Cucalorus Film Festival

Don't you pass this up! Discounted Passes on sale through Sept. 30th!

Cucalorus Film Festival passes on SALE!

Cucalorus Headquarters is tickled fancy to announce that passes to the 18th Cucalorus Film Festival, November 8-11, are officially on sale as of August 15th. Discounts for passes will be available until September 30. Be on the look out for this year’s monsters as the festival motif gets geared up to to celebrate the olympic talents of some of the world’s finest filmmakers.

This progressive southern film festival takes place in the enchanted historic district of Wilmington, North Carolina. Cucalorus is a non-profit that has been building a constructive community of creative individuals for the past 18 years, extending support for resident artists, film-makers, choreographers, gypsies and aspiring youths. It is a non-competitive showcase of inspired feature films, enlightening documentaries, sequined shorts and bedazzled music videos from around the globe. The festival, which screens more than 150 works each year from at least 20 different countries, has been called a “breeding ground for artistic appreciation and good times alike” by MOVIEMAKER magazine.

In addition to spirited and innovative films, this year’s festival will include Dance-a-lorus, a live performance featuring cultivated collaborations between choreographers and filmmakers. The festival’s newest experimental showcase, Visual Soundwalls, has been expanding to become a sought-after reputable exhibit, with daily programs featuring independent music videos and interactive works on film. This year’s North Carolina retrospective artist, Jim Haverkamp, will orchestrate the first Strange Beauty Challenge, in which 13 filmmakers will be given a varietal selection of archival footage to create a short film in less than a week.

A quirky cultural experience for all humans, non-humans and monsters, Cucalorus has been one of Wilmington’s largest festivals for nearly two decades, so be sure to get your passes early. Festival attendees can take advantage of discounts on Pegasorus, Megasorus and Digasorus passes until September 30. The festival will hold its first ever Launch Party this fall, and all pass-holders are invited to suit up and get down on September 30.

Discounted Pass Packages are below:

Pegasorus Pass Discounted Price $270 (regularly $300 on 9/30)
Skip the lines with this First Class, All Access to unlimited screenings and special events
Free entry to the Pegasorus Luncheon, the Midnite Brunch, the Filmmakers Lounge and all other super-secret social events

Megasorus Pass $150 (regularly $175 on 9/30)

15 tickets total to festival screenings
Access to Filmmakers' Lounge, entry to Midnite Brunch and access to Jengo's Backyard

Digasorus Pass $75 (regularly $85 on 9/30)
10 tickets total to festival screenings
Free access to events in Jengo's Backyard

Jibasorus Ticket Package ($45)

5 tickets total to festival screenings

For more information and to purchases passes visit: http://www.cucalorus.org/passes.asp or call 910.343.5995.

Cucalorus brings people together to celebrate, discover and create independent films. The annual festival provides a non-competitive environment to honor and support filmmakers.

~Cucalorians 2012 ~ Meet the Staff

What does it take to make a film festival happen? Well aside from the endless supply of glitter, the Stacker2 sponsorship, and all the leftover spaghetti.... it takes a crew of mudbloods and dopplegangers to organize the madness that is about to ensue. So in an effort to welcome you to the inside of our brains, we would like to cordially introduce you to our agents of chaos.

Ash McGuire

A 2 year box office volunteer, Ash is now tackling (with enthusiasm!) the role of Programming Coordinator for this year's Cucalorus. Ash will be in charge of processing all of your lovely entries, organizing and overseeing the programming process and spontaneously tap-dancing around the office. On her off days Ash can be found wandering around Cape Fear Community College downtown doing a wee bit of schoolwork, wrestling with her golden puppy, watching movies, reading books, and writing her bestselling memoir.

1. Where were you last seen?
        on mars
2. What’s for breakfast?
        your mom
3. What is the weirdest thing in your purse/wallet?
        freakers have overrun my purse. I have no room for anything else.
4. Fill in the __________________________________.
        stuffed french toast.
5. What is your favorite smell?
        stuffed french toast.
6. Does Ja Rule?
        does Snoop, Dogg?
7. What is the optimal microwave time for popcorn?
        37 years
8. What is your earliest memory of getting in trouble?
        birth
9. Essay Question: What is the Capital Nebraska?
        what the French, toast?
110. Who would win in a cook-off, Vin Diesel or Will Smith?
        Dwayne (The Rock.) Johnson
123982. What song would you prefer to get into a bar fight to?
        Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend"

What’s Percolating Homefrizzles!

Whatitdo this week at the Jengo’s cribhouse?
With Camp Cucalorus wrapped up in cellophane, and the 18th Cucalorus Film Festival creeping around the corner alley, there is so much hustle-n-flow at the office that we thought we would offer you an exclusive bite of our joy tacos.

