Movies On the Bigscreen

February at MOBS! Superargo, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Foxconn, Media That Matters!
Hi there!  Below is our schedule for February!  Also, don't forget that this Thur, Feb 2, Access Sacramento and The Crocker are teaming up for an encore presentation of the 2011 A Place Called Sacramento short film festival (all films made by local filmmakers and incorporate Sacramento into them).  More info on that is here http://www.crockerartmuseum.org/programs-events/today-at-the-crocker/event/1336-film-frame-

 And here's our Feb schedule!
 Hope to see you there!
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 Sunday, February 5
 7:30pm
 Admission: $5.00
 Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
 2828 35th St, Sacramento, CA
 Mr. Lobo's Super Bowl Pick:  Superargo (1968)
 Against the Super Bowl -- Superargo?  Sure, why not!  See, we forgot the Super Bowl was on this night until kind of the last minute, and it's a historically very slow night at MOBS.  Being too lazy to figure out what to show instead of what was originally planned (which we've had to move to a month some time in the future), we just called up Mr. Lobo, the host of the nationally syndicated show Cinema Insomnia, and asked him what we should run.  And he said Superargo.  It was just that simple.  Keep in mind, we don't think Mr. Lobo will actually be at the screening  (although we never know who might pop by MOBS), but yeah - we just let someone else "program" this night - and it was all completely spur of the moment!
 Who's Superargo (not to be confused with the similarly-named Argoman)?  Well, Superargo is a wrestler turned secret agent/superhero whose powers include levitation, super strength, telekinesis, and super-coagulating blood!  He also has the power to drive a sports car while wearing red tights and a black facemask without being laughed at by bystanders!  Yes folks, it's THAT exciting...  To make it even more thrilling (if your heart can stand it), Superargo's up against a madman who's turning the world's best and fastest athletes into shuffling, staggering, slow-moving robots!   Just imagine the action that will ensue when Superargo is facing enemies that he could simply amble away from!  Oh yes.
 Note: quality of this is pretty sketchy, but if quality is your primary concern, you probably shouldn't come to this anyway... However, if you've got no use for over-blown sporting events that basically bring our nation to a standstill for an afternoon/evening, come have some fun with this notoriously bad Euro flick!

 Sunday, February 12
 7:30pm
 Admission: $5.00
 Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
 2828 35th St, Sacramento, CA
 The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)
 Right around Valentine's Day, we like to show some kind of movie that might make your date a little uncomfortable with your idea of romance, so this year, we'll be showing this silent classic!  If you remove all of the violence, murder, mayhem and obsession, this IS a romantic movie.  But there is the aforementioned violence, murder, mayhem and obsession...
 In this film, Quasimodo, the deaf and half-blind hunchbacked bell-ringer of the Notre Dame Cathedral, is convinced by his keeper, Johan, to kidnap Esmeralda, the adopted daughter of the king of the underworld beggars.  Captain Phoebus rescues Esmeralda, and Johan abandons Quasimodo, who is publicly lashed.  Esmeralda takes pity on Quasimodo and attempts to comfort him.  Later, Phoebus is stabbed by Johan, who also frames Esmeralda for the assault.  She is sentenced to death, but is rescued from the gallows by Quasimodo, who takes her to the Cathedral where she is given sanctuary.  The underworld attacks the cathedral to remove Esmeralda, but Quasimodo routs the attack with rocks and molten lead.   The film concludes with a wonderfully bleak shot, which won't be spoiled here in case anyone doesn't already know it.
 The film launched Chaney as a worldwide superstar and is noted for the amazing makeup effects used by Chaney.  For "Hunchback," he wore  a 70 pound hump and designed a torturous leather harness which forced his body into the hunched position he maintains throughout the film.   This was also one of Forrest J. Ackerman's favorite films!  So bring a date, or just bring yourself and see this classic in a theater!  Due to the length of the film, this will be starting VERY close to 7:30 PM.

 Sunday, February 19
 7:30pm
 Admission: $5.00
 Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
 2828 35th St, Sacramento, CA
 Dreamwork China: The Workers of Foxconn
 The Chinese short documentary film, "Deconstructing Foxconn" which features an interview with an employee who attempted suicide at Foxconn, will be shown prior to the feature documentary.
 You may be familiar with Foxconn and its factories in China.  They manufacture products for Apple, HP, Nintendo, Sony, Motorola, Dell, Nokia, Amazon (Kindle), Toshiba and many, many others.  In fact, if you own any kind of electronic equipment, there's undoubtedly at least some small component or chip which was manufactured at Foxconn. We at MOBS tried to build a PC that was entirely "Foxconn-free" and found it impossible to do.
 Foxconn has had a number of fatal and near-fatal accidents related to unsafe working conditions.  Employees reportedly work excessively long hours, stand until their legs swell "until they can hardly walk" according to the NY Times, and live in extremely confined dorms. They're also known for having a number of employees who have committed suicide - to the point where Foxconn has installed nets at many of its factories.  In January of this year, 150 employees at the Wuhan factory went to the roof and threatened mass suicide.
 "Dreamwork China" was shot in Shenzhen, China, site of a massive Foxconn plant. It features interviews with employees of Foxconn in which the young workers talk about themselves, describing their lives, their hopes, their struggles for rights, and most of all, the dreams of a new generation in "the world's factory."

 Sunday, February 26
 7:30pm
 Admission: $5.00
 Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
 2828 35th St, Sacramento, CA
 2011-2012 Media That Matters Short Film Festival
 Ever since the first year of MOBS, we've shown this annual festival of socially conscious short films, and so once again, we're bringing the all-new 2011-2012 edition of the Media That Matters Short Film Festival to Sacramento! The fest is compiled by Arts Engine in New York, which incidentally been incredibly supportive of MOBS - see the Arts Engine quote on our website.
 The shorts are all made by student and independent filmmakers, and subjects covered in this year's fest include: the continuing effects of the United States' use of Agent Orange in Vietnam; challenges facing LGBT youth in Chicago; living with Asperger's Syndrome; a portrait of Sikh-American activist Sonny Singh as he organizes New York City Sikh youth to combat harassment in their schools; seasonal hunger in coffee growing communities; and much, much more.