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Fandomonium
in Tampa Bay Event and Film Festival 001
01. Introduction
02. The
Journey into fandom begins
03. The
story of the swag bag
04. Role
call
05. Independent
film screening
06. Interviews
07. Photography
shoot, closing and event score card
Fandomonium
in Tampa Bay 001
Sunday, June 22, 2014
The Journey into fandom begins
It took a major adjustment
to my schedule to attend this event and film festival, and it meant that
I had to give up a
shift and lose money, as I usually work on Sunday mornings and afternoons,
but I did it (I did not lose money, though, and I actually gained a little,
as I picked up another shift at my other job, and it was all overtime.
By the time that I attended Fandomonium, I had put in 55 hours that week,
and I usually work 56). I made adjustments and got the time off approved
two weeks before the event, and tried to get three of my model friends
to attend. Alas, none of them could, so it meant that I would go it alone-
at least publicly. Privately, I had something else in place.
Why I am I telling you all of this? It’s because the excuse that
people are too busy to attend and support these events is nonsense. If
you really want to go, and it is important to you, you will find a way.
I certainly did, and, as you will soon discover, I did not regret it (although,
in the days following the event, my boss at my second, weekend job is
wondering if my photography business will interfere with my schedule there,
and I know this because the coworker who covered my shift texted me about
it, as well as some questions that he asked me during a phone call, and
although it won’t, for now, it probably will later this year, at
which time I will give them at least the appropriate two week heads-up;
I think that he thinks that when I schedule time off to cover a film festival,
that it is a paid shoot that I am getting paid for. I don’t get
paid to cover events! I do so because I am genuinely interested,
and because I believe in what I am doing, even if it means that I am not
the nicest person to some people; I DO give my honest
opinion, because everyone needs it. Take it. It’s
for your own good! Anyway, that photography business is very important,
too, as it is going to fund my independent film projects and events, addressing
the lack of funds which has prevented me in doing work in those areas
in the past. Once I get the fuel in that proverbial tank, the production
and independent film business machine that I have put together over the
past few years will finally start moving, and now you know why I am so
dedicated and invested in independent film. I will be making independent
films, and they will be what I want them to be, although I will work hard
to make them the best that they can be. I will let the people decide if
they are groundbreaking or revolutionary or not, although I
am working on some very cool ideas right now which have never been done
before).
Another thing to consider is this: We NEED to support these independent
events and independent film festivals. 
These
are OUR events, and not some large sell-out, over-commercialized mainstream
event (film festival) which could care less about local art and entertainment,
as well as us. The independent film festivals and events support
US! These events and film festivals are what we make them,
and we get out of them what we put into them! Also, these
events are much-needed support for what we need to establish an independent
film and arts community and a thriving industry. You have a responsibility
to support them, and, you know what? It’s a win-win, because you
might just have fun and meet some cool people in the process!
As my day on that Sunday began, I was dead tired. I did not want to get
out of bed, as I had worked a lot that week. I made myself get up and
get ready, however, and began by charging two DSLR cameras, a video camera,
and other supporting gear. Two days before, on a Friday, in fact, I even
spent a while strolling through a Walmart looking for a sachel bag for
my swag- more on that, in a few minutes. I was ready, and I wanted to
get there early.
As for what to wear, I had a number of choices. I had to wear a lot of
equipment, so I decided to dress light and down. I put on some dark blue
dress slacks, which would be cooler and would breath better than jeans.