The teen film-makers of Camp Cucalorus had the premier screening of their their weeklong music video madness last Thursday. Throughout the week, this diverse group of creative movie-monsters filmed the band, Justin Lacy and the Swimming Machine. While adding in their own props and decorations to the shoot, they taped and edited a music video for the band’s SMASH NUMBER ONE HIT BANGIN’ BACON WRANGLIN’ song “cellophane”. Sunshine yellow umbrella-ellas, cowboy hats, nerf guns and Costco-sized rolls of plastic wrap are merely a few items featured in the video.

The monster-eating campers took the grand tour of Cape Fear Community College’s film studios and even became actors for the day! They also learned beginning film theory, chop-splicing and cross-fading editing techniques and wizardry. Astro-Mega FistPump to Khang Mai, film sensei of the galaxy for gettin‘ jiggy wit it and imparting your knowledge with these aspiring youths.

In other worldly news, our staff here at Cucalorus have been fervently watching the submissions for our 18th festival that will take place in November. So far we have received submissions from maybe 90,000 countries (+/- a 89,964). These films are looking top notch, but we don’t know how they sound yet so check back in next week for the sequel to this blorg and our impersonation of YOLO cats.
Holla back blogaloruians, keep it tight.

#whatitdo #blogcabins

SPACES STILL AVAILABLE FOR CAMP CUCALORUS

SPACES STILL LEFT: TEEN SUMMER CAMP, CUCALORUS STYLE

A Monster of a Music Video Experience

Spaces are still available for this summer’s edition of Camp Cucalorus! Camp Cucalorus is a weeklong immersion into the world of music videos for budding filmmakers ages 10-18. Packed with behind the camera training, this summer camp will explore the creative world of music video production and editing. This four-day intensive camp promises to be a one-of-a-kind Cucalorus experience.

With industry professionals at the helm, students will spend one week working in small groups creating music videos for a local band. Hands-on instruction from award-winning filmmakers will be paired with demonstrations from local industry veterans. Each student will have an opportunity to work with a variety of cameras, take a turn in front of the camera and learn professional editing software. The band will be performing live at Jengo’s Playhouse, allowing youth to experiment with concert style filming and meet the members of the band. In addition to an immersion in the creative experience, students will get to see their artistic accomplishments in action at the super-special Premier Screening at Jengo’s Playhouse.

Camp Cucalorus will run 9 a.m. - 3 p.m, July 23-26, 2012. Space is limited so apply today! Camp enrollment is $395 and includes: Lunch and snacks for all 4 days, a DVD copy of the finished music video, behind the scenes field trip and 4 tickets to the Premier Screening at Jengo's Playhouse at 7 p.m. on July 26.

Cucalorus brings people together to celebrate, discover and create independent films. The annual festival provides a non-competitive environment to honor and support filmmakers.

For an application contact Jill Tefft at development@cucalorus.org or 910.343.5995

The Waves are Pumping and the Films are Flowing at the Surfalorus Film Festival

First Ever Surfalorus Film Festival

Have you been kissing the sun? We won’t tell your mama. But she’s gonna be real mad if you don’t shake out your shorts and head out to the first ever Surfalorus Film Festival. That’s right you little sand rabbits – the Cucalorus Film Festival is launching the area’s only film festival dedicated entirely the surfing lifestyle. Carve it into your board or write it on your wrist – Surfalorus takes place July 19-21 – that’s like two weeks from right now!!!!

After ten years of showcasing the tastiest surf flicks at the November festival, Cucalorians are now throwing up a summer festival just for surfers. The Surfalorus Film Festival will feature local films created by filmmakers of all levels as well as classic surf films, such as George Greenough’s Crystal Voyager from 1973, which will kickoff the festival on Thursday night.

The schedule of top-notch films will include “Indo Jax Surf Charities India Surf Surfari” by director Nate Daniel. The sixteen-minute short follows IndoJax founder Jack Viorel and his cohorts as they travel abroad to teach young girls the joy of surfing. A discussion with writer Chris Dixon about his recently published book “Ghost Wave” will take place on Saturday at City Stage Theater. “Ghost Wave” delves into the mysterious swells found at Cortes bank, a shelf of rock 100 miles off the coast of California that was discovered by Wilmington-born ship captain Archibald MacRae.

Zach Hanner, event co-organizer, began building relationships in the surf film community after being tasked with drawing in surf films for Cucalorus in 2001. Hanner is most excited about bringing together like-minded ocean lovers, who enjoy each other’s company and watching stellar surf films.

“My favorite part about Surfalorus will be seeing the tribe gather around to watch a surf film,” said Hanner, “This is an opportunity to catch up with people that you may only see in the water.”

All screenings are $5 at the door. Weekend passes ($20) can be bought right here!!! Buy as many as you want. All passholders get secret cool things like freakers and hugs and merkins. Surfalorus is sponsored in part by Sweetwater Brewing Company and hopefully some other really cool people. Send an email to development@cucalorus.org if you want to be cool.

