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  • John Carpenter’s The Thing + Q&A w/ Alan Howarth: Presented by Moviebusters

    Anytime. Anywhere. Anyone. Moviebusters are taking us back to the coldest corner of horror history with some encores of John Carpenter’s The Thing–now in a new 4K restoration! And as an added bonus, Alan Howarth, a frequent collaborator with John Carpenter, will be joining us for a post-screening Q&A hosted by Scott Zilner! Alan worked closely with composer Ennio Morricone and contributed additional synthesizer-based musical pieces and sound design work for the film. He will be signing autographs in the theater lobby before the film!  What begins as a simple rescue mission at a remote Antarctic outpost quickly dissolves into a nightmare of shape-shifting terror. When a mysterious organism infiltrates U.S. research station Outpost 31, it doesn’t attack its victims…it becomes them. With no way out and no way to tell who’s human, the team must confront an enemy capable of wearing any face…including their own. What can be said about The Thing that hasn’t already been said? This 1982 masterpiece redefined paranoia horror, practical effects (by the incredible Ron Botin and his team), and the art of keeping an audience on the very edge of its seat in only a way that the master of horror, John Carpenter, can do. This program is a venue rental engagement.

    Director: John Carpenter Run Time: 109 min. Release Year: 1982

    Starring: David Clennon, Keith David, Kurt Russell, T.K. Carter, Wilford Brimley

    Q and A after film with Alan Howarth and Scott Zillner

    Tickets Link

  • Big Trouble in Little China + Q&A w/ Alan Howarth + Gerald Okamura: Presented by Moviebusters

    Jack Burton’s in for some serious trouble…and you’re in for some serious fun.

    The Moviebusters are back at The Frida Cinema, and this time they’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of the John Carpenter and Kurt Russell’s 1986 cult classic Big Trouble In Little China! In addition to the film, we will have guests Alan Howarth, who worked with John Carpenter on the film’s soundtrack, and actor and martial artist Gerald Okamura, who played the Wing Kong Hatchet Man in the film join us after the screening for a Q&A hosted by Scott Zillner! They will also be signing autographs in the lobby before the film begins!

    Truck driver Jack Burton gets embroiled in a supernatural battle when his best friend Wang Chi’s green-eyed fiancée is kidnapped by henchmen of the sorcerer Lo Pan, who must marry a girl with green eyes in order to return to the human realm.

    This kind of Kung Fu-Western-Sci Fi-Action-Horror genre mashing is common now, but in the 1980s, it was unheard of. Big Trouble In Little China embraced the chaos then, and has become even more beloved as the years have worn on. Come see it on the big screen!

    May 5th 4pm-5pm guest Signing Gerald Okamura

    5pm -7pm Movie

    7pm to 8pm Q and A with Gerald Okamura , Alan Howarth and Scott Zillner

    Tickets Link

  • Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure + Q&A w/ Diane Franklin & Kimberley Kates  : Presented by Moviebusters

    Grab your history books and cruise on over to The Frida Cinema as Moviebusters are back to present a most triumphant screening of the 1989 cult classic Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure! And be sure to stay after the screening for an in-person Q&A with special guest Diane Franklin (Better Off Dead, Dallas, Matlock), who played the role of Princess Joanna of England and Kimberley Kates best known for her role as Princess Elizabeth in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. She founded and is currently the CEO of Big Screen Entertainment Group

    Director: Stephen Herek Run Time: 90 min. Release Year: 1989

    Starring: Alex Winter, Dan Shor, George Carlin, Keanu Reeves, Terry Camilleri

    Saturday February 7th at The Frida Cinema

    7:30 pm autographs and meet and greet 

    8:30 pm  movie starts

    Get your tickets here

    Bill and Ted are high school buddies starting a band. They are also about to fail their history class—which means Ted would be sent to military school—but receive help from Rufus, a traveller from a future where their band is the foundation for a perfect society. With the use of Rufus’ time machine, Bill and Ted travel to various points in history, returning with important figures to help them complete their final history presentation.

    Anchored by the endlessly likable pairing of Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves, the film zips through history with Socrates, Napoleon, and Joan of Arc in tow, but never loses sight of its big heart. Beneath the goofy catchphrases and mall-set mayhem is a surprisingly sincere belief in the power of showing up for one another.

    Diane Franklin will also be signing autographs in the lobby before the film, so make sure to get there early!

    This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff. Membership discounts and comp passes do not apply. Doors open at 8:00PM and the film will begin at 8:30PM.

  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Presented By Moviebusters with guest Michelan Sisti

    Michelan Sisti (Micha) is thankful to have a long and varied career as musician, actor, director and puppeteer. From Broadway to Hollywood, his favorite performances include: Michaelangelo, in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I & II”, Charlene Sinclair, in the television series “Dinosaurs”, all of his work with the Muppets, and Tol, in the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” episode, “Bloodlines”. Yes, Micha was a Ferengi! How cool is that?

