FEATURES

WestValleyView.com /WestValleyView For more features visit westvalleyview.com

Local fi lm festival returns after pandemic hiatus

BY CONNOR DZIAWURA

West Valley View Staff Writer

Peoria Film Festival Executive Director Jason Carney sees fi lm festivals as fostering their own little community.

“There’s just that sense of comradery from fi lm lovers,” Carney described. “It’s not your casual fi lmgoer, so everybody’s just got this sense of belonging and really wanting to discover the next great fi lm.”

Perhaps that “next great fi lm” will be screening at this year’s Peoria Film Festival, the fi rst since the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to put it on pause last year. This year’s event will run from Friday, Sept. 17, to Sunday, Sept. 19, at Harkins Arrowhead 18, hosting a variety of short and feature-length fi lms, as well as Q&As with fi lmmaker participation.

An opening-night cocktail party at Headquarters will kick the weekend off, benefi ting parent organization Phoenix Film Foundation’s education programs. Then, the screenings will formally begin at Harkins with director Maria Schrader’s “I’m Your Man,” about a scientist living with a humanoid robot designed as her perfect partner for three weeks as part of a study.

On the closing night, the festival will screen director Franz Kranz’s “Mass,” in which two sets of parents attempt to overcome a tragedy together. Additionally, winners for Best Feature Film and Best Short Film will be announced.

Common throughout the festival, Carney said, are lighter themes about overcoming obstacles. Tying in with current events, for one, is the Kristine Harrington-directed documentary “Empty Seats, Full Hearts.”

“It’s about a teacher working through COVID guidelines and COVID rules when she’s trying to educate her students,” Carney summarized. “This documentary was made by a local television station, and so we’re going to be showcasing a longer version of it.”

More “Rocky-esque,” according to Carney, is “Platform,” or “a great documentary about three Iranian sisters competing to become international champions of a martial art (Wushu).”

Then there are narrative features like Jarrett Bryant’s “Maxie,” about two unalike but drug-addicted teens (Miles Dixon and Liv Tavernier) who “form a bond as they try to get clean over a weekend,” Carney said.

As for Tim Dahlseid’s music-based drama “Sold Out,” Carney previewed it as telling the story of “a talent scout who takes an unknown under her wing and tries to help mold him and be successful.”

In addition to a variety of newly selected fi lms — and free screenings of family fi lms — award winners from the Phoenix Film Festival, the Peoria festival’s sibling event, will offer an extra chance to catch up on recent releases viewers may have previously missed.

“Because that way, if folks might’ve missed our Best Picture (‘Trees of Peace’) or a couple other award winners, they can catch them at Peoria and get a chance to see them there,” Carney said.

Programs under the Phoenix Film Foundation, the Peoria and Phoenix fi lm festivals were postponed when the pandemic hit last year. The usual spring Phoenix Film Festival was impacted fi rst, and as summer rolled on, Carney said, it became clear the fall Peoria festival would be halted as well.

“It just didn’t make sense for us to try to put on the Peoria Film Festival when

“Sold Out” is a music-based drama about a female talent scout who takes a down-on-his-luck construction worker under her wing and helps him rise to his potential as a singer-songwriter. (Photo courtesy of the Peoria Film Festival) Film...continued on page 18

West Valley View Dining

Open EVERYDAY from 11am-2am Happy Hour EVERYDAY from 3-7pm

Kitchen Specials Tues.-Sat. from 4-9pm FREE Line Dancing Lessons Mon-Wed from 7-9pm FREE Poker Thursday at 7pm and Sundays at 5pm LIVE BAND on Friday and Saturday from 9pm-1am LIVE DJ Friday and Saturday from 9:30pm-1:30am Karaoke Thursday and Sunday from 9pm-1am

(623) 932-0922

BUY 1 GET 1 FREE

ANY 2-Scoop Sundae

1025 N Avondale Blvd. • Avondale 1540 N Verrado Way • Buckeye 130 N Estrella Pkwy • Goodyear FAMILY-OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 30+ YEARS!

FREE Poker

Tuesday/Friday - 7pm Saturday - 3pm

Off-Track Betting

DAILY - Starting at 11am

Grill Open

Please call for hours Call today to book your event!

