Tampa Film Fan

film fan finding:eagle vs. shark

“Yeah, there’s the bad, but in between there are bits of good, too.”

This line, stated matter-of-factly by Lily (Loren Horsley), one of the lead characters, sums up my feelings about Eagle Vs. Shark. This New Zealand film tells the quiet, quirky love story of Lily, the mousy fast food employee with slumped shoulders and a winning smile, and Jarrod (Jermaine Clement), the videogame enthusiast/computer store employee who Lily admires from afar. Lily starts up a conversation with Jarrod at his store and gets invited to his unusual “dress as your favorite animal” costume party (that’s where the movie’s title comes from). Lily and Jarrod fall for each other, but Jarrod is busy planning revenge on a childhood bully. When he and Lily travel to his hometown to visit his family for a week, Jarrod spurns her to pursue his vendetta, leaving the lonely Lily to make her own way among his oddball family and friends.

Eagle Vs. Shark has a few funny and moving bits, but you have to sit through a lot of awkwardness and anxiety to get there. Loren Horsley is wonderful in the movie and makes Lily sympathetic and likeable. The character of Jerrod, however, is neither sympathetic nor likeable. He’s a selfish, mean jerk who doesn’t deserve Lily. I wanted to see Lily grow and blossom on her own instead of throwing herself at the uncaring Jerrod. The other main annoyance was the animated sequences scattered throughout the film. Perhaps the animation was supposed to be whimsical and light-hearted, but it was distracting and jarring.

Eagle Vs. Shark is like a slower, less funny mash-up of Napoleon Dynamite and Muriel’s Wedding.

Film Fan Finding: B

star wars fun at clearwater main library on august 4

From C-Scapes, the Clearwater Main Public Library’s blog:

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first Star Wars movie by watching it, winning prizes for best costume, and competing in trivia contests, Saturday, August 4, 2-5 p.m. at the Clearwater Main Library. Refreshments provided and participants are encouraged to bring memorabilia. All ages are welcome.

Clearwater library programs are a public service offered at no cost to attendees. For more information on this event and other notable programs, call (727) 562-4970, ext. 5284.

Click here for the Clearwater Main Library’s website.

free tickets for advance screening of el cantante

Thanks to the wonderful Jan at Picturehouse, I’ve got some tickets (passes for two) for a sneak preview of the new film El Cantante at 7:30 p.m. August 2 at the AMC Veterans on Anderson Road. If you would like me to mail you a pass for two, email your mailing address to me at tampafilmfan(at)aol.com. First come, first served until I’ve given away all my tickets. Here’s some info on the movie:

El Cantante is the dramatic-biography of Puerto Rican salsa pioneer Hector Lavoe. The film follows Lavoe’s (Marc Anthony) passionate relationship with Puchi (Jennifer Lopez) and his skyrocket to international fame. But even when he has it all, Lavoe is unable to escape the allure of drugs and his personal pain.

Visit www.ElCantanteMovie.com for more info on the film.

thank you

Thank you for all the notes of support and well wishes regarding my crazy busy life. My mom is still in the hospital, but is doing much better. I appreciate your comments and emails!

Also, thank you to all of you who voted for TFF for Best Local Blog in Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay poll. I haven’t had the time to answer each of your emails, but I want you to know that I appreciate your voting for me.

Now turn that movie back on!

webby award winners

Congrats to the following winners of the 11th Annual Webby Awards:

Winner, Movies/Film: www.panslabyrinth.com

Winner, Television: www.current.tv

(From the Award Winners Blog)

news and notes:ybor festival of the moving image 2008, new local film festival pixfest, local film phobia

