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Chandler Film Festival ready to roll downtown

BY KEN SAIN GetOut Staff

Running a film festival during a pandemic is a challenge. It was more so last year, when most Americans had not been vaccinated.

The president and director of the Chandler International Film Festival says they still managed to hold a great event in 2020.

“Luckily, nobody got sick,” Mitesh Patel said. “And it was a really good event.”

This year, the festival returns for the sixth time and it won’t have the restrictions it faced a year ago, which included a 33 percent maximum occupancy in theaters and 50 percent at the afterparties.

The festival, Jan. 18-23, is also returning to downtown with showings at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas. With fewer restrictions and most Americans vaccinated, Patel expects an even better festival.

“It’s a whole one year of work, and we worked so much this year. We thought it was going to be full-on again,” Patel said.

He said that was why they decided to expand the festival from four to six days. What they didn’t know was that the Omicron variant would have the number of COVID-19 cases soaring to record highs just before the festival begins. “Definitely, it’s challenging, but I’m a

A random conversation leads them to create a team called “Crasher.” Together, they show up at skate parks and events where their skateboard tricks attract a growing

flock of admirers. (Special to GetOut) filmmaker and I accept challenges.”

Patel said he plans to offer rapid COVID-19 testing at the theater. And like last year, if patrons are uncomfortable coming to the theater, they can buy a digital pass to stream movies at their homes. About 115 films were selected for this year’s festival. The opening night film is “American Cherry.” It won two jury prizes at the Cannes Film Festival for firsttime filmmaker and producer. It was also named the best film of the Berlin Movie Awards.

The story is about a teen-age girl who must deal with family issues, including mental illness and drug abuse. She does that while falling in love the mysterious boy next door. The movie is described as a psychological romance-thriller. It was seeFEST page 36

Lovin’ Life Expo features The Duttons' energy

BY ALLISON BROWN

GetOut Staff

Known for their upbeat, familyfriendly shows, The Duttons weren’t always performers.

In fact, matriarch Sheila Dutton admits she never really saw the value in performing until she had the chance to do it with her kids.

“As a matter of fact, if you were to pick someone, the most unlikely thing that I would be doing would be performing out on a stage with my family, but the kids really wanted to do it together as a family,” she says. “We never made a conscious decision to be performers or entertainers. It was just one thing kind of led to another.”

The Duttons will show off their performance chops as the musical entertainment at the Lovin’ Life Expos on Jan. 24, at the Sundial Recreation Center in Sun City and Jan. 26 at the Mesa Convention finalists on “America’s Got Talent,” voted America’s most musical family by Nickelodeon, won several awards for performance and entertained thousands at their theaters, including one in Mesa. The Duttons first brought their show to sunny Arizona in the winter of 2005 and have since made it their winter home.

In 2010, the Duttons partnered with East Valley High School in Mesa to renovate and update their auditorium. Shows that blend bluegrass and country kick off on Jan. 14, and continue every weekend through March 31.

What began as just mom, dad and their four children has grown to include their in-laws and grandchildren. Dutton says the family ties run deep. Everyone is closely involved in all aspects of the business.

She says working, performing and

Ben and Sheila Dutton will be bringing their upbeat music to the Lovin’ Life Expos this month in Sun City and Mesa. (Special to GetOut)

directed by first-time filmmaker Marcella Cytrynowicz. The other films include some foreign entries, from about a dozen other countries. They include movies from Argentina, China, Japan, and a number of European countries. Patel said just under a third of the films at this year’s festival would be from outside the U.S.

Patel said at least three celebrities had committed to attending, but he expected more than that would attend.

Sean Young, star of “Stripes” and both “Blade Runner” films, is one of the celebrities who have agreed to attend. Joining her at Pat Finn and Bubba Ganter.

Finn will be instantly recognizable as “Pat” from the Valley Toyota commercials.

Patel said the festival makes it a priority to promote local filmmakers. One of those local filmmakers is John Badalamenti, from Scottsdale. His documentary, Horse Heroes is one of the films at this year’s festival. “The film was shot completely in Arizona, in Gilbert and Scottsdale,” Badalamenti said. Nicholas Rice, a renowned journalist for the Los Angeles Times, returns to his hometown of ‘The Dunes’ to investigate the disappearance of the tenant in his childhood home. While there, a mysterious figure from his past re-emerges and threatens his

existence. (Special to GetOut)

He said being in a film festival is vital as he looks to secure a distributor. He had to make a choice to make his Arizona debut in Chandler, or Phoenix. He chose Chandler.

“I like their layout, I like their attitude,” Badalamenti said. “I really like that they feature so many diverse filmmakers.”

He said being in a local festival is extremely important.

“What’s nice about Chandler, local people who know about the film, heard about the film, or are in the film, get the opportunity to come see the film in a theater,” he said.

Patel said the Chandler International Film Festival is starting to create its own identity, and it’s one where people know they will have fun.

