Panic attacks, psych wards, medications and mental illness are usually the stuff of deep, dark family secrets. But in his film-writing debut, Bend local, Derek Sitter, shines a light on these themes as he tells the story of a man’s struggle with bipolar disorder and the would-be cures offered by the pharmaceutical industry.

Sitter, whose life has been rent by his own anxiety and depression, drew on his experiences to forge the scenes in Second Sleep, Sitter’s short film, which chronicles a night in the life of Seth Leer, a middle-aged man who volunteers for drug research in exchange for cash. The still-in-production short film is a test balloon for a bigger project and Sitter’s goal is “to gain momentum in the festival circuit to make a feature-length film."

Sitting in Central Oregon Community College’s Hitchcock Auditorium last Thursday night with a bevy of independent film fans watching Chaz (formerly Chastity) Bono get his breasts removed on the big screen, I was struck by the idea that BendFilm is alive, well and active even though this year’s festival is nearly nine months away.

Thanks to BendFilm’s new documentary film series, fans of quality indie cinema won’t be out in the cold this winter. Between January and April, BendFilm is hosting four documentary film screenings, each takes on a different topic. The films are showing at either COCC’s Hitchcock Auditorium, Sisters Movie House or the Tower Theatre.

In addition to the films, BendFilm has arranged for filmmakers to attend the events. In some cases, filmmakers will join the discussion via Skype, allowing filmgoers to interact directly with the filmmakers, one of the highlights of the annual fall festival. With movies like Becoming Chaz, BendFilm hopes to create a local dialogue about a variety of issues.

When the seminal fly fishing adventure film Trout Bums Volume 1: Patagonia was released in 2007, Thad Robison was working at a software development company creating travel applications for the airline industry. Like other fishing addicts who marveled at the fly fishing exploits of the merry band of vagabond anglers, Robison felt a pull. Unlike other anglers, though, Robison answered the call by contacting the original members of the Angling Exploration Group (AEG) that produced the film. What began as an agreement to screen the film in trout-hungry Salt Lake City quickly turned into a career.

Within a matter of months, Robison quit his corporate job and effectively joined AEG. He sold stock in a Brazilian airline to help finance the inaugural Fly Fishing Film Tour, which was anchored by AEG’s Trout Bum Diaries film and covered half a dozen cities, including Bend.

With a Union Jack painted in a Day-Glo mod swagger across the floor of 2^nd Street Theater and a pinball machine poised in the far corner, director Sandy Klein and musical director Stan Roach are bringing The Who’s rock opera, Tommy, to town.

I sat in on a rehearsal of the cast and band last week, and from the first notes of the overture I was hooked. As a long-time Who fan who recently saw Roger Daltry perform Tommy in L.A., I was immediately transported by the band to the world inhabited by a deaf, dumb and blind boy who becomes first a pinball wizard, then a messiah. The Who’s Tommy is known as the first rock opera. It spawned a multigenerational fan base drawn to the stunning rock God-ness of Daltry coupled with Pete Townsend’s lyrics, which pitch and yaw between the mystical romanticism of youth and the acerbic viewpoint of the quintessential outsider.

New Year's Dinner with Raise the Vibe

Expect saxophonist Duncan McNeill and his band Raise the Vibe to lay down a funky blues and jazz  soundtrack to your New Year's evening at the Common Table, where all are welcome. The gracious folks at the pay-as-you-can restaurant are hosting two separate countdowns: one for the kiddos at 9pm and another right before midnight. Dig the music and a cocktail (or five) or call ahead with a reservation and enjoy a four-course meal that includes wine pairings and a glass of bubbly ($60). 6pm, Common Table, 150 NW Oregon Ave.

New Year's Eve Bash at the Summit

Sometimes you just want to dance your ass off with your crew and a pile of strangers. You can do this at a number of places on New Year's Eve, (see, Shaken Not Stirred, the party going on at Seven Nightclub and the shindig happening at Velvet), but the sheer size of the Summit will almost guarantee you can find a spot to celebrate. DJ Steele's beats will likely drag a quarter of Central Oregon into the Summit's spacious insides for a night of gyrating and 2012 revelry. There's a $10 cover at the door so don't forget to check “yes” for cash back while you're out and about that morning. 8pm, The Summit Saloon and Stage, 125 NW Oregon Ave.