Making it up as we go along...

I graduated from the University of Florida in August 2008. That was the last time I performed improv - the last time I had seen any as well. I performed with Theatre Strike Force (TSF) for two and a half years (and also spent a semester with Vic Improv in Wellington, New Zealand) - then graduated - then moved back to Sarasota from Gainesville... then nothing.

The last show I performed (our troupe was called 'Murph!') was absolutely the best show I had been in and the most fun I've ever had doing improv. So it's strange to go from that absolute high in performance and involvement to absolute zero.

Needless to say, as soon as I found out that two of the best improvisers from Chicago (or anywhere) would be in Sarasota to perform, I was absolutely going to be there. And I wanted to share the love.

Fourteen members of TSF drove 3 hours (each way) to see TJ Jagodowski and David Pasquesi here in Sarasota tonight. It was awesome on all accounts. The performance was - well, they're TJ and Dave! It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing; which is the amazing part of improv (and often hard for people to understand).

TSF took up almost two full rows in the Historic Asolo; they came not just to watch and laugh and enjoy the show, but also to learn (but mostly to watch and laugh and enjoy the show). It wouldn't surprise me to see any of my friends on that stage; maybe they caught a glimpse of their future tonight.

The festival is offering so much this year that extends through all the arts - it's not just about movies and filmmaking - it's about artistry. And that's a powerful thing.

Wendy

Nothing like a Twin Paradox

Funny story:
At the festival kick-off party, this couple started chatting with me and my (twin) sister, as we were all standing near each other waiting for some announcements. We learned the wife was pregnant with - you guessed it - twins.

Funnier story:
A few minutes later there were some announcements, including mention that the director of one of the films in the festival was in attendance at the party for his film Moon. He was - you guessed it - the husband we were talking to (I had no idea who he was; assumed he was 'just some guy' involved with sponsoring the festival).

Funniest story:
I went to see the (only!) screening of Moon - both because I wanted to and because I kind of felt like I should since I hadn't had a clue that I was talking to the director. Then, during the quick introduction to the film, I learned that the director, Duncan Jones, also went by the name Zowie Bowie for a time.

Oh.

David Bowie's son.

(Yes, THAT David Bowie.)

I was talking to him. With NO idea who he was.

Brilliant.

Anyway, the film was good - I enjoyed it as I don't often seek out science fiction in my cinematic diet. I don't want to give anything away, but the fact that Jones and his wife are expecting twins adds an interesting dynamic to thinking about the film.

Wendy

28 Days Later

Imagine if you opened the newspaper (you do remember what those are, right?) and turned to the movie reviews and read:

"Oren Moverman's THE MESSENGER is a powerful military drama that had the audience laughing in their seats and rolling in the aisles."

That would be weird, right?

But that's kind of how I felt. It was a good film; it covered heavy, serious subject matter. But it didn't wear you down and make you weep for the tragedy of existence. It said: this is life and this is how we live in the face of death; this is how we cope.

And it was also funny. (As the film went on, I started to pay just as much attention to audience reaction as to the movie itself.) Perhaps that's inevitable with an actor like Woody Harrelson in one of the starring roles... but maybe that's what made it real for me - my life isn't a comedy, nor is it a sad, stony drama. Humor is a classic coping mechanism; as many times as I teared up during the screening, there were just as many (and probably more) things to laugh about. The balance was incredible.

The Q&A with the cast and filmmakers after the film was a nice bonus. The most amazing things - that the film was done in 28 days; that Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson didn't know who was on the other side of the door, or what exactly would happen until they knocked - really translated into intensity and focus and creating the 'reality' of the film.

If you missed it, I hate to say it, but you kind of missed out. Fortunately, the 2009 Sarasota Film Festival is off to a great start - and there will be a lot more amazing films and events to catch over the next week.

See you there!
Wendy

Ready, set... SFF!

I was up at 4am - I've been up to Tampa airport and back - already had a power nap, and waiting on a staff meeting to begin.

Yes, it's 9am. Good morning!

The 11th Annual Sarasota Film Festival kicks off today.

(As if you didn't know!)

Hope to see you at THE MESSENGER - screening at the Van Wezel tonight at 7pm. You can still get tickets - online at www.sarasotafilmfestival.com, by phone at 941.366.6200 or in person at the Box Office, 1991 Main Street, Main Plaza, Sarasota.

Alright, you'll get more later. Yeesh. It's only 9am.

Long Days Bring 'Hollywood Nights'

If you haven't assumed by now, the NINE DAYS (which is LESS THAN
TWO WEEKS) leading up to the Festival can be... let's just say, 'quite
involved'. There aren't too many figurative chickens running around
with their figurative heads cut off yet - after all, we try to save that kind
of spectacle for the main event, right? - but there is still lots to be done.

That said, there is lots BEING done!

