Organizing the Fast Film Fest has been challenging, and some mistakes have been made. For example, sponsors advised not to host a movie night in January. Students have tuition payable, everyone has credit cards due. But what else is a gearhead supposed to do in January; freeze to death ice racing? No way!
This past Sunday night, it was back to Cinema 7 for a private screening of the 2011’s “Fast & Furious 5” the one set in Brazil.
Demaras Racing has been hosting these Fast Film nights since October, and at this point, there are ‘regulars’ who come watch every movie . To keep the event fresh and exciting, some interesting raffle prizes were acquired this time. City Soccer Plus donated a Brazilian soccer jersey in time for the World Cup, and Movie Poster Warehouse on Leslie street contributed an original 2011 “Fast Five” poster.
The most sought after raffle prize was the Dom Toretto starter pack. Included were two white undershirts, a silver cross and chain, and a package of BIC shaving razors to keep the dome shining. Everything needed to become the patriarch of your own ‘fast family’.
No movie theater in Toronto that has screened any of the F&F movies in years, so the Fast Film Fest really is a rare opportunity. Some audience members weren’t even born when these movies came out, and have never had a chance to see them on the silver screen.
But for old-timers 30+ who may have seen “Fast Five” some 15 years ago, a vintage cartoon was screened before the feature attraction… like back in the old days. This time it was the animated short film “Susie the Little Blue Coupe” from 1952.
Those first few Fast Film Fest nights we held in late autumn, and many gearheads brought their cars for the parking lot meet before the film. But it’s -16°C in January, the Porsche GT3 RS is in winter storage, and the moviegoers rapidly run inside the theater when they arrive.
The closest the event got to a car meet was the 5 minutes after the movie when 3 or 4 cars were warming up their engines. These are truly the F&F4Life gearheads of the group!
The Fast Film Fest was envisioned as a fun thing to do during the racing off-season, but quickly became a fundraisers for Reach Out WorldWide, the charity founded by the late Paul Walker. With less than 20 seats in Cinema 7, not much top-line revenue was generated. But once the bills were paid, there was still a couple hundred to donate to the charity. And every dollar helps.
Nice! 😊
The ‘fast film fest’ has momentum now, and we’re selling out the theatre every time. That was SUCH a great night.
The Dom Toretto starter kit was a big hit. I didn’t expect anyone to shave their head in the bathroom, but the guy that won it BETTER show up for the next movie in a tank top and silver cross!
P.S. In that cover photo, the 2003 Chevy Tracker on the left side is my old car which I drove for 16 years! I sold it 6-7 years ago, and on Sunday the ‘new’ owner let me drive it again. How fun!
Love it!
We’re really starting to get a group of regulars at these events. Almost like a … family.
That is great! It is time to have lots of fun.