THE THING FEST Assimilates Jersey City: An Eyewitness Account
(Twitch thanks Shade Rupe, author of dark Stars Rising, for this event report)
Two great tastes that go great together are well-thought-out double features, films that actually reflect and occasionally embellish each other. On Saturday April 30, the famous Loews Jersey, one of five Wonder Theaters built in the 1920s, screened a perfect 35mm film print double feature: The Thing from Another World (1951) followed by John Carpenter's 1982 variation of the story, The Thing. The Christian Nyby/Howard Hawks film is, of course, on the television set in Carpenter's breakout classic, Halloween, the seeds already in his mind for what would become one of the greatest horror/science-fiction films of all time. And quite luckily for Earth's inhabitants both films were made before the cinema-murdering debut of CGI, so what you're seeing in front of you is actually there, an actual handmade creation.
Thanks again to Shade Rupe for the write-up. readers, do yourselves a favor and click over HERE to procure a copy of Mr. Rupe's wonderful Dark Stars Rising tome.
Look below the break for pictures from the event.
Two great tastes that go great together are well-thought-out double features, films that actually reflect and occasionally embellish each other. On Saturday April 30, the famous Loews Jersey, one of five Wonder Theaters built in the 1920s, screened a perfect 35mm film print double feature: The Thing from Another World (1951) followed by John Carpenter's 1982 variation of the story, The Thing. The Christian Nyby/Howard Hawks film is, of course, on the television set in Carpenter's breakout classic, Halloween, the seeds already in his mind for what would become one of the greatest horror/science-fiction films of all time. And quite luckily for Earth's inhabitants both films were made before the cinema-murdering debut of CGI, so what you're seeing in front of you is actually there, an actual handmade creation.
Which
brings
us to one of the presentational joys of Thing-Fest, held at the
monumental motion picture cathedral, the Loews Jersey, in Jersey City,
New
Jersey: the collection of posters, programs, press books, inserts,
foreign
material, and other flotsam and jetsam from the film, including a
t-shirt
collection, props, and Rob Bottin's personal crew jacket from the time
of the
film's creation. Topping off this treasure trove of alien triumph,
Thomas G. Waites who brought the character of Windows to life also
arrived to offer an
introduction the film, a post-film Q&A , and a lobby signing
session.
Thomas G. Waites fielded questions from the audience after the film and took his place in
the lobby to greet fans. Not only did Mr. Waites take on the character of
Windows in Carpenter's film (explaining how he himself came up with the name by
the shiny silver sunglasses he wore, but he also played the role of Fox in
Walter Hill's The Warriors. Telling the above story of how he renamed his own
character, Waites also told tale of Carpenter's drive to make the film, and
iterated my own thoughts on using actual physical effects over cartoonish CGI,
mostly because the actors actually have something to work against.
The Loews
Jersey is a 3,300-seat movie palace erected during the grand heyday of motion
picture filmgoing. Opening
September 28, 1929, the theater remained a single-screen venue unti l 1979 when
the main floor was divided in two and two screens were erected just below the
balcony. In 1986 the theater closed, many thought for good, until
preservationists bought the theater from the city and began the long process of
renovation. Thanks to several benefactors the theater has acquired seats and
projects and more to help in its quest. In 2002 the Friends of the Loews
reopened the theater and began showing films again, including the one-time-only,
extremely sold-out screening of Thomas Edison's Frankenstein, a rare event indeed!
Thanks to
the fine folks of the Loews Jersey and the diligent lovers of film who come out
repeatedly for true film print presentation on a historic and beautific venue,
Thing-Fest was a tremendous success For those not in the New York area, the
Crest theater in Los Angeles is screening the John Carpenter version June 23 at
7 pm with actor David Clennon, producers David Foster and Lawrence Turman, and
cinematographer Dean Cundey in-person on stage for a Q&A. If you have only seen this
movie at home, you have not seen this movie. However you can, see The Thing
where it was meant to be seen, in a movie theatre, in the dark, with strangers.
For more on
the Loews Jersey: http://www.loewsjersey.org
For more on
the Bigfoot Crest screening of The Thing: http://www.bigfootcrest.com
Thanks again to Shade Rupe for the write-up. readers, do yourselves a favor and click over HERE to procure a copy of Mr. Rupe's wonderful Dark Stars Rising tome.
Look below the break for pictures from the event.
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