TUESDAY FILM SERIES  >>>

The pick of this year's Sundance Film Festival, from the buzz and talent involved anyway, was Miranda July's The Future. It's been six years summers since the Me and You and Everyone We Know film director has made a film, and this one sounds as arty and, yes, quirky as her last effort.

The Future begins one afternoon on a sofa. Sophie and Jason, a 30-something couple in Los Angeles, realize that in one month, their lives will change radically when they pick up a stray cat they're adopting. Wanting to take advantage of their fleeting freedom, they quit their jobs, disconnect their Internet, and pursue new interests, all of which literally alter the course of time and space and test their faith in each other and themselves.

The Future screens at 2:30 and 7 p.m. at The Grand Cinema as part of the art film house's "something different" Tuesday Film Series.

[The Grand Cinema, $5-$8.50, 606 S. Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

RICK WALTERS HOSTS FUNDRAISER FOR LATEST FILM >>>

TWISTED. MURDER. MAYHEM.

And you thought Halloween had crawled back into its coffin for another year.

Allow me to fill in some blanks. "Twisted" belongs to Twisted Tales of Madness and Murder, a feature-length anthology of horror shorts written by Federal Way's Rick Tobin. Tobin and director Rick Walters (co-producer on Fantastic Confabulations) need some dough (roughly $17,000) to finance the completion of their first short in the Twisted family, The Resolution. So, like any committed artists in desperate need of cash, they resort to murder.

I don't mean your garden-variety psychotic kind, but rather a fundraiser called A Murder Masquerade Ball, scheduled for Nov. 11 at Stonegate Pizza in Tacoma. Brace yourself for a night of movies, music, magic and some mayhem, as the ladies of local promotions group Angels of Mayhem will be on hand to, in their words, "tantalize and entice."

As Resolution's producer, Jeremy Berg of Burien believes strongly in the ingenuity of Tobin's writing. "The whole script has some really nice twists in it," he says. "It plays on a lot of conventions that you're familiar with in horror movies, and turns them on their head."

Make a resolution to help out these local filmmakers. But don't stash away that Halloween costume just yet - throw it on one more time and get $3 off the $20 ticket charge at the door. Or buy your tickets early here. And follow the film on Facebook. 

LET'S DO THIS THING >>>

Saturday, the Weekly Volcano and Harmon Brewery & Eatery present a Warren Miller Prefunc Party before the new Miller flick screens (twice) at the Pantages the same night. We have bombarded you with the details, including our bitchin' raffle - which includes a two night-two lift ticket Crystal Mountain Resort package, $500 Sturtevants's gift card, free tickets to see the film and much more. Read up on the party here.

We're also hosting a Gnarliest Snowbum Costume Contest at 5 and 8 p.m. We will pick two winners for each time slot. Free food and drinks go to the winners.

After three committee meetings we decided snow shovel racing costumes will not be allowed into the costume contest. Nobody but the hep cats at ESPN thinks these guys are doing anything remotely cool. The original premise was sitting on a shovel and bombing down a hill. We can see that. Then some dork gets the idea to turn the innocent shovel into the supermodified Erector set his parents never bought him and renames himself "Captain Speed."

What we wouldn't give for a hurricane to roll in during a shovel racing competition and blow these dorks out to sea like a Polynesian fishing village.

OK, see you at the party!

Warren Miller Prefunc

Saturday, Nov. 5, 3-9 p.m., no cover
Ben Union rocks it from 5-8 p.m.
Harmon Brewery & Eatery
1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
253.383.2739

LINK: Like it on Facebook

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

What Tacoma Has To Sell: Tacoma Housing Authority Commissioner Ken Miller analyzes Tacoma's prospects, emphasizing the importance of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. (News Tribune)

Bring In The Hounds!: Fox Island has a coyote problem. (News Tribune)

Will The Princesses Get Soaked?: Tonight's forecast. (AccuWeather)

Pump Up The Volume: Tacoma Arco dealer sparks gas war. (News Tribune)

Do You Know A Dangerous Building when You see One?: The Foss Waterway Development Authority Board is looking for volunteer board members. (City of Tacoma)

Just Think What 2012 Will Be Like?: More than 2.3 million people in five states are without electricity after an unusual October snowstorm hit the Northeast. (CNN)

In Living Color: It's coming back. (Coming Soon)

Secret Show: With Billie Joe Armstrong decked out as Jack Skellington, Green Day surprises New York. (Idolator)

Behold!: How to make a steampunk pumpkin. (boing boing)

Speaking Of Steampunk: Steampunk Tacoma. (Weekly Volcano)

Who Doesn't Like Star Wars Facts?: 19 things you didn't know. (ICanHasInternets)

Happy Halloween!

