Off-screen and offbeat

Not all Los Angeles Film Festival activities involve watching movies. Here are some of the festival’s more offbeat highlights:

* Party! “The Transformers” premieres in multiple theaters in Westwood Village on Wednesday, followed by an outdoor block party. Tickets, $25.

* Show up and sing. One of the most popular episodes of Joss Whedon’s cult favorite show, “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer,” was a musical episode titled “Once More With Feeling.” It screens Wednesday at the Majestic Crest Theatre. Tickets, $11.

* It’s like HORSE, but with skateboards. In this tournament, one skater does his trick, and the competitors have to match it. If you mess it up, you get a letter, and if you spell SKATE, you’re out. Bring your board to the Festival Promenade on Broxton on Saturday.

* “Dark Side of the Zeppelin: A Laserium Extravaganza.” When was the last time you saw a laser light show? Exactly. The music of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” are presented Monday at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. Tickets, $15.

* Live music: Bands including the Casket Salesman, Jettison Babies, the Germs, and Nuttin’ But Stringz play at the Festival Promenade throughout the festival.

* Music videos: A merging of image and sound from bands including Snow Patrol, Wolfmother, Guster, Beck, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Death Cab for Cutie, the Kings of Leon, and others. Tickets, $11.

* Learn something! Seminars on “Tech Talk/Film Financing” take place Saturday; “Paint It Black: African American Film Now” on Wednesday. Prices vary.

* Q&As;: Record producer Pharrell Williams, Saturday, free; “An Evening With Robert Benton,” Sunday; “The New Action Movies”: Don Cheadle and Davis Guggenheim on Wednesday; “Actors Who Call, ‘Cut’ ”: Vondie Curtis Hall, Julie Delpy, others to be announced, next Thursday; “Been There, Done That: A Conversation With Mickey Rooney,” June 29; “Entertainment Weekly Talks With Buck Henry,” June 29; “Behind the Curtain With ILM”: A Talk With Scott Farrar, June 30. Prices and locations vary.

* Coffee klatches: Listen to Hollywood figures talk about their art Sunday at the Landmark. At 11 a.m.: Directors Paul Haggis (“Crash”) and Marc Forster (“Finding Neverland”). At 1 p.m.: actors Elizabeth Pena (“Transamerica”), Lisa Kudrow (“Friends,” and “Kabluey,” a new comedy screening at the festival) and Virginia Madsen (“Sideways”). At 3 p.m.: composers John Ottman (“The Usual Suspects”) , Brian Reitzell (“Friday Night Lights”), Teddy Shapiro (“Blades of Glory”) and Alex Wurman (“March of the Penguins”). And at 5 p.m.: screenwriter Phil Alden Robinson (“Field of Dreams”) and others to be announced. Tickets, $11.

* Family Day: Go to the Festival Promenade on Broxton on June 30 for games, a petting zoo, magic shows, etc. The Mann Festival Theatre also will offer daytime screenings of new family films. All free.

--

For a complete schedule of events and ticket information, go to lafilmfest.com.