STOP MAKING SENSE (Newly Restored 40th Anniversary Version) - Film Screening
Join us for an immersive cinematic experience as we present a screening of STOP MAKING SENSE at the esteemed Blak Box Theater in Joshua Tree, California in Dolby 7.1 surround sound. Rated PG.
Event Description
This screening is part of the series of Sunday afternoon film screenings by the Cultural Center’s Hi-Desert Film Institute at the Blak Box Theater in Joshua Tree, CA. The screening is Sunday, Feb 16, 2025 at 4pm. This film is rated PG.
Summary: One of the greatest concert films! It features the Talking Heads led by It was restored and re-released this past summer.
Critical Accliam:A Stop Making Sense is an 1984 American concert film featuring a live performance by the American rock band Talking Heads. The film was directed by Jonathan Demme and executive produced by Gary Kurfirst, the band’s longtime manager. The film was shot over four nights in December 1983 at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre while Talking Heads were on tour promoting their 1983 album, Speaking in Tongues. Stop Making Sense includes performances of the early Talking Heads single, "Psycho Killer" (1977), through to their most recent hit at the time, "Burning Down the House" (1983). It also includes songs from the solo career of frontman David Byrne and by Tom Tom Club, the side project of drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth.
The film was independently produced and the band raised the budget of $1.2 million themselves. The four core members of Talking Heads are joined by backing singers Lynn Mabry and Ednah Holt, guitarist Alex Weir, keyboardist Bernie Worrell and percussionist Steve Scales. Stop Making Sense is considered by many critics to be a classic and one of the greatest concert films of all time. The film is a pioneering example of the use of early digital audio techniques. In 2021, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." A special 4K restoration of the film was re-released in theaters in September 2023 by A24. See the official trailer here.
About the Film Screenings: Our program of screenings is curated and presented by Matthew Caron, a film critic and reporter at the former Vice, and by Patricia Vernhes , the newly appointed programming director of the Hi-Desert Cultural Center. These Sunday 4pm film events are a part of the Institute’s upcoming film courses in our efforts to help preserve the history and art of filmmaking as well as technologies and skill sets that lay the foundation to its continuous evolution. The screening offers a perfect opportunity for film enthusiasts to come together and appreciate the art of filmmaking.
Venue: Blak Box Theater
The Blak Box Theater, situated amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Joshua Tree, California, adds an extra layer of charm to the screening experience. Known for its state-of-the-art audio-visual setup, the theater ensures an unmatched experience.
Cash/Credit bar serving wine, beer, bottled water, and non-alcoholic beverages. No outside beverages of any kind permitted.
Mark your calendars for a memorable evening of cinema and camaraderie. We look forward to welcoming you!
Date & Time
Sun, Feb 16, 2025 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Venue Details
Blak Box Theater
61231 29 Palms Highway Joshua Tree, California 92252
Hi-Desert Cultural Center
With its multi-venue performing and visual arts centers located in Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley, California, the Hi-Desert Cultural Center (HDCC) has been serving as the regional performing and visual arts organization and arts agency for the Joshua Tree National Park region for more than half a century. The Cultural Center owns and operates its own performance venues and facilities and produces award-winning community and professional live theater, concerts, art exhibits and galleries, festivals, the Joshua Tree Philharmonic symphony orchestra, a master chorus, an extensive educational arts and technology program for youth and adults, and more. The Cultural Center is the largest and oldest non-profit performing and visual arts organization in the region and is recognized as an organization of artistic excellence by the National Endowment for the Arts. Learn more at:www.jtarts.org