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Arts & Entertainment

Gourmet to Host Fundraiser for Local Filmmaker

Chris Banks will screen a trailer for "The Art of Ushery."

I remember being a kid and waking up in the middle of the night, channel surfing before there were more than 100 cable channels. One early morning between 3 and 5 a.m., I found a delightful movie called “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.” The Zero Mostel film was funny and fast paced and just interesting as anything ever made.

Now, local filmmaker Chris Banks is set to release his feature film, “The Art Of Theatrical Ushery.” While many new filmmakers’ first films are dark, moody and very pretentious, “The Art Of Theatrical Ushery” reminds me of all the many wonderful laughs I enjoyed when I first discovered “A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to The Forum.”

Banks describes his new film as “the story of a vehement movie theater usher who battles insubordinate guests and his backstabbing weasel of a boss who wants desperately to fire him.”

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On Wednesday, April 25, Banks will be introducing the film at a special fundraising reception at the , 324 South Pitney Road in Galloway, from 6-7 p.m. I invited Mr. Banks to discuss his new film.

Q) Please tell us about “The Art of Theatrical Ushery?”  What is it about, and how long have you been working on it?

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A) “The Art of Theatrical Ushery” is the story of a very intense movie theater usher who battles insubordinate movie goers and his backstabbing weasel of a boss who wants desperately to fire him. I started working on this project in 2005 when I wrote the character into one of my earlier films. A year later, in July of 2006, I made a video short (also called “The Art of Theatrical Ushery”) and submitted it to 68 Film Festivals. Out of those 68, the project was accepted into 12. In 2007, the Steven Spielberg-produced show “On the Lot” (an American Idol for filmmakers) considered “The Art of Theatrical Ushery” for the show which aired in the spring of 2007. This project has been a real labor of love both personally and professionally fulfilling. Special Thanks to , Weist- Baron, Ryan Acting School of Atlantic City.

My Journey to become a filmmaker, has been one of constant try, try and try again. It began when I was nine with a sci-fi musical set to the soundtrack of Billy Joel. Fast forward seven years to the time when I saw the trailer for the update of “Shaft” directed by John Singleton. When I saw the viewers cheer at the trailer, it was clear to me that entertaining people in that way was exactly what I wanted to do.

Q) What can people expect from the event at Gourmet Italian Cuisine on Wednesday?

A) I will be revealing the trailer of “The Art of Theatrical Ushery” movie, the making of documentary and inviting all those in attendance to donate money to support the promotion of the film. Special thanks to Justin Lucas and Lori Dunn of Gourmet Italian Cuisine, Ted Oponski, Robert Thorpe and Don Earl of Earl Girls, Inc. in Egg Harbor City.

Q) When and where can we expect to see the full length movie?

A) It is my plan to premiere the feature length film in September 2012 at the Eagle Theater in Hammonton. Special thanks to Scott Van Pelt of Hammonton.

Q) What is the next film you have on tap?
A) Hopefully a sci-fi comedy.

If anyone would like to know more about “The Art of Theatrical Ushery,” or be a part of any of my future productions please email me at CHRISTOPHER.T.BANKS@GMAIL.COM.

 

 

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