John Carpenter News

We are not alone. The Art Directors Guild (ADG, IATSE Local 800) Film Society's 2019 Screening Series will present the Oscar -winning classic CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977) and pay tribute to its Oscar-nominated Production Designer Joe Alves, ADG, at the Egyptian Theatre on Sunday, June 23 at 5:30 pm. Following the screening, Mr. Alves will explore the making of Close Encounters and behind-the-scenes challenges including creating the massive alien ships, moderated by Thomas A. Walsh, ADG, Production Designer and ADG Film Society Co-chair. The annual 2019 Screening Series Production Design: Designers On Design, highlighting the work of renowned Production Designers and their creative collaborations, is in association with American Cinematheque.

Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo and Michael Potts are set to star in the Netflix film adaptation of August Wilson's play Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

It's three in the afternoon, and the chairs at The Laurie Beechman Theater, the basement cabaret of the West Bank Cafe, are stacked atop tables awaiting rearrangement by the night staff. But that doesn't stop the proprietor of the place, Steve Olsen, from offering the use of the hall--plus two chairs--so Joe Iconis can get a roots-level interview on his blossoming career.

The Drag Queen horror film Killer Unicorn has just been acquired by distribution house Indican Pictures, at the Cannes Film Festival. Part comedy and all party, Killer Unicorn is the latest film from long time director Drew Bolton and writer Jose D. Alvarez. Set in the underground dance scene of Brooklyn, New York, this film brings a serial killer into the mix. As the local Drag Queens are targeted, survivors must use their special, very unique skills to save themselves and track down this stalker. Killer Unicorn will be in theatres this month, across the United States.

“We are not alone.” The Art Directors Guild (ADG, IATSE Local 800) Film Society's 2019 Screening Series will present the Oscar®-winning classic CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977) and pay tribute to its Oscar-nominated Production Designer Joe Alves, ADG, at the Egyptian Theatre on Sunday, June 23 at 5:30 pm. Following the screening, Mr. Alves will explore the making of Close Encounters and behind-the-scenes challenges including creating the massive alien ships, moderated by Thomas A. Walsh, ADG, Production Designer and ADG Film Society Co-chair.  The annual 2019 Screening Series “Production Design: Designers On Design,” highlighting the work of renowned Production Designers and their creative collaborations, is in association with American Cinematheque.   

The inaugural French Riviera Film Festival (FRFF) https://youtu.be/V0IjgNE4pF4, celebrating short film and short-form content, is pleased to announce its 2019 winners.

This June, BAM continues two ongoing monthly programs: Screen Epiphanies on Thursday, June 6 with Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle (2004), chosen by comedian Bowen Yang, and Beyond the Canon on Saturday, June 29, with Djibril Diop Mambety's Touki Bouki (1973) and Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless (1960).

BAM and Caribbean Film Series present two special events this June: Stefon Bristol's Spike Lee-produced sci-fi feature See You Yesterday (2019) on Tuesday, June 4 at 7pm, and Storm Saulter's Jamaican sports film Sprinter (2018), screening on Wednesday, June 26 at 7:30pm.

'Full Circle' is the forthcoming new album from J Majik. Officially announced a few weeks before it's release on 1 May, the 10-track album has been something of a best-kept secret, with only a handful of producers and DJs with their hands on any 12” or files.

Last year Century Media Records welcomed the mysterious producer known as GosT to their roster. GosT embodies the character of Baalberith on his propulsive synthwave solo project, channeling his fascination with the occult, John Carpenter and 80s slasher flicks.

From Friday, April 19 through Thursday, April 25, BAM presents the exclusive Brooklyn engagement of Wanuri Kahiu's groundbreaking Kenyan film Rafiki (2018) in its first-ever US theatrical release. Kahiu will appear in person during the run. 

The Lyric Hammersmith today announces the cast for the worldwide hit production of Ghost Stories, which runs 29 March - 11 May 2019. Written by Jeremy Dyson (The League of Gentleman) and Andy Nyman (Fiddler on the Roof, Derren Brown: Mind Control and Trick of the Mind) the show returns to the Lyric Hammersmith 9 years since its premiere in 2010. Also announced today are the Lyric's new Friday Film Nights with four horror film screenings, especially chosen by Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson, shown in the Lyric's intimate 54 seat cinema on Friday nights during the run of Ghost Stories.

GosT announces North American tour with Pertubartor and European summer festivals. The band previously toured Europe in support of Carpenter Brut and toured North America extensively with Black Dahlia Murder, Pig Destroyer, Power Trip, Ghoul, Midnight, Khemmis, SKELETAL REMAINS, and new labelmates ,HAVOK. 

17-year-old singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lola Bates debut album Red Hot is set for release March 29 on Human Made Records. The single ”Red Hot” was released last Friday on all digital platforms and the video release is set for wide release on February 12.  Classically trained pianist since age 5, Bates may still be in high school but on her 8-song debut LP, she brings a wealth of professional experience and passion to her album.

SpectreVision, the boutique genre division of Company X, and ACE Pictures announced today that principal photography will begin next month on COLOR OUT OF SPACE. Starring Nicolas Cage, the film will be directed by Richard Stanley -- his first feature in over twenty years.  Based on the novella by H.P. Lovecraft, COLOR OUT OF SPACE will reunite Cage with SpectreVision, the company behind the critically acclaimed and commercially successful 2018 film MANDY. The film will also star Joely Richardson (Nip/Tuck, RED SPARROW), Tommy Chong (UP IN SMOKE), Elliot Knight (DC's Titans), Julian Hilliard (The Haunting of Hill House) and Q'Orianka Kilcher (The Alienist, DORA THE EXPLORER).

Charleston-based Doom Flamingo have risen to great heights since their initial recording sessions in May of 2018. They've released four new singles (the newest of which can be heard here), played their first live shows including a house-crumbling late night show in Atlanta during Umphrey's McGee's New Years run, and were named one of the standout new bands of 2018 by Jambase.

Last September, veteran downtown playwright Tony Stinkmetal foisted upon a Trump-weary New York City a frantic fever dream of a theater show: SlashR was a tongue-in-cheek satire that tackled issues as diverse as immigration, political correctness, dating apps, Benghazi, Big Pharma and bedbugs - all wrapped up in a cuddly tale of serial killers and Russians destroying American democracy.

The infamous killer Michael Myers strikes again inHalloween, arriving on Digital and via the digital movie app MOVIES ANYWHERE on December 28, 2018, as well as on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-rayTM, DVD and On Demand on January 15, 2019. Hailed by critics as “a near perfect blend of craft, character growth and nostalgia” (Perri Nemiroff, Collider), Halloween takes place four decades after Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis, Halloween Franchise, “Scream Queens”) narrowly escaped the masked Michael Myers' brutal killing spree. Packed with bonus features including chilling deleted and extended scenes as well as special featurettes showing behind the scenes looks at creating the film, Halloween delivers spine-chilling, hair-raising intensity and thrills to both new and repeat viewers.

It's the last week to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Nashville Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

Last September, veteran downtown playwright Tony Stinkmetal foisted upon a Trump-weary New York City a frantic fever dream of a theater show: SlashR was a tongue-in-cheek satire that tackled issues as diverse as immigration, political correctness, dating apps, Benghazi, Big Pharma and bedbugs - all wrapped up in a cuddly tale of serial killers and Russians destroying American democracy.