Cheers to 20 Years of "Sideways"! Join best-selling Sideways
series author Rex Pickett for a book
signing, conversation, wine tasting, and first-ever 4K screening of the cult classic film in the city
famous for it's Pinot Noir, Sonoma,
CA, to celebrate this monumental anniversary.
SONOMA,
Calif. and ASHLAND, Ore.
and NEW YORK, Sept. 7,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sideways, the beloved, cult
classic wine-loving movie is honoring the monumental 20 Year
Anniversary of the film's release with a celebratory Pinot Noir
wine tasting and movie screening on Oct.
11th in Sonoma, California.
Sonoma is famous for Pinot Noir
and Sideways celebrates this finicky grape in a romanticized, even
worshipful prose from author Rex
Pickett's best-selling novel, which was made into the
timeless Alexander Payne film.
Rex Pickett:
"So many young people have seen, and loved, the film, but never in
a theater. This is an extremely rare opportunity to see this film
in a gorgeous digital projection with a live audience."
The ticketed event, hosted by Pickett, will take place on
Friday, October 11th at the
Sebastiani Theatre (on the Sonoma Square) in Sonoma, CA. Several Sonoma Pinot Noir
producers will take part in the wine tasting beginning at
6:00 p.m., with the screening
following at 7:30 p.m. Signed copies
of the Sideways book series will be available for purchase, as
Pickett discusses and answers burning questions from fans.
Tickets are available for purchase ($30) at the link provided:
https://www.sebastianitheatre.com/music/2024/6/11/sideways-20
"What's so special about this screening," enthuses Pickett, "is
that though Sideways was shot in 35mm film, it wasn't until
recently that a 4K digital
restoration/conversion was completed by Fox Searchlight, and it
looks stunning. So many young people have seen, and loved, the
film, but never in a theater. This is an extremely rare opportunity
to see this film in a gorgeous digital projection with a live
audience."
Blackstone Publishing recently extended their working
partnership with Pickett to release titles in the Sideways series
in previously unavailable hardcover and large print formats,
including a vibrant and collectible book redesign. Pickett
partnered with Blackstone's CEO Josh
Stanton and Head of New Business Development Rick Bleiweiss
in a deal that will include releasing previous books in new formats
and publishing new fiction books in the years to come.
The long-admired first novel Sideways, that begat the continuing
series, was adapted into the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice, SAG
and Academy Award-winning screenplay of the same title in 2004
starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh. Blackstone originally published the
popular audiobook versions for Sideways, Vertical, Sideways Chile,
and Sideways New Zealand. This relationship expanded further in
2021 when Blackstone published Pickett's mystery novel The
Archivist in hardcover, paperback, e-book, large print, and
audiobook formats.
As Stanton previously stated, "Sideways has always been one of
my favorite books. I'm ecstatic that we're able to partner with Rex
and further expand the Sideways catalog."
The 20 Year Anniversary of the film adaptation restores the
long-standing admiration for both the book series and film. "It is
unlikely Sideways will screen in a legitimate theater for a long
time to come," rhapsodizes Pickett, who admits it brings tears to
his eyes to know this 4K restoration
finally exists. "Sideways will live on!"
About The Author:
Rex Pickett is the critically
acclaimed author of the novel Sideways, which was adapted into the
iconic film of the same title. Sideways was nominated for five
Academy Awards, winning for Best Adapted Screenplay, among 350
other plaudits. Pickett is the author of three Sideways sequels—the
IPPY Gold Medal–winning Sideways Oregon (previously published as
Vertical), Sideways Chile, and now Sideways New Zealand. He is also
the author of The Archivist. Pickett is currently working on a
post–Sideways New Zealand trilogy. A Southern California native, the Rex Pickett
Papers are currently enshrined at Geisel Library on the campus of
his alma mater, the University of California
San Diego.
About Blackstone Publishing:
Founded in 1987, Blackstone continues to pioneer new and creative
ways to bring stories to life. With multiple New York Times bestsellers, Grammy Award–winning
audio productions, and three books placed on the New York Times
Best Books of the Year list, Blackstone has firmly positioned
itself as one of America's fastest growing and respected publishing
houses. A true independent, privately owned publisher, with offices
on both coasts, Blackstone is home to a vibrant and eclectic
community of storytellers and story lovers, offering hundreds of
new titles each month to its catalog of 17,000+ books. The authors
published are as varied as the books themselves, with works by some
of the biggest names in literature, including Gabriel García
Márquez, Ayn Rand, Ian Fleming, George Orwell, Robert Heinlein, James
Clavell, as well as more contemporary authors like Whoopi
Goldberg, Karin Slaughter,
Don Winslow, Robert Downey Jr., Jeneva Rose, Greg
Harden, Norman Reedus, and
many more.
Media Contact
Rebecca Malzahn, Blackstone
Publishing, (800) 378-1304,
rebecca.malzahn@blackstonepublishing.com,
https://www.blackstonepublishing.com/
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SOURCE Blackstone Publishing