“This is our sixth year, and we’re still learning what we’re good on,” Patel said. “What I’m learning so far, filmmakers and people who attend the festival are telling me this is one of the coolest film festivals, and the reason is because our movies … are fun. We have every night an after party. We have an opening ceremony, a closing ceremony, red carpet every day.”

If You Go

Chandler Film Festival

When: Jan. 18-23 Where: LOOK Dine-In Cinemas, 1 W. Chandler Blvd. Tickets: $15 to $10 for individual showings; $50 for a day pass; $220 for all-access pass Streaming: Films can be streamed for $8

to $10 per show, or $100 for all shows

Website: www.chandlerfilmfestival.com

Some highlights:

American Cherry: The opening night film was named the winner of the Berlin Movie Award and was a jury prize winner at the Cannes World Film Festival. It’s the story of a teen-age girl who falls for the boy next door while she deals with family issues. 8 p.m., Jan. 18.

Apache Leap: This film was made near Chandler, just outside of Globe. An Apache artist tries to pursue his dreams despite family issues, enemies from his past, and an unpredictable old car. 9 p.m., Jan. 19. Beneath the Banyan Tree: A Chinese mother is forced to flee to the U.S. and live with her independent daughter. Problem is, she finds it difficult to salvage their reputation in a foreign land. 9:25 p.m., Jan. 22.

Cult Cartel: Remember Ralph Malph from the 1970s sit-com “Happy Days?” Don Most stars in this film about a religious cult that engages in questionable acts. 8:35 p.m., Jan. 21.

The Dunes: A reporter returns to his hometown in Australia to investigate the disappearance of a tenant from his childhood home. While there, his past catches up with him. 8:50 p.m., Jan. 20.

Hot Money: This documentary stars former General Wesley Clark and his son and focuses on how climate change is a risk to all the wealth many people have spent a lifetime building. 4 p.m., Jan. 20.

One Grave For Three Men: In this Spanish-language crime thriller, three men deal with the consequences of their failed get-rich scheme. 4 p.m., Jan. 21.

The Revolution Generation: This documentary focuses on Generation X, and how they are beginning to exert themselves to deal with some of the world’s biggest problems. Noon, Jan. 22.

Second Chances: A young woman works at a thrift store, watching many objects get a second chance at life. She realizes that people too can get a second chance, and decides to take that leap. 7:30 p.m., Jan. 22.

Stand Strong: Four skateboarders in Japan are making a name for themselves online. But when two of them land a big sponsorship deal, it threatens to tear them apart in violent ways. 2:35 p.m., Jan. 23.

Laughs come naturally to Pat Finn of Toyota fame

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

GetOut Editor

As a kid growing up in the Chicago area, Pat Finn was introduced to Toyotas. His mom drove a Camry and his family loyally supported the brand.

So, it was fate that Finn landed the role as the overenthusiastic Pat in the car company’s commercials. “On the first audition for the spot, I thought, ‘This commercial is so fun. It’s like a mini sitcom about this likeable, bumbling dad who loves Toyotas,” he recalled from his LA-area home. “LaneTerralever, the ad agency, comes up with the concepts and they do a great job. I always say one of my favorite days of the year is when they send the scripts.” Recently, he filmed a commercial with his real-life daughter, who, in the commercial, drives a Toyota off to college. While she’s in the driveway, he and his wife, played by Kristen O’Meara, tear up.

“He’s obviously emotional and my wife is questioning whether I’m upset about her leaving or the Toyota leaving,” he said. “You kind of don’t know. That’s what makes them fun.”

Finn will screen his documentary, “Pat TV: The First 15 Years,” during the Chandler International Film Festival. Directed by Jordan Brady, “Pat TV: The First 15 Years” screens from 6:10 to 6:45 p.m. Jan. 22, at LOOK Dine-In Cinemas, 1 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler.

“Jordan Brady is an amazing director. He directs a lot of the Toyota spots, which is an amazing accomplishment,” Finn said.

“We shoot three or four commercials in one day. A commercial generally can take anywhere from one to five days to shoot. The fact that we can film nine commercials in three days is pretty remarkable. The 35-minute documentary is a behind-the-scenes look at what makes it work from his end. It’s a cool little behind the curtain look at some of the really fun stuff we’ve been able to put out.”

Finn is one of six kids who grew up in a three-bedroom house. He enjoyed dinners with his family as they shared stories. He gravitated toward comedy. After all, “nobody dislikes comedy.”

“My mom and I watched ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ and ‘The Odd Couple,’” he says. “I really liked the idea of sitcoms. Growing up in Chicago, nobody said they wanted to be an actor. They wanted to be firefighters or in sales.”

Things changed when he attended Marquette University.

“I met my wife, Donna, my freshman year when I was 18,” he says. “I also met one of my

DUTTONS from page 35

touring with family has brought them closer together.

