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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Check out filmmaking events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.

Discover all the filmmaking events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.

Absolutely! Find filmmaking events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.

Filmmaking Events Today

Join in-person Filmmaking events happening right now

Iranian Movie screening - Desert Dancer 舞自由 - (With Eng sub)
Iranian Movie screening - Desert Dancer 舞自由 - (With Eng sub)
2014 , Drama, Music, 104 min. Afshin Ghaffarian risks everything to start a dance company amidst his home country of Iran's politically volatile climate and the nation's ban on dancing. Time: Starts at 8pm **Fees: Free** Whatsapp booking: 4449 0049 Venue: 903, Bonham Commercial Centre, 44-46 Bonham Strand West, Sheung Wan (MTR EXIT A2, 8 mins walk)
Intro to Longform Improv Course (103) - w/ TBC Improv HK Winter '26
Intro to Longform Improv Course (103) - w/ TBC Improv HK Winter '26
***\*\*This course follows on from Improv 101. To join this course, register [here](https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/intro-to-longform-improv-course-103-w-tbc-improv-hk-winter-26-tickets-1711893642969?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl).\*\**** An 8-class intro to longform improv—build scenes, spot patterns, and start connecting ideas to create full, dynamic shows. **Intro to Longform** is an 8-class course that builds on core improv skills and introduces the tools needed to create connected, meaningful shows. Students will explore how individual scenes can link through character, theme, or game—and how to spot and support those connections in the moment. This course is about discovery: finding patterns, building simple structures, and learning to trust the ensemble. It’s a space to play, experiment, and begin seeing the big picture. **Topics:** * Trusting ourselves, trusting others * Ensemble awareness and group support * Building shows from a single suggestion * Openings and idea generation * Recognizing and playing patterns * Edits and transitions (sweeps, tag-outs, walk-ons etc.) * Connecting scenes through theme, character, or premise * 3 longform structures (Living Room, Armando, Harold) **Pre-requisite:** * Introduction to Improv (101) (or proof of equivalent) * Ages 16+ This course is ideally aimed at: those with some basic improv training and wishing to expand further; those who wish to specialise in long-form improv; performers with short-form background/experience wishing to become more relaxed and familiar with long-form improv. **Dates and Times:** Monday evenings, 7:00pm-9:30pm Jan 12, 19, 26 Feb 2, 9, 23 Mar 2, 9 **(Note: No class Feb 16)** **Course Fee:** Earlybird\*: $1,900 ($237.5/class, $95/hr) Regular: $2,950 ($369/class, $148/hr) \*Earlybird pricing ends 29th December, 2025 **Our TBC Course Structure Explained:** Our courses and classes have 2 defining numbers. The first number defines the ***level***. **1**00 series - **Introductory** **2**00 series - **Intermediate** **3**00 series - **Advanced** etc. Then the 01, 02, 03 etc. defines the ***type*** of class. 