I was lucky enough to snag a spot at the exclusive Opening Night Gala for the Virginia Film Festival tonight. The set-up was incredible! All around the ballroom at UVA's Alumni Hall were draped long white curtains... beautiful blue and purple hues bounced off the sheer hangings. The white of the draperies also acted as a movie screen for the old Hollywood dance scenes that were projected onto them while current favorite tunes filled the room. Later in the evening, live music from the ACME Swing Manufacturing Company as well as a performance from the Charlottesville Ballet entertained the crowd. The best part of the event was the unique atmosphere that allowed film makers and film fanatics alike to rub elbows and discuss their passion for cinema.

We didn't even have to break out the live truck to experience another annual festival favorite... The Virginia Film Festival's Adrenaline Project came and found US... Well, actually they were seeking out our Dan Schutte to make a guest starring cameo... We make TV here at the Newsplex every day, but it was still so exciting to get a behind the scenes look at artistic movie-making when participants of the Virginia Film Festival's Adrenaline Project used our studios for a scene in their movie.The demanding project tasks up and coming film makers with writing, directing, filming, and editing a movie in just four days! I asked the team of aspiring filmmakers how many energy drinks they predicted they'd go through before the 72 hour adrenaline project blitz was over: several team members were already 2-4 deep and they told me they're expecting to go through about 4 cases! And I thought I drank a lot of caffeine! You can see the finished project Saturday at 10pm at the Culbreth Theatre.