The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Thursday, January 28, 2010 - 7A Michigan Theater soaks up the Sun Sundance USA brings renowned indie film festival to Ann Arbor By JENNIFER XU Daily Arts Writer Once .a year, snowy Park City, Utah plays host to one of the largest film festivals in the world: the Sundance Film Festival. Over a 10-day stretch, 200 independent films make their debuts to an audience of over 40,000 filmmak- ers, critics and pilgrimaging cinephiles. About half of these films find major distributors, with a few going on to receive Oscar gold. Tonight, Ann Arborites will get a chance to experience Sundance close to home, as the Michigan Theater features the premiere of "Cyrus" in the Festival's inaugural installation of a new event, Sundance USA. "For more than 40 years, the Sundance Film Festival has been this place where films pre- miere - ideas getting tossed around, all this dialogue happening, and emotions - and it all happens in this one little town," said David Cou- rier, Sundance Film Festival senior programmer. "Unlike other festivals, we're not really affili- ated with the city we're in - we're not the Park City Film Festival - we're very much a festival for the nation and, we'd like to think, the world," he said. "That makes us the perfect ones to spread our tentacles across the United States." This past summer, the Sundance Film Com- mittee made the decision to expand its films to audiences all around the nation, bringing eight direct-from-festival films to eight different venues, including the Michigan Theater. These films are being screened for audiences nation- wide who'may not be able to make the Utah trek, in addition to the other screenings in Park City. "We've been fostering these voices of inde- pendent artists for so many years, and we want- ed to transport these artists in the extent of their voices and ideas beyond the mountains of Utah and into these different communities," Courier said. "They're all communities that have shown a passion for alternative cinema and that's why they were chosen." Most of the eight theaters selected, includ- ing the Michigan Theater, are part of Sundance Institute's Art House Project, a collective of mostly smaller cinemas that foster an apprecia- tion of independent film in their local communi- ties. "It was very important for us to have audi- ences that are interested in talking about film," Courier explained. Directors Jay and Mark Duplass ("Baghead") and star Jonah-Hill ("Superbad") will be pres- ent at the Ann Arbor screening of "Cyrus." The directors will lead a Q&A session afterward, where audience members will get a chance to ask the filmmakers about their work. "One of the reasons we wanted to do this is that we wanted to bring the experience of being at Sundance Film Festival to each one of these cities," Courier said. "What that means is that you're not justgoing to the movie theater, buying some popcorn and watching the movie," he said. "You're seeing a film that's being introduced by the people that made the film, and you're staying afterwards and talking to them." "And we're going to have a video ahead of time, a little message from Robert Redford, a taste of Sundance that way as well. We're trying to replicate the experience of being at the festi- val as much as we possibly can." Meanwhile, the Michigan Theater stays perched on East Liberty, a lingering remnant of Ann Arbor's rich and lustrous history and the golden age of Hollywood itself. To the Michigan Theater, at least, time stands still. Inside, gold leaf moldings ornament the expansive halls, double stairways swirl down from the chande- lier-bathed balcony and an assortment of illus- trious Ann Arbor founders loom prodigiously above. The year could very well be 1929. Only the ever-changing marquees signal the evolving landscape outside - the capitalized film titles no longer read "The General" or "Modern Times" but rather "The Maid" and "Crazy Heart." Largest out of all the independent theaters participating in the project, the Michigan hous- es a whopping 1,700 velvet-lined seats in its Historic Theater, where "Cyrus" will be shown this Thursday. For the past few weeks, the the- ater has done its own share of preparation for the event, as festive lamppost banners line the streets and a massive billboard emerges from I-94. For five years, the theater has enjoyed a spe- cial relationship with Sundance and its Art House Project, which supports independentcin- ema through special screenings and talks. "It's really the special relationship with Sun- dance that we're trying to promote," said Lee Berry, marketing director of the Michigan The- ater. "It's the hype behind it; people absolutely get excited about special events." Tickets for the event have already sold out, and half were sold before audiences even knew which film was being screened. "Because of all the hoopla that comes with it, it's an event - it's more than just a movie," Berry said. "It enables us to put more behind it in terms of marketing, get a whole lot more excitement." Already, Sundance USA is looking to expand in future years. "It hasn't happened yet, but with all the excitement and energy about it, I can only think we have to do it again," Courier said. MAX COLLINS aiy "Cyrus" is the featured film playing at the Michigan as part of Sundance USA. COURTESY OF ATLANTIC/F-STOP Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar are among the many musicians who will be performing at the 33rd Annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival Folking around at Hill By MIKE KUNTZ Daily Music Editor Jay Farrar is no stranger to the folk tradition. A songwriter nearly all his adult life, Farrar's music with seminal bands Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt is a prime example of the genre's breadth, bridging aspects of punk 33rd A rock and traditional country through ragged guitars and his own Ann Arbor narrative lyrics. Folk Festival But his appearance at the 33rd Annual Ann Arbor Folk Festi- Friday and val tomorrow night highlights Saturday, another aspect of American folk 6:30 p.m. - namely, the literary tradition Hill Auditorium of the Beats. Along with Ben Gib- bard (lead singer and songwriter for indie rockers Death Cab for Cutie), Farrar will be performing songs from 2009's One Fast Move Or I'm Gone, a collaborative project between the two songwriters based on prose from Jack Kerouac's 1962 novel "Big Sur." The record also doubled as an extended soundtrack for Jim Sampas's documenta- ry of the same name. "There was probably an element of a kid being unleashed in a candy store," said Farrar of the project in an interview with the Daily. "I was so familiar with Jack's work and I was just inspired to be able to, in a weird way, work with Kerouac, or at least his words and his concepts." The lyrics throughout the record borrow heav- ily from Kerouac's actual prose, with Farrar adding some of his own Midwestern experience in between. "I started with the poem at the end of the book," Farrar said, explaining the writing process behind One Fast Move tracks "Breathe Our Iodine" and "Low Life Kingdom." "With those songs in particular I had to do a little more filling in with some of my own words to make it a little more cohesive." As a lifelong fan of Kerouac's work, writing and recording the album had a uniquely personal effect." 