Weekly What To Do: It's Like A Sci-Fi Horror Convention This Weekend

Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival’s (LALIFF)
Wednesday, July 31 – Sunday, August 4
TCL Chinese Theatre 
$

A Latino perspective of cinema with films sharing the Latino style and culture.

TOO OLD TO DIE YOUNG LP Signing
Fri, August 2, 5:00pm
Amoeba Hollywood
$

Amoeba Hollywood welcomes Nicolas Winding Refn, Cliff Martinez + Ed Brubaker for an in-store signing to celebrate the vinyl release of Too Old To Die Young.





From the writer/director of The Babadook
THE NIGHTINGALE Q&As 
 Fri 8/2 & Sat 8/3

ArcLight Hollywood

$
With writer/director Jennifer Kent with actress Aisling Franciosi and actor Baykali Ganambarr.



Set in 1825, Clare, a young Irish convict woman, chases a British officer through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness, bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence he committed against her family. On the way she enlists the services of an Aboriginal tracker named Billy, who is also marked by trauma from his own violence-filled past.

ArcLight Presents... PREPARE TO SCARE
Curated by IT and IT Chapter Two Director, Andy Muschietti

First up The Fearless Vampire Killers

Friday, Aug 2nd, 7:30pm

ArcLight Hollywood

$

In anticipation of the upcoming release of IT Chapter Two, ArcLight Cinemas has partnered up with Director Andy Muschietti, to bring you a film series showcasing his favorite and most influential horror films of all time. Andy has curated a classic list sure to conjure horror appetites as we approach the highly anticipated sequel to IT, and the scariest time of the year.

Child's Play

Fri, Aug 2, 11:59pm 

Aero Theatre 1328 Montana Avenue,
Santa Monica, CA 90403

$

Discussion before the film with CHILD’S PLAY creator Don Mancini.

Midsummer Scream
Aug 2-3
Long Beach Convention Center Weekend: $55 Saturday: $38 Sunday: $33

"Explore over 12 haunted attractions in the Hall of Shadows; shop from more than 350 vendors including horror-themed apparel, creepy home decor, special effects makeup, masks and costumes; enjoy panels and presentations from the leading names in horror entertainment and theme park attractions; live dark entertainment, and more."

Midsummer Night’s Kaiju Party

Fri, Aug 2, 2019, 7:00 PM 

Live House Hollywood (& The Vista Theater, Los Feliz)
1534 N Highland Ave Los Angeles, CA 90028
$15 – $145

What better way to celebrate the mid-point of our KAIJU SUMMER series than with a Midsummer Night’s Kaiju party at Live House Hollywood from 7p-11p complete with open bar, food, all things Japanese pop-culture, music, movie lovers, followed by a 35mm screening of Destroy All Monsters just a few miles down Sunset Boulevard at the Vista Theater.

The Megas w/ Street Cleaner, Extra Lives & GKM
Fri, August 2, 2019
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
El Cid
4212 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90029
$10 – $12

On August 2nd, we celebrate those times when you didn't have a care in the world. When you never wanted to grow up. It's a night of video game music and synthwave. Featuring Extra Lives, jamming some video game classic covers, Street Cleaner, one of the top synthwave/outrun artists in the scene. He'll be cleaning up the streets playing pulse pounding electronic crimewave. Headlining are The Megas, a video game cover band known for their lyric based electronic/rock covers of Megaman. 

San Fernando Valley Summer Drive-In Nights
Aug 1-10
Lake Balboa Complex
$

Try out what it was like to go to a Drive-In and watch classic movies in your car.

Brew at the L.A. Zoo 2019
Fri, Aug 2,  7 PM – 11 PM

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, California 90027

$65

Brew at the Zoo, “L.A.’s most unique brew fest,” is now in its ninth year! Sample local craft brews as well as ciders, wines, and more while enjoying music and animal fun after hours at the L.A. Zoo.

Mattel X Gallery 1988
Opening Reception:
Fri, Aug 2, 7-9 PM
Gallery 1988
Free

FRIDAY NIGHT!!!! We open our brand new Mattel themed show, our annual exhibit with profits going to charity. And now, it’s curated by the great @lafcreative!!!! We can not wait to unveil this show to you. Join us 7-9 PM for your first chance to buy work, like this from @salvatier pic.twitter.com/hZYKndu8nJ

— Gallery1988 (@Galleries1988) July 29, 2019

The Female Gaze Ashly Lovett
Opening Reception:
Fri, Aug 2, 7-9 PM
Gallery 1988
Free

This is a huge collection of new paintings, paying tribute to some of the strongest and most compelling females in pop culture.

