Film’s all it’s cracked up to be, fans

By Mary Alice Blackwell

Published: April 17, 2008

There is another local filmmaker in the news.  Just got word that Brian Wimer is in the running for honors at the Virginia Film Competition.
Just got word that there is a Virginia Film Competition.
“It’s a new competition,” said Kathryn Stephens, industry relations manager for the Virginia Film Office. “We have held the Virginia Screenwriters Competition for 20 years now, and we have noticed that there has been a surge in independent filmmaking, not only in Virginia, but across the U.S.”
Since the Richmond-based film office has been assisting writers, Stephens said, “it was time to pull some attention toward the best filmmakers in the state.”
The rules were simple. The movies — documentaries, short films and feature-lengths — had to be filmed in Virginia by Virginia residents or students attending school in the state.
Fifty people sent in samples for the inaugural competition. A panel of judges narrowed the list to 13, including our very own Wimer.
“Hard Boiled,” a tale of two gangsters who really foul up their job, is in the running for the best short film.
If you attended the Virginia Film Festival’s Volvo Adrenaline Film Project, you would have seen Wimer’s handiwork. You also would have noticed Stevie Jay in a “prominent” role and even heard some musical licks by Lance Brenner.
“If you go to YouTube and type in Brian’s name, you can see ‘Hard Boiled,’ ” Stephens said. “I have seen most of the films, and ‘Hard Boiled’ is just hilarious.”
As you read, a second panel of judges will be going through the 13 finalists to determine three winners. The best short earns $250, while the documentary and feature-length films each garner a $500 prize. More importantly, the filmmakers get a chance to show their works to industry professional … and to you.
The Virginia Film Office and the Virginia Production Alliance are joining forces to hold a one-day Virginia Independent Film Festival. All 13 finalists will be screened at the Byrd Theatre in Richmond on April 26.
Wimer and six other directors will show their short films from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Three documentaries are scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon, while the three feature finalists will close out the fest from 3 to 6:15 p.m.
All the filmmakers will be on hand to have Q&A sessions with the audience.
“People will be able to ask filmmaker about specific shots or about their characters,” Stephens said. “It’s a great opportunity for everyone to learn.”
Tickets to the festival are $5 for each session, or you can get an all-day pass for a mere $10.
“We could have waited another year, to really publicize the competition and get the word out, but we really wanted to get started … and the quality of films is really impressive.”
You can find out more about the festival at http://www.film.virginia.org or head to YouTube to check out Wimer’s work.
And the nominees are…

Documentaries:
“Project Floyd,” Kevin Mounce (Virginia Beach)
“The Person Most Real,” Olivia Dodson (Amherst)
“Discovering Archaeology: The Curles Neck Project,” Robert Mark (Richmond)

Short Films:
“Canned,” Joseph Rohrs (Virginia Beach)
“Lustig,” John Francis Black II (Gainesville)
“When You Wish Upon a Fish,” Gabe Uhr (Arlington)
“Scarlet Letters,” Kevin Hershberger (Richmond)
“Hard Boiled,” Brian Wimer (Charlottesville)
“Thoughts on Departure,” William Robinette (Richmond)
“April Fool,” James Shearer (Portsmouth)

Feature Films:
“Subs,” Jay Gates (Virginia Beach)
“Freedom,” Rick McVey (Bristol)
“Forgotten Stars,” James Shearer (Portsmouth)

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