'Crackers' wins People's Choice Award at FMBFF

HOLIDAY TRIPPER

After a 7-year hiatus, the Fort Myers Beach Film Festival returned to the beach and attracted an impressive lineup of films and shorts. Last night, the winner were announced at the Awards and Final Ceremony at the Fish-Tale Marina – see the result below!

The Festival

Independent movies were screen continuously at the Beach Theatre with a brief director Q&A following each screening. The highlight was two free full length features displayed on a giant inflatable screen directly on the beach, behind the Holiday Inn.

People’s Choice Winners

SORRY, THE VIDEO FOR 'CRACKER'S HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN AT THE REQUEST OF THE DIRECTOR, GREGORY PRINCIPATO, WHO WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE CINEMATOGRAPHER HAD POSTED IT.

Fans at the independent film festival voted for “Crackers,” in the People’s Choice category. The comedy stars BethAnn Bonner, Vincent D’Onofrio, Brenda Vaccaro, Sal Richards, Anthony Laciura,Dan Hedeya and Vincent Mora. Writer, Timothy Reinhardt and director/producer, Greg Principato, accepted the award along with a shared Best Short Film award. The other short film is “Easy Street,” directed by Russell Greene and starring Andrew Blair, who won the film festival’s Best Actor Award for most promising up and coming actors.

"CRACKERS" - Short Film - Super 16 from Scott Pelzel on Vimeo.

Best Feature Winner

“The Descending,” written and directed by Kyle Thompson, nabbed the Best Feature Award. Producer Chad Gurdgiel and actor Chris Harbur were on hand at the festival to accept the award. Best Documentary is “Virtual JFK,” directed by Koji Masutani.

The Descending Theatrical Trailer from Red Flight Pictures on Vimeo.


Student Film Winners

Among student films that were screened at the festival, “Broken Silence” directed by Gerrad Wilson, got top honors.

Local Film Winner

Films that were locally produced, were screened in the Beach Theatre and Madison Absher’s “White Out,” acted, written and produced, by this Fort Myers filmmaker, received the local film award. 

Other Winners

Other awards from the 6th Annual Fort Myers Beach Film Festival were: Rising Star Award: actress and director, Kimberly McCullough. Star Achievement Award: comedian, singer, and actor, Sal Richards.

Leila George at the opening of Emporio Armani...

OYSTER MAG

On Wednesday night Emporio Armani put on a cocktail party to celebrate the reopening of its Sydney store. Designed by Giorgio himself and his team of in-house architects, the store embodies the glossy, sleek modernism through which the luxury label subsists.

RESCU

LEILA GEORGE AND CODY FERN IMAGE CREDIT: DOMINIC LONERAGAN

Body Double needed for Vincent D'Onofrio in 'The Tomb'

RESUME SWIPE

Coulon Casting and the film THE TOMB need a body double for Vincent D’Onofrio.

*Requirements*
-Valid Drivers License
-6’3.5″
-Shirt size: 16.5×36
-Jacket: 44L
-Pants: 36/34

*you MUST match these sizes to submit*

Submit your sizes and photo to by email using the subject line:

THE TOMB_Vincent D’Onofrio double Location: New Orleans, LA
Compensation: TBD
Principals only.
Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Fort Myers Beach Film Festival kicks off today with possible appearance of Vincent D'Onofrio

Written by Charles Runnells

The Fort Myers Beach Film Festival returns today for its long-overdue sequel. Now, though, the festival isn’t the only star on the local movie scene.

It’s been seven years since the festival showed movies on the Beach. Much has changed since then. At least six film festivals have flickered to life in Southwest Florida. That raises the possibility of more competition for films and film fans.

(excerpted)

This year’s festival features “General Hospital” actress Kimberly McCullough and possibly D’Onofrio (brother of festival organizer Elizabeth D’Onofrio). Both star in films being shown this weekend.

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

UPDATE

This year’s festival features “General Hospital” actress Kimberly McCullough and possibly Vincent D’Onofrio (if he can get a break from filming a movie in Louisiana, his sister says). Both actors star in films being shown this weekend.

'Six Degrees of Vincent D'Onofrio'...Jonathan Frid...

