Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Movie about mysterious WNC photog Thurs in Black Mountain

Seven Sisters Cinema, a 225-seater small theatre in Black Mountain, hosts a new series of documentaries of regional interest. I was bummed to miss the Popcorn Sutton doc and am even more bummed to miss this one about a WNC character I'd love to know more about.

Another reason to come out: our local clubs are suffering (some now hanging by a thread) after this winter's NONSTOP weekend snow. Clubs depend on weekend business; I hear this winter is close to putting some spots out of business.

If you've got cabin fever, make it count. Support a locally owned venue with your dollars for fun, food and beer. Plus this movie is only $5!


The Mystery of George Masa
7 pm White Horse Blk Mtn

105C Montreat Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828) 669-0816
$5

From a press release:

Seven Sisters Cinema Presents "The Mystery of George Masa" at White Horse Black Mountain

Contact: Jerry Pope 686-3922 jerry@serpentchild.org

Seven Sisters Cinema launched in January of 2010 with a screening of the documentary film, The Last One. A standing room only crowd of over 250 people enjoyed the documentary about moonshiner Popcorn Sutton.

The second offering of the Seven Sisters Cinema, "The Mystery of George Masa" will screen on Thursday, February 18th at 7pm at White Horse Black Mountain in downtown Black Mountain.

Filmmaker Paul Bonesteel will answer questions and discuss the film after the showing.

In 1915, a Japanese man named Masahara Iizuka came to the mountains of North Carolina. Masa's mysterious past, his untimely death, and the passage of time have clouded our knowledge and appreciation of George Masa, until now. "The Mystery of George Masa" chronicles the life of this mysterious Japanese immigrant who became well known in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina as a great photographer, hiker and explorer.

Masa was instrumental in the founding of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the mapping and building of the Appalachian Trail. Told through interviews with a few living acquaintances, historians' accounts, Masa's own words from personal letters and journals, subtle re-creations, and a wonderful collection of the subject's own photographs, "The Mystery of George Masa" uncovers many of the secrets that surround this immigrant's story.

Seven Sisters Cinema, a new documentary film series focusing on documentary films of regional interest for Western North Carolina, is a production of Serpent Child Ensemble. SCE is a local non-profit company that creates community-based art projects such as the successful, long-running "Way Back When" play series at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts. SCE is currently working on a documentary film about the Beacon blanket mill in Swannanoa. As a part of their commitment to the Western North Carolina community, Serpent Child created the Seven Sisters Cinema, to encourage appreciation for local history, culture and the art of the documentary film.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students with ID.

You can buy your tickets online here.

For more information visit series website: www.sevensisterscinema.com or call Jerry Pope at 686-3922.


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