baltimore | TANNER BLOG

Oct
30

Jul
15

DON’T “F” WITH GEOFF This one time my friend Geoff was about to bite into his Auntie Anne’s soft pretzel when some surfer dude in flip flops appeared out of nowhere and stole it! As is often the case in such situations, Geoff calmly removed his shirt, jumped onto his moped, chased down the surfer dude, and ripped off his leg!!! The moral of this story… DON’T F WITH GEOFF!!! Disclaimer: The phrase “Don’t F With Geoff” is copyrighted to Nick Prevas and Geofferson Thomas. If you would like to use it as your company slogan and/or swim team name, I believe that they are currently charging a flat fee of around three hundred dollars for unlimited usage throughout the universe*. *Universe does not include Nebraska, Jupiter, or the Atlantic Ocean.

DON’T “F” WITH GEOFF

This one time my friend Geoff was about to bite into his Auntie Anne’s soft pretzel when some surfer dude in flip flops appeared out of nowhere and stole it! As is often the case in such situations, Geoff calmly removed his shirt, jumped onto his moped, chased down the surfer dude, and ripped off his leg!!!

The moral of this story…

DON’T F WITH GEOFF!!!

Disclaimer: The phrase “Don’t F With Geoff” is copyrighted to Nick Prevas and Geofferson Thomas. If you would like to use it as your company slogan and/or swim team name, I believe that they are currently charging a flat fee of around three hundred dollars for unlimited usage throughout the universe*.

*Universe does not include Nebraska, Jupiter, or the Atlantic Ocean.

Jun
19

TOM ALMON - THE RELUCTANT HERO Hey Dad, thanks so much for reluctantly portraying the mighty Papa Nemo in one of my student films many years ago. Although you were blessed with the coveted lead role of a community hero with the incredible ability to jump off high dives and catch beach balls while in mid-air, I realize that you were still nonetheless… a. extremely pissed off the entire time, b. more embarrassed than you’d ever been in your entire life, and c. quickly realizing that your son was “no Spielberg, that’s for sure”. Yet for some reason you stuck with it and saw the whole damn thing through till the bitter end, and that’s saying a lot considering we had to shoot your dramatic death scene in front of the entire UMBC women’s swim team. Hell, I even I almost jumped ship that day, and all I had to do was hold a camera. So yeah, if dads are measured by their ability to put up with their kid’s stupid art projects than you’ve gotta be the best dad in America. Thanks man. Anyway, here’s a few behind-the-scenes pictures of my Dad as Papa Nemo taken on the set of of my student film Nomar Number Three.  If you’d like to read a bit more about Nomar Number Three click here. 

TOM ALMON - THE RELUCTANT HERO

Hey Dad, thanks so much for reluctantly portraying the mighty Papa Nemo in one of my student films many years ago. Although you were blessed with the coveted lead role of a community hero with the incredible ability to jump off high dives and catch beach balls while in mid-air, I realize that you were still nonetheless…

a. extremely pissed off the entire time,

b. more embarrassed than you’d ever been in your entire life,

and

c. quickly realizing that your son was “no Spielberg, that’s for sure”.

Yet for some reason you stuck with it and saw the whole damn thing through till the bitter end, and that’s saying a lot considering we had to shoot your dramatic death scene in front of the entire UMBC women’s swim team. Hell, I even I almost jumped ship that day, and all I had to do was hold a camera.

So yeah, if dads are measured by their ability to put up with their kid’s stupid art projects than you’ve gotta be the best dad in America. Thanks man.

Anyway, here’s a few behind-the-scenes pictures of my Dad as Papa Nemo taken on the set of of my student film Nomar Number Three. 

If you’d like to read a bit more about Nomar Number Three click here. 

