Feelin’ the groove

By Daily Press staff

Savannah-based quartet Perpetual Groove bring a blend of driving rock, futuristic effects and a knack for melody to the Temple Bar on Oct. 26. Perpetual Groove first began touring more extensively in 2001 when they broke out of the Southeast region. Five years later, Perpetual Groove is on the national touring circuit traveling with a continually expanding light show.

Under their collective belt, Perpetual Groove has recorded two original studio albums — 2005’s “All This Everything,” which was recorded in Atlanta’s Tree Sound Studios and produced by Grammy Award Recipient Robert Hannon, and 2003’s “Sweet Oblivious Antidote” (on Harmonized Records). This past summer, they were back at Tree Sound Studios with Hannon and will release their third album in the fall on Tree Leaf Records.

Entering a new era of traveling via tour bus, their current tour finds the band crossing the nation to Santa Monica, leaving their trusty van behind.

Perpetual Groove will perform with the Underground Orchestra at Temple Bar, 1026 Wilshire Boulevard. Doors open at 8 p.m., with the show starting at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 at the door. For information and tickets, call (310) 393-6611 or go to www.templebarlive.com.



Some good “Jam”

By Daily Press staff

A local indie film hits the big screen at the Hollywood Film Fest this Saturday.

Craig Sirling’s feature “Jam” was made at the Santa Monica offices of his production company, Thanksgiving Films. Sirling’s short film version of “Jam” played at the first Other Venice Film Fest in 2004, and now the feature version is screening at the Hollywood Film Fest at 7 p.m. in Theatre C at the Arclight Cinemas, 6360 Sunset Boulevard. The cast includes William Forsythe, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Amanda Detmer, Jonathan Silverman and Gina Torres, among others.

The film’s plot unfolds on Father’s Day, when 14 travelers’ lives collide following a crash that leaves them stranded on a two-lane rural highway. With nowhere to go, the characters of “Jam” emerge from their cars and become travel companions with those whom they would normally never meet. The primary themes revolve around family and the dynamic between father and son.

Jean-Baptiste, Detmer and Forsythe are scheduled to attend the screening on Saturday night.

For more information, go to www.jammovie.com.



Can you see my film now?

By Daily Press staff

Film technology has expanded to audiences via phone.

Hollywood’s First Wireless Film Fest — The Third Screen Film Festival (TSFF) — debuts next week. The screening begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Museum of Television & Radio, 465 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills.

Guests will be invited to view top TSFF films on cell phone screens and engage in a panel discussion on the future of new media moderated by TSFF Director Jon Katzman and featuring industry experts, including TSFF Judge David Gale, EVP of New Media at MTV; Chris Gore of Film Threat; Virginia Heffernan of the New York Times; Roger Jackson of IFILM; Daniel Tibbets, EVP of GoTV Networks and Suzanne Zizzi, SVP, Lion Rock Productions.

The top 15 TSFF film entries are posted at thirdscreenfilmfestival.com for viewers to cast their final votes. Votes will continue to be collected in real time via online and text messaging until the final winners are announced.

TSFF is presented by Columbia College Chicago — the largest arts and media college in the county — and its Semester in L.A. Program based at CBS Studios in Studio City.

Four prizes will be awarded at the final event, including: The top Student Filmmaker Prize; the grand prize Audience Choice Award (most votes overall); the Mobile Award (most votes from cell phones or wireless devices); and the Jury Prize presenting the judges’ top selection.

For more information, go to www.thirdscreenfilmfestival.com.