1**01** **Intro** to Improv \(building blocks\) \|1**02** Intro to **Shortform** \|1**03** Intro to **Longform** **What have our previous students said about our classes?** " A part of me didn't want the 101 to finish. It was such great experience and it really helped me to explore the different area of my brain." " Thanks for the 101 it was so muchlies fun." " Really so grateful that I hopped into 101 - the learning has been great and this has been some much needed joy, silliness and connection with new pals." \-\-\-\-\- **Logistics:** Please arrive 5-10 minutes early - we will start on time. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes as we will stand and be active. Ages 16+. All are welcome, no previous improv experience required. Bring your own water bottle. Come ready to learn and hone your craft!
食餐飯 輕鬆認識其他單身朋友 Make friends by having dinners looking for love
食餐飯 輕鬆認識其他單身朋友 Make friends by having dinners looking for love
食餐飯 輕鬆認識其他單身朋友 Make friends by having dinners looking for love 點解要參加神秘飯局? · 認識朋友 / 戀愛對象: 輕鬆用1.5小時認識 3-5位新朋友 / 潛在伴侶 · 擴闊視野: 試下新餐廳,認識各行各業嘅參加者(Youtuber,空姐,放射師...真係咩人都有) 如果你都想認識新朋友但….. · 有諗過參加speed dating 但係怕太chur/太貴 · 純粹想輕鬆傾下計 未必想同一大班陌生人玩游戲 · 玩交友app心很累 傾左一輪都都未約到出黎見面 我哋係全港首個冇主持嘅「神秘飯局」社群,主打輕鬆食餐飯去認識朋友 推出幾個月已經有500名參加者報名喇 ✨ 即刻加入了解更多 📍 持有效商業登記 睇下飯局: [官方網站](https://dine-first.com/app) Instagram: [@dinefirst.hk](https://www.instagram.com/dinefirst.hk) Telegram: [神秘飯局 Telegram](https://t.me/dinefirsthk) 用一餐飯的時間,認識3-5個朋友 / 戀愛對象,今日就約飯先! 如有任何疑問 歡迎whatsapp 9815 2970聯絡我們
Bhangra Dance with Harry @ Dee Dream Life
Bhangra Dance with Harry @ Dee Dream Life
Jump, kick, lift and turn! Lots of fun learning to dance this very highly uplifting, energetic and fun dance from India! Learn the culture and dance moves of this classical Indian dance that has become very popular all around the world! You will enjoy it thoroughly regardless of what dance background you may or may not have! WhatsApp 63344266 to book Prepayment required to secure booking www.deedreamlife.com/pricing-packages for fee info Download Dee Dream Life App for more info
食餐飯 輕鬆認識不同教會的基督徒 Make Christian Friends from different churches in Hong Kong
食餐飯 輕鬆認識不同教會的基督徒 Make Christian Friends from different churches in Hong Kong
食餐飯 輕鬆認識不同教會的基督徒 Make Christian Friends from different churches in Hong Kong 點解要參加神秘飯局? · 認識朋友 / 戀愛對象: 輕鬆用1.5小時認識 3-5位新朋友 / 潛在伴侶 · 擴闊視野: 試下新餐廳,認識各行各業嘅參加者(Youtuber,空姐,放射師...真係咩人都有) 如果你都想認識新朋友但….. · 有諗過參加speed dating 但係怕太chur/太貴 · 純粹想輕鬆傾下計 未必想同一大班陌生人玩游戲 · 玩交友app心很累 傾左一輪都都未約到出黎見面 我哋係全港首個冇主持嘅「神秘飯局」社群,主打輕鬆食餐飯去認識朋友 推出幾個月已經有500名參加者報名喇 ✨ 即刻加入了解更多 📍 持有效商業登記 睇下飯局: [官方網站](https://dine-first.com/app) Instagram: [@dinefirst.hk](https://www.instagram.com/dinefirst.hk) Telegram: [神秘飯局 Telegram](https://t.me/dinefirsthk) 用一餐飯的時間,認識3-5個朋友 / 戀愛對象,今日就約飯先! 如有任何疑問 歡迎whatsapp 9815 2970聯絡我們
7:00PM FREE HIIT Workout at Pier 10/AiA Vitality | FITFAM Hong Kong
7:00PM FREE HIIT Workout at Pier 10/AiA Vitality | FITFAM Hong Kong
ONLY PEOPLE WHO SUCCESSFULLY SIGN UP HERE CAN ATTEND. If you sign up and can no longer attend, please change your status to NOT GOING to allow others to participate. Thank you for your understanding :)


𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 🙌


Join us this upcoming Monday evening for some sweat and fun! 🎉💦 Our meeting point is on the concrete patio at the end of the central lawn before 7:00PM. Please arrive a few minutes early - skipping the warm-up puts you at greater risks for injuries. 10 mins of warm-up, 40 mins of workouts and 10 mins of stretching with tons of high-fives.
Who's in?? 👊
​

⚠️ 𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ⚠️

Please take a minute to read the following information regarding your participation in FitFam workouts. By signing up for this session, you confirm that you have read and understood the terms and risks detailed below:

💬 WHATSAPP 💬

We have a WhatsApp group! If you've participated in several of our sessions and would like to stay engaged with other regular FitFammers, please let one of our leaders know at the end of a workout so they can add you to the group.


🙅 NOT GOING 🙅‍♂️


If you have signed up for a session and can no longer make it, please move yourself to "Not Going" so our leaders have a more accurate count of participants coming to their session. This also helps us plan workouts more effectively.


🔊 DISCLAIMER 🔊


By signing up for this session, you confirm that you have read and understood the terms and risks detailed in our Disclaimer and Release of Liability Agreement: https://www.meetup.com/fitfamhongkong/pages/29134671/Disclaimer_and_Release_of_Liability_Agreement
For any other question regarding our workouts and our community, please refer to the FAQs page: https://www.meetup.com/fitfamhongkong/pages/29134429/FitFam_FAQs
​
FitFam is accessible to everyone. No equipment, no previous experience or wallet needed. See you on the field
食餐飯 輕鬆認識不同行業的專業人士/ 高收入人士 Dinners with professionals (Networking/ Making Friends)
食餐飯 輕鬆認識不同行業的專業人士/ 高收入人士 Dinners with professionals (Networking/ Making Friends)
食餐飯 輕鬆認識不同行業的專業人士/ 高收入人士 Make friends by having dinners with professionals and high income individuals 點解要參加神秘飯局? · 認識朋友 / 戀愛對象: 輕鬆用1.5小時認識 3-5位新朋友 / 潛在伴侶 · 擴闊視野: 試下新餐廳,認識各行各業嘅參加者(Youtuber,空姐,放射師...真係咩人都有) 如果你都想認識新朋友但….. · 有諗過參加speed dating 但係怕太chur/太貴 · 純粹想輕鬆傾下計 未必想同一大班陌生人玩游戲 · 玩交友app心很累 傾左一輪都都未約到出黎見面 我哋係全港首個冇主持嘅「神秘飯局」社群,主打輕鬆食餐飯去認識朋友 推出幾個月已經有500名參加者報名喇 ✨ 即刻加入了解更多 📍 持有效商業登記 睇下飯局: [官方網站](https://dine-first.com/app) Instagram: [@dinefirst.hk](https://www.instagram.com/dinefirst.hk) Telegram: [神秘飯局 Telegram](https://t.me/dinefirsthk) 用一餐飯的時間,認識3-5個朋友 / 戀愛對象,今日就約飯先! 如有任何疑問 歡迎whatsapp 9815 2970聯絡我們

