[Vision2020] Caturday (May 23, 2020)

[Moscow Cares]

Cats have performed some amazing tasks in ubiquitous online videos. But one feline video opus will help save struggling movie theaters during the Covid-19 pandemic. Welcome to Caturday.

Courtesy of  Florida Today at:

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/entertainment/2020/05/21/quarantine-cat-film-fest-fan-sourced-film-aid-closed-theaters/5234755002/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark

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Quarantine Cat Film Fest harnesses viral cat power to save COVID-19 closed theaters

Cats have performed some amazing tasks in ubiquitous online videos. But one feline video opus will help save struggling movie theaters during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Quarantine Cat Film Fest will raise money for independent movie theaters through the power of fan-submitted shelter-in-place cat videos. The feline antics will be edited together for a virtual cinema fundraising movie dropping June 19.

"It's perfect. Everyone is home, stuck with their cats, and people want to help out movie theaters," says Brian Mendelssohn, owner and manager of Row House Cinema in Pittsburgh. His wife suggested the idea after watching the home frolicking of the couple's two cats, Oliver and Isabella.

The Quarantine Cat Film Fest, which includes cat video clips submitted by fans, will premiere online June 19. Ticket sales will help support independent movie theaters closed due to COVID-19. Visit rowhouse.online/cats.

"The internet exists because of cats. It’s just fun to watch cats do cool things," says Mendelssohn. The goal of the cat film fest, he adds, is to engage "our audience when theaters are closed, while raising desperately needed money."

Mendelssohn and 37 other theater owners across North America have put out the call for cat videos, requesting they be shot horizontally for better cinematography. They have already pulled in more than 1,000 submissions.

Once the clowder of cat videos is collected, Mendelssohn will edit the prime picks and set the antics to a score.

"Some of these videos are amazing; it's going to take a tremendous amount of editing," Mendelssohn says. "We suspect it’s going to take two weeks of editing, and one week of post-production work."

On June 19, fans can buy the festival film through virtual cinemas around the country.  Proceeds will go to the respective theaters.

The Quarantine Cat Film Festival will harness the power of cat videos to raise money for independent theaters.

The Quarantine Cat Film Festival will harness the power of cat videos to raise money for independent theaters. (Photo: Row House Cinema)
Mendelssohn even directed Oliver and Isabella in a short Quarantine Cat Film Fest trailer. Naturally, the cats took zero direction during the three-hour shoot.

"We had one person running camera and three of us herding. But really, you just wait for them to do cool things," he says.

A panel of judges will hand out cash prizes from the submissions in four categories: Cutest cat, funniest cat, bravest cat and most loving. 

The money will help small-theater owners waiting, just like everyone, for the planned return to normal life. Mendelssohn, who no plans for a dog festival ("no one wants to watch dogs"), is sure that the demand for movies with an audience will not be diminished by the virus.

"The magic of cinema is unexplainable and only can be experienced in a full theater, laughing with everyone, crying with everyone and talking about the movie afterwards," he says. "That will never be replaced."

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Photos .. .

http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_052320_01.jpg

http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_052320_02.jpg

http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_052320_03.jpg

Video . . .

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=CSlbX7OYHR0

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Caturday” by Linus Petit
http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_by_Linus_Petit.mp3

Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
http://www.TomandRodna.com/MoscowCares
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
“A stranger is just a friend you haven't met.” - Roy E. Stolworthy


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