She Likes to Watch

HopeDance FiLMs, the thought-provoking local movie series , is on hiatus until September.

Don’t despair, loyal moviegoers.

HopeDance Magazine is teaming up with Cal Poly this month for two food-related screenings.

“King Corn,” directed by Aaron Woolf, follows one acre of corn from the fields to the dinner tables of American consumers. The second film, “The Real Dirt on Farmer John,” chronicles the story of maverick Midwestern farmer John Peterson.

“King Corn” plays at 8 p.m. on May 21 at The Sandwich Factory on the Cal Poly campus. Bud Evans, a political science lecturer at Cal Poly, will lead a discussion on the importance of food choices.

“The Real Dirt on Farmer John” will play at The Sandwich Factory on May 28, also at 8 p.m.

Both screenings are free and open to the public. For more information, call Tracy Owens at (310) 938-0709 or e-mail towens@calpoly.edu.

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Meanwhile, you can rent films via HopeDance’s library at The Novel Experience, 779 Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo.

According to HopeDance publisher Bob Banner, the library has about 500 films, mostly documentaries on subjects ranging from spirituality to the environment to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Many have been screened as part of the HopeDance FiLMs series.

Rental prices are $3 for three days and $5 per week, with a $1 late fee.

Library users can also purchase a film card for $200, which qualifies a family to rent up to four films a week for an entire year. Novel Experience customers receive a free rental by buying more than $25 of books.

For more information, call (805) 544-9663.

February is a busy month for movie lovers.

We cram into theater after packed theater, eagerly absorbing the year’s best films in anticipation of that giant circus-cum-popularity contest known as the Oscars. By the actual awards ceremony rolls around, we can barely keep our glazed eyes open.

If you’re weary of big-budget bonanzas like “Atonement” and “There Will Be Blood,” try a few of SLO County’s less frenzied screenings.

No Joan Rivers. No Gucci. We promise.

On Wednesday, take a peak into the life of William Randolph Hearst.

The Cambria Film Society will screen “The Cat’s Meow,” about the newspaper magnate and silent film star Charlie Chaplin, vying for the affection of the same woman.

That screening is 7 p.m. at the Theatre at the Old Grammer School, 1350 Main St. in Cambria. Tickets are $3. Call 927-8190 to learn more.

Also on Wednesday, head to Templeton for a potluck dinner and HopeDance magazine’s screening of “Two Angry Moms.” The documentary chronicles Amy Kalafa and Susan Rubin’s mission to get school districts to serve fresh, healthy foods.

Dinner starts at 6 p.m. at Dancing Deer Ranch, 2975 Vineyard Drive in Templeton, followed by the movie at 7 p.m. A donation of $5 to $10 is suggested.

Sandra Dimond of North County Farmers Markets will hold a Q&A session following the screening.

Miss “Moms”? You can catch two more screenings on Friday, Feb. 25, at the San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo.

Kim Pasciuto will speak at the 10 a.m. screening.

The panel for the 7 p.m. screening features Kathleen deChadenedes, director of SLOW Food of San Luis Obispo, Eric Michaelsson of Clark Valley Organic Farm in Los Osos, and Nature’s Touch owner Melanie Blankenship, among others.

A donation of $5 is suggested for both screenings.

Visit www.hopedance.org or call 544-9663 for details.

– Sarah Linn

Feeling hungry?
This month, HopeDance Magazine caters to folks with a love of food and a taste for progressive politics.
Tonight, a panel of speaker discusses local food and farmers following a screening of “Deconstructing Supper,” about restaurateur Joseph Bishops’s search for regional, nutritious food.
Among the speakers is Katy Budge, author of The Tribune’s “Local Flavors” column.
Finger food will be provided by Central Coast businesses including Clark Valley Organic Farm, American Flatbread Pizza and SLO-town Creamery.
That event starts tonight at 6 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo City-County Library, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. A donation of $5 is suggested.

Later this month, the magazine screens “Slow Food Revolution” at American Flatbread Pizza in Los Alamos.
Dinner will be served at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30, followed by the film and a discussion led by HopeDance’s Bob Banner.
The menu features tuna confit and shell bean salad, pulled pork or potato-and-leek flatbread, and an apple tart with honey ice cream. Tickets are $25.
To make a reservation, call 344-4400. Learn more at American Flatbread’s Web site.

– Sarah L.

Tired of the typical summer blockbusters?
Check out a fresh crop of HopeDance FiLMs, starting tonight with “God Grew Tired of Us.”
“God Grew Tired of Us” follows four young African men as they journey from war- and poverty-torn Sudan to a new life in America.
The documentary plays tonight at the San Luis Obispo City-County Library, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $5.
On Friday and Saturday, HopeDance Magazine hosts the LOCALization FiLM Festival, featuring films about what it means to be truly local. They’ll be screened at the San Luis Obispo library.
The schedule is as follows:

FRIDAY, 7 p.m.
“A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash”
Attend the world premiere of this documentary about how our civilization’s addiction to oil could lead to a grim future. Made in Switzerland.

SATURDAY
2:30 p.m.
“Independent America: The Two-Lane Search for Mom & Pop”
Director Hanson Hosein goes on the road to discover the struggle between mom-and-pop stores and big-box chains.
Adam Hill, who is running for the county Board of Supervisors, will speak.

4 p.m.
“Slow Food Revolution”
Learn about the worldwide movement to embrace fruit, vegetables, wine and other foods made the old-fashioned way. Slow Food was launched in Italy in response to Europe’s fast-food industry.
Local experts and the owner of Naked Food Live Cuisine will be on hand to answer questions and dish out a light dinner. Call today for a reservation: 550-2487.

6:30 p.m.
“Ourtown”
In this documentary, two mothers fight plans to bring Wal-Mart to their small Maine town. Tom Comar, of Atascadero’s Oppose Wal-Mart group, will speak.

8 p.m.
“Gordo”
This short film follows a Mexican immigrant who leaves his family’s popular taco stand for California.

8:30 p.m.
“Indies Under Fire”
This documentary examines the devastating impact of large bookstore chains on independent book sellers throughout the country. Jim Hill of Novel Experience Books will answer questions.

Tickets are $10 per film or $40 for the entire six-movie series. For more information, call 544-9663 or visit HopeDance’s Web site.

– Sarah L.