Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MAY 2-8, 2018 UCW 15 DR. SHANESSA FENNER, principal, WT Brown Elementary School. COMMENTS? Edi- tor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Movies can transport us to any place or time or culture. They engage the entire spectrum of human emotions. We can laugh over life's little failures or die a thousand deaths of heartbreak through the characters that f lit across the screen. But really, we love movies because we love the shared experience. "Frame to Table" aims to celebrate the shared experience of film culture on Friday, May 4, at 7 p.m. at SkyView on Hay. It is a fundraiser with a unique twist that will benefit the third annual Indigo Moon Film Festival. With food and wines reminiscent of legend- ar y movies, attendees can enjoy a "culinar y trip around the world." Pat Wright and Jan Johnson are the co-directors of the nonprofit putting on the fundraiser, as well as the organizers of the film festival. Both agreed the inspiration for this distinctive fundraiser stems from the desire to celebrate a love of movies. "There are certain films that are in our childhood that we love and mark moments in our lives where the family will all be gathered around the television or they all go out to a drive-in," said Wright. "Film is very important cultural art, and we want people to remember how important film is to them and their personal history." Though the films and local caterers have yet to be chosen for the event, the organizers promise at- tendees will not be disappointed. "It's for movie lovers," said Johnson. "We love decorating the tables to ref lect the different ethnic areas like Italian or Vietnamese or Thai or African. There are films associated with all of those coun- tries, so we just think it's fun. People really enjoyed it last year." You can expect movies like "The King and I" for China or "Good Morning, Vietnam!" for, of course, Vietnam. Clips from the movies will play at each table chosen to represent a different countr y and its cuisines. According to Wright and Johnson, the fundraiser works as a way to "ignite excitement" about the up- coming Indigo Moon Film Festival. Seeing familiar movies from the past reminds festival-goers of the brand new international films to be screened in a few months. Last year, hundreds of people gathered to watch films submitted from all over the world. According to Wright, films have already been submitted from as far away as Afghanistan, Iraq and China this year. The fundraiser is vital to the film festival because it provides necessar y funding to bring the filmmakers to Fayetteville. "Filmmaking is a difficult life and you often do a lot of work for not much money and ver y little in the way of screenings or recognition," said Wright. "We want to do ever ything we can to encourage the directors to come and to be a part of the festival screening." In fact, last year, the Indigo Moon Film Festi- val was the North Carolina premiere site for the acclaimed documentary "Hondros," featuring Chris Hondros and directed by Greg Campbell. Both were Fayetteville natives and Terry San- ford High School graduates. According to Variety, the film has gone on to be purchased by Netf lix. "We hope they have a great time (at the fund- raiser), learn a little about how to attend a film fes- tival and bring films up in their minds and remind them how much they love film," said Wright. Indigo Moon will accept film submissions until July 30. Categories include feature-length and short narrative and documentar y films, anima- tion and student films. "Frame to Table" will take place at Sk yView Lounge on Hay Street. Tickets are $50 per person. Visit w w w.indigomoonfilmfestival.com/f2t/ to learn more and to reserve your seats. Frame to Table an international culinary affair by LAUREN VANDERVEEN Food for the Hungry presents Chonda Pierce: Get- ting Back to Funny Tour on Wednesday, May 9, at 7 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum. Up & Coming Weekly had a conversation with the comedian about her life and how she got to be so funny. Up & Coming Weekly: What should the audi- ence expect to hear from you at the Crown? Chonda Pierce: I'm excited because I love my job. I get paid to go out there and laugh with my audience. I've been doing this for 25 years, and they prob- ably are going to get the same old thing that they always get. We laugh a little bit, cry a little bit, pee in our pants and go home. UCW: Why are you often called "The Queen of Clean?" CP: I know that comedy is subjective. If you walk into a comedy club late at night, I'm pretty squeaky clean compared to that. Now my grand- mother would probably argue with you because once in a while somebody walks out because I said "sex" or "butt crack." UCW: When did you first find out you were hi- larious enough to become a comedian? CP: Probably my first whipping. I was a preach- er's kid and a middle child, so that is the making of comedy right there. As a theater major in high school, my drama teacher was so good. She would give me a dramatic role and I would still make it funny and get fussed at. Every time I would audi- tion for something in community theater or in college, I was always drawn to the funny. Most girls wanted the leading role so they could kiss the boy. I wanted the role that would make the crowd laugh and looked like it was going to be fun. UCW: What is something that people would be surprised to know about you? CP: I think I have been at this too long because people know too much. I wanted to be a police- man when I was growing up. People would be surprised to know that at home or in my small group of friends, I am not the funny one or the loud mouth that people would think. I get all that done at night on the stage. I live a very quiet life at home. I love fishing, cooking and scrapbooking in my free time. I have to fight against isolation and becoming more reclusive because a lot of it has to do with losing my husband. I am clinically de- pressed, so you have to really push back on things that will fuel your depression. Tickets cost between $27 and $49.50. The VIP experience includes the best seats in the house, a pre-show meet-and-greet with Chonda, a com- memorative VIP pass, crowd-free shopping and $5 off $25 or more on Chonda merchandise. For more information, call 910-438-4100. Laugh till you cry with Chonda Pierce by DR. SHANESSA FENNER EVENTS LAUREN VANDERVEEN, contributing writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.