April 2010 Blog Posts (25)

Here's the interview link - click to listen: The Black Spider

Creepy crawlies. Plague. Pestilence. Composer Judith Weir deftly weaves together a 15th-century story about an evil, venomous spider, and a 1983 newspaper account of a deadly virus that struck…

Those of you who saw Sarasota’s premiere of Expecting Mary will be pleased to know that the film won the Audience Award at the California Independent Film Festival last week. For those of you who didn’t see Sarasota’s premiere, let the award inspire you to see this very entertaining movie when it is released. Congratulations to Kim Waltrip, producer and member of WQ…

Much to my dismay, I wasn’t able to see all of the films at the Sarasota Film Festival, but I did see two or three films a day. Keeping in mind that there were plenty of good films that I wasn’t able to see, here are my top picks:…

The Colonel’s Bride had its first premiere at the Sarasota Film Festival. I spoke with the Nashville-based filmmakers, executive producer Jeff Williams, producers Brooke Bernard and Ryan Zacarias, and writer/director Brent Stewart. Their film tells a simple story about a retired military colonel who is down and out…

Cavallere Richard Storm (Executive Director Key Chorale and fine arts critic) was honored on April 21 at a Sarasota Sister Cities luncheon at Mattison’s 41 restaurant for his knighthood by the president of the Italian Republic.



Storm has been a pillar to the success of Sarasota’s sister city of Treviso, Italy, in his role as Honorary Vice-Consul of Italy for southwest. His service to…

Whether in relationship or in life, strive to eliminate “I don’t care” from your vocabulary. Although it may not be the intention, when these words are uttered, the impact is often felt by the listener as “you don’t care about how I feel,” “you don’t care about what I think or want,” and ultimately “you don’t care about me.” Therefore, these words can be very hurtful…

Vivacious, funny, and svelte with personality plus, Patricia Clarkson engaged the audience at Sarasota Film Festival’s “In Conversation with Patricia Clarkson.” She conversed on stage with Elvis Mitchell, former NY Times film critic and host of the radio show The Treatment.…

Volcanic ash may have prevented Sarasota Film Festival’s guest of honor, renowned director John Landis, from attending the Filmmaker Tribute, but as they say, “The show must go on.” In spite of cancelled flights due to weather conditions, today’s technology enabled Landis to…

On a beautiful Sarasota evening, after walking the half-block from my office to the intimate setting of the Florida Studio Gompertz Theater, sitting only feet away from five brilliant actors reading Oren Moverman’s screenplay Queer, I couldn’t help but think, “I must be in heaven.” Directed and produced by Steve Buscemi who read the lead role, Buscemi was joined by Ben…

The whole time I was watching The New Year, I couldn’t stop thinking “This can’t be the same director I spoke with who made his film for only $8000.” But it was! Director, writer and producer Brett Haley indeed made this poignant, well-made film for next to nothing. Making the film in his hometown of Pensacola enabled Haley to do what he wouldn’t have been able to do in New…

Here's the interview link - Click to listen!…

Prior to screening the film The Hooping Life, I was totally unaware of the hooping phenomenon. It turns out the toy I used to play with growing up is changing lives. The documentary gives a look at one-time troubled youngsters who found a new path through the joy and art of hula hooping.…

Film buffs, filmmakers and party lovers galore came out in droves for the Sarasota Film Festival’s Cinema Tropicale Celebration at the Sarasota Yacht Club.

The newly transformed Sarasota Yacht Club was the perfect venue with its expansive beautiful new clubhouse and…

It was announced at Sarasota Film Festival’s screening of The Joneses that the film has been signed to return to the Hollywood 20. Director and writer Derrick Borte was in Sarasota for Sunday’s screening of the film. Borte’s directorial film debut is quite impressive. His prior experience directing commercials was reflected in the commercialism in this film about a “family”…