Exit -  Korean Disaster Film

Starts Aug 2nd

CGV Cinemas Koreatown 

*Looks so bad, so good.

A jobless deadbeat leaving with his parents has to save his friends and family with the one skill he's good at...rock climbing. If you want to build up before see Hobbs and Shaw go see this ridiculous romp of drama, comedy and disaster in one. 

Animanga 2019: Anime and Gaming Convention
Fri, Aug 2, 2019, 10:00 AM –
Sun, Aug 4, 2019, 6:00 PM

Fairplex
1101 W McKinley Ave
Pomona, CA 91768

$15 – $125 

*We're not 100% on this one as we've never attended, check their social media feed if going.

"The convention focuses on Japanese popular culture, primarily anime and manga, and of course, lots of gaming!"

Collector's Paradise 25th Anniversary + Grand Opening Signing in NoHo
Saturday, August 3, 11 AM – 7 PM
5118 Lankershim Blvd
Free

"Some of our amazing creator friends, all of who have done numerous signings with us over the years and wanted to support our Grand Opening. We will have some surprise appearances too. I can't talk about it yet, but I heard maybe Spider-Man is going to show up. He loves Collector's Paradise stores and is always willing to swing by."

Craft Beer Festival 2019
Aug 3-4
Ace Hotel & Swim Club
701 East Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs,CA 92264

$50 – $85

"Aug 3 and 4 we host our eighth annual weekend of hop-headed wonderment, with over 30 craft breweries pouring golden elixirs all weekend."



The Trunk Show: An Art Apparel Event
Saturday, August 3, 11 AM – 5 PM

Gallery Nucleus

210 E Main St, Alhambra, California 91801

Free

We're proud to present some of the most prominent and upcoming independent apparel designers in our current popular subcultures, some are influenced by animation, illustration, comics and video games. The following vendors wil be setting up shop in our gallery to sell unique apparel.

MICHAEL REEDER

The Otherealm (Main Room)

KYLE BRYANT

On Broken Wings (Office)

MATTHEW GRABELSKY

Jungle Train (Project Room)

Opening Reception with the Artists

Saturday, August 3, 2019 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Thinkspace Projects 6009 Washington Blvd. 

Culver City, CA 90232 

Free 

Treks and the City LIVE!

Mon, August 5, 2019
8:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Lyric Hyperion Theatre & Cafe
2106 Hyperion Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027

$15 

Alice Wetterlund and Veronica Osorio bring their hit feminist Star Trek: The Next Generation podcast to the Lyric for a one night live extravaganza featuring plenty of Picard, Troi, Riker, Data, sound effects, cosplay, live music, and special guests Paul F. Tompkins, Naomi Ekperigin, and Bryan Safi! ENGAGE (with this show)!

Guillermo del Toro Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony
Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at 11:30 a.m
6918 Hollywood Boulevard in front of The Line Store
Free

The horror fat man with glasses and a beard gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

LA County Day and POP-Up Fair in Downtown Los Angeles
Tues, Aug 6, 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Grand Park  200 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles 90012
Free 


Admission, rides and games at the “Pop-Up” Fair will be free of charge to the attending public, and Fairgoers will get a chance to try some Fair food at a reduced price.

National Night Out
Tuesday, Aug. 6, 5-8 p.m.
Union Station
Free

Guests can explore a selection of equipment including black and white police cruisers, police and sheriff’s department motorcycles, and fire trucks and engines while enjoying a host of fun interactive events including:

• Karaoke with a Cop

• Kids Zone and Crafting

• Community Games/Puzzle Tables

• Face Painting 

• Balloon Twister

• Photo Booth

Fantastic Fest 2019’s First Wave Of Programming

Fantastic Fest is like the forerunner for all the strange and fun movies we get here in LA. It takes place in Texas, but we get special screenings of the films at it later, It's first wave of programming has just been released online and it's crazy what will be premiering there and eventually coming out here. Usually we get a taste right away with Beyond Fest.

Check out the First Wave of films here.

The premiere of JoJo Rabbit about an idiotic imaginary Hitler and a little boy who has to start figuring out Nazis suck from Taika Waititi is just the beginning to the crazy list of films coming out.

Another one we've been waiting on is the R-Rated cut of Tammy and the T-Rex where Denise Richards as Tammy has her boyfriend lose his mind and has it implanted in a robot T-Rex. Oh, and her boyfriend pre-robot dino is played by Paul Walker. Now, people wondered over the years why seemingly parts were missing from the film and know we now it was a much more bloody affair. This new version plays at Fantastic Fest than comes out from Vinegar Syndrome in November.

