Starting in October 2021, while the pandemic still kept people away from theaters, and continuing through December 2024 - the Arthouse Experience was a monthly series of films with guests at the glorious Virginia Theater.
Below is the list of films, trailers, and links to my Two Minute Intros (when available). These were timed intros (literally, with a big countdown on the screen) that allowed me to put some context around the movie. Always there were two rules:
- No cursing
- No plot spoilers
Season 1
Here was a blog I wrote to introduce the series - and discuss the process of film selection: https://blog.tectonicspeed.com/2021/09/the-arthouse-experience.html
Emma (2020 version)
October 2021
Guest: Gordon Brown
Moonlight
November 2021
Guest: Carlton Cummings
Guest Host: Matthew Gladney (the only show I missed)
I recorded this introduction since I wouldn't be there (link to a file hosted on Dropbox): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ysaqx8ugcj99xmpokl007/Moonlight_Intro.mp4?rlkey=n5lqdov6an5tv0d9bpx81gjpz&st=er38reuk&dl=0
Cold War
December 2021
Discussion: 2019 Ebertfest replay: https://www.youtube.com/live/loah11gMQMk?si=Zj2V6pyYYcKRno8y
Wild Tales
January 2022
Discussion: 2015 Ebertfest replay - discussion with director (via Skype): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ATECYzZ6_s
Discussion: 2015 Ebertfest replay - discussion with director (via Skype): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ATECYzZ6_s
The Artist
February 2022
Guest: Chike Coleman
Guest: Chike Coleman
It was supposed to have been the first film, but A/C issues forced a rescheduling.
Adaptation
February 2022
Guest: Gordon Brown
Guest: Gordon Brown
The Royal Tenenbaums
March 2022
Guest: Angela Aguayo
Guest: Angela Aguayo
Big Night
April 2022
Guests: Ramin Karimpour, Tony Pomonis
Eighth Grade
May 2022
Guests: Three Teenage Movie Reviewers
Intro notes (first one that wasn't handwritten!): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/iemnds34i684avwllbiyr/2022_05-Eighth-Grade-Intro.pdf?rlkey=5kcyzxyx0eatx4gksu398lrhp&st=wsj454lx&dl=0
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
June 2022
Guest: Chike Coleman
Guest: Chike Coleman
White Tiger
July 2022
Guest: replay of Ebertfest Q&A with Writer/Director Ramin Bahrani - interviewed by Nick Allen and Brian Tallerico: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frq84qAFZC4
Guest: replay of Ebertfest Q&A with Writer/Director Ramin Bahrani - interviewed by Nick Allen and Brian Tallerico: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frq84qAFZC4
Two Minute Intro was hand-written
Season 2
Here was my intro blog for Season 2, discussing the selections: https://blog.tectonicspeed.com/2022/08/arthouse-experience-year-2.htmlThe Hours
August 2022
Guest: Dr. Rachel Lauren Storm
Guest: Dr. Rachel Lauren Storm
Two Minute Intro was hand-written
Jo-Jo Rabbit
September 2022
Guest: Chike Coleman
Two Minute Intro: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qawcj1ykc8lwt0s2fmodp/2022_09-JoJo-Rabbit.pdf?rlkey=1moz6d9t2o80jzhv5nav6zi1n&st=hgbg4nih&dl=0
Guest: Chike Coleman
Two Minute Intro: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qawcj1ykc8lwt0s2fmodp/2022_09-JoJo-Rabbit.pdf?rlkey=1moz6d9t2o80jzhv5nav6zi1n&st=hgbg4nih&dl=0
Queen & Slim
October 2022
Guest: Dr. Sundiata Keita Cha-Jua
Guest: Dr. Sundiata Keita Cha-Jua
Two Minute Intro: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/i37rl0s84e6wd9euw6m3v/2022_10-Queen-Slim.pdf?rlkey=o4gctwtth7f4ayzdhn3rh4xj2&st=9aak44yk&dl=0
They Shall Not Grow Old
November 2022
Guest: Showed Blu-Ray making of short: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQE4p6Q0N5Q
Two Minute Intro: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/muyejn35tpvmwc1qcq68u/2022_11-They-Shall-Not.pdf?rlkey=cz0opbioqrfj8aofnjvzdsy9y&st=0f9ytt3b&dl=0
The Band's Visit
December 2022
Guest: replay of 2008 Ebertfest Discussion. (Not available on YouTube!)
Two Minute Introduction: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2jyv1grf4wawewbi7feru/2022_12-Bands-Visit.pdf?rlkey=13jup8a3vda99fbvf6ce1bvkz&st=r3aptdw8&dl=0
The French Dispatch
January 2023
Guest: Matt Gladney and Ashley Rodman, hosts of the podcast Mashley at the Movies
Guest: Matt Gladney and Ashley Rodman, hosts of the podcast Mashley at the Movies
Two Minute Intro: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8h6n6t2n9sfr4s3wrojb7/2023_01-French-Dispatch.pdf?rlkey=1odly21com0m2g5sovwlfze9g&st=jx017hmc&dl=0
My Octopus Teacher
February 2023
Guest: Dr. Rhanor Gillette, Professor Emeritus of Molecular & Integrative Physiology - the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Guest: Dr. Rhanor Gillette, Professor Emeritus of Molecular & Integrative Physiology - the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Two Minute Intro: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/62q5k09uydrpcfu9sal8l/2023_02-Octopus.pdf?rlkey=f70kvamnlnybdy0gepc4mirao&st=j1jlktrv&dl=0
Everything Everywhere All at Once
March 2023 (two nights before it won the Oscar!)
Guest: Dr. Rachel Kuo, of the College of Media at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Two Minute Intro: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sgya2fbrj2xorn47y8su5/2023_03-EEAAO.pdf?rlkey=cp7neb46petfugjfmqfkeogg5&st=634s9jho&dl=0
This was a substitution! Check out the intro - and here's my documentation for my love of this film from the moment I saw the trailer: https://blog.tectonicspeed.com/2022/03/movie-poster-james-jean-and-a24.html
Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in)
April 2023
Guest: 2009 Ebertfest discussion - not available on YouTube
Two Minute Intro: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/x8nh2b6lmk83fydyfpu4n/2023_04-LTROI.pdf?rlkey=gylk49f3c0q8e51i7dx7r5cp6&st=xws1ov9q&dl=0
The Two Popes
May 2023Guest: Dr. Rachel Lauren Storm
Two Minute Intro: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gala2550ampycjjbx7fch/2023_05-Two-Popes.pdf?rlkey=tf1dfzmdo45icbxi1j7picdb1&st=cjux1cae&dl=0