All Cleveland needs to jump- start a film community is some one like actor and independent filmmaker Jeff Daniels.

Daniels has shot two films, "Escanaba in da Moonlight" and "Super Sucker," in his na tive Michigan. Instead of im porting pricey Los Angeles crew members, he used Michigan residents almost exclusively.

Daniels will host a 7:30 p.m. invitation-only screening of the comedy "Super Sucker" ednesday at the Cinemark Valley View, 6001 Canal Road.

"Super Sucker," which is about rival door-to-door vacuum cleaner sales teams, opens next Friday in select Midwest cities, including Cleveland. Daniels wrote, directed and stars in it. The cast also includes Matt Letscher (Gavin on the sitcom "Good Morning Miami") and Dawn Wells (Mary Ann in "Gilligan's Island").

Blue-light special

You'll pay less if you meet the Jan. 31 early registration deadline for the upcoming Midwest Independent Filmmakers Conference.

The conference, sponsored by the Cleveland Film Society, is March 28-30. Downtown Cleveland locations are still being considered, organizers said. The weekend will include filmmaking classes, panel discussions, demonstrations, and screenings at the Cleveland International Film Festival.

Early registration fees are $135 for film society members, $165 for nonmembers and $95 for students. After Jan. 31, the fees will be $170 for members, $200 for nonmembers and $125 for students.

For information or to register, call 216-623-FILM, Ext. 10.

Technology fast-forward

Some filmmakers are taking advantage of DVD technology to self-publish their short films, either to sell or distribute them free as calling cards.

Eric Muss-Barnes created a DVD for his short film "The Unseelie Court" as practice for another DVD publishing project. It also promotes his video production company, Brooklyn-based Dreamdancer Motion Pictures.

"The Unseelie Court" is available through the Web site, www.wyndfeather.com/dreamdancer/theunseeliecourt. Cost is $25 plus $5 for shipping.

The DVDs are too expensive for Muss-Barnes to mass-produce, so he will make them as orders come in. "I'm sure that it's going to start to become much more popular" than VHS tapes, he said.

"The Unseelie Court," set in the shadows where the real world and fairyland intersect, was shot almost entirely in Cleveland last year, particularly at Flannery's Pub downtown.

Johnny Wu at Media Design Imaging has put his latest short film, "Warped Boxes," on DVD. It offers two versions, digital and film-look, and a music video. He's using the DVD as a promotional item.

Viewers can also watch "Warped Boxes" at his Web site, www.mdifilm.com/warpedboxes.

The dark comedy, shot locally last year, is about two sisters who kill a man and chop him in half. Each sister is responsible for disposing of a half. The women are portrayed by real-life sisters Heather and Holly Sherman.

Media Design Imaging, based in Cleveland, provides film and digital video editing, DVD encoding, Internet marketing and more. Wu is its co-founder.

See the unveiling

"Seeker of the Statue," a short film about young people who help a museum curator find a legendary statue, will be screened at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Cleveland State University.

Audience members can meet the cast and crew after the screening. It will be held at the Kiva, room UC 103, University Center Building, 2121 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. The event is sponsored by the African-American Cultural Center.

The 47-minute film was shot locally. Peter Anthony Gould directed and produced from a script by Evonne Fields-Gould.

"Smoke," a short film on gun safety directed by Shaker Heights High School freshman Matt Herzfeld, also will be screened. Call 216-752-6080 for information.

Another chapter

"A Wise Decision," the locally produced film urging 18-year-olds to vote, is finally getting an audience.

The Cleveland Municipal School District chose not to show the film to students before the November election, a decision that perplexed students who produced the short. But the Southern Christian Leadership Conference will show "A Wise Decision" as part of its Voter Registration Education Training session tomorrow at Cuyahoga Community College. It's not open to the public.

Earlier this week, cast, crew and special guests attended a private screening at the Sheetmetal Workers Local 33 of Northern Ohio. Cleveland Municipal School District students, along with Independent Pictures, helped create the film during a summer training program. Independent Pictures is a nonprofit organization that supports local independent filmmakers.

Shorts

"Antwone Fisher" won the Critics' Choice Prudential Financial Freedom Award, from the Broadcast Film Critics Association. E! Entertainment will televise the ceremony at 8 p.m. tomorrow.

"The Five O'Clock Show With Jay Fox," heard on WELW AM/1330, interviewed filmmaker David Manocchio during a live broadcast from La Dolce Vita in Little Italy last week.

Manocchio's feature film "Haywire," about rival drug gangs, shot scenes at La Dolce Vita and even gave restaurant owner Terry Tarantino a role. "Haywire" casting director Ann Savage, and actors Mike Cipiti and Ray Calabrese were also interviewed on the radio show. (Note: MDI's Johnny Wu helps co-produced Haywire)

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jwashington@plaind.com, 216-999-4539
© 2003 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.