It's okay if it's a million degrees outside in the summer, because you can spend Sunday afternoons watching classic films in the cool comfort of the Tampa Theatre. They've released their Summer Classic Movie Series schedule:
(all times 3 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
May 28 -- silent film Beyond the Rocks
June 4 -- 42nd Street
June 11 -- Breakfast at Tiffany's (with audience costume parade)
June 18 -- To Kill A Mockingbird
June 24 & 25 -- The Wizard of Oz (with audience costume parade)
July 2 -- Born Yesterday
July 9 -- It Came From Outerspace (in 3-D)
July 15 & 16 -- Casablanca
July 23 at 2 p.m. -- Sing-A-Long Mary Poppins (with audience costume parade)
July 30 at 2 p.m. -- Sing-A-Long Mary Poppins (with audience costume parade)
August 6 -- Rear Window
August 12 & 13 -- Gone With The Wind (with audience costume parade)
August 20 -- Arsenic and Old Lace
August 27 -- silent film The Black Pirate
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Local Film News:Pop Gun Pictures, Pheromone Films, Suncreen Film Fest, Hocus Focus Productions
*Local film studio Pop Gun Pictures has a lot of projects keeping them busy these days, including: feature film BabyDoll, a horror/comedy being shot in Tampa and the surrounding areas (in association with Sub-Genre Films and Pheromone Films) and feature film As Night Falls, currently in pre-production.
*Local film studio Pheromone Films premiered their new sci-fi/action/thriller film Unearthed at the end of last month (it was invitation-only and I didn't get one...sniff...) and are busy booking future screenings.
*The new Sunscreen Film Festival recently got a mention in the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
*Hocus Focus Productions has their movie 008 available for viewing. The email I received described it as "only slightly improved and still very rough, especially in the sound area, 008 is a comedy about a relief agent who never gets to work because the guy he backs up JUST WON'T DIE!"
Also, their three main trailers, including the new teaser for All Wrapped Up, are online at
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=20970284
(IT IS NOT A SITE FOR THE KIDDIES).
*Local film studio Pheromone Films premiered their new sci-fi/action/thriller film Unearthed at the end of last month (it was invitation-only and I didn't get one...sniff...) and are busy booking future screenings.
*The new Sunscreen Film Festival recently got a mention in the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
*Hocus Focus Productions has their movie 008 available for viewing. The email I received described it as "only slightly improved and still very rough, especially in the sound area, 008 is a comedy about a relief agent who never gets to work because the guy he backs up JUST WON'T DIE!"
Also, their three main trailers, including the new teaser for All Wrapped Up, are online at
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=20970284
(IT IS NOT A SITE FOR THE KIDDIES).
Sunrise Cinemas In The News Again
Tampa Bay's 10 News joins the discussion of Sunrise Cinemas possibly being replaced by condos.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Would You Like a McDVD?
Ohmigosh......McDonald's is testing DVD rentals from a DVD vending machine at some of their locations. It would make my life easier. Right now, I have to drive the quarter-block from Mickey D's to Hollywood Video for a burgers-and-movies night.
I wonder if they'll stock Supersize Me. I'm guessing not.
I wonder if they'll stock Supersize Me. I'm guessing not.
Film Fan Finding:Scary Movie 4
Here's the recipe for Scary Movie 4: begin with the same Scary Movie main characters; add one cup of War of the Worlds, one cup of The Grudge, two tablespoons of The Village and Saw; sprinkle with assorted film parodies and pop culture references; serve lukewarm with a side order of buttered popcorn and a large soda.
As with its predecessors, you know pretty much what to expect: a mixture of stupidity and laugh-out-loud hilarity. Seeing Craig Bierko imitate Tom Cruise on Oprah at the very end of the movie is well worth the price of admission.
Film Fan Finding: B+
As with its predecessors, you know pretty much what to expect: a mixture of stupidity and laugh-out-loud hilarity. Seeing Craig Bierko imitate Tom Cruise on Oprah at the very end of the movie is well worth the price of admission.
Film Fan Finding: B+
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
BioniCon in Tampa in June
Fans of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman, listen up: the first ever BioniCon will be in Tampa June 23-25. And Lindsey Wagner will be there! Click here for info.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Film Fan Finding: Ice Age:The Meltdown
If you liked the first Ice Age movie, you'll like Ice Age:The Meltdown also. Ray Romano still voices Manny, the grumpy but good-hearted mammoth. Denis Leary is the menacing but good-hearted sabertooth tiger Diego. John Leguizamo is the wacky but good-hearted sloth Sid. This time the main characters are searching for a new home, since theirs will very soon be underwater when global warming kicks in and the ice starts melting.
During their journey, Manny finds romance, Diego faces his fear of water, and Sid temporarily becomes Sloth King (and yep, it's hilarious). There were some great new characters (Queen Latifah was wonderful as the voice of the mammoth Ellie) and some very funny songs, but somehow it seemed a little less entertaining than the first one. A little paler, perhaps. Maybe it's because the novelty of the characters has worn off. Maybe it's because I kept having flashbacks of Ray Romano's character on the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. During Manny's conversations with (and attempted wooing of) Ellie, I kept expecting to hear Romano's nasally TV whine "Debra! What are you doing? C'mon Ma! Leave us alone!"
Not as good as the original, but amusing enough (with a couple of hearty laughs thrown in thanks to the character of Sid).
