J. AlleR

Today I’m making a billboard for Dining Out for Life Tampa Bay and am reading tons of blog posts on what to, and not to do on billboards.  How do I get the point of Dining Out across at that speed?  “Dine Out. Fight AIDS.”  That phrase seems succinct enough, but is it?  I only get half of a second with my audience.  I also want to drive them to the website to find out where to eat and how to participate.  Or do I? Do I just put our cute logo and the date.

Here’s a roundup of articles I’ve read on this topic.

How To Write A Billboard

Billboard Design 101

Effective Tips on How to Design Billboard Advertisements

This film festival thing comes around fast.  It’s hard to believe the festival is in its 20th year and I’ve been part of it for 5 years.  I’m not a witty blog writer so I’ll just get on with my film recommendations for this years festival.

OPENING NIGHT (thur 10-8)
Opening night is going to be something Tampa hasn’t seen for a while.  A red carpet that stretches for a block and a half, Steve Kmetko from E! News, Stirling Powell, Mayor Pam Iorio, Local News stations all set up to capture and help make the 20th Anniversary something to remember.

So, come, just to see the red carpet spectacle & the short history from the stage of the Tampa Theatre Emceed by Steve Kmetko.

The movie AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK on opening night this year is the sequel “The Naked Civil Servant which played at the very first Tampa Gay & Lesbian Film Festival – know at that time as The Pride Film Festival.

GALA NIGHT (fri 10-9)

MAKE THE YULETIDE GAY - a coming out holiday comedy by a good friend of TIGLFF’s Rob Williams.  This film focuses on the Christmas where “Gunn,” who is out and proud at his college, struggles with his big family gathering at Christmas.  Gunn’s boyfriend from Manhattan decides to surprise Gunn at and join him for a bit during the holiday season.  Allegedly the film is not the best art, but the jokes, stories and camp situations make it a fun 89 minutes
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=90

Friday Night is also home to the 20th Anniversary Gala held at The RITZ Ybor.  conceptBAIT this year is redecorating the venue.  Gala every year is one of the few chances to get dressed up and go socialize.  Black Tie Preferred is the dress code.  Going anywhere (other than a wedding) in a tux or evening gown can be a lot of fun, and this year’s Gala at The RITZ Ybor will surely amaze.
http://www.cliptampabay.com/event.cfm?eventid=25

SATURDAY 10-10

HOLLYWOOD JE T’AIME This film co-stars Chad Allen as a pothead with more than just a bong on his mind when he meets the films main actor Jerome – a lonely transplant to Tinsel Town. I think it looks like a good story, and all of the Chad Allen films have done really well and are good in production value.  This’ll be one I’ll take my board member hat off and sit down to watch.
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=96

SHANK at 11:00 at night on Saturday – why? Well there’s a big warning in the program guide of “Explicit violence and sex”  SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!  A coming out and coming of age film set in working class London.   I don’t expect this to be of great production value, but the writeup sounds fun.  “No amount of testosterone-filled shirtless cavorting can quench his desire for his mate Jonno, gang leader Nessa’s main squeeze.”  Oh, and who doesn’t love a British accent!
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=97

HANNAH FREE with Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacy, Queer As Folk). ’nuff said, it’s good.
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=95

SATURDAY 10-11

TRAINING RULES – Yeah, yeah, it’s a documentary… but it’s a documentary about the Penn State coach who had 3 rules for her girls basketball team 1. No Drinking 2. No Drugs 3. NO LESBIANS  Clearly this got her into trouble, but not for a while.  Steve Kmetko and several ‘out’ sports figures will be hosting a Panel Discussion on homophobia in sports.
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=99

PORNOGRAPHY – well, a lot of people thing that a gay film festival is where new porn flicks from falcon and colt are shown – so let’s really give them something to talk about with this film….  It’s a sexy, psychological creep-show apparently.  Another film that won’t win any production awards, but here is the warning in the program guide: “There are no (unsimulated) pornographic scenes in this movie. But it does have a twisty, clever script; ample male nudity; genuine suspense; a hot cast and plety of mindf**king.  Plus a mysterious ring, a menacing stranger and a rent boy who accepts personal checks”
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=103

