FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS

PRESENTED BY THE COASTAL AWAKENING AND THE SHANBROM FAMILY FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTED BY KVEC NEWS TALK 920 AM, 96.5 FM

Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (Benicio del Toro) drive a red convertible across the Mojave desert to Las Vegas with a suitcase full of drugs to cover a motorcycle race. As their consumption of drugs increases at an alarming rate, the stoned duo trash their hotel room and fear legal repercussions. Duke begins to drive back to L.A., but after an odd run-in with a cop (Gary Busey), he returns to Sin City and continues his wild drug binge.

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Every year Coastal Awakening sponsors several films grouped around a central theme. This year, the focus is on three films in celebration of writer Hunter S. Thompson, whose appreciation for countercultures and consciousness expansion exemplifies the mission and vision of the Coastal Awakening, a loose collective of local writers, artists, historians, chefs, surfers, and philanthropists committed to preserving and promoting the unique creative spirit of the Central Coast from Ojai to Esalen.

Thompson lived in Big Sur for a few years in the early 1960s and published his first magazine feature about the artists and outcasts drawn to life on the Central Coast. He wrote, “This is the way life goes in Big Sur: waiting for the mail, watching the sea lions in the surf or the dim lights of a ship far out at sea, sitting in the tubs at Hot Springs, once in a while a bit of drink —and, most of the time, working at whatever it is that you came here to work on, whether it be painting, writing, gardening or the simple art of living your own life.”

Accompanying the film series will be featured speaker David S. Wills, founder of the literary journal Beatdom and author of High White Noise: The Rise and Fall of Gonzo Journalism. Wills will introduce each of the Hunter S. Thompson films and give a talk on Thompson’s art of living, directly following the 10AM screening of Animals, Whores, and Dialogue: Breakfast with Hunter Vol. 2.

Prior to the festival, David will also join the Coastal Awakening for other community events centered around Thompson and Gonzo Journalism hosted in partnership with San Luis Obispo Public Library.

SLO PUBLIC LIBRARY EVENTS:

The Creative Alchemy of Hunter S. Thompson, Spawn of the Beats: An Evening with Author David Wills
Friday, April 21, 2023 – 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

“Zine Scene: How ‘Small Mags’ Make Big Waves”
Saturday, April 22, 2023 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

NOT AVAILABLE VIRTUALLY.