Jun
07

CALLING ALL BALTIMORE FOLKS!!! Problem: You live in or around Baltimore but have nothing to do this Thursday night except organize your sock drawer. Solution: Drop your damn socks and head to the American Visionary Art Museum for an mini outdoor film festival!!! It’s FREE!!! I guarantee a good time will be had as the films are terrific and the Visionary Art Museum is hands down the most awesomely happy creative place in all of Baltimore. Unfortunately Vicki and I won’t be able to make it, but we’ll be there in spirit as it looks like they’ll be playing Soda Pop Cough Drop and maybe some of our Furball Films. Anyway, here’s the official details… Fun House Movie Night at Mr. Rain’s Fun House (inside the American Visionary Art Museum)Featuring original films by Tanner Almon, Kristen Anchor, Justin Plakas & Nick Prevas. FREE screening starts at 9pm on the outdoor patio - come devour some delicious food, drinks, and film!Thursday June 9  |  9pm  |  FREEat Mr. Rain’s Fun House @ the AVAM (800 Key Hwy Baltimore)mrrainsfunhouse.com  |  avam.orgCheck out the filmmakers:Tanner Almon: tanneralmon.comKristen Anchor: kristenanchor.comJustin Plakas: justinplakas.comNick Prevas: magnificentlore.com

CALLING ALL BALTIMORE FOLKS!!!

Problem: You live in or around Baltimore but have nothing to do this Thursday night except organize your sock drawer.

Solution: Drop your damn socks and head to the American Visionary Art Museum for an mini outdoor film festival!!! It’s FREE!!!

I guarantee a good time will be had as the films are terrific and the Visionary Art Museum is hands down the most awesomely happy creative place in all of Baltimore. Unfortunately Vicki and I won’t be able to make it, but we’ll be there in spirit as it looks like they’ll be playing Soda Pop Cough Drop and maybe some of our Furball Films.

Anyway, here’s the official details…

Fun House Movie Night at Mr. Rain’s Fun House (inside the American Visionary Art Museum)
Featuring original films by Tanner Almon, Kristen Anchor, Justin Plakas & Nick Prevas. FREE screening starts at 9pm on the outdoor patio - come devour some delicious food, drinks, and film!

Thursday June 9  |  9pm  |  FREE
at Mr. Rain’s Fun House @ the AVAM (800 Key Hwy Baltimore)
mrrainsfunhouse.com  |  avam.org

Check out the filmmakers:
Tanner Almon: tanneralmon.com
Kristen Anchor: kristenanchor.com
Justin Plakas: justinplakas.com
Nick Prevas: magnificentlore.com

May
08

Mar
13

STUDENT FILM SERIES: METHOD FOR SELF-DEFENSE AGAINST SCORPIONS

A few weeks ago for “Flashback Friday” I posted a polaroid of my main man Geoff chewing on M&M’s in an effort to create sound effects for my short film, Method For Self-Defense Agains Scorpions. Anyway, last night I dug up a poorly digitized version of the film and figured I’d post it here. It’s around 14 minutes long which probably means that none of you will ever watch it, but I figured what the hell, maybe someone will watch the first minute or so.

For me the highlight of the film is my Uncle Pat, who has a cameo as a grief stricken husband whose wife (played by my mom, obviously) was tragically killed by a scorpion. I love the moment when he awkwardly places his elbow on my friend Kevin and slowly delivers this gem of a line… “she was stung three times in each eye”.

Anyway, the film is based on a short story by the brilliant Argentinean writer Fernando Sorrentino. I remember sitting down and actually writing a letter to him asking if it was okay to make a film about his story. And I remember getting a very nice hand written letter back saying yes. I feel bad for you kids these days who may never know the feeling of getting a real hand-written letter from someone in a foreign land, it was so exciting. My mom actually has the envelope Mr. Sorrentino sent me framed and hanging on her wall, as she was quite fond of the Argentinean stationary.

Anyway, if you have a few minutes please give this film a shot, not so much for my film but to simply hear one of Mr. Sorrentino’s brilliant imaginative tales. It really is quite an amazing story.

Feb
25

FLASHBACK FRIDAY 06 - “GEOFF THOMAS: SCORPION CHEWER” I figured since I’ve been posting a bit about my film school experience lately I’d just keep the ball rolling for this week’s edition of “Flashback Friday”. The polaroid you see here was taken during the creation of a film I made during my junior year called Method for Self-Defense Against Scorpions. In this exclusive behind-the-scenes photograph you can see my main man Geoff sitting before a microphone and smiling like the happy man that he is. You probably assume that he’s doing a voiceover of some sort. In reality this is not the case, what he’s actually doing is chewing on Peanut Butter M&M’s in an effort to create the nice crunchy sound of a violent scorpion being devoured. Once the M&M’s were gone we spent the rest of the evening stomping on eggs and throwing cantaloupes. It was quite messy but worth it as the sound effects turned out to be pretty damn good in Method for Self-Defense Against Scorpions.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY 06 - “GEOFF THOMAS: SCORPION CHEWER”

I figured since I’ve been posting a bit about my film school experience lately I’d just keep the ball rolling for this week’s edition of “Flashback Friday”. The polaroid you see here was taken during the creation of a film I made during my junior year called Method for Self-Defense Against Scorpions.

