It's all systems go for No Studios, the new creative arts hub founded by Oscar-winning screenwriter – and Milwaukee native – John Ridley ("12 Years a Slave") and Chris Abele, celebrating its grand opening with an entire weekend of packed with entertaining and engaging arts events on Oct. 12-14.
With everything happening in the new creative conduit, located at 1037 W. McKinley Ave., it can be easy to be overwhelmed by all the excitement and all of the diverse events. So, to help plan your way through the grand opening party, here's a schedule of all the awesome panels, activities, screenings and more coming to the brand new No Studios this weekend
Friday, Oct. 12
Female Filmmakers Panel – 7-9 p.m.
No Studios, in partnership with the Milwaukee Filmmaker Alliance's (MFA) diversity committee, will host this free, open to the public panel of female filmmakers, discussing their experiences and inclusion in the entertainment industry. Moderated by Portia Cobb, the panel will include Santana Coleman, Dani Cortes, Dana Shihadah, Jay Winters, Emily Kuester, LaShondra Scott and Nellie Vance.
Grand Opening Party – 8 p.m.-midnight
Be sure to RSVP to this grand opening party, hosted at the No Studios Performance Stage. The free and open to the public festivities will feature film screenings as well as live musical performances from Shaddye, K-Stamp and Melodic Prodigies in the No Studios gallery.
Saturday, Oct. 13
Open House – 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Get a taste of everything No Studios and the city of Milwaukee has to offer with Saturday's collection of open house events. In addition to meeting fellow creative minds from across the city, viewing short films from Cream City filmmakers, taking in art from local artists Della Wells, Katy Cowan and Sheila Held, and hopefully becoming a No Studios member, the open house will include:
- A coffee and pastry tasting from Colectivo in the gallery from 10 a.m. until noon
- An ice cream social to meet local artists and No Studios personnel, as well as to eat tasty ice cream, from noon until 2 p.m. in the screening room
- A craft beer tasting with Lowlands Brewing Collaborative in the gallery from 2-4 p.m.
All of these events are open to the public, but RSVPs are required.
Pop-Up Dance Performance – 1-3 p.m.
No Studios isn't just for film and movies, and it isn't just one physical place – all forms of art are welcome and melding into all neighborhoods and communities is the goal. As proof, on Saturday, No Studios will present a special pop-up-dance performance at St. Ann Intergenerational Care Center with Milwaukee Ballet II, Panadanza and The Signature Dance Company. After, OnMilwaukee's own Molly Snyder will host a post-performance panel discussion – and maybe bust a move herself? There's only one way to find out!
"What They Had" Screening – 2-4 p.m.
No Studios members are invited to this special early screening of "What They Had," a new family drama starring Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Blythe Danner and Taissa Farmiga. The Sundance Film Festival pick will screen in the No Studios screening room, and RSVPs are required.
Members Welcome Party – 6 p.m.-midnight
No Studios members get another grand opening treat as Saturday night will be a members only party, featuring hors d'oeuvres from The Lowlands Group and live musical performances from Olen Franklin, Evan Christian, Marcya Daneille, and Q the Sun and Friends. RSVPs are required.
Sunday, Oct. 14
Marketing/Communications Workshop – 2-4 p.m.
Being a filmmaker requires plenty of skills and knowledge with a camera, but to get your art seen by others also requires an idea of how to market and communicate your projects and ideas to others. To help, No Studios and the MFA partnered for this workshop featuring Sylvia Desrochers, president of the Los Angeles-based film PR firm Big Time as well as No Studios director of media and programming, to speak about her two decades of experience bringing films of all sizes to screens across the world. The event is a No Studios member exclusive, though local students are encouraged to attend with a student ID.
To RSVP for any of the events above – or to merely learn more about No Studios' mission and future – visit its website.
As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.
When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.
