Day one: Let the Screenings Begin – July 12, 2007

Watch the clip for 4000.

The first order of business was showing up at the screening of "4000" on July 12th at 1 PM. This is the film where I was the host, telling the story about my dad's cancer, interviewing doctors, nurses, former smokers, etc. about the harmful effects of smoking.

Friends of mine who wanted to see me on the big screen, and who could also get off or work in the middle of a weekday, showed up.

Our film kicked off the festival (Well, actually two other short films showed right before ours...but it was kick off day.)

Before going inside the theater, I interviewed some of the other filmmakers and did an intro to the festival outside the theater for my segment on Rockmetv.com.

Once inside...I took off my interviewers hat, and became a performer...it's always weird being involved in a film where months before you did your part...then with the magic of a director, editor etc. it is transformed into a finished work - a finished work that you have no idea how it looks. Then you invite all your friends hoping that it's good and that they enjoy it...because face it...if it sucks you want to be more of a magician and disappear than a performer at that moment.

So as the lights went out, I sat with the Mike, the director and my assistant, Vanessa...you know morale support. I figured if they were there and happy, I'm right there with them.

Seeing myself on the giant screen is still fun for me, since most of my stuff is live or TV...As I watch myself in the darken theater...I hope that no pimples or anything show up in magnified proportions...and more importantly that the film is well received and people get the message and think it is an important documentary, one that could hopefully change or save lives.

The thing is, I have a special interest in this cause, since I detest smoking...it has a special place in my brain since my dad died of cancer from the little white sticks. I'm hoping Dad has a front row seat in heaven and is proud and maybe even nudging a few relatives on earth to quit smoking...then again if his angel wings can't do it, maybe this film can.

During the screening, the response was good. Audience laughs were where they were supposed to be, and audience reaction peaked at just the right moments...Yes! A success!

Afterwards, audience members came up to me and said, "I wish my uncle/aunt/kids/boyfriend would see this film...you did a great job and I think it would help them to realize all the crap they are putting in their bodies." I taped some audience interviews, did a closing piece, hugged, high-fived fellow actors and snapped pictures of cast and crew and then went out to a celebratory lunch with my friends.

Day Two- Opening Night Party – July 13th, 2007

On this night, two feature films, The Insurgents (Starring John Shea, Mary Stuart Materson) and Brutal Massacre (a comedy horror flick) were screening at the Bellmore.

Prior to the screening there was a party with the cast and crew from a variety of films. I was there with my trusty cameraman, Brian to do interviews for Fran's World.

The first actor I grabbed a hold of was John Shea. I was proud that I had done some research on John and was able to rattle off some of his accomplishments.

Watch my interview with John.

"Hey, Fran Capo here. I'm with actor, John Shea, from Honey,I Shrunk the kids, Stealing home...you know the guy who played Lex Luthor on Lois's and Clarks New Adventures of Superman...this man is a filmmaker, won best actor in the Montreal film festival and is here now because he is one of the stars in the moving that is screening tonight called the Insurgents. Hey John how are ya?

John smiled, "Great, I see that you done your homework, impressive...except it's Honey I Blew UP the kids."

"Wow...Um...Really? Nah, I'm short, I can't be doing the blew up the kids version...it's honey I shrunk the kids...for us short people...you were in that movie...get it right John." I smiled. (It was the best recovery I could think of and he knew it.)

We both laughed. Then he went on to give me a fantastic interview. He later complimented me and told me he liked my style. Cracks me up...my style I guess is just being me.

After that I interviewed my friend from Big Brother TV fame, Eddie McGee. Eddie and I were in "The Signs of the Cross" together last year. Since our movie and the winning of Big Brother show, Eddie created his own production company, called Tripod pictures. This year he produced a 35mm short called, The Angel, about a 12 year old girl who sits at her dying grandma's bedside. The girl fears death will take her grandmother away from her. Her only hope appears to be a mysterious stranger with one leg. That stranger of course is played by none other than Eddie McGee- who actually has only one leg after losing it to a bout with cancer as a child. Eddie's film would go on to win best film short in the festival.

Watch my interview with Eddie.

There were so many people to interview, actually my good friend Donna Drake lined them all up outside the theater and for the next 45 minutes, I interviewed actresses, filmmakers, producers etc...all talking about their films. I felt I was running a bakery shop and they all had numbers. (Ah, Where's the cannolis when you need them!)

It was a melting pot of international talent...people had flown in from Australia, India, Romania, Italy, Israel, Austria, Canada, Austria, France, Mexico and the United Kingdom. Over 450 filmmakers submitted their films, but only these 147 were being chosen to display their work.

My interviews were not limited to only the film talent, but the talent that put the event together. The event director, Debra Markowitz, explained the process of being accepted into the festival. "First of all you have to apply, then your film is seen by anywhere between four and seven people. They have to judge which films they feel are best for the festival and they take into consideration such things as production quality, storyline, whether a film needs to be brought to the public for awareness (like documentaries). We look for a good blend of foreign, domestic and local films...unfortunately some very good films don't make it in simply because there is just no room."

"Hey, Deb, can you tell me just some of the plot lines?
"There's a two minute short about a priest and his psychiatrist (Almighty Beer), one about an existentialist donkey (Donkey Oatie), one about the truth about Aids (Aids, inc.), one about an obsessive compulsive shut in (Body/Antibody), one about a guy who calls an exterminator to evict the angels that have invaded his attic who sing hallelujah day and night... and the list goes on".

I love it, those plot lines alone made me think of three or four comedy skits or films I'd like to do myself.

And speaking of comedy, I ran into my old comedy buddy, Harry Friedman outside the theater. Harry had a film in this festival called, HMO...he said it was his answer to Michael Moore's Sicko.

After all the fun interviews...I finally went inside, ate some of the delicious spread they had laid out, did a close for the Rockmetv.com segment and once again was on my way back home...phase two of my three party hat being completed – now all I needed was the feathers.

Day Three –The Awards Gala – July 19th, 2007

This was dress up night, where the tuxedo's and sparkling wear came out. The night that the filmmakers waited for...the night of the awards.

On this night, I was a "celebrity" awards presenter. I was honored to be invited to do this...apparently in the past Danny Aiello, Edie Falco, Steve Guttenberg, Catherine Hickland, Ralph Macchio, Dan Lauria, Anthony Mangano, Adam Ferrara, Chuck Zito, Carol Alt, Vinnie Vella, Frankie Gio and many others have been awards presenters...so I was in nice company.

Basically, this was the Long Island's version of the Oscars, without the botox. Everyone in the film community was there at the Chateau Briand in Carle Place, Long Island. One of those fancy places with limos, chandeliers, antique furniture...you know the posh stuff. (Never really knew what that word meant.)

Anyway, I rolled in with my cameraman, Brian early. We did a show opening by the waterfalls. (Yup, there were cascading waterfalls, coming out of a stone fixture.)

Of course, my adventurous side wanted to do the Fran's World opening while standing in the water...however the thought of me, and a live microphone in the water, might not be the smartest idea, plus being wet the whole night, wasn't exactly appealing either...so I opted for a less risky opening outside by the waterfalls.

Watch the Awards Gala night.

After that, I proceeded to walk in, and started following this group of nicely dressed people. Turns out I was following the wrong set of tails... I wound up downstairs at the Cancer Society event...
Seeing no signs of filmmakers we left, but not before being asked to make a donation to the cancer society. I of course told them about my film "4000" and how it might help their cause as well.

With dual pitches out of the way...we headed upstairs to the right party. Brian and I plopped our belongings down right next to our first celebrity presenter ...Brandon Hannan, who played the Goth kid, Vito Junior, on the Sopranos. Turns out young Brandon was also up for an emmy award opposite Tom Hanks...not bad! I did an interview with him and his actress mom, Helen Proimos. I pinched Brandon's cheeks just like Tony Soprano did on the show...not sure Brandon was thrilled but he played along.

Moving along, I interviewed celebrity presenter, Anthony Mangano (from Rescue Me and NYPD) who was hanging out with Lisa Regina (director of the play I was in "Write to Heal")...turns out the two of them were flirting big time, and I actually captured their first kiss on camera! He dipped her, and kissed her...very romantic...Anthony was stricken with Lisa and she was loving his big muscles...later when he got up to present the award, he announced that they were going to do a romantic comedy together – seems they already started! But hey, every event has got to have some gossip.

Brian and I then strolled into the cocktail hour room. There everyone was gathered and doing their "Hollywood" schmoozing. I joked around and interviewed several filmmakers.

One filmmaker, that stuck out in my mind was, Adam Blasucci. Adam wrote a short film called, "Hell on Wheels." Adam wrote it, produced it, and directed it...what's so spectacular about Adam is, he is 29 years old, has Muscular Dystrophy, and breathes through a ventilator...but that's not who he is...he wants to be accepted and respected for being himself as a person...so to get that point across, he created this film.

People with all their full capabilities often make excuses why they can't finish or do their film, book, or whatever their life's dream is. Here this kid, with all his challenges and not only did he do the film, but it won an award at the festival...truly an inspiration.

From filmmakers, to event planners, I moved on to interviewing sponsors of the event like entertainment attorney, Mike Jacobson,
Casting director Donna McKenna...and then some more celebrity presenters etc.

Since I also wanted to enjoy the event myself...I grabbed bites of food in between and then kept on talking – careful of course not to fling food on people as I talked. I also purchased some raffle tickets...to help the cause, and also to possibly win the plasma television.

Soon it was time to go into the main ballroom where our dinner would be served and the awards presentation would begin.

I quickly looked over my script... You see, each presenter and celebrity presenter was handed a script. As with the Oscars, you announce the film, show a clip, and present the award. Really rather simple...that is unless you love talking to a crowd and want to start joking on people.

But there is a time limit, so the presentation doesn't make people want to slit their wrists.

Each presenter had 30- 60 seconds to present, the winners had 30 seconds to accept, and the celebrities had 60 seconds to talk (which for me is a lifetime.)

The program moved along quickly with me presenting not one, but two awards. (I guess they figured I could do it in half the time.)

"And the Best Long Island Film goes to ...."The Life After!"
Awards, cheers, acknowledgements followed.

I continued, "And the best Humanitarian Film Award goes to famed nutritionist and radio personality, Gary Null for his controversial film called, "AIDS, Inc."

Gary's Film was a long time coming since the Pharmaceutical company did not want this film coming out in mainstream. Why? Because it talks about how the drugs to supposedly kill AIDS are killing more people than the HIV virus! No money making pharmacy company wants to acknowledge this.

After the awards we snapped pictures with the winners and their statues.

Then the raffles went off, thank you were said, goody bags were taken, and Brian and I went outside once again by the fountain to do the closing shot.

I wish I could say that I jumped in at that point in time...which would have been the perfect ending...but instead...I drove home satisfied with a three day adventure that sparked my mind, fed my belly, and made a lot of people's dreams come true.

Like I say, dream it, make it...do it!

Note: To see trailers of the films mentioned you can also go to IMDB.

You can either type in the name of the actor (ie: Fran Capo or the name of the film, ie: 4000) All movies are listed there. Enjoy!