Tacoma Film Festival 2009

CARLOS starts his day at the Home Depot, waiting to pick up work. He doesn't know that his abusive boss HENRY will become the catalyst for change he's been waiting for. Nor does TERESA, stuck with her lousy job at the pet shop, and her dead-end relationship with ZACK. He's happy to string her along long enough for him to get together with SIRI, his songwriting partner. But Siri's not ready for anything more than a one night stand with him. She's got unresolved issues with LEE, the father of her son. Lee's trying to keep himself together directing at a tiny theatre in Hollywood. He wants to reunite with Siri, but he's struggling to get SUSAN, his lead actress, to find her role. Susan's can't confront her character's truth, or her own--that her husband TOM is having an affair with one of his students. That student, AMANDA, meanwhile is tired of the illicit afternoons with Tom. She's ready to bust out with JULIA, a bartender who parties more than she should--so far it's cost her custody of her daughter. But reality is about to come knocking on her door in the form of Henry, the man she's known all her life as her uncle. So begins the first of three days destined to spell major changes for this mixed bag of Angelinos, whose lives are connected by invisible threads.

A grab bag of various comedic and dramatic short films.

When its time to move on, make sure your path is clear.

An artist disappears under mysterious circumstances after one of his paintings is connected to a series of miracles.A documentary film crew pieces together details of the story through interviews and archival footage.

Scott Bateman has taken the sound from the awful 1960 horror film Atom Age Vampire and given it new animated visuals, revealing that the movie is really just a love triangle between a pirate, a stripper, and an evil doctor who sometimes turns into a radioactive monster. Bateman has also provided hilarious onscreen commentary about the action, or lack of it. Scott Bateman animated every frame of the film in Flash; the budget for this movie was quite literally zero.

Title of Film: AUTISM: Made in the USAProducer: Gary Null & Associates, Inc.Format: One Hundred Minute Documentary Production, HD/Cinema QualitySchedule: Production 6 months; Post-Production 6 months (overlap)Release Date: May 1, 2009 Distribution: Theatrical Release followed by Network and/or PBS Broadcast Autism. What is it and why is it on the rise? In this feature length documentary presentation, award winning executive producer Gary Null is on a quest to reveal the true causes and promising solutions for the recent dramatic increase in autism in our children. Is autism related to environmental factors? Could it be caused by mercury, aluminum, viruses, or other toxins contained in the 40-odd intravenous vaccines that every American child must receive? What are other environmental or genetic factors which could be contributing to the epidemic increase in childhood autism? In this pioneering educational film, Dr. Null will be interviewing some of the world's leading experts on childhood autism. A full spectrum of medical and scientific views will be presented, both orthodox and non-traditional, to get at the real reasons behind this childhood scourge. Novel effective therapies will be explored, showing that both the problem and solution of autism could be linked to weakened childhood immune systems, the inability of some children to rid their bodies of heavy metals and injected viruses, and unusual reactions to environmental toxins, foods, and proteins. The film will consider that there are successful biomedical treatments for autism including utilizing special dietary supplements and gluten-free/casein-free (GFCF) diets, as well as chelation and hyperbaric oxygen therapies. Some of these natural solutions are being challenged by the pharmaceutical industry as unproven. But, could it be that the drug companies stand too much to lose from a more critical scrutiny of our national policy of compulsory vaccinations for infants and children? These and other important issues woven into the fabric of the autism debate will be examined in detail in this film. Dr. Null also plans to take his cameras directly into the homes of autistic children, and show the kids and their symptoms, their parents and how they are coping, and the various treatments and the positive effects that they are having on the children. The film will document dramatic recoveries and improvement in the symptoms of autism, which can be directly observed in the children's behavior. Compelling human interest stories will be provided. Autism is a major growing health problem in America today. But it is not a death sentence. In this film, Gary Null, will peel away the ignorance and misconceptions, and show how concerned parents and health care providers can finally take some solace in finding effective treatments for this debilitating childhood disease.

After truck driver, Roy Tidrow, cuts off a random car on the freeway (Joe O'Neil's,) a complaint is phoned in and Roy is immediately fired, sending him into a violent tailspin. Roy threatens his wife (Valerie,) who works reception at the trucking company, forcing her to supply him with the name of the complainer. Days later...Valerie realizes she's made a horrible mistake. Not only has Roy murdered the man who Valerie identified (Andrew Williams,) but she mistakenly supplied the wrong information and a completely 'innocent' person was killed. When Valerie confronts Roy, he attacks her and gets the correct identity of the complainer (Joe O'Neil.) However, this time Valerie calls to warn the stranger... Joe O'Neill, a straight-laced, nine-to-fiver, is filled with paranoia and fear. He buys a gun to protect himself and is forced into using it when Roy Tidrow attacks him in his home. In a strange twist of fate, it is Roy who is shot and killed. In the end, Valerie, as the sole beneficiary of her husband Roy's life insurance policy, collects a large settlement. Joe O'Neil is questioned by the police and forever scarred. And Andrew Williams' widow, Margaret, receives an envelope of cash, leading us to believe that Valerie may have orchestrated this bizarre collision of lives, whereby no one is a beneficiary.

Beware the Blobfest documents the 2008 Blobfest in Phoenixville, PA, through interviews with organizers and participants. It also looks at the film, The Blob, and why it was made in Pennsylvania, as well as why it continues to be relevant and interesting today.

Boutonniere is the story of a girl who is forced by her mother (Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kath & Kim; Reno 911!) to prepare for a prom she doesn’t want to attend. Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) and Pat Crawford Brown (Desperate Housewives) make cameos in the short comedy. Boutonniere has screened at Sundance and won the award for Best Comedy at the L.A. Shorts Fest.