SIFF invited a few media representatives over for an early sneak peek at their takeover of Queen Anne’s Uptown Theater. There’s still plenty of renovation to be done before the doors open officially at 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, for a Hedwig and the Angry Inch sing-along (followed by a Purple Rain sing-along Friday night, and a Grease sing-along on Saturday). For the full Grand Re-Opening schedule, scroll down to the bottom of this post.
With its jewelbox SIFF Film Center cinema on the Seattle Center campus, which has 100 seats, SIFF will now have theaters of about 200- , 300-, and 500-seat capacity–for the next five years, at least, the length of their lease with AMC.
SIFF’s Carl Spence says they swooped in so quickly, once previous-operator AMC decided to close, that they were able to negotiate AMC simply leaving everything as is, saving SIFF an enormous amount of money on the renovation. He estimates that SIFF will have spent just $60,000 on refurbishing the theater, with–adding in the installation of the digital projection system previously at SIFF Cinema at McCaw Hall–the whole project coming to $200,000.
Sellen Construction has been helping SIFF with countertops for the front-of-house, while the original makers of the Uptown’s neon signage are still around, and helping update that as well. Starbucks Coffee was setting up in the concession area (I think the Top Pot doughnuts were a one-time deal, though).
To emphasize the community support for the Uptown coming back to life, SIFF is making a special offer for the re-opening week’s showings: Show a same-day sales receipt from a Queen Anne business, and you get in free.
Inside the main hall, SIFF’s Sony SRXR210 digital projector delivers four times the resolution of HD. The sound system meets or exceeds LucasFilm THX Sound specifications, featuring JBL 3-way speakers and surround system powered by Dolby Digital Sound processing with Crown’s DSI cinema amplifiers.
Spence was enthused about the 35-mm projector, too, as that will allow reel-to-reel screenings of rare, archived prints (reel-to-reel is less wearing on the print than spooling it onto a single platter, which requires manual splicing), but I also learned, during a tour of the projection booth, that the old 35-mm projector is 70-mm ready as well, should SIFF ever decide to bump chests with the Cinerama.
A Barco projector for one of the upstairs halls will also handle 3D movies, allowing Spence to bring Wim Wenders’ PINA to Seattle. Taking a page from ACT Theatre’s playbook, SIFF will offer monthly $25 passes that let you in to see any regular-priced screening, for as many times as you want.
You’ll want to purchase that in advance of the Muppets retrospective: The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, and Muppets Take Manhattan, a Labyrinth quote-along, and eight different collections of classic shorts featuring The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, and other “rarities.”
Uptown Grand Re-Opening Schedule
Selected films that previously played at The Uptown. Free with a same-day receipt from any Queen Anne area business (or $5 general paid admission)
Sunday, October 23
12:00pm – Twentieth Century
1:00pm – West Side Story
2:00pm – Monty Python & the Holy Grail
3:00pm – Singin’ in the Rain
5:00pm – West Side Story
6:00pm – Monty Python & the Holy Grail
7:00pm – Singin’ in the Rain
Monday, October 24
5:00pm – The Royal Tenenbaums
6:00pm – Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
7:00pm – Citizen Kane
8:00pm – Annie Hall
9:00pm – L.A. Confidential
Tuesday, October 25
5:00pm – Annie Hall
6:00pm – Singin’ in the Rain
7:00pm – The Godfather
8:00pm – Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
9:00pm – Monty Python & the Holy Grail
Wednesday, October 26
5:00pm – Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
6:00pm – Twentieth Century
7:00pm – L.A. Confidential
8:00pm – The Royal Tenenbaums
9:00pm – Citizen Kane
Thursday, October 27
6:00pm – West Side Story
7:00pm – The Godfather
8:00pm – Bob and the Monster Film and Concert (separate admission)
Thursday October 27 at 8:00 pm
BOB AND THE MONSTER##
SIFF Cinema at the Uptown
Subject Bob Forrest and director Keirda Bahruth in person
With special performance by Thelonious Monster
$15 / $12 SIFF Members
Charismatic singer/songwriter Bob Forrest went from indie rock icon with his band Thelonious Monster through a life-threatening struggle with addiction, emerging as an influential counselor on Celebrity Rehab. Bob and the Monster unravels his story, revealing a complex and optimistic soul. (US, 2011, 85 min)
GRAND OPENING AT SIFF FILM CENTER at Seattle Center October 23
The general public is invited to tour the new film center on Sunday, October 23 during an open house from 12:00pm-5:00pm.
