Louiseville, Kentucky. Every year they host one of the biggest fan festivals in the US. Lebowskifest. The town is in no way associated with the film or the Coen brothers, but some people decided to host one anyway. They've even written a book about the fim and had a documentary made about the festival. Riverside, Iowa. A small town not many people know of. But is the home (actually future home) of Captain James Tiberius Kirk. And every year that town honors him and the whole Star Trek universe by holding Trek Fest on Kirk's birthday. There's a parade, a plaque commemoration him and they have cast members come and show the movies and television episodes, plus selling a shit load of merchandise that has Riverside and Kirk all over it.
This leads me to Onederfest. You could pronounce it One-derfest or O-nederfest. One of my favorite movies is "That Thing You Do". And having half the movie take place in my home town, I think Erie should have a That Thing You Do festival.
Supposedly Tom Hanks (the writer, director, and (in my opinion) star of the film, has been through Erie back in the early '80s, fell in love with it's charm, and decided to use it years later as the home town of a struggling rock band called the Oneders. If he liked the town so much, I don't see a problem, schedule permitting, that he would want to participate. Since it was the first film he directed and first screenplay he wrote, I would think that this film would have some personal meaning to him. I mean, he did name his production company Play-Tone after the fictional record company that signed the Wonders.
I haven't thought too much about the details, but I can imagine the Warner Theater showing the film, getting the cast to possibly show up, host a local Battle of The Bands at Mercyhurst College, the local radio stations (the ones that are left, miss ya Froggy) could play it every hour that day for contests......whatever, I just think it should happen, I don't know how, but I'll try to look into it.
Just had the idea and needed to get it off of my chest.
There are multiple towns that have a Wizard of Oz fest. Plus other towns and other movies.
This leads me to Onederfest. You could pronounce it One-derfest or O-nederfest. One of my favorite movies is "That Thing You Do". And having half the movie take place in my home town, I think Erie should have a That Thing You Do festival.
Supposedly Tom Hanks (the writer, director, and (in my opinion) star of the film, has been through Erie back in the early '80s, fell in love with it's charm, and decided to use it years later as the home town of a struggling rock band called the Oneders. If he liked the town so much, I don't see a problem, schedule permitting, that he would want to participate. Since it was the first film he directed and first screenplay he wrote, I would think that this film would have some personal meaning to him. I mean, he did name his production company Play-Tone after the fictional record company that signed the Wonders.
I haven't thought too much about the details, but I can imagine the Warner Theater showing the film, getting the cast to possibly show up, host a local Battle of The Bands at Mercyhurst College, the local radio stations (the ones that are left, miss ya Froggy) could play it every hour that day for contests......whatever, I just think it should happen, I don't know how, but I'll try to look into it.
Just had the idea and needed to get it off of my chest.