WIKIPEDIA

John Herbert Frid was born on December 2, 1924 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and is best known for portraying 'Barnabas Collins'. He served in the Royal Canadian Navy and attended McMaster University followed by acceptance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. In 1954, he moved to the United States and received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing from the Yale School of Drama in 1957. He first used the stage name of 'Jonathan Frid' in 1962 and had a career in live theater for some 30 years. From 1966 to 1971, Jonathan portrayed vampire 'Barnabas Collins' in the hit series 'Dark Shadows'. His initial plans were to move to the West Coast to pursue a career as an acting teacher but received word that he had won the role of Barnabas. Thinking it would only be a short-term role, he accepted, but once his character's popularity soared, abandoned his plans to move and teach. In 1994, after 40 years in NYC, Jonathan retired and moved back to his native Canada. Through the years he had attended Dark Shadows conventions and participated in charitable events. Last June, Jonathan filmed a cameo appearance for the Tim Burton Dark Shadows film due out May 11TH. This past April 14TH, Jonathan Frid passed away of natural causes at the age of 87. Find the connection!

 

Happy Birthday, Eric Bogosian!

Happy Birthday to Eric Bogosian who is celebrating his 59TH.  Eric portrayed 'Captain Danny Ross' on CI and wrote 'Mall' that is currently being made into a movie.  Best wishes!

VIDEO: Kathryn Erbe at 'The Pirates' NYC Premiere

TRAILER ADDICT GETTY IMAGES

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 22: Kathryn Erbe attends the 'The Pirates! Band Of Misfits' premiere at AMC Empire on April 22, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage)

Funkoars Fans Represent 'Being Vincent D'Onofrio'

David Smithwick‏ @David_Smithwick

 Follow

 

@funkoars getting ready for tonight our crew will be reping Vincent D'Onofrio 👌👌http://t.co/xInwJaDV

Summit Entertainment releases artwork for 'Sinister'

DREAD CENTRAL

Just in time for this year’s Cinemacon, Summit Entertainment has released the following bit of bloody banner artwork for its upcoming Halloween offering, Sinister (review here), and we've got every pixel of it for you on tap right here!

The film, which stars James Ransone, Ethan Hawke, and Juliet Rylance, will arrive in theatres on October 5th via Summit Entertainment.

From a script by director Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill, "Ethan Hawke plays a journalist who travels with his family around the country to investigate gruesome murders he turns into books. After he moves his family into a house where another family was murdered, the journo discovers found footage that unveils horrifying clues beyond what caused the original tragedy."

Kathryn Erbe at the opening night of 'Clybourne Park'

ZIMBIO

(April 18, 2012 - Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images North America)

(April 18, 2012 - Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images North America)

(April 18, 2012 - Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images North America)

BROADWAY.COM

Photographer: Bruce Glikas

© Broadway.com

Latest news for 'Blue Tilt'...

Blue Tilt ‏ @TiltedBlue

•  Reply 
•  Retweet 
•  Favorite 
• · Open

Sad news. NBC has unofficially put Blue Tilt on the shelf for now. The powers that be don't think it has enough "Pop" to attract viewers.

Thanks to Hannah for alerting me to this.  Really sad.

Lights! Camera! Action! Stars Align for Fort Myers Beach Film Festival

THE ISLAND SAND PIPER

As the buzz of the season winds down to a close, the buzz about the Fort Myers Beach Film Festival is kicking into high gear. With less than one week before the first film is shown, organizers of the Fort Myers Beach Film Festival learned that yet another World Premiere film will flicker across the screens at Beach Theater next weekend – 'Crackers'. Directed by Gregory Principato, 'Crackers' stars Film Coordinator Elizabeth D'Onofrio's brother, Vincent – who will hopefully make an appearance at this year's festival. The film will screen on the same ticket as a film that Elizabeth has a big role in, 'Slice' – so folks can see both films on Saturday at 9pm.

The Sand Paper also spoke with the director of another World Premiere film, 'The Descending' – Kyle Thompson - who actually lived on our island as a child, and he told us a little bit about how he got into filmmaking.

"My dad still lives in Fort Myers, and my brother was born there,” Kyle said. "When my folks got divorced we moved up north, where I went to a performing arts high school in New Jersey.”

