The festival is underway with a pretty good turnout, by the looks of it. When I first arrived at the theater (late, thanks to rain and traffic), there were people lined up in the back, which I thought was a bad sign for me. I'd say the screening room is about 3/4 full. But the moved it to the smaller theater this year, which is not the decision I would have made. Yes, the room seems more full, but there's less room to move around.

The first short I saw was the second of the day, about a guy who think he's Christopher Walken. Kind of slim and pointless. Really just an exercise for someone to do a Walken impersonation.

We just finished The Street Cleaner, a short film shot in Savannah. This is why film festivals are great, for movies like this. It cost just a few grand to make, yet was very effective and showed potential. That's why you make a short films: To show people you can do it. Festivals like the one in Beaufort are showcases for up and coming filmmakers, for both the guys like the Neurts (the ones who made The Street Cleaner) and the feature-length filmmakers.

The film showed real promise. The director obviously knows how to pace a film and the producers stretched their 4k budget far. There were a few mistakes — the cast lacked enthusiasm and polish, and the director chose a few too many flashy shots for no obvious reason other than to show he could do it — but it showed an ability to tell a story with a camera. Very subtle work. Very impressive.

The crew is giving a Q&A now. There will be more filmmakers throughout the day. Another great thing about a small film festival. Chairman Ron Tucker alluded to someone bigger being in the audience, connected to a film shot in the town previously, but I didn't get a name. I will try and find out and alert you to all of the Hollywood stars in attendance.

Wait, I think I see Jack Nicholson. Yes, yes ... um, no. Not him.

They're five minutes away from starting The Flyboys, the first feature, so I have to hurry to get back in. My one, major complaint so far is that everything seems so rushed. In discussing the festival beforehand, the major change that was made this year was to allow for time between movies for guest speakers. And while that is true, the five minute intervals are the ONLY time they have between the films. If you want to hear the speaker AND, say, go to the bathroom, good luck.

Since we last spoke, they showed China — my favorite so far and easily the best looking film, shot in black and white, with a great, unknown cast. In contrast to the Street Cleaner, the cast and directing were pitch perfect, while the story was just sort of OK.

They also showed A Song for Pumpkin Brown, shot in Charleston. I had to duck out early to write this, but it was slow and deliberate and ... well, I had no problem ducking out early. Pretty short but lacking in excitement.

OK, back in two hours. I am really surprised at the crowd here, like I said before. It's almost crowded. If only we could get a few more minutes in between to settle down. Maybe next year they can start an hour earlier.

Just finished Flyboys. We're in the middle of a Q&A from the film's producer now. The audience seemed to really enjoy it. I guess I'm in the minority. It's not bad, just about 30 minutes too long. And one of the leads, who looks like Brett Favre, was pretty horrible.

Plus, is it fair to downgrade a movie because of a ridiclous ending? I think it is. There's a five-minute skydiving sequence that defies 2-3 of Newton's laws of gravity. It completely took me out of the film.

Maybe if they trim that down, or fix it somehow, and cut about 20 minutes out of the film. Maybe CGI out Brett Favre, it wouldn't be bad.

Although the producer just said the film was "just now" finished (which is odd, since it's played in other festivals). One of the actors plays Landry on Friday Night Lights. He looks about 12 in this movie. So, doing the math -- and doing the "Tom Sizemore is involved and has been in jail/rehab on and off for the past two years" addition -- I guess the film was shot about five years ago.

That's the odd thing about small festivals like this. And independent film. Either the movie was shot years ago and just now finished, or it was shot, shown, tweaked, retweaked, reshopped around, and now is here.

I sound like I'm down on the movie. I'm not. I give it a B. Not great. Not horrible. But do I expect to ever see it again anywhere else? Probably not.

And Stephen Baldwin was in it and didn't stink, which is the greatest accomplishment.

Up next is another feature, Greetings From the Shore. Tonight at 7 is Four Children of Tander Welch. Having not seen it, I'm guessing this is the fave for Best in Show, because of its SC ties.

This schedule's a brute. Next film starting. Will post more later.

Just watched Down the Shore. I have two minutes before the next film. I've taken two bathroom breaks in the middle of the films, because there's literally no time in between. Not that I'm complaining. Not too much.

If I could wave my wand and give myself 5 extra minutes in between films, I would. But I guess since I'm the only one doing a live blog, it's not pratical to have too long of a break. Although it would give more people time to show up and get settled.

It's really been a great day so far and the audiences, like I've written, have been impressive. I think this year, so far, is better than last.

It's really fun to be able to attend something like this in Beaufort. I'm glad the turnout has been better this year. You should try and make it out for day two. These are the type of experiences you don't get every week, sitting in a theater for 10 hours watching seven films you know nothing about.

