This past weekend was the first ever Orlando Film Festival... in case you missed it, and it's likely you did. The people who put this thing together are well-known and respected in the Florida film community. I got a chance to sit down with the programming team, Brian Quain and Michael King. You may recognize Brian as the inventor of a phenomenon only known as "The Game". Michael is known mostly in Orlando for his Writing-Producing-Acting role in his film The Way Back Home.

Go get the Podcast at Make it Short, part of Liberatr.net if you are interested. About 11 minutes. Just use your right mouse button and download it like a good kid, or subscribe.

I found out tonight while watching Vision TV's Behind the Indie Camera with Ralph Clemente that The Way Back Home was produced largely at Valencia... Good to know. A bit pretentious to interview people from a film you were in on your own show, but who doesn't want to be proud of the institution they have put years of blood, sweat and tears into? If I ever get braggy about my projects, let me know.

Also on the film front is local startup Caféshorts. This is the sort of thing you have to see to believe, and now I believe. Brett Jaffe, a local writer/producer and FSU alum, got the idea to help bars and restaurants get some extra patrons on their slow nights by supplying 4 or so short films and (I think) sharing profits that come in from reservations - the reservations are key. They take 10-15 minute breaks to give people time to talk, order another drink, and eat their food with the lights turned on, then they get on to the next film. Pretty simple.

Halfway through we were presented with a comment card. According to the Caféshorts site:

96% of patrons surveyed indicated they want to attend the next caféshorts night and 100% indicated they would bring someone new next time to introduce them to caféshorts

It's true. In fact, I invited friends before my first screening because I knew the programming and the venue would be above average. I hear rumors about places you might be seeing Caféshorts nights soon, but I'm sure I'm not allowed to say...