For shirts, I had figured that the “fan” theme should be supported,
although I have never been much of a fan of anything or anyone, even things
that I am into (I am only a fan of myself and in what I do, to be honest,
especially since I always seem to be the one with the best thing going
on, and I am being serious). I had dark blue and black T-shirts, including
shirts
for video games such as Resident Evil 2, Ridge Racer, Zelda, and Mortal
Kombat. The event did not seem to be geared for video games, though (A
major problem and oversight, IMO), so those were my backup plan. I also
had some shirts for Star Wars and Star Trek, as well as some movies such
as the Bank Job, but those did not interest me as much, especially after
what Abrams did to Star Trek (It is my opinion that he raped Star Trek
and cashed in, disrespecting the audience, especially since I do not believe
that he knew the source material, and that he did not respect it; God
help the bastard if he does the same thing to Star Wars and if Star Trek
and Star Wars start to look and feel the same as a result, but I really
don’t see how he could screw up Star Wars as bad as he did with
Star Trek, because Star Wars has much simpler source material with only
six movies, little science, and some odds and ends, and with Star Wars
essentially being science fiction for those who are a little slower. Yes,
it is also my opinion that Star Trek is superior to Star Wars, in every
way, especially when it seems that Lucas ripped off a variety of sources
when he came up with Star Wars. Regarding the Abrams “versions”
of “Star Trek”, where he bends the Vulcans over and has his
way with them, IMO, and don’t even get me started about that stupid
“Red Matter” crap, I will explain in detail in my very, very
lengthy and comprehensive “book” reviews of his two “Star
Trek” movies on Frontier Pop, which reviews mainstream movies like
Tampa Bay Film reviews independent films, and which encourage the readers
to cross reference the reviews on both sites so that people know that
I am as equally tough on mainstream movies and that I am not out to beat
up on independent films). In the end, though, I chose something that was
relevant to local independent film, which was a shirt for Lalino’s
film, Brainjacked, which I was sure that he,
as one of the event organizers, would appreciate. After all, I
do consider Brainjacked to be one of the best independent films
ever made in the Tampa Bay area, and I wanted to show my support
(and, no, I was not kissing ass. I don’t do that. I am not Lisa.
This is my honest opinion).
With getting dressed and my gear load-out complete, I stopped by the local
Walmart for some extra cash, which I would need for my plans (I always
have plans, and often plans within a plan, and backup plans, with backups
for those plans, essentially meaning that there are usually over 32 plans
for each plan. I am smart like that, and like to be prepared for anything,
as long as the preparation and the support resources are cost-effective!
I have a lot of things on my mind, usually, with lots of knowledge about
a variety of different things and a genius-level IQ to drive it, and I
am not the trusting type, from experience, so I do tend to analyze the
hell out of things and plan and prepare for every possibility). After
stopping by a hardware store for a clip for my swag bag so that I could
be hands-free to operate my cameras, I was then ready to begin my trip
into fandom.
As some of you may recall from my first
experience trying to find the venue at the Tampa Pitcher Show
(and you won’t because I have not gotten around to publishing the
review for HHPS 2013, yet. I dropped the ball, even though the review
was almost done, which I apologize for, and I will rectify that soon...
Update, several weeks later: I finished and published the review
for the
HHPS 2013 film festival at the same time as this review,
so you can now read about it), I had a hard time doing so, and arrived
late that first time, but this time, I knew where I was going. This time,
the trip would be a smooth experience.
I got an early start, and arrived at the Tampa Pitcher Show at 12:15 PM,
45 minutes before the start time. As I parked my car nearby and geared
up with my extensive load-out, my third model, Melissa Maxim
(From the Roxy and Lowie days of 2001-2002, Danford. Melissa began working
with me in photography and modeling projects in 2001. Chris
Woods once told me that Melissa used to hang out with Amanda
Beck (the lead in his Bleed independent
film), and that he knew her, but she told me, recently when I brought
it up, that she does not remember him. Anyway, back when he told me that,
Melissa and I were out of touch, and when she and I got back into touch,
I was no longer speaking to him, so I can’t match up any account
unless I had access to a time machine and could go back and forth, and
since time machines, to my knowledge, do not exist, yet, there you go.
Actually, if I had access to a time machine, I would go back and
make it so that I never met Nolan, Chris, Paul,
or the others in their gang, and it would have saved me a big waste of
time, because, in retrospect, it is my opinion that none of them were
worth the trouble of knowing; I regret knowing them.
