BAAM at The Gem is proud to be a part of the Full Speed Ahead Statewide Festival of Train Movies and Events. Join us at 6:00 pm on Friday, May 9th for a screening of Stand By Me with an introduction by Michael Koryta, novelist and screenwriter (Those Who Wish Me Dead).

Stephen King’s novella The Body serves as the basis for this poignant coming-of-age drama about four friends who embark on a hike through the Oregon wilderness to find the body of a missing boy, along the way confronting their excitement and fears of growing up. As they navigate personal struggles and deepen their bond, the adventure becomes a nostalgic yet unsentimental reflection on friendship, loss, and the fleeting innocence of youth.

Train fact: King’s novella was set in the fictional Castle Rock, Maine, but the movie’s setting is Castle Rock, Oregon – the state where most of the picture was filmed. The famous scene on the railroad bridge was shot in Northern California; the bridge still exists but the tracks were removed when the right-of-way became part of The Great Shasta Rail Trail.

Michael Koryta is a New York Times-bestselling author whose work has been translated into more than 20 languages and has won or been nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Edgar® Award, Shamus Award, Barry Award, Quill Award, International Thriller Writers Award, and the Golden Dagger. They’ve been selected as “best books of the year” by numerous publications.

Social Hour at 5:00 pm

Introduction by Michael Koryta at 6:00 pm

Film to follow

Tickets are “Pay What You Can” benefiting Bethel Area Arts & Music.