Opens October 28 (open ended run)
THE RUM DIARY
SIFF Cinema at the Uptown
Based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson, The Rum Diary follows an itinerant journalist (Johnny Depp), who finds a new life in wild Puerto Rico. When he discovers an unsavory capitalist scheme, this gonzo journalist does what he does best: takes the bastards down. With Aaron Eckhart and Richard Jenkins, directed by Bruce Robinson. (US, 2011, 110 min)
Opens October 28 (open ended run)
JANIE JONES
SIFF Cinema at the Uptown
Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) gives a magnificent performance in this tender musical drama about the unlikely bonds of family. Struggling rock star Ethan Brand gets a surprise on the opening night of his new tour when he suddenly discovers that he has a 13-year old daughter with her own musical talents. Directed by David M. Rosenthal. (US, 2010, 107 min)
October 28 – November 3
TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL
SIFF Cinema at the Uptown
A SIFF Midnight Adrenaline favorite, this hilarious splatterfest returns just in time for Halloween. Hillbillies Tucker and Dale have found their perfect “fixer-upper” cabin, but remodeling is never easy, particularly when a group of college co-eds on Spring Break start killing themselves off all over your property. Directed by Eli Craig. (US, 2010, 86 min)
Friday October 28 at 7:00pm
SUSAN ORLEAN PRESENTS RIN TIN TIN: THE LIFE AND LEGEND
SIFF Cinema at the Uptown. Co-presented by Elliot Bay Book Company $15 / $10 SIFF Members
Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief, returns with a celebrated new book about the first canine superstar: Rin Tin Tin. Orlean joins us in person to read from her book, and present a rare archival screening of Rin Tin Tin’s heroic 1925 film Clash of the Wolves Film courtesy of the Library of Congress.
October 28 – November 3
THE MAKIOKA SISTERS
SIFF Cinema at the Film Center
New 35mm print!
This lyrical adaptation of the beloved novel by Junichiro Tanizaki follows the lives of four siblings who have taken on their family’s kimono manufacturing business. A late-career triumph for director Kon Ichikawa, the film is a poignant evocation of changing times, shot in rich, vivid colors. In Japanese with English subtitles. (Japan, 1983, 140 min)
Sunday October 30 at 1:00pm & Tuesday November 1 at 7:00pm
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: THE KITCHEN
SIFF Cinema at the Uptown
$20 / $15 SIFF Members, Series pass: $100 / $75 SIFF Members
The new season of stage performances from the National Theatre of London presented in stunning high definition continues. The Kitchen takes place behind the scenes at an enormous West End restaurant in 1950s London, where the orders are piling up in a blackly funny and furious examination of life lived at breakneck speed. Arnold Wesker’s extraordinary play features an ensemble of 30 actors actually cooking and preparing food on stage. A tour de force spectacle! (180 minutes, with intermission
Monday October 31
WILLIAM CASTLE HALLOWEEN DOUBLE FEATURE
13 GHOSTS AT 7:00PM and THE TINGLER AT 9:00PM
SIFF Cinema at the Uptown
$12 / $7 SIFF Members / $11 Senior and Youth
Celebrate Halloween with the master of schlock shock, William Castle. 13 Ghosts, originally filmed in “Illusion-O” follows a family who inherits a spooky haunted house. The Tingler stars Vincent Price as a scientist who has discovered the living embodiment of fear – and we’re passing out joy buzzers so you can experience your own Tingler during the film! (13 Ghosts: US,1960, 82 Minutes, The Tingler: US, 1959, 82 min)
