Director Craig Brewer shares a secret at Crosstown
Director Craig Brewer, photographed on the set of “Coming 2 America,” is bringing a new film series to Crosstown. (Quantrell D. Colbert © 2020 Paramount Pictures/Daily Memphian file)
Craig Brewer has a secret, and for a $5 cover you can find out what it is.
This Friday, at Crosstown Theater, the Memphis-based filmmaker will host the first of what is planned to be a recurring series in conjunction with Crosstown Arts.
“Craig Brewer’s Secret Screening” is just that, a film screening picked, programmed and introduced by Brewer (director of “Coming 2 America,” “Hustle & Flow” and more), the selection kept under wraps until the projector rolls.
Craig Brewer, with Eddie Murphy and Shari Headley, on the set of “Coming 2 America.” (Quantrell D. Colbert © 2020 Paramount Pictures/Daily Memphian file)
“I’m asking people to trust me that they’re going to have a good time,” said Brewer, who lives and, when he’s in Memphis, works out of Crosstown Concourse. “But I’ve put a lot of thought and effort into them having a good time. They just don’t know what they’re going to see and do.”
The only hint Brewer will give about the first title in the series was to tell this reporter that it would be safe to bring his kids (ages 12 and 17).
Brewer wants the series to be something more than just a surprise screening.
“There will be music and drinks and fellowship,” he said.
The music, starting at 7:30 p.m., will come from the Lucky 7 Brass Band. At 8 p.m., Brewer and a guest (another secret) will introduce the film, without quite revealing it.
“We won’t be talking about the movie but will be talking about themes the movie tries to explore,” said Brewer. “I’ve found that when I’ve done dry runs with people, they sit there trying to guess the movie, which is fun and fine to do, but isn’t necessary. I think that once the movie begins, people will hopefully look at it through an informed lens to some degree.”
These days, given the onslaught of publicity, social media and plot-heavy trailers, it’s hard to see a movie without knowing a lot — perhaps too much — about it, much less to see one without even knowing the title.
“That got me excited for a different kind of showcase,” Brewer said. “I’ve always appreciated the kind of thing that Crosstown Arts is doing [with their Thursday night movie series], where they’ll have an indie night or exploitation night. They just showed “The Big Cage,” with Pam Grier. People will look at that and say, that may not be my thing or that’s exactly my thing. But hopefully, with this, people will be coming for a little bit of the adventure of what it will be.”
Brewer also hopes the event feels like just that, an event, not another night at the movies.
“This experience is a little bit more curated and geared more toward having an entertaining night out, and also learning a couple of things and thinking more abstractly about cinema,” he said. “I just want it tightly produced. I just met with the theater. I want a lighting scheme. I want there to be a set. There are going to be music cues. It’s going to be produced. I want the whole thing to be a show, and a party to some extent.”
And the after party?
“No Q&A. None of that,” Brewer insists.
“I’m a big believer in not doing anything after a movie except for drinking and partying at some bar, so afterward we’re all just going to go to Art Bar [in Crosstown] and hang out.”
Craig Brewer’s Secret Screening is Friday, March 25th, at Crosstown Theater. Music starts at 7:30 p.m., screening at $8 p.m. $5 at the door. See here for more info.
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Chris Herrington
Chris Herrington has covered the Memphis Grizzlies, in one way or another, since the franchise’s second season in Memphis, while also writing about music, movies, food and civic life. As far as he knows, he’s the only member of the Professional Basketball Writers Association who is also a member of a film critics group and has also voted in national music critic polls for Rolling Stone and the Village Voice (RIP). He and his wife have two kids and, for reasons that sometimes elude him, three dogs.
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