Tampa Film Fan

a review of last friday’s tampa film review, part 2

This will probably make more sense if you read part 1 first.

Continuing on…

Guzzo Brother #2 announced two new online film competitions: a monthly Head-to-Head contest and another one called Are You Up For The Challenge? that includes a cash prize for the winner. (I hope I got the contest names correct.)  The Tampa Film Review website will be updated soon with the specifics and the Guzzos are going to email me the details to post here on TFF.

Next, two Lithuanian films were screened:

Ponas Pimpis (Mr. Dick) — A hilarious short about a Lothario who wakes up one morning to find his manhood in the form of a person named Richard, who challenges him to a contest to see who can seduce a woman first.

Parents and Children — An amusing — but not hilarious — short about a newly-engaged, sexually-inventive couple who discover that they’re more like their parents than they ever imagined.

Then Paul (Guzzo #1) stood on the stage and handed out certificates to thank and acknowledge various people who have contributed to the success of the Tampa Film Review over the last three years:

• Rick Danford — local filmmaker and creator of the now-extinct, but much-loved Saints and Sinners Film Festival
• Damien Kincannon — local filmmaker who fills in at the TFR as needed when Paul and Pete are out of town
• the Romeo family — former owners of Studio 1515, the coffeehouse in Ybor City where the TFN used to be held before the coffeehouse closed
• International Bazaar — the current home of the TFR, for all they do to support the TFR (and for the free snacks!)
• Rick Gershman of the St. Pete Times — not only does Rick write positively about the local film community, he loves film and often attends events instead of merely writing about them
• Chris Woods and Simon Lynx of Icon Film Studios — local filmmakers who helped found the TFR
• Joe Davison and Chris Woods (again) — local filmmakers and founders of the networking group Tampa Film Network
• Mike Compton of One Day Films — local filmmaker
• Krista Soroka — Tampa Film Commissioner
• Nolan Canova — the glue that holds the local filmmaking community together, the Crazed Fan Boy himself (and a really great hugger, might I add)

Oh, and me.  Yep, right after Rick Gershman received his certificate, while I’m concentrating on how best to wind my way through the crowd afterward in order to meet him in person (yes, I’m a Gershman groupie), I hear “…and Lisa….I’m not sure how to pronounce her last name….tampafilmfan.com.”

After that, I have only a flash of the green shoes that the girl next to me was wearing, and the next thing I know I’m standing with my back to the crowd, staring at Guzzo Brother #1 with my mouth hanging slightly open, not hearing a word he said about me.  There was something about my writing for Sticks of Fire and a joke at the end about my not knowing his and Pete’s names, since I always call them Guzzo Brothers #1 and #2, which made everyone laugh.  And then I floated back to my seat, stunned and deeply honored.  I’m not worthy, I’m not worthy…

The last movie to screen was the short film The Quiet Place, which is the first collaborative effort of the local group the Tampa Film Network and was directed by Damien Kincannon.  A couple goes in search of their missing daughter and encounters “a whole new world of terror.”

Afterwards, I got to meet all sorts of fascinating people: Tony Armer and Derek Miner from the Sunscreen Film Festival (lots of good stuff happening there this year); Kevin Hoag, director of local film Draw 3!; and many, many more.  Nolan helped me combat my inner wallflower by introducing me (as “Lisa film fan” — I kinda like it) to anyone I hadn’t already met. 

And just in case you were wondering: Rick Gershman is nice and down-to-earth.  He even agreed to play Five Questions.