Movies/TV/Streaming

Documentary on DC, Education and Hip-Hop Filming in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

The District Rhyme – Teaser 1 from Dave Adams on Vimeo.

Every now and then I need to hear something great like this so I don’t lose my mind. I hope this makes you as happy as it made me. I’ll post updates on the film as it becomes available. From an email:

“I met the people over at Words Beats and Life (wblinc.org) a couple years ago, and did some video work for them, but had always wanted to feature their work in a feature doc about using Hip-Hop to supplement the Education of DC youth.  There are a number of artists in the area who are also school teachers such as Bomani and Asheru (who are both featured in the teaser).  Much of the work is being done in the Columbia Heights area.  One of the WBL campuses is housed at St. Stephens church on Newton, Asheru does a lot stuff over at Bloom on Kenyon, etc.

Long story short, we just want people to be aware of what we are doing so they can follow progress on the website (thedistrictrhyme.com).”

Why Can’t We Have A Movie Theater in Columbia Heights?

By Prince Of Petworth

We’ve touched on this issue a bit in the comment section of previous posts. But I’ve received a surprising number of emails asking why Columbia Heights doesn’t have a movie theater. And Sunday when I was walking downtown I passed the great E Street Cinema (just east of 11th Street, NW) and it made me think about it again. It seems that the E Street Cinema is wildly successful. So I hope I’m not being naive. I’m not saying that Columbia Heights should have a one screen independent theater. But why can’t Columbia Heights have a multi-screen independent theater modeled after the E Street Cinema? It seems like there is a real market out there.

I imagine the theater would attract folks from Adams Morgan, Mt. Pleasant, Shaw/U Street/Logan Circle, Columbia Heights of course, Park View, Petworth, Brightwood, Brookland, and even Woodley Park/Cleveland Park among other neighborhoods. Is that not enough people to support a movie theater? If you think Columbia Heights could support a movie theater, where could it realistically go? How many screens would be ideal? Could it support a theater that shows independent films like E Street or a more traditional theater like Chinatown/Gallery Place Regal Cinemas?

Capture DC Life Seeks Submissions for Its Short Film Contest Before September 25 Deadline

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

“Capture DC Life, an engaging short film contest and viewing event designed to call attention to the visual excitement of the city, is now accepting submissions at www.CaptureDCLife.com through Friday, September 25. The winning films will have their world debut at a premiere party October 8 celebrating the official grand opening of Park Place Apartments at Petworth Metro.

The short films should depict an aspect of life in the Washington, D.C., area as seen through the lens of the filmmaker.

Sponsored by the new Park Place Apartments at Petworth Metro, DC Short Films Festival, On Tap magazine, Ketel One and Stella Artois, the Capture DC Life film contest will award a $1,000 grand prize, a $500 runner-up check, and a special people’s choice prize.

The winners of the Capture DC Life short film contest will be announced the evening of Thursday, October 8, as the highlight of the rooftop terrace grand opening party for Park Place Apartments at Petworth Metro — a 161-unit apartment building located within walking distance from Columbia Heights at 850 Quincy Street, NW.

“We believe that the Capture DC Life film contest will showcase many of the unique and bold aspects we’ve strived for with this project, and that presenting diverse views of DC lifestyle is the perfect match for celebrating the official opening of Park Place Apartments,” said Chris Donatelli, president of Donatelli Development, the Bethesda-based developers of the property, which is managed by Bozzuto Management.

“The apartments represent transit-oriented development at its best, with direct access to Metro and dynamic interiors that reflect the excitement and renewed energy that are the foundation of what is happening in the DC and Petworth neighborhood,” he added.

Capture DC Life film contest guidelines, as well as details on how to RSVP for the October 8 Grand Opening Premiere of Park Place Apartments at Petworth Metro, are immediately available at www.CaptureDCLife.com.”

Full Disclosure: CaptureDCLife is an advertiser on PoP.

Friday Question of the Day – What’s the Best Movie of the Summer? The Worst?

By Prince Of Petworth

Well, I went into Inglourious Basterds hoping to see the best film of the summer. A number of friends highly recommended it. They are no longer my friends. Now, I’m a huge Tarantino fan. Violence in films doesn’t upset me. And of course, I’m Jewish, so I thought I’d love this film. I could not have been more wrong. I was constantly checking my watch throughout the film. It was utterly boring. There was no character development at all and scarcely any compelling plot. It was just plain boring. And like I said, I really enjoyed Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction and the other Tarantino films.

So help me out – what was the best film of this summer? And for fun, what was the worst?

Screen on the Green Starts Tonight Plus Bonus Album Cover

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Ian

Screen on the green starts tonight with “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. Head to the Mall around 7th Street, the movie will start at sunset. But get there earlier to stake out a good spot. Hopefully the weather cooperates tonight.

And in honor of the 40th anniversary of landing on the moon, Som Records gives us a ridiculously awesome album cover.

First Photo of MTV’s Real World DC Filming

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to a reader for sending:

“Saw two new castmembers on Riggs and 14th walking down the street being filmed.”

Granted it’s a bit spotty but it’s the first photo I’ve seen. Anyone else seen filming going on?

When we last discussed the arrival of MTV’s Real World DC folks were a bit concerned that they were going to ruin the neighborhoods. So now that they are here has anyone noticed any difference in their neighborhoods? Any other sightings?

Adams Mill Bar and Grill is Ready for its Close-Up, Mr. DeMille (By Charles)

By Prince Of Petworth

You might want to wander over to Adams Morgan tonight where the out-of-towners will likely be movie stars and not legislative correspondents. Or you might want to avoid the whole neighborhood entirely since the sheer volume of street space taken up by massive trucks, dollies and other movie-making equipment almost guarantees traffic hassles. I’ve stumbled across the no-name-yet Nicholson/Witherspoon/Rudd vehicle in a couple of locations across town – even watched Jack and Paul emote for a few takes across the street from the Scientologists, at Connecticut and R, the other day — but the sheer size of this effort suggests that tonight is going to be a big night. And face it, everyone needs to get through Adams Morgan every now and again, if only to remind themselves why they rarely go there any more, and a Wednesday night with a movie shoot for curbside entertainment beats heck out of a Friday night with rookies puking on the curb.

Ed. Note: I still enjoy going to Adams Morgan from time to time! Here is a list of favorite bars we discussed a couple weeks ago. So, I’ve been getting emails pretty regularly asking why certain areas of AM are closed (including the Duke Ellington Bridge). This is the film I’ve been talking about when I email you back. And in what I’ll call great timing, PoPville flickr user Tyrannous got some great shots of the filming last night.

more direction

“reese witherspoon, paul rudd, james L. Brooks on the corner of 18th and columbia ave in front of the starbucks filming a yet to be titled movie.”

Paul Rudd meeting DC

BREAKING: Screen on the Green Saved!

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Ian

Thanks to a reader for sending:

“Screen on the Green is Back
It’s Show Time!

Dear Trust Friends,

This year, one of the most clebrated and cherished summer activities on the National Mall, the Screen on the Green film festival, will be brought to you by the Trust for the National Mall along with our partners, HBO and Comcast.

As you may know, Washington came dangerously close to losing Screen on the Green after funding for the activity fell through earlier this spring.

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