Currently moving through post-production on the feature film Monty Comes Back, producer Vincent Dale, already has a lot on his plate, but that’s not stopping him from looking forward, currently also knee-deep in the process of bringing a feature-length French-language film from Paris to shoot in Sarasota and eyeing a third project in New York City. It’s all part of the plan, he says, to transform Sarasota’s burgeoning film scene into a full-blown industry.

“My stated goal has repeatedly been that I’m going to stay here for as long as it takes to put out enough films to be identified as a Florida Film Movement,” said Dale. “I want to create Florida cinema.”

As producer for Monty, written and directed by Thomas Nudi, the challenge was to achieve big-budget quality with a shoestring budget of $15,000 and using primarily local talent. Every crew member was from the area, said Dale, and all volunteered their time and talent for free. And out of the 40-member cast, all but two were local. “It’s essentially a proof of concept of whether or not we can make a high quality product with the resources in the area,” said Dale. “And it looks amazing. We wound up with a film that looks like it has a $100k budget.” He and Nudi and the rest will be putting the finishing touches on Monty over the next couple months, aiming for completion by early January, just in time for Sarasota Film Festival submission.

But the victory counts double for Dale, who now had the confidence to call Parisian director Germain Kaeten and bring his film “Lights on a Beating Heart” to Sarasota as a producer. A road film “with elements of romance and drama” that takes place in the Florida jungles, Kaeten had long been wanting to shoot in Sarasota but Dale, as producer, was unsure about the required infrastructure. After Monty, he felt he could assure Kaeten that his film would get the proper treatment. But while obviously a big step for Dale or Kaeten, Dale hopes it will also be a step for Sarasota’s film industry.

“I’m trying to create these bridges to Sarasota because it’s a virgin territory and such a great place to make a film,” said Dale. By continually bringing in projects, Dale hopes to create the industry environment that supports the kind of specialists that film needs. Gaffers, for instance, currently cannot support themselves in Sarasota simply off their craft, said Dale, but in Miami they can, where multiple projects are always running at once. “Like Monty, this is a test run,” said Dale. “If it’s successful, I’m going to bring bigger budgets and get more of an injection into the Sarasota film economy.”

With script in-hand, a cast of established and rising French actors ready to travel and a director arriving on his shores in a few weeks time to prep and scout locations, Dale has his producer hat on snugly, raising funds to reach the required budget. Scheduled to finish shooting by Nov. 21, Dale hopes to complete Lights in time for the Sarasota Film Festival and submit it alongside Monty. 

Pictured: Vincent Dale on the set of his short film "Paris Love Conspiracy."

Those seeking a laugh Saturday night would be well-served to swing by Florida Studio Theatre, where FST Improv will be taking the stage in Bowne’s Lab Theatre for another rousing edition of “Comedy Lottery,” the evening improv show that pulls ideas and sometimes even people straight from the gathered audience for a personalized and very Sarasota show.

“It’s a chance for the actors and the audience to laugh out loud together,” said Patrick Jackson, an actor in his third year performing improv at FST. “With “Comedy Lottery” we’re always looking for a chance to give the audience a part in the show.”

Audience input shapes the show from the very start, with twelve attendees determining the night’s games by blindly drawing from a bucket containing more than 50 different options. Some, such as “Translation” are highly physical and largely contained to the actors, as two host a fictional news broadcast and another attempts visual interpretation, while others put the audience front and center in their creation. If “Paper Chaser” is drawn, the audience will be asked to submit quotes, jokes and the like on slips of paper that will then comprise the entirety of the sketch’s dialogue. The ever-amusing “Puppets” lets the actors speak their minds, but leaves audience members to manipulate their bodies like, well, puppets.

“That’s what I love about “Comedy Lottery,” said Jackson. “It’s taking the audiences ideas truly and using them. A lot of improv formats just take one idea, but we’re continually asking the audience for their thoughts.”

But attendees needn’t worry about being put on the spot or dragged on stage. “No, no, no,” laughs Jackson. “We would never pull someone on stage that doesn’t want to be there. Your level of participation is up to you.”

