Waterfire Sparks Documentary,A Three-Part Adventure the Hobbit

Romance, War and Animation En Francais

Go to the crawl space and dust off your joie de vivre, the Brown University French Film Festival is back. This year there’s a well balanced variety of films including a feature animation based on a best-selling graphic novel; a period drama that takes an original look at three days in the life of a doomed monarch; a documentary that traces the evolution of French society through the lens of a homosexual; and the latest film from legendary French director Alain Resnais, just to name a few.

Though the festival has been running for about 16 years, the organizers are still debating when things really got started. “Some of the archives were lost, but the archives on the website are almost correct to one year,” says Shoggy Waryn, one of the main organizers of the festival. Waryn, Senior Lecturer in French Studies at Brown, has been involved with the festival for over seven years after starting out as a ticket collector. Waryn also directed the Festival trailer, a delightful animated promo that can be viewed on the festival’s website.

As usual, the films will be screened at Cable Car Cinema, continuing an important relationship that has existed since year one. “From the beginning of the festival, Cable Car was central to the success of the entire project… making it less of a campus-oriented festival and allowing for a greater opening to the rest of Providence and Rhode Island,” Waryn says. “The current owners understand this very well and are actively involved in helping make the festival happen; we would probably not survive without their active support.”

In terms of what he looks for during film selection, Waryn says there are two main criteria. One consideration is to mix sources. “This is not a Parisian French film festival but a francophone – a French speaking festival – so we try to showcase films from as many different French speaking countries as we can, from as many continents as we can. Indeed the bulk comes from France and Belgium, historically the biggest producers, but we also have all of French speaking Africa, Québec, etc. Then we have styles and topics that we try to fill, such as documentary, animation, kid oriented films and dramas. We try to include films that have been overlooked by main distribution in the US despite their qualities,” he explains.

As for mixing old films with new, Waryn says, “We are always looking at reprints of reissues of classic film to mix in and to introduce to a new audience as these films are part of the history of cinema and have been seen by new filmmakers. This year, for example, The Battle of Algiers is the Algerian version of Zero Dark Thirty and tackles the issue of torture as a source of legitimate information 45 years ago.”

While the Festival originally intended to attract students and introduce them to a different kind of film, organizers quickly discovered that there was a huge audience in RI for foreign films. “We have people coming to the festival every year and spending their entire day camping out at the Cable Car because of their love for foreign films,” Waryn says. “We also have good outreach with other schools in the area and we provide transcripts of all the trailers for their classes on our website. Finally, because of the location of the Cable Car, many people come to watch films right after work.”

This year, Waryn is most excited to share with the public: “The Rabbi’s Cat, a non-Disney animation suited for a more mature audience, that deals with cultural identity in a tongue-in-cheek way; Invisible, which tackles the coming out of an entire generation before stonewall… the film’s interviews are simply beautiful; and Barbara Hammer’s Resisting Paradise will please film aficionados.” He’s really proud of the balance the organizers struck this year between different genres and styles.

The Brown University French Film Festival runs at the Cable Car Cinema February 21 through March 3. Tickets can be purchased in advance or on the day of the screening beginning at 9am, either in person or online at www.cablecarcinema.com. $7-9 for a single ticket; $20-55 for a multi-film pass. 204 South Main Street, Providence. 273-3970. www.provfrenchfilm.com

Growing Young Film Buffs By Erin Swanson

The 4th Annual Providence Children’s Film Festival is coming to town from February 14-19, thanks again to the hard work of several key players. Eric Bilodeau had over 22 years of experience programming thematic film fests when he came aboard as the director of programming for PCFF. “I had not been involved with programming children’s film until signing up for this voluntary labor of love four years ago when the festival was conceived,” he says. “By far, it’s the most challenging and rewarding.”

Bilodeau says he must think from the perspective of both parent and child when choosing films, while also taking into consideration age ranges, maturity levels and social and cultural issues. “It’s a balancing act,” he explains. “You are never going to please everyone but you try to program films that at least put forth true to life emotions, situations and lessons learned… whether they are painful or enjoyable.”

