Sunday, December 15, 2013

 
Pat O’Connell currently works as an Analyst for the Department of Treasury. He is the author of a book called Knight Hawk, and several magazine articles. He has served as the president of the Maryland Writers Association from 2000 to 2003.

Progressive Snack Theater…and getting into someone’s shorts.  Who knew it could be so deliciously fun and entertaining?
Back on September 22, my wife and I joined dozens of dozens on West Street in Annapolis for a progressive snack theater event, the Annapolis Shorts Crawl 2013.
We all gathered at the Loews Hotel to get our tickets and to join our groups…and then we were off like mobs of Trick-or-Treaters to O’Callaghans, 49 West, El Toro Bravo, Stan & Joe’s, Metropolitan, and Crush…(FYI all of these places are on West Street in Annapolis.)
The venues for these short films made watching enjoyable.  It was so nice to check out new haunts that otherwise I wouldn’t know about.  Before we started watching we grabbed snacks to munch and drinks to sip.  (These were supplied by each venue as part of the registration fee.)
The films, OMG, were soooo good!  Some were informative. (Did you know that before becoming a great basketball star, Wilt Chamberlain was a Borscht Belt Bellhop at a resort in the Catskills?) 
Some were thought provoking.  One movie talked about a prosperous neurologist who found the meaning of life on rollerblades; another movie was of two young brothers who steal fireworks to impress girls.
Two humorous movies were on karma.  One illustrated the cycle of life on the food chain and ultimate karma from Mantis to Man, and back to Mantis. The other played with the karma of reincarnation.  (How would you like to come back as a rich mosquito?)
Two shorts were real-life funny…imagine bad blind dates and all the red flags that made you wish you were with someone else…or how about  being a young girl with an imaginary friend who’s a knight, and it’s time to shop for your first training bra?
For me the funniest of them all was of a kidnapping of a 10-year-old girl that goes terribly wrong for the inept kidnappers.  If you liked Home Alone, you’ll love Penny Dreadful.
All in all, the Crawl was a ball…and it was all for a good cause. The funds earned from this will go towards the Annapolis Film Festival, March 27 thru 30, 2014.  Save that weekend and don’t miss it.
For more information check out info@annapolisfilmfestival.net  Enjoy!