While by there very nature Oz conventions are experienced as live events and destination settings to explore, we will take the opportunity to watch three films together in Aberdeen.
We’ll start Sunday morning with the new Russian live-action film based on the first half of Alexander Volkov’s Wizard of the Emerald City. The version we’ll watch does have an English language soundtrack. The film runs an hour and 45 minutes. We’ll follow it with boxed lunches before the library opens to the public at noon.
Sunday afternoon we’re also pleased to share a sneak peak at Jeffrey McHale’s wonderful new documentary, It’s Dorothy. After years of interviewing actresses who have portrayed Baum’s heroine, including Fairuza Balk, Ashanti, Nichelle Lewis, and Shanice Shantay, McHale has woven together their memories and observations for his film, which is now being screened at film festivals.
Edited to include commentary from many faces familiar to us from past Oz Club convention programs, the film is described as, “Exploring the meaning and evolution of a cherished character through the eras, we celebrate Dorothy as an enduring symbol of hope and a touchstone in our universal quest to fly over the rainbow and find home again.”
Following selections of footage, Jeffrey will join us over Zoom to talk with us about the production.
Join us to watch and discuss!
PS. Ah yes, three. Technically there are three films. The last throws back to 1970 when the television western series “Death Valley Days” offered a 25-minute segment called “The Wizard of Aberdeen.” The plot loosely shares Baum’s years in our host city, although considerable creative liberties were taken with the source material.
While it’s not challenging to find, it fits the theme of our weekend, so we’ll include it to end Friday afternoon programming. And frankly, we need something for the majority of the group in that spot on the agenda, so a handful of volunteers can dash across the street to set up for dinner without missing more unique programming we all came to see.