Seriously. It is my opinion that these people are useless
in the future of Tampa Bay independent film), called me
to inform me that she could not attend, but that if I needed her, to give
her a call, and she’d be right there, ready to throw down by my
side. She is tough like that...... I took her to a local fashion runway
show recently, and her adventure is now a local legend (some of my friends,
while I was still talking to them and hanging out with them, brought it
up during a dinner at an Indian restaurant with horribly hot food and
Indian waiters standing around with pitchers of warm water seeming to
delight in our misery. I am not going back there!). I am surprised that
the other girl did not get knocked on her ass when she assaulted Melissa
by coming up behind her and yanking on her hair.... Yes, that is how jealous
girls at local fashion shows treat models, I suppose (People, seriously,
if my anecdotes within anecdotes in these reviews are distracting and
annoying, let me know, and I’ll stop doing it and stick to the actual
review. Like I said.... My mind is always going on about a variety of
things, much like a super computer with a river of data running through
it. It does give me an advantage in life and careers. Personally, I think
that the layers make the reviews more interesting, as well as give a look
into how my mind works, although I would never write some things, such
as a novel, a stageplay, or a story, like this).
Any way, after rearranging my gear, which was a little awkward with straps
containing two DSLR cameras, a back up
camera, and a video camera, as well as a Galaxy S4 clipped to my belt,
two 3DS XL’s clipped to my belt, a collapsible silver camera tripod,
and a large swag bag also hanging from my belt, I began the hike in the
noon heat, which was already overbearing, to the venue, which was not
close by (for reasons which I will not go into here, I parked far, far
away). During my long walk, Melissa called me, and after spending several
minutes walking and talking and then ending my call with her, I finally
arrived (Yes, I was that far away. I had a long talk with Melissa and
ended the call all while still walking, before I reached the venue).
Upon entering the Tampa Pitcher Show venue,
I was greeted by Rick Danford, who was surprised
to see me, as I had not RSVP’ed, or confirmed, on the Facebook event
page. I told him that I had planned to attend for some time, but that
no one but my people knew about it. I then ran into Andy Lalino, filmmaker
Marcus Kempton, and actor and event host Joel D. Wynkoop.
Getting there early was part of my plan, though, for one main reason.
I wanted first dibs on the independent film DVD’s that they were
certain to be selling there, and I was not disappointed, as all of
the ones that I were after were there.
Looking over the tables of DVD’s, I noticed two ladies sitting at
a table. They made a comment that I was loaded down with a lot of gear,
which I was. They were there for the Florida Film Network,
which was Dan Brienza’s organization,
and I knew that Joe Davison headed up the Tampa
Bay chapter, which was the original chapter since he and Chris Woods had
founded the Tampa Film Network back in 2006
(and it was a nice little group back then. After the Tampa Film Network’s
Quiet Place independent film project fiasco
later in 2006, with filmmakers fighting and blaming each other
for problems with the short film, as well as making up lies
about people and spreading them around, and some less than enthusiastic
support from filmmakers in general, Davison and Woods decided to end it,
and there was a time when I could have acquired it, at least as far as
the web site, as Chris Woods had told me that he and Davison had considered
giving it to me; according to Woods, Davison had stated “Passinault
owns all of those web sites, so we might as well give the Tampa Film Network
to him”, which was actually cool of Davison, if he
really did say that. Soon, after, however, it was not to be; Brienza,
who was already doing networking meetings at the Tampa Film
Review monthly film festivals, obtained it. Under Brienza,
the reinvigorated Tampa Film Network was a success, although Brienza always
put more emphasis on networking rather than screening independent films,
which meant that his meetings could never replace the Tampa Film Review
after the Guzzo twins failed with that, in my opinion, and he soon focused
more on his Florida Film Network, which grew
from the Tampa Film Network. Soon, the original Tampa Film Network became
the Tampa Bay chapter of the Florida Film Network, and in an extremely
ironic twist, Davison teamed up with Brienza and headed up the Tampa Bay
chapter. There is more to this story, though, which I am about to get
into). The Florida Film Network ladies told me something that I did not
know, which was that Brienza was less involved with the Florida Film Network,
and that Joe Davison now ran it all. Talk about full circle, with the
added complication that Davison and I no longer got along, and that he
now hated me (IMO) and thinks that I am out to destroy his “career”,
as if I could destroy something which did not exist to begin with. Of
course, it is also my opinion that Davison hates me because I stood up
for myself and the rights of others, and not for anything that I actually
did to anyone, because he started it, and so did his “friends”.