Surfalorus Film Festival – Schedule of events:

Thursday, 7/19 - FREE

Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar in Carolina Beach

Live surf rock with The Noseriders! 7-9 pm and Crystal Voyager at 9pm

Crystal Voyager- 1974

Dir. David Elfick, run time 78 min.

Shot by surf pioneer/innovator George Greenough, this film follows Greenough and friends Richie West and surfing champion Nat Young as they board Greenough’s yacht in search of empty waves. This film is famous for it’s final sequence, a trippy collection of in-the-tube shots captured by Greenough with a back mounted camera and scored by Pink Floyd’s Echoes. This film will be screened on the pier at the Ocean Grill Restaurant and Tiki Bar in Carolina Beach (1211 S. Lake Park Blvd, CB, next to the Golden Sands Motel)

Friday - July 20

Jengo’s Playhouse @ 7 pm: Happy Beach, Glass Love

Happy Beach - 2011

Dir. Jack Coleman, 34:00

A gimmick free contemporary surf flick, this quirky piece features some super cool use of multiple film stocks, even a few rolls that expired in 1989! In addition to some crazy processing techniques that give the movie a real texture, there’s also some super hot surfing from Ford Archbold, Dane Reynolds, Chippa Willson and Ozzie Wright. Winner of the “Most Experimental Work” award at the Surf Film Festibal in San Sebastian Spain, this one will leave you super stoked on shooting on film again.

Glass Love - 2006

Dir, Andrew Kidman, 64:00

Director Andrew Kidman is a triple threat in the surf world, a guy that can shape his own boards, shoot his own movies and then compose and perform the soundtrack. Basically, he’s the Australian version of Jack Johnson. This pursuit captures the quiet beauty of surfing from multiple angles. Exploring how surfing gets passed down through the generations, Kidman focuses on the Purchase family, one of Oz’s most dedicated surf clans, as well as the Curren family, one of America’s most legendary ocean families. Look for parts from Tom Curren, Dean Morrison and Neal Purchase, Jr., as well as legends like Nat Young, Skip Frye and the late Michael Peterson.

Friday - July 20

City Stage Theater 9pm: Indo Jax Surf Charities India Surf Surfari, Windansea, You Scratched My Anchor!

Indo Jax Surf Charities India Surf Surfari - 2012

Dir, Nate Daniel, 16:53

This heartfelt short follows IndoJax Surf School founder Jack Viorel and his cohorts as they travel to India to teach an orphanage of young girls the joy of surfing. Funny, exhilarating and deeply moving all at once, this film shows the beauty of kindness and how the ocean can unite different cultures and heal myriad types of wounds.

Windansea - 2012

Dir, Derek Dunfee, 8:00

Dunfee is an emerging writer/filmmaker who is also a serious charger in big surf. While composing an article about his beloved SoCal surf spot, Windansea (one of the legendary breaks where legends like Butch Van Artsdalen and Skip Frye cut their teetch), Dunfee documented the faces and surf styles of his community of waterfolk. Told simply through music and video portraits, this short embodies the stoke and feel of this preeminent surf break.

You Scratched My Anchor!- 2009

Dir, Capt. Fin, run time 30 min.

Capt. Fin (aka pro surfer Mitch Abshere) draws together a collection of hipster surfers for this goofball mixtape of a surf video. Using old, grainy ads as segues and featuring some red hot surfing from stylists Alex Knost, Kassia Meador, Tyler “Pickle” Warren and Jason “Ratboy” Collins, this film runs fast and furious, with the odd homage to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and, of course, taking its title from a Caddyshack quote.

Saturday - July 21

Jengo’s Playhouse 7pm: Fatal Wave, So It Goes, Josh Kerr Films

Fatal Wave- 2012

Dir. Zach Hanner, run time 4 min

This music video for Durham band Bustello features the rock trio as a variety of different Carolina Beach, cliques. When a group of teens try to surf on too big a day, they’re warned away from the ocean by fishermen, surfers and a threesome of CB drunkards. Shot with a wide variety of cameras on location at the Ocean Grill Restaurant and Tiki Bar, this story fortunately has a happy ending.

So It Goes- 2012

Dir. Clare Plueckhahn, run time 7 min.

Follow burgeoning Aussie pro surfer Felicity Palmateer as she navigates the peaks and pitfalls of contests, film shoots and various others hazards and pleasures that come with surfing for a living. An inspiring flick about being young, talented and able to rip!

Josh Kerr Block- 2012

Dir., Various

Pro surfer Josh Kerr has stormed on to the ASP tour over the past few years, and his sponsors at Rusty have had cameras on nearly every decent session he’s had over the last 24 months. This compilation finds Kerrzy at his best, traveling the world surfing exotic locales and also at home of the Gold Coast of Australia.