Kyle told us that he originally wanted to be an actor but decided he liked life on the other side of the camera better because his acting was so bad.

"In high school I quickly discovered that I was a really bad actor,” he said, laughing. "Then I made a film that I didn't act in and it came out a lot better, so that got the ball rolling.”

Kyle formed his independent film studio, RED Flight Pictures, early in 2009 with two friends he met in high school – Terrell Gordon and Chad Gurdgiel.

"We do a lot stuff like music videos and short films, and plan to do two features a year,” he said. "The Descending is the 2nd feature film we've produced and our biggest project so far. We started shooting the film in January of 2011 and it was complete in November.”

The FMB Film Festival will be the first time 'The Descending' has been shown to a general audience. Premiering on the first night of the festival (Thurs., April 26th), the 1 hour and 46 minute long film is the story of a police detective who is put through a series of life changing and career altering situations – all told through a series of interrogations.

"The film includes a home invasion, where a family is taken hostage and a negotiator comes in to try and reason with them,” said Kyle, who wrote the screenplay. "I got the idea for it one day when I was sitting in a grocery store, waiting to pay for my bag of chips, and I thought 'wouldn't it be really crazy if this place got robbed right now?' That idea became 'The Descending'.”

The film that stars Vincent D'Onofrio, 'Crackers', is a short film (33 minutes) about Gus, an out of work chef who is content living in his small paradise where he is surrounded by his beautiful wife, vibrant garden and beloved opera music. Gus's life is turned upside down when his cantankerous mother, Bidelia and her precious collection of nutcrackers invades his home. He turns to friends, a blind bookie and a barber for help. Their oddball antics only make matters worse and Gus slowly loses his paradise and his sanity as Bidelia methodically destroys everything that is sacred to him.

Other celebrities who appear in films making their premier at the FMB Film Festival are Brenda Vaccaro and Dan Hedeya in 'Crackers', James Cromwell in 'Memorial Day', Kevin Spacey in 'Inseparable' and Steve Phoenix in 'The Untold Story'. While these celebrities will not be here in person, actress Kimberly McCullough – Dr. Robin Scorpio on General Hospital – will be coming to the Beach Theater on Saturday, April 28th at 11:30am to present a workshop and luncheon where she will speak about how her career as a writer, director and actress has evolved and the process she used to create her last film 'Nice Guys Finish Last' which is showing on Friday at 6pm and Saturday at 7:30pm.

The Fort Myers Beach Film Festival is scheduled for Thursday, April 26th through Sunday, April 29th. Tickets are available online at www.fmbfilmfest.com until Wednesday, then folks can purchase them at the Beach Theater. For a complete list of films and times, see the four-page pullout section in this week's Sand Paper or go to the website for all information related to the festival.

See you at the movies! Keri Hendry

© 2011, Island Sand Paper, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This website is owned and operated by Delta Latitude, Inc.

RADIOMAN TO PREMIERE AT HOT DOCS

Years back, in 'Vinnie Vidi Vici-Part A', I posted an article about 'Radioman' because I had seen another article in which Vincent was asked who his favorite person in New York was...the answer...Radioman.  Craig, his real name, was a homeless man that strolled the streets of NYC wearing a radio around his neck, as seen in the photo below.  He has posed for many photos with celebrities and became a celebrity himself for his uniqueness and opinionated nature.  That lead to as many as 100 appearances in films and TV shows but now the former homeless man will get to star as himself in an upcoming documentary that will have its world premiere at the end of the month in Canada.  Good Luck!

TEN CENT ADVENTURES

Radioman, directed by Mary Kerr and produced by Ten Cent Adventures, will hold its World Premiere at the Hot Docs Int’l Documentary Festival in Toronto, Canada on April 30th. The film will then have its European Premiere at the world famous Krakow Int’l Film Festival, May 28-June 3.

RADIO MAN WIKIPEDIA

Radioman (born c. 1951) is the nickname of a former homeless man in New York City who has gained notoriety from making cameo appearancesin a number of films and TV shows.

