By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com
There might be nihilists, maybe even a marmot. And there will definitely be a rug to tie the room together. Get ready to channel your inner “Dude!”
On Nov. 28 at 8 p.m., the Bing Arts Center presents its second annual Big Bing Lebowski Festival, celebrating the Cohen Brothers 1998 cult film, “The Big Lebowski” staring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sam Elliott, and John Turturro.
Tickets to the Festival, which include costume and trivia contests, pizza and snacks, virgin vegan White Russians and of course, a screening of “The Big Lebowski,” are $10 at the door. Advance tickets are available at www.bingartscenter.org or by calling 413-731-9730. This event is recommended for mature audiences.
Tapping an underground trend
Sure it’s a quirky, funny film, but why did the Bing choose to start hosting “Big Lebowski” festivals? PRIME chatted with Bing Arts Center Executive Director Brian Hale to find out why.
“The idea had been percolating for many years, even before we officially
opened as the Bing Arts Center in June, 2010,” Hale told PRIME. “A broad group of friends and associates are wildly enthusiastic about this film! There have been festivals around the country for years. We felt that the ‘Lebowski’ phenomenon was ideal for our intimate, sociable kind of space. It’s certainly a good excuse for having some laughs!
According to Hale, the first “Lebowski” festival last year drew 57 die-hard fans as well as seven fan/volunteers to “pull the room together” for the event.
“Ten [fans] participated in our costume contest, with the winners dressed as ‘The Stranger’ and ‘Maude.’ Those two were really good,” Hale said.
Overall though, the most popular event by far last year was the trivia contests.
“We had Master ‘Lebowski’ Trivia after the movie. That required in-depth knowledge of the film,” Hale said. “We’re doing those again of course. The virgin vegan White Russians were a big hit as well!”
Planning for more fun
Hale said this year’s Big Bing Lebowski Festival is on track to include everything that drew fans last year, and then some.
“The Second Annual Big Bing Lebowski Festival’s festivities will include a team trivia contest, a costume contest, door prize drawings, a silent auction, a screening of the movie and a Master Trivia Contest,” Hale said.
In addition, Marty Langford, a local film producer and film and media professor at American International College, will be on hand this year to provide “enlightenment” about the film.
“The film’s nod and a wink narrator, ‘The Stranger,’ sets the tone for a hysterical send-up of Cinematic American archetypes,” Hale said. “The multiple bizarrely iconic characters combine with the shaggy dog story's meandering plot-line to pull the viewer into the tale. ‘The Dude’s’ Everyman as an Outsider is the stuff of legend.”
Hale did caution that once again this year, the evening would include some moments that should be considered adults-only.
“There are some ‘adult’ situations (hilarious to say the least) in the movie and there is a video on YouTube which packs a stream of all the f-bombs uttered in the film together in an outrageous sequence,” Hale said. “If one can get by that, chances are [attendees] will find the film to be very entertaining and compelling. The situations and dialogue are brilliantly crafted to build humor with every repetition.”
For more information about the Big Bing Lebowski Festival, visit www.bingartscenter.org.
The Bing Arts Center, located at 716 Sumner Avenue in Springfield’s Forest Park neighborhood, is a multi-use hub for community cultural activity.
Originally Cossaboom’s Service Station, the Bing Theater opened in 1950 and served several generations of area residents until 1999 when it was taken by the city of Springfield for non-payment of taxes.
The “X” Main Street Corporation (XMSC), a 501 c 3 non-profit, purchased the property from the City in 2004 for renovation and development as a community arts center to create a catalyst for economic development and improved quality of life.