The doc Wrinkles the Clown sounds crazy weird about a creepy clown you hire to punish naughty children. Of course, he's Florida based.

And we get Memory: The Origins of Alien, a brand new doc on the xenomorph starting film that started a generation of sci-fi horror.

Matt Kaufenberg's DC Comics Illustrations

Matt Kaufenberg is an illustrator who has done a number of Golden Books. Below is just some concept art for DC comics. We really want him to do something for them after seeing it.

As soon as I find the time, I need to do some more in this style. Had so much fun with these. #dccomics pic.twitter.com/X3p4S14ggU

— Matt Kaufenberg (@mattkaufenberg) July 29, 2019

A few more. #dccomics pic.twitter.com/z83KhbdsA0

— Matt Kaufenberg (@mattkaufenberg) July 29, 2019

I wasn't completely happy with these three so I may redo them. #dccomics pic.twitter.com/SF6FY7X6A1

— Matt Kaufenberg (@mattkaufenberg) July 30, 2019

Alamo Drafthouse LA Discrepancies

We've yet to visit the Alamo Drafthouse in downtown LA. It still hasn't had it's Grand Opening or announced a date for it, let's hope they somehow present a real unicorn or just super glue a horn to Seth Rogen's head.

While looking over social media for Drafthouse we've found some discrepancies to be aware of.

1. The main way to get to the Metro closes when the Bloc's Shopping hours are over.

LA never gets it right, so much for connecting the @TheBlocLA to @metrolosangeles after catching a movie at the new Alamo House, not seamless. Closed. pic.twitter.com/5XEluWFjuR

— Victor Hugo Cuevas (@urban_agent) July 28, 2019

One of the best benefits is the ease of riding the Metro to and from the Drafthouse with 7th Street Station having an entrance with The Bloc.  From what we can find it closes at midnight, so if you're seeing a late movie, be prepared, you might have to walk out of The Bloc to get back on the Metro.

2. DTLA Fee

Alamo Drafthouse $1.49 "DTLA FEE" from r/LosAngeles

There's an extra fee for ordering food, it's 3%. It goes to back-house staff. So, if you see an extra charge when you grab a burger, now you know.

We're not use to that out here. And, you can just ask your server to remove the charge, so it's not enforced.

3. All Gender Bathroom

As we've written before the place has an all gender bathroom. Stalls for privacy in the toilets and separate room inside for the urinals.

Talking with friends of the site on the subject none had objections. Yet, all of the TTDILA crew find it annoying and sort of think of it as a cheap out for businesses to just have to build and maintain less restrooms.

And in our opinion we like to separate when using restrooms.

Kyoto Animation Fundraiser

We lost a lot of amazing anime makers recently. In a tragedy that is one of the worst crimes in recent history. Kyoto Animation was attacked with an arson attack that has claimed the lives of 34 members of their staff, injured many others and destroyed their headquarters. As of writing this, more than likely the company will go under as their main computers were in the fire as well as the loss of so many of their team.

They created so many notable works. Some of our favorites include: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Lucky Star, Nichijou & Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid. Some of the most fantastic and fun animation came from them.


To support those who were injured, the families who lost someone and any other incidentals we recommend donating to Sentai Filmworks gofundme page which will give all the money except whatever the gofundme fee is to Kyoto Animation. It's already raised over $2 million, but doesn't end until August. So give a few bucks to these brilliant animators.

Donate here

Halloween 2019: Yes, We're Already Discussing It, IT: Chapter Two Experience & More

-Midsummer Scream is back this August, but nothin from ScareLA, hmmm. Check out the latest to plan for your Halloween part or haunted house.

Midsummer Scream
Aug 2-3
Long Bach Convention Center
Weekend: $55
Saturday: $38
Sunday: $33

 -What's this- Derry is having a festival? Or is it really the IT: Chapter Two Experience? IT is. The Derry Canals Days Festival & Funhouse will take place Aug 15- Sept 2 at the corner of Hollywood & Vin. They had some fun haunted house like tours for the previous film in the same location. The experience is suppose to last for 40 min? Grab free tickets starting July 31st online

IT: Chapter Two Experience
Aug 15- Sept 2
Corner of Hollywood & Vine
Free

-Little Shop of Horrors is gonna be in the Pasadena Playhouse for some human-eating plant musical fun.

