The Movement thrives even to this day. Consider the television programs that revolve around one’s ability to communicate with the other side including, Medium, In Search of...., Most Haunted and Celebrity Ghost Stories, to name just a few. And what about major motion pictures The Sixth Sense, The Others, and Ghost Busters which was based on the diaries of Samuel Augustus Aykroyd, DDS., Great Grandfather of Dan Aykroyd. The ghost story genre, that was made so very popular with this movement, is also alive and well. There are a plethora of ghost stories available. New authors are always being introduced to this genre, but H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe, both born in the 19th Century are still widely read today. The interest in ghosts doesn’t end with film and literature. Most major cities provide “Ghost Tours” for visitors. We just can’t seem to get enough of the spooks. The Fox mystery doesn’t end here. There is a final chapter to their story. In 1904, more than a decade after the Fox sisters’ deaths, the skeletal remains of a man were found in the cellar of the old farm house where the rappings first took place in 1848. This gruesome discovery begs the question, can the living truly communicate with the dead? You decide. Erin Jensen is an outspoken educator and writer. Eleven years ago, she, along with her husband of 36 years, left the city to move to the rural town of Marysvale, Utah. Living in this small community helps her remain grounded in the essentials of life–relationships and nature. Currently, she teaches at Snow College in Richfield.
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culture
Great American Southwest Film Festivals WRITTEN BY JJ Abernathy
“Every great film should seem new every time you see it.” - Roger Ebert No doubt about it – Southern Utah is big sky country where the splendor of the sun and the brilliance of the moon invoke a reverie of the ideal and beckon visitors and residents alike to its captivating concatenation of happenings. According to the Utah Film Commission, more than 900 films and TV movies have been filmed in Utah. Hollywood discovered Utah in the 1920s when films like Stagecoach were filmed in the southern part of the Beehive state, and Utah has since been the backdrop for hundreds of films – productions like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, High School Musical, and 127 Hours. Truly, Utah scenery is a place that inspires imagination, and the area has the heritage of filmmaking to prove it. In this setting, to keep the legacy alive, a number of film festivals have emerged, festivals featuring films of the past, films of the moment, and legendary films that celebrate some of Hollywood’s greatest moments. Not all the festivals’ featured films are produced in Utah however, but they are brought here by filmmakers from other horizons to participate in the exploration, discovery, and understanding of the human spirit.
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DOCUTAH - Southern Utah International Documentary Film Festival
ST. GEORGE, UTAH History and Perspective DOCUTAH is the Southern Utah International Documentary Film Festival hosted by Dixie State College of Utah. Now in its third year, DOCUTAH’s mission is to inspire a global connection through documentary films and intellectual discussions to enhance the education of students and the Southern Utah community. In 2009, Phil Tuckett, Director of Dixie State’s film program and the festival’s Artistic Director, planted the seeds for DOCUTAH, and by 2010, a small group of individuals created the event, which, since that time, has received more than 800 submissions from over 60 countries. Each January DOCUTAH begins the screening process by inviting members of the community to screen and rate the film submissions. This year more than 150 Southern Utah residents participated, and based on their recommendations, festival directors selected the list of films to show during the festival. Many filmmakers are among the festival’s attendees and adopt DOCUTAH’s slogan: “Come for the films ... stay for the scenery.” Uniqueness of the Festival DOCUTAH reaches out to students and the community with filmmaker seminars and panels. Residents and visitors alike are invited to attend and learn not only the art of filmmaking, but also to gain insight into the singular subject matter selected for each film. Attendees witness the brilliance of the magnificent red rocks of Southern Utah, with the close proximity to six states and several national parks. Documentary films engage, educate, and entertain the mind, yet DOCUTAH isn’t just a film festival. It’s like a five-day party. Categories such as music, the environment, and art beg for special events to coincide and partner with the films. For example, the film The Girls in the Band suggests “Let’s have a concert.” And watching Terra Blight and Pad Yatra inspires a recycle carnival. You can’t leave out local hometown hero Matt Clark when the film Pieces of the Soul focuses on his art. The beauty of this festival is about making connections. Response from the Public The 2011 opening of DOCUTAH focused on the legendary Wayne Newton who drew a crowd of more than 1,500 and gave Executive Director Christina Schultz the now famous kiss! Over the years the festival has entertained more than 6,000 and exposed Southern Utah to the world. Filmmakers from more than 50 countries have submitted their films or attended the festival each year. DOCUTAH welcomes the support of the City of St. George the Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Red Mountain Resort, Canyon Media Broadcasting and many other local partners. Festival directors are thrilled with the 30-member planning committee, most of whom are volunteers with a passion for film. The seven local libraries have been displaying the DOCUTAH bookmark since February and are available at any branch. Background: DOCUTAH at Best Friends Animal Society. Inset: DSC VP of Institutional Advancement and DOCUTAH Executive Director Christina Schultz offers Dixie hospitality to special guest Wayne Newton.
