I spend many of my evenings after a long day of job-hunting hanging at the Café of the Dead (aka Day of the Dead Cafe) in the Grand Lake area in Oakland. The décor is an homage to the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration. Paintings, sculptures, and other skull and skeletal objects are hung salon style throughout the entire café. Immediately, I was drawn to this place because after all these years Halloween is still everyday for me.
If one can look past the tongue & cheek morbidity of the décor, one will discover a small nook filled with a charming eclectic bunch of folk. Aside from the standard café fare of coffee, desserts, and hot dogs (veggie dogs included), what’s really special about this place is the proprietor, Smokey. I’ve heard that Smokey is a famous European rock star, an actor, a writer, and much, much more. It is even rumored, by some, that Smokey is an international man of mystery. Personally, I just think he’s just another jovial coyote spirit and he definitely has a full bag of tricks. Did I mention the coffee he serves is his own mix of coffee bean? Yup. One can buy a bag from him at the café.
In addition to the unusual café décor and diverse crowd of coffee drinkers, another aspect that makes this café stick out to me is the big screen TV. Smokey is always showing films and his selection is as eclectic as his clientele. Smokey screens anything from old vintage movies to contemporary blockbusters; from Jimmy Neutron cartoons to underground conspiracy theory films. Why? Simple. Smokey loves movies. And, so do I.
Then it dawns on me. There’s a poetry night at the café. So I ask Smokey, “Why isn’t there an indie filmmakers screening night?” Smokey tells me that they always talked about it but they didn’t have anyone to put it together. Well, now they do. So, with Smokey’s blessing (and permission to use his space), I’m organizing a weekly night just to screen original film works.
I’m very excited about this for a couple reasons – 1) it’s an opportunity to foster a space for filmmakers to show their work, get feedback, and network; and 2) it creates an opportunity for me to connect with the locals. This is my fifth month here in the Bay Area. I’ve worked only one gig so far. I know a couple people who are making shorts and such but I haven’t quite tapped into the type of network I’m used to in NYC. And, yes, I know it’s not LA. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything happening here.
If you’re a Bay Area filmmaker (or perhaps passing through) come show your work or if a filmmaker you are not, just come check out the screening.
Every Wednesday at 6:30pm
beginning April 29th
at the Café of the Dead
located at 3208 Grand Ave
(next to the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland)
For more information:
(510) 931 7945
http://www.gunghogirl.com/cafedeadscreening/
cafedeadscreening@gmail.com
Cafe of the Dead (510) 325 3113