DECEMBER 2025 at the SALON

SHINY and DULL:  Home Movie Night

Imagine it’s the 22nd century, and historians are researching the interesting times we live in. They might view a collection of early 21st century documentaries…but is that the best place to start?

Documentaries, as you may have noticed, typically depict the unusual, the amazing, the horrible, the scandalous—they are attracted to shiny things. So together they write a pretty distorted history.

A better chronicle of our times? You and me, with our phones, cameras, and camcorders. Lightly edited, unvarnished, ordinary … but the movies from home life, friendships, events, and vacations are fascinating in their own way, especially when we learn what’s behind the images.

That’s what this month’s Salon is about: a “video potluck”, where you bring a short clip from your personal life and tell a story about what we’re watching. The rules:

• Movies can be 1-10 minutes long; 
• Can be edited or raw; if raw footage, be ready to cue it up
• Pets--on video, that is—are welcome (we’ve had ‘em before) 
• I can handle most any format: a link, a video file, DVD, VHS, MiniDV… even Super 8 film
• RSVP with format info by Dec 8; we have time for up to 8 presenters

Not showing anything? RSVP and bring something to eat. I’ll have hot gløgg, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks, hot and chilled.

The venue, of course, is the living room of my home.

-Will Z.

Thursday Friday, December 12
6:30p Food & Social
7:00p Screening & Discussion
159 Roup Ave, Pittsburgh 15206, in Friendship