Get the summer movie season underway with a locally filmed feature directed by a Fruita Monument High School graduate. Here are five reasons you should attend a special screening coming up this Saturday, June 19, 2021.

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Grand Junction's historic Avalon Theatre will host an exclusive screening of the locally-made feature film Dragon Soldiers. Tickets for this fundraiser are available now.

This Will Be a Big Night

I can remember back in 1983 when everyone in Grand Junction flocked to the Monument Twin Cinema to see the movie WarGames simply because one of the characters mentioned the name "Grand Junction." Yep, that's it, a character simply mentioned the name of our town. We thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Fast forward to 2021. Join in on this fundraiser, and you can enjoy a true movie experience. With this fundraiser, you'll get to attend:

  • exclusive screening of Dragon Soldiers
  • live on-stage Q&A with director Hank Braxton
  • Q&A session with the cast of the film
  • Cast and crew afterparty on the Avalon's rooftop terrace

When it's all said and done proceeds benefit the Avalon Theatre Foundation’s "ongoing efforts to preserve, promote and enhance The Avalon for community benefit."

Backstory on "Dragon Soldiers"

The director of the film, Hank Braxtan, attended Fruita Monument High School. After serving in the U.S. Army, he attended film school in Denver.

According to grandjunctionevents.com, Braxtan brought the production to Grand Junction, where local film students and veterans could get experience working on a professional film.

The Story

According to IMDB:

In a suburban town, a deadly monster lurks in the surrounding forest, killing all those who wander too close. Desperate to stop the attack, a group of elite soldiers are called in to handle the situation. The hunters quickly become the hunted as they struggle to kill the terrifying, fire-breathing beast.

Get Tickets Now and Save Five Bucks

Tickets are available now. The rundown for the evening is as follows:

  • Date: Saturday, June 19, 2021
  • Doors: 6 p.m.
  • Showtime: 7 p.m.
  • Rooftop After Party with Cast: 9 p.m.

Ticket Prices

  • Adults: $20 plus fees
  • Students: $10 plus fees
  • Rooftop Afterparty with director and cast: $15 plus fees

Waylon's Top Five Reasons You Should Attend

In no particular order of importance, here are my top five reasons why you should make plans to be a part of this event.

  • How often do you get to see a movie directed by one of our locals?
  • How often do you get to see a movie shot in our area?
  • It's always fun to support local artists
  • This is precisely the type of thing we don't get to do very often around here - watch a movie with its director, and then have a Q&A session with the crew/cast
  • According to joplinartsfest.com, it's good for the economy. The site says attendees at nonprofit arts events spend $24.60 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission on items such as meals, parking, and babysitters.

This sounds like a fantastic evening. Imagine how much fun you could have going to a fundraiser featuring a local talent who's made it in the industry. To top it off, you can enjoy a question and answer session with the director, cast, and crew. When it's all said and done, proceeds benefit the Avalon Theatre Foundation. Make plans to attend.

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