    February Saturday 7th at The Frida Cinema

    4pm meet and greet with autographs

    5pm  movie starts

    After Movie Q and A with Scott Zillner and Michelan Sisti

    1. Tickets here

    Director: Steve Barron Run Time: 93 min. Release Year: 1990

    Starring: Brian Tochi, Corey Feldman, Josh Pais, Judith Hoag, Robbie Rist

    Grab a slice and skate on down to The Frida Cinema as Moviebusters presents a very special screening of the 1990 cult classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles! 

    Before superheroes ruled the multiplex, four brothers from the New York sewers saved the world with martial arts and heart. Director Steve Barron’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a box-office surprise and a practical-effects marvel. Produced on the edge of indie ingenuity, the film blended Jim Henson’s Creature Shop wizardry with street-level grit, creating a tone that felt mythic. Beneath the pizza jokes and wisecracks was something sincere–growing up in a hard (shelled?) city.

    This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff. Membership discounts and comp passes do not apply. Doors open at 4:00PM and the film will begin at 5:00PM.

  • Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure + Q&A w/ Diane Franklin & Kimberley Kates  : Presented by Moviebusters

    Grab your history books and cruise on over to The Frida Cinema as Moviebusters are back to present a most triumphant screening of the 1989 cult classic Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure! And be sure to stay after the screening for an in-person Q&A with special guest Diane Franklin (Better Off Dead, Dallas, Matlock), who played the role of Princess Joanna of England and Kimberley Kates best known for her role as Princess Elizabeth in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. She founded and is currently the CEO of Big Screen Entertainment Group

    Director: Stephen Herek Run Time: 90 min. Release Year: 1989

    Starring: Alex Winter, Dan Shor, George Carlin, Keanu Reeves, Terry Camilleri

    Saturday February 7th at The Frida Cinema

    7:30 pm autographs and meet and greet 

    8:30 pm  movie starts

    Get your tickets here

    Bill and Ted are high school buddies starting a band. They are also about to fail their history class—which means Ted would be sent to military school—but receive help from Rufus, a traveller from a future where their band is the foundation for a perfect society. With the use of Rufus’ time machine, Bill and Ted travel to various points in history, returning with important figures to help them complete their final history presentation.

    Anchored by the endlessly likable pairing of Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves, the film zips through history with Socrates, Napoleon, and Joan of Arc in tow, but never loses sight of its big heart. Beneath the goofy catchphrases and mall-set mayhem is a surprisingly sincere belief in the power of showing up for one another.

    Diane Franklin will also be signing autographs in the lobby before the film, so make sure to get there early!

    This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff. Membership discounts and comp passes do not apply. Doors open at 8:00PM and the film will begin at 8:30PM.

  • Q&A w/ Ernie Reyes Jr Cancelled

    Dates with showtimes for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Presented By Moviebusters

    Ernie has to cancel this event he will bae back for a TMNT 2 screening later this year

    February Saturday 7th at The Frida Cinema

    5pm  movie starts

    1. Tickets here

    Director: Steve Barron Run Time: 93 min. Release Year: 1990

    Starring: Brian Tochi, Corey Feldman, Josh Pais, Judith Hoag, Robbie Rist

    Grab a slice and skate on down to The Frida Cinema as Moviebusters presents a very special screening of the 1990 cult classic Teenage Mutant

    Before superheroes ruled the multiplex, four brothers from the New York sewers saved the world with martial arts and heart. Director Steve Barron’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a box-office surprise and a practical-effects marvel. Produced on the edge of indie ingenuity, the film blended Jim Henson’s Creature Shop wizardry with street-level grit, creating a tone that felt mythic. Beneath the pizza jokes and wisecracks was something sincere–growing up in a hard (shelled?) city.

    This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff. Membership discounts and comp passes do not apply. Doors open at 4:00PM and the film will begin at 5:00PM.

  • Making Megaforce & Megaforce Double Feature with Q&A

    On July 6th, come see what’s widley regarded as one of the worst movies of the 1980’s. “Megaforce,” starring Barry Bostwick, will be screening at the Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, as part of a double feature, along with the new documentary, “Making Megaforce,” directed by Bob Lindenmayer. “Making Megaforce” will start at 6pm then followed by a mid screening Q&A with Bob, hosted by Scott Zillner. Then goes right into the “Megaforce” movie.

    More info and tickets at

    https://thefridacinema.org/…/making-megaforce-qa-w-bob…/

    #moviebusters

    Moviebusters.events

    The Frida Cinema

    It’s widely regarded as one of the worst movies of the Eighties…

    …and we’re making a documentary about how awesome it is.

    Starring Barry Bostwick (Rocky Horror Picture Show), 1982’s Megaforce is packed with futuristic vehicles, spandex jumpsuits, insane stunts, and corny dialogue. It’s an adolescent adventure that time has forgotten.