THIS WEEK'S FREEBIES OCT. 31-NOV.6 >>>

Bobble Tiki loves lists. Before Bobble Tiki passes out, he makes a list of what he'd like to accomplish the next day. Sure, list keeping helps Bobble Tiki stay organized and on task (like those things even matter), but there are even greater benefits: First, Bobble Tiki feels infinitely superior to everyone who hasn't caught on to this list thing. Second, he gets to align himself with a great dead figure like Bobby Kennedy, who was a notorious keeper of lists. And third, he has a printed record of what he has been up to should Eric H. Holder, Jr. ever want to know. Bobble Tiki is, in fact, so manic about his list-keeping that if he does something that isn't on the list he'll write it down just so he can cross it off. He earned it; he went out of his way. He went "off list." Do you have any idea how fricking hard that is? Do you?

For this week's Freeloaders list of free things to do this coming week, Bobble Tiki will focus on transformation, just like you'll make to be more organized ... by keeping lists.

MONDAY, OCT. 31: The Tacoma Cult Movie Club will gather at The Acme Grub Cage for a special session of cult films in keeping with the situation - Halloween. Rev. Colin will screen classic horror films, the kind where normal Joe's transform into monsters beneath a full moon. With an earlier 5 p.m. start time comes a potluck. Don't just bring candy. As always there's no admission fee, and there'll be plenty of raffles prizes and booze, which could induce a number of transformations within the crowd.

TUESDAY, NOV. 1: Ezra F. Vogel, Harvard professor emeritus, has published dozens of articles, reviews, and conference papers, major books on China, Japan, and American-East Asian relations, and organized scholarly and policy conferences on many topics. Vogel will give a free lecture on his book, Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China, at 4 p.m. inside the Trimble Hall Forum on the University of Puget Sound campus.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2: Marijuana has transformed California. No longer relegated to the underground, pot in California these days props up local economies, mints millionaires and feeds a thriving industry of startups designed to grow, market and distribute the drug. If passed, Washington state's I-502 will legalize, regulate and tax marijuana with revenue earmarked for substance-abuse prevention education and healthcare. New Approach Washington will rally in favor of I-502 at 6 p.m. inside the Mandolin Café in Tacoma.

THURSDAY, NOV. 3: Back in the spring of 2007, Broadway Center Executive Director David Fischer announced a 14-page strategic plan broken into five main categories to transform the Tacoma arts organization into a viable business, as well as a medium to unite the community. Hello success. Fischer will be awarded the Arts Leadership Award during the Tacoma Art at Work Month opening party from 6-8:30 p.m. inside the Museum of Glass. At the free party, the Tacoma Arts Commission will also honor the other 2011 AMOCAT Award recipients: The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, D.A.S.H. Center for the Arts, and Stella Haioulani, as well as recognize the 2011 Tacoma Arts Commission funding recipients. That's all good, but Bobble Tiki is more stoked about the free desserts.

FRIDAY, NOV. 4: For the first time in 500 years, the Salvadoran government is serving the poor, excluded majority. Come hear an FMLN youth leader of El Salvador's left party discuss: how youth are stepping up to win justice and dignity for all Salvadorans; what's at stake in the 1st elections since the 2009 victory; how you can be a part of El Salvador's transformation! Cristina Cornejo, the FMLN Political Commission & Substitute Legislative Assemble deputy, will give a free talk from 7-9 p.m. inside Last Word Books in Olympia.

SATURDAY, NOV. 5: Bobble Tiki thinks it would be cool to hang with a young writer before he or she transforms into someone famous. Then Bobble Tiki could say he saw them when, and annoy absolutely every one he knows in the process. That's why Bobble Tiki will check out Stages on Pages at 4 p.m. Stages on Pages is a touring group of young adult writers who write about the arts. Stasia Kehoe, Tara Kelly, Jessica Martinez and Louise Spiegler will be reading and discussing their novels, as well as talking about the connections between dance, drama, music and literature. The free event will be held at Orca Books in Olympia. Bobble Tiki will grab all four autographs because you never know. Wait. Are they already famous?! Crap.

