Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009
Between or Among Nations
I came across a recent press release about a beauty salon opening in Conway with "International" in its title, and it made me chuckle a little bit.
Sorry, but I always laugh when something located here describes itself as international.
I'm not saying that we don't have a diverse population, made up from people from around the globe - this is especially true during the summer - and that we don't have international aspirations and connections.
But Myrtle Beach International Airport? Really? The recent addition of a Canadian airline makes the airport's claims, while technically accurate, a little bit silly.
So, it is with this cynical mind frame that I initially viewed something called the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival.
International film festival? Really?
What is the definition of international? According to my New World Dictionary, Second College Edition, international is simply "between or among nations." So there you have it. The fifth installment of the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, which kicks off Tuesday and runs through Dec. 5 at Broadway 16, fits the bill as it features films from seven different countries.
Since its humble beginnings at Horry Georgetown Technical College, the M.B. film fest has grown each year, with more than 70 flicks on the docket this time around.
Will it one day be the rival of notable film fests such as Sundance in Utah, or the mother-of-all-film-festivals, Cannes, on the French Riviera?
Will the Coen Brothers come to town to unveil their newest work?
What kind of films can be seen there?
We dispatched correspondent, and self-professed movie buff, Paul Grimshaw to get to the bottom of these questions and more, so turn to page 10 to read his report.
One thing is for sure: If you are a fan of independent film made outside the Hollywood paradigm, then Myrtle Beach's growing film festival is for you.
And we've got all you need to know about the 5th edition of this extravaganza, including show times, ticket prices, and synopsis of each film.
I suggest getting outside of your Hollywood blockbuster box and checking out some of these films, some of which have local ties.
But, as the event's title alludes to, you can take cinematic ventures through the lenses of filmmakers from the U.S., Japan, France and Czech Republic to name a few - all within the comfort of your theater seat, with a gallon of soda and bucket o' popcorn as your companion.
And don't forget to take this issue of Surge with you as well - it rolls up nicely and fits in your back pocket, or handbag.
TRAINING WHEELS
Yes, we've been accused of being dizzy, but the Hot Pour picture in last week's edition of Surge was not intentionally flipped upside down. We are still working through the bugs of a new layout system, and unfortunately Hot Pour bartender Brooke Evans of Side Street Saloon was pictured upside down, as a result.
We apologize to Evans and hope she didn't sustain an extended head rush and endure too much flak at the bar.
Please bear with us as we work out the kinks in this new publishing system.
