Join A.B.L.E. for a special One-night-only event as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our first ever feature film, the Curse of the Tempest Jewel!
The Curse of the Tempest Jewel reinvigorates a traditional film noir setting, 1940s Chicago, with a cast of seventeen actors with Down syndrome. A wealthy client commissions two local detectives to track down the legendary Tempest Jewel, lost at sea centuries earlier. With nothing but a cryptic riddle for guidance, the gumshoes interview various denizens of the city. Each treasure hunter allows themselves to be distracted by daydreams of fortune and must ultimately face the difficult choice between fortune and friendship.
Tickets are $20 per person in advance and $25 of the day of the event. Tickets include a catered meal and talkback event with the cast. Proceeds support A.B.L.E.’s performing arts programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
EVENT SCHEDULE
6:00pm = Doors open for catered pre-show reception
7:00pm = Screening of The Curse of the Tempest Jewel (run-time 47 mins)
7:55pm = Talkback with members of the cast and crew
8:30pm = event end time
TRANSPORTATION
BUS: The 74 Fullerton bus stops outside of FACETS on the corner of Fullerton and Greenview
EL: The Brown and Red L line stops at Fullerton Avenue, 14 minute walk to FACETS
PARKING: Paid parking is available along Fullerton Ave; free street parking is available on side streets including Greenview Ave and Bosworth; $5 Spot Hero parking options are available within 1-5 blocks
ACCESSIBILITY
The Curse of the Tempest Jewel is open captioned.
Facets Cinema offers wheelchair seating
In solidarity with the disability community, masks are required in the theatre for all attendees.
If you have additional access needs, please note these after your ticket purchase
More About the making of the film
The Curse of the Tempest Jewel was the first independent project for A.B.L.E. - Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations. Written and directed by teaching artist Lawrence Kern, the movie was inspired by our 2013 devised project “Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On” with GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago. For that play, each actor developed a scene about what they would do if they had magic for one day. Andrew wanted to save the world and then go on vacation in Michigan. Rachel wanted to talk to animals. Hannah wanted to be on Broadway. Alena wanted to become Beyonce. Lawrence built these dream sequences into the script, and designed the story to play to each actor’s strengths and personality.
The Curse of the Tempest Jewel was filmed on location around Chicago at varied spots including The Field Museum, The Back Room, The Newberry Library, and the Historic Maxwell St. Police Station throughout the fall of 2014.
Working with a crew of professional filmmakers and teaching artists, the actors not only starred in the film, but also took on off-camera roles learning about green screens and microphones, and helping craft props in the art department. The ensemble worked in small groups with Art Therapist Sara Miller to construct the film’s largest prop – a life-seized replica of SUE the T-Rex's head, which is pivotal in the final scene. Over the course of 6 sessions, the cast crafted teeth, primed, and painted the giant sculpture. The final piece measured 5ft long x 3ft wide x 3ft tall and was constructed from foam blocks, aluminum foil, masking tape, Gesso, and papier-mâché.
At its heart, The Curse of the Tempest Jewel is about the power of community, and this philosophy was evident behind the scenes as a number of individuals and groups rallied to support the project. Funding for the film came entirely through individual donations. Contributions came from 133 individual donors from 19 states and 3 countries, totaling over $25,000. Several local organizations also generously offered in-kind donations of equipment, costumes and props, and the engineers at Periscope Post & Audio donated their time and talents to provide post-production audio services. With a 100% locally based cast and crew, The Curse of the Tempest Jewel is truly for Chicago and by Chicago.
Since it’s debut in 2014, The Curse of the Tempest Jewel was an official selection for the Chicago Onscreen Film Festival, premiering in parks around the city in the summer of 2015, and received an Award of Merit for Disability Issues from the Accolade Global Film Competition. You can watch a news feature about our original premiere below:
