WELL, WE HAD QUITE A GREAT TIME IN MARCO ISLAND FOR THEIR ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL. IN SHORT, IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST FUN, HIPPEST AND ENGAGING FILM FESTIVALS WE'VE ATTENDED. PROBABLY WHY FILMTHREAT.COM VOTED THE MARCO ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL ONE OF THE TOP TEN FESTIVALS IN THE USA! FOLLOWING ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS AND PICTURES FROM ASA'S PARTICIPATION...

Matt (left), Mark (right) and John (taking the picture)
were invited for a Saturday morning boat cruise by Marco
Island Film Festival Board member Tom Ramsey (center). 
Dolphins, Eagles and Manatees..oh my!

 

Opening Night…Sandals & Cinema - Wednesday, November 3
the film: Kinsey
Sponsored by Resort Quest and 1480AM/1660AM

This red carpet event kicks off with KINSEY a remarkable star-studded, Hollywood film about Alfred Kinsey, a man who was once considered among the most dangerous figures in post-war America. He paved the way for the sexual revolution with his landmark studies of sexual behaviour; a biologist, he put human sexuality – then seen almost exclusively as a matter of morality – under the microscope with scientific objectivity and a firm belief in the liberating the potential of human diversity. His work sparked one of the most intense cultural debates of the past century – a debate that rages on today.

Roger Ebert says “Kinsey is likely to be the best-received biopic since A Beautiful Mind. Liam Neeson gives an Oscar-worthy performance as the sex researcher who began by collecting a million moths and then moved from etymology to the bedroom and became obsessed with collecting sexual histories. Laura Linney plays the student who becomes his wife and calm, wise companion as his monomania grows.” The movie also stars Chris O'Donnell, Peter Sarsgaard, Timothy Hutton, John Lithgow, Oliver Platt and Tim Curry.

ASA SUMMARY: THE MOVIE IS A MUST SEE WHEN IT HITS THE THEATERS LATER THIS YEAR! OSCAR WORTHY PERFORMANCES BY LIAM NEESON AND LAURA LINNEY (AND SUPPORTING CAST). JOHN WAS INTERVIEWED ON THE RED CARPET BY THE LOCAL RADIO STATION WHO WAS BROADCASTING LIVE.
 

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the party 
Sponsored by Comcast, Beasley Broadcasting, Rick’s Island Salon, and Island Restaurants

After the Opening Night Film join our hosts, Van and Alice Van Hoesen, for a spectacular party at their new Villa Venezia, on Caxambas Court. Dance the night away while enjoying an array of amazing creations prepared especially for us by the island’s top chefs from Arturo’s Ristorante Italiano, Bayview, Blu’ Fusion, Café De Marco, Casa LoDuca, Capri Fish House, Island Café, Island Country Club, Joey’s Pizza & Pasta House, Kretch’s, Verdi’s, Vergina, and Black Tuffle Chocolates. 

It’s the best of the best - don’t miss the party! Oh What A Night…..

ASA SUMMARY: ALL WE CAN SAY IS 'HOLY COW!!!' THE PARTY WAS HOSTED IN AN 18 MILLION DOLLAR MANSION. INCREDIBLE FOOD, GREAT BAR, WONDERFUL DANCE MUSIC, AND THE TOUR OF THE HOUSE ALONE WAS WORTH THE TRIP!

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Wild In The Outback - Thursday, November 4
Sponsored by Outback Steakhouse & 104.7

Back by popular demand this bloomin’ event is fun! fun! fun! Come by bike or come by car and head on over to the tarmac at the Marco Island Airport. Here is your chance to leather up or get decked out in your finest jeans. Come on mates lets kick up those heels and dance the night away to the tunes of Mixed Nuts. Outback is bringing their kitchen and cookin’ up an awesome barbecue. There’ll be lots of wonderful food, dancing and drinks for riders and non-riders alike. We’re revving up the excitement for one bloomin’ good time! 

ASA Board Members Matt Hader and Mark Turner, along with ASA Executive Director
John E. Johnson break bread with the cast and crew of Freedom Park 
(which screened at the festival), and they were joined by Trevor Morgan (lower far right) 
star of Jurassic Park III, The Patriot and The Sixth Sense

ASA SUMMARY: DO YOU LIKE GRILLED STEAK AND CHICKEN, SALAD, SAUTÉED MUSHROOMS AND SIMMERED BEANS TO EAT, PLUS A FREE BAR AND A GREAT DANCE BAND, ALL ON A THE RUNWAY TARMAC AT THE MARCO ISLAND AIRPORT? IF YOU ANSWERED YES (AND WHY WOULDN'T YOU) THIS WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE EVENT. WE ATE, WE DANCED, WE NETWORKED AND WE WENT HOME VERY, VERY HAPPY!! OUTBACK OUT DID THEMSELVES SPONSORING THIS EVENT!