His real name has been cited as either Craig Castaldo or Craig Schwartz, although he is known as "Radioman" for the radio which he wears around his neck. He has made cameos in 30 Rock, The Departed, Just My Luck, Romance & Cigarettes, Elf, Two Weeks Notice, Glitter,Keeping the Faith, Godzilla, Ransom, Big Daddy, Little Nicky, Mr. Deeds, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and other films and television shows.

According to his website, Radioman used to be homeless. He is famous around New York and has been written about in the New York Times, New York Magazine, Time Out, the New York Daily News, and more. Whoopi Goldberg took him to the Oscars as her guest one of the years she hosted.

Newport Beach Film Festival 2012

NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL

This year's NBFF will be screening 'Mother's House' and 'The Love Guide' with Katie and also 'Robot & Frank'.

Our own Marian was part of the pre-screening of many films that involved hours and hours of viewing and offering her opinions. Thank you for a job well done, Marian, as the behind-the-scenes personnel don't always get the credit they deserve!

Kathryn Erbe at the Tom Ridge Homeland Security Awards event...

ZIMBIO

Actor Matthew Settle and actress Kathryn Erbe attend the 2012 Tom Ridge Homeland Security awards at the Grand Hyatt on April 17, 2012 in New York City. (April 16, 2012 - Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images North America)

 Tom Ridge was our past Governor of Pennsylvania!

Another opportunity to meet Vincent D'Onofrio...

RECENT TWEET:

Antoinette ‏ @tonikj

•  Reply 
•  Retweet 
•  Favorite 
• · Open

Vincent will b at Uvu state college limited seating available may 18th BBQ starts at 7 pm at sparks automotive building .

BARBECUE

This is not an official poster but one I made up based on information I got from Toni.  No reservations will be taken for this particular event.  First come first served only and limited to the first 300 people.  Dinner is $5 and Vincent will be signing autographs for donations.

'Crackers' short film to premiere at Fort Myers Beach Film Festival

FMBFF

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Hope for 'Chlorine'?

I noticed that the status of this film was changed as of April 10TH via its IMDb page. 'Chlorine' is listed as being in post-production with a 2012 release date. Let's hope that's true!

Kathryn Erbe in 'Long Day's Journey into Night' today in Chicago

SOCIAL WORK TODAY

 TWITTER

Project Kathryn Erbe leads an impressive cast in the Addiction Performance Project, an innovative CME program for doctors and other health providers, on April 16 in the Chicago, IL, area.

The performance is a project of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and is designed to help doctors and other health professionals better identify and help drug-abusing patients in primary care settings, and to break down the stigma associated with drug addiction.

The program will begin with a dramatic reading of Act III of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night with Kathryn Erbe reading the part of Mary Tyrone, the morphine addicted matriarch of a family devastated by addiction. Erbe joins other leading ladies, including Debra Winger and Blythe Danner, in reading this role as part of the Addiction Performance Project.

The reading will be followed by an expert panel reaction and facilitated audience discussion to explore the challenges for providers in working with addicted patients and the experience of these patients and their families.

The performance is free and open to the public. Advance registration is recommended.

What: NIDA’s Addiction Performance Project

When: Monday, April 16, 2012, 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Where: Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine Lurie Building - Hughes Auditorium 303 E. Superior, Chicago, Ill. www.northwestern.edu/campus-life/chicago-campus/index.html

Who: Featured Actors (subject to change) Kathryn Erbe (Mary Tyrone) Arliss Howard (James Tyrone) Bob Braswell (Edmund Tyrone) Polly Noonan (Cathleen) Featured Panel Members: Daniel Angres, MD (Feinberg School of Medicine) Michael Fleming, MD, MPH (Feinberg School of Medicine) Daniel McGehee, PhD (University of Chicago)

A performance will also be held earlier that day for registrants of the 42nd National Council Mental Health and Addictions Conference.

The project is part of NIDAMED, NIDA's outreach to practicing physicians, physicians in training, and other health professionals.

The Addiction Performance Project has a limited run through 2013.

For more information, visit: www.drugabuse.gov/nidamed/APP.

 — Source: The National Institute on Drug Abuse

Paul Wesley says 'Vincent D'Onofrio is the most interesting person he's worked with'...

