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Screen Time
Katherine Nichols
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‘Frozen River’ looks for hope in the depths
Once in a while, a movie comes along that's difficult to describe but impossible to forget. "Frozen River," starting at the Kahala Theatres tonight, is one of those. How the fully realized characters contend with their poverty and desperation - beyond our comprehension if we are even sitting in a movie theater - leaves a lasting impression.
Written and directed by Courtney Hunt and starring veteran character actress Melissa Leo and newcomer Misty Upham, "Frozen River" contains no recognizable faces - which contributes to its power and appeal. But it doesn't need my endorsement after winning the 2008 Sundance Film Festival grand jury prize.
Abandoned by her husband and living in a trailer, Ray (Leo) is an upstate New York white woman who almost inadvertently starts smuggling immigrants across the Canadian-U.S. border. A bizarre but believable set of circumstances and her intense desire to provide for her children connect her to a lonely Mohawk woman (Upham) - and to these illegal activities. The characters, who begin by loathing one another, exhibit enough resilience to lift the film from its chilly darkness. But it also contains elements of a riveting plot-and-character-driven thriller. "Frozen River" is rated R for some language, violence and adult themes. For a review, see Page D4. View the trailer at http://www.sonyclassics.com/frozenriver/...
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Hawaii's Television and Film industry infuses hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy. So why not learn a little more about it - and how you might be able to find a career in this field?
The Salt Lake-Moanalua Public Library will host four free programs for students called "Seeing Stars" from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in September. The Academy of Creative Media at the University of Hawaii will be the first presenter, on Tuesday. Attendees will learn to create films and see results from ACM's filmmakers. On Sept. 16, actor Dann Seki will share ideas about how to make money working as an extra, and on Sept. 23 state film commissioner Donne Dawson will talk about the inner workings of the Hawaii Film Office. On Sept. 30, Margaret South will share insights into "The Art of Story."
All seminars are suitable for ages 12 and up. Call the young-adult librarian at the Salt Lake Moanalua Public Library at 831-6831...
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The Walt Disney marketing machine is at it again, but clever students in Hawaii stand to benefit. "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" will be released on Oct. 24. So the Disney folks have partnered with MySpace to launch the "HSM3 School Spirit Contest."
One high school in the United States whose students show the most spirit (and earn the most points) by logging onto www.myspace.com/hsm3, completing online tasks and voting via texts will win a 2009 graduation celebration (airfare, hotel, food, park entry and party included) at Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort. The school also earns a celebrity pep rally. Not sure if this means a hometown visit from stars Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, but it definitely includes a live performance by rocker Natasha Bedingfield. The contest runs through Nov. 3.