“Big Eyes” film, book auction at Palace

The Palace Theater presents Tim Burton’s film “Big Eyes.” Screenings are 7 p.m. tonight, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, plus a 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinee.

The film is about artist Margaret Keane and her beautiful and melancholy “big eyes” paintings.

An autographed copy of the book “Big Eyes: The Film, The Art” will be auctioned at each screening. Burton and the book’s author, Leah Gallo, a long-time photographer with Burton himself, autographed these books. There will be a silent auction at each screening and highest bidder takes home the book. There will be a $1 registration fee to participate in the auction and bidders can participate as many times as they want.

Gallo and her husband, Derek Frey, a filmmaker with a long and successful relationship with Burton, donated the books to help the Palace raise funds. They each have visited Hilo many times, both working with Burton and visiting local friends they’ve made here throughout the years.

In “Big Eyes: The Film, The Art,” Gallo brings alive the full movie production with behind-the-scenes images detailing everything from costume design to cinematography, and original interviews with Burton, Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz and Keane. From script to final cut, it’s an intimate look at the mind of the director and the details that go into producing and directing a major biopic film.

Also featured in the book is a gallery of Keane’s work along with rare photos of the artist at work. Regarding the photo gallery of Keane’s paintings, Gallo says “it’s the first time her artwork has been published since the ‘60’s.”