By Erik Hopkins, Reporter.
For 11 years, Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music festival has been bringing new sounds and films to Tri-City locals. Three days each year are jam packed with live music, food and film. “You don’t need to move to a major city to get that creative outlet,” says Cole Waterman, music committee member at Hell’s Half Mile. “An experience like this doesn’t have to happen in Detroit or Grand Rapids. They do happen in the small towns.”
This year’s festival has no shortage of things for you to see and do. Starting on Thursday and ending on Sunday, September 22-25 there will be three days of events, live music and films for you to engulf yourself into.
The music side of Hell’s Half Mile is packed with a diversity of sounds and rhythms. Attendees are certain to find something that suits their sound, assures Waterman. “The depth of different sounds among these bands is the best,” says Waterman, ”This year, I’m the proudest of what we’ve done.”
The Thursday night line-up takes place at Old City Hall in Bay City and features Boudoir Noir and RareWolf, both Michigan native groups. Starting in the afternoon on Friday at the Electric Kitsch, the Barbossa Brothers take the stage. In the evening, Norty, The Sunburns, Siamese, and The Erers debut at The Empire Room.
On Saturday afternoon In the Whale, a Denver band, jams at the Electric Kitsch before The Satin Peaches, Queen Kwong, and Electric Six start their performances at 8 p.m. at the Masonic Temple Blue Room.
Detroit band LXL will also be playing a secret show, but attendance to HHM is a must if you want to find out the time and place.
The film side of things has no shortage of entertainment up its sleeve either, according to Alan LaFave, Festival Director. Set to play are 19 feature films and 31 shorts, making for a total of 50 films that play in compilation programs. Film screenings will be at the State Theatre, Delta College Planetarium, and the Historic Masonic Temple.
“I’ve been told by people over the years that this is their favorite weekend of the year,” says LaFave. “Hell’s Half Mile inspires a lot of conversation and has cultural and economic impact on the city.”
Over the years, there have been names like Rider Strong (Boy Meets World) attending HHM. This year, Alex Shaffer, whose acted alongside names like Zac Efron in We Are Your Friends and Kristen Bell in The Lifeguard will be attending.
HHM has a slew of side events going on. On Sunday at 10 a.m., the “Run Like Hell!” half mile run will take place. Entrance for the run is $10 and is themed after the late 1800’s lumber boom. HHM encourages participants to adorn themselves in the stylings of lumberjacks and saloon girls.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female participants, and free donuts and drink tickets will be dished out at the award ceremony. You’ll also receive 2 Sunday film vouchers, 1 drink ticket for mimosa, bloody mary, or beer and soda for under 21 at Tavern 101 all for participating.
Free events also exist, like a film panel at Delta on Saturday starting at 2 p.m., perfect for filmmakers and students. During the panel, students and future filmmakers can ask panelists questions about the industry, careers, techniques and more.
Crowdfunding to Build Independence is a free class offered by HHM, which has been taught at over 100 film festivals, schools and organizations around the country.
“Crowdfunding has become a fundamental piece of most financing plans for independent film but most filmmakers miss the opportunity to leverage the power of crowdfunding for one film into an audience,” says LaFave. “This builds an opportunity that can last an entire career — and provide the groundwork for effective distribution. In order to leverage this opportunity, it requires a new way of coming to work, and that’s what you’ll learn here.”
Crowdfunding to Build Independence will begin Friday at 1 p.m.
Filmmakers who have attended these classes have a Seed&Spark, a fund raising platform for filmmakers, crowdfunding campaign success rate of 100 percent.
But LaFave insists that the festival isn’t about the big names coming, or even the music and movies.
“Our festival is for us – our community. We’re supporting local businesses and attended by our city. It’s not just about seeing movies and listening to music, it’s about coming together as a community,” says LaFave.
For more information and tickets, hhmfest.com. Tickets start at $15.