Film Fan Finding: B+
During their journey, Manny finds romance, Diego faces his fear of water, and Sid temporarily becomes Sloth King (and yep, it's hilarious). There were some great new characters (Queen Latifah was wonderful as the voice of the mammoth Ellie) and some very funny songs, but somehow it seemed a little less entertaining than the first one. A little paler, perhaps. Maybe it's because the novelty of the characters has worn off. Maybe it's because I kept having flashbacks of Ray Romano's character on the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. During Manny's conversations with (and attempted wooing of) Ellie, I kept expecting to hear Romano's nasally TV whine "Debra! What are you doing? C'mon Ma! Leave us alone!"
Not as good as the original, but amusing enough (with a couple of hearty laughs thrown in thanks to the character of Sid).
Film Fan Finding: B+
Cinema Treasures
(picture: Yours Truly with authors Andreas Fuchs and Ross Melnick at the Tampa Theatre)
As soon as you finish reading this, visit the incredible website www.cinematreasures.org. Or go check it out now, but come back to finish reading this post.
Going to the Tampa Theatre is always fun, but last Wednesday was even better than usual. I went to hear authors Ross Melnick and Andreas Fuchs talk about their book Cinema Treasures:A New Look at Classic Movie Theaters and discuss how the movie-going experience has changed over the last 80 years. Melnick is a film historian and co-founder of www.cinematreasures.org, a wonderful website that lists all sorts of information about historic movie theaters. Fuchs is a writer and a third-generation cinema operator who works with exhibitors worldwide. This event was sponsored by the new Tampa Theatre volunteer committee Restoration, which works to preserve and restore the 1920's majesty of the theater.
About 50-60 people attended the lecture, which kicked off with Restoration committee chair Elinor Boushall welcoming everyone and introducing Tampa Theatre President John Bell. Bell in turn introduced the speakers of the evening, Fuchs and Melnick. They began with an explanation of the Cinema Treasures website and had a PowerPoint presentation with screen shots of various pages of the site and many old photos.
What started out as a labor of love with two people capturing information on historic movie palaces grew into an interactive archive where anyone can submit details and photos of local historic movie theaters. People post comments ("did you know that such-and-such theater was just torn down") and share favorite memories ("I proposed to my wife in that theater in 1947").
Melnick then launched into a brief history of theaters in America: how and when they began, that 1946 had the highest rate of movie-going ever, the gimmicks used in the 50's to combat TV (like CinemaScope) and that 1968-1972 was the lowest point for theaters until the movie blockbusters (like Jaws) emerged to bring them out of their slump. During the introduction I learned that Melnick had finished his comps for his Ph.D. the week before coming to Tampa. I think he was still in "academic mode" because he read more than he talked to the audience. I still enjoyed it, but I felt like I wasn't able to absorb all of it because he read a little too fast.
Fuchs then took over and talked about some of the local theaters that didn't survive -- the Alcazar, the Strand and the Ritz, among others. He talked about the Tampa Theatre's efforts to continue to show films and attract audiences. The theater offers a wide range of programming (including concerts and other things besides screening films), gives tours, embraces its history by posting personal remembrances on the website, and is constantly trying to preserve its architecture while upgrading the projection and sound equipment. He gave the statistic that there were 563 films released in 2006, an new record. Capitalizing on the wondrous experience of coming to a majestic, historic theater is the only way for these types of theaters to stay alive in a world of videostores, direct-mailed DVDs, pay-per-view and internet downloading.
Both Melnick and Fuchs obviously love movies and movie palaces and are enthusiastic about both preserving the actual theaters and preserving the memories people have of those theaters.
Kudos to the Tampa Theatre (or "the Tampa" as Melnick and Fuchs called it) for a great evening and, more importantly, for 80 years of being a cinema treasure.
Diamond Teeth Mary Film
On May 4, Pete Gallagher, host of WMNF's Florida Folk Show, will show his film about the life of blues great Diamond Teeth Mary at the St. Pete Museum of History. For more information or to puchase tickets, click here.
Friday, April 21, 2006
In The Spotlight: Local Filmmaker Pete Bauer
I recently had a chance to learn a little bit about local filmmaker, writer and jack-of-all-trades Pete Bauer. Bauer has written over fourteen screenplays, two of which have won awards. He's written and directed a number of projects on both film and video, including a short called Justice, which won six awards at the Saints and Sinners Film Festival, and the feature The Box, which screened at the TamBay Film Festival.
A UF graduate who has acted professionally in regional theater, film, television and radio, Bauer has a Real Job as a global IT manager for a local multi-billion dollar company, but his passion has always been filmmaking. A self-described "Hitchcock nut" who finds inspiration in DePalma and Spielberg, he admits to "a guilty pleasure appreciation for Michael Bay's style over substance approach."
Bauer had a book published of interviews with ten filmmakers involved in the "microcinema revoluation" when digital filmmaking was starting about five years ago. Originally titled 20 Questions:The Interview Series, his book is at a new publisher and is being re-released as The Microcinema Revolution. He hopes to follow up with more books, depending on the success of the re-release.
His microcinema efforts in the secular realm are produced through his company Local Talent Productions. His faith-based projects are handled at Sonlight Pictures. Bauer thinks that the "Christian film market is very under-utilized, mainly because the products have been low in quality, overly preachy and no one has found the right business model to effectively fill content in that niche market."