“Comedy Lottery” begins at 7:30pm in Bowne’s Lab Theatre at FST this Saturday, Aug. 29. Tickets cost $12-15. 

Pictured: FST Improv cast members, Hunter Brown, Adam Ratner and Patrick A. Jackson. Photo by: Matthew Holler.

Michael’s On East this month debuted a some exciting recipes on its menu, including this Scottish-inspired take on salmon. If you feel especially daring, you can even try this dish from Chef Jamil in your own kitchen.

Pan-Seared Scottish Salmon 

Ingredients (for rice): 4 oz. Forbidden rice; 8 oz. water; 1 oz. chopped fresh ginger; 2 teaspoons sesame oil; 2 tablespoons chopped scallions; 1 teaspoon olive oil; Salt and pepper; (for ginger-scallion vinaigrette): 3 oz. of fresh ginger; 12 oz. scallions; 1½ qts. rice wine vinegar; 3 oz. Marin; ¾ cup sugar; ¾ cup salad oil; Salt and pepper to taste; (for eggplant stew): 2 lbs. Thai Eggplant; 3 tablespoons Garlic, chopped; 4 Roma Tomatoes, cut in half; ½ gallon Coconut Milk; 1 cup Brown Sugar; 5 tablespoons Curry Powder; 1 Jalapeno Pepper, deseeded and cut in half; 3 tablespoons Sesame Oil; 3 bunches of Green Onions, cut in large sprigs (use the entire onion); Salt and Pepper to taste; (for salmon): 4 7-oz. Salmon Filets, ¼ cup Olive Oil.

In a small saucepan, bring the rice, ginger and water to a boil season with salt and pepper. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, until the rice is soft. In a sauté pan, add the olive oil and sauté the rice with sesame oil and scallions. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside until the dish is ready to be plated. 

In a medium sauté pan, add the ginger, 5 oz scallions and vinegar and reduce by half. Cool, and blend then strain the liquid. Add the remaining 7 oz scallions, sugar and Marin to the blender and burr mix while slowly adding oil, season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside until the dish is ready to be plated.

Heat the sauté pan over medium high heat, add the oil, green onions and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the eggplant and curry powder and cook until brown, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, jalapeno and brown sugar, cook for 2 minutes. Add the coconut milk and bring to a boil for about 6 minutes. Remove the jalapeno and discard. Season with salt and black pepper and set aside until the dish is ready to be plated.

Preheat the oven to 400 degree. In a large sauté pan over medium high heat, add olive oil and sear each piece of salmon on both sides. Place the pan in oven and bake for 6 minutes (for medium), or your desired temperature.

On a large rectangular plate, place a large spoonful of the forbidden rice to the left-hand side of the dish. On the right-hand side, add a spoonful of the eggplant stew in a diagonal line. Add dollops of the ginger-scallion vinaigrette around the plate. Place the salmon filet on top of the black rice and garnish with green onions immediately before serving. 

Siesta Key Oyster Barhas hired Aaron Chavarria as executive chef. Chavarria brings 15 years of international culinary experience to Siesta Key Oyster Bar. Originally from Nicaragua, Chef Aaron studied agricultural engineering in Germany before finding his calling in the culinary world. He received his professional training in Europe. He has a passion for fusing colorful spices and flavors from Florida and the Caribbean together.  

LaPlaya Spa has opened on Beach Boulevard on Siesta Key. LaPlaya Spa’s newly remodeled location on the second floor above Ciao Gelato provides a space where guests can get facials, manicures, pedicures, waxing, eyelash tinting and eyelash extensions. Owner Denize Lemos-Tezcan opened LaPlaya Spa in July.  

LaPlaya Spa

Alicia Kurvin has joined the Sarasota office of RE/MAX Alliance Group as a Realtor and customer service manager with the Sarasota Property Group. She was previously with Sarasota Luxury Realty. Prior to becoming a Realtor, she worked several years managing various construction companies, then served as manager and project coordinator for architect George Palermo. 

RE/MAX Alliance Group