Oklahoma-themed films to be shown
- Showcase is free and open to the public
- Showcase will feature several films including "The Creek Runs Red," "Fearless Freaks," and "Cimarron"
By Jenny Bell, News Writing Student
Films having an Ok-lahoma theme will comprise the “OCCC Film Showcase — A Celebration of Oklahoma.”
The event will be held Oct. 26 and 27 in celebration of the state’s Centennial.
The showcase, free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Keith Leftwich Memorial Library and will take place in the College Theater.
Bradley Beesley, an Oklahoma filmmaker, will start off the festivities Friday night at 5:30 p.m. by presenting two of his films, “The Creek Runs Red” and “Fearless Freaks.”
Beesley, as well as his co-director, James Payne, will be present to answer questions about the films.
“The Creek Runs Red” will be shown first.
The film is centered in Picher, Okla., and showcases what has happened to the town since it became a Superfund site in 1981.
Contamination from area lead mines severely damaged the environment in Picher, causing the federal government to step in.
The second film “Fearless Freaks,” starts at 7:30 p.m, and features the Oklahoma band The Flaming Lips.
The film is a “rock-umentary” that includes interviews and live performances of the band.
Film Professor Greg Mellot, and the Film and Video Production department will wrap up Friday evening at 9:30 p.m. with the screening of several student films from the college’s film program.
Then, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, the 1931 Academy Award Winner for Best Picture, “Cimarron,” will be screened.
The film is about the Oklahoma Land Run, with the first scene featuring a re-enactment of the land run.
Elizabeth Anthony, founder of Reel Classics, will follow the film by talking about the history of Oklahoma film.
After the movie the audience is invited to put on costumes for a sing-along version of the musical “Oklahoma!”
Ruth Charnay, acting Arts and Humanities dean, said she hopes to organize a question-and-answer session on Sunday morning with Bert Fink, Rodgers & Ham-merstein Organization vice president.
OCCC Library Services Director Barbara King said the Friday night showcase is more focused on documentaries and student films and Saturday is more classic films.
“We hope to appeal to a broad audience,” she said.
