Tampa Film Fan

i’ll see you back here in august

Well, film fans, I have good news and bad news.

The bad news is that I’m taking a break from blogging.
The good news is that it’s only for the rest of the month, so I should be back around the first of August or so.

The bad news is that I was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
The good news is that it’s papillary thyroid cancer (the “good kind” of thyroid cancer), it’s Stage 1 (the earliest stage) and the prognosis is very, very good.

The good news is that I’ll get to watch movies 24/7 while I’m laid up in bed recovering from surgery.
The bad news is … well, I can’t really think of any down side to watching movies non-stop.

See you all in August!

[Anyone interested in the personal, detailed info is welcome to visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/lisac2008.]

news and notes:yfomi, orlando sci-fi show, ground up films, tampa-st. pete 48 hour film project, campus movie fest

• The Ybor Festival of the Moving Image has set the dates for next year’s fest: April 1-5, 2009. The theme for next year is Humor and Satire. Mark your calendars now.
• Vulkon’s Orlando Sci-Fi Show (July 18-20) has added some new guests. I wanna go, I wanna go!
• Local filmmakers Brandon Windish and Jon Wolding of Ground Up Films are busy working on their horror short film Buzzards Roost.
• Guy Balson, St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Commission Manager, has worked out a deal with several area hotels for good room rates ONLY for Tampa-St. Petersburg 48 Hour Film Project participants. For more info on which hotels have special rates for Tampa-St. Petersburg 48 Hour Film Project participants, email coco(at)48hourfilm.com or kerri(at)48hourfilm.com.
• Campus MovieFest has openings for both employees and campus ambassadors.

2008 tampa bay video award winners

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2008 Tampa Bay Video Awards:

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING:
1st — Jack Coletti, The Heart Of Purple Beard
2nd — Mariette Coulter, Mariette’s Christmas Special

The mission of Speak Up Tampa Bay Public Access Television, Inc., a 501[c][3] non-profit, is to: [1] serve as a catalyst for citizen participation in identifying and solving Bay area issues; and [2] provide the community with a means to disseminate information.

Visit www.tbcn.org to learn more.

new film crew cafe social networking site

Received via email:

Introducing
FILM CREW CAFE!
Promote your film, Promote yourself
www.filmcrewcafe.com

Based in Tampa Bay, this is a free social network for independent filmmakers, actors, directors and more. Finally one place where Tampa Bay filmmakers can find each other, post their films, network, chat, promote, find actors, announce casting calls, and more. The site features unlimited uploads, audio and video blogging, video forums, live chat, and more. You can also share your content with MySpace, and any other website you have already.

Film Crew Cafe was created by Daniel Brienza, founder of Weekend Film Crew, Tampa Weekend Film School, and Tampa Bay Film Industry and Actor Network.

Visit www.filmcrewcafe.com for more info.

the tampa film review is moving to a new location

The Tampa Film Review is moving! Fortunately for local film fans, it’s just moving to a new location and not to another city or state. The next Tampa Film Review – Friday, July 11, at 8 p.m. – will be held at Cigar Theater, 1704 N. 17th Street in Ybor City .

Guzzo Brother #1 said, “We believe this will be a huge step up for the Tampa Film Review. Cigar Theater is a 10,000-square-foot artists’ gallery and theater. In our minds, it is the perfect fit and the perfect time to make this move. James and Blake Emory, who run the theater, are true art leaders in Ybor City, holding regular art shows that that bring hundreds of art lovers to Ybor City . They have a desire to hold art shows featuring different genres of art every week at their theatre. Other shows they host include martial arts shows, dance shows, poetry jams, fashion shows, band performances, art showcases and more. They have mentioned to Pete and me for a while now that they wanted to add an independent film night to their calendar of events, so we finally decided to partner with them.

We believe that in time, by partnering with James and Blake, the Tampa Film Review will reach new heights. We hope everyone comes to July’s show to see the new location and, of course, to see the best in local independent film.”

Cigar Theater (1704 N. 17th Street) is located on 17th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Ybor City . It is one building back from 7th Avenue and has its own parking lot. Parking in the Cigar Theater lot costs $5. (The Ybor City parking garage is just one block away and is cheaper.)

Here’s the link Guzzo Brother #1 sent me with a map of where Cigar Theater is: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1704+N.+17th+Street+tampa,+fl&sll=26.588527,-74.882812&sspn=68.528362,108.28125&ie=UTF8&ll=27.961485,-82.440505&spn=0.00868,0.013218&z=16&iwloc=addr

nova 535 looking for films for next art show

From Guzzo Brother #1’s e-newsletter:

NOVA 535 in St. Petersburg is looking for shorts, minis, trailers, and experimental films to be part of their next art show, Coming Into Focus, which begins July 19.