Filmmaking Events This Week

Discover what is happening in the next few days

Movie screening - Happy Together (春光乍洩) - (With Eng sub)
Movie screening - Happy Together (春光乍洩) - (With Eng sub)
1997 , Drama, Romance, 96 min. Ho Po-Wing and Lai Yiu-Fai are a gay couple from Hong Kong with a turbulent relationship marked by frequent separations and reconciliations. They visit [Argentina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina "Argentina") together but break up after they become lost while traveling to visit the [Iguazu Falls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguazu_Falls "Iguazu Falls"). Without the money to fly home, Fai begins to work as a doorman at a [tango](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tango "Tango") bar in [Buenos Aires](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buenos_Aires "Buenos Aires"), while Po-Wing lives promiscuously, often seen by Fai with different men. After Fai accuses Po-Wing of spending all of his money and stranding him in Argentina, Po-Wing steals from one of his acquaintances and is severely beaten. Fai allows Po-Wing to live with him in his small rented room and cares for his injuries. They attempt to reconcile their relationship, though it is marred by mutual suspicion and jealousy.. Time: Starts at 2pm **Fees: Free** Whatsapp booking: 4449 0049 Venue: 903, Bonham Commercial Centre, 44-46 Bonham Strand West, Sheung Wan (MTR EXIT A2, 8 mins walk)
Movie screening - About Dry Grasses 冬日甦醒 - (With Eng sub)
Movie screening - About Dry Grasses 冬日甦醒 - (With Eng sub)
2023 , Drama, 197 min. A young teacher hopes to be transferred to Istanbul after four years of mandatory service in a remote village, but is accused of inappropriate contact by two students. After losing hope, a colleague offers him new perspectives on life. Time: Starts at 2:30 pm **Fees: Free** Whatsapp booking: 4449 0049 Venue: 903, Bonham Commercial Centre, 44-46 Bonham Strand West, Sheung Wan (MTR EXIT A2, 8 mins walk)
Movie screening - Monsieur Ibrahim 陪我走到世界盡頭 - (With Eng sub)
Movie screening - Monsieur Ibrahim 陪我走到世界盡頭 - (With Eng sub)
2003 , Drama, Comedy, 95 min. Set in the 1960s in Paris' Jewish quarter, Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran is about a troubled Jewish boy, Moses, or Momo, who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a solitary Muslim shopkeeper named Monsieur Ibrahim. Momo's hilarious yet heart-wrenching story begins when he loses his virginity in a bordello at the age of 11. Ibrahim offers Momo his ear and advice and gradually teaches the precocious boy that there is more to life than whores and stealing groceries. Time: Starts at 8pm **Fees: Free** Whatsapp booking: 4449 0049 Venue: 903, Bonham Commercial Centre, 44-46 Bonham Strand West, Sheung Wan (MTR EXIT A2, 8 mins walk)
Iranian Movie screening - Ballad of Tara - (With Eng sub)
Iranian Movie screening - Ballad of Tara - (With Eng sub)
**1979, Drama, 102 min.** Tara, a young beautiful widow, returns with her two children from the country to her village. On her way home, she finds out that her grandfather has passed away. She distributes his belongings among her neighbours. But there remains an old sword that no one will accept. One day on the road, she meets an ancient warrior. He claims that his clan have sent him to take the old sword back. Tara finally submits the sword to him, but he returns upon realizing that he has fallen powerfully in love with her.**.** Time: Starts at 8pm **Fees: Free** Whatsapp booking: 4449 0049 Venue: 903, Bonham Commercial Centre, 44-46 Bonham Strand West, Sheung Wan (MTR EXIT A2, 8 mins walk)
Informal Filmmakers Meetup and Drinks
Informal Filmmakers Meetup and Drinks
Whether you are a first-time filmmaker, a seasoned pro, or just curious about meeting other people who love the artistic side of films and filmmaking, you can join us at the Queen Victoria pub in Wan Chai to talk about your experiences, goals, and/or projects. Perhaps you want to share something you are working on (scripts, storyboards, rough cuts, etc.), or perhaps you're just looking for a bit of inspiration, motivation, or a chance to sit and listen to other people's anecdotes and ideas. All are welcome, questions are encouraged, and the focus is on getting to know a diverse group of local people who are skilled, motivated, creative, and curious about any or all aspects of filmmaking.
