The 32nd edition of the Cucalorus Film Festival commences later this month, and is where 3 Chambers will bring the ninja action for a special screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) as part of their Can I Kick It? series. The Steve Barron-directed martial arts comedy adaptation of the Mirage Studios comic is being presented in association with Green Hero Films and Memory Lane Comics on Sunday, November 22 at Coastline Main, located at the Aloft Wilmington.
Accompanied by a live music soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone Jones of Shaolin Jazz, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles follows the story of four baby turtles that come in contact with a mysterious substance called ooze transforming them into human-sized crime fighters, as well as their leader: a life-sized rat that also came in contact with the same chemical. They befriend local journalist April O’Neil (Judith Hoag) and with her help, attempt to find the group behind a crime wave in New York City known as The Foot.
The cast is led by vocal talent and respective costume performances by Brian Tochi/David Forman, Josh Pais, Corey Feldman/Leif Tilden, and Robbie Rist/Michelan Sisti, along with Kevin Clash, Elias Koteas, and James Saito. Visual effects and costumes by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop heralded the film’s success as it went on to become one of the most successful and definitive independent films of the 1990s, ensuing with sequels and eventual revamps on the big and small screens.
The film’s upcoming screening at the venue also marks a return to familiar territory as the movie was also largely shot in Wilmington.
Shaolin Jazz co-founder DJ 2-Tone Jones’s synchronized scene-by-scene performance will mix elements of funk, soul, hip-hop, rock, and more. 2-Tone will also use an array of techniques and sound bites to accentuate different moments in the film ranging from aggressive fight scenes to subtle love scenes.
“I am thrilled to be partnering with Cucalorus Film Festival, 3 Chambers, and Memory Lane Comics to bring this film back to Wilmington, where it was lovingly created. It’s an important piece of North Carolina film history and it’s responsible for shaping the long lasting and far reaching legacy of the Turtles. Seeing this film in the cinema in 1990 made me want to make movies and that’s the reason why our production company is called Green Hero Films,” said Ned Phillips for the company.
DJ 2-Tone Jones, says “This isn’t just playing a DJ set during a movie. We incorporate the music with the movie so you can still follow the plot and hear the dialogue. You might have one scene using a song with lyrics and another using instrumental beds underneath. It’s weaving music over and under the film audio, just scoring the film, scene by scene.”
Doors open at 4:00 PM with the film’s premiere set for 4:30 PM. Tickets are $15. For more information or to get tickets, visit cucalorus.eventive.org.
