Surprise Film in Store at Thursday’s Cinema 100

(Next week’s Cinema 100 selection is a mystery to all but a few in the know. Todd Ford offers some hints, and tells why surprises can make for a great night (or afternoon) at the movies. The Secret Surprise, as it’s being called, will be the 10th film in this year’s series. It will play at the Grand Theatres at 3 and 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Tickets will be available at the door.)

I’ve always been a fan of taking chances. This all began when I was 10 years old and an avid coin collector. I was at the big annual coin show for the Santa Barbara Coin Club and was admiring the Seated Liberty quarters and 1/2-cent pieces (I sure do love those; they seem so ridiculous now) while wishing I had more money to spend.

On the way out the door, I saw a pile of grab bags on the exit table, $5 apiece. After begging and borrowing the needed dollar from my dad, I grabbed one. When I got home and dumped the contents on my bed, the first thing I noticed was a shiny, very-fine condition 1939- S Jefferson nickel, the only one I still needed to complete my collection. I jumped on the bed so hard all the other coins went flying. It was a good thing I had my prize clutched tightly in my hand.

Roll forward to adulthood and my days at the Seattle International Film Festival. I was crazy and would see 10 to 15 films a week during the festival, so many that they started blurring together. My fondest memories, though, are some of the films I saw during the Secret Festival sidebar.

I would show up, search for a seat (the screenings were always packed) and anxiously await the lights to dim (the atmosphere was always electric). I saw films that made a lasting impression and that I’ve never had a chance to see again, like Nick Roeg’s “Castaways.” I saw the original version of the Christian Slater film “Pump Up the Volume,” before the studio heads demanded a new and “improved” ending. I saw American premieres that went on to win Oscars. (While buying a ticket, the film festival required me to sign a statement disallowing me from ever revealing what I saw. If I vanish tomorrow, you know why.)

It was in the spirit of these experiences that I suggested, at Cinema 100′s latest selection committee meeting, that, just for kicks, we try a secret surprise film night. Many of our patrons, I’ve observed, already arrive at Cinema 100 screenings filled with the spirit of surprise and the hope of making discoveries. I was curious how they would react to the ultimate movie-going mystery. The others on the committee shared my curiosity and the idea was a go.

Now, I’m going to hedge my bet just a tiny bit. I won’t tell you what Cinema 100 will be screening on Thursday (that would be cheating and would take away the fun), but I will drop a couple teasing and hopefully tantalizing hints. Ever since the Grand Theatre’s booking agent confirmed we had this film on our schedule, I’ve been jumping on the bed like a 10-year-old all over again. (Next Thursday won’t come soon enough for my family; they’re getting annoyed.) Those who watched (or I should say suffered through) the recent Oscar telecast noted a film they definitely hadn’t seen and probably hadn’t heard about nominated side-by-side with a film I’m sure just about everyone reading this has seen. (Actually, that probably wasn’t much help. I just described virtually every category.)

Everyone in attendance next Thursday will be able to tell everyone they know on Friday about that odd curiosity that had the nerve to run against one of last year’s most beloved films, and how it deserved to be on the Academy’s ballot. And don’t worry, the Cinema 100 police won’t snatch you away in a non-descript van never to be seen again. We want you to talk about what you saw.

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