SUNDAY, NOV. 6: The Tacoma Buddhist Temple hosts a free Fall Food & Crafts Bazaar from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (food costs vary). Bobble Tiki loves the sound of that and was all set to go, until he discovered that Buddhism helps you wake up and find your true self.  Bobble Tiki has made a career of being both unconscious and shallow, so maybe this event isn't for him.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Pay Raise Leap Frog: government largess continues even during the deepest economic distress in generations. (News Tribune)

Occupy Update: demonstrators to protest at financial offices. (CNN)

Video: Keith Richards and Johnny Depp jam. (NME)

Watch This: Redbox to raise its rates. (Hollywood Reporter)

Beetlejuice II: Yup. (Coming Soon)

If You're Into This Sort Of Thing: 50 scariest movies of all time. (Io9)

BINGO: It's a community drinking game. (Funny or Die)

Coldplay: The 10 best and worst songs. (Paste Magazine)

ROCK A BYE DEAD MAN >>>

Over the years, I have seen countless versions of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, from student productions to community theater to national tour companies.

I have never seen a film noir rock opera about a detective and a police officer who are summoned to an old dark house to investigate the murder of a commissioner.

That's the premise of Director Joseph Kephart's rock opera Rock a Bye Dead Man.

Who in the hell do you think you are ... Kephart?

He's a Tacoman with a lifelong passion for art and film. And he's rallied his brother, John Kephart, and friends singer Darryl Small and drummerRich Bundy to form a core group for the project.

In the film, the detective and police offer become entangled in a web of deceit among the guests, and are forced to confront the supernatural presence within the dark manor – while a group of Tacoma musicians rock out the soundtrack. The short film project includes musicians and cast members from Tacoma entities such as bands as The Plastards, The Kim Archer Band, Taist of Iron and Prometheus, as well as actors from local productions of Guys and Dolls, Brigadoon, Hello Dolly and Les Vampyres: Thrice Bitten.

With filming to begin shortly, I juggled a few questions with the four main characters behind the Tacoma film.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What was the impetus for making the film?

JOE KEPHART: I wanted to do something different. I enjoy juxtaposing different genres, in this case rock opera and film-noir, into something new.

RICH BUNDY: Filmmaking is the ultimate way of telling stories. Putting audio and visuals together.

DARRYL SMALL: And smells.

JOE KEPHART: Smell-o-rama.

SMALL: The farmer plants his seeds, nurtures the tree, waters the tree, for the only joy that farmer is going to get out of his tree is sharing his fruit with the world.

VOLCANO: How did you come upon these characters? Why a musical?

JOE KEPHART: I took the majority of these characters from the classic Hollywood whodunnit - the butler, the maid, the widow.

JOHN KEPHART: So you plagiarized them?

JOE KEPHART: I was inspired by the characters from the Hollywood whodunnit, I should've said.  As for why a musical, we consider it to be an "opera" in that it's all singing, no dialogue.

SMALL: A rock opera!

VOLCANO: What was your biggest challenge in making the film ... so far?

JOE KEPHART: Location.

SMALL: Location, location, location!

JOHN KEPHART: In other words, we're having a little trouble finding a house with all the features we're looking for.

VOLCANO: Will you take the band created for this film on tour?

BUNDY: Due to the fact that we have lives and jobs and the sheer number of people involved, it probably would not be possible.

JOE KEPHART: What a downer you are.

BUNDY: The movie would really have to take off, and if someone came along and offered us a large amount of money, then that might be different.

SMALL: We're holding out for the Japan tour.

VOLCANO: Rock a Bye Dead Man live at Budokon. 

Rock a Bye Dead Man is the definition of a grass roots endeavor, which requires a lot of fundraising. To learn more about this homegrown project, and to contribute to its Kickstarter, go to www.rockabyedeadman.com.

And keep you eye on the butler.