Housed in a gorgeous, meticulously renovated 1920’s structure, NOVA 535-Art Lounge offers 7,000 square feet, 2 stories and multiple rooms of extraordinary and versatile event, gallery and meeting space with plenty of convenient parking. Our unique art gallery-event venue symbiosis features a full-service 60-foot granite-topped “S” bar, a world-class floating DJ booth, a well-equipped catering kitchen, 2nd floor VIP Bar, spectacular private balcony, smoking terrace, museum quality gallery space and the exclusive NOVA SUITE. As NOVA 535’s gorgeous exotic Brazilian hardwood floors are met by two stunning Italian wrought-iron staircases, red clay block walls decorated in fresh international artwork, and 18 foot ceilings, NOVA 535 is a fusion of modern and classic design features, perfect for your next wedding, party, corporate or special occasion event.

For more information about the event or how to submit your short film, email michael(at)nova535.com.

pinellas filmmakers society meeting june 27

The next meeting of the Pinellas Filmmakers Society is Friday, June 27, at 6 p.m. at Indie Studios, 1776 11th Avenue North in St. Pete.

In his email, meeting organizer Pete Bradshaw said “I’m certain everyone is looking forward to hear about any progress and scheduling of the two production projects being coordinated by our members. We also invite you to bring any work you may have and want showcased either this month or next.”

Also, “At our studio, there is a complete MAC/Final Cut Studio Pro editing bay available for lease as well as green screens and office areas. If interested, please contact me (Pete) at (727)458-1519 or (305)766-4622.”

For more info, visit www.fierceifilms.com/PinellasFilmmakers.html.

2009 gasparilla film festival will be ten days — february 26-march 7, 2009

Received via email:

The Gasparilla Film Festival (GFF), Tampa Bay’s largest independent film festival, is proud to announce dates for its 3rd annual Festival: The 10 day 2009 Gasparilla Film Festival will be held from Thursday, February 26 - Saturday, March 7, 2009.

ABOUT THE GASPARILLA FILM FESTIVAL: The Gasparilla Film Festival, Tampa Bay’s largest independent film festival, is operated by the Tampa Film Institute, a full-time 501 (c)3 organization dedicated to advancing film education and community involvement in film in the Tampa Bay area. The 2008 Festival, completed this past March, more than tripled attendance year-over-year, and attracted over 6,000 moviegoers during its 5 days. Past and current sponsers have including Wachovia, The Law Offices of Knopik, Varner and Moore, Stella Artois, Ferman, Cott, Navigar Advisors, the St. Pete Times as well as over 30 other corporations and organizations.

For more info, visit www.gasparillafilmfestival.com.

prepare yourself for obscenities and projectile vomiting

My blog is currently possessed by a demon. During the first round of exorcism, I lost a month’s worth of blog posts and comments. Who knows what will happen next?

Fasten your seatbelts and hang on to your rosary beads. It’s gonna get ugly.

local film prof and filmmaker tom garrett speaking at fmpta meeting june 18

(ORIGINALLY POSTED 6/9/08; RE-POSTED 6/26/08 AFTER BLOG CRASH)

Received via email in Guzzo Brother #1’s newsletter:

Tom Garrett, a producer of independent feature films and a founding partner of Circa Film, will be the Tampa Bay Area FMPTA Chapter’s guest speaker at the 7:30 p.m. June 18 General Meeting at the American Legion Hall, 3810 West Kennedy, just west of Dale Mabry Hwy in Tampa.

The June meeting, the annual combined FMPTA and Indie Club meeting, is expected to attract a large crowd to hear Garrett speak. Garrett, who lives in Sarasota, currently teaches film production at the University of Tampa. He recently returned from the Cannes Film Festival and will discuss not only the festival but his production background. Circa Film is a sales and distribution company engaged in production and international distribution of independent feature films. Garrett has produced 14 feature films over the past 20 years, including Florida-based Great Expectations and Palmetto. With an M.F.A from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts- Graduate Film program, Garrett has worked as Line Producer, Unit Production Manager and Executive Producer for a number of noted directors, including Academy Award winner Jean Charles Tachella (Cousin Cousine, Seven Sundays), and Alex Cox (Sid and Nancy, Repo Man). He has also worked with such well known producers as Daniel Tuscan du Plantier and Art Linson. He produced and directed the 1980’s movie Death Collector, aka Tin Star Void. It has been called a “cult classic” by both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. This movie was called, “The greatest Sci-Fi / Action Adventure / Western no one has seen, heard or celebrated,” by Cult Movie Magazine, Vol. #40, 2005.

I’ve had the great pleasure of working with Garrett on the judging panels of the 2008 Sunscreen Film Festival and the 2007 Independents’ Film Festival. He’s a rare combination of incredibly knowledgeable and incredibly down-to-earth. (Plus he wears nicer shoes than any man I’ve ever met before in my life.) I was the only one of the three short film Sunscreen Film Fest judges who had never been to the Cannes Film Festival. While that was depressing enough, it could have been much worse if Garrett had been snobby about it, which he wasn’t, thank goodness.

This is one guest speaker you don’t want to miss.

The Tampa Chapter of the FMPTA (Florida Motion Picture and Television Association) meets on the third Wednesday of every month. I don’t know if there’s a fee for non-members to attend. I didn’t see that info on their website. I did, however, see this on the site:

*NEW LOCATION*
American Legion: USS Tampa Post No. 5
3810 W. Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL 33609
Networking starts at 7 p.m.; program begins at 7:30 p.m.

Visit www.fmptatampa.org for more info.