If you missed Michael Moore’s email last week (read below) and you wished you hadn’t, sign up here (or visit the State Theatre box office and fill out a membership form).
But you’d best hurry, Michael is scheming his next movie as we write! Don’t know how totally wonderful the Traverse City State Theatre and the Traverse City Film Festival are yet? Here’s some backstory: Watch the Met Live, The State Exceeds Expectations; Wednesday Matinees.
And now, a note from Michael:
Friends,
We are introducing a new event at the State Theatre in Traverse City.
Tomorrow morning (Friday), we are inaugurating a year-round version of our film festival’s "Mike’s Surprise." I often have access to new films before they are released, or films that are works-in-progress, or hard to get classic films from certain archives. Sometimes I screen something I want my production crew to see. Other times, the mood just hits me, "Hey, it’s time to watch ‘Spinal Tap’ again!"
So, instead of just availing myself of these excellent opportunities, I’ve decided to share these screenings with you. These are usually last-minute decisions, and that’s how "Mike’s Surprise (Year-Round)" is going to work. Think of it as a flashmob for cinephiles. I will send a blast to the list, sometimes with just a few hours notice. You can then just "pop in" to the State to watch the movie. There will be no admission charge. It will be no-frills and low-key. It will happen usually in the morning or late in the evening. It won’t be listed anywhere. Only the people receiving the email blast will have the details.
So, tomorrow morning (Friday, Feb 13th), we’ll have the first Mike’s Surprise, beginning at 11:30am, inside the historic State Theatre. You won’t know what you are going to see until the lights go down!
Calling all lovers of cinema — Flashmob to the State!
Michael Moore
P.S. We are once again having our live Oscar watching party on Oscar night, Sunday, February 22. Your $20 donation to the State Theatre will get you in the door to watch the entire ceremony, courtesy of our friends at Charter Business. We’ll eat wonderful food from Grandview Catering like quarter cut sandwiches, sundried tomato walnut pesto with goat cheese crustini, and antipasto and caprese skewers, and during the commercials we’ll put the current leaders in the State’s Oscar contest on screen. The top winner gets a free pass to the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival. The first runner up gets a one day pass to TCFF 09, and the second runner up wins free popcorn at the State Theatre for a year. Winner need not be present to win — anyone can enter by completing a ballot in the State lobby. Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 1pm online and at the box office.