Hello Everyone!

Tomorrow evening (Thu, Jan. 18), we open the new film starring Jeffrey Wright - AMERICAN FICTION.  From first-time director Cord Jefferson, this film won the "People's Choice Award" at The Toronto International Film Festival - which is usually a good indicator of Oscar nominations to come (winners over the past several years include THE FABELMANS, BELFAST, NOMADLAND, JOJO RABBIT, GREEN BOOK, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI and LA LA LAND). 

And because POOR THINGS is still performing so well, Searchlight (the film's distributor) has asked us to hold it for one more week and push back their opening of ALL OF US STRANGERS...an incredible new film (one of my absolute favorites in a long time) which is now slated for Jan. 26.  If you still need to see FALLEN LEAVES, tomorrow (Thu, Jan. 18) will be your last chance.

"Open Caption Mondays" continue to create more traction. On Monday, Jan. 22, POOR THINGS and AMERICAN FICTION will be presented with captions on the screen.  In addition, THE NEON does offer closed caption devices, audio assistance headphones, and narrative description headphones when films have these features available.  As a reminder, seating is only "reserved" for traditional engagements on weekends and during select special events.

Synopsis for AMERICAN FICTION: "Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison's writing career has stalled because his work isn’t deemed 'Black enough.' Monk, a writer and English professor, writes a satirical novel under a pseudonym, aiming to expose the publishing world's hypocrisies. The book’s immediate success forces him to get deeper enmeshed in his assumed identity and challenges his closely-held worldviews." The cast for this film is spectacular!

A special screening of #BLACKSKIN, presented by Recovery Media, Inc., is set for Sunday, January 21 at 5:00. "A riveting narrative surrounding Minneapolis, a powder keg of police violence against Black men in America.  Multiple Black men's deaths are in the hands of the Minneapolis police. Produced by: Carole Copeland; Directed by: Marc Cayce; Starring Duane Finley, Cocoa Brown, Miguel Nunez, Bre'ana Simone & Sheldon Biley. Presented by Recovery Media, Inc. - a 501(C)(3) non-profit that provides survivors of trauma with healing and transformative experiences through learning the art and skill of filmmaking and storytelling. We are pleased to partner with Felons With A Future, Inc. to bring film and television media to formerly incarcerated persons here in Dayton and across the country.  We are excited about opening up the film and media industry here in this great city! This film premiere will serve as our introductory fundraiser to begin the process of helping this region to become a hub for the film, television and media industry." (taken from press notes)

ONE NIGHT ONLY!  (There was a typo in last week's newsletter...the date for this event is Tuesday, Feb. 6.) "In this silent supernatural winter epic, a drunken applejack salesman must go from zero to hero and become North America’s greatest fur trapper to defeat hundreds of beavers." SCREEN-SPACE writes, "Cheslik and writer/leading man Tews craft a monochromatic masterwork ripe with the DNA of the silent film classics of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd." Joining us for this special screening on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 will be the director, star and some of the beavers. The film is almost indescribable but it is a genuine hit at festivals (over 50 and mostly sold out shows from WI & Austin to Italy & Australia) with 100% reviews on RottenTomatoes!  Tickets are $12.50 - Available Now! Click the button below to watch the trailer and book your ticket!

Our marketing team is almost ready to go live with details about this year's special Valentine's event.  Stay tuned to Facebook and Instagram over the next few days if you "can can can."  You might remember that last year's Valentine event sold out very quickly - and what we're planning this year is even bigger.  Stay tuned...and mark your calendars!

Written by Cincinnati native & Wright State grad Nick Pinkerton! "From acclaimed cinematographer-turned-director Sean Price Williams alongside stars Talia Ryder, Simon Rex, Ayo Edibiri, Jacob Elordi & more, comes THE SWEET EAST: A picaresque journey through contemporary America, undertaken by Lillian, a high schooler fleeing her senior class trip - granted access to the strange sects and cults that proliferate this country by gatekeepers eager to win her over."   Pinkerton will join us for this special one-time screening - Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7:30.  Tickets are $12.50 each.

"The Junior Leaguers Club of Dayton's 11th annual movie theater scholarship fundraiser is scheduled for February 17, 2024 at Noon. The documentary BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1965-1975 will view history during the 60’s -70’s anti war and black power movements.  The filmmaker Gorman Hugo found the film canisters in a cellar beneath the Swedish National Broadcasting Co.  He accepted the responsibility to share this spectacular find with the world.  This documentary looks at society, culture, and  style of the cinematic and musical journey of the Black community.  The Swedish took an interest in the civil rights movement which was ignored by the US media and portrayed as a violent terrorist movement.  Their point of view is from an outsider but a committed group of  Swedish filmmakers.  The discussion following the movie will be facilitated by Larry and Osebesi Crowe." (taken from press. notes) The cost of this screening is $25. for adults and $10. for students.  This cost includes popcorn, soda, and wine for the adults. Tickets can be purchased from any Junior Leaguers Club of Dayton member or in person at THE NEON.

We're delighted to bring back the "Exhibition On Screen" series, in partnership with The Dayton Art Institute.  And as we start to think of Spring, we have the perfect documentary for the first Sunday in March - PAINTING THE MODERN GARDEN: MONET TO MATISSE.  Join us for this one time event with a post-screening discussion from our friends at DAI on Sunday, March 3 at 5:00. Tickets will be $12.50 (going on sale Jan. 19). "Claude Monet was an avid horticulturist and arguably the most important painter of gardens in the history of art, but he was not alone. Great artists like Van Gogh, Bonnard, Sorolla, Sargent, Pissarro and Matisse all saw the garden as a powerful subject for their art. These great artists, along with many other famous names, feature in an innovative and extensive exhibition from The Royal Academy of Arts, London."

We just confirmed that we're bringing back the cult classic  THE ROOM - with special guest Greg Sestero (actor from THE ROOM and author of THE DISASTER ARTIST). I wanted you to be the first to know.  It will screen Thursday, March 14 at 7:30, and  tickets will go on sale this Friday! Grab your friends (and your spoons), it's gonna be another fun-filled night!  (Tickets have flown the last 2 years!)

Thank you for all of your support!

Hope to see you soon,

Jonathan