The Baths Virgin Gorda British Virgin Islands

St. John Film Society Press Release:

SPOTLIGHT ON CUBA

Tuesday, February 5, 7:30 pm
St. John School of the Arts
Cruz Bay

ADOLPHO

Directed by Sofie Delaage, 45 minutes, Comedy, 2006.
Poor Adolpho yearns for life beyond his broken-down taxi and plots a journey across the sea in this contemporary Cuban comedy of errors.

CON EL TOQUE DE LA CHAVETA

Directed by Pamela Sporn, 28 minutes, Documentary, 2007.  In the cigar factories of Cuba, a unique tradition persists: ‘la lectura de tabaqueria’. Every day, specially employed workers read aloud to hundreds of tabaqueros as they sit rolling the country’s famous cigars. From classic novels to national politics and local baseball results, for centuries this daily tradition has been an education for the workers, or chavetas. But after years of listening, they are knowledgeable and demanding, and the readers must be at their very best if they are to keep their discerning audience interested.

MAESTRA

Directed by Catherine Murphy, 33 minutes, Documentary, 2011.

Cuba, 1961: 250,000 volunteers taught 700,000 people to read and write in one year. 100,000 of the teachers were under 18 years old, over half were women.  The Bay of Pigs invasion impacted the women and the literacy campaign.  The young women who went out to teach literacy in rural communities across the island found themselves deeply transformed in the process. This documentary includes the oral history of one of contemporary Cuba’s greatest achievements in present day interviews with the volunteer teachers, archival footage, and still photos from the sixties.

St. John Film Society

St. John Weather
Mostly cloudy with rain showers in the morning, then overcast
High of 81 degrees F.
Breezy: Winds from the West at 10 to 20 mph shifting to the NNW in the afternoon
Sunrise: 6:52 AM AST – Sunset: 6:13 PM AST
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas) 82.9 degrees

St. John Live Music Schedule, Friday February 1

Aqua Bistro
Stephan Sloan
5:30 – 8:30
776-5336

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
Michael Beason
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Beach Bar
Don Dilego Band
9:oo
777-4220

Castaways
Mikey P 8:00
Dance Party 11:00
777-3316

Cinnamon Bay
Eddie Bruce Drum Circle
6:30 – 8:00

Concordia
Bo & Lauren
6:30 – 9:00

High Tide
Mikey P
9:00
714-6169

Inn at Tamarind Court
Steel Pan
6:00 – 9:00
776 6378

Island Blues
Get Right Band
8:00
776 6800

Morgan’s Mango
Lauren Jones
6:00 – 9:30
693-8141

Ocean Grill
T-Bird
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
Erin Hart
7:00 – 10:00

Spyglass
James Milne
5:00 – 8:00
776-1100

Shipwreck Landing
Mitch Woods
7:00-10:00

Skinny Legs
Chris Carsel & Company
6:30 – 9:30
779 4982

See Weekly Schedule

Rustenberg Horsemill Wall

Rustenberg Trail Map

Estate Rustenberg Ruins
For those of you who would like to experience a St. John Off the Beaten Track experience, but would rather not exert themselves too much, a visit to the Rustenberg ruins would be an ideal choice. It’s a short walk along a level trail shaded by aromatic bay rum trees. The ruins are extensive and beautiful in their natural surroundings.

To get there, park across from the Cinnamon Bay trailhead on Centerline Road and walk up the road west, towards Cruz Bay, where you should find the trailhead, which may be more or less obvious depending on climatic conditions. Another alternative is to enter the forest about 50 yards or so and walk uphill until you reach the trail on the ridge and go left on the trail until you get to the ruins.

See more Rustenberg photos

St. John Film Society Press Release

Queen of the Sun

What the Bees are Telling Us
Directed by Taggart Siegel:  83 minutes,  Documentary
Free Film, Presented by the St. John Film Societey

Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 7:30 pm
St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay

This full length feature documentary is a a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis. Taking us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive, this engaging and ultimately uplifting film weaves an unusual and dramatic story of the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists and philosophers including Michael Pollan, Gunther Hauk and Vandana Shiva.