    But one man remembers: director Bob Lindenmayer, and he’s on a quest to convince the rest of the world just how amazing this under-appreciated stunt-filled spectacle is. The world’s biggest Megaforce fan, Bob owns a fleet of fully operational dune buggies and motorcycles from the film.

    At first, Bob’s mission is pretty straightforward – chronicle the making of this box-office flop through cast and crew interviews. But when he meets his hero, Barry Bostwick, the film takes a left turn and becomes something more than a documentary – it becomes a hilarious and touching tribute to the power of fandom, friendship, and flying motorcycles.

    Making Megaforce is a feature-length documentary scheduled for released in 2025, starring Barry Bostwick and directed by Bob Lindenmayer.

    About the director:

    “Making Megaforce” director Bob Lindenmayer has over 20 years of graphic design experience creating game, web, video and merchandising projects. An avid film prop collector and cult cinema enthusiast, Bob owns the largest collection of vehicles from the 1982 film Megaforce, and he’s restored several vehicles to their original working conditions. Bob enjoys spending time with his kids Calvin and Eleanor racing a vintage Datsun on the family rally racing team.

    Directors statement:

    Forty-two years ago, I saw a movie that changed my life: Megaforce. I loved it, but not everyone felt the same way. I’ve been on a lifelong mission to restore the honor of this awesome, underappreciated film, which is why I’m making this documentary.

    Have you ever been a fan of something (a band, a book, a team) that nobody liked? That’s Megaforce for me.

    Making Megaforce documents the making of the movie that I love, my lifelong obsession with Megaforce, and my weird and wonderful friendship with Barry Bostwick. Yes, it’s about a forgotten cult movie that not a lot of people have seen – yet! But even if you haven’t seen Megaforce, I hope that it speaks to the fan you. Sometimes you just love what you love, no apologies

  • Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi + Q&A w/ Kevin Edward Thompson & Stephen Costantino

    You’re invited to a screening of 1983’s Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi with actors Kevin Edward Thompson and Stephen Costantino in attendance to discuss their time working on the film! 

    Kevin Edward Thompson played one of the Ewoks in the film, and also worked on movies such as Blade RunnerUnder the RainbowThe GooniesWeird Science, and the two Star Wars Ewok AdventuresCaravan of Courage and Battle for Endor!

    Stephen Costantino played one of Jabba the Hutt’s Gamorrean Guards in the film, also did the music for Last Lives as well as being a singer/songwriter of his own.

    Both Stephen and Kevin will be on hand to meet fans and sign autographs in the lobby starting at 2PM. The rest of the schedule is as follows:

    Director: Richard Marquand Run Time: 132 min. Release Year: 1983

    Sun, Jul 20 @ 3:00 pm: Q&A before the screening with Kevin Edward Thompson and Stephen Costantino!

  • Batman Forever + Q&A w/ Lee Batchler and Janet Scott Batchler: Presented By Moviebusters

    You’re invited to a special screening of 1995’s Batman Forever, the third film in the original Batman series, with the film’s writers, Lee Batchler and Janet Scott Batchler appearing for a pre-screening on-stage Q&A, moderated by Scott Zillner!

    Before the Dark Knight brooded in grayscale and before Gotham became “grounded,” there was Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever—a neon-drenched pop spectacle with a gothic heart and, at its center, a genuinely legendary performance by the late, great Val Kilmer as the Caped Crusader.

    Director: Joel Schumacher Run Time: 121 min. Release Year: 1995

    Sun, Jul 20 @ 7:30 pm: Q&A before the screening with Lee Batchler and Janet Scott Batchler! 

    Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Batman Forever on the big screen and let’s give Kilmer’s Batman the flowers he’s long deserved.

  • The Goonies 40th Anniversary + Q&A w/ Sandy Gimpel: Presented By Moviebusters

    The Goonies 40th Anniversary + Q&A w/ Sandy Gimpel: Presented By Moviebusters

    Dates with showtimes for The Goonies 40th Anniversary + Q&A w/ Sandy Gimpel: Presented By Moviebusters

    Sun, Apr 13th 2005

    1. 7:00 pm Ticket Link

    Director: Richard Donner Run Time: 114 min. Release Year: 1985

    Starring: Corey Feldman, Jeff Cohen, Josh Brolin, Kerri Green, Sean Astin

    You’re invited to an exclusive 40th anniversary screening of The Goonies with special guest Sandy Gimpel, a stunt double/performer in the film! Sandy will be appearing for an on-stage discussion after the film moderated by Scott Zilner where she will discuss her experiences on The Goonies and her many other roles in iconic films. She will also be available to meet fans before the film and be signing copies of her book Falling For The Stars. 

    A young teenager named Mikey Walsh finds an old treasure map in his father’s attic. Hoping to save their homes from demolition, Mikey and his friends Data Wang, Chunk Cohen, and Mouth Devereaux run off on a big quest to find the secret stash of Pirate One-Eyed Willie.

    This program is a venue rental engagement. Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff.