The Buzz of Northwest Georgia (click)
A look ahead and a look back, all by the numbers including:
-Rome International Film Festival's 86 films.
-Greater Rome chamber's 82 Expo reservations--early bird, we note.
-Toga-wearing partiers: 1,246, some 921 short of the record but . . .
-As Town Green is dedicated, another $275,000 'appears' for enhancements.
-Take me out to the ball game? Low year in tickets, wins for Rome Braves.
-A cheap dinner from the Chick-- but a few cents more to get there.
-Social media indeed indeed: Rome page at 1,991 members.
Today's Focus: Economic dramas don't stop the show for Rome International Film Festival (Friday, Saturday in downtown Rome)
John McClellan's Friday night picks:
-Calhoun wins big over Cartersville.
-For more, click Football Report.
Calhoun second, Pepperell sixth in latest poll> High School Daily
-Tuesday's edition of Georgia High School Football Daily> Click
Your latest forecast:
-Tuesday: Partly sunny, high of 87, low of 63.
-Wednesday: Partly sunny, high of 87, low of 63.
-Your extended forecast> Weather / Local radar > Radar
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable (click)
-Bobby Knight in the Indiana Hall of Fame; SEC basketball will be seen everywhere
-Braves drops season ender, 6 to 5, to Augusta.
-Mills Fitzner's pictures from the 2009 season> Gallery
-Some thank you notes on the 2009 season.
-'Softball Slam' coming to State Mutual Stadium Oct. 23-25> Sports
Buzz, by the numbers:
86 FILMS: That's the number of films scheduled for showing Friday and Saturday as the Sixth Annual Rome International Film Festival debuts in downtown Rome. For a preview, please see Natalie Simms' story below
EIGHTY-TWO RESERVATIONS: That's how many slots have been booked at the 2009 Business Expo by the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce set for Nov. 6-7 at The Forum. Only 17 spots remain with just under two months to go before show time. That's a great response in these recessionary times. Click Chamber
![[IMG_9065_edited-1-784059.jpg]](http://www.hometownheadlines.com/New_Site/images/IMG_9065_edited-1-784059_000.jpg)
1,246 TOGAS: That's the official number of certified toga-wearing people as Rome attempted to crash the Guinness toga party record, falling short by 921 people. It was a great idea to put a fun spin on celebrating Rome's 175th anniversary. Crowds packed The Forum Saturday afternoon as the count got under way.
>Photo: That's Lori Walker of Rome dancing with her toga-wearing daughters Ruthie and Meredith. Photo by Mills Fitzner. For more photos,
275,000 DOLLARS: That is the amount of additional funds said to be en route to Rome's waterfront projects. As nice as Town Green looks today, a lot more is on the way and these dollars will play a big part in making that happen.
183,750 TICKETS: That's how many tickets were sold at State Mutual Stadium for the 2009 Rome Braves' season, which ended Monday. That works out to 2,826 fans per game. The overall attendance was down 17.3 percent from the 222,168 tickets sold in 2008. This was the smallest total since the Braves arrived in Rome in 2003 and a good chunk of the blame goes toward the economy. The on-field performance was pretty so-so this year as well as Rome finished with 66 wins and 73 loses.
$5.98 DINNER FOR THREE: That's all it cost to feed three people (sandwich, fries and water or lemon-aid) on Monday thanks to Chick-Fil-A's sports logo promotion. All you had to do was wear some sort of sports paraphernalia to one of the restaurants and you qualified for a free sandwich. All we can say: Go Chick!
11 CENTS: That's how much difference there was in the price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline in the Buford area and in Cartersville on Monday evening vs. the $2.35 being charged at the Murphy Oil pumps and other spots in Rome the same day. It must have something to do with Rome's distance? Hmmm ...
Economic dramas don't stop sixth Rome International Film Festival as 86 films from 20-plus countries create movie oasis for fans
By Natalie Simms
While economic purse-strings have shortened this weekend's Rome International Film Festival to two days, movie-goers will still get to experience the same quality independent films from all over the world. This year's sixth annual festival will be showing 86 films from the United States and more than 20 other countries Friday and Saturday.
"We've shortened the festival but not the quality," says Harry Musselwhite, executive director of RIFF. "Our fundraising, the bedrock of our ability to present RIFF, was severely impacted by the economy this year."
While the majority of lost funding had state ties, local sponsorships also have been reduced, including a number from area financial institutions.
"The main funding we lost this year was on the state level. We lost the Georgia Council for the Arts Grant, as did everyone in the state, which was our main seed money," Musselwhite says. "Also, we lost our grant from The Georgia Film Office, a total deduction from our budget of over $13,000."
Economic factors also have hit the independent film-making industry. RIFF officials saw a decrease in the number of submissions from previous years.
"We had around 300 submissions this year vs. 500 from last year. This we attribute to the economy," he says. "We did call for submissions from MovieMaker Magazine to the newspapers at Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia State University and more."
Budget constrictions forced RIFF to cut the gala opening night film and instead, present a special evening at the close of the event on Saturday. "Gala Evening with RIFF" at Heritage Hall features the film "Poundcake," followed by the awards ceremony and the party.
"Poundcake," directed by Rafael Monserrate, is a comedy about a dysfunctional family that focuses on a couple who announce their upcoming divorce to three grown children the night before Thanksgiving in the late 1980s. It stars Academy Award nominee Kathleen Quinlan and Jay O. Sanders.
"At the Awards Ceremony, we will present legendary Hollywood producer Hillard Elkins with a lifetime achievement award, and he will be in attendance," says Musselwhite. "Elkins managed such stars are Mel Brooks, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, and produced many famous films, including 'Alice's Restaurant.' "
Friday evening, RIFF will have a special multimedia presentation at the DeSoto Theatre featuring legendary African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux with live music accompanying his silent films by Stace England and the Salt Kings.
"These talented Midwestern musicians will present original music to the film work of Micheaux," Musselwhite says. "They will also present a seminar on this important African-American filmmaker on Friday afternoon at Heritage Hall."
New this year, RIFF will feature two free seminars for interested local filmmakers. On Saturday at 11 a.m. at Heritage Hall, Hollywood Literary Agent Ryan Saul will present "From Art to Commerce: Write Commercially without Compromising Your Story." At 3 p.m., Noel Paynter with Film Production Capitol will present "Film Financing for Independent Filmmakers." This seminar will discuss how to use Georgia Film Tax Credits.
Musselwhite also noted that festival-goers will not want to miss "Mythic Journeys," a documentary by Whitney and Steve Boe which features footage shot in Rome's Myrtle Hill Cemetery. (Click Mythic Journeys)
"We were first in Rome for the film festival in 2005 and we fell in love with the town. It's so warm and cute," says Whitney Boe. "And the festival is so welcoming to filmmakers. It really was a great experience and we thought it would make a great place to film our next film."
And so, the Boes returned to Rome in 2006 to shoot their current film, "Mystic Journeys," which is an imaginative fusion of documentary and animation that affirms, "Every life is a story and that story can change the world." The film stars actors Tim Curry, Mark Hamill and Lance Henriksen. It just recently won "Best of Fest in Animated Short" at DragonCon in Atlanta.
"Rome is actually the birthplace of 'Mythic Journeys,'" Boe says. "Through suggestions and an introduction by RIFF Executive Director Harry Musselwhite, the film was born."
According to Boe, the film defines myth and its relevance in today's world, while inspiring people to connect to each other and their communities. "Mythic Journeys" will be shown Friday at 5 p.m. at The DeSoto Theatre.
"We're really grateful to the Rome Film Commission," she says. "We have even mentioned to other friends who are filmmakers that Rome is a great place to film, as well as encouraging them to submit to the festival."
A complete schedule of events and show times is available at www.riff.tv. Tickets can also be purchased online or at each screening. Venues include Heritage Hall and DeSoto Theatre. Full festival passes are $30 for one day and $50 for both days.
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