This film takes us on a pilgrimage around the world, 10,000 years of beekeeping is unveiled, highlighting how our historic and sacred relationship with bees has been lost due to highly mechanized industrial practices. The film goes on to reveal both the problems and the solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature.

Join Mr. Smalls and other St. John bee keepers and learn about these wonderful insects that provide us with sweet honey and more.

Read more about the film on the website: http://www.queenofthesun.com

St. John Live Music Schedule Monday 4/30

High Tide – Mikey P- 8:00 – 11:00 – 714-6169
La Tapa – Samba Combo – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Maho Bay Camp – Open Mic with Lauren – 6:30
Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304

Weekly Schedule

Hazy conditions yesterday seen from above the Charlotte Amalie Harbor

The haze from the Sahara Dust and the Montserrat Volcano ash are still present, but it’s not nearly as thick as yesterday.

Free Movie Night:  Milking the Rhino

Tonight at the St. John School of the Arts Cruz Bay, St. John the St. John Film Society presents: Milking the Rhino, an 85 minutes, 2008, documentary directed by David E. Simpson

The partially-completed Pond Bay Club, located on 13.5 acres at Chocolate Hole on St. John, will go up for auction at St. Thomas Superior Court on May 2, according to an attorney involved in the various court cases surrounding the property. Read article

St. John Weather

High Temperature: 86 degrees
Water Temperature: 83 degrees
Sunset: 6:33 pm
Winds: SE 5-10 mph
Forecast: Partly Cloudy

St. John Live Music Schedule Tuesday April 3

Castaways – Karaoke Night – 9:00 – 777-3316
Driftwood Dave’s – Michael Beason – 8:00 – 777-4015
High Tide – Erin Hart – 6:00 – 9:00 – 714-6169
Island Blues – Karaoke & Open Mic – 8:00 – 11:00 – 776-6800
Morgan’s Mango – Greg Kinslow – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – Rascio on Steel Pan – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-3304
Shipwreck Landing – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:30
Spyglass – T-Bird – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100

See Weekly Schedule

ST. JOHN FILM – PRESS RELEASE 

Free Movie Night:  Milking the Rhino

Tuesday, April 3, 2012, 7:30 PM
St. John School of the Arts
Cruz Bay, St. John

St. John Film is proud to present another award winning ‘On Screen / In Person*’ film, the thought provoking 85 minute documentary Milking the Rhino, directed by David E. Simpson who will be at the screening.

Examining Africa’s deepening conflict between humans and animals in an ever-shrinking world, Milking the Rhino is the first major documentary to explore wildlife conservation from the perspective of the people who live with the wild animals. Shot in some of the world’s most magnificent locales, the film offers complex, intimate portraits of rural Africans at the forefront of community-based conservation: a revolution that is turning poachers into preservationists and local people into the stewards of their land. With memorable characters and spectacular locations, this film tells intimate, hopeful and heartbreaking stories of people from Kenya and Namibia.

The film captures the struggle of ecology vs. economics when rural Africans set aside traditional ways of grazing their cattle and killing animals to create nature preserves.  The now successful restoration of rhino, lion and elephant populations has prompted visionary local natives to establish comfortable, upscale eco-lodges that bring tourists and foster a new local business: tourism.  As one lodge host contends “we never used to benefit from these wild animals but now we milk them like cattle.”  None the less his neighbor disagrees: “A rhino means nothing to me! I can’t kill it for meat like a cow.”  The series of fascinating exchanges between friends and foes of the new business model illustrates the complexities of cultural change among people everywhere.

The post film discussion promises to be equally engaging with director David Simpson on hand to provide personal insights into the filming process and to lead a discussion on eco-tourism and community-based conservation; topics of great relevance to St. Johnians.

SAVE THIS DATE FOR OUR NEXT SCREENING EVENT: Tuesday May 1, 2012: Queen of the Sun.This full length feature documentary is a a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis.

All screenings take place at the St. John School of the Arts in Cruz Bay, 7:30 pm. For more information about upcoming films, St. John Film Society or to become a Film Society member visit: http://www.stjohnfilm.com.