Bauer describes his blog Surviving in Safety Harbor as "a pretty effective overview of my personality...a lot of film, a lot of faith, with a dose of sarcasm layered with my opinion." Considering himself a writer first and a director second, Bauer started his blog in August to get back to writing and promised himself he'd post a daily entry for at least a year.
Bauer's current projects include a draft of an action/suspense thriller with Christian themes called Severed and a secular thriller called Mute. He says he is "trying to merge my love of Hitchcock and Spielberg with my faith. Don't know if the mixture will end up tasting like a fine wine or moonshine, but I'm giving it a shot."
A UF graduate who has acted professionally in regional theater, film, television and radio, Bauer has a Real Job as a global IT manager for a local multi-billion dollar company, but his passion has always been filmmaking. A self-described "Hitchcock nut" who finds inspiration in DePalma and Spielberg, he admits to "a guilty pleasure appreciation for Michael Bay's style over substance approach."
Bauer had a book published of interviews with ten filmmakers involved in the "microcinema revoluation" when digital filmmaking was starting about five years ago. Originally titled 20 Questions:The Interview Series, his book is at a new publisher and is being re-released as The Microcinema Revolution. He hopes to follow up with more books, depending on the success of the re-release.
His microcinema efforts in the secular realm are produced through his company Local Talent Productions. His faith-based projects are handled at Sonlight Pictures. Bauer thinks that the "Christian film market is very under-utilized, mainly because the products have been low in quality, overly preachy and no one has found the right business model to effectively fill content in that niche market."
Bauer describes his blog Surviving in Safety Harbor as "a pretty effective overview of my personality...a lot of film, a lot of faith, with a dose of sarcasm layered with my opinion." Considering himself a writer first and a director second, Bauer started his blog in August to get back to writing and promised himself he'd post a daily entry for at least a year.
Bauer's current projects include a draft of an action/suspense thriller with Christian themes called Severed and a secular thriller called Mute. He says he is "trying to merge my love of Hitchcock and Spielberg with my faith. Don't know if the mixture will end up tasting like a fine wine or moonshine, but I'm giving it a shot."
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
New Independent Film Series Accepting Submissions
The Dunedin Fine Arts Center is starting an Independent Film Series in a few months. Here is the information the Center sent me:
The Dunedin Fine Arts Center will be starting an Independent Film Series in a few months. They will be screening locally produced (Tampa Bay area) films along with national and international independent films. If you are interested in submitting your film, e-mail Wayne Porter at storn8 (at) yahoo.com and he will tell you where to send it. These will be free screenings and there will be no submission fee for filmmakers. Films can be pretty much any genre: shorts, features, documentaries, comedies, dramas, experimental, whatever.
The Dunedin Fine Arts Center will be starting an Independent Film Series in a few months. They will be screening locally produced (Tampa Bay area) films along with national and international independent films. If you are interested in submitting your film, e-mail Wayne Porter at storn8 (at) yahoo.com and he will tell you where to send it. These will be free screenings and there will be no submission fee for filmmakers. Films can be pretty much any genre: shorts, features, documentaries, comedies, dramas, experimental, whatever.
Random Film News: Dallas Movie, Mad Linx, Paul Guzzo
*According to the Monsters and Critics website, the new Dallas movie is going to be filmed in Jacksonville.
*Mad Linx, the host of BET's Rap City, has a Tampa connection.
*Local filmmaker Paul Guzzo had an unproduced screenplay, The Second Coming, nominated for Best Screenplay in the New Jersey International Festival. Over 200 were subumitted and only five were nominated. The winner will be announced May 25th.
*Mad Linx, the host of BET's Rap City, has a Tampa connection.
*Local filmmaker Paul Guzzo had an unproduced screenplay, The Second Coming, nominated for Best Screenplay in the New Jersey International Festival. Over 200 were subumitted and only five were nominated. The winner will be announced May 25th.
Sunrise Cinemas, Part Two
As you know, Sunrise Cinemas has been on my mind recently. A few days ago, I found my inner grass-roots advocate and found the email address for David Wasserman, one of the head honchos of Wasserman Vornado (owners of Old Hyde Park Village) and the guy quoted in recent news articles as saying he's replacing Sunrise Cinemas with condos. I emailed him to explain the significance of Sunrise in the local community and to ask him to reconsider replacing the theater with condos.
Can one person really make a difference? Did my impassioned plea change the tide? That would be a big fat NO.
I won't print Wasserman's entire email, because I found it snippy and rude. I will share this quote, however:
I am going to do a 150 seat 2 screen community theater that I hope to have the 'tampa theater' run and program. Good? :)
Nice try at appeasing the local film-going community Mr. Wasserman, but no dice. This whole thing still sucks. I hope none of your condos sell.
Can one person really make a difference? Did my impassioned plea change the tide? That would be a big fat NO.
I won't print Wasserman's entire email, because I found it snippy and rude. I will share this quote, however:
I am going to do a 150 seat 2 screen community theater that I hope to have the 'tampa theater' run and program. Good? :)
Nice try at appeasing the local film-going community Mr. Wasserman, but no dice. This whole thing still sucks. I hope none of your condos sell.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Film Screenings at Upcoming Florida Collectibles and Vintage Memorabilia Show
The Florida Collectibles & Vintage Memorabilia Show, set for April 30th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Coliseum in St. Pete, offers a wide range of old Florida souvenirs and memorabilia, including books, postcards, photographs, roadside signs, license plates, cigar box labels, and much, much more.
