Day: October 27, 2023

Dark thriller THE G to have World Premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival

THE G is a film by Karl R. Hearne. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In movie news today, THE G, from writer/director Karl R. Hearne and 3Buck Productions, starring Dale Dickey, has been officially selected for the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. In competition, it will celebrate its World Premiere on November 11. It is the story of a mysterious older woman who seeks revenge on the corrupt legal guardian who destroyed her life. levelFILM has acquired all rights for Canadian distribution with a release date scheduled for 2024. (October Coast, 2023)

Director Karl R. Hearne was raised in Ireland and Québec where he studied at McGill before earning a graduate diploma from the University of Nanjing, China. His films have premiered at TIFF, SXSW and New Directors/NewFilms. His arthouse ghost story ‘TOUCHED’ was nominated for Best First Feature at the 2019 Canadian Screen Awards. ‘THE G’ is his second feature.

Ann Hunter (aka “The G”, played by Dale Dickey) and her husband retired to an unnamed American suburb 10 years ago to be near his family. But one day out of the blue they are snatched from their home by a corrupt legal guardian who believes they have hidden wealth. Their home and assets are legally stripped from them and they are put in a prison-like “eldercare facility,” victims of an exploding old age industry. Trapped in a corrupt and terrifying system, THE G begins to show her true mettle as she and her loyal granddaughter fight to get them out and get revenge on the people who did this.

A “winter-noir” based on real events/inspired by the filmmaker’s own family experience, THE G is an original portrait of a fierce older woman in the kind of role that a woman is rarely cast in. A highly atmospheric blend of suspense, dark humor, and moving human relationships that confronts age-related issues head on, THE G is driven by one astonishing main character, rivetingly portrayed by Dale Dickey, “One of Hollywood’s Great Scene-Stealers” (Vanity Fair, Fall 2022).

THE G also stars Romane Denis, Roc Lafortune, Bruce Ramsay, and Jonathan Koensgen. The film is line-produced by José Lacelle, edited by Arthur Tarnowski with music by Philippe Brault and sound design by Pierre-Jules Audet.

Writer/director Karl R. Hearne says, “This film is a “winter-noir” based on real-world elder scams, and inspired by my own grandmother’s story and character. It’s about a woman who- regardless of her age or situation- refuses to accept that her life is over. In a world where the elderly are frequently marginalized, neglected or abused, I think of this film as a revenge story against old age itself… old age being a condition that my grandmother once said she “would not tolerate.”

“At levelFILM, we strive to partner with talented creators and share their stories like this one to ensure they find their Canadian (and beyond!) audiences,” said Olivier Gauthier-Mercier, VP of Distribution at levelFILM. “THE G speaks to an unfortunately all-too-common human experience through incredible performances driven with heart.”

Theater review: ‘Carrie the Musical’ at the Camille Playhouse

‘Carrie the Musical’ is now playing the Camille Playhouse.

This year, the Camille Playhouse is celebrating their 60th anniversary and is currently performing ‘Carrie the Musical.’ If you are looking for an indoor activity this Halloween weekend, consider checking it out on its closing weekend. Upcoming showtimes are Friday 10/27 at 8p.m. and Sunday 10/29 at 2p.m. There will not be a performance on Saturday 10/28. Tickets are $25 for general admission and are available at the box office one hour before the performance, which I recommend to avoid additional fees, or online. I am sure most of us are familiar with the story of Carrie, either the book or the movie, or both. It has become a Halloween staple, but suffice it to say, it does contain adult themes, so it might not be suitable for younger audiences.

‘Carrie the musical’ is adapted from Stephen King’s 1974 horror novel “Carrie” and focuses on an awkward teenage girl with telekinetic powers whose lonely life is dominated by an oppressive religious fanatic mother. She is a teenage outcast who only longs to fit in. At school, she is bullied by the popular crowd and is virtually invisible to everyone else. What none of them know is that Carrie just discovered that she has a special power and if pushed too far, she is not afraid to use it. So when she is humiliated by her classmates at the high school prom, she gets vengeance by unleashing chaos on everyone and everything in her path. Cast includes Renata Treviño, Stephanie Zamora, Abigail Crum, Sebastian Peña, Natalia Garza, Raul Lozano, and Lydia Castillo.

It might be a few years since the world was introduced to Carrie White but her story still resonates with people who see her either as a victim of bullying or a young woman who takes out her rage on those unfortunate enough to be around her. The show begins with Sue Snell (Abigail Crum), a traumatized witness who is recounting the incidents leading up to the tragic night of the prom. The different school mates are introduced, including Tommy Ross (Sebastian Peña) and Chris Hargensen (Natalie Garza) who despite their differences, they just long to fit in “In.” When Carrie (Renata Treviño) experiences her first period in the shower after gym class, it starts off a series of events that lead to the tragedy on prom night when she uses her telekinetic powers and goes on a killing rampage. The cast consists of so much young talent and they handle the show’s tough themes with the grace of a highly experienced cast but Stephanie Zamora’s portrayal of Margaret White, Carrie’s mom, stands out. She manages to humanize her despite her shortcomings and her vocal abilities are first rate. With a minimized setting, which consists of moveable panels that change with the scenes and dark, gloomy lighting, the focus is on Carrie’s sad reality.

Show highlights include Act II, the catchy ‘A Night We’ll Never Forget’ when everyone is excited and getting ready for prom night and the final number ‘Epilogue’ whose poignant message of ‘what does it cost to be kind’ should be a wake up call to how we treat others. The iconic prom scene is well done and the blood curling screams in the dark at the end of ‘The Destruction’ is an excellent touch and will haunt you afterwards. With a book by Lawrence D. Cohen, it has lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and music by Michael Gore and runs for 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission. ‘Carrie the Musical’ is a must see this Halloween season and aside from the spooky aspect, it reminds us of the need to be kind above all.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Camille Playhouse
1 Dean Porter Park Dr
Brownsville, Tx
(956) 542-8900

Upcoming new book release: ‘Apropos of Running’ by Charles Moore

‘Apropos of Running’ is the new memoir by Charles Moore. Photo: Charles Moore, used with permission.

Memoirs provide an insight into a world that we might not otherwise experience, whether it is from the viewpoint of a celebrity, musician, or athlete. If you are a fan of memoirs, especially sports memoirs, today’s new book release by Charles Moore might interest you. “Apropos of Running” is the story of a world-class marathoner who completed all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Charles Moore brings to light his experiences as a Black man in the world of marathons in this insightful memoir. So if you enjoy these types of books, put this one on your to read list. With a release date of November 5, it will be available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Charles Moore has published work on the subject of contemporary arts and related topics on Artnet, Artsy, and Cultured Magazine, and many other places. Based in New York City, he graduated from Harvard University and is currently a doctoral student at Columbia University. His new book “Apropos of Running” is a timely and unforgettable memoir of long-distance running and an essential testament to the persistence and power of Black marathon runners and how one man transformed his life and the sport of running just by showing up at the starting line time after time. (Charles Moore, 2023)

“Apropos of Running” – Based on Charles Moore’s experience running 24 marathons between 2016- 2023, this memoir is both a celebration of his journey to become a 24-time marathon runner and a candid, deeply personal interrogation of how race and culture are intertwined. The author explores the lack of diversity in marathoning, as he came face to face with the predominant myth that “Black people don’t run marathons.” From international races in major cities across Asia, Europe and the United States, including his native Detroit, he is confronted with not only the racial history of America, but the racialized history of the sport he had devoted his life to. Moore is one of the few to address the Venn diagram of Blackness and long-distance running.

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