St. John Live Music Schedule Saturday March 24

Castaways – Dance Party – 11:00 – 777-3316
Spyglass – James Cobb – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100
Driftwood Dave’s – Guitarist James Milne – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
Morgan’s Mango – Luba – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – Rascio on Steel Pan – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-3304
Rhumblines – Lauren – 7:00 – 10:00
Shipwreck Landing – Mike Miknut – 6:00 – 9:30
Skinny Legs – Hot Club of Coral Bay – 6:30 – 9:30 – 779-4982

See Weekly Schedule

St. John Film Society Presents

A “NOT TO BE MISSED EVENT!”
“Proceed and Be Bold!”
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
7:30 pm at St John School of the Arts
Directed by Laura Zinger
90 minutes, 2008, Documentary

Proceed and Be Bold
Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. is an internationally recognized printing press artist known for his socially and politically charged works of art. At age 40 and unsatisfied with his comfortable, middle-class life, Amos traded in his computer for a printing press and his white collar for a pair of overalls. Armed with life, liberty, peanuts and a meager yearly income of $7,000, Amos cranked out a new, rebellious declaration of independence.

The film joins Amos in a fascinating account of his story, while examining the pretensions and provisions of the art world. The work of this self-proclaimed “Humble Negro Printer” raises emotionally-charged questions and reveals remarkable depth beneath the bold print. By learning the rules and then choosing to break them, Amos redefines what life (and letterpress printing) can be: exhilarating and revolutionary.

JOIN DIRECTOR LAURA ZINGER AND AMOS PAUL KENNEDY JR. FOR DISCUSSION AFTER THE SCREENING!

Laura Zinger is the founder and owner of Chicago-based, creative content production company 20K Films. Her 2008 initiative, Proceed and Be Bold has been screened in countries around the world. Zinger has worked for various film companies, including MGM, Pretty Pictures and MOJO, a post-production trailer house. In addition to 20K Films, Zinger works as the Web Video Producer for Milk For Thought, a new national website dedicated to connecting, empowering and supporting breastfeeding mothers.

Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. is a journeyman letterpress printer living in rural Alabama, and the thought provoking subject of the film Proceed and Be Bold! He will be present at the screening and will have his posters available for sale!

New Novel Takes Place On St. John

Rebecca M. Hale

By Richie Ann Ashcraft ?Monday, February 27, 2012
Tropical islands with sky blue water — a slave princess whose ghost is rumored to cause disappearances and shipwrecks — and only one person who knows the truth.
That’s the premise of Rebecca M. Hale’s latest mystery novel, “Adrift on St. John,” which releases in paperback and e book this week…. read article

St. John Live Music Schedule for tonight, Tuesday, February 28

Castaways – Karaoke Night – 9:00 – 777-3316
Driftwood Dave’s – James Cobb & Michael Beason – 700 -10:00 – 777-4015
High Tide – Erin Hart – 4:00 – 7:00 – 714-6169
Miss Lucy’s – David Reed – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5354
Morgan’s Mango – Greg Kinslow – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – Rascio on Steel Pan – 6:00 – 9:30 -693-3304
Shipwreck Landing – Chris Carsel – 6:00 – 9:30

See the weekly St. John live music schedule

St. John Live Music Schedule for tonight, Wednesday, February 15

Aqua Bistro – Rascio on Steel Pan – 5:30 – 8:30 – 776-5336
Castaways – Kenny Floyd – 8:00 – 777-3316
Coconut Coast Studios – St. John Flutes – 5:30-7:00 – 776-6944
Driftwood Dave’s – Paradise People – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
High Tide – Chris Carsel – 6:00 – 9:00 – 714-6169
Miss Lucy’s – David Reed – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5354
Sun Dog Cafe – Wednesday Night Jam – 7:30-10:00  – 244-9713

See the weekly St. John live music schedule

ST. JOHN FILM – PRESS RELEASE

 Free Movie Night:  Proceed and Be Bold

Tuesday, March 6, 2012, 7:30 PM, St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay

St. John Film is pleased to announce that both the director Laura Zinger and film subject Amos Paul Kennedy Jr., will be with us for the ‘On Screen / In Person*’ showing of the award winning film PROCEED AND BE BOLD

This complex and inspiring 90 minute documentary is a fascinating account of the life and work of internationally recognized letterpress printer Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.  At age 40 Kennedy abandoned his comfortable middle-class life, traded in his computer for a printing press, and his white collar for a pair of overalls. Armed with life, liberty, peanuts and a meager yearly income of $7,000, he cranked out a new, rebellious declaration of independence.