'Big Sur' resonated in a way because I was at a sim- ilar age as Jack was when he was writing about the experiences in the book," he explained. Gibbard and Farrar met while shooting the Sam- pas documentary, in which both artists provided their own personal commentary on Kerouac's prose. Farrar had previously worked with Sampas on a tribute to Bruce Springsteen's iconic Nebraska record. "Jim must've had me in his Rolodex file or some- thing," Farrar joked. Gibbard shares songwriting credit and sings throughout the album, giving Farrar's earnest, achier vocals a lighter, more boyish foil. The pair have been touring through the late fall, showcasing tracks from OneFast Move throughout the country and garnering much favorable press along the way. But Farrar is convinced the project's success comes from the chemistry between the two song- writers. "That's probably what gives the project strength," Farrar said. "We have a shared sensibility and pretty much speak the same musical language." Folk music tends to breed the kind of sensibility Farrar describes - an environment where artistic collaboration and impromptu, organic performance reign supreme. Ask any of the performers at this year's Ann Arbor Folk Festival and they'd probably agree. Hosted by historic folk venue The Ark, the annual festival - all proceeds from which benefit continued operations and programming at The Ark - has been bringing top names in contemporary and traditional folk music for over 30 years. Now in its 33rd year, the event brings yet another fantastic lineup to Hill Audi- torium this weekend. Beginning Friday evening, dream-folker Iron & Wine will headline alongside Gibbard and Farrar, with additional support from Philadelphia bluegrass/ Americana outfit Hoots & Hellmouth, Jer Coons and Po' Girl. Saturday night features Rosanne Cash, Richie Havens and the incomparable Doc Watson as headliners, with Raul Malo, Hot Club of Cowtown and Enter the Haggis supporting. Singer-songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips (the mastermind behind '90s rock- ers Grant Lee Buffalo) performs both nights, with Patty Larkin emceeing. In keeping with the trend of recent years, Friday's lineup aims to represent more of the contemporary, Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard turn into Beat poets at the Folk Festival. younger talents within folk music, while Saturday showcases roots-ier acts and shifts the focus toward more veteran performers. Last year even featured a brief appearance by the legendary Pete Seeger. Appearances like Seeger's play a central role in keeping the folk tradition alive at events like the Folk Festival - while many of the younger faces in last year's crowd may have been unfamiliar with all but a few of Seeger's songs, all could recognize his warmth and undeniable influence on the artists and devotion to the craft. Folk music, like the emotional urgency of punk rock or Beat poetry, survives precisely because of the kind of stewardship between older and younger artists, dead writers and contemporary muses. It's exactly the kind of community that makes writing songs from a Kerouac-like stream-of-consciousness an inherently folk endeavor. "There's an immediacy to it that can't be denied," Farrar said. "Acoustic music is important because it's nobile, you can take it anywhere." The 33rd Annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival begins at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow night at Hill Auditorium. DON'T WAIT UNTIL April 2010 for your Dorm rates - Get low rates to- day with University Towers. 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Contact: SE VICM 1.800.648.4849 vwwststravet.cona mauEs1laht~ralm1 1.800.426.7710 Everything seems to be bigger than life! (It's just today's Full Moon energy. Rela.) SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Some aspect of your private life defi- nitely will be made public today. People wilt notice you, especially bosses, par- ents, teachers and VPs. Just be awae of this. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) This is an accident-prone day, espe- cially related to travel. Take extra pre- cautions. Similarly, avoid heated discus- sions about race, politics and religion. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) Yeamight have to fight for your share of something today. Issues about inheri- tances, shared property, taxes and insur- ance matters could come toea head now. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) Today's Full Moon is directly opposite your sign, and this creates stress between you and partners or close friends. Your only alternative isto display grace under pressure. Mellow out. PISCES (Feb. 19to March 20) Don't be overly aggressive with co- workers on the job today. And don't be aggressive with other people if it's related to small pets, your own health issues or some kind of hygiene factor. It's just today's Full Moon madness. YOU BORN TODAY You're social and fun-loving. You enjoy the company of others. You have a strong sense of social justice and fair play; invariably, you fight for the underdog. You are tol- erant, broad-minded and interested in many things. However, you are some- times just eel sre what yea want. Your year ahead will be wonderfully social and beneficial for partnerships. Birthdate of: Adam Lambert, singer; Oprah Winfrey, TV host; Tom Selleck, For Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 ARIES (March21 to April 19) The Full Moon tension today can cause difficulty with friends and groups. This makes dealing with children and romantic partners challenging! Stay frosty. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You'll need extra patience today to deal with the challenges of home and family versus career and your public rep- utation. You just can't keep everyone happy. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) The Full Moon today can create accident-prone conditions for you. Therefore, be careful, slow down and allow extra time for everything. Be cau- tious when driving, walking and jog- ging. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Today's Full Moon can create finan- cial tension for you. This tension could be about disputes related to money mat- ters or about possessions. It's your inter- ests versus the interests of others. LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) Who are you going to put first today - your wants and needs, or the wants and needs of others? This is the kind of dichotomy that every Full Moon can cre- ate. VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) The tension from today's Full Moon could create problems for you at work or even with your health. You feel you have to make a choice. Perhaps you do. Choose wisely. LI BRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) This is a rocky day for romance, sports, social occasions, the entertain- ment world and the hospitality industry.