Quad Cities Live, Aug. 10

Live from the KWQC Broadcast Center in downtown Davenport with Morgan OTA and Kyle Keel. This is Quad Cities Live. Today on QCL, how you can be among the first to see a film created right here in the Quad Cities. We'll tell you about two opportunities as part of this week's Alternating Currants Festival. And no script, no problem. How some of the QC's funniest young performers are putting their improv skills to the test during a show at alternating currents. Plus details on a fun and family-friendly backyard barbecue benefiting a Clinton organization that supports independence for individuals with developmental disabilities. and welcome to Quad Cities Live. Oh, we got a good show for you today. We appreciate you joining us today. I'm Kyle Keel, alongside my co-host Morgan OTA, and we've got a couple of... Cute little pups that we're going to talk about here. Now, August is a tough month for blood donations, as we know. Vacations, busy schedules, and summer activities can make it a little harder to keep the blood supply strong. Right, but this month, when you roll up your sleeve to donate with Impact Life, you'll be doing even more than helping a patient in need. You're supporting a local animal shelter. Joining us today from Impact Life is Alex Burr camper along with Selena Ripple from the Humane Society of Scott County. Thank you both for being here today. Thanks for having us. Yes. Thank you for having, or for being here today. Good day on Monday to have these puppies here. Thank you for having us. Yes, absolutely. We'll get to the puppies in just a minute because I know everyone's wondering, how can I adopt them? But Alex, today we're talking about the Doggist initiative. Yeah. Okay, so explain this to me. It's happening all month long. How does this work? So we're just here to celebrate Doggist. It's kind of the... informal celebration of shelter pets and celebrating their birthdays for the for those that you know you don't have the actual date but one thing that blood donors can do is anytime that they give blood they can forward their gift on to a nonprofit of their choice and the Humane Society Scott County is one of the choices this month that's great that's wonderful that's great so Selena without further ado tell us a little more about these adorable little puppies i understand they're part of a litter of seven so she's falling asleep yeah i know these two little girls uh almost ready for adoption but yeah so tell us about the dogs and tell us more about the doggist donations and and how this is really going to help the humane society of scott county yes so first i'll start with dog's doggist is amazing month where we can celebrate the animals in our care and any animal that's been adopted from a shelter in general. Definitely. But we talk about how important is to not only support pets, but also support people and the people behind them. Yeah. And this is a very great way to do both by donating your blood and supporting these really cute puppies while you're at. Look at her falling asleep in your arms, Morgan. She is fast asleep. Oh, cute. Yeah. And these two, I want to say they're about seven or eight weeks old, so they're not quite old enough to be adopted, but they will be later this month.

I'm telling people they should follow our Facebook page because that's the first time that we post about them will be on there and that's when we'll announce a tentative adoption event that we're doing with them. Oh my goodness, I can't get over this little sleepy face. She's sleeping. So Alex, this is all made possible through the good giving program. So explain this because there might be some people watching today that have never donated blood before and they're going, this is what I want to do and these are the reasons why. So how does that forwarding that gift? to actually work. So it's really simple. Good giving was created so that we can, you know, so blood donors can double the good from their generous blood donation that can help other members of the community. So after they donate, they just get an email that they will then be able to select what they want. their gift to be and from there they just select good giving and then they get to choose a nonprofit for their choice. Nice and easy. Yeah very easy and you know I think that's the key here is that giving blood is not a hard thing to do and you know we talk about the shortage that happens a lot of times during summer but the good news is impact life specifically actually doesn't have a shortage right now and that's a good thing and we need to keep it that way. Why is it important to stay kind of above that threshold of having a shortage? Yeah there have been a lot of national talks about kind of a blood crisis but impact life is not really facing anything like that. All the hospitals and communities we serve have had access to the life-saving blood that they need when they need it. But we need the communities help to make sure that that keeps going because every single day new patients need more transfusions and we just need more blood donors to keep coming in and keep those hospitals supplied with what they need. Well, Selena, we know that adopting a shelter pet is a great way to show our support, but sometimes you know it's not right for a family to adopt at the moment. And so why is it important? to consider maybe monetary donations and things like that. Where does that money go in a shelter? So when people donate, it goes to puppies just like these. It goes to dogs in our community that need help, whether they've been surrendered by an owner, whether they came in as a lost pet. No matter what that situation is, we try to support them. And while we're at it, like we talk about how important it is to support people as well. We also offer low-cost services to community members and families that are in need so that they can keep their pets. with them and keep them healthy. Oh my goodness, that's wonderful. Well, if you want to learn more, visit bloodcenter.org slash doggist. Very easy. We've got at the bottom of your screen there, and you can connect with the Humane Society of Scott County by calling the phone number on your screen or by going online to hssc.us. Alex and Selena and puppies. Thank you so much for being here today. I don't want to wake this one up. She is just adorable. Yes, thank you very much for being here. Yes, thank you both. Well, next on Quad Cities Live is celebration in Clinton bringing the community together. Details on the fifth annual backyard barbecue event, plus a closer look at Skyline Center and its impact. Quad Cities Live continues. The alternating currents festival kicks off later this week, incorporating everything from music and film to art and comedy. And speaking of comedy, comedy sports quad cities is bringing some of its funniest young performers to the stage for the kids' improv showdown at the Last Picture House. All right, and joining us with all the details are Bob Kelly and Brooke Omi from Comedy Sports Quad Cities. Thank you both for being here today. Thank you for having us. Oh, I'm so excited to talk about this. What a cool thing.