ROMAN’S COUNTY LINE

there really weren’t any other community events going on in Peoria at the time,” he explained.

After the Phoenix Film Festival was ultimately rescheduled for last November — and turned out to be “a really small shell of what it normally would be,” Carney admitted — this year’s event was held last month. With vaccines now widely administered, it was more of a success, something organizers hope to parlay into the fast-approaching Peoria event.

And it will also be a scaled-down event, mindful of coronavirus concerns. Reserved seating will reduce lines, Carney said, and health guidelines will be in place.

“I think, you know, that really helped us in executing the festival,” Carney explained of holding this year’s Phoenix festival in August as opposed to the original spring plans. “While it wasn’t, you know, crowds the size of pre-pandemic, they felt really, really excited about the crowds that came out and they were really, you know, just happy to be in the theater again, along with the fi lmmakers.

“And so I think that really sets us up to be successful continued in Peoria coming up in just a few weeks.”

If You Go…

WHAT: Peoria Film Festival WHEN: Friday, Sept. 17, to Sunday, Sept. 19 WHERE: Harkins Arrowhead 18, 16046 N. Arrowhead Fountains Center Drive, Peoria COST: $12 single tickets, $60 festival pass, $30 opening-night event; discounts available for Peoria residents INFO: peoriafi lmfest.com

WEST VALLEY VIEW NEWS | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

Mirage mirrors Fleetwood Mac’s talents

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

West Valley View Executive Editor

Michelle Tyler of the Fleetwood Mac tribute act Mirage has heard the words many long to hear: Stevie Nicks would like to meet you.

Tyler, who was playing in the Nicks-only band Belladonna, was performing acoustically with her husband when a woman approached her backup musicians backstage.

She said her husband was Steve Real, Nicks’ vocal coach, and she was so impressed that she was hoping to get Tyler on the phone with the legendary singer. Unable to get to Tyler, she recorded Belladonna with her phone and sent it to Nicks.

“They fl ew my husband and I up to Reno, and we went backstage during a meet and greet,” Tyler recalled. “I said, ‘Hi, Stevie. I’m Michelle Tyler. I think you heard me on a phone call?’ She put her hands on my shoulders and said, ‘We tried so hard to get that call through. It was great to hear somebody doing a good job with my music.’ She then leaned in and said, ‘I’ll tell you what. Anytime you want to take over, you just let me know. I’ve about had it.’”

The two shared a laugh, and that was the fi rst of a handful of meetings.

“She’s been very supportive, and her backup singers have said imitation is the sincerest form of fl attery,” she said. “That’s the only endorsement that Stevie would give anybody. They’re not a band that goes around and does that. Saying I could take over at any time, that was a pretty good pat on the back.”

Fans can see what Nicks admires when California-based Mirage plays a number of shows in the area: Saturday, Sept. 18, at Harold’s Cave Creek Corral; Sunday, Sept. 19, at PebbleCreek in Goodyear; and Wednesday, Sept. 22, at Anthem Golf and Country Club.

Mirage sticks with the “Rumours”-era of Fleetwood Mac.

“We’re very authentic,” she said. “Everyone plays an actual role. We play the very biggest hits, the best of Fleetwood Mac. We have a lot of visuals going on.

“If the venue permits, we have a synced multimedia show. Otherwise, we still do a 90-minute show with a lot of costume changes. It’s a high-energy show. We like to get the audience involved. It’s good for all ages and families.”

Before Mirage, Tyler helmed Belladonna, which focused on Nicks’ solo career. After 15 years, Tyler and her musicians transitioned into Mirage.

“I’ve been playing Stevie Nicks for almost 20 years,” she said. “In Belladonna, I was the only one dressing up and portraying a character. Belladonna is still on our books. It’s a big show. It’s an eight-piece band with backup singers and two guitar players. It’s hard to take on the road. It’s more expensive.

“But we focus on Mirage now.”

Her husband, Bob Weitz, plays the role of John McVie and music director. His day gig is as a Warner Bros. engineer who won an Academy Award for designing equipment. They started their career playing the bar and nightclub circuit but evolved into tribute acts.