This show includes a screening of the documentary film The Highwaymen, which explores a part of Florida history through interviews with several of the self-taught African-American painters, many of whom traveled Florida's highways selling their paintings of Florida landscapes (hence their name "The Highwaymen"). There will also be continuous screenings of 1950's Florida tourism film ads, including Weeki Wachee mermaids, water skiers at Cypress Gardens, alligator wrestling and more.
Admission to the show is $6 and parking is free. All lectures, entertainment and films are included in the price of admission. For more information, call 727-363-4852 or visit www.hulahula.biz.
This show includes a screening of the documentary film The Highwaymen, which explores a part of Florida history through interviews with several of the self-taught African-American painters, many of whom traveled Florida's highways selling their paintings of Florida landscapes (hence their name "The Highwaymen"). There will also be continuous screenings of 1950's Florida tourism film ads, including Weeki Wachee mermaids, water skiers at Cypress Gardens, alligator wrestling and more.
Admission to the show is $6 and parking is free. All lectures, entertainment and films are included in the price of admission. For more information, call 727-363-4852 or visit www.hulahula.biz.
"Cinema Treasures" Lecture at Tampa Theatre April 19
Happy 80th Birthday Tampa Theatre!
As part of its 80th anniversary celebration, Tampa Theatre is hosting film historian Ross Melnick and film industry consultant Andreas Fuchs on Wednesday, April 19, at 7:30pm. Melnick and Fuchs, authors of Cinema Treasures:A New Look at Classic Movie Theaters, will talk about the changes in movie-going habits and film exhibition over the last 80 years and will share their experiences working with movie theaters for the last thirty years.
The lecture will be preceeded by a brief organ concert and will be followed by a book-signing. Books will be available for purchase at the event. This event is hosted by Restoration, Tampa Theatre’s new volunteer committee dedicated to the restoration of Tampa Theatre to its original 1926 splendor.
General admission at 7pm is $25; $20 for Tampa Theatre members; $18 for students with ID.
Treasured Guest admission at 6 p.m. including private reception with complimentary champagne, wine and cocktail fare is $65. Tickets are on sale at the Tampa Theatre box office or online at http://www.tampatheatre.org/.
See you tomorrow night.
As part of its 80th anniversary celebration, Tampa Theatre is hosting film historian Ross Melnick and film industry consultant Andreas Fuchs on Wednesday, April 19, at 7:30pm. Melnick and Fuchs, authors of Cinema Treasures:A New Look at Classic Movie Theaters, will talk about the changes in movie-going habits and film exhibition over the last 80 years and will share their experiences working with movie theaters for the last thirty years.
The lecture will be preceeded by a brief organ concert and will be followed by a book-signing. Books will be available for purchase at the event. This event is hosted by Restoration, Tampa Theatre’s new volunteer committee dedicated to the restoration of Tampa Theatre to its original 1926 splendor.
General admission at 7pm is $25; $20 for Tampa Theatre members; $18 for students with ID.
Treasured Guest admission at 6 p.m. including private reception with complimentary champagne, wine and cocktail fare is $65. Tickets are on sale at the Tampa Theatre box office or online at http://www.tampatheatre.org/.
See you tomorrow night.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Drawing a Life:An Adventure in Art and Cinema
The Tampa Bay Business Journal recently had an article about the five-film series Drawing a Life:An Adventure in Art and Cinema, which is a collaborative effort between the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and the Tampa Museum of Art.
This series looks at artists Keith Haring, Klaus Nomi, Derek Jarman and Taylor Mead (psst...the current Weekly Planet has an article about Keith Haring) and will screen May 4, 5 and 7 at Sunrise Cinemas and the Tampa Metro Center in Seminole Heights.
Click here for the full article.
This series looks at artists Keith Haring, Klaus Nomi, Derek Jarman and Taylor Mead (psst...the current Weekly Planet has an article about Keith Haring) and will screen May 4, 5 and 7 at Sunrise Cinemas and the Tampa Metro Center in Seminole Heights.
Click here for the full article.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Film Fan Fun in the St. Pete Times
Wow, the St. Pete Times certainly has movies on the brain this week:
Alexandra Zayas wrote about the upcoming screening of the documentary Invisible Children:Rough Cut.
Rick Gershman wrote about local filmmakers Paul and Pete Guzzo and managed to throw in a mention of the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in another article.
Elizabeth Bettendorf wrote a great article about the Tampa Theatre, their new volunteer group Restoration, and next week's Cinema Treasures lecture and book signing.
Dong Phuong Nguyen wrote about how the teenyboppers in New Tampa hang out at their local movie theater.
Ok, enough blogging for today. I'm off to the movies!
Alexandra Zayas wrote about the upcoming screening of the documentary Invisible Children:Rough Cut.
Rick Gershman wrote about local filmmakers Paul and Pete Guzzo and managed to throw in a mention of the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in another article.
Elizabeth Bettendorf wrote a great article about the Tampa Theatre, their new volunteer group Restoration, and next week's Cinema Treasures lecture and book signing.
Dong Phuong Nguyen wrote about how the teenyboppers in New Tampa hang out at their local movie theater.
Ok, enough blogging for today. I'm off to the movies!
