A little news coverage about All Things Branson and Christopher James…
Greetings loyal reader(s) and welcome to the latest edition of the Branson Beat, your home for all the news on the Branson entertainment scene.
As always, feel free to drop me a line at jclark@bransontrilakesnews.com or friend me on Facebook at facebook.com/joshua.clark.961556.
An afternoon discussing ‘All Things Branson’
It has been a few years since I first saw Christopher James, one of the funniest and most entertaining cats in Branson, perform aboard the Showboat Branson Belle, and over that time, he has been hard at work on several projects that are helping to open Branson up to a whole new generation of folks.
One such project is a website, allthingsbranson.com, which features local news, a Branson talk forum, business directory and interviews with Branson entertainers, business owners, politicians and community leaders.
“For the last year we’ve been doing these interviews featuring entertainers, local restaurants, and things to do around Branson, and putting them on the website where they’re available for free,” James said. “We now have 157 podcasts and 260 interviews done on video, and we do it all for free to promote things around town.
James, who had experience running media websites in Ohio, was looking for a way to help spread the word about so many newsworthy stories and events that don’t necessarily get the exposure they needed or deserved.
“My wife said ‘Why not just do it yourself,’ and so I did,” James said. “We started partnering with restaurants like Mr. G’s in downtown … and other small businesses who didn’t necessarily have the funds to compete with the big boys when it comes to advertising. So we just decided to promote each other whenever we could.”
In order to finance everything, James opened an art gallery at the Branson Mill Craft Village and sells his original paintings of his favorite Branson spots.
James said the whole experience has helped build his resume and open up new opportunities.
“People are seeking us out and want to be a part of this,” he said. “Plus, our web traffic has increased every month.
“I had a great interview with Mayor Karen Best, and that’s up right now.”
That web traffic will most assuredly decrease soon, however, when James posts his most recent interview with Branson Tri-Lakes News Entertainment Writer Joshua Clark.
In all seriousness, I had a great time doing it. We met up at Mr. G’s in downtown and chatted for more than an hour. As my Loyal Reader(s) know, I can be a bit long-winded, but we managed to talk Branson shows, Branson trends, Catholic saints and of course, the new “Star Wars” movie. (Spoiler free, of course).
So do yourself a favor and head over and check out allthingsbranson.com. Not only will you find a wide array of Branson coverage, but you’ll get a sneak peek into the “behind the scenes” world of the Branson Entertainment scene.
Look for more on James, who also recently completed a children’s book, in a future issue of the Branson Tri-Lakes News.
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ is a hit
Writer’s Note: In the interest of keeping the moviegoing experience as pure as possible, this column will be presented free of spoilers. This one needs to be experienced, not merely watched.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opened yesterday, and for the first time since the 1983 release of “Return of the Jedi,” we have an honest to goodness “Star Wars” movie playing in our local theaters. The most important aspect of the film is that is genuinely “feels” like a “Star Wars” movie. The practical and special effects are flawless, the comedy is actually funny and the glossy newness of the prequels (Episodes I-III) has been replaced by the dirty, dusty beat-up universe we grew to love in the first place.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” picks up 30 years after the events of “Return of the Jedi,” where the tyrannical First Order and their evil young enforcer Kylo Ren, pitch perfectly portrayed by Adam Driver, are searching for Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill, who vanished years earlier. When John Boyega’s Finn, a former First Order trooper, crash-lands on a desert planet during a daring escape, he meets a young woman named Rey, Daisy Ridley, a scavenger who happens upon some information precious to both the Resistance and the First Order.
The youngsters eventually join forces with the coolest man in the galaxy, Han Solo, once again played to perfection by my childhood man-crush Harrison Ford, to get said information to the Resistance.
That’s the jest of it, and all I’m willing to reveal at this time.
In addition to the original cast members returning, a great story and awesome effects, the film is beautifully shot, and nowhere is that more evident than in the giant screen 70mm Imax presentation. Seriously guys, I’ve seen a lot of movies on that screen, and I’ve never seen one come close to looking as beautiful as this one does.
The lone sequence director J.J. Abrams used the Imax camera to shoot comes early in the film, and once it grabs a hold of you there, it never lets go. While I do still plan to see the movie several more times, and in several other formats, I can’t imagine it would hold a candle to the 70mm Imax version.
The bottom line is this, “The Force Awakens” isn’t the greatest movie ever made, nor is it the greatest “Star Wars” movie ever made (That honor goes to “The Empire Strikes Back”), but it is a worthy and welcome addition to the “Star Wars” saga, and I’d rank it third overall behind “Empire” and the original 1977 “Star Wars.”
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is currently showing at Branson’s Imax Entertainment Complex and the Branson Meadows Cinema.
Visit bransonimax.com or bransonmeadowscinema11.com for showtimes and additional information.
May the Force Be With You.
Branson performer puts studies first
Longtime local entertainer Radney “Little E” Pennington, 15, recently finished his high school education, graduating from the American School, the same school attended by the Osmond brothers.
“While other kids were on summer break or winter break, I kept working on this, along with my shows,” Pennington said. “I graduated with a 3.2 GPA. My best subject was Writing 2, which I passed with a 99 percent, but my favorite subject was Psychology.”
Pennington, who turned turned 15 Aug. 28, received his diploma Dec. 16.
“My future plans are to continue pursuing the music industry,” he said. “Along with songwriting.”
Pennington has been performing in Branson for a decade at venues such as Cakes-n-Creams, Branson’s Center Stage Grille & Bar and Back to the 50’s Mini Golf.
On a personal note, I’ve seen this kid work very hard at his craft and his shows, and he’s growing by leaps and bounds as a performer and a person.
Congrats Radney, and well done, sir.
Shows closing this week
With 12 days left in 2015, several Branson shows are nearing the end of their 2015 show runs.
Saturday will see the “Sons of Britches,” who will put the wraps on their first season at the Little Opry Theatre inside Branson’s Imax Entertainment Complex, “Six” at the Mickey Gilley Theatre and the “Presleys’ Country Jubilee,” will all perform their season finale Saturday night.
Sunday, the King’s Castle Theatre will host farewell performances for three of its most popular shows, beginning with a 10 a.m. “Christmas Wonderland” show. The cast of “New Jersey Nights” will then take the stage at 2 p.m. for their finale, followed by the 8 p.m. finale of “Puttin’ on the Ritz Christmas Show” starring Dino Kartsonakis.
Christmas Day will see the “Amazing Pets” show at Grand Country, as well as “The Incredible Acrobats of China” at the Yakov Smirnoff Theatre perform regular shows. Also on Christmas Day, the Hot Hits Theatre in downtown Branson will host the final “Golden Sounds of The Platters with Eddie Stovall” show that afternoon.
The day after Christmas, the Hot Hits Theatre will host the “Doo Wop and the Chico Vega Drifters” finale. Also scheduled to close Dec. 26 is the “Smoke on the Mountain” sequel “Sander’s Family Christmas” show at the Little Opry Theatre inside Branson’s Imax Entertainment Complex.
Speaking of the Little Opry Theatre, the venue will also host the Petersen Family Bluegrass Band finale Sunday, Dec. 27.
For the rest of the year’s final shows, pick up a copy of next week’s issue of the Branson Tri-Lakes News.
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