For anybody, Bob, not familiar with comedy sports, can you first tell us a little bit about that organization? Comedy Sports is improv comedy. Yes. So we're going to make it up on the spot. We use suggestions from our audience. Okay. And then our comedians turn that into, they weave it into comic gold. That's nerve-wracking. Literally comic gold. I mean, your shows are hilarious. So, Brooke, for people who may not understand exactly what improv is, talk a little bit about it and why it's so unique and such a unique form of comedy. Sure. It's practicing basic. communication skills but at like a pace people may not feel comfortable with right away so we practice how do we respond to people quickly how do we think on our feet how do we make something of a moment that's given to us and so we talk a lot about gifts I give Bob a gift and he makes something of it he gives me a gift back I make something of it so it's a lot of give and take back and forth and it's just a really fun way to practice getting better at communicating with others. Wow, okay, so perfect for kids, actually. And so this show that you can see via alternating currents at the Last Picture House, correct? On Saturday morning, it's going to feature young people that have participated in something called laugh camp. Correct. Okay, so what's that all about? What are they learning at laugh camp? We had two laugh camps this summer. Okay. Two different groups, and I'm going to let Brooke talk a little bit more about what they learned. But the kids came in. timid, nervous, not sure what they were going to get. And at the end of the week, I had parents telling me like, This was amazing. They were so excited. That's huge, Brooke. Yeah. Junior high and middle school and high school camps. We basically started every day just learning basic skills. And then in the afternoon, some of our players would come in, showcase some games. And then the kids would learn the games and practice them themselves. And we ended with a showcase where they got to open for a comedy sports performance. Wow. Their parents and other paying customers got to see what they were doing. And now you're giving them the stage here. and alternating current. So talk about that and how they've been preparing for this show coming up this Saturday. So they are, that's a great thing about improv, the preparation. You can't prepare. That's true, yeah. You never know what you're going to get from the audience. Yes, you have to listen, you have to respond honestly, and these kids just are absolutely prepared to do that. Yeah, yeah. We have heard from some of their parents that they do play the games at home now. So some of the things we taught them, they'll bring up at the dinner table or just when everybody's kind of hanging around. That's kind of great though. I mean it's like kind of fun for the whole family once the kids go through this. Exactly and some of them are so like theater parents so they're like oh i remember this from when i was a kid let's play zips zaps off around the dinner table yeah i remember that nostalgia yeah absolutely okay so um this is an event you know some of them are geared more toward adults through alternating currents but this is a family friendly event absolutely bring everybody yeah and be prepared right if you're part of the audience should we be prepared to participate you are you are going to be called upon to give suggestions at the least at the least yes yes i like

That little tease there. And obviously, you know, we all love to see kids perform on stage, but what makes it so special to see kids in this sort of aspect as in comedy sports? Watching them grow, watching them come out of their shells, watching them. Find confidence and learn who they are. It's really remarkable. Yeah. I just love that. Yeah, that's great. The comedy sports kids improv showdown is this Saturday, August 15th, from 1030 to 1115 at the Last Picture House. To learn more about this event and the rest of the alternating currents lineup, visit alternating currentsc.com or download the app. Bob and Brooke. Thank you so much for joining us today. This is going to be a lot of fun. Thank you for having us. Yes, absolutely. All right, coming up, alternating currents, of course, providing us with the opportunity to see a new film created right here in the Quad Cities before anyone else gets to see it. We're getting a behind-the-scenes preview next. Quad Cities Live continues. You don't scare me? I'm five times your size. What could you possibly do?