The Perfect Chaos: Going beyond Eye Candies
The Perfect Chaos: Going beyond Eye Candies
"I take complex pictures because the world I experience is complicated and ultimately inexplicable place." **Alex Webb** Hello all. This time as part of an advanced level and challenging theme we would follow celebrated street photographer Alex Webb’s technique while trying with our eye/cameras to explore complex compositions and go beyond eye candies. We would practice against the photography clichés of “Less is More” and “Keep It Simple Stupid” by “Look for More” and “Fill the Frame”, by composing some visually complex photographs which contain more than one element, have more than one point of focus, by pushing the frame to include more and more, but falling short of chaos. “Eye Candy” is a photo that looks cool and clean and has exactly one layer of interest. They look great for about half a second and then there is no reason for your eye to linger any longer. In this outing we would try to take pictures that make the eye to move around and see multiple layers/subjects and action. Have a look at some of the pictures in this event page's album below on the theme. Also do some research on the technique of “Layering” and using “Multiple Subjects” in photography compositions. Here are some useful youtube videos on the subject to get you started: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei5VVqiSH34](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei5VVqiSH34) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE3D3NTl8xI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE3D3NTl8xI) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAtAyr2w6yE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAtAyr2w6yE) **Meeting Time and Place:** **3pm** at **Sham Shui Po MTR station,** **Exit C2** (street level) We will meet at **Sham Shui Po MTR station Exit C2** (street level) at **3pm** and then walk around in groups of two to three photographers, then re-group at (venue yet to be decided but would be announced before the outing begins) **5pm** onwards for photo sharing over a drink. Please post **YOUR BEST FIVE i**mages only for this outing on the meetup site. For every image you post, please try to comment on at least one other image, no matter if you think you are qualified to comment or not. You can always give some constructive comments with regard to Colour, Tone, Light, Action, Pattern, Balance, Composition, Visual and Emotional appeal of the image/s. This really helps in sharing and learning from each other. **IMPORTANT:** Please sign up only if you are coming, those not showing up 2x in a row would be taken off the group list while active members would be given a preference over long inactive members, the last minute habitual dropouts and no-shows.
Discipline in Fulfilling our Dream
Discipline in Fulfilling our Dream
At the start of a new year, we often make resolutions to bring positive changes to our lives. We set goals and make plans to achieve our hopes and dreams. In this course, we will discover the underlying purpose of our life from a Buddhist perspective and learn how to fulfill its true meaning through three main practices. This course references the practices of the Three Higher Trainings as presented in The *Joyful Path of Good Fortune* and *Modern Buddhism* written by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. 13/1 Discipline in Fulfilling our Dream 20/1 Focus & Flow 27/1 Wisdom in Action Struggling with anxiety and becoming a parent to a beautiful child with special needs sparked off Tony's quest on a spiritual journey a couple of decades ago. A fortunate encounter with the teachings of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche has gradually led him to make changes to his life which has allowed him to cope with daily challenges and given him a renewed direction. Now, in his golden years of retirement from being a small business owner, Tony continues to try and apply the essence of Kadam Dharma in his daily life and share his experiences to those he meets. Donation is appreciated. Suggested donation: $50 per class. More info: [https://www.meditation.hk/2021/en/meditation-advice-for-daily-life/](https://www.meditation.hk/2021/en/meditation-advice-for-daily-life/) #modernbuddhism #meditateinhongkong