Saturday - July 21

City Stage Theater 9pm: Ghost Wave Talk with Chris Dixon, Beyond the Barrier

Ghost Wave Talk with Chris Dixon

Writer Chris Dixon recently published his book “Ghost Wave,” after a significant amount of research on the Cortes Bank, a shelf of rock 100 miles off the California coast that only breaks on the biggest swells. Discovered by Wilmington-born ship’s captain Archibald MacRae, this mysto beast has lured big wave aficianados from all over the world as they attempt to ride this massive, possibly deadly wave. Dixon will talk about the book and screen video taken during his research.

Beyond The Barrier-2007

Dir. Joe Cheshire, run time 60 min

Award winning filmmaker Joe Cheshire focuses his camera on the East Coast and boy does he find some ripping surfers! Featuring local boy Ben Bourgeois as well as OBX dude Jesse Hines, Florida pro Cory Lopez and many more, this flick proves that the East Coast can still offer some watery gems. Cheshire, currently a Wilmington resident, will be in attendance to answer questions following the screening.

11pm – until: Closing festivities will take place Saturday night at Satellite Bar and Lounge (120 Greenfield Street). Live music and classic surf flicks on the outdoor movie screen.

Making Music Videos....Youth Summer Camp Style

Camp Cucalorus is around the corner, sign up your child today for a music video filled summer camp!

Feast your eyes on a sneak peak of the music video created by our very own campers last year.

Camp Cucalorus is a week-long immersion into the world of music videos for budding filmmakers ages 10-18. Packed with behind the camera training, this summer camp will explore the creative world of music video production and editing. This four-day intensive camp promises to be a one-of-a-kind Cucalorus experience.

With industry professionals at the helm, students will spend one week working in small groups creating music videos for a local band, this year's band is Justin Lacy and the Swimming Machine.

Not your average four-piece band, Justin Lacy and the Swimming Machine offers a bevy of sounds that come from the eclectic collaboration of instruments and musicians. The band, which formed one hot summer night in 2010 when a cohort of friends decided to perform Lacy’s songs for an “Anything goes Acoustic Showcase”, has a sound that mixes folk, jazz, rhythm and blues, rock and a dash of everything else. The band features as many as 10 performers on stage with an array of instruments ranging from the saxophone, trumpet, upright bass, mandolin, banjo, spoons and shakers. Their use of out-of-the box instrumentation, such as tap dancers subbed in for snare drums, are what drives the heart and soul of this musical machine.

Hands-on instruction from award-winning filmmakers will be paired with demonstrations from local industry veterans. Each student will have an opportunity to work with a variety of cameras, take a turn in front of the camera and learn professional editing software. The band will be performing live at Jengo’s Playhouse, allowing youth to experiment with concert style filming and meet the members of the band. In addition to an immersion in the creative experience, students will get to see their artistic accomplishments in action at the super-special Premier Screening at Jengo’s Playhouse.

For an application contact Jill Tefft at development@cucalorus.org or 910.343.5995

A Pool full of Musicians Creates Musical Magic

Summer has arrived and the heat is pumping, Camp Cucalorus is cooling things off with Justin Lacy and The Swimming Machine, who have recently signed on as the official band for the camp. The band, locally known and full of fun and folk will be performing live for the campers as they pursue the art of creating music videos.

Although once considered a “just-for-fun” band, Justin Lacy and the Swimming Machine quickly became a Wilmington, North Carolina staple. The ensemble, which frequent local venues and charity events, includes Lacy and five other graduates from the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s music program. The band’s current lineup also includes the talents of Keith Butler Jr. on drums and Adam Powell on vocals and whistling.

On top of preparing to be the musical talent for the summer camp extravaganza that is Camp Cucalorus, Justin Lacy and the Swimming Machine began recording their debut, full-length album in March 2012. The band plans to release the album in the fall, and will already have one music video under their belt thanks to the music video minded campers!

Registration is still open for this summer’s edition of Camp Cucalorus. A weeklong immersion into the world of music videos for budding filmmakers ages 10-18, the camp is packed with behind the camera training, hands-on instruction from award-winning filmmakers and demonstrations from local industry veterans. Each student will have an opportunity to work with a variety of cameras, take a turn in front of the camera, and learn professional editing software.

Camp Cucalorus will run 9am - 3pm, July 23-26, 2012. Space is limited so apply today! Camp enrollment is $395 and includes: Lunch and snacks for all 4 days, a DVD copy of the finished music video, behind the scenes field trip and 4 tickets to the Premier Screening at Jengo's Playhouse at 7pm on July 26.

For an application contact Jill Tefft at development@cucalorus.org or 910.343.5995

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Discounted Pass Packages are below:

Cucalorus brings people together to celebrate, discover and create independent films. The annual festival provides a non-competitive environment to honor and support filmmakers.