Really enjoyed the last film, Down the Shore. It starred Kim Shaw, who I don't know, but who could play Britney Spears in the inevitable TV movie. I could see this coming of age comedy-drama playing on Lifetime or ABC Family. Definitely my favorite thus far, but there are three more movies scheduled today.

I was mentioning Tander Welch in my last post, before I had to go. Lot of local ties. IP columnist David Lauderdale wrote me earlier to tell me that a friend of his daughter, Erin Burr from Hilton Head, is an associate producer of the production, so there's your Beaufort County tie. I think Erin will be here tonight.

OK, first doc of the day is starting, and I am in the hall finishing this.

Back in an hour and a half.

There's a video they're showing in between movies made by the Beaufort Film Festival, with clips of feature films shot here, interviews, film posters. It really is great. For next year they should expand that, make it longer, have it as a participant, it's really cool to see the Beaufort-centric scenes edited together with filmmakers discussing why they chose Beaufort.

Just saw River Ways. The first documentary. I missed the first 5 minutes because I was in the hall blogging, and it took me an hour to figure out what it was about. Fishing? Farming? The Environment. No. A dam. Some people like them, others don't. Lots of yelling. And fisherman complaing because the dams are killing fish (How dare the dams kill fish before we can!)

I didn't really like it. A documentary doesn't NEED a point of view, it doesn't need to take sides, but it should clearly outline the argument before the 1:20 mark. Maybe that's just me.

I expect a big crowd for the next one, Tander Welch. The producers are here too. I'm taking a popcorn break, will be back in an hour with some more thoughts and the wrapup around 11. Please make plans to attend my final thoughts.

One more feature to go, and I can't imagine it will be better than The Four Children of Tander Welch, which was just screened. I've said this before, why festivals like this are important. And, OK, I understand some people would love Sundance Beaufort or a mini Savannah Film Fest, with big movies and big actors and big events. But, realistically, that won't happen. What we will always get are movies that have no hope of distribution, and films like Tander Welch. Perfect little pieces of local, homegrown, independent film that, if we and the filmmakers are lucky, will one day find an audience.

My barometer for these features is always, where do I see this playing? I could definitely see Tander Welch on DVD someday, or playing on the Independent Film Channel. Made for 100k and featuring the work of college student crew members, Tander looks and feels real. It's not some amateur-hour, hastily thought out film. It's clever and brisk and deep and well-written and well-acted. I really loved it, and I hope the guys who made it, and the cast involve, have success beyond Beaufort.

OK, one more movie to go. My battery on this laptop is dead (I'm currently in a hall, trying to avoid being trampled) so I'll make my final post tomorrow morning to kick off day two.

Oh, another cool thing about the Tander experience that just ended, the director, producers and several of the actors were in attendance. I can't say it more clearly: THIS is why you have a film festival in Beaufort. It's a celebration of South Carolina filmmaking and the POSSIBILITY of Beaufort as a future sight for up and coming filmmakers. Well done.

Beaufort, SC Film Festival Snubs Indie Filmmakers/Screenwriters, Renegs On Screenplay Awards

The announcements for the Beaufort film festival's screenplay competition touted a 1st Place award, The Ribaut: A custom crafted crystal art piece.

The festival had numerous entrants in this competition, according to the chairman, and out of all those competing for a 1st Place award and other recognition, and three finalists that the judges selected and announced, the festival failed to make any awards.

How is it that among all screenplay entrants, "one" could not be selected as 1st Place, and that no award of any sort would be given?

Complaints in regard to the film festival's decisions not to make an award of any sort in its screenwriting competition are supported by writers, independent filmmakers and others, including Withoutabox, which was utilized to recruit film festival submissions, and whose representatives recommended the festival reinstate the screenwriting awards.

Despite the fact that the festival originally offered an award of this sort, most writers care more about receiving respect and recognition for their work. The screenplays of the finalists have won awards in many far more established and prestigious contests, and all of them were well qualified here.

The decision not to make the advertised 1st Place award to any entrant in this competition represents a de facto cancellation of the competition, and resembles a bait-and-switch scenario... where you identify an award category -- collect money and entries -- nominate finalists -- pull the rug out from under them -- congratulate them and send them home empty handed. With NO awards of any sort given.

This festival misrepresented itself to the screenwriters who entered the competition, and the independent film community, by not giving a promised award to someone. They failed to make an announced award. They failed to provide a disclaimer regarding withholding awards. They failed to tell those who entered that they were not giving an award, until just days before the festival.

Even more disappointing is the fact that this festival is sponsored, in part, by a chamber of commerce and a regional film commission seeking to use independent filmmakers to further validate the area's bona fides as a film-friendly location -- while at the same time disregarding and dismissing the very participants in your festival.

Filmmakers who might have had an interest in working here or in participating in your festivals, or with your community in the future, should know who they are dealing with -- especially those people who do not honor their promises.

The following are the 2008 Beaufort Film Festival Screenplay Finalists:

Voices
Screenwriter: Susan Klos.