A Bloody Mess

Northern Lights Theatre Pub is feeding off of current trends this August in their selection of film screenings.

Joe Sherlock's "Deadly Premonitions" holds its world premiere at the discount theater on August 7 from 9-11 p.m. Sherlock, who wrote and directed the 2004 film "Bloodsucking Redneck Vampires," filmed 'premonitions' in Corvallis. Sherlock's other 2009 premiere "Platoon of the Dead," sold out at Northern Lights in June. "Deadly Premonitions," opens with a woman named Carrie who visits a psychic as a free birthday present. She is told gruesome news-- that she will be surrounded by death and blood. One by one, classmates of hers are murdered as she plans her upcoming high school reunion. In true horror film fashion, she contemplates the connection while scared to find out who will survive the supernatural flick.

In the land of the living, Mid-Valley Video Festival and the Cherry City Derby Girls present the documentary "Blood on the Flat Track." The Northwest film is a feature on the Rat City Rollers of Seattle during their first two seasons. The film's emerald city director Lainy Bagwell is slated to be in attendance for the August 14 screening scheduled from 7-9 p.m.

Both event costs $3.

Coast hosts art deco festival

Despite economic hardships, the roaring 20's and the 1930's were a time of artistic development, as is now seen through the art deco style it left behind. Entertainment, including movies, provided a inexpensive means of escapism. Newport pays homage to the art deco movement with a series of events, including a film festival.

On August 8-9, the Newport Performing Arts Center offers a variety of programming from that time period, including silent films, and more modern flicks that are set within that era.

Selected films include "Gold Diggers of 1933;" "Wife vs. Secretary" starring Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Myrna Loy; "Our Dancing Daughters; "The Rocketeer;" and a selection of classic cartoon and afternoon serial cliffhangers.

Educational displays, trivia, best-dressed contests, silent auctions and more are part of the festival activities. Patrons are encouraged to dress deco, but it's not required.

A fundraising event to benefit the effort to revitalize Newport's art deco heritage, tickets range in price from $5-12 and are available at the door.

For more information, visit www.citycenternewport.com or call 541-574-6530.