Movie Screening – Fountain Theatre, Mesilla NM
The Mesilla Valley Film Society presents the award-winning film “A Long Road to Tao,” March 28 through April 3
at the historic Fountain Theatre in Mesilla, New Mexico.
The Mesilla Valley Film Society will host the week-long event with special appearances on opening night by Author/Producer/CoScreenwriter Michael Allen, and Director/Co-Screenwriter Alex Carig.
“A Long Road to Tao” is a tale of love, loss and higher understanding. A struggling, stuck writer finds himself shaken to learn that his best friend, who mysteriously disappeared from the pro-surfing tour years earlier, is gay and dying of AIDS. He immerses himself into his idol’s mystical philosophies of Taoism and Native American spirituality while getting “one last stoke” before facing death together. As one soul transcends towards heaven, the survivor is left full of inspiration, courage and empathy.
The film was partially shot in Las Cruces and Mesilla and employed students from the New Mexico State University Creative Media Institute. See https://alongroadtotaofilm.com/crew.html for the entire list of film crew. Additionally, film students under the guidance of New Mexico Casting Director Jennifer Schwalenberg (https://www.castingbyjen.com/) assisted with local casting for the film.
Come and meet the regional actors that appeared in the film: Molly Reid, Norman Patrick Brown, Humberto Castro, Hilda Luz Chavez, and Gregorio Facio. Also meet the Director of Photography NMSU CMI professor Sherwin Lau, storyboard artist Gerry Fail, and California actor Mike Clancy.
Director Alex’s Carig’s work includes thirty years in the feature film industry, broadcast radio and local television. Alex strives to find socially relevant stories that entertain, educate, and enlighten. Writer Michael Allen is the creator of the Pulitzer Prize nominated book, “Tao of Surfing” (www.taoofsurfing.com/) written after receiving his master’s degree in philosophy, while also dealing with the death of his best friend, which is the basis for “A Long Road to Tao.” Soon after the publication, Mr. Allen realized that the book could impact lives on the big screen. He pulled in Alex Carig to write the screenplay together and to ultimately embark on the twenty year journey to create the film.
The opening night screening will start at 7:30pm on Friday, March 28 at the Fountain Theatre, 2469 Calle de
Guadalupe, Mesilla New Mexico. Seating is limited and advance ticket purchase is advised, either online or at the theatre. The Mesilla Valley Film Society is a tax-exempt non-profit organization and has operated the Fountain Theatre since 1989. For more information about the film society, film schedule and ticket purchase, visit their website, mesillavalleyfilm.org.
Screening: Friday, March 28th – Thursday April 3
Fountain Theatre
2469 Calle de Guadalupe, Mesilla, NM
Tickets at: https://mesillavalleyfilm.org/
Book/Movie Poster Signing March 28th
Meet Michael Allen: Producer/Co-Screenwriter and
author of the book that inspired the film, as well as
Director/Co-Screenwriter Alex Carig,
and incredible cast that made this film possible.