Well, alternating currents is back this week with its biggest festival yet, transforming three downtowns into a four-day celebration of music, film, comedy, art, culture, and creativity. Yes, with more than 230 events across more than 50 venues. It may be hard to narrow down your schedule for the weekend, but one event you can't miss is a screening of Groundhog Gary. Six More Weeks by Fresh Films. Joining us with more on these opportunities for an early viewing is Amber Matthias from Fresh Films and her son Lincoln, an actor and stunt double. I love it. That's so cool. Thank you both for being here. This is so neat. Yes. Yeah, very cool. So Amber, just kind of tell us what Groundhog Gary, six more weeks. So what this film is about? So Benny, the main character, he finds out that his parents are getting divorced. Oh, no. And so in a last ditch effort to save their marriage and the family, he steals the beloved groundhog and tries to get six more weeks of winter and hopes that he can, you know, turn the family around in that short time. So yeah. Keep them all in close quarters. Yes, I know. It's so cute and just even. putting together that clip before you guys got here for this show today. I'm like, no, this is funny. This is very funny. You can tell that Gary's really got a personality at him as well. So, yeah, that's a lot of fun. So as part of alternating currents, we do have a couple of opportunities to be some of the first people to be able to see this film. So it's going to be what, a Friday and a Saturday or Saturday and Sunday? So it's Saturday and Sunday at the last picture house. Saturday is at, I think it's at 11.30 and then on Sunday it's at 12.15. And it's free, so anybody can come, first come, first serve. But we're really, really looking forward to getting this out there and letting people see it. We're hoping that families will come out. You know, that 6 to 12 age range is kind of the perfect, the sweet spot. So we're really excited to show it. Well, yeah, and there's going to be a demonstration after each screening, right? A puppet demonstration? Yes, so Frank Cesario is, he was the puppet wrangler. for the film so basically he just kind of helped the main puppeteer and you know got ground hug Gary ready yeah it was kind of funny because you'd see him like hair spraying him and so funny getting his hair ready but yes so Frank is going to be there he's going to be giving a little demonstration showing you know the puppet different Just all kinds of stuff. That's so fun. Yeah. Yeah, that is a lot of fun. Alright, Lincoln, let's bring you in the conversation because you're actually in this film. So tell us a little bit about your role and being a stunt double as well. I mean, it was pretty fun. I liked doing it because it was a nice day out. And I liked riding a bike. I haven't rode my bike in a while. I've been riding my scooter. And it just was nice being in a movie. I liked it. Yeah. And now everyone's going to get to see it. Yeah. And, you know, you get to go, that was me. And that's what I was doing. And I just think that is so...

Cool. Good start for you this school year. Yeah, absolutely. And so Amber, people will recognize certain locations, of course, because a lot of filming was done. So what can we expect to see? Yeah, so we were at the main location was First Lutheran in Rock Island. It's up on the top of the hill. We were down in downtown Rock Island at Arts Alley. And then the scenes that Lincoln was in, he was primarily in, like, at Alinawick Forest Preserve. So he got to ride, he got to ride like an old school banana boat seat. bike. It was super fun. He was like, Mom, I've never ridden a bike like this before. I was like, well, just take it for a spin. Yeah, yeah. Do we'll practice first. Well, that is so awesome. So we have two opportunities, as mentioned, to watch Groundhog Gary this weekend at alternating currents, each followed by puppet demonstrations. The screenings are Saturday morning at 1130 and Sunday afternoon at 1215, both at the last picture house in downtown Davenport. Find everything you need to know about alternating currents at alternating currents QC.com. And of course for more in Fresh Films, visit freshfilms.org. Amber and Lincoln, thank you so much for chatting with us today. Thank you. Thank you for having. Absolutely. Yes. And we wanted to get a quick minute, or at least I do, to wish somebody very special. A happy birthday. Today is Myron Swanson's 100th birthday. Happy birthday. This man is obviously near and dear to my heart. You just saw a couple of photos of him and Darby. That's Darby's great grandpa. And there was a big old party for him yesterday. So there you're seeing him with his children. trip.