Tampa Film Fan

in the spotlight:tampa film network co-creator joe davison

(photo: Joe Davison and Keljean Connelly at the September Tampa Film Network meeting)

“We want to make filmmaking in Tampa easier.”  That’s the goal that local filmmakers Joe Davison (Pop Gun Pictures) and Chris Woods (Icon Film Studios) had in mind when creating the Tampa Film Network (TFN) almost a year ago. The TFN is a group of local filmmakers — lighting techs, directors, makeup artists, writers, stunt people, actors, propmasters, graphic designers and more — who meet every other month to talk about their recent and upcoming projects. Besides touting their latest accomplishments, filmmakers are able to let others know what they need for their next film.  The newly-established TFN website posts these “help wanted” lists, as well as publishing an event calendar and posting pages of local links separated by category (i.e. actors, critics, film studios).

TFN co-creator Joe Davison got the idea for the TFN from his involvement in the Cambridge Film Network during the years he lived in England.  Davison said that the CFN started with about 10 people and had grown to around 200 by the time he moved back to the U.S.  Since its debut in February 2006, the Tampa Film Network has grown to around 100 members and co-creators Davison and Woods have added two people — filmmakers Melissa Webb and Keljean Connelly — to their volunteer management staff. Seeing the TFN grow has relieved Davison’s worry that “people would think this was all about getting me work for my film studio.”

A native Floridian, Davison made his first public speaking appearance at his high school graduation, using a speech written on a restaurant napkin only moments earlier.  From there, Davison moved on to improvisational comedy, acting, writing and filmmaking. Unearthed, a feature-length sci-fi film co-produced and starring Davison (directed by Craig Kovach), has screened in six film festivals, including Shocker Fest, Fantastic Fest and the Toronto After Dark Film Fest. His other recent films include Into the Darkness and Bloodbath.

The Tampa Film Network recently completed its first project, the film The Quiet Place, a suspense thriller written by Chris Woods, directed by Damien Kincannon and starring Joe Davison and Harmony Oswald.  Various TFN members participated in making The Quiet Place, including Shelby McIntyre, Marcus Koch, Paul Guzzo and Chris Passinault.  Davison is very proud of their accomplishment and knows it will be the first of many TFN projects to come.

A new meeting format — having announcements submitted prior to the meeting to be included on a written agenda distributed at the meeting — was unveiled at the September TFN meeting.  Davison lists upcoming goals for the TFN as “more collaboration between local filmmakers and the TFN, solidifying our relationship with (local film commissioner) Krista Soroka and developing the lists of jobs and local talent on the website.” 

When asked what one thing Davison wanted people to know about the Tampa Film Network, he smiled and said “That we’re here to help.  Like Ghostbusters.”

(I hope to interview Tampa Film Network co-creator Chris Woods soon.)