THE FIRST OF MAY Newsletter
| Volume B |
October
30, 2002 |
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Paul Sirmons
(407) 888-2958
Forevermore Films, Inc.
Website: www.firstofmay.com <http://www.firstofmay.com>
Kids First! Film Festival Website:
www.cqcm.org/kidsfirst/html/filmfestival.htm <http://www.cqcm.org/kidsfirst/html/filmfestival.htm>
email
University Area Community Center:
Contact: Angela Severino (813) 558-5212
*******************************************************
Indie "family film of the year"
plays Tampa Friday
St. Pete Native is Director-Producer of Florida Film
The indie movie
THE FIRST OF MAY, which critics have called "the
family film of the year", will play Friday as part
of the Kids First! Film Festival in Tampa. The special
screening is at the University Area Community Center
on Friday, Nov. 1st, at 5:45 PM. Admission is free to
all, and the director Paul Sirmons, a St. Pete native,
will appear at the screening. THE FIRST OF MAY stars
Broadway's legendary Julie Harris, Mickey Rooney, Charles
Nelson Reilly, and features the late Yankee legend Joe
DiMaggio in an unforgettable performance. DeLand, Florida's
Gary Rogers wrote the screenplay and produced the film
with Sirmons. The movie is based on a book by Florida
author Gail Radley.
The movie was filmed in 1998 in central Florida, and
has since won top awards at seven film festivals, receiving
an MPAA 'G' rating -- though critic Henry Thomas at
General Media Reviews called it "great for kids
of any age!"
The story follows a young foster boy who befriends an
old lady in a retirement home. They run away together
on an adventure that leads them to the circus, and ultimately
to the family neither ever had. "It's all about
what makes a family," says director Paul Sirmons.
"We set out to make feel-good film that families
could watch, enjoy, and talk about together -- seems
like we succeeded."
The director is a native of St. Petersburg, attending
Riviera Junior High, Northeast High, and St. Pete Junior
College. After graduating in 1974, he went to the University
of Florida, and then went to Los Angeles to break into
the movie industry. As an assistant director, Sirmons
worked on such TV series as QUANTUM LEAP, SEAQUEST,
FALCON CREST, and THE WALTONS. This is his first feature
film as a director. His company, Forevermore Films,
is based at Universal Studios Florida. They have several
projects in development, including AUTUMN COLORS, scripted
by Bill Blinn, the screenwriter of BRIAN'S SONG, ROOTS,
PURPLE RAIN, and creator of many TV series, including
EIGHT IS ENOUGH.
THE FIRST OF MAY is the only movie Joe DiMaggio appeared
in since the original "Angels in the Outfield"
in the 1950s. "Joe appeared in our movie because
he wanted to leave behind something special that his
great grandchildren could enjoy, and anyone who has
seen the movie knows he did that and more," said
Sirmons. "When Entertainment Tonight came to our
set to do a piece about Joe being in the movie, they
asked him why he did this tiny independent movie in
the middle of nowhere, and he told them, 'I did it for
the kids.' Joe did so many unheralded things for the
benefit of all children in his later years. He helped
make this film a real gem." More info on THE FIRST
OF MAY can be found at its website: firstofmay.com.
The screening is free and open to the public. The Kids
First! Film Festival is traveling around the country
with the studio and independent films and videos they
feel are the best available for children and teens.
MAKING MORE FAMILY FILMS...
The message of Forevermore
Films and "The First of May" is one that can
and will help children worldwide. Our mission continues
to create more films like THE FIRST OF MAY.
--------------------------------
Here are upcoming
screening dates and towns for THE FIRST OF MAY as part
of the Kids First! Film Festival.
* Nov. 1st -- 5:45
PM-- Tampa, FL -- University Area Community Center Complex,
14013 N. 22nd St. Tampa (813) 558-5212
* Nov. 3-9 -- Santa Fe, N.M. -- Cinemacafi -- St. Michael's
Shopping Center West
* Nov. 15-17 -- Palm Springs, CA -- Screening at: Palm
Springs International Childrens Film Festival
* Dec. 7-14 -- San Jose, CA -- Camera 7, Pruneyard Shopping
Center
* Dec. 26-29 -- Santa Barbara, CA -- Screening sanctioned
by: Santa Barbara International Film Festival