LINK: These guys were on Northwest Convergence Zone

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Occupy Halloween Parties: Tacoma Halloween party picked up by The Association Press. (Montgomery Advertiser)

Third Quarter Monster Ball: Third quarter projects reveal show the City of Tacoma is in a world of hurt with a $26 million shortfall in its general fund budget. (News Tribune)

Go South Sumner!: The Pierce County Council gives the City of Sumner a thumbs up to extend the urban-growth boundary southward into an area of rich farmland. (News Tribune)

Occupy Pain: Authorities arrested Occupy Wall Street protesters in California and Georgia on Tuesday, with police in Oakland using tear gas on demonstrators. (CNN)

Absurdity Of Life: 92-year-old Andy Rooney hospitalized. (Wavy)

127 Seconds: James Franco recorded video of himself reading a short story in bed. (Flavorwire)

Meanies: Warner Bros. will yank all Harry Potter DVDs out of circulation before New Year's Eve. (Latino Review)

Wild Boy: Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon is chatty. (Village Voice)

It's Hump Day. Boy, could we use a dance battle.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26, 2011 >>>

1. Olympia producer/director Terrence Knight turned the streets of Olympia into the Bronx for his indie short film, The Prince of Arthur Avenue, which screens at 6 p.m. inside the Yelm Cinemas. The film features John Fantasia (The King of New York, Highlander) and well as many denizens of downtown Olympia. Admission is free.

2. Pour At Four wine bar in Tacoma's Proctor District will pour $10 tastes of the 2010 Mollydooker wines, including the Scooter, Two Left Feet, Boxer, Blue Eyed boy, Enchanted Path and Carnival of Love from 5:30-8 p.m.

3. Poet Carolyne Wright spent four years in Bangladesh collecting and translating the work of Bengali women poets and writers. She will read from her book Majestic Nights: Love Poems of Bengali Women at 6 p.m. inside Orca Books in Olympia.

4. The music of Canadian prog-rock gods Rush will reach the screen of The Grand Cinema at 7 p.m in a special showing of the concert film Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland. The film captures a show from Rush's "Time Machine" tour, during which the band played its album Moving Pictures in its entirety every night. That 1980 album contained the power trio's most well-known songs and perennial radio favorites including "Tom Sawyer," "Limelight" and the Grammy-nominated instrumental "YYZ." We know exactly where Publisher Pappi and his old-fart friends will be tonight.

5. There is no such thing as too many open jam nights. If you agree with that statement, then you probably know the Harmon Tap Room has launched a Wednesday Open Jam from 7-9 p.m. The Stadium District brewpub hosts spotlight local performers every week to back those willing to get up and jam.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Freebies this week

DEAR CITY'S JEFF STILLWELL BEGINS FIRST FEATURE FILM >>>

Did I go to Wendy's twice yesterday?

Comedian Jim Gaffigan jokes that lofty contemplations like the one above eventually creep into his brain during church services. If make that noble pilgrimage every Sunday, you probably from time to time can relate to Gaffigan's spiritual ennui.

Even as a youngster, Jeff Stillwell could sense restlessness in his fellow parishioners. "It was one of those churches where everyone seems pretty bored," he recalls. But while others passed the hour by mentally balancing their checkbooks or doodling on donation envelopes in the pews, Stillwell's imagination soared.

"I always wondered, ‘What is going on behind the scenes at this church? Why would people keep coming back to this place?'"

Out of these simple questions comes his first feature-length screenplay, Henryk (pronounced "hen-REEK"). Stillwell (also acting as director and co-producer with Alex Flenniken) describes the story as neo-noir. And Henryk includes an essential character from that gritty genre: the cop-as-antihero, in this case named Julian Grey. Set in Hoquiam, what begins as an investigation into the disappearance of his friend's fiancé unravels into a most unholy battle against the satanic cult lording over this seemingly quiet coastal town.

Barely a month into production, Stillwell has already put together an odd little teaser for the movie. It immediately draws you in by juxtaposing a golly-gee-whiz-sunshine Christian hymn with a man wearing a goat's head prowling around suburbia. Either it's autumn, or David Lynch's shadow has descended over the Northwest. I think both. 

Though he shares his musical talents as the one-man band Dear City, Olympia resident Stillwell has also dabbled as a film actor, earlier this year starring with Ashley Cozine (A Perfect Life) in the Tacoma short Dessert and Suicide. Now he feels ready for that quantum leap forward into calling the shots on a feature film set.

"I've really prepared for this project, Henryk, by being an actor ... just because I've spent so many hours on set, and I've figured out how it works and where time gets wasted and things like that," Stillwell says.

Keep tabs on the film's progress by visiting www.henrykmovie.weebly.com.