The team is proud to bring documentaries this year that span a range of subject matter to appeal to both tots and teens. Young athletes in high school and college can watch Head Games to learn about the dangers of concussions in sports. There will be guest speakers after the film to talk about the long-term effects of repeated concussive injuries. As Bilodeau muses, “The recent events of the NFL players appear to be a sign of things to come.”

Kids who are interested in extreme sports will enjoy People in Motion, a movie about parkour. “Film makers go to several cities on the West Coast to capture this art… They end up at the Burning Man festival, which is a topic enough for another documentary,” Bilodeau says with a laugh. A parkour troupe is scheduled to offer a demonstration of the method after the show. This year, interactive seems to be the name of the game.

While he believes People in Motion will “dazzle” and “alter perceptions of the world,” Bilodeau is equally excited to share The Human Tower with festival audiences. “It’s about the history of different groups of India, Spain and Chile that make towers out of climbing up on each other’s shoulders. It is truly beautiful and terrifying at the same time.”

A film that combines both sports and culture is Salamm Dunk. “It’s about a college Iraqi women’s basketball team traveling around Iraq to play their games,” Bilodeau explains. “[The documentary] is truly inspirational and revealing about the difficulties all Iraqis are facing today.”

The documentaries, while fascinating, are just a small part of the whole. “It’s amazing how many great films for children come out of the Netherlands,” he says. “We have the opening night film of Alfie the Little Werewolf. It’s entertaining and has a positive message for the way adopted children may feel about their adoptive families.”

A “poorly titled” film from the same country is Tony 10. “Yup,” Bilodeau jokes, “his name is Tony and he’s 10 years old. This film is a modern day fairytale about… wait for it… divorce! It has some great things to say to a child with enough ingredients to make it entertaining for many people.” Moms and dads, take note.

Many people submitted films to the festival to be juried and chosen for screening. “As far as I know we are the only festival that has children on its film selection jury to help score films,” Bilodeau says. “Ultimately I make the final decisions, but not without an enormous amount of input from the jury. They are very helpful.”

Bilodeau, whose favorite children’s films include Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Planet of the Apes, The Wizard of Oz and The Red Balloon, hopes families will take advantage of one of the best lineups yet. The action will take place between several Providence venues: Cable Car Cinema (204 South Main Street), Metcalf Auditorium (20 North Main Street) and the RISD Auditorium (17 Canal Street). The full schedule can be found online. providencechildrensfilmfestival.org.

Three Cheers for Laura The Independent Spirit Awards has named Providence-based filmmaker Laura Collela their Jameson FIND Your Audience Award winner for 2013. The prize comes with a $50,000 grant to cover the winner’s marketing and distribution costs.

Colella, a mainstay of the Providence film scene, has frequently used the city as a character in her films, including Tax Day and Stay Until Tomorrow. Her latest effort Breakfast with Curtis, is also set in the city and focuses on the unlikely friendship between an eccentric bookseller and his troubled 14-year-old neighbor.

She was presented the award at a nominee brunch held January 12 in Los Angeles, hosted by actors Salma Hayek and Jeremy Renner. She will be highlighted during the Spirit Awards ceremony on Saturday February 23, which will air the same evening on IFC at 10pm Eastern Standard Time.

Scene and Heard by Rosemary Pacheco

Here we are in a new year – 2013. For those of you who feel like your life flew by like a 48 FPS film in 2012, I’m with you. Where did it go again? For a small state like Rhode Island we sure do have a lot happening, especially in the film world. From college students to veteran directors, there’s a lot of work being done in the Ocean State by a lot of very talented people. Here’s a glimpse into 2013.