Filmmaking Events Near You

Connect with your local Filmmaking community

1.17.25 Saturday Morning Writing Session @ Corner Bakery
1.17.25 Saturday Morning Writing Session @ Corner Bakery
We're experimenting and trying a new place! Activities: Writing Sprints (individual time boxed writing time) These writing times can be used to do any writing-related activities like plotting/outlining, and most importantly writing and working on your own writing! Make sure to bring your writing tools (laptop, notebook, your brain). We start the first sprint promptly at 10:15 between every writing sprint we take 5-15 minute breaks We shoot for a total of 3 sprints (45 minutes of writing) Location: Corner Bakery Parking: Is free Food: breakfast until 11:00 Standard lunch menu after that https://cornerbakerycafe.com/
CREATIVE HAPPY HOUR on 1/26/26 from 5-7pm
CREATIVE HAPPY HOUR on 1/26/26 from 5-7pm
This CREATIVE HAPPY HOUR is for creative people and folks who appreciate creativity. Whether you attend, produce, appreciate, or promote, you are welcome to join us on Monday, January 26, 2026 from 5pm-7pm for CREATIVE HAPPY HOUR at Silver Branch Brewing Co in Silver Spring, MD. Register on Eventbrite at [https://HappyHour1-26-26.eventbrite.com](https://HappyHour1-26-26.eventbrite.com). Come meet, network, and enjoy. Only those ages 21 and up can attend. Happy Hour specials are from 5pm-6pm: $5.95 beer and select drinks. Entrance is free. This is a casual event. Register on Eventbrite at [https://HappyHour1-26-26.eventbrite.com](https://HappyHour1-26-26.eventbrite.com). This event is produced in partnership with[ TIVA](https://www.tivadc.org/) (Television, Internet, and Video Association of DC),[ WIFV](https://www.wifv.org/) (Women in Film & Video),[ Wheaton Film Festival](https://www.wheatonfilmfestival.com/),[ Docs in Progress](https://www.docsinprogress.org/), DC Media Makers Group, etc. Sponsored by[ Brian Frankel Law Firm PLLC](https://brianfrankel.com/),[ Creative Colony Spaces](https://www.creativecolonyspaces.com/membership/overview), [ ](https://reelabilities.org/greaterwash/)[ReelAbilities Film Festival: Greater Washington](https://reelabilities.org/greaterwash), and Adobe Software. Enjoy delicious craft beers, tasty snacks, and great company in a relaxed atmosphere. Whether you're a beer enthusiast or just looking to unwind after a long day, this event is perfect for you. Don't miss out on the opportunity to kick back and relax with us at Silver Branch Brewing Co. Use the QR codes at the table to order food and drinks, and be prepared to mingle. Check out the[ Silver Branch Brewing Company's Menu](https://www.silverbranchbrewing.com/lagerhaus-biergarten/). PARKING: Paid parking available one block away at the county's Cameron Street Garage on 8530 Cameron Street (Better pricing than street or private parking.) See you there on 1/26/26! Register on Eventbrite at [https://HappyHour1-26-26.eventbrite.com](https://HappyHour1-26-26.eventbrite.com).
Shut Up & Write! at Cascades Library
Shut Up & Write! at Cascades Library
Looking for a quiet, focused space to write? Come be part of our writing group—a dedicated time just for writing alongside fellow writers in your community. No readings, no critiques, no peer-review—just you writing within a supportive atmosphere. 7pm-7:15pm: Find your seat, set up your writing station, quick intro's. 7:15pm-8:45 pm: An hour and a half of silent focused writing. 8:45pm-9pm: Quick debrief, pack and head home. Can't wait to see you! :)
· Wrong · by Quentin Dupieux  @ Beatley Library
· Wrong · by Quentin Dupieux @ Beatley Library
Oddball Cinema’s Sunday-afternoon shows at Beatley Library in 2026 will be devoted to unfamiliar realities; that is, movies in which the universe simply doesn’t work the way anyone except the filmmakers would expect. In today’s feature, Dolph Springer, a resident in an ordinary house in an ordinary suburb, wakes up one morning to realize that his dog Paul has disappeared. He begins his quest to find Paul logically: he goes out looking for him, asks around if anyone has seen him, etc. Alas, logic will not provide a solution because Dolph lives in a universe where cause-and-effect does not apply. Please refrain from shouting out questions like, “why did that happen?” or “why is that character doing that?” No one will save you from your own confusion, and everyone will be laughing too hard to care anyway. ■ Title — *Wrong* ■ Director — Quentin Dupieux ■ Cast — Jack Plotnick, Eric Judor, Alexis Dziena, William Fichtner ■ Unrated, suitable for teens and adults ■ ©2012 \| 1h 34m \| Comedy\, Mystery\, Lunacy ■ Distributed by Giant Pictures
Profs & Pints Northern Virginia: The Life of Frankenstein
Profs & Pints Northern Virginia: The Life of Frankenstein
