Sitting with Laura Cipriani for several minutes, one thing becomes evident: the owner of The L-Train loves the movies.
“I'm an avid movie watcher, she says. “I'm constantly quoting lines from movies and I'm a huge fan. I always have been.”
That's why the New York City native is excited about her newest project called “8 Minute Movies,” which invites locals to use their creativity in a whole new way.
“It's a chance for people to express themselves in a way they may not have tried before,” Cipriani says. “They can do a comedy, a drama, some farce”filmmakers can run the gamut.”
Admittedly, in its three months of existence, the films have been “amateurish,” but that's kind of the point, Cipriani says. With the help of today's technology, anyone can make a movie and with a little bit of editing, creating a small masterpiece can be done in no time.
“When you get bit by the film bug it never leaves you,” says Cipriani, who landed at The L-Train when it first opened as Pink Pelicans 18 months ago. “This is a fun event and I have the facility to bring something original to the area. We've had some fun films already.”
The idea of “8-Minute Movies” sprang to mind when Cipriani talked with local artist and fashion designer Brianna Kole about ways to utilize the 43-seat theater. The space at 25b Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. used to be a law office, but was converted into a bar and theater in 2009.
“Brianna has her finger on the pulse of things and suddenly I thought, “Let's make a movie!'” Cipriani laughs. “Then that evolved into creating a mini-film festival and encouraging our customers to make them.”
The L-Train has been home to several styles of entertainment. It originally opened as a movie theater and bar. It went through a phase for drag shows and then live theater. Now, Cipriani is excited to return back to the building's roots.
“There's no other space like this in St. Petersburg”or in Tampa Bay that I am aware of,” she says.
Anyone can submit a film and they don't have to be eight minutes in length. In fact, Cipriani says she has yet to see a film submitted that ran for more than five minutes. The key is to keep them short so that an audience or judges can vote on a favorite. Winners of the “award-winning film” get a bar tab or other prizes given by other organizations.
The next big event is scheduled for Saturday, June 17 in conjunction with St. Pete Pride. That night, a panel of judges from St. Pete Pride and the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival will be on hand to pick the best of the best.
“And that night the winning film will be taken on to TIGLFF in the fall to be shown during the 11-day festival,” Cipriani says. “That's a pretty big deal. You never know what can happen after that.”
Know the rules
Making a movie may sound easy”or difficult”depending on your relationship with technology. But there are a few guidelines aspiring filmmakers must follow in order to participate in “8-Minute Movies.”
“Anyone can participate as long as they don't do pornography and don't show anything illegal,” Cipriani says. “I don't want people throwing puppies off a roof and filming it. Film is a wide open canvas and it's yours to paint on. That's where creativity thrives.”
So far Cipriani has been impressed by the films she's seen. Filmmakers have ranged from chefs and bartenders to photographers. Each time a film is shown the crowd seems enthusiastic in its response.
“It's not always easy to express yourself in a social setting,” she says. “This gives a chance for the shy, boisterous, talented and those who think they're talented to show us what they've got. It's also a chance for aspiring filmmakers and every day people”or everyday people who try their hand at a film”to meet and talk with one another.”
Films must be submitted at least two days before the showing date and they must be downloaded onto a DVD-R format for easy play.
The number of filmmakers participating each month is unlimited as of now.
More information and guidelines are available online at TheLTrain.com.
S+H
WHAT: 8-Minute Movies
WHEN: June 17
INFO: TheLTrain.com