"This deviously delicious sci-fi musical comedy comes to the Playhouse for the musical theater event of the season with some deliciously devious new twists. Featuring George Salazar (Be More Chill), Mj Rodriguez (Pose), and Amber Riley (Glee) as Audrey II, This Little Shop is unlike any you have seen before."

Little Shop of Horrors
September 17 — October 20
Pasadena Playhouse
$25 and up


-Universal going all out for Halloween Horror Nights as we're getting both a Ghostbusters and Killer Klowns from Outer Space maze.

From the press release:

In each maze, guests will follow in the footsteps of the Ghostbusters – Peter, Ray, Egon and Winston – as they venture through artfully recreated scenes from the film, including the firehouse, New York Public Library and the Temple of Gozer, as an army of ghoulish spirits, hideous specters and ectoplasm-dripping phantasms attack from every corner.  As they delve deeper into the maze, guests will come face-to-face with an array of paranormal creatures, from the voracious Slimer to the all-powerful Gozer the Gozerian and in its ultimate destructor form – the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, to brave the demonic spirits and survive the night

Based on the cult 1980s film favorite, the “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” mazes will transport guests to the sleepy small town of Crescent Cove, taken over by a pack of murderous clown-like creatures. Guests will be lured by the sweet smell of cotton candy and ice-cream and find themselves in an otherworldly circus tent where they’ll come face-to-face with the crazed klowns and their sinister, side-splitting antics. As they make their way through the Big Top Space Ship, guests will witness diabolical klowns making cotton candy cocoons from unsuspecting victims and will realize the joke’s on them as they are next to become the gooey snack. From one shrieking klown to the next, the mazes will lead guests through the doomed community of Crescent Cove to an eerie amusement park closed for the season. Trapped in a terrifying funhouse full of killer klowns, guests will be left screaming as there’s no stopping this twisted three-ring circus.

 

The Boys Are Back In Town: The Boys Butcher Shop Pop-Up

The new Amazon show about a team that has to beat up bad super heroes, The Boys, has a butcher shop pop-up. No idea what'll be like, but it'll be bloody. I'm not even sure how some of the most f'd up comic material can become a TV show, but the show is out tomorrow 7/26.




The Boys - The Butcher Shop
July 27-28, 11am-7pm.
457 N Fairfax Avenue
 first come first served.

Media Hype: Godzilla The Shōwa Era-Films Criterion Collection

Criterion is going all out with Godzilla for their 1000th spine. Yup, Godzilla and 14 more films starring the atomic powered T-Rex will be coming out this October 29th via Criterion in a special edition.

 

GODZILLA The Shōwa Era-Films, 1954-1975 looks like an amazing collection for any kaiju loving fan of the big green monster. All the art for each cover is just amazing and looks like it comes from comic book artist. The only negative I have is no cover was given to James Stokoe. I went through all the covers waiting to see his work, but alas...maybe he'll get to do one for one of Godzilla's later destructive romps.

Check out the art below

These 15 films are accompanied by a slew of supplemental material that brings the King of the Monsters to life in a giant deluxe hardcover book, with new essays & newly commissioned illustrations from 16 artists; new & archival interviews with cast & crew members; & so much more! pic.twitter.com/d3o4uMLFk9

— Criterion Collection (@Criterion) July 25, 2019

 details on Godzilla Criterion Collection below

Weekly What To Do: Once Upon A Time In...LA

The Muppet Movie 40th Anniversary

Jul 25, Jul 30

Select Theaters

$

Check out the Muppet Movie and possibly sing-a-long to A Rainbow Connection.

Lady Terminator  /  Sister Street Fighter
July 26, 2019 - 07:30 PM
Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
$10 

*So bad, it's good.
Oh, these need to be watched with friend or in a theater who get how messed up these two can be. How do you describe Lady Terminator in anyway that isn't messed up? Look for the great Sonny Chiba in Sister Street Fighter. 

Kaiju Vacation
Fri, July 26, 2019
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
a Shop Called Quest
300 South Santa Fe Avenue
#B
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Free

"ANTA hits ASCQ DTLA!!!
We're making this super limited!
It's gonna be the best Art show luau extravanganza feturing our favorite desert dweller ANTA!!!"

Summer Open House
Saturday, Jul 27, 11:00 am-6pm
Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Free

The Summer Open House highlights gallery exhibitions and brings together live music, food trucks and special events. Come enjoy a thriving arts community gathering!