I finished it, and if I am going to be hated for doing the right thing,
and for being a good and honest person who wanted nothing more than to
help out others, so be it. Since I did nothing wrong, I have
nothing to apologize for, and it’s their problem.
They can condemn me for whatever lies that they choose to believe,
because in the future, I believe that their opinions and how they feel
will be irrelevant. I’m not going away, and I will be supporting
independent film, and that is the way that it is.
Anyway, as I circulated around the room, someone told me that Joe Davison
had posted that he was planning on attending the event, and that it would
be interesting in light of the things that I had recently written and
posted about him. I replied that I intended to be both peaceful and professional,
and that I expected him to conduct himself the same way. It would have
been good for Joe to attend, though, especially as he could sit at the
table with the ladies and help promote the Florida Film Network. He could
do his job.
I told Danford that I had made secret security arrangements in case certain
people attended and tried to make trouble,
and that I was not concerned about who attended. I certainly was not going
to be run off by unprofessional haters, bullies, and troublemakers, especially
since I had not done anything wrong. In fact, it was them who were spreading
lies about me in an attempt to discredit me, and who opened themselves
up to legal liability (and I reserve the right to sue them). I was used
to such duplicity and unprofessionalism among the insecure, neurotic minority
of the Tampa Bay film scene. In the wake of the successful war in the
local independent film scene, IMO, which my web sites waged and which
saw their clique disband and the Tampa Film Review a failure, however,
I figured that I had taught them a lesson, and that we could all now move
on. They could not run me off like they had so many others, which, in
my opinion, is the reason that a film scene never became a community,
which will finally happen in the future without their interference (My
differences with some in the Tampa Bay independent film scene is a long
and complicated story. I will be publishing a series of articles on Tampa
Bay Film explaining it. To summarize it, though, it is this simple. I
did not start the fight, and I did not do anything wrong. I tried to support
local independent filmmakers, I helped them, they repaid me by slandering
me and spreading malicious rumors about me, other idiots believed those
rumors and helped spread them around because they wanted to believe that
the rumors were true and they don’t think for themselves, I stood
up for myself and the rights of filmmakers, and it started a “war”
which lasted many years and which, in my opinion, I won.
Don’t take my word for it, though, find out for yourself. What they
tried to do to me they will surely do to others, and, sadly, without me
interceding with my fleet of Tampa Bay Film sites and other resources,
they will probably succeed in sabotaging others and running them off.
Fortunately, however, I will intercede, and their efforts to destroy
the credibility of others and to make them quit will fail. Looking
back, though, these people knew that I had a track record of successfully
fighting scams and that I commanded a vast arsenal of online firepower
in the form of fleets of powerful, effective web sites, so why they dared
to start with me to begin with is perplexing. Maybe they really are idiotic,
insecure, malicious douchebags who do not know how to size up an opponent
before taking them on and bite off more than they can chew, because I
certainly kicked their asses in a figurative sense, IMO).
At the moment, however, I was not thinking of all of that. I was interested
in buying some DVD’s from the tables, and a few bad apples showing
up and ruining things was not really a concern. Getting those DVD’s
was.
The opinions expressed in this review are those of the author, alone, and may not be shared by Tampa Bay Film or anyone else named on the Tampa Bay Film web site, which includes, but is not limited to, affiliates, contributors, filmmakers, sponsors, and advertisers. Information in this review consists of opinions unless otherwise specified.
NEXT: The story of the swag bag.
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