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2012 DOCUTAH Committee – Back Row Left to Right: Brian Tenney, Christina Merrill, John Anderson, Tim Bywater, Bruce Bennett, Ceciley Lowe, Brian Lowe, Anthony White, Deward Wilson, Phil Tuckett, Lani Puriri, Deborah Wirth, Michael Garcia, Josh Bodell. Front Row Left to Right: Daphne Selbert, Shanan Arslanian, Emily Bermann, Melynda Burt, Teria Brookes, Elise West, Kristin Hunt, Christina Schultz, Judy Tuckett. Not Pictured: Susan Taysom, Brian Christiansen, Christy Christiansen, Sheldon Demke, Dick Kohler, Jen Kohler, Kelly Stowell, Gregg McArthur, Gary Sorensen, Terri Koenig, Karen Amarillas
Hopes and Dreams for the Film Festival’s Future DOCUTAH continues to grow each year. The first two years the festival included an opening at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre and ten days of documentary films. This year, the festival returns to Dixie State College, kicking off with a Hip Hop–Zumba dance celebration on the DSC Encampment Mall, to which everyone is invited. DOCUTAH envisions steady growth and community engagement, and what better way to be educated and entertained at a global level than through film and the spectacular events presented during the festival?
“Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero” Producer, Director, Co-writer Helen Whitney vamps it up at DOCUTAH.
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German Producer/Director Michael Wende accepts Raven award for his film “The Baton”.
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American Southwest Classic Film Festival
CEDAR CITY, UTAH History and Perspective The American Southwest Classic Film Festival is Southern Utah’s newest festival, with its inaugural event taking place this year in early October. It is the brainchild of Byron Linford, Events Coordinator for Cedar City, together with members of the community who cherish a vision to revive the history of filmmaking in the area. Additionally, a committee was formed with the objective to showcase films produced in and around Cedar City to ensure a new generation of young viewers would connect with their heritage and perhaps meet residents who were in the area at the time of the various projects. Uniqueness of the Festival The first motion picture to be filmed in Cedar City was Deadwood Coach (1924,) a silent movie filmed in Shirts Canyon, and other movies soon followed. One of the subsequent films was Proud Rebel (1958), starring Alan Ladd, Olivia de Havilland, and Alan’s son David. For a $10 general admission price, patrons will screen this film made entirely in the Cedar City area. David Ladd will be in attendance. The story is one of courage in the face of adversity, when a man is falsely accused of a crime and how he is eventually redeemed. Response from the Public So far, many in the community are elated. Linford says people are “coming out of the woodwork,” those who remember other films like Guns Along the Mohawk with Henry Fonda. He related how his cousin was chosen to be the baby who actually played in the movie. “I hear many stories like this that need to be told before we forget what unique things happened here. People like Janice Seegmiller, Ryan Paul, Ray Grant and many others have served as great resources for the festival. Hopes and Dreams for the Film Festival’s Future Although the festival will be held on one evening this year, Linford sees it growing each subsequent year. He enthusiastically talks about opportunities to visit the movie locations where filming took place as a draw to bring a new set of visitors to the area. “This is part of our history,” says Linford, “and we need to remember it.” Left: Movie poster and images from the film “Proud Rebel” Top: Byron Linford of Cedar City Film Festival. Photo by Karl Hugh of Studio West Photography.