Let’s start with veteran actor Mike Messier. Chris and the Coffee Girl is the next movie for Messier. He’s worked in films with such stars as Meryl Streep, Wesley Snipes, and Cybill Shepherd. In this film, Messier takes the role of Chris. There are stars attached for the movie, led by Maria Kanellis from Celebrity Apprentice, Playboy, and WWE RAW, and pro wrestler Raven. Voice over scenes have already been filmed with Raven. They film is currently seeking investors, product placements, locations, crew, and actors. Messier is looking for nonunion character actors, age 40 and up. The roles are mostly featured background, with a few speaking roles, including”mom” (Caucasian, age 50 and up) and “step- dad” (40 and up). This film is still in fundraising mode and principal shooting has not been announced, however, “mom” and “step-dad” are being cast ahead of time. Toward the promotional end, a two- minute teaser will be shot in February, with auditions in late January. Send headshot/resume/links to [email protected] for his casting files. Messier just finished Blood! Sugar! Sid! Ace! to premiere soon on the festival circuit.

Seth Chitwood, a powerhouse student at RIC and producer of such web series as award-winning Red Circles, Family Problems, and World’s Worst Director, is at it again with four brand new films in the works – I don’t know how he does it! First there is Frankenstein’s Wax Museum of the Hungry Dead, directed by Richard Griffin, with screenplay by Seth Chitwood and Richard Griffin, which premieres April 2013. It is in production now. Next there is A Single Intervention, which is a new short that starts production in February. Acceptance is a new short that starts production in February and 67 Takes is a feature coming soon. There will be a casting announcement in April, and production starts in June 2013. Lastly is Bait, a feature coming soon with no news yet.

Here’s the info on the web series Red Circles: Its third season airs Sundays at 9 pm with the season finale scheduled for January 27. The series has received five LA Web Series Festival Awards, and it was renewed for Season 4, which will air in October 2013. Auditions will be announced in January for the fourth season. See www.redcircles.ws for more information. The second season of World's Worst Director premieres weekly at 8 pm starting on March 24. See www.worldsworstdirector.com for more information. Family Problems, a new web series, premieres on February 17 at 9 pm. There will be a casting announcement in January for its second season. See www.angelwoodpictures/familyproblems for more information.

And we cannot forget The Women of Harry, an innovative short about a man whose dates change as soon as he gets used to them. Yours truly appears as the somewhat manly lesbian and the disappointed date in this quirky little farce. It’s currently on a festival tour, and no other dates have been announced yet. There is a worldwide premiere in September 2013.

Productive filmmaker Bryan Casey of BC Films Releases is hard at work on Chance, which is about a musician who is on the road to raise money for his dying daughter while trying to reconnect with his estranged wife. The film stars Brian Ellsworth, Kevin O Peterson, Carlyne Fournier, Sue Wyoral, Emily Scarpa, John Joseph Lindsey, and William Bloomfield. Yours truly has a small part in this production also. Next Up for Casey is Se bet ou ye, which is based on the poem by Marie Michaelle about racism within the black community. The cast includes Marie Michaelle, Kevin O Peterson, Marie Blaise, Talli Clemons, Jose Gonsalves, and Sharon Squires. This will shoot back to back with What the Heart Wants, a film in which a photographer recalls being stuck between two women and regrets having chosen the wrong one. The cast includes Michael Coppola, Niecy Cerise, Joanne Viera, Larry O’ Leary, Pat O’ Hara, and Anthony Hoang.

As if that were not enough, Casey also produces Short Film Showcase, which is hosted by Mike Messier. They do interviews with local film professionals and screen short films from all over New England and beyond. If you have a short film that you would like to show on Short Film Showcase, you can contact [email protected]. Finally, he is implementing monthly screenings at Cable Car Cinema, located at 204 South Main Street, Providence, RI. His first event is on February 27th and will feature Still Life, directed by Chris Esper; the Wrestling with Sanity trilogy directed by Mike Messier; Unrequited, directed by Bryan Casey; and Other Room, directed by Aaron Olson. Tickets will be $10. The main attraction will be the premiere of A Search for Home, directed by Bryan Casey.

Veteran actor Tom Paolino has recently wrapped principal roles in Woodhaven Production Company’s Infected with Michael Madsen and William Forsythe, which will be released to over 100 million homes in the first quarter 2013, and Self-Storage, planned for summer 2013 and starring Eric Roberts, Michael Berryman, and Jonathan Silverman. Tom had the prominent role of Frank Jones in The Last Halloween with DC Productions (Chris Ferreira and Derron Darcy), and also wrapped as Mickey in Kevin MacDonald’s The Witching Hour with Michael Madsen, William Forsythe, and Tony Todd.

