Beach Theatre
beachtheatre.com
Who runs it: Screenwriter Michael France (Goldeneye, Fantastic 4) purchased the theater in 2007, ensuring Beach's future as a Bay area hub for quirky/cult films and art-house fare.
Why you need it: You never know what they're going to be showing at Beach. The theater's mix of hot indie films (Milk and Slumdog Millionaire both screened recently), cult classics (The Big Lebowski plays often, accompanied by a healthy White Russian concession), HD broadcast events and Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings are as unpredictable as they are exciting.

Tampa Theatre
Who runs it: Community Relations Director Tara Schroeder calls the website "the little engine that could." Tampatheatre.org is currently hosted by Tampa Web design firm Just Get It On The Web, though the current look was the initial design of another company that went out of business. The site is kept current by Schroeder and her staff, with Janice Strand keeping the theater's Facebook, Twitter and Reverb Nation sites current.
Why you need it: The Tampa Theatre is the premier art house cinema in Hillsborough County, and the site aims to keep film fans informed on coming attractions. In addition to movie listings, the site offers an events calendar, information on how to become a member (i.e., donor) of the theater, background on the historic landmark and information on the Tampa Theatre Stories Project — a history of the theater as told by the patrons.

CLIP Film Festival
tiglff.com/index.cfm
Who runs it: Friends of the Festival, Inc., the nonprofit group that produces the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, recently renamed CLIP.
Why you need it: To keep up with a growing festival which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. In addition to CLIP's many offerings (the fest's stated mission: "To showcase a selection of compelling film and video by, for or about the GLBT community that entertains, enlightens and celebrates the Festival audience"), Friends of the Festival expanded in 2005 to include a year-round film series with screenings on both sides of the bay, and in 2007 added a series of free screenings around the area.

Sarasota Film Festival
sarasotafilmfestival.com
Who runs it: The site is produced by Sarasota-based atLARGEinc, who also do work for Ringling College, Sarasota County Film & Entertainment Office and Ford Motor Company.
Why you need it: Time is of the essence, as the Sarasota Film Fest kicks off on March 27. Our neighbor to the south's big film fest packs more star power than any Bay area event. Celebs "expected to attend" this year include Jon Voight, Woody Harrelson, Steve Buscemi, Bill Paxton, David "Big Papi" Ortiz and Norman Jewison. The website is essential if you're planning to attend the fest, with a full schedule of events, an "online box office" for all your ticketing needs, news updates, and the hook-up to Twitter, Facebook and Myspace.

Ybor Festival of the Moving Image
yborfilmfestival.com
Who runs it: Renaissance man David Audet heads the festival, and web designer Gary Burge (see profile) keeps it alive online. Burge is an interesting guy. On his site, garyburge.com, he writes: "If your organization is a non-profit or a small business, or if you are doing fun and interesting things, then I want to help make your website dynamic and powerful. … I also don't charge much. But I do require two things. You must be cool. And you must have t-shirts."
Why you need it: With the festival's April 1 start just days away, you'll need to get the complete screening and performance schedule for the event, which this year is focusing on humor and satire. The site also includes information galore about some of this year's highlights, which include The Florida Dream, a locally produced doc detailing the growth of the Sunshine State over the last 50 years, and 106-year-old living legend Rosa Rio providing musical accompaniment to Buster Keaton's The Playhouse.

Green Room Tampa Bay
greenroomtampabay.com
Who runs it: Run by partners Kim Burke and Douglas Lorah, Green Room Tampa Bay is managed from across the state and is an offshoot of Green Room Orlando.
Why you need it: Green Room Tampa Bay bills itself as a "filmmaker's resource," and features film news, casting calls, crew jobs and a message board. Also included on the site are a production guide, photo gallery, classified ads, location library and a list of current film and television productions.

Tampa Film Network
tampafilmnetwork.ning.com
Who runs it: Weekend Film Crew Productions founder Daniel Brienza started TFN by using Ning, a website that allows people to build their own social networking site.
Why you need it: No one makes a movie all by themselves, and finding the right actor or screenwriter can be a bitch. Tampa Film Network currently boasts over 300 members across film disciplines, allowing members to interact and collaborate. The site also maintains an excellent events calendar and hosts an active job board relating crew and casting calls. If you're into film production and not a member of the Tampa Film Network, you're doing something wrong.

St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Commission
floridasbeachfilm.com
Who runs it: Film Commission Director Jennifer Parramore keeps things running smoothly. States Parramore on the site, "If we don't have what you need, we'll tell you where to find it."
Why you need it: If you're planning to shoot in St. Pete/Clearwater, you need to have this site bookmarked. The Film Commission works with producers and production departments to put together "the perfect shoot," touting the St. Pete/Clearwater area for bringing together "diverse locations, professional resources and affordable support services in one of the most hospitable environments for film and video production anywhere." The site also boasts a "seamless relationship with the Tampa Film Commission," and aims to be a one-stop shop for news, events, production support and classified listings.

Tampa Bay Film Commission
visittampabay.com/static/index.cfm?action=group&contentID=8
Who runs it: Tampa Bay & Company, an organization whose goal is to "create vibrant growth for the Tampa Bay area by promoting, developing and expanding a united visitor industry." TB&C represents more than 700 businesses throughout Tampa Bay and promotes the area as a choice destination for filmmakers.
Why you need it: If you're a filmmaker in Tampa Bay, the site is essential for navigating the permitting process. The Film Commission also offers assistance in location searches and casting calls.

National Sites

The Internet Movie Database
Why you need it: It's the king of all movie sites, with details on seemingly every movie ever made (and plenty that are still on the drawing board). Plug IMDB into your mobile, and you'll never lose a post-screening bar bet again.

Rotten Tomatoes
Why you need it: Almost as encyclopedic as IMDB, but with more attitude. No less an authority than Roger Ebert called it the "best fan-reaction site" on the Web. RT overflows with movie news and opinion, and their annual Golden Tomato awards (featuring both "fresh" and "rotten" selections) is always a hoot.

/Film
Why you need it: /Film's tag line is "Blogging the reel world," and the site does an excellent job of keeping the movie news fresh. On any given day, you're liable to find production art, on-set photos, links to big-time interviews and movie news that's still under the radar.

Fandango
Why you need them: You're really going to stand in line for an hour to snag those Terminator Salvation tickets? How 20th century of you.

AMC Theatres, Muvico
Why you need them: These are the two biggest theater chains in the area, so chances are you're frequenting one of their movie houses. These sites are essential for keeping up with coming attractions, checking showtimes and finding the megaplex closest to you.

Return to the Urban Explorer's Handbook 4.0

This article appears in Mar 25-31, 2009.