Film Fan Finding:Slither
I was prepared to love Slither, but I just didn't. It took a while for things to start happening, then when they did...ehhh, no big deal. We've seen it all before.
The very yummy Nathan Fillion played a sheriff in some tiny Southern town, in (unrequited) love with a married friend, busy patrolling the boring streets where nothing ever happens. Until a meteor bearing aliens drops in, that is. The aliens have a few options for the residents: become insatiably hungry, hugely pregnant breeders, and then die; have their slithering slug offspring force their way into your mouth, take control of you to reproduce, and then die; or die up front by being eaten by someone in the first two groups.
Which characters live at the end? What happens with the sheriff's budding romance? Is there a way to defeat the aliens without the surviving characters being destoyed? Will the speed and agility of the zombies change depending on which character they're after?
You probably already know the answers, whether or not you've seen the movie. If you do go see it, stick around til the end of the credits for a brief scene.
While mildly entertaining, Slither is certainly no Tremors.
Film Fan Finding: B-
The very yummy Nathan Fillion played a sheriff in some tiny Southern town, in (unrequited) love with a married friend, busy patrolling the boring streets where nothing ever happens. Until a meteor bearing aliens drops in, that is. The aliens have a few options for the residents: become insatiably hungry, hugely pregnant breeders, and then die; have their slithering slug offspring force their way into your mouth, take control of you to reproduce, and then die; or die up front by being eaten by someone in the first two groups.
Which characters live at the end? What happens with the sheriff's budding romance? Is there a way to defeat the aliens without the surviving characters being destoyed? Will the speed and agility of the zombies change depending on which character they're after?
You probably already know the answers, whether or not you've seen the movie. If you do go see it, stick around til the end of the credits for a brief scene.
While mildly entertaining, Slither is certainly no Tremors.
Film Fan Finding: B-
Kids Make Movies Summer Camp at Tampa Theatre
Summer camp is back! Tampa Theatre is accepting applications for its Kids Make Movies Summer Camp, where kids can learn all aspects of the filmmaking process -- from storyboarding to filming to editing, capped off with viewing their creations on the big screen. Isn't childhood grand?
Film Fan Finding:V for Vendetta
As soon as V for Vendetta ended, I turned to The Husband and said "That was wonderful!" and he turned to me and said "That was horrible!" To each her own, I suppose.
V for Vendetta takes place in London in about 2025 or so, in a bleak world where the government knows everything about you and controls the media and pretty much everything else. Evey (Natalie Portman), a young woman about to suffer the consequences of staying out past curfew, is rescued by V, a swashbuckling, over-the-top mystery man wearing a white porcelain face mask of British legend Guy Fawkes. We're not sure if V is a good guy or a bad guy. Turns out he's a terrorist, but that still doesn't answer the question.
V is a terrorist looking to shake the people awake, fight the big bad government, and get revenge on those who ruined his life. His mask and his campaign are inspired by Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up Parliament in the 18th century. Because she knows some of his secrets, Evey is forced to stay withV and eventually forms an attachment that is both touching and disturbing.
I really enjoyed the dark, dark futuristic view. That's my favorite part of sci-fi movies, and then I enjoy getting all freaked out about how close society is to having some of those predictions come true. I didn't read much about V for Vendetta before seeing it, so I didn't have any expectations, one way or another. I found it to be an entertaining, albeit slightly dark and disturbing, movie.
Film Fan Finding: B+
(4/17/06 -- For some strange reason I called Natalie Portman "Rachel" in this write-up; corrected it today. Sorry about that!)
V for Vendetta takes place in London in about 2025 or so, in a bleak world where the government knows everything about you and controls the media and pretty much everything else. Evey (Natalie Portman), a young woman about to suffer the consequences of staying out past curfew, is rescued by V, a swashbuckling, over-the-top mystery man wearing a white porcelain face mask of British legend Guy Fawkes. We're not sure if V is a good guy or a bad guy. Turns out he's a terrorist, but that still doesn't answer the question.
V is a terrorist looking to shake the people awake, fight the big bad government, and get revenge on those who ruined his life. His mask and his campaign are inspired by Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up Parliament in the 18th century. Because she knows some of his secrets, Evey is forced to stay withV and eventually forms an attachment that is both touching and disturbing.
I really enjoyed the dark, dark futuristic view. That's my favorite part of sci-fi movies, and then I enjoy getting all freaked out about how close society is to having some of those predictions come true. I didn't read much about V for Vendetta before seeing it, so I didn't have any expectations, one way or another. I found it to be an entertaining, albeit slightly dark and disturbing, movie.
Film Fan Finding: B+
(4/17/06 -- For some strange reason I called Natalie Portman "Rachel" in this write-up; corrected it today. Sorry about that!)
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Sunrise Cinemas, Part One
A couple of weeks ago, the Weekly Planet's Lance Goldenberg wrote about Sunrise Cinemas and the recent news that the owner of Old Hyde Park Village wants to build condos in the theater's current location. He made it sound like Sunrise is closing up shop. Yes, the property owner's desire for condos is hovering over Sunrise like the sword of Damocles, but we don't know if it's a done deal. (Do we?) We don't know what kind of lease Sunrise has for that space. We don't know what kind of opposition to these condos there might be in the community, or if that opposition could have an effect on the property owner. And if Sunrise Cinemas has to vacate that space, we don't know if they will leave Tampa altogether or open a new location. After all, Sunrise Cinemas has eight other theaters in Florida and hopefully would want to maintain their presence in the Tampa Bay area. Hopefully. My fingers are crossed.
