This Friday night, Newport audiences are invited to gather for a special one-night screening of Situations, presented by House of Waves at the iconic Jane Pickens Theatre.
The film marks the feature directorial debut of actor-turned-filmmaker Greg Vrotsos, who also co-wrote and stars in the project. Doors open at 6:00 PM, with the film beginning at 7:00 PM, preceded by time to socialize in the lobby over drinks. The event is curated in the spirit of House of Waves’ community-driven programming, similar to its Final Fridays ethos, expanding beyond visual art and into film, conversation, and shared experience.
Vrotsos may be a familiar face. He’s appeared in Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black, Mayans M.C., Twin Peaks : The Return, Boston Strangler and HBO’s Vinyl, New Girl, Empire State and The Clapper. He’s also spent time in town over the years, and previously appeared as a featured gallery artist for Patrick Murphy’s last project, The Kings Lens and Friends on Carroll Avenue.
A Film About Change, Connection, and Vulnerability.
Situations is a character-driven, journeyman story set in Los Angeles, centered on a professional photographer navigating a failing relationship, shifting friendships, and the quiet tension between aloneness and loneliness. The film explores themes of love, male friendship, dating later in life, career versus personal fulfillment, and emotional growth.
At its core, the film challenges traditional portrayals of masculinity. Vrotsos intentionally leans into vulnerability, presenting male relationships with emotional honesty rather than bravado.
“There’s still a narrow box for how men are supposed to feel or behave,” Vrotsos shared. “This film is about opening that box and letting those conversations exist.”
Reclaiming Creative Control.
After nearly 15 years as a working actor in Los Angeles and New York, Vrotsos felt increasingly boxed in by the roles he was being offered. Situations became a way to reclaim creative ownership and reconnect with the craft that drew him to acting in the first place.
The film was made on a very small budget with a tight-knit group of collaborators, embracing a self-starter mentality rather than waiting for industry permission.
“No one’s going to call you,” Vrotsos said. “If you want to make something, you have to initiate it. You’ll be surprised who shows up to help when you do.”
That message is one he hopes resonates with artists in the audience, especially those feeling stalled or constrained by traditional paths.
Why Newport, and Why Jane Pickens?
Although based in Los Angeles, Vrotsos has longstanding ties to Newport, visiting often as a child and reconnecting with the city as an adult. After years in major creative hubs, he finds Newport’s arts scene refreshingly supportive and non-competitive.
“You leave looking for the things you left behind,” he reflected. “What I was missing in big cities was community. Newport has that.”
He draws inspiration from the island’s landscape and rhythm, from Ocean Drive to downtown’s energy, and values the way artists here show up for one another.
That sense of place made Jane Pickens the perfect venue.
Historic single-screen theaters like Jane Pickens are increasingly rare, and both Vrotsos and House of Waves founder Patrick Murphy see supporting these spaces as essential.
“Supporting independent filmmakers is important,” Vrotsos said, “but so is supporting theaters like this. They’re a dying breed, and they only survive if people keep showing up.”
House of Waves as a Cultural Connector
For Patrick, the screening represents exactly what House of Waves aims to be: a cultural platform that goes beyond two-dimensional art and into all creative disciplines.
“House of Waves is about connecting culture and community,” he said. “Film is a huge part of that. This isn’t just about a screening, it’s about bringing people together in meaningful spaces.”
Patrick describes both himself and Vrotsos as “doers,” a shared mindset that made the collaboration feel natural. By hosting the event at Jane Pickens, he also hopes to spotlight an underutilized gem in Newport’s cultural landscape.
What Audiences Can Expect
For filmmakers and artists, Situations offers proof that compelling work can be made with limited resources, as long as there’s conviction and collaboration.
For general audiences, the film provides an intimate, emotionally layered experience that may resonate with anyone navigating relationships, loneliness, or personal change. It’s equally fitting for a thoughtful solo outing or a low-key date night.
Most of all, the evening promises a chance to slow down, feel something, and experience independent film in one of Newport’s most beautiful historic venues.
There will be a Q&A after the film with Patrick Murphy, Director Greg Vrotsos, and 9 Central Film Fest founder Jack Galvin. See you on Friday!
Event Details
- Situations Screening – Friday at Jane Pickens Theatre, Newport
- Friday, January 30, 2026
- Tickets and more info
- Doors: 6:00 PM, Film: 7:00 PM
