Since 1993, every Saturday after midnight, local television station WBBZ TV, and other channels across the country, air “Off Beat Cinema.”
It should therefore come as a surprise to learn that because of Buffalo's rich and diverse history, there is a considerable number of films, songs, and other forms of entertainment that have paid reverence to this storied city. Below are seven instances of popular media in which Buffalo is the key setting:
The horror genre has seen a resurgence in psychological thrillers in recent years, becoming one of the most popular genres in theaters and streaming services. With everyone looking for a good scary movie to watch during the fall season, the release of “Smile 2” was a fantastic choice.
For Indigenous women, murder is the third leading cause of death, often perpetrated by non-Native men. Of the reported 5,712 missing Indigenous women, the U.S. Department of Justice’s federal missing persons database only logged 116 cases. In the pursuit to change that, Aiyana Jacy Martin created a fashion show to spread awareness of this growing issue.
This past weekend, the highly anticipated film, “Joker: Folie à Deux” starring Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix, hit theaters. Unfortunately, the film had an underwhelming opening weekend at the box office, bringing in $40 million.
Although tucked away between homes and shops, Buffalo’s mural arts scene is not something to overlook. Set in the heart of Hertel Avenue, among village shops and cafes, it’s the perfect spot to hang out and take some pictures.
The 2024 presidential election is five weeks out, and the race for the White House is neck-and-neck with both candidates within just a few points of each other in most national polls. With that being said, can an endorsement from Hollywood’s biggest stars influence voters?
From concerts, to shows, to exhibits, there is something for everyone this semester. Here are some events to look forward to this fall:
Located in Buffalo’s Outer Harbor sits a truly understated gem, Buffalo’s Music in Arts Festival. The festival consists of a combination of visual, auditorial and performative art exhibitions. The venue is spread out across different themed sections, with more than 10 different stages hosting a variety of local talent, spanning every genre imaginable, from blue-grass, punk, rock, to Afro-House, Techno and more.
“Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” had its original run off-Broadway from Sept. 2023 to Jan. 2024, and now the play is being adapted by the Irish Classical Theater Company (ICTC) in Buffalo.
Every Monday night, the UB Department of Art invites artists, critics and historians to its Visiting Speaker Series event held in the Center for the Arts (CFA). This week, Somali-Canadian artist and UB assistant professor Abdi Osman took the stage.
“The Dragons in Our Lives,” an exhibit by Sarah Jane Barry at the Buffalo Arts Studio, showcases grief, vulnerability and resilience in the midst of dark times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kathryn Ramey, an artist, filmmaker, and Professor of Anthropology at Emerson College, put on a film exhibition at Silo City, a reclaimed grain silo turned art exhibition near Buffalo’s First Ward on Sept. 6.
Thirty years after his debut, one of the heroes of “spooky season” is back on the silver screen. Directed by Tim Burton and scored by Danny Elfman, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” includes many elements of Burton’s signature style.
Nearly 200 years after James Sheppard’s intercontinental trip from England to Buffalo, one of his pianos might’ve found its way to North Campus. Though there’s no hard proof tying the piano to Sheppard, the circumstantial evidence makes him a plausible past owner.
“Symbiosis,” an art collection created by first- and second-year MFA students, is on display this month at downtown Buffalo’s Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts (CEPA) Gallery. The gallery will be open until June 7.
Batiste deviated from the stiff formality of classical music performances, encouraging the audience to treat the concert as a “living room recital.”
The show had stellar numbers, including outstanding vocal performances and dances and comical moments that had the crowd roaring with laughter.
Hundreds of art flocked to the Center for the Arts (CFA) for “Spring into Art” last Tuesday. Students sold their work at several tables, and a slew of performers took to the stage in what turned into a spectacular, art-filled night.
Jeremy Meyers discovered the meaning of life in Penn Station three years ago.
Solutions by The State News