Rick Gershman at the St. Pete Times weighed in last week with an article about the history of that theater (first AMC, then Madstone, now Sunrise Cinemas) and what losing Sunrise Cinemas in Hyde Park would mean to local residents and film lovers.
What's a depressed film fan to do?
Rick Gershman at the St. Pete Times weighed in last week with an article about the history of that theater (first AMC, then Madstone, now Sunrise Cinemas) and what losing Sunrise Cinemas in Hyde Park would mean to local residents and film lovers.
What's a depressed film fan to do?
99 Things You Didn't Know About the Movie "99"
Ok, I don't really have 99 things to tell you, but it made for a cute blog post title, no?
In addition to having a sold out premiere at the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image this past weekend, locally-made-and-created film 99 recently won Pick of the Flicks (the audience choice award) at the Garden State Film Festival. 99 has also been nominated for Best Feature, Best Comedy and Best Ensemble Cast at the Bare Bones Film Festival in Oklahoma, a film fest dedicated to films made for under $1 million.
Congratulations to Pete and Paul Guzzo, their crew and cast!
In addition to having a sold out premiere at the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image this past weekend, locally-made-and-created film 99 recently won Pick of the Flicks (the audience choice award) at the Garden State Film Festival. 99 has also been nominated for Best Feature, Best Comedy and Best Ensemble Cast at the Bare Bones Film Festival in Oklahoma, a film fest dedicated to films made for under $1 million.
Congratulations to Pete and Paul Guzzo, their crew and cast!
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Calling all Filmmakers in Pasco and Hernando Counties
Bill, an aspiring filmmaker in the Pasco/Hernando county area, emailed me to let me know (and you too, of course) that he's looking for:
"anyone that has equipment or know-how in any field of film-making"
"a scriptwriter is the thing I need the most"
"Filmmakers for all and any genres, mostly horror though...So if there is any one out there in Hernando with film equipment or know-how sitting on go, and will do any thing just to be a part of something in filmmaking, even work for free, then contact me."
Bill's email address is silvergoof (at) aol.com.
"anyone that has equipment or know-how in any field of film-making"
"a scriptwriter is the thing I need the most"
"Filmmakers for all and any genres, mostly horror though...So if there is any one out there in Hernando with film equipment or know-how sitting on go, and will do any thing just to be a part of something in filmmaking, even work for free, then contact me."
Bill's email address is silvergoof (at) aol.com.
"Making a Documentary" Class at the Education Channel
"Making a Documentary" with award-winning videographer/producer Elam Stoltzfus will be offered as part of the Media Arts and Technology program at The Education Channel at 10 a.m. on April 22nd. Advance payment of $30 is required and you must be 16 or over to attend.
Filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus specializes in nature film documentaries and has produced several award-winning films. His documentary A Gentle Journey:Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary will show on The Education Channel April 12th at 7:30 p.m.
Visit www.educationchannel.org or call 813-254-2253, ext. 206 for more information or to register for the class.
Filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus specializes in nature film documentaries and has produced several award-winning films. His documentary A Gentle Journey:Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary will show on The Education Channel April 12th at 7:30 p.m.
Visit www.educationchannel.org or call 813-254-2253, ext. 206 for more information or to register for the class.
Cosmos Film Festival Schedule Posted
The screening schedule for Gainesville's upcoming Cosmos International Film & Videogame Festival (April 20-23) is now available on their website. Click here to view.
Icon Film Studios News
There's alot going on this month at Icon Film Studios:
Icon Film Studios' film Bleed will debut on the Horror Channel on April 21st. Director Chris Woods and producer Simon Lynx will be in the www.horrorchannel.com chat room during the screening for live Q & A. The Horror Channel is only available on the web (another reason why I need to upgrade my piece of junk computer!).
Chris Woods is celebrating the tenth anniversary of his University of Tampa closed-circuit TV show Creeping Death with a series of essays.
Their online store will re-open soon. Here's a sneak preview.
Icon Film Studios' film Bleed will debut on the Horror Channel on April 21st. Director Chris Woods and producer Simon Lynx will be in the www.horrorchannel.com chat room during the screening for live Q & A. The Horror Channel is only available on the web (another reason why I need to upgrade my piece of junk computer!).
Chris Woods is celebrating the tenth anniversary of his University of Tampa closed-circuit TV show Creeping Death with a series of essays.
Their online store will re-open soon. Here's a sneak preview.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Foreign Film, Popcorn and Wireless, All For Free!
Thanks to the Weekly Planet, I found out about this:
The public is invited to come out and enjoy "open paint" sessions, foreign art film screenings (7:00 and 9:30 p.m.), free popcorn, and free wireless for those looking to work or surf away from home.
6 p.m.-midnight every Tuesday. Free admission.
The Bank Nightclub and Concert Venue
1919 Central Ave.
St. Petersburg
727-898-4488
The public is invited to come out and enjoy "open paint" sessions, foreign art film screenings (7:00 and 9:30 p.m.), free popcorn, and free wireless for those looking to work or surf away from home.
6 p.m.-midnight every Tuesday. Free admission.