“Becoming a famous rock star is like winning the lottery,” she said. “There are so many talented people out there on any given day, at any club in LA. There are singer-songwriter showcases, and you can hear phenomenal people. You’re wondering why they play there for no money.

“It’s luck, timing and talent in that order. Talent is the last thing. Anyway, I was asking myself, ‘Am I going to be a rock star?’ Eventually, it became a career.”

Tyler explained she does not ever tire of the music. She loves her job and the music. Plus, meeting Nicks is a bonus.

“When you meet somebody — whether they’re a movie star or rock star — you have a certain perception. None of us really know these people. We only know what we see.

“You hope they’re nice people. They’re warm. I’ve met strangers and a lot of people. She was actually warm and friendly and down-to-earth. She made me feel like I was the one who was the star. She sent me to make me calm.”

If You Go…

WHAT: Mirage WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 WHERE: Harold’s Cave Creek Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek COST: $55 to $450 INFO: haroldscorral.com

WHEN: 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19 WHERE: PebbleCreek’s Renaissance Theater, 16666 Clubhouse Drive, Goodyear COST: $30 INFO: pebblecreekhoa.org

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22 WHERE: Anthem Golf and Country Club, 2708 W. Anthem Club Drive, Phoenix COST: Call for info INFO: 623-742-6200

Fall Massage Specials!

60 minute massage for $45 90 minute massage for $65

Must prepay for special rates and to reserve time! NEW clients only. Expires 9/30/21

Carpet • Tile • Grout • Upholstery • Air Duct Cleaning • Commercial & Residential Cleaning BUSY LIFE?

Call Today! Clean Today!

Prices Include: Truck Mounted Units • Pretreat Vacuum • Optical Brightener • General Soil Removal

Also Available: Carpet Stretching • Carpet Repair ANY 3 ROOMS ANY 5 ROOMS

Dr. Kukurin was named a Top Chiropractor by the Consumers Research Council of America. He is listed in Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare. With over 20 years of experience using acupuncture, chiropractic and science based nutritional therapies, the results produced by our methods have been featured on local TV newscasts and Published in scientific journals. Appointments call 623-547-4727.

KUKURIN CHIROPRACTIC, ACUPUNCTURE & NUTRITION NETWORK

12409 W. Indian School Rd. #C304, Avondale AZ • www.kcpv.info

Mention West Valley View for an Exclusive Offer!

$5900 Reg. $129.00 $8900 Reg. $169.99 Up to Up to 450 sq. ft. total 750 sq. ft. total

We only have one care. It’s Your Satisfaction. VALLEYWIDE SERVICE • 602-550-7732

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

King Crossword

ACROSS

1 Havana’s land 5 For each 8 -- Valley, Calif. 12 Miles away 13 Parisian pal 14 Former Yankee slugger, to fans 15 Abe Lincoln’s first home 17 Cello’s ancestor 18 In the style of 19 Shiny, as a photo 21 Trombone part 24 Swizzle 25 Ireland 26 Backyard structure 30 Old Oldsmobile 31 Move to one side 32 -- roll (winning) 33 Theme park attraction 35 Landed 36 Mater lead-in 37 Test score 38 Spider’s creation 41 Spill catcher 42 Location 43 Cozy spot on the slopes 48 Sandwich shop 49 Last (Abbr.) 50 Jeopardize 51 Pieces for one 52 Evening hrs. 53 Hose woe

DOWN

1 Nev. neighbor 2 Flying saucer 3 Satchel 4 Video-game hub 5 Sunscreen additive 6 Brit. record label 7 Cellphone tune 8 Relishes 9 Eye part 10 Cattle calls? 11 In a lazy way 16 Hearty quaff 20 Joyful tune 21 Lowly worker 22 Stead 23 Press agent? 24 “The March King” 26 “OK” gesture 27 Spanish greeting 28 Oklahoma city 29 See socially 31 Only 34 Aloha State 35 Garden shelters 37 Baseball’s Hodges 38 Scoundrels 39 Sandwich treat 40 Phone inventor 41 Morsels 44 Carrier to Amsterdam 45 Cacophony 46 Fed. property manager 47 Heart chart (Abbr.)

by Linda Thistle

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

SCRAMBLERS

Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words. Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!