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Tea and Cinema with…Peter Riegert - Friday, November 5
Sponsored by WCI Communities, Inc. 

The afternoon begins with the screening of KING OF THE CORNER, then it’s off to Konrad’s where we’ll enjoy a delightful afternoon in the casual company of writer, director, Peter Riegert. Riegert’s unfailing ability to slip effortlessly into almost any role, be it dramatic, comedic, or musical, has enabled him to work continuously in film, television and on stage for three decades. He made his directorial debut with the short film By Courier, which was nominated for an Academy Award. He has appeared in more than 30 films including ANIMAL HOUSE, LOCAL HERO, CROSSING DELANCY, THE MASK and TRAFFIC. Television credits include THE SOPRANOS, GYPSY, BARBARIANS AT THE GATE and the final episode of SEINFELD.

In his most recent film, KING OF THE CORNER, Peter directs and stars in this sly, dead-panned social comedy about the dangers of navigating life without a compass. For his directorial debut he surrounds himself with the outstanding cast of Eli Wallach, Isabella Rosselina, Rita Moreno and Eric Bogosian. This event is guaranteed to entertain and you won’t want to miss it. Due to limited seating this event sells out every year. Call to order your tickets now.

ASA SUMMARY: IN SHORT, THIS WAS A FABULOUS MOVIE WELL WORTH THE SEE EITHER IN THE THEATER OR ON DVD. AND PETER RIEGERT HAS NOT ONLY PROVED HIMSELF A WORTHY DIRECTOR, HIS PASSION FOR SCREENWRITERS AND FILMMAKING IS OBVIOUS. HE'S A VERY COOL GUY AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING WITH HIM ABOUT SCREENWRITING, ACTING, FILMMAKING AND THOSE WACKY 'ANIMAL HOUSE' DAYS.

ASA Board Member Matt Hader (left) poses with
Peter Riegert during of the many social events of the festival.

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Screenwriting Workshop: From Paper to Film - Saturday, November 6
Sponsored by Kodak
Individual Tickets: $30
or pay $100 and get the $80 10-film pass and this workshop for just $20

Screenwriters CAN Get Their Scripts Produced and Made Into a Movie There is more than one way to get your script made into a movie! Join producers/directors/writers Matt Hader and Mark Turner as they take you through concrete steps, using their real life examples, to turn your script into a movie without using the big studios. Turning your script into a low budget feature requires someone to be the producer but producing goes beyond packages, budgets and schedules, especially on a low budget feature. On any level of production there are myriad problems that need to be addressed, and it is the producer who has to face those problems and figure out a way to solve them. Most of the problems you will face are not new or necessarily unique. Learn what some of those problems are going to be and how to solve them. Find out that you don’t have to simply do a filmed version of a play for your low or no budget debut. Learn what trade offs you’ll have to make in order to make your movie and stay within budget. Discover how to maximize your budget and spend your money on making a visual movie. Find out about packaging and how to contact actors. We will also share experiences regarding film festivals, distributors and self-distribution. In addition we will relate how much fun it is to have a day job as a writer/producer.

ASA SUMMARY: MATT AND MARK DID ASA PROUD LEADING A ROUSING 2 HOUR WORKSHOP ON HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN INDEPENDENT MOVIE ON A SHOE STRONG BUDGET.

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An Afternoon with…Leslie Nielsen - Saturday, November 6
Sponsored by WAVV FM101

American comedy has certainly been enriched by the comic brilliance of Leslie Nielsen. A veteran of over one hundred motion pictures and more than fifteen hundred television appearances, Nielsen has built a sturdy reputation portraying manly authority figures in the sci-fi classic FORBIDDEN PLANET and the Captain of the ill-fated cruise ship in THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE before he turned his image inside out with hysterically funny deadpan performances in AIRPLANE, THE NAKED GUN, NAKED GUN 2 _, and NAKEDGUN 33 1/3: THE FINAL INSULT.

Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Nielsen made his entry into show business while working at a Calgary radio station. His television career began in 1950 with a STUDIO ONE appearance, and he went on to act in 46 live programs that year in the very heart of what has become known as TV's Golden Age. On stage, he has starred opposite Carol Burnett in LOVE LETTERS and periodically toured with DARROW.

Nielsen has favored TV comedy over drama, starring in the series POLICE SQUAD, for which he was nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Lead in a Comedy Series. It is with great pleasure that we present this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award to Leslie Nielsen on Saturday, November 6th. The festival will screen both AIRPLANE and THE NAKED GUN. Audiences will have their choice of film.

John E. Johnson, Mark Turner, Leslie Nielsen and Matt Hader pose
for pictures after sharing dinner together at a private party in Nielsen's honor

ASA SUMMARY: YES, THE MOVIES WERE FUNNY. BUT EVEN MORE SO, LESLIE NIELSEN PROVED WHY HE IS A RESPECTED ACTOR. HE WAS GRACIOUS, FUNNY, SMART AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT FILMS AND TV, AND TOOK THE TIME TO TALK WITH EVERYONE. WE CAST OUR VOTE FOR LESLIE NIELSEN AS KING OF THE COOL!
 

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An Afternoon with…Rick Schroder - Sunday, November 7
Sponsored by WAVV FM101

Veteran actor, Rick Schroder, achieved 30 years of success in the entertainment industry - an incredible feat. He is one of the few actors who have made the transition from child star to seasoned adult actor. 

Ricky Schroder was destined to be a star. Born in Brooklyn, Ricky started modeling and doing commercials while still in diapers. By the time he was cast in THE CHAMP at age 8, he had 60 TV commercials and hundreds of print ads under his belt. In ‘79 Ricky became one of the youngest recipient to receive a Golden Globe for his performance in THE CHAMP. His success catapulted him to child stardom working on projects like THE EARTHLING and LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY. At 12 he signed on to the highly successful SILVER SPOONS, and at 17 experienced another career high with LONSOME DOVE. At 20, Rick met and married his wife Andrea. While juggling a growing family, Rick has kept the pace of his thriving career going with projects like CRIMSON TIDE, ACROSS THE TRACKS, TEXAS, and A&E’s THE LOST BATTALION. In 1998 he joined the cast of NYPD BLUE proving once again his talent as an actor.

Now, 34, Rick has achieved a new level of personal and professional success with his new feature film BLACK CLOUD. Written, directed, acted and produced by Rick, he is now independently distributing the film. With the recent success of  BLACK CLOUD, is set to direct his next film early this spring.

BLACK CLOUD is a beautiful inspiration story about a young American Indian who overcomes personal challenges as he comes to terms with his heritage while fighting his way for a spot on the US Olympic boxing team. BLACK CLOUD brings us closer to understanding the wonders of beauty, honor and tradition... and the trials we face in poverty, darkness and fear

ASA SUMMARY: ALAS, WE HAD TO MISS THIS EVENT BECAUSE OUR PLANE LEFT EARLIER ON SUNDAY. BUT, FROM THE FOLKS WE TALKED TO WHO ATTENDED, THEY SAID RICK'S MOVIE WAS QUITE GOOD AND HE WAS VERY NICE.
 

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After Parties - Nightly, 11:00 p.m.
Sponsored by Bub’s, Blu’ Fusion, Cocomo’s, Sand Bar 

And did we mention parties? This year we made it so-o-o-o easy to have fun. Buy a pass, it’s that simple. Rub elbows with filmmakers and get the latest festival buzz. Held nightly at different locations you will enjoy complimentary food and “first drink”. These late night parties will be held at Bub’s (Wed), Sand Bar (Thur), Cocomo’s (Fri), Blu’ Fusion (Sat). Don’t forget to bring your pass or ticket to get in! 

ASA SUMMARY: WOW! IF YOU DIDN'T GET ENOUGH FUN IN DURING THE DAY THE LATE NIGHT PARTIES WERE A GREAT PLACE TO MINGLE, MEET AND GET TO KNOW SOME VERY COOL PEOPLE. EACH NIGHT WAS AT A DIFFERENT PLACE (GEOGRAPHICALLY AND ATMOSPHERICALLY). WHEN YOU COME TO THE NEXT FESTIVAL PLAN TO CATCH UP ON YOUR SLEEP WHEN IT'S ALL OVER.

Marco Island Film Festival 239-642-FEST(3378) info@marcoislandfilmfest.com