TVDADDICTIONS

Over the weekend, as part of a TVD Addictions convention, Paul Wesley answered questions via Twitter and at the event.  Known for his role in the 'Vampire Diaries', Paul says the most interesting actor he's worked with was Vincent.  Paul was in one of my favorite episodes of CI...'Malignant' as 'Luke Miller'.

Paul notes that he's played a werewolf, angel and vampire. He'll try succubus next. Playing a wolf was easiest for him Paul says playing a vampire is poetic

Paul was complaining about the CW rehashing his past by airing a movie he made 5 years ago The End of the Affair was his favorite TVD ep to film. Hopes to revisit that era.

Loved the scenes with Rebekah & Klaus "I think Stefan should be a fairy"

Fav person to work with on set? Daniel and Matt Davis.

Paul is lobbying to direct an episode of TVD in Season 4

if Stefan & Damon were human for one day what would they do? Reproduce "Stefan and Elena are the core of the series. Their love is infinite."

On Stefan "I think he should stop being so mopey. I love the dark side of the character."

Paul was singing the Jeopardy theme as a kid and his mom chose to put him in acting class

The first time he was asked for an autograph, he thought it was a mistake

Hardest scene to shoot? The bridge scene was really frustrating & the phone call in 3x01

Most interesting person he's worked with as an actor: Vincent D'onofrio

Elizabeth D'Onofrio promotes the FMBFF...

Fort Myers Beach Film Festival
Tuesday, Apr 3, 2012

 www.fmbfilmfest.com

Fort Myers Beach Film Festival
April 26-29, 2012
Beach Theater and other island venues 463-3600, ext. 242
$5 per film and $150 for VIP entrance to all events and films

Southwest Florida welcomes the return of the Fort Myers Beach Film Festival, April 26 to 29, 2012. The festival kicks off with a Ribbon Cutting on Thursday at Beach Theater followed by continuous independent films being screened throughout the weekend.


SEE VIDEO OF ELIZABETH D'ONOFRIO PROMOTING THE FESTIVAL... FOX 4 MORNING BLEND

'Six Degrees of Vincent D'Onofrio'...Robin Gibb...

WIKIPEDIA

Robin Hugh Gibb was born on December 22, 1949 along with his twin brother, Maurice in Manchester, England. There were also two other brothers, Barry and Andy, and a sister. He is most noted as being a singer and songwriter along with his brothers Maurice and Barry as the 'Bee Gees'. Their career started early in England where they performed in local theatres until the family moved to Brisbane, Australia in 1958 and eventually returning to England in 1967. Robin was mainly the lead singer of the group but traded off with his brother Barry in what was a constant jockeying for the central spot. In 1968, Robin married his first wife, Molly, who was a secretary in the Robert Stigwood organization. The two survived the Hither Green rail crash that killed 49 people on November 5, 1967. Despite many notable songs written and performed by the Bee Gees; they are most famous for their collaboration of songs included in the 'Saturday Night Fever' movie. At the time they had no idea they were writing a soundtrack for the movie with its album becoming one of the top sellers of all time. In 1988, Robin's younger brother, Andy Gibb passed away from a cocaine overdose at the age of 30 at the height of a successful solo career. In 2003, his twin brother, Maurice passed away from complications of a twisted bowel that Robin also suffered from. While performing in Belgium, Robin experienced stomach pains and was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery for a blocked intestine in August of 2010 and again in October of 2011. One month later, it was announced that Robin was battling colon cancer that had traveled to his liver. Just this past March, word came that Robin was in remission from his cancer but by the end of the month he was hospitalized yet again. Sadly, yesterday brought the news that Robin was in a coma 'fighting for his life' after developing pneumonia. His brother, Barry and his family are holding vigil at his side. Thoughts and prayers go out to the Gibb family who have had more than their share of tragedy. Find the connection using th film 'Saturday Night Fever'!

Kathryn Erbe attends the ROWB...

RECENT TWEET:

Adam Keats ‏ @akeats

•  Reply 
•  Retweet 
•  Favorite 
• · Open

Loved meeting Katie Erbe from Law & Order: Criminal Intent at the@steppenwolf #ROWB last night with @windycitymomma