MONDAY 10-12

ST.PETE Muvico:  REDWOODS – not really the kind of plot I enjoy, a guy cheating on his partner during a rough patch in their relationship, but this movie will take you to uncomfortable spots that should be considered in ones life.
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=106

TUESDAY 10-13

TAMPA: LITTLE ASHES - if you missed this (like we did) while it was here for a short run a few months ago, now is your chance to come see it and support TIGLFF.  Little Ashes is the Salvador Dali story.
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=108

STPETE: FAMILY This is actually a film about local woman who graduated from a local St. Pete area school.  I won’t get to see it unfortunately, but it is really neat to have another film made about our local ‘family’
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=110

WEDNESDAY 10-14

St. Pete is the place to be on wednesday, for 2 more films featuring locals.  The first is the widely controversial OUTRAGE a film that opens the closet doors on our governments elected officials. From Larry Craig, to our own hometown hero Charlie Christ.  Also playing at Baywalk after that is HER NAME WAS STEVEN.  A documentary about our courageous Steve Stanton, the former Largo City Manager.  This documentary is produced by CNN.
OUTRAGE http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=113
HNWS http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=114

THURSDAY 10-15

TAMPA: BUTCH FACTOR From clones to queens, bears to gym rats, twinks to queers, the gay community has embraced and objectified men of every strip.  This documentary, part sociological study tackles them all.  The director also presents recent changes in cultural norms of masculinity, such as the “bromance” and metrosexual, while excavating the past for images of the mustachioed “clone” and stereotypical queen.
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=116

FRIDAY 10-16

PATRICK 1.5 this is a HERE TV production so it’ll be good.  A gay couple in the ‘burbs gets approved to adopt a baby boy named Patrick.  The young man who shows up is a 15 y/o homophobic Patrick with a criminal past.  I’m going to have to get a screener of this one because I’ll be with the talent from the following film.  But I REALLY WANT TO SEE Patrick 1.5, you should TOO
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=120

COLLEGE BOYS LIVE This is a docu-dram-edy about collegeboyslive.com a  webcam, live house website started by Zac & Jonathan.  The live house is located in the suburbs of Orlando, and the HOA is fighting to shut them down.  That drama apparently doesn’t compare anywhere in size to the drama happening behind closed doors among the residents of CBL.  I’m the talents Hosts while they are in town, and looking forward to meeting them.  Should be an interesting film looking behind the scenes of a big brother style setup.
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=121

SATURDAY 10-17 PARTY NIGHT

For the boys we have SURGE www.surgetampabay.com and for the girls we have SUGAR www.sugartampabay.com  The Men and Womens parties to benefit the festival.  Both have amazing themes and both need to be attended by everyone.

Before the boys party though is the third installment of everyones favorite witty campy “EATING OUT: ALL YOU CAN EAT“  The Eating Out franchise has great production value, silly fun stories, and amazing catch phrases.  Come see it before you head out to Ybor for SURGE & SUGAR
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=127

CLOSING NIGHT – sun 10-18

BIG GAY MUSICAL Directed by: Another friend of our festival Casper Andres (director writer, 4 Letter Word, Between Love & Goodbye).  Just watch the trailer – you’ll want to come.
http://www.cliptampabay.com/film.cfm?filmid=131

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBjMXfAn5gU

Hope this guide helps you decide on some films to come watch.  Make sure you come find meif you’re at any of the screenings and say hi!

See You at the Movies!
J. ALLER

Hey, did you see a Twitter tweet about photos being uploaded wirelessly?  Or did I tell you go check out JAlleR.com to see my pics.  Click on the photos/videos button at the top to go to the respective section.  I use this awesome memory card called the Eye-Fi card.  It wirelessly uploads pictures directly from any camera that uses an SD card into my flickr and youtube accounts!  It really is the best invention ever.