A local independent team under the banner of Kisio Design is producing a homegrown Web series called Bennight Brothers. The series follows three brothers, virtually shut-ins all of their lives, who recently lost their father to cancer. Their father, John Bennight, left his sons a will and inscribed within its old dusty pages is more than the eye can see. To make matters worse, Carter, Brice, and Warner find themselves thrust into a world they have been kept from for so long.

The Bennight Brothers series will incorporate elements of sci-fi, action, adventure, drama, and at times, a bit of comic relief. The series will air exclusively on Blip.tv in January 2013, and will be preceded by a crowd funding on January 13. This will take place right here in Rhode Island, where the team is dedicated to using local talent from every corner of the state, as well as Connecticut and Massachusetts. Additional actor auditions will be opening during 2013 to fill both semi-permanent and permanent roles, from young kids to adults. R. L. Lopez is the show’s creator. Visit www.bennightbrothers.com, for news, updates, contest giveaways, and more. Stay tuned – we are sure it will be an amazing adventure not to be missed.

Former Massachusetts police officer turned independent film producer, David Langill (www.imdb.me/davidlangill) has ties with films in Rhode Island. David, a member of the Rhode Island Film Collaborative (RIFC), produced the feature Villanelle filmed in RI and screened in August 2012, and is busy at work with pre-production on Provoked and post-production on Erebus. Provoked, directed by Jordan Pacheco, begins filming in March 2013 with plans for an October 2013 premiere. Along with talented local actors, Provoked also stars Tony Moran, best known for playing Michael Myers in the original Halloween. One of the leads in Provoked is Rhode Island-based actor, Michael A. LoCicero. Langill first met LoCicero on the set of Erebus and Provoked will mark the fifth time these two have worked together (Erebus, Almost Human, Moonflower, La Faim, and Provoked). Erebus, directed by Ricky Laprade, is due out in 2013 and will feature horror icon Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes, The Devil’s Rejects). Much like Villanelle, Erebus was mostly filmed on Block Island. Langill was also the second second AD and played Hunter 2 in Project 989’s Almost Human, due to come out soon. Along with features, Langill also has short films he produced due in 2013 – Stogie, directed by Jordan Pacheco; Moonflower, directed by Cate Carson and Justin Plasse, and La Faim, directed by Nicholas Jon Beaubien. Langill has more projects in the works and is always eager for more.

Here’s some news from another recent college graduate. Chris Esper, a filmmaker who just premiered his film Still Life, is now in pre-production on a music video for “Beacons,” a song written and performed by Muse En Lystrala, who’s originally from Providence, and currently resides in Albany, NY. The song is about heroes and how the people you least expect can be a hero to you, light the beacons of your future and inspire you in some way. Chris will be directing and producing and began shooting on January 5th.

Independent filmmaker Brian Bouyea, from North Kingstown, started making films under the production company name Root Beer Studios. Just 20, Bouyea has written, directed, edited, and produced three feature-length films. All of these films have been screened at various theaters in RI. His latest horror feature, The Network, is currently in distribution with Moongoyle Entertainment. His latest work, Famous, is a short film that will premiere at the Showcase Cinema sometime in July, in Warwick. The premiere will be a double feature presentation with fellow film director Shawn Manchester and his film The Next Step. You can view Brian Bouyea’s work at www.rootbeer-studios.com.

Shawn Manchester, a 20-year-old SPFX artist and filmmaker from North Kingstown, RI, wrote and directed his first film in 2012, titled The Next Step. The film is about two mercenaries, Hank and Jack, who work for the Virus Protection Agency,wiping out the infected population of the near future. You can see his work at www.shawnmanchesterphotography.com.

2012 was a great year f or Christian de Rezendes from Breaking Branches Pictures. Upcoming for this production company is Raising Matty Christian, which is now in post and will premiere sometime in 2013. The story centers on a young boy born 30 years ago without hands or feet. Then comes Slatersville: America’s First Mill Village, a moving historical documentary due out in 2014. To see more, visit www.firstmillvillage.com. And finally,

Memories for Sale, which is the story of a biographer whose agent is pushing him to ask deeply personal questions of his subject, a retired vaudeville comedian. Memories for Sale, directed by de Rezendes, will have a Lowell premier in 2013.

