Local film festival appoaching 10 year anniversary

By Matt Brown, Multimedia Director.

The Hell’s Half Mile Launch oarty took participants backward in time, to a ‘60s and ‘70s themed party held at Retro Attics, 1123 Saginaw St. in downtown Bay City. From 7-11 p.m. Michigan made beers, hand snacks and high expectations were had in the vintage decor store.

“It could be bigger, but we just need the resources to make it bigger,” says festival founder and director Alan LaFave. “We have great theatres here in Bay City, why can’t we bring big movies here?”

This year marks a big anniversary for the festival, and LaFave believes it is important to push forward. “The organizers, we are not filmmakers, we don’t have connections to filmmakers in the community, not that there is one,” says LaFave, “But if we can support what they are doing, then perhaps it will become a community of filmmakers.”

The founder urged the community to focus on making the film community in the area sustainable. LaFave had a hand in creating the Digital Film track in the Electronic Media program at Delta, covering entrepreneurial aspects by adding the “Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management I” course. “We want to help figure out: how do I do this again, and again, and again without charging up one credit card and going bankrupt,” he explains.

People gained courage throughout the night as the venue steadily filled. Now fully indulging in their first Hell’s Half Mile launch party, Keith Schnabel of Bay City has “been in four or five of the local shorts,” most of which have been through Delta’s film Capstone course.

“Rider Strong, who was apparently on a sitcom that I didn’t watch as a child, went to one and laughed at a joke in a film that I was in,” jests Schnabel. “That would be the highlight of my career, if that was my career, and I knew who Rider Strong was.”

This fusion was not without a soundtrack, as Lightnin’ Licks Vinyl Preservation Society played all eras of music on vinyl.

Vinyl Preservation Society member, and HHM organizer, Brendan Baranek spoke on the mood of the event: “If you look around tonight, these are the faces that are really shaping a community, and you are helping maintain a legacy.”

Find out what happens first at www.hhmfest.com. Participate in the legacy from Thursday, Sept. 24 to Sunday, Sept. 27. To learn about

volunteering for the festival visit www.hhmfest.com/volunteerinfo/

Music:
Cold Blood Club