Please join us in remembering Dale Friedley, long-time supporter of Sarasota Film Society, Cine-World enthusiast, and one of Sarasota’s greatest film buffs.

From his sister, D’Ann Friedley:

Dale moved from Clyde, Ohio to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1958. He graduated from St. Petersburg High School in the late 1960’s. He attended Florida State University and graduated with a BA degree.

While attending FSU he worked at the school newspaper, The Flambeau. He was passionate about politics and active in the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society). He was an avid reader and movie watcher/critic while in college that remained with him the rest of his life. He really got into existentialism philosophy and admired the works of Jean-Paul Sartre, Heidegger, Kierkegaard, and Camus.

Dale’s love of movies and movie watching began in 1964. On Friday nights, at 11:30 PM, after the WTVT Channel 13 evening news, science fiction and horror movies would be shown on Shock Theater. Shock Theater was hosted by the “All American Ghoul, Shock Armstrong.” Paul Reynolds, a WTVT news anchorman, would dress up as the Frankenstein monster to host Friday night movies. Watching them was a ritual in our family.

Dale was not a fan of professional football, but ever since he was a young boy he was a big fan of the Cleveland Indians and the local Tampa Bay Rays. He enjoyed watching NASCAR and Sprint Car racing.

Dale loved the holidays, especially Christmas. When he was attending college he missed coming home a few times for Thanksgiving but never missed coming home for Christmas. He wanted to be near his family and his friends as they were an important part of his life. It was even more so at the holidays.

Dale was also affiliated with and donated to the ACLU. He was always concerned about those whose voices may not be heard or the rights of those less fortunate.

At SFS, we have many of our own memories of Dale. He was early to arrive for his films and late to leave, always hoping to catch the attention of some theater employee or other patron to talk with about the film. He emailed us with frequency looking for information on what was showing next and how long he could expect us to hold on to it while he made plans to travel all the way down from St. Pete to see it. Once, he even printed his own political-style buttons to pass out at the Burns Court Academy Awards party in protest of what he called “the completely ridiculous oversight of Winter’s Bone for Best Picture!” He was a good guy, and a friend to many.

He will be missed.

It’s not too early to start thinking about summer camp!

Once again, Sarasota Film Society will be sponsoring its third annual Filmmakers Summer Camp for students grades 6 through 10. Similar to last year’s schedule, classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM beginning July 8th and concluding August14th.

The program will consist of an exciting 6 week course where students will have an opportunity to explore all aspects of film making, all the way from pre-production to the actual creation of their own film. At the camp’s conclusion, all participants and parents are invited to a Red Carpet Premier Reception with a private viewing of each film. Last year’s participants also shared in the excitement of viewing their film as part of our annual Cine-World Film Festival held in November.

For further information call 941- 364-8662 x2008 or e-mail tim@filmsociety.org.

As has been stated, “The only way to properly watch a motion picture is on the big screen.” That is exactly what took place at Sarasota Film Society’s Burns Court and Lakewood Ranch Cinemas for the 2014 Academy Awards. Gus Mollasis, a local filmmaker featured on the PBS special “Diamonds along the Highway”, emceed and entertained the Burns Court audience for the entire evening once again.

At Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, we held our second successful Academy Awards Party. Ray Collins, of Ray Collins Media, was kind enough to emcee the night’s festivities and trivia games. Reaction from attendees was extremely positive and will therefore now become a yearly event!

Partygoers in both theaters were treated to a red carpet reception as well as professional photos in front of our newly designed “step and repeat”. Beer and wine, as well as a fine assortment of hors d’oeuvres and deserts, some provided by Caragulos and the Drunken Poet Café, were served during the evening.