Erick Montgomery, of Cyberhum, Adventurous Music / Visual Art has exciting news. A sci-fi adventure flick produced and directed by Montgomery, called Modern Hieroglyphs, will premiere at AS220, 115 Empire Street, Providence, on January 23rd at 5 pm. There is also an art exhibit to go with this one at AS220 on January 5th at 5 pm. Additional Information is available at cyberhum.com.

Anthony Demings, proprietor of the Brooklyn Coffee Tea House in Providence, has been focusing on his upcoming, autobiographical, Children of the Asylum, whichreveals not only the story of one orphan, but the story of all orphans with traumatic pasts who discover their true origins. Casting for this film will begin in January. For more information, email [email protected]. Local non-profit SENE (Southeast Film, Music and Art Festival) isacting as a fiscal sponsor for COTA. If you know of anyone who was an orphan at Saint Vincent de Paul Infant Asylum in Providence, RI, and would like to tell a story or share photos, please contact Tony at [email protected].

Jocelyn Padilla is taking on many roles to make her production, I Am Monroe?, become a reality. She is not only starring in the film, but wrote it, plans to co-direct and co-produce it, scout locations, and cast it. Jocelyn Padillaplays Woman in the Womb. What WITW doesn’t know is that her previous incarnation was Marilyn Monroe . She is tormented by her past mistakes, past loves, past traumas, and past happiness. She has to learn to forgive, and overcome a band of red demons who torment her. I Am Monroe will start production in February 2013. Anyone interested in helping with the production, contact Jocelyn Padilla at [email protected].

Also at it again – Anthony Ambrosino and Nicholas Delmenico of The 989 Project, who are currently in development on the film adaptation of the graphic novel, Jar of Fools. They are also in post-production of the comedy short, Urgent, which marks the directorial debut of Carl DuPre, perhaps best known for writing the 1999 film, Detroit Rock City.

Cynthia Hudson, the owner of Mystique Model and Talent Management, is having an open call in Providence, RI, on January 20th. She has been in business for 24 years and has over 300 major films and over 2,000 commercials under her roof. If you are interested in learning more about her agency, come to the open call from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Brooklyn Coffee Tea House in Providence.

Recently, I had the tremendously moving experience of working with talented director Ben Proulx on a tribute video called 26 Angels, shot in the last days of December. This video is a tribute to the young children and adults whose lives were lost in the Newtown, CT, tragedy on December 14, 2012. The video features young children singing a song written by Berklee College of Music’s Justin Cohen, with Cohen singing the lead vocals. Each singer represented one child who was lost on that day. They produced artworks for their assigned child, and learned about the child’s interests and passions, which were reflected in the artworks. The artworks were then held up high in the video while the children were singing. They also participated in interviews so they could tell the families of the children who died some things that they felt the families would want to hear. On hearing of this project, local restaurants donated food, water, and coffee. Parents brought their children to sing their hearts out, and crew showed up with all kinds of donated equipment to help make this video a top-notch production. The video will be released soon and all proceeds will go to charities chosen by the families in Newtown, CT.

Although bittersweet, this project was an incredible way to end 2012,. We all await the release of the video, and you can follow its story here: https://www.facebook.com/26angelsvideo.

2013 and beyond promises to be a great time for film in Rhode Island, full of many more moving experiences. Let’s go to the movies!

A Three-Part Adventure – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

“Thirteen hours of Middle-Earth is just not enough,” I said to my buddies the day The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was released. Well I’m getting my wish, for on Friday December 14, the newest installment to the Middle-Earth epic opens: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. I couldn’t be more excited.

There are a lot of expectations surrounding the Hobbit movies. Part of this is due to the fact that there are going to be three movies. Originally, I was a little skeptical about this – as was Dawne Dela Cruz, Treasurer of The Rhode Island Science Fiction Club (RISFC). “I’m a little curious as to why this is going to be three movies,” she said. “How are they going to split this up?”

