Small movies make a big deal

  • By Mike Murray / Herald Writer
  • Thursday, February 2, 2006 9:00pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

There are plenty of blockbusters to keep movie fans heading to the multiplex. But sometimes a film buff needs a break from the Hollywood movie machine.

7 tonight, Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Tickets, $10 general, $5 students and seniors and $25 patron, on sale at the Arts Council of Snohomish County, 1507 Wall St., Everett, 425-257-8360, and at the door. on

That’s where tonight’s Reel Big Deal comes in. This two-hour film event, which begins at 7 at the Historic Everett Theatre, is a showcase for Washington state artists working in film and video. The program is a diverse collection of narrative, animated and experimental work, compelling videos and films that make you laugh and think, ponder and puzzle.

“Reemco Atomic Broom” by Jackson Douglas is a parody of those ubiquitous infomercials, ridiculous claims taken to the zenith.

In “Vision Test” by Wes Kim, a routine eye examination turns into an intriguing study of attitudes toward minorities in the United States.

“All Broke Up” by Mark O’Connell is a probing look at political torture using a montage of film and audio clips that together create a sober examination of a hot-button issue.

“Handsewn,” a video showing artist Donna Stack sewing her fingers with black thread, is mesmerizing.

There are 16 films in all with intriguing titles like “Interior Latex,” “Thought City” and “Fossil Follies.”

Proceeds from ticket sales to tonight’s screening go to two organizations that support local artists: The Arts Council of Snohomish County and Artist Trust.

The Reel Big Deal was curated by Ken Rowe, professor of digital arts at Henry Cogswell College in Everett, and David Miller of Artist Trust. Rowe, a board member of both organizations, said the curators had an enormous body of work to choose from, reflecting the boom in filmmaking.

“The film audience is enormously sophisticated and in that respect underserved by Hollywood,” Rowe said. “Audiences are ready for work that is more of a challenge.”

While access to innovative films and videos is exploding over the Web, there are fewer opportunities to see these works on the big screen, and there’s a fundamental difference between watching a film on a TV and seeing it in a movie theater. The images wash over you from that big screen, Rowe said, and it’s a communal experience shared with others.

“That’s the reason movies will never die,” he said.

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