I'm usually stuffed in a room working on Marketing this and Marketing
that until my blinking has coordinated with the clicking of my mouse
button (she says, somewhat prone to exaggeration at times), but I do
hear tales of the 'outside world' on occasion.

So today (tonight?), I bring you an exciting preview of... the FUTURE!
Do you know where you - and your children! - will be on Sunday,
March 29th at 5pm? Here's a hint:



Thank Allison and George in the Outreach and Education department
for the video! Looks like an awesome event - so don't miss out!

To learn more about youthFEST this year and purchase tickets, please
visit: http://www.sarasotafilmfestival.com/2009/festival/youthfest/

I'm thinking of a word that starts with 'V' and ends in 'olunteer'

Wow, it's Monday morning again. I need to go to sleep so that it's... later on Monday morning.

We had a decent turn out for a Sunday volunteer orientation. I wasn't sure if I was expecting much more than crickets chirping in the corners of the room. (And let's just say I would NOT recommend the use of crickets as film festival volunteers... I won't say they'd be a bit lacking in interpersonal skills or a horrible nuisance in a darkened theatre or create an awkward situation when you have to fill out a form explaining how your volunteers have been fatally stepped on...)

But we have volunteers - and more volunteers! But we would still love to have more volunteers! More volunteers!

Volunteers!

Non-cricket volunteers!

That's all.

You should volunteer.

-Wendy

Artist's Oaf Is Mall Fave*

The cat's out of the bag. The jig is up. Uh... All's well that ends well...?

What I mean to say is - the Sarasota Film Festival announced it's line-up last week. So now everyone knows everything that they absolutely can't miss (160+ films! Parties! Tributes! 160+ films! Events! Special Guests! Let's not forget the 160+ films!) - and it was all wrapped up in a neat little press release. (You can read all eleven neat little pages of it here: http://www.sarasotafilmfestival.com/2009/news/latest-news/ )

Now I'm no journalism expert, but where's the fun in that? Who on earth wants to just SIT and READ all the information they want at precisely the moment they want to know it? After all, the suspense is in the waiting! (Am I right or am I right? You can tell me I'm right; it's okay, I can handle it.)

So what would I do? Why, release all the information in a press release of course.

Except.

In aggravating anagram form!

You don't really want to know all the stars who are coming... because once you do know, it just ruins the surprise of not-knowing. But a press release full of anagrams that you have to tediously solve keeps the surprise alive longer - at least, for a few infuriating increments of precious time!

I mean, what if I told you that the Sarasota Film Festival special guests would include Known Acids, Honorary Dowels, or even Newsroom Ninja?

I can tell you're excited.

'Who are these people?!' you would say.

You would wrack your brain. 'Who? Who!'

You would lose sleep.

(And I'd be really sorry about that. You really should get a decent night's sleep.)

And you would get to the Festival and say, 'Ohmygoodness! Nick Dawson! Woody Harrelson! Norman Jewison! I should have known!'

But like I said, I'm no journalism expert. So you go ahead and look forward to seeing Steve Buscemi, Illeana Douglas, Bill Paxton, Richard Schiff, Jon Voight and all the rest. You know they're coming. How exciting.

(No, seriously. That's pretty exciting.)

-Wendy

*Let's see you come up with a better anagram of 'Sarasota Film Festival'.

The Box Office is Open!

The Sarasota Film Festival Box Office opened on March 2nd. Visit in person* at 1991 Main Street (Main Plaza), adjacent to the Regal Hollywood 20 Theatre. Or - buy your advance passes and tickets to events online at www.SarasotaFilmFestival.com !

*Please note that the Box Office is currently open from 11am to 6pm (weekdays) and 12noon to 5pm (weekends).

Thanks for your support!

The Magic of Thinking SFF

The most glorious thing in the world is to have an email inbox page entirely of messages from one day of work. On a Friday. ALL about work-related things (nothing frivolous here!). And to wake up to more on both Saturday and Sunday.

I don't mean that facetiously (or sarcastically, or...) - Honest. If you think I do mean it that way (which I know can be difficult to tell over the internet), then read it and reread it - again and again - until it sounds sincere. I'll wait.

Finished?

Good.

You know what's exciting about all those emails? They mean that people are getting things done, working hard, making progress - not settling for a 9-5/Mon-Fri to make this film festival thing happen. People doing their best to create the best ten days of entertainment that they can. How cool is that?

I'm impressed.

And as much as I try to live away from my computer on the weekends, I felt compelled to check my inbox a few times - because I knew the energy was there (and thus, emails would follow). I knew there were things to be done and the SFF staff never seems to stop!

("Magic 8-Ball, do they ever sleep?"

"My sources say No."

"Never?"

"Very Doubtful."

"Never ever?"

"Are you kidding? It's only 26 days until the festival!

...I Mean... Outlook Not So Good.")

So, all I can do is keep in it, keep up with it, and keep checking if there's something in my inbox that I can help out with...

And I was right. Something's there.

It just keeps gaining momentum.

Wendy