Scene & Heard

+ That’s a Wrap!
As of June 13, the filming of “The Lucky 6” has wrapped. A few weeks ago, I sat among FSU/Asolo Conservatory students and potential donors to watch a rough cut of the rough trailer for “The Lucky 6.” It’s a full-length feature film that, unless I didn’t know was created as part of the The Summer Feature Film Program through the nonprofit collaboration between FSU/Asolo Conservatory and Ringling College of Art and Design, I’d assume I was watching a professional indie trailer.

The filming of “The Lucky 6” was accomplished in four-and-a-half weeks via 12-hour days among the 54 student and alumni participants with a budget of $150,000. Mind you, the program’s competitor, Chapman University, utilized a $1.25 million budget to do the very same thing — that’s around $10,000 a day. But judging by the trailer, the final product makes it look like a lot more money, time and crew were utilized.
Here’s one scene broken down. A character drives up to an office building (or to the real-life Academic Center) in a Lamborghini (the kind of Lamborghini that fewer than 10 people in the world own, but one of those 10 was graciously donated to the college for filming).

A donated construction crane, The SuperTechno, follows the driver after he exits the car and walks in the building; and, then, the crane, which has a camera attached to it, scales up the outside of the building, as the character climbs multiple stories in the elevator, follows him as he walks down the hallway and heads into an office. These are high-quality cameras, and the best in the industry. The freebies Ringling utilized saved thousands and thousands of dollars, yet achieved the same effects a professional feature-film has.

According to Tony Stopperan, executive director, the film’s post-production is expected to finish by Thanksgiving and they hope to debut the film in April at a film festival — they have their fingers crossed they make the submission for the Sarasota Film Festival and can unveil it there.

+ WBTT says, “Guten Tag!”
Last June, members of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe visited Detmold, Germany, on an all-expense paid trip via part-time Sarasotan and generous patron Horst Thurau.

As of Thursday, June 6, the cast of “Soul Crooners 2” (but substitute Nate Jacobs with CEO Christine Jennings) was heading back for a repeat visit. You can follow their journey on the group’s Facebook page where they are posting photos.

+ Little miss can’t be wrong
In 2010, Diversions featured then eighth-grader Olivia Little who made headlines with her singling talent. Then, she was heading to New York to meet with music managers and to Nashville to record a country-pop album.

But now, the 16-year-old has decided she’s not a country singer — she’s a little more Rock ‘n’ Roll. Little has big things going on. The attractive blonde has been working with Anthony Kirzan, the lead-guitarist for 1990s rock band Spin Doctors (remember the song “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong”?). She just returned home to Sarasota from writing three songs with him. There’s going to be a single available in July on iTunes — YourObserver.com will keep you posted on any future Olivia Little news.

Something smells good ...
The Observer has partnered with The Sarasota-Manatee Originals and will be producing an online video series in which each episode features one of the 53 members of The Originals.

In the first video, Chef Raymond Arpke owner of Euphemia Haye will tell you about his restaurant, then he’ll demonstrate how to make Euphemia Haye’s Peppercorn Steak.

Also online this week, is Sharky’s on the Pier, and chef Marc Alton demonstrates the Sharky’s Seafood Rainforest dish. Be sure to visit yourobserver.com/InTheKitchen to see the videos and recipes weekly.

Hot Ticket
“Sunshine Boys”: The Players’ Summer Sizzler season kicks-off with Neil Simon’s “Sunshine Boys.” Centering on the aging vaudeville duo Al Lewis and Willie Clark — a comedic duo that grow to despise each other, yet must put cantankerous ways aside for a reunion show. The production opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 13, and runs through June 30, at The Players Theatre, 838 N. Tamiami Trail. Tickets are $18. Call 365-2494.

Sarasota Music Festival: If you haven’t had the chance to attend one of Sarasota Orchestra’s Sarasota Music Festival concerts yet, you’re in luck this weekend. Talented college-aged students from across the country learn from the pros and play side-by-side on stage with them. “Songs of Amour” starts at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 13, at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail. Tickets are $20 to $25. “A Musical Melange starts at 8 p.m. Friday, June 14, at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. Tickets are $25 to $40. “Walk in Nature” starts at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at Sarasota Opera House. Tickets are $29 to $55. Visit Sarasotaorchestra.org for more information.