In this exclusive behind-the-scenes photograph you can see my main man Geoff sitting before a microphone and smiling like the happy man that he is. You probably assume that he’s doing a voiceover of some sort. In reality this is not the case, what he’s actually doing is chewing on Peanut Butter M&M’s in an effort to create the nice crunchy sound of a violent scorpion being devoured. Once the M&M’s were gone we spent the rest of the evening stomping on eggs and throwing cantaloupes. It was quite messy but worth it as the sound effects turned out to be pretty damn good in Method for Self-Defense Against Scorpions.

Feb
07

PEOPLE OF JAPAN 13 - “FLOPPY HAT MEMORIES” For a moment this man’s orange floppy hat reminded me of the floppy hat I was given at a Baltimore Orioles game with my dad and grandpa when I was around 7 or 8. Nothing beat sitting in Memorial Stadium eating popcorn and chanting “Eddie Eddie Eddie” between bites. Eddie Murphy may have been cool in the 80s, but trust me, he had nothing on Eddie Murray. Also, Memorial Stadium was the steepest stadium of all time… OF ALL TIME!!!

PEOPLE OF JAPAN 13 - “FLOPPY HAT MEMORIES”

For a moment this man’s orange floppy hat reminded me of the floppy hat I was given at a Baltimore Orioles game with my dad and grandpa when I was around 7 or 8. Nothing beat sitting in Memorial Stadium eating popcorn and chanting “Eddie Eddie Eddie” between bites. Eddie Murphy may have been cool in the 80s, but trust me, he had nothing on Eddie Murray.

Also, Memorial Stadium was the steepest stadium of all time… OF ALL TIME!!!

Feb
04

FLASHBACK FRIDAY 03 - “DOG BOY AND STRONG MAN” Oh sweet student films… Back in my college days my best friend Nick shot a black and white film by the name L’Invitation. It tells the tale of a love triangle involving a Gypsy, a Cannibal, and a Bearded Lady. Of course what carnival love triangle story would be complete without a few supporting characters, such as a Strong Man and a Dog Boy in a cage.  What’s crazy is that I showed up to set on the first shoot night with a full head of hair. Somehow I was bamboozled into letting my friend Gage shave my entire head with a Bic Razor so that he could tattoo my head with a Sharpie. Needless to say my folks were not too pleased. For anyone who may be curious the liquid dripping down my body is Hershey’s syrup, the go-to blood of choice when shooting black and white.  On a personal note this photo really bums me out because I realize that I’ve gained at least 40 pounds since this photo was taken. What the hell happened to me, I gotta get back in shape, it’s embarrassing. Damn you metabolism!  Anyway, if you’d like to see the film, it’s on Nick’s Vimeo. Here’s the link.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY 03 - “DOG BOY AND STRONG MAN”

Oh sweet student films…

Back in my college days my best friend Nick shot a black and white film by the name L’Invitation. It tells the tale of a love triangle involving a Gypsy, a Cannibal, and a Bearded Lady. Of course what carnival love triangle story would be complete without a few supporting characters, such as a Strong Man and a Dog Boy in a cage. 

What’s crazy is that I showed up to set on the first shoot night with a full head of hair. Somehow I was bamboozled into letting my friend Gage shave my entire head with a Bic Razor so that he could tattoo my head with a Sharpie. Needless to say my folks were not too pleased.

For anyone who may be curious the liquid dripping down my body is Hershey’s syrup, the go-to blood of choice when shooting black and white. 

On a personal note this photo really bums me out because I realize that I’ve gained at least 40 pounds since this photo was taken. What the hell happened to me, I gotta get back in shape, it’s embarrassing. Damn you metabolism!

 Anyway, if you’d like to see the film, it’s on Nick’s Vimeo. Here’s the link.