Pete's weekend movie roundup: California Independent Film Festival, saying goodbye to Bob Shaw

There's a great film festival happening in Livermore this weekend—and we say goodbye to a great friend and film lover.

Bob Shaw in front of the Orinda Theater, early 2000. Bob passed away earlier this week.

I'm getting excited about tonight's events at the Vine Cinema in Livermore, as the 11th annual California Independent Film Festival. I will be interviewing the filmmakers and actors who made April Showers, a powerful and painful film based on the Columbine shooting of 10 years ago. At 8 p.m., I will do an onstage Q&A with director Mark Rydell before a screeing of his 1981 classic On Golden Pond. Rydell is receiving the fest's Golden Slate Award for career achievement as a director. On Saturday, I will be interviewing the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Rainman, and the actual guy who inspired Dustin Hoffman's famous role. There are tons of interesting independent features and shorts at this festival, check out the schedule of screenings here.

In Richmond, four teens have collaborated on a 15-minute documentary about Rosie the Riviter, the iconic symbol for women who went ot work in facotires during World War 2. The film will be unveiled ot the public in a special event on Saturday, April 18 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Richmond Museum of History, 400 Nevin Ave., Richmond. The free event is open to the public but an RSVP is required. Call 510-232-0865 x306
or e-mail carla_koop@nps.gov. thesca.org/events/rosie,

On Tuesday April 21, Lafayette filmmaker Vicki Abeles will screen her documentary Slipping Behind at the Acalanes High School Performing Arts Center. The 40-minute film explores the stresses youth face in our achivement-oriented culture. For more information e-mail LibRSVP@aol.com or call 925-935-2374.

Also on April 21, the gorgeous Alameda Theatres will be screening the hilarious and fun '80s film Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home. This was the one with the whales, in which the Star Trek team wormholed through time back to the 1980s to save the planet in the future. Parts of it were filmed on Alameda, so it should be an absolute blast to see it on the big screen. On April 22-23 the Alameda's classic series will present Billy Wilder's wonderful The Apartment, one of my favorite movies ever.

Finally, I wanted to express a sad but fond eulogy for my friend Bob Shaw, who passed away this week from Crohn's disease. Bob was the longtime film critic at KTVU Channel 2, and one of the creators of 2's beloved late night horror film showcase Creature Features, back in the 1970s. I grew up watching Bob's insightful and amusing film critiques on the 10 O' Clock News and had the great thrill of interviewing him in 2000, during my early days at Diablo. He could not have been a nicer man, and we got along so well during the interview that he recorded a huge library of films for me from his laser disc collection. I still have those tapes and review them frequently, in fact there are still a few I have not yet watched. Best wishes to Bob's wonderful wife, Rosie, during this difficult time. Bob was a wonderful, friendly, and kind man, and absolute treasure of a movie buff. He will be missed, but never forgotten.

To read the profile on Bob Shaw from Diablo's February, 2000 issue, click here.

Posted at 12:35 PM in Pete's Popcorn Picks | Permalink