Known for his socially and politically charged art, the film examines pretensions in the art world, while the work of this self-proclaimed “Humble Negro Printer” raises emotionally-charged questions and reveals remarkable depth beneath the bold print. By learning the rules and then choosing to break them, Amos redefines what life (and letterpress printing) can be: exhilarating and revolutionary.

Join us for the film and the post film discussion as director Laura Zinger and artist Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. bring insights into the film making process and stir meaningful dialogue on the definition of success as an artist and the rewards of following your dream.

SAVE THIS DATE FOR OUR NEXT “MEET THE FILMMAKER” SCREENING EVENT: Tuesday April 3, 2012: Milking the Rhino with director David Simpson.

All screenings take place at the St. John School of the Arts in Cruz Bay, 7:30 pm.

For more information about upcoming films, St. John Film Society or to become a Film Society member visit: http://www.stjohnfilm.com.

St. John School of the Arts Presents: Free Film Tomorrow Night

REMINDER: Concrete, Steel and Paint

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
7:30 pm at St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay

St. John Live Music Schedule for tonight, Monday, February 6

High Tide – Rascio on Steel Pan – 4:00 – 6:30 – 714-6169
La Tapa – Samba Combo – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Maho Bay Camps – Open Mic with Bo & Lauren – 7:00
Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304

See the weekly schedule

St. John Film Society presents:

Concrete, Steel and Paint

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
7:30 pm at St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay

Directed by Cindy Burstein and Tony Heriza
55 minutes, 2009, Documentary

When men in a Pennsylvania state prison join with victims of crime to create a mural about healing, their views on punishment, remorse and forgiveness collide.  Finding consensus is not easy, but as the participants move through the creative process, mistrust gives way to genuine moments of human contact and common purpose.

This complex story raises important questions about crime, justice and reconciliation, and dramatically illustrates how art can facilitate dialogue about difficult issues.

JOIN DIRECTOR TONY HERIZA AND MURAL ARTS PROGRAM ORGANIZER JANE GOLDEN FOR DISCUSSION AFTER THE SCREENING!

TONY HERIZA Since co-founding the Community Media Workshop in Dayton, Ohio in 1974, Tony Heriza has been involved in many aspects of media for social change: producing, editing, teaching and working with community organizations. His work has been broadcast nationally on PBS and featured in many festivals. He is now the Director of Educational Outreach for the American Friends Service Committee and teaches documentary film at U Penn / Philadelphia.  Along with his co-producer, Cindy Burstein, he is an active member of the New Day Film distribution co-operative.

JANE GOLDEN As a young artist Jane  was initially hired by former Mayor Wilson Goode to help combat the graffiti crisis plaguing the city. She reached out to graffiti writers to help turn their destructive energies into creative ones.  Under the direction of Golden, the Mural Arts Program has become the nation’s largest mural program earning Philadelphia international recognition as the“City of Murals.”  The Mural Arts Program has created more than 3,000 murals.  In addition, Golden has developed art education and workforce development programs that serve youth and adult offenders at area prisons, detention centers, and residential placement facilities, utilizing the power of art to break the cycle of crime and violence in Philadelphia’s communities and sparking a national dialogue based on the concept of restorative justice. In addition to leading the Mural Arts Program, Golden has been an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a guest instructor at Princeton University. Golden holds a Master of Fine Arts from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, and degrees in Fine Arts and Political Science from Stanford University.

St. John Live Music Schedule for tonight, Friday, January 27

Aqua Bistro – Mark Wallace & Rich Greengold – 5:30 – 8:30 – 776-5336
Beach Bar – Sol Driven Train – 9:00 – 777-4220
Castaways – Mikey P – 9:00 – 777-3316
Driftwood Dave’s – Mark Wallace – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
Island Blues – Get Right Band – 7:00 – 776-6800
Miss Lucy’s – Reggae on the Bay- Inner Visions – 6:00 – 11:00 -Round trip shuttle -leaves Fatty Crab 6:00 ($20.00 r/t) – 693-5354
Morgan’s Mango – Lauren – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – T-Bird – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304

See this week’s live music schedule

Free Movie Night: WHAT’S ORGANIC ABOUT ‘ORGANIC’?
Tuesday, December 6, 2011, 7:30 PM, St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay, St. John USVI
St. John Film is proud to present our next ‘On Screen/In Person’ screening of a thought provoking 59-minute documentary directed by Shelley Rogers with co-producer Marty Mesh.

