Ann Arbor Film Festival launches a virtual version of the 59th edition

Mon, 03/22/2021 - 10:00am by christopherporter

Like 60-degree days in March, the 59th Ann Arbor Film Festival snuck up on us this year and we didn't get a chance to screen any of the movies before the event launches Tuesday, March 23.

But here all the pertinent details to get you started on this year's edition:

Aw, Yeah: Ypsi-filmed YouTube show "Renting and Raving" offers silly humor and strong characters

Thu, 01/21/2021 - 2:00pm by christopherporter

The first time Basement Guy ate real cat food was the last time.

AADL 2020 STAFF PICKS: BOOKS, MUSIC, MOVIES & MORE

Mon, 12/21/2020 - 12:00pm by christopherporter

Normally, you might come into the library, talk to someone on staff, get some recommendations, perhaps share a few of your own, and we'd go on our merry ways, content we could engage in a positive social interaction while discussing whatever book, movie, TV show, music, or more that came up.

Art is life and life is people.

"Whip" It: Nadim Azzam's new YouTube show cruises with Michigan musicians

Wed, 12/09/2020 - 12:45pm by christopherporter

Artists performing songs being driven around in a car by a congenial host. Sound familiar?

Inna De Yard: Ann Arbor's Evan Haywood directs a music video for Jamaica's Israel Voice

Wed, 11/25/2020 - 10:00am by christopherporter

Longtime Ann Arbor creative Evan Haywood is known for his solo work as a singer-songwriter and as one of the voices in the Tree City hip-hop collective.

He's about to add filmmaker to his resume after traveling around Jamaica in May 2019 to film Blood & Fire, "a documentary on anti-colonial narratives in Jamaican music and culture," Haywood said, with one of the biggest stars in the movie being Lee "Scratch" Perry, reggae's eccentric genius. Haywood is still editing the film, but while in Jamaica, he also shot footage for several music videos, one of which has just debuted: Israel Voice's "Nyomi," which features the sweet-voiced veteran crooner looking for spiritual love; the roots-reggae tune was co-produced by Earl "Chinna" Smith. Haywood filmed part of the video at Chinna's yard as well as the surfing hot spot Bull Bay. 

The Genesis of "Abiro": Ben Willis and Dr. Pete Larson discuss the new animated video for the Cytotoxic Nyatiti Band

Tue, 10/27/2020 - 12:00pm by christopherporter

Burnout Society Film Club's 8 Ball Movie Night and Introvert Movie Night offer group viewings of cult flicks

Wed, 09/30/2020 - 3:00pm by christopherporter

One day in 2017, Samir Asfahani was surfing Facebook during his lunch break. The guitarist in Ann Arbor stoner-metal band Wizard Union, Asfahani belonged to a music enthusiasts’ group and a member started a thread about peoples’ favorite cult movies.

A.N.G.E.L.I. and Scary Steve team up with Jordan Stanton for the "They Take IV" music video

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 3:30pm by christopherporter

Over the past year, University of Michigan student and Michigan Electronic Music Collective (MEMCO) member Jordan Stanton has put together three smart, stylish videos: one traced the history of electronic music in the city (Impulse Ann Arbor), another documented the work of one of the genre's most important local artists (58AAFF Artist Spotlight: Tadd Mullinix), and a new music video features the two recent artists on the scene, producer Scary Steve (Steve Klingbiel) and rapper by A.N.G.E.L.I. (Kamryn Thomas).

The video blends computer-generated landscapes and real-world places -- a Michigan forest in the fall, an Ann Arbor alleyway, Club Above -- along with the deadpan delivery of A.N.G.E.L.I. delivering a speedy rap over Scary Steve's skittering beats.

Michigan Theater welcomes films and conversations with two Ann Arbor natives

Mon, 08/24/2020 - 3:00pm by christopherporter

New films by or featuring two Ann Arbor-ites -- and conversations with both of them -- are landing at the Michigan Theater.

Writer and filmmaker Kevin Smokler seems more comfortable in a different era; maybe one from 30 to 40 years ago. Or at least Smokler's really comfortable covering a different era -- and we liked his book Brat Pack America: A Love Letter to '80s Teen Movies so much we interviewed him twice (October 2016 and June 2017).

The Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti (IFFY) moves online Aug. 20-22

Tue, 08/18/2020 - 12:00pm by christopherporter

Back in January when the inaugural Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti (IFFY) was announced, the plan was to hold it at the Riverside Art Center, April 16-18.