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Sarasota Herald Tribune (Florida)
April 15, 2011 Friday
MARTY FUGATE Correspondent
Director Andrzej Mrotek’s “The Proxy” is a political thriller.
[/frame] Five filmmakers with roots in Sarasota have packed their big ideas into five short films, which will be featured at the SRQ Shorts presentation today and Sunday at the Sarasota Film Festival.
Director Charlie Anderson’s “All Day Yeah” is a simply told narrative of a day in the life of Joey, an alienated, homeless teenager. Lacking a job, a roof over his head and even a good pair of shoes, Joey gets a break in the form of a free, all-day pass to an amusement park. But the invitation comes with a price.
Director Andrzej Mrotek’s “The Proxy” is a political thriller with a philosophical question: If technology can replace the individual, how much is the individual worth? He posits a near future society in which the question is no longer philosophical — and the inventor of the “Proxy” technology suddenly finds himself up for replacement.
Director Datey Gallagher’s “Mediocrity for Miracles” is about a small southern town, once famous for a bizarre miracle but now largely forgotten. Years later, a 56-year-old woman and a boy putting up missing persons fliers cross paths. Another, more personal, miracle is about to take place.
Director Moe Lynch’s “Crushed” investigates private pain that refuses to stay private. A secretary’s bruises scream of abuse in the home front. The secretary’s boss helps her hide the secret source of her pain. The secretary’s fellow employees suspect a battering boyfriend. But the truth behind the wounds is darker and deeper.
Director Shaun Greenspan’s “The Break Up” is a comedic film short about a very short romance. A 9-year-old boy takes his 8-year-old girlfriend out on a pizza date; then he bluntly tells her that he wants to break up. He lists his reasons: a shrinking allowance, his girlfriend’s expensive tastes, and his blossoming interest in an older woman — a fourth-grader.
Greenspan notes that, “Every director involved appreciates the recognition this presentation gives us. I think this should also encourage emerging local filmmakers not to stop trying. You really can make it in Hollywood, if you’re ready to work hard and spend 15 hours on set to do what it takes and have a good attitude while doing it. If you show that kind of commitment, industry people will want to hire you again and again. That’s the secret.”