Attend the premiere and after party of "The Raven," starring John Cusack

When this request came through to us, it was practically a no-brainer. It celebrates the things we love: a historic theatre in downtown LA, film and literature! So, without further adieu, here are the rules to enter our contest for a pair of passes to attend the premiere of Relativity Media's thriller "The Raven," based on some of Edgar Allen Poe's famous tales and starring John Cusack, Luke Evans, Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen, on Monday, April 23 at 8PM at the Los Angeles Theatre.

Cirque du Soleil: IRIS at the Kodak Theatre - Fantastic Fantasy in Reel-ity

Acrobatic feats with special effects live camera feed in
the background are what make this show stand out!

I’ve been a long-time Cirque du Soleil fan, but always seem to miss the touring shows. Now that IRIS – the Los Angeles resident Cirque du Soleil show at the Kodak theatre – is in town, I jumped at the chance to see it. This time, I brought a friend, and newbie to Cirque du Soleil shows, and we had a blast.

A Cirque du Soleil show to call our own: Tickets to "IRIS" go on sale

Hey Oscar, meet your new roommate! The Kodak Theatre's new resident, the long-awaited, dedicated L.A. Cirque du Soleil show arrives summer of 2011. Though "IRIS - A Journey Through the World of Cinema" debuts next year, eager fans will have a chance to purchase tickets in advance this coming Monday, November 22. Just in time for the holidays...

[Updated] This Week's Giveaways & Discounts: OC Fair, Glee, RENT, and More!

At ExperienceLA.com we know that some of the best experiences begin with one of our ticket giveaways.  We have giveaways for the OC Fair, VIP Passes to see Jane Lynch Launch her Sue Sylvester figure at Madame Tussauds, and a discount for New Filmmakers LA - Enter all of our promotions at http://bit.ly/xlapromo:

Warner Brothers Best Kept Secret. SHH!!!!!

Time to break out those Marauder's Maps and head out to Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank because a tour is about to commence! That's right the Warner Brothers Studio offers tours of their studios and Museum (and for more information click on that link!).

At Warner Brothers, everyone is considered a VIP. Their standard tour is the VIP tour where members get an excusive look at sets, soundstages, backlot streets and craft tours. In addition, the tour ends at the Warner Brothers Museum which has many spectacular exhibits (including an entire floor dedicated to Harry Potter) that are available only through the tour. So for all those muggles and people wishing to experience the behind-the-scenes magic of Warner Brothers' current and classic movies and television come a board! Because what better time is there then the present!

The tour also begins with a video that depicts the history of Warner Brothers. These tours are from 8:20 am to 4pm Monday through Friday and it is recommended to get advanced tickets online. However, they do offer first-come, first-serve tickets each day for remaining spots, as well as extended and weekend tours during spring and summer and those dates will be listed on the website.

But for those of you would want to be very, very important people, there is the Deluxe Tour. These tours are led by guides that take you into current movie sets and allow you to talk to crew members as well as the artists in the craft shops. Overall, this is a more in-depth tour that really allows you to ask questions and understand the movie-making process. This tour also invites you to eat at the studio commissary cafe where -hint hint-you might just get to dine with a star! These Deluxe Tours are five hours and begin at 10:20 am Monday through Friday and advanced tickets are recommended.

Included in both tours is an all-access pass to the Warner Brothers Museum which features many exhibits on movie memorabilia such as costumes and props from classic and recent films. Some examples of memorabilia the museum houses are the intricate hats from My Fair Lady, James Dean's hunky Triumph 500 motorcycle, and Oscar's from some of Warner Brothers award-winning films. Along with these beautiful displays, the Museum has a variety of audio stations and video clips that depict how or when certain props were used in a film. And the most popular exhibit is the entire floor dedicated to the fantastic world of Harry Potter. There is even a Harry Potter Sorting Hat on display that will even sort guests into different houses! Another museum area is devoted to Casablanca that holds Humphrey Bogart & Ingrid Bergman's costumes, the famous piano and other one of kind pieces from the production. The most recent addition to the museum is a special one that celebrates the 50th anniversary of television.

With Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opening today in LA, here are some more Harry Potter-related locations for all of us die hard fans which you might not know about. For instance, if you go to the magnificent Hollywood Mann's Chinese Theater to see the movie, be sure to see the three young stars of the Harry Potter movies Daniel Radcliff, Ruptert Grint and Emma Watson's hand prints and foot prints in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theater - a historic landmark of Los Angeles that houses hundreds of celebrities' imprints. If you go to the Santa Monica Promenade to see the film, another Harry must-see several miles away is Whismic Alley a store at 2717 1/2 Wilshire Blvd. that is fashioned to be a Diagon Alley look alike. Inside the store, you will find individual sections serving as the different stores in the books and movies such as Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions which has extremely authentic costumes and Olivanders Wand Shop featuring equisetic imitation wands from the movie and books. Finally, the Arc Light Sherman Oaks is currently displaying costumes from the latest movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. If you are a real diehard fan or planning to travel to Chicago, the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry has a great summer Harry Potter exhibit that is stirring up lots of excitement. After Chicago, who knows where the exhibit will land.

So don't just sit back, relax and watch Harry Potter or any movie. Get involved with the premiere week and have fun with it. Maybe even go in costume. You are in Los Angeles, meaning Hollywood and all the movie magic is at your finger tips so take advantage and enjoy it!

Voldemort and Death Eater costume photo courtesy of Curt Gibbs that is from his picture set of FIDM's 2008 Movie Costume Exhibit which contains several other Harry Potter costume pictures. It is very possible that costumes from this year's film will be in the 2010 FIDM Movie Costume Exhibit.

-Aly

Weekend Festivals FTW!

Yay for the coming summer months and spending time outdoors (not that we already don't do that in the awesome year-round weather of Southern California... but it's nice to still have something to be excited about)! With that in mind, there are a lot of festivals coming up during the weekend that are worth checking out. A little something for everyone...


May 31st: BioBlitz Festival
Grab your backpack and join the National Geographic Society and the National Park Service for this 24-hour event. Teams of scientists, naturalists, community leaders, students and the public join forces to discover and inventory the biodiversity in the nation’s largest urban national park.

May 31st: 3rd Annual T.O.M. Film Festival
Film goers will not only enjoy free admission for the festival, but they’ll have the opportunity to find out more about local and global initiatives to fight and end modern day slavery.

May 30th-June 1st: Los Angeles Accordion Festival
The first annual festival kicks off TODAY, featuring 15 accordion players and their bands showcasing diverse styles from Cajun to Irish to Rockabilly, and even an accordion workshop for those of you who want to learn more about the instrument.

And don't forget that the LA Film Fest tickets go on sale on June 2nd!

Happy Friday everyone!
-ExperienceLA Staff

Earth Day in LA

LA is a place known more for its car-friendliness (have you seen the traffic out there?), but that doesn't mean it's lacking in more eco-friendly options (especially as those gas prices rise). So take some time out to learn how to boost the green power in your life. Experience the arts and cultural offerings of LA and save the world in your own way...

Interview: Ayuko Babu and the Pan African Film and Arts Festival

Daood interviews Ayuko Babu, film festival director for the Pan African Film and Arts Festival. Read on for great insights about this annual film/arts festival and this year's events.


Daood: As president of PAFF and this year being the 16th annual event, [who are] the co-stars of this organization [that] have been essential to the longevity and success of this vision?

Mr. Babu: The people who were the co-founders of the festival and essential to the longevity of the festival [are] Danny Glover (actor), Janet DuBois (actress), Asantewa Olatunji, Esq. (General Manager/Director of Programming of the Festival, [and] Miki Goral (Director of Research).

Daood: Philosophically, how significant is film as an art-form?

Mr. Babu: Film, is the key art form for the 20th and 21st century. The reason for this is that all other art forms fold into it. And also film has mass appeal where it influences millions and millions of people around the world.

Daood: Since the onset of PAFF to the present the films underscore certain esthetic themes regardless of subject matter. What is the selection process for those films chosen to be apart of the PAFF?