Xu Zhen: In Just a Blink of an Eye
July 27–September 1, 2019
On view Saturdays and Sundays
MOCA Grand Avenue
$Admission, not free yet

The Museum of Contemporary Art has acquired a performance piece titled In Just a Blink of an Eye by Chinese artist Xu Zhen. The work will be on view at MOCA’s Grand Avenue location every Saturday and Sunday beginning July 27 through September 1. Xu Zhen: In Just a Blink of an Eye features a group of performers floating mysteriously in mid-air, defying the constraints of physics as if frozen in time and space.

A Tribute to NASA's 60th Anniversary
July 27, 2019 - August 11, 2019
Opening Reception / Jul 27, 6:00PM - 9:00PM
210 East Main St, Alhambra CA 91801
Free

In honor of NASA's 60th Anniversary, Gallery Nucleus is eager to present a tribute exhibition featuring some of NASA's accomplishments, missions, and historic figures.




Warner Bros. 6-Film Horror/Sci-Fi Marathon
Sat, Jul 27, 2:00pm
Egyptian Theatre 6712 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028
Special Ticket Prices: $25 General, $23 Student/Senior, $20 Members.

6 classic horror and sci-fi films that your screenwriting teacher always tells you to check out.



Camp Fangoria
Sat, Jul 27, 2019, 6:30 PM
The Montalbán Rooftop
1615 N. Vine St.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
$35 – $60
"CAMP FANGORIA is a ten-hour-long triple feature event on the rooftop of the historic Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood.
LIVE PODCASTS OF:
POSTMORTEM With Mick Garris
AND SHOCKWAVES
With Your Camp Counselors for the Night
Dr. Rebekah McKendry, Rob Galluzzo and Elric Kane
As the Counselors introduce horror classics THE BURNING, SLEEPAWAY CAMP and
EVIL DEAD 2, the audience will be treated to special guests, DJ sets, horror trivia and customized greetings from horror favorites near and far."

Screamfest

35th Anniversary FEARS & BEERS screening of
Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter in 35mm
Saturday, July 27, 7:30 pm
Ahrya Fine Arts
$16.00 and complimentary beer for guests 21+.

A Q&A with director Joseph Zito and other cast. Synopsis: After being mortally wounded and taken to the morgue, murderer Jason Voorhees spontaneously revives and embarks on a killing spree as he makes his way back to his home at Camp Crystal Lake.

You're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat Movie Quiz
Saturday, July 27, Doors at 2:00pm. Quiz is 2.30 pm to 5pm.
The 3 Clubs (1123 Vine Street, Los Angeles, 90038). 
Tickets are $10 a piece and there is a two drink minimum!

You’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat is "a glitzy two-hour film quiz projected on a big screen" (London Evening Standard) that has been running for 14 years in London and has become something of a cult event for movie nerds and industry pundits in the UK’s capital - in London, it sells out every month!


35mm DESTROY ALL MONSTERS Matinee
Sun, July 28, 2019
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Vista Theatre
4473 Sunset Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027

$11 – $145 

"Destroy All Monsters is kind of like the Avengers Endgame of the Godzilla Showa series. Every single story strand that the moviemakers have developed in the series-aliens who use mind control to make the Kaiju attack humanity, good kaiju who fight on behalf of humanity against evil kaiju, destruction of cities, even baby Godzilla (known as Minilla)-all get served in the most delicious Kaiju banquet of the entire first cycle."

Tune in Tokyo presents Plastic City 4: City Pop Night in DTLA

Sun, July 28, 9 PM – 2 AM

The LASH

117 Winston St, Los Angeles, California 90013

 Ages 21+ with ID. $5 Cover.

We're back for our fourth CITY POP Night in Downtown Los Angeles featuring 70s & 80s Idols & the Golden Age of Japanese Pop! DJs ShowaPOP, Greg Hignight & Tommy Pedrini drop vinyl & videos from 9 pm – 2 am at The Lash.

Kirby's Dream Band, Runaway Four, Normal Activity, 8-Bit Jazz
Sun, July 28, 7 PM – 12 AM

5 Star Bar

267 S Main St, Los Angeles, California 90012
$6 cover

21+

An evening of live video game music with Kirby's Dream Band (San Diego), The Runaway Four (Vancouver), Normal Activity, and 8-Bit Jazz Heroes

Stuffed: A Documentary on the Art of Taxidermy
July 30, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Natural History Museum
$35 – VIP admission at 5:30 pm
$25 – General admission at 6:30 pm

"Join us for a viewing of the documentary in the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s beautiful diorama halls. You will have a chance to talk to taxidermists, see live taxidermy demonstrations, and a Q&A session with the director and taxidermists featured in the film. This screening is presented in partnership with Curiosity Pictures."