The ‘Ten Commandments’ Centennial Celebration starts on Friday, October 6 with a VIP dinner with documentarian Peter Brosnan, who discovered, and archeologist Colleen Hamilton who uncovered the film set from the dunes in his film The Lost City of Cecil B. DeMille. The dinner is $100 per person or $1,000 per table and will be hosted by the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center at the Boys and Girls Club in Guadalupe.
The Central Coast Entertainment Expo on October 7 will host a full day of workshops with local film industry professionals, hands on demonstrations, panels with filmmakers, networking and mentor events and the Central Coast Showcase at the Clark Center for Performing Arts in Arroyo Grande. The Showcase features films by local filmmakers and student film programs, including regional high schools. Included in this portion is the documentary screening of Cecil B. DeMille: American Epic, an introduction to the legendary filmmaker. This portion of the event is free to the public, thanks to a generous donation from the Corki Clark Henderson Fiduciary.
The evening will be a special ticketed event that features the history of silent films in the area and their impact on modern day films, a discussion with Brosnan on his role of uncovering the dunes. Then there will be a special screening of the segment of the film shot in Guadalupe with a live improvised score by acclaimed cellist Jonah Kim and pianist Sheridan Seyfried.
Kim taught himself cello by watching a VHS tape of Pablo Casal in South Korea and was awarded a full scholarship to Juliard School at age seven. He made his solo debut with Wolfgang Sawallische and the Philadelphia Orchestra at 12 years old and is currently the artist in residence Festival Mosaic in San Luis Obispo. Seyfried has a melodic and rhythmic style with influences from folk, blues, bluegrass and new age. He has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and the Liszt Academy in Budapest along with major music festivals. He is also a composer and currently writing a three movement solo piano sonata and full length symphonic work for the Lake George Music Festival.
Tickets for this portion are $35 – $45 and doors open at 6 p.m.
The evening special event is brought to you in partnership with the SLO International Film Festival, and through the generosity of the Cecil B DeMille Foundation.
During the weekend’s Sunday finale, the celebration will be brought back to Guadalupe with a dig site and museum tours starting at 9 a.m. at the Dunes Center.
There will also be a documentary film screening and panel discussions at the Boys and Girls Club in Guadalupe. Kids will also enjoy an archeological dig, bounce houses and games.
Visit lostcitycelebration.com for more info on the events in Guadalupe and for more information about the Expo and tickets to the special screening visit centralcoastfilmsociety.org and visit the Events page.