A Love Letter to OId Hollywood

Near Myth: The Oskar Knight Story can be described as a mockumentary, similar in to such films as This is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind, but in many ways it is so much more. Near Myth: The Oskar Knight Story details the life and films of the legendary director of the title. And it is often so convincing that the viewer can easily forget that Oskar Knight never actually existed. This is helped immensely by the real-life Hollywood personalities who appear throughout the film to discuss Oskar Knight, including Margaret O'Brien, Noel Neil., Jon Provost, Rudolf Martin,Sir David Suchet, and many others. At its core, Near Myth: The Oskar Knight Story is a love letter to Old Hollywood. Through the life and films of Oskar Knight, it acts as a tribute to every director.director, actor, or other artist who never got their due.

Scott Fivelson is a writer, producer, and director, known for America Reel (2003), 3 Holes and a Smoking Gun (2014), and Near Myth: The Oskar Knight Story (2018). He cast the actor Lenny Von Dohlen to portray the legendary Oskar Knight, based not only on the uncanny resemblance between Von Dohlen and Knight, but also on the actor's rare gift for period portrayal in such stories as Under the Biltmore Clock.

Before the premiere I interviewed one of the actors Robert Amico from the film.

He honed his craft on stage in New York City and owes all he knows about acting to the Actor's Studio and "The Method". He NOW adds Producing, Writing,and Directing to his resume, as well as teaching acting through his "The Reactors Studio" at the Whitmore Lindley Theatre in North Hollywood.

I also had the chance to chat with Actress/Artist Diane Hanna who came to support the film. Diane is known for acting roles in The Streetz, The Gilbert Diaries: the Movie, Escape Artists and other well known films.

Box Office Manager Neil Cremmins told me the history of The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center in our interview.

The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center is part of an international consortium, the Art House Convergence, which by 2017 consisted of over 500 delegates representing exhibitors, distributors, film festivals, and allied organizations.

The idea of the Art House Convergence (AHC) was born in 2008 when a group of exhibitors were brought together at the Sundance Film Festival as part of the Sundance Institute’s Art House Project.

Robert Redford foresaw the need and necessity to mobilize independent movie houses to protect their interests against commercial multiplexes and build negotiating power to secure movies from the big studios. But there was also a second need to preserve independent movie houses; they were needed to exhibit smaller films produced by independent filmmakers as well as foreign films. Thus was born the idea of an Art House cinema that serves a community's needs as a cultural media arts center.

The mission of the AHC is to increase the quantity and quality of Art House cinemas in North America. The organization strives to reflect its core intention, community-based, mission-driven, in all its programs, seminars, and the annual conference.

In the fall of 2010 a group of volunteers unassumingly began screening films once a month in Shand's Loft at the BrickHouse Brewery and received an enthusiastic response. After nine months of "Monday Nights at The Movies" it was clear that the South shore community wanted its own Art House Cinema - Plaza MAC, Inc. was born. Encouraged by a $5,000 gift from filmmaker George Stoney, the founders moved into a bare bones 1,200 sq. ft. storefront at Artspace on Terry Street. With hammers and paint brushes in hand, the volunteers caught the attention of a local newspaper reporter and celebrity Isabella Rossellini. Inspired by what was happening, community members started sending unsolicited checks to The Plaza.

Within the first two years (2011-2013) of Plaza’s existence at Artspace, the community's gifts made it possible to build a box office, folding chairs were replaced by comfortable reclining chairs, the Blue Velvet wine bar and concession stand replaced folding tables, walls replaced curtains, risers were modified, and the screening and sound equipment were up-graded to a state-of-the art digital cinema system with surround sound. By Midsummer 2016 two art deco marquees were installed and The Plaza celebrated with a memorable marquee lighting and ribbon cutting ceremony.

The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), community supported organization. This means there are no shareholders and that all monies are used to fund operations, programming, and capital campaigns.

The Plaza's operational model brings cultural and educational programming under one mission-driven roof and is fiscally supported by a combination of admission and tuition, philanthropic funding, grants, business sponsorships, and community contributions.

The Plaza's mission is to celebrate the power and magic of film as an art form and as a medium for multicultural exchange and social responsibility by:

Screening quality mainstream, independent, foreign films, and operas and plays captured live from world stages

Presenting series and festivals with guest speakers

Offering field trips, classes, and workshops in filmmaking and animation

Contributing to the economic and cultural development of the community

If you are interested in supporting our mission please contact Executive Director Catherine Oberg at obergc@plazamac.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FILM PLEASE VISIT

https://www.imdb.com/Near Myth: The Oskar Knight Story

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