• The Ybor Festival of the Moving Image has set its dates for 2008. Mark your calendars for April 16-20, 2008. I have on good authority that the restored version of Charles Burnett’s award-winning film Killer of Sheep will be screened at the film fest.
• Go ahead and mark your calendars for July 17-27, 2008. There’s a new local film festival appearing on the scene. The PIX Fest is a 10-day film festival that will take place at various locations in Pinellas county. I don’t think the website’s up yet. (Film fest staff has just recently received funding.) As soon as I hear more, I’ll post it here.
• Received via email: Tampa Bay’s RnD Entertainment’s short film Phobia has been chosen to be in the 2007 NewFilmmakers Film Festival in New York City. On Wednesday, October 31, (yes, Halloween) at 6:00 p.m. the NewFilmmakers Film Festival will show its selected shorts. At approximately 6:43 p.m., Phobia–The Short will begin. So, pass the word to everyone you know in and around NYC and have them come out and support us. Also, if you may be in NYC for Halloween let us know and we will provide you with a cool Phobia t-shirt to wear. Visit www.phobia-theshort.com for more info.

in memoriam:muhe, sowards

• German actor Ulrich Muhe (The Lives of Others) died recently at age 54 of stomach cancer.
• Screenwriter Jack B. Sowards (Star Trek II:The Wrath of Khan) has died at the age of 78.

halloween horror picture show/halloweenapalooza update

Received via email:

As you may already be aware, the Halloween Horror Picture Show is entering its 5th year and will now be a part of the Halloweenapalooza extravaganza planned for October 19 and 20 at Channelside Cinemas in Tampa, Florida. The submission process for the HHPS07 event is underway and several quality short and feature length films have already been submitted. We have some great films already in house and expect to have a line up of some of the very best indie horror films the world over on display come October. If you have a film you would like to see involved in our event, you have a little over a month left to get it to us so don’t waste time. We’ve taken away any issues the hardworking yet money-strapped indie filmmakers should have in submitting their films to us, as we have waived the submission fees for this event. Now all you need is the postage required to get your project to us and in return all accepted films will be given the maximum exposure we can work up for them. This film festival has always been first and foremost about the filmmakers. Anything we can do to provide them and their films some screen time, exposure and opportunity, we intend to bring it to the table. From screening your film in front of a theater full of horror enthusiasts to various interviews for magazines, websites and more, the opportunity is there for the taking and it’s FREE!! We will also be filming segments for the upcoming Nightmare Collection 2 DVD before and during the event, so if you have a short film you’d like to see on the DVD or if you’d just like to be a part of the production either in front of or behind the camera, contact me (Rick Danford) at rick(at)enigma-films.com.

See you in October!

(from Guzzo Brother #1’s e-newsletter)

Visit www.halloweenapalooza.net for more info.

help save the education channel

The Education Channel needs our help. Please read the three emails below and call or email your Hillsborough County Commissioner.

Received via email on July 26:

If you live within Hillsborough County, please respond to this urgent request:

District 7 Mark Sharpe, 272-5735, sharpem(at)hillsboroughcounty.org
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Received via email July 28:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/jul/28/na-public-access-tv-seems-irrelevant-in-era-of-onl/

You have all been so wonderful to speak up for The Education Channel. I can’t say it enough… Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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Received via email July 29:

Your emails and phone calls are helping! Thank you!!

Commissioner, I’m concerned that the county is considering cutting all funding for The Education Channel. This is a valuable community resource that is important to me and my family. I understand you have to make budget cuts, but The Education Channel should not be completely eliminated. Please reinstate funding for The Education Channel.
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I don’t want to lose the documentary showcase, the classic film showcase, the Independents’ Film Festival and all the other programming that The Education Channel provides. Do you?

seminar on film and tv production in the tampa bay area on august 19

Received via email:

Next up in the Venue Seminar Series on August 19 is an evening of discussion:

Venue Theatre is located in Mainlands Plaza, 9125 US 19 N in Pinellas Park, two (2) lights north of Gandy/Park Blvd. For more information and reservations contact Venue Theatre at 727-822-6194 or by e-mail at venuetheatre(at)juno.com.

To visit the Venue Theatre website, click here.