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TUESDAY, JUNE 8
ASTUTE FILMS
QUEEN BEES
FILM: 7:00 PM (PDT) | Q&A: 8:40 PM (PDT)
While her house undergoes repairs, fiercely independent senior Helen (Oscar-winner Ellen Burstyn) reluctantly moves into a nearby retirement community. Once behind the doors of Pine Grove Senior Community, she encounters lusty widows, cutthroat bridge tournaments and a hotbed of bullying “mean girls” the likes of which she hasn’t encountered since high school. Ann-Margret, Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine, James Cann, Christopher Lloyd, and Alec Mapa also star.
Q&A immediately following screening with director Michael Lembeck, producer/inspiration for the film, Harrison Powell, and actor Loretta Devine
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LORETTA DEVINE | Actor
Loretta is an award-winning actor in theatre, film and television. She first captured national attention as one of the three original Dreamgirls in Michael Bennett’s classic award-winning Broadway musical. Her film roles include playing opposite Whitney Houston in Waiting to Exhale, which earned her an NAACP Image Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress,’ and a second NAACP Image Award followed for her work in The Preacher’s Wife. She is currently working on the feature film Spell for Paramount Pictures, and The Starling opposite Melissa McCarthy. Devine’s television credits include her role as “Adele” on Grey’s Anatomy, earning her both a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Gracie Allen Award for “Outstanding Female Actor in a Featured Role.”
MICHAEL LEMBACK | Director
Queen Bees is Michael’s first indie film, but he made his directing debut with the hit comedy, The Santa Clause 2, followed by the musical comedy film, Connie and Carla, for Universal Studios. Lembeck is a veteran of television comedy, both as an actor and director. He helmed over 400 episodes of comedy television during his career. He directed episodes of Friends, Mad About You, the pilots of Everybody Loves Raymond and Hot in Cleveland, and was the director/producer for Baby Daddy. He has directed some of Hollywood’s most talented – Carol Burnett, Martin Short, Carroll O’Connor, Nathan Lane, Steve Carrell, Alan Arkin, Mel Brooks, and Tim Curry.
HARRISON POWELL | Story by & Producer
As the VP of Development at Astute Films, Harrison has played a key role in developing and producing feature film projects. His own grandmother’s experience at a senior living community became the inspiration for Queen Bees. His other projects include, The Best of Enemies starring Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson, which will be released in the US by STX Entertainment.
PETE HAMMOND | Host of the KCET Cinema Series
Pete is currently the Chief Film Critic for Deadline Hollywood. For the past 9 years he has also been Awards Editor and Columnist for Deadline where he covers the Oscar and Emmy Seasons. He came to Deadline from the Los Angeles Times where he covered the awards seasons for The Envelope and LA Times.com. He is widely considered to be one of the pre-eminent awards season analysts for film and television.
MICHELE GARZA | Producer of the KCET Cinema Series
Michele Garza is Senior Director of Special Events for KCET and PBS SoCal, both content channels of the Public Media Group of Southern California. She is the founder and producer of the KCET Cinema Series and the Earth Focus Environmental Film Festival, and has more than 20 years of experience in public media.
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GET INVOLVED!
The Virtual KCET Cinema Series is made possible by ticket sales, membership passes, and sponsorships. To discuss sponsorship opportunities by individuals, businesses or charitable foundations, please contact Michele Garza, series producer, at mgarza@pmgsocal.org. The Virtual KCET Cinema Series is presented by Mitzi Ash Blahd and the MaddocksBrown Foundation. To learn more about the KCET Cinema Series, or to register to attend the upcoming film screenings, please visit kcet.org/cinemaseries. Join the conversation on social media using #KCETCinemaSeries.
TUESDAY, JUNE 8
ASTUTE FILMS
QUEEN BEES
FILM: 7:00 PM (PDT) | Q&A: 8:40 PM (PDT)
While her house undergoes repairs, fiercely independent senior Helen (Oscar-winner Ellen Burstyn) reluctantly moves into a nearby retirement community. Once behind the doors of Pine Grove Senior Community, she encounters lusty widows, cutthroat bridge tournaments and a hotbed of bullying “mean girls” the likes of which she hasn’t encountered since high school. Ann-Margret, Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine, James Cann, Christopher Lloyd, and Alec Mapa also star.
Q&A immediately following screening with director Michael Lembeck, producer/inspiration for the film, Harrison Powell, and actor Loretta Devine
__________________________________________________________________________
LORETTA DEVINE | Actor
Loretta is an award-winning actor in theatre, film and television. She first captured national attention as one of the three original Dreamgirls in Michael Bennett’s classic award-winning Broadway musical. Her film roles include playing opposite Whitney Houston in Waiting to Exhale, which earned her an NAACP Image Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress,’ and a second NAACP Image Award followed for her work in The Preacher’s Wife. She is currently working on the feature film Spell for Paramount Pictures, and The Starling opposite Melissa McCarthy. Devine’s television credits include her role as “Adele” on Grey’s Anatomy, earning her both a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Gracie Allen Award for “Outstanding Female Actor in a Featured Role.”
MICHAEL LEMBACK | Director
Queen Bees is Michael’s first indie film, but he made his directing debut with the hit comedy, The Santa Clause 2, followed by the musical comedy film, Connie and Carla, for Universal Studios. Lembeck is a veteran of television comedy, both as an actor and director. He helmed over 400 episodes of comedy television during his career. He directed episodes of Friends, Mad About You, the pilots of Everybody Loves Raymond and Hot in Cleveland, and was the director/producer for Baby Daddy. He has directed some of Hollywood’s most talented – Carol Burnett, Martin Short, Carroll O’Connor, Nathan Lane, Steve Carrell, Alan Arkin, Mel Brooks, and Tim Curry.
HARRISON POWELL | Story by & Producer
As the VP of Development at Astute Films, Harrison has played a key role in developing and producing feature film projects. His own grandmother’s experience at a senior living community became the inspiration for Queen Bees. His other projects include, The Best of Enemies starring Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson, which will be released in the US by STX Entertainment.
PETE HAMMOND | Host of the KCET Cinema Series
Pete is currently the Chief Film Critic for Deadline Hollywood. For the past 9 years he has also been Awards Editor and Columnist for Deadline where he covers the Oscar and Emmy Seasons. He came to Deadline from the Los Angeles Times where he covered the awards seasons for The Envelope and LA Times.com. He is widely considered to be one of the pre-eminent awards season analysts for film and television.
MICHELE GARZA | Producer of the KCET Cinema Series
Michele Garza is Senior Director of Special Events for KCET and PBS SoCal, both content channels of the Public Media Group of Southern California. She is the founder and producer of the KCET Cinema Series and the Earth Focus Environmental Film Festival, and has more than 20 years of experience in public media.
__________________________________________________________________________
GET INVOLVED!
The Virtual KCET Cinema Series is made possible by ticket sales, membership passes, and sponsorships. To discuss sponsorship opportunities by individuals, businesses or charitable foundations, please contact Michele Garza, series producer, at mgarza@pmgsocal.org. The Virtual KCET Cinema Series is presented by Mitzi Ash Blahd and the MaddocksBrown Foundation. To learn more about the KCET Cinema Series, or to register to attend the upcoming film screenings, please visit kcet.org/cinemaseries. Join the conversation on social media using #KCETCinemaSeries.