“We traveled over a million miles giving all these concerts around the United States,” she says. “So, they grew up together in the bus and I always said that the best way to help families be together is to get in a bus and then if they have issues, they have to work them out.

“They can’t run to their bedrooms or to their friend’s house. They have to sit and talk about it and work it out. So, the kids learned early on to forgive each other really quickly. I think that was an unexpected advantage of touring.”

She says there is more to The Duttons than performances and accolades. The music comes down to the fans. Sheila says she was amazed to learn how their shows could bring joy to audiences.

She recalls fans telling her that their performances encouraged them to reunite with their own families or pursue music.

Dutton isn’t quite sure what the future holds for the family business. As the children have aged, they’ve pursued different lines of work. However, there is a third generation of Duttons who may choose to take up the mantle. No matter what lies ahead, Dutton says she feels they are forging the right path.

“We just feel so honored and blessed that we’ve been led into something that we didn’t even see the value in the beginning,” she said.

“It has enriched our lives, provided us with the best friends in the world that we have met through performing, provided us with a second family who we had adopted and given us an opportunity to work on something that makes a difference and that is really a positive thing in our lives.”

best friends, Chris Farley. The two of us were inseparable. We listened to comedy albums by Steve Martin and National Lampoon.”

Farley’s goal was to star on “Saturday Night Live” and Finn knew he would thrive there. The two prepared for their comedy career at the Chicago improv troupe The Second City.

As fate would have it, the show’s director was actor George Wendt’s wife, Bernadette Birkett. Wendt needed someone to play his brother in “The George Wendt Show.” “I was flown out for a big interview, and I ended up getting the job on ‘The George Wendt Show.’ It lasted about a year but George, Bernadette and I are still friends and he’s the godfather to my youngest son.”

Finn also appeared in a couple episodes of “Friends” as Dr. Roger and “Seinfeld” as Joe Mayo. From there, he “lily padded” into work. He and Donna moved to the LA area to pursue his career further.

“I always say, if you were to tell me as a college kid or high school kid I’d be living in LA, driving to the beach, surfing with my son, I’d think you were crazy. I don’t know how I fell into it. I feel so fortunate, and it fits. It feels right.”

Information: eventbrite.com or chandlerfilmfestival.com

Lovin’ Life Expos lovinlife.com/expos/ The Duttons theduttons.com/arizona

Chandler thespians in Limelight theater’s ‘Newsies’

GETOUT STAFF

When Disney’s “Newsies: The Broadway Musical” opened last week at the Mesa Arts Center for a three-week run, it brought many dreams to life – from dream roles and dream choreography to the director’s decades-long dream to produce the show with a youth cast.

“I fell in love with ‘Newsies’ when I was kid and saw the movie in the theater,” said Emma England, artistic director of Limelight Performing Arts, the Gilbertbased youth theater company producing the musical. “I have wanted to stage this production for the last 20 years. It’s truly a dream that is finally being fulfilled.”

The show features a cast of nearly 50 performers ages 10-22 hailing from Chandler and across the Valley. Based on the 1992 motion picture and the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, the musical tells the story of Jack Kelly, a rebellious newsboy who dreams of a life as an artist away from New York City. When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies a ragtag gang of teenage newsies to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right. Mesa’s Tre Moore, 17, plays the leading role.

“Jack has been a dream role of mine since I first listened to the ‘Newsies’ cast album when I was 11,” he said. “He is charismatic and confident, but also sensitive and ambitious with a big heart. What truly makes this show so meaningful for me is that I, an AfricanAmerican actor, have been given the opportunity to play Jack, a role that is historically played by White or nonBlack actors. This is huge! I am honored to join the ranks of Jack Kelly actors and I hope to inspire and open the eyes of audiences in January.”

Kayla King, 18, of Chandler, plays the role of witty and bold Katherine Plumber, a newspaper reporter who breaks the story of the strike and helps the ragamuffin newsies become the Kings of New York. “Katherine is definitely one of the

hardest roles I have ever played, and it has been a challenge for me to find that perfect balance between feisty and caring,” King said. “Katherine has this incredible drive and ambition and chooses to use it to help those in need. She has definitely been a dream role of mine.” Added Camryn Taylor, a Chandler 15-year-old who plays the role of Mush, “I wanted to be in the amazing production of ‘Newsies’ because the show is so challenging. ‘Newsies’ is no ‘walk in the park.’ The dancing requires incredible flexibility, stamina and energy.” Riley Wiggins and Izzy Vazquez leap through the air during rehearsal for Limelight Performing Arts’ “Newsies” now at the Mesa Arts Center. (David Minton/Arizonan Staff Photographer) The dancing is a highlight of the production. “It is extraordinary when you have incredibly talented teens with such passion for a show combined with the heart-stopping choreography by Emma England,” said Christian Graca, “Newsies” director. England and her choreography team, Marie South of Chandler and Reayanna Erving of Gilbert, spent many evenings and