The Bank Nightclub and Concert Venue
1919 Central Ave.
St. Petersburg
727-898-4488
Extras Wanted April 16
Award-winning filmmaker Ben Waller is looking for extras for his next short film. Anyone and everyone over 18 is welcome to participate in the psychological thriller The Turn Around.
Details: April 16th; from 10 a.m. til mid-afternoon (3-4 p.m.); at Taiga restaraunt on Causeway Blvd. right off the Falkenburg exit of the Crosstown. Water will be provided, but please plan on your own meals. Please wear business dress.
If you can participate, please email at Brodieman4454565@yahoo.com.
Details: April 16th; from 10 a.m. til mid-afternoon (3-4 p.m.); at Taiga restaraunt on Causeway Blvd. right off the Falkenburg exit of the Crosstown. Water will be provided, but please plan on your own meals. Please wear business dress.
If you can participate, please email at Brodieman4454565@yahoo.com.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Terri Schaivo:The Movie
I knew it was only a matter of time before Terri Schaivo's story was made into a movie. Not enough time for me, dammit.
I Went to the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image and All I Got Was This Lousy Blog Post
Of course, Real Life intervened and I didn't get to attend all of the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image screenings that I wanted to (damn you, Real Life!). Here's a brief summary of this year's YFMI fun:
Wednesday night (opening night): I popped over to pick up my festival pass and was there for the opening remarks and to hear some HCC singers give a preview of the Songs of the Cinema show. High point: getting a YFMI festival program, which were few and far between the next night. Low point: somehow wrapping my foot around the bottom edge of a tablecloth while talking to local filmmaker Pete Guzzo and almost knocking the whole thing over (I didn't, though).
Thursday night: Lady Wordsmith and I saw Beowulf and Grendel, which was wonderful, and Far Side of the Moon, which wasn't. The Beowulf director and producer were there and told some great stories and answered audience questions. High point: a three-way tie: (1) watching Beowulf and Grendel, (2) hearing "hey Tampa Film Fan!" when exiting the theater, turning around and seeing guest programmer Joseph Cook, and having a hilarious conversation with him and our friends for 30 minutes, (3) on the way home, Lady Wordsmith called me on my cell phone to tell me to listen to WMNF because they were talking about the movie 99, screening Saturday night. Lady Wordsmith called me the next day to say that she called in and won two tickets to see 99! It was a crazy, fun way to end a crazy, fun night. Low point: Sarah Polley's pitiful attempt to adopt a British accent in Beowulf and Grendel (I think she was trying for British).
Sunday afternoon: I went to see the documentary I Like Killing Flies and the Turkish sci-fi spoof G.O.R.A. High point: even though I was late, the theater was having projector problems and started the film late, so I ended up not missing a thing. Low point: realizing that the festival was over and there was so much I had missed.
Wednesday night (opening night): I popped over to pick up my festival pass and was there for the opening remarks and to hear some HCC singers give a preview of the Songs of the Cinema show. High point: getting a YFMI festival program, which were few and far between the next night. Low point: somehow wrapping my foot around the bottom edge of a tablecloth while talking to local filmmaker Pete Guzzo and almost knocking the whole thing over (I didn't, though).
Thursday night: Lady Wordsmith and I saw Beowulf and Grendel, which was wonderful, and Far Side of the Moon, which wasn't. The Beowulf director and producer were there and told some great stories and answered audience questions. High point: a three-way tie: (1) watching Beowulf and Grendel, (2) hearing "hey Tampa Film Fan!" when exiting the theater, turning around and seeing guest programmer Joseph Cook, and having a hilarious conversation with him and our friends for 30 minutes, (3) on the way home, Lady Wordsmith called me on my cell phone to tell me to listen to WMNF because they were talking about the movie 99, screening Saturday night. Lady Wordsmith called me the next day to say that she called in and won two tickets to see 99! It was a crazy, fun way to end a crazy, fun night. Low point: Sarah Polley's pitiful attempt to adopt a British accent in Beowulf and Grendel (I think she was trying for British).
Sunday afternoon: I went to see the documentary I Like Killing Flies and the Turkish sci-fi spoof G.O.R.A. High point: even though I was late, the theater was having projector problems and started the film late, so I ended up not missing a thing. Low point: realizing that the festival was over and there was so much I had missed.
April's Ironweed Film Club Screenings
The Ironweed Film Club will screen the short film Something Other Than Other and the 1953 controversial film Salt of the Earth on April 19th at 8 p.m. at Studio@620 in St. Pete. A study of prejudice against Mexican-American workers that takes a feminist look at the roles played by the immigrant wives, Salt of the Earth has the distinction of being the only blacklisted film in American film history.
Click here for more information.
Click here for more information.
Hyde Park Village Florida Heritage Film Series
I'm a little frustrated with the Florida Heritage Celebration. They are offering some interesting events, but they sure make you work to find out what and when they are. The Current Events page of their website doesn't give specific info, but gives you an Events Calendar link, which takes you to the TampaGold.com calendar. About two weeks ago, I emailed the Contact Us email address to ask for a schedule because no events were posted on the TampaGold.com calendar. I never received a response. Signing up for the email update list resulted in a big fat nothing as well.
I picked up a flyer at the library this weekend that just listed event names, not times or locations, along with directions to go to the website for more info. I've finally found events listed on the calendar, but without the complete details.
Apparently there's something called the Hyde Park Village Florida Heritage Film Series, with a screening of "Charlie Chaplin, a Family Fu" on Wednesday, April 12, at 7 p.m. and a screening of "Colleen Moore, the Original" at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 15.
