Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Local filmmakers Chris Woods and Joe Davison are starting something called the Tampa Film Network on February 1.

The Tampa Film Network is a group of individuals in the process of writing, producing or directing independent films in or around the Tampa Bay area. The goal of the TFN is to unite the local film community and work towards better production values. They hope to get these filmmakers together for networking and to help each other with different projects. A local screenwriter looking for someone to make her script into a movie might connect with a local director looking for his next project. A director looking for someone to do lighting or sound for his next film might have an easier time of finding someone, since he has other local filmmakers to consult.

The inaugural meeting of the Tampa Film Network is Wednesday, February 1, at Durango Steak House (Best Western) on Westshore Blvd. at 8 p.m. If you’re interested and planning to attend, please let Woods or Davison know so they can have an idea of how many to expect.

For more information, visit www.iconfilmstudios.com or www.popgunpictures.com.

Everywhere you look these days, the local film scene is in the news.  Not that I’m complaining, mind you.  Here’s a brief summary of what I’ve come across recently:

*Tampa Bay Illustrated magazine’s January issue contains a six-page article about all the great things the Tampa Bay area has to offer filmmakers.  The article includes quotes from local film commissioners Krista Soroka and Jennifer Parramore, a list of local film festivals, a list of recent film/video projects made by local filmmakers, and much more.

*The revamped Coffeehouse Film Review (now known as the Tampa Film Review) was pronounced a hit by the St. Pete Times in a recent article.

*The Tampa International Film Festival made the front page of the local Indian newspaper Khaas Baat and was featured on the Movie News section of the Turner Classic Movies website.

80 years ago today…

January 30, 1926 – The Seaboard Air Line Railway places an embargo against freight received at Tampa ports by water from trans-shipment to interior ports in the state, threatening to isolate the port of Tampa.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center

Cramped capacity concerns cluless cops. Command compromises, consequently cancelling cumbersome cooler canon.

Community chronicle clarifies cooler complication:

TAMPA - The cooler problem had police momentarily flummoxed as the Gasparilla Parade got under way Saturday.

Earlier in the week, police put out the word that ice chests would be prohibited from the parade route for safety reasons.

At 10:20 a.m. an officer, mindful that coolers were, at least technically, prohibited along the parade route, called for a clarification. The officer radioed in and asked what to do about them.

“No coolers,” the dispatcher replied. “Repeat, no coolers.”

What are they supposed to do, he asked. They can’t confiscate the coolers.

“You are to advise paradegoers that coolers are not allowed on the parade route,” the dispatcher said.

“Do we make them take ‘em back or what?” the officer asked.

The dispatcher wasn’t sure. She called the command post.

“Go ahead,” the command center said.

Over the radio, the dispatcher heaved a deep sigh. “There’s a question in reference to coolers,” she said.

Officers are supposed to advise people that coolers are forbidden, she explained, “but they can’t take them away. What are officers to do, sir?”

Command said it would get back to her.

Moments later, word went out that coolers, for the most part, were cool.

Tampa police spokesman Joe Durkin later explained: “We’re not confiscating coolers.”

The police would deal with them on a case-by-case basis, and require people to take them back to their cars or homes if they contained prohibited items, such as glass containers, although baby food would be all right.

The parade rolled on.

65 years ago today…

January 29, 1941 – Approval is given for the immediate construction of Henderson Field, a new airfield near Temple Terrace, as part of the national defense buildup.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center

From the Tampa Police website
(Note: The mispelling of “fundraising” is not my error, that is how the Tampa police spell it )

DON’T bring any glass containers. There is a City of Tampa ordinance prohibiting open glass containers on city streets, sidewalks, alleys and other outdoor public property.DON’T bring alcoholic beverages to this event. It is illegal, in the City of Tampa, to consume any alcoholic beverage on any city street, sidewalk, alley or other public property. Its also illegal to possess an open alcoholic beverage container on city streets, sidewalks, alleys or other city property.

Gasparilla Day parade provides areas within the event that are Wet Zoned to consume Alcoholic Beverages. These Zones are managed by Non-Profit Charities as funder raises for their organization. We recommend persons patronize these locations and discourage consuming Alcoholic Beverages outside of the Wet Zone Areas.Persons with coolers and holding tickets to corporate tents and pre paid seating areas will be deterred from entering the area with their cooler. Event security will be checking these items.

Persons with kegs and dispensing Alcohol on Public property will have these items confiscated.

Pirates have been spotted in the bay.  It seems they are in a mood to party.  If you happen to be on Bayshore between Newport & Willow during the parade, feel free to say hello.  I’ll be wearing a Sticks shirt.

85 years ago today…

January 28, 1921 – The American Railway Express Company at Union Station is robbed “stickup” style by two men during the afternoon rush hour. The men get away with $19,700 ($182,000 in today’s dollars) and two other packages, one of which contained cigars.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center