She Likes to Watch

With gas prices skyrocketing and future of fuel looking grim, it’s safe to say most of us have an interest in oil.

Few of us, however, have the gumption to dedicate more than two years to researching the subject.

Filmmakers Scott D. Roberts and Jeremy Wagener did just that with their documentary “Gas Hole.”

Using scores of interviews and miles of film footage, they delved into the history of oil and the future of fuel-efficient technologies and alternative fuels.

“Instead of going the film festival route or looking for distributors, we felt the subject matter was so timely and so important that we thought, ‘Let’s put on a tour,” said Roberts.

Roberts and Wagener will be in San Luis Obispo tomorrow (Tuesday) to screen the film and answer questions.

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Fill up at any gas station from Paso Robles to Nipomo and you may suffer from sticker shock.

Prices at the pump now run an average of four bucks a gallon, which means hard times for anyone who depends on wheels for work or errands. (Yours truly, for instance.)

That’s $40 to take little Johnny to swim practice. Fifty clams to stop for groceries. Sixty smackers to pick up Fifi from the vet’s. And that’s if you drive a compact.

At a comparably cheap gas station in Santa Maria, I overheard one man complaining that it took $100 to fill the tank of his ’60s-era boat of an automobile.

A hundred greenbacks! Zowie!

Soaring gas prices can only mean one thing: Time to trade my oil-burning laptop for one of them new-fangled ‘lectric models.

All kidding aside, however, our current oil shortage is a serious problem.

That’s why Central Coast moviegoers should check out two upcoming screenings of documentaries that focus on “the oil issue.”

“Megadisasters: Oil Apocalypse,” which screens Friday, looks at the potential crisis facing the world when we run out of oil — and the solutions that could save us.

With the History Channel documentary, organizers will also screen an animated short film, “Post Oil Man.”

The screening, sponsored by HopeDance magazine, will be followed by a discussion with local activist Zachary Stowasser, professional musician Cindy Dixon, environmentalist Jim Cole and HopeDance publisher Bob Banner.

See “Oil Apocalypse” at 7 p.m. Friday at the San Luis Obispo library, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. A $5 donation is suggested.

On Tuesday, May 6, the documentary “GasHole” examines the history of oil and the future of alternative fuels.
Narrated by Peter Gallagher (he of the enormous eyebrows), “GasHole” features interviews with U.S. Department of Energy officials, congressional leaders, users and producers of alternative fuels, and others.

Filmmakers Scott Roberts and Jeremy Wagener will be present at two screenings to answer questions.

Watch “GasHole” on Tuesday at the Palm Theatre at 817 Palm St., San Luis Obispo’s first-and-only solar-powered movie theater. The movie screens at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.

Tickets are $7.50, $5 for kids and seniors. (Tuesdays are also “KCPR Night,” so mention the Cal Poly radio station or wear a KCPR T-shirt and you’ll get a buck off.)

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.