I know that Colleen Moore is a silent film star from the Tampa Bay area, but are they showing one of her films or is this a documentary about her? And what does "a Family Fu" mean -- again, is this a specific Chaplin film or some sort of documentary? And one minor detail -- where are these screenings? Are they at Sunrise Cinemas? Outside on a big screen? At some other venue in Old Hyde Park Village? It sure would be nice to know.
One final gripe and I'll be done. The event descriptions end with a referral to www.hydeparkvillage.net for more info. Which would be great if the site wasn't under construction. Grrrr....
If anyone has any info about these screenings, please send it my way. Please!
I picked up a flyer at the library this weekend that just listed event names, not times or locations, along with directions to go to the website for more info. I've finally found events listed on the calendar, but without the complete details.
Apparently there's something called the Hyde Park Village Florida Heritage Film Series, with a screening of "Charlie Chaplin, a Family Fu" on Wednesday, April 12, at 7 p.m. and a screening of "Colleen Moore, the Original" at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 15.
I know that Colleen Moore is a silent film star from the Tampa Bay area, but are they showing one of her films or is this a documentary about her? And what does "a Family Fu" mean -- again, is this a specific Chaplin film or some sort of documentary? And one minor detail -- where are these screenings? Are they at Sunrise Cinemas? Outside on a big screen? At some other venue in Old Hyde Park Village? It sure would be nice to know.
One final gripe and I'll be done. The event descriptions end with a referral to www.hydeparkvillage.net for more info. Which would be great if the site wasn't under construction. Grrrr....
If anyone has any info about these screenings, please send it my way. Please!
Sunday, April 9, 2006
Last Day Of The Ybor Film Festival
I'm heading out the door for the last day of screenings for this year's Ybor Festival of the Moving Image. I'm taking a vacation day from my Real Job tomorrow to catch up on my blogging, so I'll post about all the YFMI films I've seen then. (Taking a day off of work to blog is either a sign of extreme obsessive-compulsive behavior or devoted dedication. I'm going with the latter.)
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Out To Lunch (At A Film Festival Or Two)
I won't be able to post much over the next few days because I will be spending every waking moment at either the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image or the Cinema Italiano film festival (with maybe some sleeping, eating and a little laundry thrown in when needed). Ciao!
Saturday, April 1, 2006
Local Film News
*Local film fan Joseph Cook has been busy lately. Not only is he the Program Director of the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and still teaching at USF, HCC and UT, but he's also curated over a dozen films for the upcoming Ybor Festival of the Moving Image. (Just hearing about his busy schedule makes me want to lie down on my fainting couch!) He'll always be aces in my book because he sent alot of his students to the Tampa International Film Festival in February (where I was Assistant Director, back when I had energy).
*There will be no Tampa Film Review in April, because the Guzzo Duo are proudly presenting their latest feature film, 99, at the upcoming Ybor Festival of the Moving Image. 99 will premiere on Saturday, April 8 at 9 p.m. at Muvico Theaters in Centro Ybor. Here's the quick summary provided by Guzzo Brother One:
The campus free spirit and scam artist has been GIVEN a bar in tropical paradise. All he has to do is pass a drug test that is impossible. Knowing he failed, he plans the ultimate heist to steal back his tainted specimen and replace it with a clean specimen. The campus pretty boy has spent his four year college career hard at work trying to win a bet he made during his first week of college freshman year, stating he would sleep with 100 women by the time he graduated. He has to sleep with one more woman to win the bet, but with just 12 hours to go in the bet and everyone he has ever crossed while in pursuit of number 100 looking for revenge before he leaves campus forever, winning the bet is the last thing on his mind. Now, he just wants to survive. Two different people, two different stories, colliding in one entertaining film. This film has no profanity or nudity, but promises to deliver over 99 guilty pleasures. Visit www.99themovie.com for more info.
I attended a test screening of 99 many moons ago, but I'm told that it has gone through several edits and is quite different than the "draft version" I saw. I'm looking forward to seeing it on the big screen.
*There will be no Tampa Film Review in April, because the Guzzo Duo are proudly presenting their latest feature film, 99, at the upcoming Ybor Festival of the Moving Image. 99 will premiere on Saturday, April 8 at 9 p.m. at Muvico Theaters in Centro Ybor. Here's the quick summary provided by Guzzo Brother One:
The campus free spirit and scam artist has been GIVEN a bar in tropical paradise. All he has to do is pass a drug test that is impossible. Knowing he failed, he plans the ultimate heist to steal back his tainted specimen and replace it with a clean specimen. The campus pretty boy has spent his four year college career hard at work trying to win a bet he made during his first week of college freshman year, stating he would sleep with 100 women by the time he graduated. He has to sleep with one more woman to win the bet, but with just 12 hours to go in the bet and everyone he has ever crossed while in pursuit of number 100 looking for revenge before he leaves campus forever, winning the bet is the last thing on his mind. Now, he just wants to survive. Two different people, two different stories, colliding in one entertaining film. This film has no profanity or nudity, but promises to deliver over 99 guilty pleasures. Visit www.99themovie.com for more info.
I attended a test screening of 99 many moons ago, but I'm told that it has gone through several edits and is quite different than the "draft version" I saw. I'm looking forward to seeing it on the big screen.