What’s Organic About ‘Organic’ illustrates that ‘organic food’ extends well beyond personal choice and into the realm of social responsibility.  It delves into the debates that arose when the grassroots agricultural movement: organic farming, evolved into a booming international market, and reveals what’s at stake in creating and maintaining meaningful standards for organic production.

Each of the film’s characters is intimately connected to the organic world; they’re farmers, activists, and scientists. While many folks can easily endorse ‘organic’, the film takes the discussion beyond just shopping for another eco-label. As we glimpse into the lives of the film characters, we see how organic agriculture has the potential to solve many of our environmental and health problems. The film explores how organic farming can be used as a soil and air protection system, a healthy solution to toxic pollution, and an innovative means to combat global warming.

As the film moves from farm fields to government meetings and industry trade shows, we see how our health, the health of our planet, and the agricultural needs of our society are all intimately connected.  The film is a call to action, compelling us to look forward, towards a new vision for our culture and encourages us to ask, “How can we eat with an ecological consciousness?”

The post film discussion promises to be equally engaging with both the director Shelley Rogers and co-producer Marty Mesh present to provide personal insights into the filming process and to answer questions on the organic food movement.  In addition, Josephine and Hugo Roller from Josephine’s Organic Greens will be on hand to lend a local perspective on organic farming.

ST. JOHN FILM Society – PRESS RELEASE – OCTOBER 13, 2011

Free Movie Night: BEATBOXING – THE FIFTH ELEMENT OF HIP HOP

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2011 at 7:30 PM, St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay
St. John Film Society launches its ‘On Screen/In Person’ screening series with a lively 55 minute documentary directed by Klaus Schneyder and produced by Angela Viscido, which celebrates the incredible art form of making music using only the human body. The evening is sure to arouse the Beatboxer in all of us, and especially in Virgin Islands musicians looking to perfect their personal style of the ‘Human Beatbox’.

Beatboxing started as part of the Hip Hop movement in the late 1970’s stemming from the hardship of poverty and lack of instruments.  A pioneer was inspired to imitate drum rhythms and musical instruments with his mouth – his brilliance creating the term ‘Human Beatbox’. Hip Hop artists picked up on the approach which is now a global
phenomenon fueled in part from the sharing of Beatboxing knowledge and styles via websites and internet tutorials.

The film documents the history and evolution of this incredible art form starting with its genesis within Hip Hop culture and its use in various musical fields in countries across the world.  Four generations later, Beatboxing has become a multilingual, diverse and technically complex form of expression.  The documentary features artists from New York, California, Florida, Spain, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Austria and Germany, who demonstrate their amazing techniques.

Our post film discussion will be led by Producer Angela Viscido, who will provide personal insight into the documentary filming, the people in it and the future of Beatboxing as a legitimate, sustainable musical format.

SAVE THIS DATE FOR OUR NEXT “MEET THE FILMMAKER” SCREENING EVENT:
Tuesday December 6th: WHAT’S ORGANIC ABOUT ORGANIC?

All screenings take place at the St. John School of the Arts in Cruz Bay, 7:30 pm.

For more information about upcoming films, St. John Film Society or to become a Film Society member visit: http://www.stjohnfilm.com

*On Screen/In Person is made possible by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Regional Touring Program and the Virgin Island Council of the Arts. St. John Community Foundation is our fiscal sponsor.

The mission of St. John Film is to inspire a positive appreciation for the history, culture and environment of our US Virgin Islands by establishing a free monthly film series open to and for the benefit of our local community.  We present independent films that celebrate the human spirit with a focus on the Caribbean.

Media Contact:  Kathy Guidi
340-201-9919
stjviff@gmail.com

St. John Film Society www.stjohnfilm.com
Please respond to this email address: *stjviff@gmail.com*
Contact phone: *340-201-9919*