Local teen-ager hopes to produce film, video festival this year
The Eastern Independent Entertainment Group is searching for financial backing in the hopes of producing the Greater Fayette Shindig Film and Video Festival this summer. “Right now we’re in dire need of sponsors,’ said festival director Michael J. Perry of Fayette City. “We’re looking for local businesses to help us out.’
The Greater Fayette Shindig is a new entity that’s rising out of the now-defunct Askey Film Festival, which was held in Jefferson Township in 2000 and in Perryopolis in 2001.
“The first one started as a joke. A bunch of friends were watching movies and someone called and asked what we were doing, and we joked we were at the Askey Film Festival. Then we took it as a challenge,’ Perry said. “With no concept of what we were doing, we put the first one together.’
Perry, then 15, acted as co-founder with Ryan Askey, of Newell, then 18, to put on the festival. He explained that all the workers were volunteers from local colleges and high schools.
Approximately 200 people showed up for the first festival, which took place on July 9, 2000, in the Jefferson Township Municipal Building and lasted 12 hours.
The 2001 festival took place at Sampey Park in Perryopolis in August. It featured international films and national music acts as well as visitors from New York, Ohio, Kentucky and Maryland.
The second film festival attracted slightly fewer visitors. Perry blamed it on the heat and noted the outdoor showing made it difficult to see some videos because of glare from the sun.
Top prize at the 2001 festival was “Guilt,’ created by Daron Christopher, a student at Albert Gallatin High School.
“It was a story about a kid who wanted to buy a quad. It’s a coming of age story. He gets a job and is involved in some shady acts and suffers repercussions,’ Perry said.
The runner-up prize went to “Smithton Beach,’ a satire of a music video created by Billy Peden from Smithton.
“It was absolutely the most hilarious three minutes I’ve ever seen in my life,’ Perry said.
A panel that included Askey, Perry and two members of the audience awarded prizes. Winners received plaques while members of the audience received door prizes.
After the second festival, Askey bowed out due to a lack of time, Perry said.
There was no festival held last yea, but now the Greater Fayette Shindig hopes to fill the void.
The Eastern Independent Entertainment Group, which includes a small outfit of entrepreneurs and college students, is applying for non-profit status.
Perry, who is festival director, is a graduate of Frazier High School and recently left the University of Pittsburgh. He is transferring this fall California University of Pennsylvania, where he will major in English writing and journalism with a minor in sports management.
The Greater Fayette Shindig operates its own Web site, where information is available for sponsors and those who would like to submit entries.
“There isn’t much criteria (for entries),’ Perry said. “We wanted to have a forum for anybody who wants to do anything like this. As long as it’s not pornographic or tasteless, there’s a place for it.’
Perry believes the Askey Film Festival was the first of its kind in Fayette County, and he is hoping to continue the opportunity through the Greater Fayette Shindig.
“When I was a kid and made a video, I didn’t have an opportunity to show it to anybody,’ Perry said. “This is also a forum for people who take it a lot more seriously.’
Perry said that people enjoy the film festivals because “It’s a good atmosphere. You see all kinds of people, meet new people and have a good time.’
For now, the Greater Fayette Shindig is hoping to raise enough funds to hold a one-day event but would eventually like to become a three-day festival.
For more information, visit the Web site at www.greaterfayetteshindig.com.