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Santa Feans!

February 18, 2014 at 11:32 pm
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Don't miss tomorrow's GAME OF THRONES marathon session at the Jean Cocteau.

We'll be showing three episodes from season two:  "The Old Gods and the New," "A Man Without Honor," and "The Prince of Winterfell."

The wolves will be back!  Our friends from Wild Spirit Sanctuary are bringing up two ambassadors from Candy Kitchen.

 And we'll have snow.  Jon Snow, that is.  KIT HARRINGTON will join us via Skype.

 Best of all, after the screening, we'll be giving away two pairs of tickets to the Santa Fe premiere of season four!!

 And admission is FREE.

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This Weekend at the Jean Cocteau

February 12, 2014 at 11:10 am
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Something for all tastes, I think.

See you at the movies.

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The Prince of Chaos is Coming…

February 6, 2014 at 2:11 pm
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 … to the Jean Cocteau.

And no, I don't mean the Roger Zelazny novel, I mean the one by Horatio King.  Who is me.  Sort of.  But not really.

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This PRINCE OF CHAOS is a fictional fantasy novel by a fictional author who is not me (not at all, no sir, definitely not), as seen in THE CALLBACK QUEEN, a new romantic comedy out of Ireland that debuts tomorrow at the Jean Cocteau Cinema.

The Callback Queen Poster for Jean Cocteau

How this came about?  Well…

Hundred of actors auditioned for roles both large and small in HBO’s Only a handful were cast. Thousands more tried to get auditions, but were never given the chance to read. In the old days, aspiring stars sent off resumes and 8×10 glossies to directors, producers, and casting directors. They still do that. . . but these days some also upload their own auditions on YouTube, Vimeo, and similar sites on the internet.

Amy-Joyce Hastings was one of those, as I discovered one day when dozens of my fans and readers began to send me emails with links to a reading by a lovely young red-haired Irish actress that I’d never heard of. They liked what she’d done, and so did I, when curiosity drove me to click on one of those links and take a look. So I dropped her a note, told her the name of our casting director, wished her luck. . . and thought no more of it, until I heard about The Callback Queen.

Amy-Joyce never got to audition for GAME OF THRONES. That’s something she has in common with thousands of other actors from all over the world. Unlike all the others, however, Amy-Joyce took life’s lemons and made lemonade; she shared her experiences with her friend Graham Cantwell, an Irish filmmaker, who took her tale about a young actress attempting to land a role in an epic fantasy, and turned it into a movie… a romantic comedy about moviemakers and aspiring actors that pokes fun at the whole casting carousel… starring Amy-Joyce Hastings.

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So now the tale comes full circle.  We're delighted to be able to present the North American Premiere of THE CALLBACK QUEEN right here in Santa Fe, tomorrow evening.  Amy-Joyce Hastings and writer-director Graham Cantwell are flying in from Ireland for the event, and will introduce the film and answer questions afterwards, and we'll also be having a small post-screening reception at the Cocteau's new bar, where you can meet Graham and Amy-Joyce and sample a "Call Me For Comfort," our special CALLBACK QUEEN cocktail.

So see you there.  But don't ask me to sign your copy of PRINCE OF CHAOS.  I am not Horatio King.  (They never even asked me to audition for the role).

((THE CALLBACK QUEEN will be playing for four days only, February 7 – 11.))

P.S.  And yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, the role of the director in THE CALLBACK QUEEN is being played by Mero, the Titan's Bastard.  Someone must have sewed his head back on after Daario hacked it off.  It's a small world, it is, be it Hollywood or Westeros.

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This Weekend at the Jean Cocteau

January 29, 2014 at 8:27 pm
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We have two new movies opening this weekend at the Jean Cocteau… PLUS a short film, and a very special guest as well!

At the early show, we will be debuting KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM, a comedy/ adventure about a group of LARPers who, ah, inadvertently summon an actual succubus from the pit of hell.  (Don't you HATE it when that happens?)  It stars Ryan Kwanten, Steve Zahn (TREME), Summer Glau (SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES), Margarita Levieva, and our own Peter Dinklage (GAME OF THRONES).

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And with KNIGHTS, we will also be showing EVE ANGELIC, a short film by local filmmaker Luca Ceccarelli, part of which was actually shot in the basement of 418 Montezuma Avenue, right under the Cocteau.

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The second feature debut will be RAZE, a gut-wrenching new film from Tribeca.  Think FIGHT CLUB for keeps.  Think HUNGER GAMES with teeth.  Think BATTLE ROYALE without subtitles.

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Coolest of all, after the RAZE screening, star ZOE BELL will be dropping by the Jean Cocteau via Skype to talk about the film and answer questions, and…

And?  Yes, yes, there's more.  After both KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM and RAZE, I will turning up to hand out some door prizes, including a couple of tickets to a certain very special preview screening coming up in March.  So be there!  You have to be present to win!

Oh, and we have a late late show too.  This week, THE WALL.  No, no, not the Night's Watch's Wall.  Pink Floyd's.

See you at the movies.

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Season One…

January 28, 2014 at 1:00 pm
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… is done.

Last night at the Cocteau we completed our screening of season one of GAME OF THRONES, with the showing of "Baelor" and "Fire and Blood."  Believe it or not, we had a dozen virgins in the house, folks who had never seen the show before, never read the books, and had no idea what was coming.  It's always cool to see someone experiencing the series for the first time.

I, of course, have read the books and seen the show… but I hadn't watched these particular episodes for a couple of years, and it was very gratifying to see how well they still held up.  David and Dan and the cast and our incredible crew have done an amazing job.

And speaking of David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, they joined us after the episodes for an hour's worth of Q & A with the fans, via Skype.   Aside from the usual technical problems that we encounter every time we try to use Skype, it was a great time.  Thanks, guys.

