Senator Theatre owner Tom Kiefaber, our source at the Sho-West film industry trade show in Las Vegas, calls to say that George Lucas popped in Wednesday night to announce that the debut of "The Phantom Menace," the latest chapter in the "Star Wars" saga, has been moved up from May 21 to May 19.
Lucas also brought along a new trailer for "The Phantom Menace," two-and-a-half minutes of never-before-seen footage that Kiefaber assures us looks pretty phenomenal. (The trailer can be seen at the Senator, before screenings of "Analyze This.")
"Lucas joked, based on the tremendous success of the initial trailer and the ticket sales that resulted just from the trailer, that he'd decided to sell the film in two-minute segments," Kiefaber said.
We believe Lucas was joking.
Also unveiled at ShoWest, a first look at footage from the late Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut." The 90 seconds of footage, personally selected by Kubrick before his death Saturday, featured a naked Tom Cruise and a naked Nicole Kidman kissing passionately in front of a mirror. Something to look forward to
Saluting Kubrick
Cinephiles looking for an appropriate tribute to Kubrick, or who are looking for ways to bide their time until "Eyes Wide Shut" is released in July, may want to check out the Charles Theatre this weekend.
Through Thursday, the Charles will be running a Kubrick double-feature of "Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" and "A Clockwork Orange." Show times for "Strangelove" are daily at 7: 15 p.m., with an additional showing at 2: 30 p.m. on weekends; "Clockwork" showings are daily at 9: 15 p.m., with an additional weekend showing at 4: 30 p.m. There will be no "Strangelove" showing Thursday.
For those who would rather stay home, cable's TCM will be showing Kubrick's adaptation of Vladimir Nabakov's "Lolita" at 10: 30 a.m. Wednesday.
Watery works
The first annual "Seas of Imagination" underwater film festival is slated for 7: 30 p.m. tomorrow in Johns Hopkins University's Shriver Hall. Among filmmakers presenting their work will be Emory Kristof, who has documented the underwater wrecks of the Titanic and the Edmund Fitzgerald; Dave Albrecht, named Diver of the Year at New York's 1997 Beneath the Sea festival; and Todd Gipstein, who has won 36 gold awards in regional and international media competitions. Nationally known diver and former Baltimore resident Alex Brylske will be honored at the festival. Marty Bass, of WJZ, Channel 13, will be the host.
Tickets, priced at $8 for adults, $7 for students, can be purchased at the door, over the phone at 410-285-6454 or by e-mail through aquatic@erols.com.
Oscar night at Loews
Loews White Marsh will hold its second Oscar-night bash on March 21. The ceremonies will be shown on one of the theater's screens, and there will be a catered pre-telecast reception.
Food for the reception and dinner, which begins at 6: 30 p.m., will be provided by Phillips Seafood Grill, while personalities from WLIF-FM (101.9) will serve as hosts. The big-screen telecast begins at 8 p.m.
Tickets, at $20, can be purchased at Barnes and Noble bookstores. Proceeds will benefit the Children's Cancer Foundation.
State filmmakers compete
Seven Maryland filmmakers will be among those vying for recognition at the ninth annual Rosebud film festival Saturday and Sunday at the John F. Kennedy Center's American Film Institute Theater in Washington.
State filmmakers entered in the competition, along with their film titles and show times, are Christopher Reiser of Rockville ("The Little Prince," 11: 30 a.m.), Rebecca Yenawine of Baltimore ("Creation Truths," 12: 46 p.m.), Slane Ramon of Silver Spring ("Conscious," 1: 08 p.m.), Lillian Bowers of Baltimore ("Little Castles," 2: 12 p.m.), Jason Kaplan of Bethesda ("Roadkill," 2: 41 p.m.), Todd Rohal of Baltimore ("Knuckleface Jones," 2: 50 p.m.) and Dan Schmeltzer of Potomac ("Dead Sorry," 3: 51 p.m.). The same films will be presented each day. Doors open at 11 a.m.; Tickets, $7, can be purchased at the door.
Oscars dinner at Louie's
Orpheum Theater owner and film fan supreme George Figgs will play host to an Academy Awards dinner at Louie's Bookstore Cafe, 518 N. Charles St., at 7: 30 p.m. Monday. Figgs promises to talk about all things Oscar, including this year's nominees, the Academy Awards' history and famous myths surrounding the annual starfest. Tickets, including a four-course dinner, are $20. For reservations, call 410-962-1222.
Pub Date: 3/12/99