Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Sundancing - Day 1 (part deux)
()
At long last, another Sundance update. The wireless internet access went out in our house, so we've been able to drop in here and there in order to check our emails, but had not been too successful in posting our latest installment. Fear not, we're back.
We made it swiftly into Off the Black starring Nick Nolte as a down-on-his-luck (recognize a trend here? We can't remember the last time Nolte played an "up with people" person. But if you're really good at something, stick with it) high school baseball umpire who crosses paths with a young pitcher who has problems of his own. Nolte becomes the father the teen never had, while the teen in turn becomes the son that Nolte lost touch with long ago. Nolte really shines in this role, and the teen (Trevor Morgan) is good as well, managing to hold his own against Nolte, which must be daunting. That voice alone could make you stay in the trailer. It's a melancholy film at times, but it stays true to itself. Nolte had a good point during the Q&A that the multiplex was invented to allow diversity at the theater, but "something went haywire" and now it only serves to release more and more big budget disasters from the studios. Big Momma's House 2, anyone?
Several beers later (a delicious Autumn Bock served at the Wasatch Brew Pub on Main Street, which is quickly becoming one of our favorite hangouts) we went to the Slamdance Festival to see the premiere of Larry Clark's film Wassup Rockers. After seeing Kids, we were braced for a visual assault on all the senses, but this is a very much toned-down film from Clark. A group of Latino (El Savadorans and one Guatemalan) skateboard kids from South Central head to Beverly Hills and get into all sorts of trouble. The film has trouble deciding if it's a mockumentary, a comedy, or a social commentary, and gets a bit lost along the way. However he does get some amazing performances from the teens (and they do all manage to stay clothed), and shows the isolation of a fairly neglected group amongst the often black and white world of racism.
Support for LAist comes from
After that, we finally made it back to the house, frozen, eyes glazed over, and dead tired. We decided to get up early on Saturday to hit the box office and try and score tickets for the holes in our schedule, so we ran to bed and forced ourselves to sleep. Stay tuned for Day 2 and Day 3, of which Day 3 includes a very hot Katie Holmes news tidbit.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist