A new screening and conversation series is set to launch at the Plaza Theatre on Feb. 15.
Opalite Pictures, a production company founded by Megan Dahl and Adam Pinney, is hosting what they’re calling a Film Salon at the Plaza on Feb. 15 from 7-9 p.m. The event is meant to celebrate Atlanta’s indie film community through screenings of local projects and casual discussions about the work.
The idea to host a screening event like this is something that Dahl and Pinney have been thinking on for years.
“We’ve been going to film festivals for so many years as filmmakers. The thing that I think I get the most out of it, besides seeing work from other people, is just those conversations you get to have,” Dahl said. “Meeting filmmakers and reconnecting with friends, or people you might not have seen in a long time, and just really getting to talk. Let’s focus on the parts that we love the most and try to create an event around that.”
The screening program will include works by Mike Brune, Raymond Carr, Sara Gaare, Katie Hawkins and Cory Locatelli of Here for Good Films, Andrew Lee, Kristian Zuniga and Derek King of Runner Runner, Jackson Vance, Mark Kendall and Bill Worley of Cool Cool Cool Productions, and David Fortune. The evening will also feature the premiere of the trailer for “Mudville,” Pinney’s new feature film. All the films will play in about a 90-minute block.
Dahl and Pinney didn’t have an official submission process for the films, instead choosing to ask friends and filmmakers who they thought would be interested in showing their work. They didn’t want filmmakers to feel the pressure of showing a new, finished project, so some of the things showing will be old projects or works-in-progress.
“We just want to showcase the people we really care about who we feel are really doing cool, creative stuff,” Pinney said.
After the screenings, filmmakers will take part in a casual conversation about what it’s like to make films in Atlanta. A meet-and-greet reception, sponsored by Moonshine Post, will follow.
Right now, Dahl and Pinney are focusing on getting through this first event, but would love to host more screenings in the future. According to Dahl, the pair received a grant from the City of Atlanta to help cover costs. The event is free to attend, but advanced registration is encouraged.
“I think it would be great to do this again. It’s a lot of work,” Dahl said. “But it’s been really cool, and it would be interesting to see how things evolve.”