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Western Legends Roundup - A Celebration of “Little Hollywood” Film Festival
KANAB, UTAH History and Perspective Western Legends Roundup was organized in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to celebrate the “Little Hollywood” heritage of this area where over 100 feature films were shot, along with several hundred television episodes. In addition, the community wished to commemorate the western and ranching history of the pioneering families that worked this region for generations. Further, the residents wanted an end-of-summer festival to increase tourism during what is traditionally a slack period prior to Labor Day weekend. The first year was modest in its scope, but last year the festival received more than 5000 visitors from 27 states and many foreign countries. Now in its 14th year, it includes evening stage shows featuring well-known western and country/western music artists and of course, the Celebration of “Little Hollywood” Film Festival. This is a chance to meet some of your favorite western movie stars, have dinner with the stars, take in a tour of movie locations, and much more. Visitors also may attend the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo, participate in a street fair, and observe an antique farm equipment working display. One of the features of the event is to present and place new plaques on the “Little Hollywood Walk of Fame” along the main thoroughfare of Kanab.
Uniqueness of the Festival This project is unique to Kanab because of its movie history. An article written by Florabel Muir for The Saturday Evening Post entitled “The Town that Learned to Act” (1945) affirmed almost everyone was in the movies. Academy Award winning Director William Wellman called Kanab “a Little Hollywood all its own” because of the capable men, women, locations, accommodations, and catering that was available to visiting movie companies. Back in the day, stars who had visited Kanab while filming even alluded to the town in some of their other productions. Howard Duff, who had worked in Kanab in the 40s, made reference to Kanab and Parry Lodge in his “Sam Spade” radio show that ran nationally for five seasons. Response from the Public Stephen Browning, Executive Director of Western Legends Roundup, say the Kanab community receives great response from the visitors who attend. “It is a massive undertaking to put on this festival and we couldn’t do it without the aid of nearly 400 local volunteers,” says Browning. Hopes and Dreams for the Film Festival’s Future The hopes and dreams of the community are to continue with a quality festival each year, but with the number of visitors that come, the town is at near capacity. In the future, the festival plans to add other events in some of the shoulder tourist seasons that can bring additional lovers of all things western. Browning adds: “Our dream is see the addition of a special events facility for Kanab and Kane County that could be used without having to close down portions of Main Street.”
“Where Service is in Fashion!” Black Tie Dinner and Fashion Show
to benefit the Erin Kimball Memorial Foundation
SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
SunRiver Ballroom, St. George, Utah $125 per ticket - for more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.erinkimball.org The Erin Kimball Memorial Foundation exists to save lives and end the repeated, intergenerational trauma of domestic violence by providing homeless survivors the time, housing and empowerment support to strengthen resiliency, enhance safety, increase education, boost incomes and create healthy, loving, non-violent families. Peace on earth begins at H.O.M.E.
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The Most Unique Boutique in Southern Utah!
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Executive committee in front of Denny’s Wigwam Western Store in Kanab. From left to right: Theo McCallister, Ben Beckstead, Stephen Browning, Executive Director and Board Chair, John Jacobs, Wendy Passmore, Bonnie Riding - Director of Entertainment.
ving Music, Melod a e W ies and Memories
Sounds of Watercolors:
Southwest Symphony Orchestra 32nd Concert Series Songs, Symphonies, & Serenades
2012-2013 Gary Caldwell, Conductor 7:30 pm Cox Performing Arts Center, Dixie State College The Magic of Mozart
“Festivale” Music of the Americas
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Friday, February 15, 2013
Halloween Spooktacular
Salute to Youth Concerto Classic
Handel’s Messiah with Southwest Chorale
a Tribute to the Music of Walt Disney”
Featuring Amy Porter & Adrianna Horner
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Photos by Carol Call Photography.
Sunday, December 2 & Monday, December 3, 2012
Featuring Glenn Webb
Friday, March 29, 2013
“Wish Upon a Star: Featuring Jenny Oaks Baker
Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10, 2013
Pops Under the Stars
Saturday May 18, 2013 – 8:00 p.m.
Chuck wagon dinner – 6:00 p.m. – O.C. Tanner Amphitheatre in Springdale
Watch for other special Southwest Symphony Orchestra events by visiting
www.southwestsymphony.org
Season tickets may be purchased by calling 435.688.8183.