The book itself is more novella than novel, and being stretched into two movies – let alone three – seemed a bit overreaching. However, like many fans, I’ve come to have real faith in Peter Jackson. He actually shows you what happens, as opposed to Tolkien’s characters, who tend to say, “Oh you should have been there when the Ents trashed Isengard…”

Plus, Jackson’s taking material from Tolkien’s other works (e.g. The Silmarillion) to give us glimpses of events that we would never have an opportunity to see otherwise – such as when Gandalf leaves to discern whether or not the Necromancer of Dul Guldur was indeed Sauron – the big baddie in the Lord of the Rings. It’s hinted at in the Hobbit, but explored only in other writing by Tolkien.

Next, there’s that whole 48 frames per second issue (or HFR, high frame rate) surrounding the film’s newest presentation technology – a format that is said to be closer to how the human actually sees. Jackson recently remarked on it in the Huffington Post saying, “It’s something that becomes a real joy to watch, but it takes you a while….” Early screenings made some viewers feel seasick, while others reported an especially intense sensory experience.

Well, I guess I’ll have to see it in HFR for myself. This calls for a viewing or two at the Providence Place IMAX.

Waterfire Sparks Documentary

The air crackled with anticipation before the unveiling of the first official documentary to cover the WaterFire phenomenon.

The premiere of “WaterFire: The Art and Soul of a City,” took place at the Vets Auditorium on Saturday, December 1st, to a full house that included Mayor Tavares, Buddy Cianci, MCs from the Rhode Show, numerous local luminaries and countless volunteers, on whose shoulders so much of WaterFire rests.

Musical warm up acts set the tone for the evening, with performances by WaterFire regular, fire dancer/musician Spogga and others. The screening was enthusiastically received, concluding with a prolonged standing ovation.

The closing QA session was followed by a significant announcement for WaterFire: the organization, which currently scatters its boats, wood, staff and equipment across several spaces around Providence, will be renovating a new, extensive headquarters. The space will be shared with other arts and entertainment organizations – indeed, as the announcement was being made, supportive Roller Derby Players and members of ERB, filed on stage in silent, albeit visually striking, support. Mayor Tavares then announced that the city will support the project with a grant of $500,000.

Entering the premiere, I was concerned that we’d be watching one long infomercial. While the film certainly has some self-promotional elements, it very aptly avoids that trap, celebrating the event without waning self-congratulatory. The documentary ties in elements of Providence history, from the birth of the “Creative Capital” and “Renaissance City” all the way back to Roger Williams.

There’s a fun exploration of the earliest incarnation of WaterFire and how close it came to being a one- time-only event. In the middle of winter.

Fortunately for all who have enjoyed a fire-lit, musically accompanied stroll along the Providence River, the event took deeper root in the city. Estimates of the number of people who’ve been to WaterFire over the years exceeds the entire population of Rhode Island, several times over (estimated 15 million).

The documentary explores the impact of these visitors on the state, on other artistic ventures, and on attendees, sprinkling in fun facts. For example, one poll shows that support of WaterFire may be the only issue RI politicians all agree on. The film also follows the WaterFire team as it carries the torch to other cities, especially a recent excursion in Rome, Italy.

The cast of characters is diverse and lively, and director Joe Rocco of RocJo Productions keeps his story moving at a comfortable pace, with moments that are touching, surprising and funny. While artistic mastermind and creator of WaterFire Barnaby Evans and irrepressible former Mayor Cianci deliver most of the best lines, numerous other interviews contribute wit and wisdom, and the narration by Robert John Hughes (written by Mary Steele) ties the piece together well.

Capturing this night-time imagery is no small cinematographic challenge, and capturing the grandeur of an outdoor event is another real challenge in video – both are handled skillfully by director of photography (and editor) Jim Karpeichik, with assists from several videographers including Louis Leta, Thomas Payne and Scott Santos.

