American author of political thriller novels best known for the Mitch Rapp series. He created one of contemporary fiction’s most popular heroes: CIA counterterrorist agent Mitch Rapp, featured in thirteen of Flynn’s acclaimed political thrillers. Rapp’s primary focus is stopping terrorist attacks on the United States and usually does so using less than acceptable measures. His frustration with procedures and red tape is a major theme throughout the entire series. All of Flynn’s novels are The New York Times bestsellers, including his stand-alone debut novel, “Term Limits.” He was a consultant for the fifth season of the television series 24. “Total Power” is the new novel in the Mitch Rapp series and it is a race against the clock when ISIS takes out the entire US power grid and throws the country into chaos.

Starting in 2015 with “The Survivor,” the Mitch Rapp series has been continued by Kyle Mills. Kyle Mills is the #1 bestselling author of nineteen political thrillers, including “Red War” for Vince Flynn and “The Patriot Attack” for Robert Ludlum. He initially found inspiration from his father, the former director of Interpol, and still draws on his contacts in the intelligence community to give his books such realism.

According to amazon, in “Total Power,” when Mitch Rapp captures ISIS’s top technology expert, he reveals that he was on his way to meet a man who claims to have the ability to bring down America’s power grid. Rapp is determined to eliminate this shadowy figure, but the CIA’s trap fails. The Agency is still trying to determine what went wrong when ISIS operatives help this cyber terrorist do what he said he could, plunge the country into darkness. With no concept of how this unprecedented act was accomplished, the task of getting the power back on could take time. Rapp and his team embark on a desperate search for the only people who know how to repair the damage, the ones responsible. With computers and communication networks  down, fuel can no longer be pumped from gas stations, water and sanitation systems are on the brink of collapse and the supply of food is running out. Rapp needs to get the lights back on before America descends into chaos.

OrigamiintheGarden² opens this weekend at the San Antonio Botanical Garden

White Bison by Kevin Box and Robert J. Lang. Photo: sabot.org

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is excited to announce the opening of its newest exhibition, OrigamiintheGarden² this weekend.  It will be on display from Saturday September 19 to Sunday May 9, 2020. Making its Texas debut, this incredible outdoor sculpture exhibition, created by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box, captures the delicate nature of the origami paper art form in museum quality metal. Displayed within beautiful garden settings are examples of typical origami: soaring birds, gliding airplanes, galloping ponies, floating boats and emerging butterflies.  The exhibition features Box’s own compositions as well as collaborations with world-renowned origami artists Tim Armijo, Te Jui Fu, Beth Johnson, Michael G. LaFosse and Robert J. Lang. (San Antonio Botanical Garden, 2020)

There will also be a variety of dedicated programs to get visitors involved with the OrigamiintheGarden² exhibit while abiding by CDC guidelines for COVID-19. These include a curated audio tour, paper-making and origami folding classes and Japanese cooking classes. Distance learning opportunities for school groups and adults will focus on the relationship between origami and engineering, the roles plants play in paper creating, the science of paper-making and the life cycle of the butterfly through the lens of origami.  This is all included with general admission and is free for members.

Opening weekend hours are 10a.m. to 2p.m. and includes guided and self-guided exhibition tours, origami inspired hands-on activities, storytelling by Sue Kuentz on Saturday only, cash bar and food prepared by Jason Dady, shaved ice and more. COVID-19 guidelines are listed online.

General admission: members – free, adults – $15, children ages 3 through 13 – $12, children under age 3 – free, military with valid ID – $13, students with valid ID – $13, Museums for All Discount – $3 (must show SNAP or WIC EBT card with valid ID; per person, up to four people). Tickets are available online.