Next week, the marathon continues with the first three episodes from season two… and a special Skype visit from our very own Sansa, SOPHIE TURNER.

See you at the cinema!

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Beagles and Unicorns

January 28, 2014 at 12:40 pm
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You can't say enough about Peter S. Beagle.  One of the great masters of modern fantasy, author of THE LAST UNICORN, A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE, LILA THE WEREWOLF, GIANT BONES, I SEE BY MY OUTFIT, and so much more… classic novels, moving novellas, terrific short stories… and he's just as wonderful a storyteller in person as he is on the page.

We were honored to have him as our guest at the Jean Cocteau Cinema last Saturday.  We screened the animated film of THE LAST UNICORN thrice to big crowds, and Peter and I talked about fantasy, his books, his film career, and his life for the better part of an hour.

You shoulda been there!

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photo by Tara Gibbens

After each screening, Peter signed books, comics, artwork, and merchandise for his fans.  The man is tireless… and always charming.  A delight all around.  I suspect he signed his name hundreds, maybe thousands, of times on Saturday… but before we let him go, we made him sign a few more items for the cinema.  So we do have some autographed Peter S. Beagle books available at the Jean Cocteau for those who missed the event… while the supply lasts.  It won't last for long.  (We also have lots of signed books by yours truly, a few by Neil Gaiman, Michael Chabon, and Pat Conroy as well).

Beagle is a real rock star of fantasy, and he tours like one.  The day before he brought his travelling LAST UNICORN tour to Santa Fe, he was in Tucson… and as soon as he was done, he and Freff and Cat and the rest of his faithful minions packed up their vans and hit the road for Fort Collins, Colorado.   Check out the tour details at http://www.conlanpress.com/ and find out when Peter and Schmendrick and the Red Bull are coming to your corner of the lilac woods.

He is not to be missed.

Thanks so much, Peter.

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One Billion Rising

January 24, 2014 at 1:20 pm
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On Wednesday (January 29), the Jean Cocteau Cinema will be hosting a special event — a reception and screening in support of One Billion Rising, a global initiative to fight violence against women and girls.

http://www.jeancocteaucinema.com/ai1ec_event/one-billion-rising-reception-screening/?instance_id=2042

Admission is free, and all are welcome.

Come join us, and lend your support to this world-wide movement.  Causes do not get any more worthy.

(And all those attending the One Billion Rising event will also receive a group discount for the feature film we will be showing afterward, REACHING FOR THE MOON).

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The Last Unicorn

January 18, 2014 at 6:13 pm
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Oh, and if Peter S. Beagle and THE LAST UNICORN are not enough for us, we also plan to mount a special Last Unicorn Art Show in the Cocteau gallery.  Prints and artwork will be for sale.  Along with pizza, candy, and the best popcorn in New Mexico.

(And the real movie fans can stay for the midnight show, and catch THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE).  Which has no unicorns whatsover, but did you expect?  Peter Beagle got the last one.

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For New Mexicans…

January 17, 2014 at 11:22 am
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… and tourists passing through Santa Fe.

We've had some very cool author events and booksignings at the Jean Cocteau Cinema since we reopened last summer.  All of the visiting authors signed stock before taking their leave of us.  So for the book collectors among you, take note.  We have autographed copies of books by DIANA GABALDON, S.M. STIRLING, MICHAEL CHABON, PAT CONROY, MELINDA SNODGRASS, CARRIE VAUGHN, DIANA ROWLAND, MEGAN LINDHOLM/ ROBIN HOBB, JOE S. LANSDALE, SAM SYKES, GARDNER DOZOIS, TRENT ZELAZNY, and NEIL GAIMAN for sale at the theatre.

(You will need to drop in to the Cocteau to get one, though.  Sorry, we've not set up to do mail orders at this time).

And yes, we also have autographed copies of my own books available at the theatre.  OLD MARS, the WILD CARDS books, all five ICE & FIRE novels, FEVRE DREAM, ARMAGEDDON RAG, DYING OF THE LIGHT, WINDHAVEN, the map book.  You will find them at the Jean Cocteau.

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The Wolves Are Coming

January 16, 2014 at 11:29 pm
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Arya Stark may have been parted from her direwolf Nymeria, but come Monday in Santa Fe she'll be meeting two new wolves.

Maisie Williams won't be the only guest at Monday's GAME OF THRONES marathon session at the Jean Cocteau Cinema.  Our friends from the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary down in Candy Kitchen will be on hand as well, and they'll be bringing two of their "wolf ambassadors" to meet Maisie and the fans.

Parris and I have long been supporters of the Sanctuary, dedicated to the rescue of abandoned and abused wolves and wolf-dog hybrids.  They do great work.  You can find out more about them at http://www.wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org/

The ambassadors will not be members of the new 'Westeros Pack,' since those wolves are still a bit too wild and unsocialized to mingle with the public in an uncontrolled environment.  They won't be direwolves either, alas, for the direwolves are all gone (for now).  But I think they are bringing Flurry, and he's almost direwolf sized, and a real charmer to boot.

We're expecting a huge turnout for Monday's marathon session.  The show starts at 7:00 pm, and the doors open at 6:00, but people will be lining up by early morning, if the past two weeks are any indication.  The Cocteau has only 125 seats, so not everyone will be able to get in… but Maisie and the wolves should both be arriving early, to meet some of the fans in the line.  So even if you are not one of the lucky 125 to get into the theatre, you may be able to say hi to Arya and a couple of members of her pack.

Oh, and this week we're screening episodes six, seven, and eight from season one — "A Golden Crown," "You Win And You Die," and "The Pointy End."

See you at the cinema.

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