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ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET
By Archive
from Salem Monthly, Section News
Posted on Sat Apr 01, 2006 at 11:30:15 AM PDT

Salem goes a little bit Hollywood
The Salem Film Festival looks to be quite the event. From animation guru Bill Plympton to the Heder brothers, it will be a star-studded, red carpet affair. Jeff Hart, coordinator and co-chair, is really excited.

“What we’re bringing to Salem is a really great art event,” he said.

But between him and Salem Cinema owner and Head Programmer Loretta Miles, it’s hard to tell who is more excited, or more accurately, who has worked the hardest on making this Film Festival the grand event that it is shaping up to be.

“It wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Loretta,” Hart said.

“It wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Jeff,” Miles said.

You get the picture.

Either way, it’s happening. And it’s exciting.

The three-day event will include not only films, but also discussions with the filmmakers, including Salem native Jon Heder of “Napolean Dynomite” fame. He will be accompanied by his two brothers, Dan and Doug.

Megan Mylan also has Salem ties and will be there to discuss her film “The Lost Boys of Sudan.”

A kick-off celebration will happen at jjames restaurant, which gives ticket holders a chance to mingle with the filmmakers.

But what’s it really like to work with these filmmakers?

“They’re regular folks that love what they do,” Hart said. “I was only snubbed once.”

It doesn’t look like parking will be a problem. Hart has arranged for festival attendees to use the Conference Center lots. They are also encouraged to park in the Pringle Park Plaza, which is free after 6 p.m.

Besides this festival being fun, it will also bring new energy into downtown. Businesses, especially those around the Elsinore, have been included in the planning and are looking forward to three days of what will hopefully be steady business. Mona Lisa’s Café will be set up as an information booth. Local tour packages will be offered to out of town filmmakers.

And word is, this will all happen again next year.

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