Taking place from 4-9 p.m. Saturday, November 21, at the Grog Shop
(2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., 216.321.5588, grogshop.gs), the first annual Cleveland
Grindhouse Film Festival has finally taken shape. “We have had so
many great film submissions it was hard deciding what to show,” says
organizer Brenna Lee Roth, a one-time Clevelander who’s now an actress
in L.A. “We will show a film where a guy cuts his balls off. Yes, it is
graphic, and we do suggest that if anyone is offended that they should
stay home. I for one am really looking forward to coming back to
Cleveland.” Soap actress Robyn Griggs hosts the affair; scheduled
movies include Video Psychotherapy, Clean, Tera, The Girl, Killer
Bike Chicks, La Recherche and Visiting China. The Girl director Mark Cray and Playboy model Lisa Neeld will also be on
hand and will participate in a brief Q&A session. Local rock bands
Night Owl Elixir and Silence So Loud will play after the screenings,
and there is an after-party at the B-Side Liquor Lounge. Proceeds will
help raise funds for Roth’s nonprofit organization Growing Our Future
Today, which is working with PBS on an educational documentary about
future fuels. Admission is $10.

Best known for being the mastermind behind the sketch comedy show
The State and for having directed cult classics like Wet Hot
American Summer, The Ten and Role Models, Shaker Heights
native David Wain will host a screenwriting seminar from 10
a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, November 23, at the Cleveland Institute of Art
Cinematheque (11141 East Blvd., 216.421.7450, cia.edu/cinematheque). Registration
is $75, $25 for C.I.A. students with a valid ID. For more information,
email info@cinemacleveland.com.

As part of its regular lecture/film series Five Star Films, the
Lakewood Public Library (15425 Detroit Ave., 216.226.8275, lkwdpl.org/film) will host a free
screening of Howard Hawks’ The Big Sleep in its
main library auditorium. Based on a Raymond Chandler novel and
featuring a screenplay by literary giant William Faulkner, the film
screens at 6 p.m. Saturday, November 21. FREE.

The Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque (11141 East Blvd.,
216.421.7450, cia.edu/cinematheque) hosts its
first-ever midnight screening at 11:59 p.m. Friday, November 20, when
it shows The Room, Tommy Wiseau’s cult hit about a
San Francisco banker who discovers his girlfriend is cheating on him.
Tickets: $8.

jniesel@clevescene.com

This article appears in Nov 18-24, 2009.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.

One reply on “Reel Cleveland: Cleveland Grindhouse Film Festival”

  1. *DISCLAIMER* Hey everyone, Mark Cray here. Just wated to let people know I have not now or in the past claimed to be the director of “The Girl” all due credit for that title goes to Travis Bowen of Eerie Frequency Productions and sound video productions . I’m an actor who was fortunate enough to be cast for “The Girl”. Just wanted to clear that up and give credit where credit is due. nothing more then a fact check error. feel free to check out my website at http://www.markcray.com

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