THE ELECTRIC FILM SERIES: CELEBRATING OVER A CENTURY OF FILM ONE MAGICAL DECADE AT A TIME!
– By Adam Mast –
The nonprofit Film and Media Alliance of Southern Utah (FMASU) is dedicated to encouraging, inspiring, and educating filmmaking talent. Additionally, this organization is all about the preservation of film history and the celebration of the theatrical experience. Throughout the year, FMASU hosts various film-oriented programs and events including The Desertscape International Film Festival (June), HorrorFest International (October), A Merry Movie Christmas (December), and the Guerilla Filmmaking Challenge (held three times per year.)
One of FMASU’s most popular programs is The Electric Film Series. Held on the third Tuesday of every month, this series covers over an entire century of film one magical decade at a time. The Electric Film Series is free to the community and in addition to hosting a screening of a noteworthy film of the past once a month, FMASU prides itself on making a very special night of the proceedings each time out by way of special guest intros, insightful post-screening discussions, food, giveaways, and numerous surprises.
2021’s lineup saw a wide range of films from various cinematic eras. Titles included the likes of “King Kong,” “Pinocchio,” “Who Shot Liberty Valance,” “Jaws,” and “Hugo.” Special guests included DOCUTAH founder and DSU Digital Filmmaking professor Phil Tuckett, film historian and JakCine Entertainment founder Jason Jackson, SGMT CEO Bruce Bennett, author and film historian April VeVea, veteran local actors Barb & Brad Christensen, concept artist and photographer John Eaves, and veteran actor/filmmaker Colin Cunningham just to name a precious few.
FMASU has just revealed the 2022 Electric Film Series lineup and it’s even stronger than the previous year. Again, these screenings will be free to the community and will take place the third Tuesday of every month at the historic Electric Theater. Doors at 5:30 PM with show starting at 6 PM.
The 2022 Electric Film Series will open on Tuesday, January 18th with a very special night dedicated to the Silent Film Era. In honor of the 1900s and the 1910’s, screenings will include “The Impossible Voyage” from “A Trip to the Moon” director George Méliès, “The Tramp” starring the legendary Charlie Chaplin, and “Coney Island” featuring silent film icons Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle and Buster Keaton. This joyous dive into the silent film era will be made even more magical by way of live piano accompaniment by gifted Matt Szymanski as well as a special intro from knowledgeable JakCine Entertainment co-founder, Jason Jackson. Jackson will also be on hand for what is sure to be a very insightful post-screening discussion.
For more on The Electric Film Series and FMASU events in general, visit fmasu.com.
Here’s a look at the stellar 2022 lineup;
Tue., Jan. 18th– “The Impossible Voyage” (1904), “The Tramp” (1915), “Coney Island” (1917)
Tue., Feb. 15th– 100th Anniversary Screening of “Nosferatu” (1922)
Tue., March 15th– “Duck Soup” (1933)
Tue., April 19th– “White Heat” (1949)
Tue., May 17th– “The Hidden Fortress” (1958)
Tue., June 21st– “The Time Machine” (1960)
Tue., July 19th– 45th Anniversary Screening of ”Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977)
Tue., Aug. 16th– “Little Shop of Horrors” (1986)
Tue. Sept. 20th– “Awakenings” (1990)
Tue. Oct. 18th– “Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit” (2005)
Tue. Nov. 15th– “True Grit” (2010)
Tue. Dec. 20th– “Minari” (2020)
