In 1982, three kids from Mississippi decided to remake Raiders of the Lost Ark. Seven years and countless adventures later, they finally finished it. In 2003, the adaptation was discovered by director Eli Roth and hit the film festival circuit where it has gained much notoriety, including a personal letter from Steven Spielberg raving about the film.

On Thursday, June 5th, at 7:00 pm, director Eric Zala will present the film in person at the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville.

That’s right. The kid who made a shot-by-shot recreation of Raiders of the Lost Ark will be in Nashville to screen the film for you.

“This remake has everything—the rolling boulder, the live snakes, the heart-thudding truck sequence, and everywhere flames, flames, flames. With a few inventive substitutions—a puppy dog stands in for a monkey, a boat for a plane—they didn’t skimp on production value by including a submarine, a truck on fire, a melting face, and even the same copy of a 1936 Life magazine used in the original.” Or so say the promotional materials.

This film, and the story behind it, are a feat to behold. Wired calls it the Ultimate ‘Indy’ Flick. Producer Scott Rudin purchased the rights and is making a movie about it. TheRaider.net built a website about it.

Watch the trailer and then see for yourself.

This will be the second annual Zombie Walk in Nashville, following the inaugural walk in April 2007. For the uninitiated, a zombie walk is an event in which many people dress up as zombies and stalk the streets for hours of undead fun.

In Nashville, the undead will begin assembling at Riverfront Park (map) on Saturday at 5:00 pm and begin the walk at 6:00. If you would like to join the living dead, conveniently, registration is not required—just show up. Nearly 500 people have joined the Nashville Zombies group on MySpace, but turnout for the walk is difficult to predict without advanced registration. Currently, 23 people have indicated on the Facebook event that they will attend.

Naturally, t-shirts to promote and commemorate the event are available to order online.

For information and updates, connect with organizers on the MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/nashvillezombiewalk.

Following on the success of last summer’s BarCamp new media “unconference,” tech-savvy musicians, marketers, bloggers and developers will gather next month in Nashville to discuss new media and podcasting. PodCamp Nashville, which is free to the public, will be held at the historic Cannery Ballroom on Saturday, February 9, and is designed for anyone interested in online media to share ideas, hear from industry experts, and participate in discussions and demos.

“This is all about building community,” said Dave Delaney, one of the local PodCamp organizers. “That’s what we’re trying to do here. By attending PodCamp Nashville, members of the blogging, podcasting, marketing, development and business communities will be able to join forces to put Nashville on the digital world map. After the huge success of BarCamp Nashville, it’s clear that Nashville’s tech community is alive and kicking.”

The PodCamp organizers have lined up two top-notch speakers to deliver the keynote presentations, Joseph Jaffe and C.C. Chapman. Jaffe is one of the most sought-after consultants, authors, speakers and thought leaders on new marketing. He is the president and chief interruptor of crayon, a conversational marketing company specializing in community, dialogue and partnership. C.C. Chapman has been described as a new media maven, a podcasting pioneer and a grounded futurist. Chapman is a partner of The Advance Guard, a new company focusing on using social media and emerging technology to create radical marketing programs.

Other presentations will cover topics such as podcasting, blogging, social networking, marketing/promotions, and legal issues. Organizers are still accepting applications for a few remaining speaking slots. If you don’t have enough to say to be on the big stage, but still have something to say, organizers are also considering scheduling five-minute lightening sessions during lunch.

Just like BarCamp Nashville, PodCamp promises to bring together creative, tech and business types from across Nashville to exchange expertise and collaborate on developing new ideas and projects. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet people and get involved in local new media development. Organizer Delaney recommends that interested participants register in advance to be assured admission.

Edward Albee is speaking tonight at 6:00 at Ingram Hall at the Blair School of Music on the Vanderbilt University campus on the topic of “The State of Theater and the Arts in America.”

It’s free and I guarantee they’ll be turning folks away at the door. I don’t know how many chances there will be in my lifetime to see someone who has won a Pulitzer Prize, much less THREE of them.

For more details, head on over to here and get the skinny straight from the Commodore’s mouth.

That’s right folks: it’s nearly time for Oktoberfest in Nashville’s very own Germantown neighborhood. If you’ve never been before, get ready for a day of beer, live music, German delicacies, arts and crafts, and lots of people roaming the North End in search of the best German experience in Nashville.

Of course, the festival always needs volunteers, so think about pouring beer, serving up bratwurst, or passing out water to those running the 5k that morning (these kind volunteers will be thanked with a ticket for a free beer since they’ll be getting up early to come lend a hand for the racers).

So, get ready for a good time on October 13. If you’re interested in volunteering, send me an email at sam /at/ coolpeoplecare /dot/ org.

WHEN: 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Saturday, September 1st, 2007

WHERE: Power Project Office, 42 Arcade (corner of 5th & Church, Downtown, 37219)

Nashville Homeless Power Project will join several other Galleries on the 2nd Floor of the Arcade to open our galleries to the general public. Enjoy this opportunity to view the work of local artists and at the same time meet some of the leaders of the Nashville Homeless Power Project and see first hand the inspirational office from which we work.

Artwork and Photography are for sale and majority of the proceeds will benefit the Nashville Homeless Power Project.

REMINDER
NEW ORLEANS SECOND LINE PARADE
to acknowledge the anniversary of
HURRICANE KATRINA
AUGUST 29th – 6:pm til…

To acknowledge the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and share it with others here in Nashville who have either re-located due to the storm or who love the City of New Orleans, there will be a New Orleans Second Line Parade on Wednesday, August 29th.

We will gather at 6:00pm at The Lipstick Lounge, located at the corner of 14th and Woodland in East Nashville. At 6:45pm we will begin to parade along a short route in East Nashville, stop for a few minutes at locations in the area and end at Pizzareal, located at the corner of 11th and Forrest. If you decide not to march, come on by to meet up at the end of the marching route. We’ll hang out, hug, cry, laugh, meet new friends, and remember how much New Orleans needs our love and support. And, let’s make new memories and friends here in Nashville.

Bring your instrument (whistle, bell, stick noisemaker!)… and if you are so inclined, costume for the occasion!
Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez

3rd Annual Ice Cream Sunday/Family Fun Day
Free Ice Cream and celebrity scoopers. Games/Rides for kids. Entertainment.
Gate fee $2 per person; tickets for rides will be sold separately.
10AM-4PM
Contact: Tina Tackett, 615-356-0501

Wonder who the “celebrity scoopers” will be? Anyone have the scoop?

Have you attended the Brewer’s Fest in the past? If so, what did you think? Worth the $30/$40? Tell us in the comments.

“Idea-feed mayonnaise to tuna fish. Call Starkist.”

So I’m not saying that I’ll do this. I’m not saying that I came up with the idea. But it has to be done, Nashville!

Step up, folks.

I found this courtesy of our corporate cousins at Metroblogging New Orleans.

San Fermin NOLA

It’s an urban running of the bulls, Pamplona-style, with RollerGirls armed with plastic baseball bats and foam water noodles.

Nashville has a Roller Derby league and plenty of wide avenues. All we need is you. Who’s in for next July?