This Weekend in Silicon Valley: Movies, Concerts, Art and More!

OK, folks. There's lots to do this weekend, so pay attention. Cinequest 19 is still raging strong, but it's the last weekend for the film festival. If you haven't seen any films yet, you're missing out. Here are a few suggestions:

Euforia
Thursday (3/5) and Sunday (3/8)

Courtesy of Triana Films

The Least Among You (see our interview with star Louis Gossett Jr. in Monday's blog post)
Thursday (3/5) and Sunday (3/8)

All About Dad
Friday (3/6)

Courtesy of Cinequest

Witch Hunt
Saturday (3/7)

The Last Lullaby
Saturday (3/7) and Sunday (3/8)

Courtesy of Cinequest

And for those of you that aren't movie buffs, check these events out.

FRIDAY:

Outrageous Outgrowns
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, Pavilion Hall, 344 Tully Rd., San Jose (408) 391-5909
March 6-8: If you have kids, you know all too well how expensive those li’l devils can be. That’s why you need to hit the Bay Area’s largest kids’ products resale event, featuring clothes, toys, furniture and much more!

Evening for the Arts
The Los Gatos Museums Gallery, 24 N. Santa Cruz, Los Gatos (408) 395-7386
March 6: Starting today, and continuing every first Friday of the month, the museum begins its special program, where you’ll meet many local artists, view amazing art and help raise money for the museums of Los Gatos: 6-9pm

Courtesy of Terri Hill

SATURDAY:

The Music Man

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View (650) 903-6000

March 7-15: A fast-talking salesman cons a small town into a huge order of band instruments for their schoolchildren. But his plans run afoul when he falls for the lovely madame librarian.

HBO Boxing After Dark
HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose
March 7: NABO and USBA junior welterweight crowns will be on the line when “Vicious” Victor Ortiz takes on “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis, while Gilroy native and two-time Featherweight World Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero battles undefeated contender Daud Yordan: 3:30pm Read our interview with Guerrero and view a slideshow here.


Richie Havens
The Great American Music Hall, 859 O’Farrell St., San Francisco
March 7: Ever see the Richie Havens Woodstock performance? Well, to put it mildly, it was incredible (maybe even super incredible), that’s why we suggest you get your keister to the concert for a whoppin’ display of his greatness!: 8pm

Richie Havens: Photo Courtesy of Walter Parks

SUNDAY:

Sergio Monroy Quartet
Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz (831) 479-1854
March 8: A very special evening of jazz-infused flamenco with the Sergio Monroy Quartet, featuring guest dancer Graciela Perrone: 8pm

Cinequest 19: Interview with Louis Gossett Jr. and director Mark Young of The Least Among You

We sat down at San Jose's Fairmont Hotel with Academy Award-wining actor Louis Gossett Jr. (An Officer And A Gentleman) and debut director, writer and producer Mark Young to discuss their new film, The Least Among You, premiering at Cinequest 19. The film is based on a true story about a teenager who is unjustly arrested during the 1965 Watts riot. As part of his probation, Richard Kelly (played by Cedric Sanders), is forced into an all-white seminary that is rife with corruption and bigotry. He soon meets Samuel Benton (played by Gossett), who becomes an ally and mentor in his struggles with both subtle and outright racism. Watch the trailer here.

The Least Among You opens at the California Theatre on Tuesday, Mar. 3, with Gossett being presented with the Maverick Spirit Award. Buy tickets here.

The film also screens at the San Jose Repertory Theatre Thursday, Mar. 5. and Sunday, Mar. 8. Buy tickets here.

Here's a video and pics of our interview with Gossett and Young.








All photos by Chris Schmauch.

Cinequest 19: How To Be...

Screening tonight and on Monday at the California Theatre as part of Cinequest 19 is this British indie comedy about the anxieties of an affable young man named Art. Here’s our take on it:

How to Be...

Director: Oliver Irving

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Powell Jones, Rebecca Pidgeon, Michael Irving, Alisa Arnah, Johnny White, Mike Pearce

After seeing Robert Pattinson swoop through cinemas last year as the protagonist of Twilight (all brooding vampire angst and cheekbones that could slice any teen girl’s heart in two), it’s refreshing to see him fill out the role of Art in How to Be... (all lank hair, ill-fitting grocery clerk uniform and body language that screams “morose.”). Art is a depressed twenty-something experiencing an existential crisis. His girlfriend (Alisa Arnah) has just dumped him, his disinterested parents (Rebecca Pidgeon and Michael Irving) barely acknowledge his presence when he moves back home, and his idiosyncratic buddies care more about making music than making Art feel better. When Art reads self-help book It’s Not Your Fault he believes he has found the solution to his misery, and uses what’s left of his inheritance money to bring the book’s elderly Canadian author to his London home to fix his family’s dysfunction.

While the middle-class melancholy of a young struggling musician who still lives with his parents may not make for the most earth-shattering subject matter, Art’s painfully funny coming-of-age is charming in its impossibly awkward authenticity. Dr. Ellington’s (Powell Jones) presence as the sanguine self-help guru at many inopportune moments makes for some of the film’s funniest scenes, as do Art’s conversations and interactions with his fellow muso buddies Ronny (Johnny White) and Nikki (Mike Pearce).

The film has some problems with its flow and timing, and some scenes that just don’t really seem to gel, but on the whole it offers an amusing journey through the somewhat trivial but nonetheless tangible tumult of a young man in middle-class London.

Cinequest 19: Two of Silicon Valley's own star in Two Million Stupid Women

The world premiere of the Jamie Neese-directed Two Million Stupid Women was at the San Jose Repertory Theater Friday night as part of the Cinequest 19 film fest. What an amazing film. Brilliantly done. The film follows Anna, Todd and Melissa as they embark on an adventure to track down the latter's five ex boyfriends so she can say, "Tell me I'm stupid and pathetic and I should leave you alone!" Melissa (played by the charmingly sweet Anna Faris-like Sarah Lindsay Hall) believes this will help her gain closure from her past relationships. Hilarity and drama ensues as this emotional comedy pulls viewers in with its remarkably talented cast.

Interestingly enough, Katy Stoll (Anna) is from Redwood City and honed her acting skills locally at the California Theatre Center in Sunnyvale, while Mark R. Gerson (Todd) grew up in Palo Alto and attended Stanford University. In fact, Gerson came out of college as a management consultant when, much to the chagrin of his parents, he decided to try his hand at acting. Well, nice job, Gerson. We saw your family at the premiere. From the looks of the champagne and balloons they handed you, they are proud. "As a kid, I never dreamed of being in a festival like Cinequest," Gerson told us. "I'm 50 miles from my parents house. It's wild!"

The dialogue was so fluid, so relaxed, it almost seemed entirely improvised, yet few moments went unscripted. Amy Heidish did an amazing job writing this script. And big props to director/executive producer Jamie Neese shooting this film in only 11 days, braving all those freezing 4am nights in the Los Angeles and Pasadena areas.

Other showings for Two Million Stupid Women at the SJ Rep:
3/1 @ 9pm tix
3/4 @ 5pm tix

Here are a few pics of the cast.

Sarah Hall (Melissa), Katy Stoll (Anna), Jamie Neese (director), Mark R. Gerson (Todd), by Shannon Lee

Sarah Hall (Melissa), by Shannon Lee

Sarah Hall (Melissa) and Mark R. Gerson (Todd)

Katy Stoll (Anna), by Shannon Lee

Sarah Hall, Katy Stoll, Mark R. Gerson, by Shannon Lee

Katy Stoll (Anna), Sarah Hall (Melissa), by Shannon Lee

This Weekend in Silicon Valley: Cinequest 19 is here!

What a blessing to have a great film festival like Cinequest here in the heart of Silicon Valley. The madness began Wednesday night with the opening gala, which started at the Hotel Montgomery for drinks; then continued on to the California Theatre for a red carpet soiree and world premier screening of the Ellie Kanner-directed Wake, starring Danny Masterson and Bijou Phillips. The film's cast, crew and fans took the party vibe over to Billy Berks and Mezcal in Downtown San Jose for a killer after party.

Here's a quick video (and song by Jon Sontag) of the night, attended by San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, and Wake stars Masterson and Phillips, who was charmingly sweet to us right off the bat. Thanks, Miss Phillips.



The Cinequest film festival will be going on Downtown until Mar. 8, with dozens of movie screenings, events, discussions and parties every night. So stayed tuned here for more updates or got to the Cinequest website here for all the happenings.

If movies aren't your thing, here are a few things happening in Silicon Valley this weekend. Enjoy!

Bat Boy, The Musical
Lohman Theatre – Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills (650) 949-7360
February 27-March 22: We all remember when Bat Boy was discovered by The Weekly World News. Now relive Bat Boy’s saga via the stage.

Video Games Live
The Fox Theatre, 1807 Oakland Ave., Oakland
February 28: Classical musicians will perform theme songs from popular videogames such as Halo, Mario Brothers, Zelda and Tetris, plus Final Fantasy, World of Warcraft and others. The orchestra will be accompanied by lights, lasers and videogame footage on the big screen: 8pm

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy / Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway, Redwood City (650) 369-4119
February 29: Just hearing their names wants to make you dance, so swing, baby, swing!: 8pm

Silicon Valley Great Outdoors

We here at The Wave love all the great hiking spots in Silicon Valley. Be sure to pick up the new issue on Mar. 2 for a great article on the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park.

In the meantime, here's a quick video of the astounding view of Silicon Valley from Hunters Point, a great spot about a mile up at the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve in Saratoga. Here are directions.


View of Silicon Valley from Hunters Point from Mitchell Parker on Vimeo.


Again, stay tuned for more and keep picking up The Wave Magazine for great adventures in Silicon Valley. And keep hiking!

Silicon Valley Weekend Events

Got nothing planned this weekend? We're here to help. Here's a few things going on in Silicon Valley:


Fourth Annual Santa “Claws” Crab Feed
Camden Community Center, 3369 Union Ave., San Jose (408) 794-6204
February 21: Come on out and help raise needed funds for next year’s San Jose Holiday Parade. All you have to do is eat cracked Dungeness crab, seafood cioppino, shrimp, salad, sausage, pasta and bread: 6-10pm

The Song Remains the Same: check out our feature here.
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View (650) 903-6000
February 21-22: Company C Contemporary Ballet invites you to an evening of dance featuring the music of the mighty and all powerful LED ZEPPELIN!!!

Modern Bridal Faire
San Jose Convention Center, 150 W. San Carlos St., San Jose
February 22: Gettin’ hitched, eh? Well, don’t miss the Modern Bridal Faire, where they have all the bases covered, from florists, photographers, bridal gowns, live music, invitations, caterers, limousines, reception sites, and so much more: 11am-4p


Live Music:

Kinky
February 21, Grand Ballroom at the Regency Center, San Francisco tix

Dropkick Murphys
February 21, The Warfield, San Francisco tix

Donovan Frankenreiter
February 22, The Catalyst Club, Santa Cruz tix