Mr. Babu: The criteria for the selection of films entered in PAFF is 1) Does the film speak to us and our people?; if it attempts to explain us to other people PAFF is not interested; 2) Does the film tell a good story?; and 3) Is the film entertaining?

Daood: Your experience with the Republic of Guinea film industry is unique and I'm sure the audience would enjoy reading about it. Would you say that memorable epoch perhaps gave ground for the PAFF?

Mr. Babu: The idea for the Pan African Film Festival came from Mr. Gilbert Minot, who was the Director General of Silly-Cinema. Silly-Cinema was the governmental arm in charge of all film productions, theatres for exhibition films and he also was the person that convinced Kwame Toure (Stokley Carmichael) and Miriam Makeba (African singing superstar) to move to Guinea.

Daood: Tell us about the relationship that you have with the third largest film industry in the world Nigeria?

Mr. Babu: I have been invited several times to be a Juror at the African Academy Awards, which is held annually in the city of Lagos, Nigeria. I also have extensive and formal ties with various entities in the Nigerian Film Industry.

Daood: Have there been any films spoken of with great adulation, creating a buzz with anticipation thus far?

Mr. Babu: Yes, Return to Goree (Senegal), Namibia – the Struggle for Liberation (Namibia), and the Yacoubian Building (Eqypt).

Daood: Last year Saturday February 17th was the 51st anniversary of Ghana's Independence. How did the PAFF celebrate this special occasion?

Mr. Babu: We acknowledged Ghana’s independence by showcasing a film from Ghana entitled A Goat’s Tale and hosted a reception for the Ghanaian Community.

Daood: In addition to the films, there are events such as Spoken-Word Fest, Stand-Up Comedy and a PAFF Fashion Show. Can you elaborate upon them?

Mr. Babu: Spoken Word is a poetry showcase that sells out every year, hosted by Shihan, one of the members of the Deaf Poetry Jam family (Friday, February 8th at 9pm and Friday, February 15th @ 9pm). Stand Up Comedy, this year’s PAFF comedy night will be hosted by J. Anthony Brown on Sunday, February 10th at 7:30pm at the Spot Comedy Club. In addition, Alex Thomas will host a Comedy Night at Comedy Union. And this year the Fashion Show will take place Sunday, February 17th from 2-4 at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. This year’s theme is Wearable Art on the Move.

Daood: With the multitude of films that you seen, have you ever got the notion to write a script, direct a film or act?

Mr. Babu: All the time, but I just can't find the time to do it. Being a Film Festival Director is a full-time job.

Daood: At this time I know you're extremely busy and I would like to extend my gratitude for this interview.

Mr. Babu: Thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak about the Festival. And I would like to say to the readership that if you are tired of the "Soul Planes" of the world, come out and see what we screen at the festival. And then go next door to the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, and see all the wonderful fine arts and unique crafts and beautiful designed clothes.

For more information about the Pan African Film Festival, visit ExperienceLA.com.

Freebie of the Week: Spiritual Warriors, The Film

We love freebies and we're sure you do too.

Starting today, catch free screenings all week long of "Spiritual Warriors"... and get your hands on a free copy of the book that inspired the film, Dr. John-Roger's LA Times #1 bestseller "Spiritual Warrior".

Brief synopsis: "Spiritual Warriors" stars Jsu Garcia as Christopher Finn, a sometimes mob gofer/sometimes actor who eludes police pursuit after a drug deal goes bad. After hiding behind the walls of an opulent estate, Finn is awakened the next morning by an old man who seems to know more about Finn than he possibly could or should...

Screening at Fine Arts Theatre 7pm & 10pm every night. November 19th - 25th.

-ExperienceLA Staff

Antonio Banderas Wants You to Go Metro!

Antonio Banderas wants you to Go Metro to the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. Check out the video (courtesy of Metro) to see why you should Go Metro to one of Los Angeles best annual film festivals.



Antonio Banderas quiere que tomes el metro al Festival de Cine latino Internacional de Los Angeles. Mira el video (cortesia de Metro) donde explica la buena razon para tomar el metro a uno de los mejores festivales de Cine de Los Angeles.