At 59 minutes, this video nimbly passes the “itchy bottom” test. And for hard-core WaterFire fans, there are 50 minutes of bonus features, extra interviews and a loop of some of the best footage, which you can play anytime you’re looking to create a little of that “WaterFire feeling.”

More information and DVDs for holiday stocking stuffing available at www.waterfire.org or www.rocjo.com .

A Three-Part Adventure The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Well, I guess I’ll have to see it in HFR for myself. This calls for a viewing or two at the Providence Place IMAX. Blood! Sugar! Sid! Ace! What’s a writer to do when his characters come alive?

“I talk to myself, because I answer quickly,” quips grizzled writer Sid (Lawrence O’ Leary) to his three created characters: Sugar! (Stacey Forbes), Blood! (Jami Tennille) and Ace! (Adam Buxbaum). Now as to whether they represent parts of Sid or stand alone as individuals, that is left for the viewer to decide as the creations argue, taunt and tease each other regarding art, religion, relationships and life in the locally produced feature film Blood! Sugar! Sid! Ace!

Its strength lies in its dialogue, and though some sections are weighed down by conversations that belabor the film’s main point – that Sid loathes himself – writer/director Mike Messier and camera operator/editor Tim Labonte keep the pacing quick and the lens moving. They spin us from one conversation to the next with ease, hitting chords that are vulgar, brooding, honest and heartfelt along the way.

Blood! Sugar! Sid! Ace! Is Messier’s first feature length film, produced by Man and a Camera Films and Stand Still Pictures. It was screened at Providence’s Brooklyn Coffee & Tea House on November 10 to a receptive crowd. The filmmakers are currently accepting donations to cover the cost of film festival entry fees. For more information, go to bloodsugarsidace.com.

A Tale of Two Cons

9 a.m., wolfing down a breakfast burrito, rushing over the suspension walkway toward the San Diego Convention Center, I end up standing in line outside for 4 ½ excruciating hours futilely trying to catch the coveted panel for Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). Alas, it was not meant to be because 6,500 lucky and determined conventioneers had actually lined up the night before to catch this event.

However, standing in line for the Buck Rogers panel at the 2012 Rhode Island Comic-Con (RICC) was decidedly more pleasant. First of all, there was no line. Secondly, the event was held in a small ballroom where I could actually see Gil Gerard and Felix Silla, both stars of “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.”

Don’t get me wrong; I was enthralled by the massive scale of the SDCC, the gargantuan exhibits, and its amazing panels – but smaller also has its advantages.

The RICC offered something that the SDCC just couldn’t: accessibility. When I spoke to Richard Hatch, star of “Battlestar Galactica,” he offered this opinion of the RICC versus the SDCC. “The SDCC is big business, grown from a small con to a big multimedia corporate-driven networking event from TV, films, games, and toys, whereas the RICC is still a first-time show and it’s already a success that people love. It’s completely accessible.”

A lot of people I spoke with had the same opinion. While standing in line for the Power Rangers panel, Seth from Worcester, Massachusetts, said, “I never minded standing in line to meet the people [stars]. The Power Rangers were childhood heroes of mine.” Then he headed straight into the room.

At the SDCC, the panels I did get into had lines so huge they went outside the building, down flights of stairs, and sometimes out into the nearby marina. But if it’s worth it to you, you’ll make that commitment. Fortunately for Seth, he didn’t have to go that far to see his childhood heroes.

2012 was the RICC’s inaugural year, boasting a greater turnout than last spring’s Boston Anime Festival – upward of around 13,000 visitors. The one thing I found really amazing was how many little ones were present. At the SDCC, with a turnout of more than 130,000 people, I hardly noticed any children under the age of 12. Given the enormous expense, the difficulty in obtaining even a one-day pass, and the craziness of it all, it is no surprise that the event is geared more toward adults.

However, with the RICC, people were even bringing their infants!

Herbert Jefferson Jr., also a star of “Battlestar Galactica,” offered this opinion about the RICC. “Very intimate, very small, but close enough for families to come. Also affordable – you don’t have to mortgage your house to get here!”

