In honor of the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival‘s 20th Anniversary next year, the SLOIFF will celebrate by screening Hollywood movies that have been made in San Luis Obispo County over the past 90 years. SLO County on the Silver Screen will present a wide variety of notable films, and screen each in the part of the County they were principally filmed in. The series will begin in August and run through the next Festival, scheduled for March 5-9, 2014.
San Luis Obispo County has been the backdrop for countless commercials, television shows and Hollywood movies since the early 1920’s. In films ranging from Cecil B. DeMille’s 1923 silent classic, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS to Lindsay Lohan’s infamous Razzie Award winner, I KNOW WHO KILLED ME, the county has doubled for Maine, South Carolina, the Caribbean, ancient Rome, the Mid West and many other parts of the world. Film production has brought major celebrities and excitement to San Luis Obispo County, as well as an economic boost to the local economy.
From August 2013 to March 2014, the SLOIFF will present an eclectic variety of movies on the “silver screen” all over the County, from Guadalupe to Paso Robles to San Simeon and Cambria.
The first two movie events are scheduled for August in Guadalupe and Avila Beach. On Saturday, August 17, the Guadalupe City Hall will host a screening of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS followed by a reception hosted by Doug Jenzen at the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center. After a recent unveiling of historical artifacts buried in the sand after the 1923 film production, the museum features pieces of the enormous “ancient” city that was built in the Guadalupe dunes by thousands of local workers. Since 1983, filmmaker Peter Brosnan has been spearheading the excavation and videotaping interviews with dozens of crew members, actors and set builders to record the history of this epic production and its amazing behind-the-scenes story. Mr. Brosnan hopes to be in attendance to introduce THE TEN COMMANDMENTS and sign copies of his new book. He also hopes to premiere his documentary in early 2014.
Friday, August 23, the ‘campy’ 1979 comedy CALIFORNIA DREAMING will screen outdoors at the Avila Beach Golf Resort, with the film’s star Dennis Christopher in attendance. Dennis Christopher was also the star of 1980’s Oscar-winning BREAKING AWAY, as well as having featured roles in CHARIOTS OF FIRE and last year’s hit, DJANGO UNCHAINED. Almost completely filmed in Avila Beach (before the 1998 Unocal cleanup), CALIFORNIA DREAMING tells the story of a young man who comes from the mid-West with a strong hankering to surf. Incongruously huge waves and 1970’s styles and sensibilities make this film a must-see for locals who will recognize old Avila Beach haunts and some familiar actors, including Tanya Roberts from That 70’s Show.
Future screenings include the following:
September 11: WE WERE SOLDIERS, Park Cinemas, Paso Robles (Celebrity host to be announced soon!)
September 21: COURT STREET SHORTS, Court Street Patio, San Luis Obispo
October 9: MY BLUE HEAVEN, Galaxy Theatre, Atascadero
October 30: ARACHNOPHOBIA, Cambria Vets Hall, Cambria
November 9: I KNOW WHO KILLED ME, San Luis Obispo
November 23: THE MONSTER OF PIEDRAS BLANCAS, Cayucos
December 7: LITTLE GIANTS, Fair Oaks Theatre, Arroyo Grande
December – March: 10 YEARS LATER, Pismo Beach
(exact dates TBA): MURDER BY NUMBERS, Bay Theatre, Morro Bay
RUBY GENTRY, Park Cinemas, Paso Robles
OF MICE AND MEN, San Simeon