“Bedroom Tales”
was the central theme of the twelve films accepted into The Toronto Film Festival online competition, The Digital Gun Awards, that year. The theatrical releases of these films would
take place at the Regent Theatre, in
Toronto, a premiere viewing venue for live theater and new films. There, each of the twelve films, which had
made the short list, would be judged by an audience of family members, friends,
co-workers, classmates, other audience members and a panel of judges. The winner of the Digital Gun Awards, also known as the Toronto Online Film Festival, would then
be declared.
Instructions for the films’ creation and their underlying
theme, “Bedroom Tales” were given only
moments prior to the 72 hour film deadline. ... During this rigid time schedule, all screenwriting,
casting, musical direction, camera work, production, directing, editing and
acting would be done, all the responsibility of
two people working on the 6 minute ‘feature’ film. (Continuity was another step, a critical editing component,
born of genius and quick thinking, a requirement in keeping the momentum of the film moving on a
path towards its logical conclusion). ...There was no such thing as advanced
preparations. There was no time for
meetings or business lunches for discussion. Time was a precious commodity.
The film school graduates, with their varied backgrounds in
the arts, had a 72 hour window in which to accomplish the impossible, in
producing their film masterpieces on a non-existent budget. ... For the short films to have a chance of
success, the effort required was herculean. ...
Work was non-stop. ... (Sleep was
not on the to-do-list!) ... Calls were made to the actors to be ready, on
location, for the shooting of the film. Then it was done. Soon the judging
would begin.
With limited seating capacity-(900plus)- at the Regent, only 8 free passes were given
to each film's producer and director for distribution to family/friends, the remainder sold to the public. ... A little bit of Hollywood had come to the Regent Theater, elevating the event to
star status. ... The Regent Theater
was born the Belsize in the late
1920’s, located 22 minutes from downtown Toronto, Ontario, the first live
performance venue of its kind in Canada.
Years later it would become the revitalized Crest Theatre, then, finally, the Regent Theater, now a multi media facility associated with a host
of entertainment duties including film and post production. Watching a film at
the Regent is akin to taking a trip down
memory lane, a step back 60 years to a bygone era. The Regent
is currently a designated heritage property, protected and cherished by the
community in which it is located.
Goodnite, Hank was
declared the winner by an enthusiastic mixed audience and a panel of judges at the
historic theater in 2004. This short film’s underlying theme of the depiction
of human misery, mayhem and murder, in and around the bedroom, ranked it high on my list of great movies. Only
6 minutes in duration, the film kept you spellbound and eagerly anticipating
its sequel. Our youngest son, his colleague
and other valued members of the team, had accomplished the inconceivable and won! ... It
was a moment to remember for all.
The creator of “Who are we food to?” (“Who Are We Food To?” 27/01/2013) – had made his directorial debut
at the age of 21, in collaboration with his classmate, to bring a blockbuster
idea in the form of a small movie called Goodnite,
Hank, to the big screen. They had won the coveted prize, the honour, in the
prestigious Toronto Film Festival online competition. ... Imagine what they could do with a week, a
month’s worth of grocery money and a real plan.
The results could be an Oscar contender, maybe, even a nominee. ...
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