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August 14, 2002
Los Gatos, California Since 1881 |
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Editorial
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Summer activities create good reason to stay
home
Shortly after Councilman Joe Pirzynski began
his term as mayor in 2001, he met with two of
Camera Cinema owners Jack Nyblom and Jim Zuur
to talk about—what else? Los Gatos' parking
problem. But as they sat on the deck at
Borders, the conversation wandered to the
subject of film festivals.
It seemed pretty pie-in-the-sky at the time.
But it didn't take long for the idea to take
hold. The actual planning didn't begin til
after the Fourth of July celebration in 2001.
In fact, it was the success of that first
major community event that convinced film
festival enthusiasts that the idea was
doable, and in October, the town staged its
first film festival.
Now the festival has become a major summer
event offering a mix of strictly hometown
family events as well as more traditional
film festival fare. And as usual, community
volunteers have rolled up their sleeves to
ensure success.
New to the festival is Reel Beginnings,
showcasing Los Gatos filmmakers in an
under-21 category and an over-21 category. A
committee headed by Joanne Talesfore has
stirred up enthusiasm for a competition that
attracted 22 submissions. She's been ably
assisted by Maggie and Jim Creighton, Mike
Pierce and Don Callahan. Young filmmakers
Blake Dirickson and Katherine Bowe of Oven
Mitt Productions were instrumental in helping
the committee develop criteria for judging
entries.
The overall committee, headed by Diane
McNutt, learned last week that Kevin Pollak
will appear at the festival to discuss his
role in Ghost Mother , which has its
premiere showing on Aug. 24. The film
features Mark Thomas (who also wrote the
screenplay), Joe Montegna, Dana Delaney and
Charles Durning.
Also appearing on Aug. 24 will be Boston
filmmaker Jennifer Campbell, who will answer
questions following the screening of her
film, Nine , an award-winning documentary
about nine breast cancer survivors (including
Los Gatan Mary Ruddell) who raced together in
the world's largest two-day international
rowing regatta.
The festival kicks off with the screening of
the editor's cut of E.T., The
Extra-Terrestrial at Oak Meadow Park, and
the festival includes a pre-screening brunch
at Willow Street Wood-Fired Pizza and the
"That's a Wrap Party" at the Toll House
Hotel, both on Aug. 24.
Not a bad outcome for a discussion that
started more than a year ago about the town's
parking problems.
But the film festival is just one of a number
of activities that have made summers in Los
Gatos a good reason to spend more time at
home. Over the weekend, the Kiwanis Club
staged its annual Fiesta de Artes; in July,
there was the Shakespeare Festival, not to
mention the big town celebration for the
Fourth of July.
And while the Town Plaza was closed for
renovation, the civic center proved to be an
ideal setting for the Music in the Plaza
series.
What a summer it's been.
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