Red Rock Film Festival
SPRINGDALE & ST. GEORGE, UTAH History and Perspective The project evolved from a festival in 1991, and actually began in 2004 as a film series by Zion Canyon called Zion Flix. By 2007, the grass roots organization grew into an international film festival that became officially known as the Red Rock Film Festival. In 2008, the festival screened several premieres that further gained international recognition such as The Mark of Cain and Sultanes del Sur. The festival made MovieMaker magazine’s list of “25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee: 2009.” Red Rock received 701 films from 47 countries, and last year the festival presented 144 films at the Red Cliffs Cinema, St. George Arts Center, and other venues in Southern Utah. This year the festival brings back the independent spirit with both new films in all genres and some quasi-essential independent films (indies) that have made the festival circuit. Several special guests have included Graeme Clifford, director of Francis; MacKenzie Phillips of television’s One Day at a Time; and Gary Graham of TV’s Alien Nation and Star Trek: Enterprise. Uniqueness of the Festival What makes this festival unique to Southern Utah is that it is a classic film festival that shows both indies and festival favorites one would expect to find at a major international film festival. Its location in the captivating environs of Zion National Park also makes it unique, along with its mission to promote “film that portrays the human race in a positive light.” The festival is an artist’s retreat for film, cuisine, workshops, and social gatherings with accessible, approachable industry professionals. It is an emerging festival held every November between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. From award-winning documentaries and dramatic features, the festival offers a breathtaking location to see film in the temperate part of Utah, only 90 minutes from Las Vegas.
Matt Marxteyn, Red Rock Film Festival Director. Photo courtesy of Red Rock Film Festival. Ivy Prue-Steputis of Red Rock Film Festival. Photo by Aliison Niccum of Moments by Allison.com.
Matt Marxteyn, Festival Director, and Ivy Prue-Steputis, Events Director believe a film festival competition should never be like a night club in Hollywood. With a low entry fee, the festival boasts a “no back-door” policy, which means it does not matter whom the filmmaker is or whom they know. All films in the Red Rock competition go through an open selection process. Response from the Public Individual and corporate sponsorships have been phenomenal for a modest festival in red rock territory. The festival has attracted such sponsors as Best Western, Majestic View Lodge, Zion Park Inn, St. George Convention and Tourism Office, Harmon’s, Red Robin, Sky West, Zion’s Bank, and the Utah Film Commission. Corporate sponsors have included Canon, Zerox, and Optoma. Attendance from out-of-state patrons has grown tremendously with 52 percent of festival-goers from Southern Utah, 16 percent from Northern Utah, and 32 percent from California and other states and countries. Deborah Geffner of All That Jazz and A Chorus Line is one of many who have responded favorably to the festival experience: “I felt very cared for and valued. I met wonderful, creative people, had a lot of information and enjoyable conversations, learned a lot about the movie business, and about filmmaking, and saw some great movies! I loved the selections. I also really enjoyed the panels – being on one and listening to the rest.”
Director Philipp Hönig, 2011 Aglet Award winner for “Thaw (Tauwetter)” Director Siri Rodnes, 2011 Aglet Award winner for “The Field Of Vision” Photo courtesy of the Red Rock Film Festival.
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Interested in More Information?
2011 filmmakers and guests in Snow Canyon State Park, Utah. Photo courtesy of the Red Rock Film Festival.
Hopes and Dreams for the Film Festival’s Future The festival directors are appreciative of those who have helped propel the festival forward and they aim for greater participation from local cities and contributing supporters. Ticket sales account for only 3-7 percent of total production costs. A goal of the festival is to connect with educators and engage students through film as an art medium. The festival also focuses on adding sparks of educational information in future media projects for cities, historic sites, and museums. In addition, the festival has included a small Red Film Market, a festival within a festival, where industry, filmmakers, and the press may find educational and special interest films.
American Classic Southwest Film Festival October 4, 2012 Cedar City, Utah 435-865-2896 Byron Linford at byron@cedarcity.org or call 435-463-1694 Red Rock Film Festival November 8-17, 2012 Springdale and St. George, Utah Matt Marxteyn or Ivy Prue-Steputis redevents@redrockfilmfestival.com www.redrockfilmfestival.com DOCUTAH September 5-9, 2012 St. George, Utah Lani Puriri at lani@dixie.edu www.docutah.com or www.facebook.com/DOCUTAH Western Legend Roundup August 16-18, 2012 Kanab, Utah 435-644-3444 www.westernlegendsroundup.com
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