Certainly, if you have the means and want to experience the biggest sci-fi/fantasy/comic book con of all time, the SDCC and Atlanta’s Dragon Con are worth the pilgrimage. But if you want family-friendly accessible super-cool fun, come to the RICC next year. I guarantee you’ll be hooked!

Claudia Wells, of Back to the Future fame, had these parting thoughts. “I like it. Great con! Great people! And great [Rhode Island] seafood!”

Salve French Film Fest Grows

Film Festival Brings French Culture to Newport

Salve Regina U brings a taste of French culture and film to Newport with their seventh annual French Film Festival. This excursion into Gallic culture includes dance, music, food and wine at opening and closing events, and features 6 films over two weeks, from Sunday, March 18 through Thursday, March 29. Originally inspired by a national foreign culture grant, the Salve French Film Festival has connected with a strong community interest in cinematic alternatives to standard Hollywood fare. “It turned out to be a much bigger event than we ever expected,” says Allen Antone, Festival Coordinator and Special Programs Librarian at Salve Regina University. What started as a campus event tied to a class with roughly 30 students now draws viewers to fill a campus theatre with over three hundred seats and, for certain screenings, Newport’s Jane Pickens Theater. Many screenings sell out. When the original grant expired, the festival had to become self-sustaining. “We keep all the costs as low as possible,” Antone says, who notes that both individual tickets and festival passes are available online through salve.edu/frenchfilm. “A lot of people go for the passes, which has been a pleasant surprise over the years.” Book-ended by receptions after the opening and closing films, where refreshments, wine and live music are featured, the festival includes a mix of genres and tones, “movies that are a little different, but good movies that stick with you,” Antone says. In most countries, film is seen as entertainment or commerce, but in France, it’s considered “the seventh fine art.” There’s greater focus on aesthetics, and the results may have a very different feel. During the past year, this rich cinematic tradition associated with France did go mainstream in some surprising ways, featuring prominently in Oscar favorites Hugo, about Georges Melies’ work near the birth of French filmmaking, and French-made The Artist, a silent, black and white modern retelling of the life of silent film star George Valentin. All the films at the Salve University French Film Festival are contemporary (from 2010-12), and all will be screened with subtitles. The selection committee chose films that vary in tone and flavor – some are serious, others lighter. “We’re opening with a comedy – there are references to politics in France, and some uniquely French cultural references, but the students on the selection committee universally enjoyed it. The filmmaker is strongly influenced by Woody Allen, and has created a wonderful romantic comedy,” Antone says, describing the opening night film, Le Nom des Gens / The Names of Love (literally, “the Names of People.”), which will be shown March 18 at 7pm at the Jane Pickens theatre. Other films will be shown at O’Hare Academic Center’s Bazarsky Lecture Hall on the Salve Regina Campus. These include Rapt, a thriller based on a true story from the 1970s, about a kidnapped industrialist, with an emphasis on the psychological aspects of how he and his family react to his abduction – and what they learn about his life after he’s taken. The third film, The Princess of Montpensier/La Princesse de Montpensier, is a historical drama based on Madame de Lafayette’s 1622 novella about love and desire during the brutal Catholic/Protestant wars. This is followed by Le Havre, a dramedy about friendship and politics in the titular French harbor city. The fifth film, A Screaming Man/Un Homme qui crie, is a quiet drama from Chad, a former French colony, and follows the relationship of a father and son during trying post-colonial times. The festival also closes on an upbeat note with, “An upstairs / downstairs style comedy set during the 1960’s, when a lot of immigration was taking place from Spain to France,” says Anton. In France, the upper class would live downstairs and the servants upstairs (the reverse of the traditional British upstairs/downstairs relationship). This film, “The Women on the 6th Floor/Les Femmes du 6e Étage,” follows the mixing and interaction between families living in one such arrangement. To learn more about the Festival and see trailers for the films, visit www.salve.edu/frenchfilm

Correction: Note in a previous article about Murder University, I quoted Lenny Schwartz’ Facebook page as saying “Even though the politicians can’t suport each other, let’s make a statement here that THEATER and FILM folks can support EACH OTHER!” This quote should have been attributed to Mr. Schwartz’ publicist, Mary DeBerry.