FILM & TV




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After Strong Turnout, Richmond Arts Park Enters Holding Pattern

Under the Manchester Bridge, what had been an idea for years turned into something tangible, at least for a day. Hundreds of people moved through the space as muralists painted, DJs played, and passersby stopped mid-bike ride or walk to figure out what was going on....

What to Know About the Big Dipper Innovation Summit in Richmond

There’s a lot of change happening in Richmond right now, and most of it can feel out of our hands. But the reality is, there are people in leadership shaping how the city and state grow, who it’s for, and where it’s going next. At some point, you either tune it out or...

Why Richmond is Ready for Rest Fest Right Now

In 2009, I went to three different GameStops trying to find a Wii Fit Balance Board, and getting one started my path toward having yoga in my life. After two years of doing virtual yoga on a game system, I was challenged by a student to seek out meditation and yoga...

The Veiled Mirror Comes With Ghost Stories Included

If you are in the market for a glass eye in the same shade as your lover’s, some elaborate hair jewelry, or even an electric couch to use as a Victorian cure-all, then you need to head over to The Veiled Mirror. This Victorian antique store opened downtown in January,...

Richmond Had a General Strike and a First Friday on the Same Night

It was 72 and breezy. Unseasonably pleasant, almost chilly. VCU students were splayed out on picnic blankets in Monroe Park enjoying soft serve and the sunshine. Citronella and the smell of hot dogs wafted through the air from some folks having a cookout. “High...

Iron Blossom Steps Up With Jack White, LCD Soundsystem

The worst kept secret in Richmond is finally official. After weeks of speculation, Iron Blossom has confirmed what a lot of people were already betting on: Jack White and LCD Soundsystem are heading to Richmond this fall. The festival will return to Midtown Green in...

My Life As a Spider: The Two Years I Tried to Delete

Editor’s Note: Max Winter is a University of Richmond alumnus reflecting on his time at UR in the late ’90s and the campus culture he experienced. You can read more of his work on his Substack HERE. Recently, while eating carnitas in East LA, I check my phone and get...

Update on The Pharrell Movie Shooting in Richmond, VA

As we reported a few weeks ago, Pharrell and director Michel Gondry are coming to Richmond and now we have more information to share. As reported by The Virginian-Pilot, the production of a movie musical based on the childhood of Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams is set to make a significant economic impact on Virginia. With a total...

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Main photo of group N.E.R.D. by Jai Lennard featuring Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams & Shay Haley

A Deep Dive of the James River Film Festival 2024

The James River Film Festival, now in its 30th year, spanned two weekends in April 2024. It began with screenings at Studio Two Three, then moved to the Richmond Public Library, the Grace Street Theater, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and concluded with a full day at the Byrd Theatre. Over its storied three decades, the event has taken place...

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James River Film Festival Deep Dive written by and photos by Todd Raviotta RVA Magazine 2024

Will 225 People Watch ‘Predator’ With Us at the Byrd?

“You’re one ugly motherfucker.”   — Major Dutch Schaefer, upon making first contact with an Alien species. Since humanity has looked to the stars, a singular question has lingered over our non-terrestrial endeavors — are we alone up there in the night sky? Throughout the ages, many philosophers and cosmologists have attempted to untangle the...

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Predator at the Byrd Theatre_RVA Magazine 2024

We Have Your James River Film Festival Lineup Right Here!

Starting tonight, the James River Film Festival, presented by the volunteers that make up the James River Film Society, marks its 30th anniversary, showcasing an exceptional selection of films that resonate with the heart and soul of cinema enthusiasts. Since its inception in 1994, this festival has been a cornerstone of Richmond's cultural...

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James River Film Festival 2024_RVA Magazine

Reel Support! Tuesday Movie Nights at The Byrd Theatre with RVA Mag

Does having drinks while watching classic moves in one of the country's last remaining Grand Movie Palaces sound like a perfect Tuesday night? Rhetorical question — IT IS. This is why we’re thrilled to announce a new movie night to help fundraise for the preservation of the Byrd Theatre in Carytown.  For the next three months, we’ll be...

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RVA Magazine Movie Nights at The Byrd Theatre 2024

Virginia Icon Pharrell Williams is Coming To Town

A musical based on Pharrell Williams' childhood is set to be filmed in Richmond. It's a coming-of-age story set in 1977 Virginia Beach, drawing from Williams' upbringing in the Atlantis Apartments. Williams will produce, and Michel Gondry, known for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, will direct. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07-QBnEkgXU...

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Pharrell Williams comes to Richmond to shoot musical_RVA Magazine 2024

You Can Call Me Bill: An Interview William Shatner

Over the course of his decades-long career, he’s been known by many names: Captain James Tiberius Kirk, Sergeant TJ Hooker, Commander Buck Murdock, and even Stan Fields if you can be so bold as to tell us why April 25th is, in fact, the perfect date (Answer: it’s not too hot, not too cold, and all you need is a light jacket). On March 22nd, you...

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You Can Call Me Bill_Interview with William Shatner by Ash Griffith, RVA Magazine 2024