[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Life of Frankenstein,”** on the birth, evolution and impact of a tale of man-made monstrosity, with Bernard Welt, an emeritus professor of arts and humanities at George Washington University who frequently lectures on Frankenstein in literature, cinema, and culture. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-life-of-frankenstein](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-life-of-frankenstein) .] Guillermo del Toro’s lush and lovingly produced film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel *Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus* is just the latest of many iterations of the story to capture the public’s imagination. People have watched Victor Frankenstein give life to his monster in numerous films, on television, and on stage, and even perform “Putting on the Ritz” with him thanks to the comic genius of Mel Brooks. Mary Shelley did not just tell a tale. She spawned the modern genre of speculative fiction and gave rise to a myth that would crop up in debates over nature versus nurture and other matters. Even today it stokes anxieties over the potential impacts of robotics, artificial intelligence, and genetic engineering, by evoking the image of a monster turning on its progenitor. Come gain a new appreciation of Mary Shelley’s creation with the help of Dr. Bernard Welt, who has studied the relationship between nightmares and the horror genre and is the author of *Mythomania: Fantasies, Fables, and Sheer Lies in Contemporary American Popular Art.* Dr. Welt will start by telling a literary origin story almost as famous as Frankenstein itself, of how an 18-year-old Shelley started writing *Frankenstein* in 1816 while staying in a villa on Lake Geneva with two of her era’s leading poets, Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, her lover. Housebound by foul weather, the three read Gothic tales of ghosts and monsters and challenged each other to produce something even more terrifying. Mary dreamed up a story of a man who defied death by creating a living being out of scraps of deceased men harvested from graveyards and anatomy labs. The resulting novel, *Frankenstein*, published anonymously in 1818, would by that century’s end become a touchstone in philosophical discourse on the nature of humanity and in political discussions of imperialism and populism. By the 21st century, Mary Shelley (as she became) had earned a more significant place in the literary canon than Byron and her husband Shelley. We will examine how this grisly tale became a landmark of modern thought and look at the part played by numerous film adaptations from the first years of cinema to the present day. (Door: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From a Theodor von Holst engraving in an 1831 edition of *Frankenstein* published by Colburn and Bentley of London.
· Bottoms · by Emma Seligman  @ Beatley Library
· Bottoms · by Emma Seligman @ Beatley Library
Oddball Cinema’s Thursday-evening shows this year will be devoted to movies about women; they’ll be the main characters, and many of the features are written and/or directed by women. In this movie, two dejected lesbian high-school students realize that they’re not getting dates due to their drab appearance and bland personalities; they’re regarded as the “bottoms” of the local social hierarchy. The pair have no attraction to each other but are drawn toward cheerleaders, gymnasts, and other cuties. A scheme to start an after-school women’s self-defense club seems like a good way to mix with other girls, but with no experience or training in martial arts, they invent some tall tales to convince the faculty they’d be competent organizers. One lie leads to another, and once the club is established, it quickly descends into chaos. The plot lurches awkwardly at times, but eventually it rushes headlong toward a truly grand finale. ■ Title — *Bottoms* ■ Director — Emma Seligman ■ Cast — Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz ■ Rated R for language and ridiculous violence ■ ©2023 \| 1h 31m \| Comedy ■ Distributed by MGM
Shut Up & Write! at Ridgetop Coffee and Tea
Shut Up & Write! at Ridgetop Coffee and Tea
**Looking for a group you can write with *whilst sipping your fave coffee*?** ☕✍️ Then come join **Shut Up & Write!** on **Saturday, January 24th from 1:30pm to 4:00pm** at **Ridgetop Coffee & Tea**! Whether you're cranking out a novel, journaling, looking for new friends, or just trying to get that stubborn paragraph right—we’ve got a cozy seat and a supportive group waiting for you! **No critiques, no peer review, no pressure—just a chill space to get words on the page.** 📝 **What to expect:** 1:30–2:00pm – Grab your coffee or tea, find your seat, and meet your fellow writers. 2:00pm–3:30pm – Silent, focused writing time 3:30–4:00pm – Debrief, celebrate any writing wins, commiserate on any obstacles, and head out feeling accomplished. **RSVP Info:** The room seats only 8 people comfortably! RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot!! If you are unable to attend, please cancel your reservation **ASAP** so those on the wait list are able to RSVP and attend!!! **Meeting Room:** Enter the coffee shop, walk straight towards the play area and on your left you will see a meeting room just past the bathrooms. The room has a TV, white board, and walls are painted green. **What to Bring:** Whatever helps you focus, and be productive. There is a wall outlet at each end of the room, so you're able to bring your laptop to write. You're welcome to bring headphones if you enjoy listening to music while working. **Parking & Accessibility:** there is a large parking lot out front and it is free! There are no stair cases when entering the coffee shop or when inside. This coffee shop is incredibly spacious with many seating options. If you have any questions, please message me through MeetUp. I'm happy to help. **Dietary Information:** many GF, Vegan, and SF options. Just ask your barista when ordering for specifics! Can’t wait to see you there! 🎉