WALL TO WALL RED CARPETING... I’m still reverberating from the power of last Wednesday’s kickoff event for the fledgling Carmel Film Fest and the Carmel Film Society, and its premier showing of the movie Talk To Me. Starting with the VIP reception at La Playa Hotel, and enjoying themes of local boy gone good – Joey Rappa is one of the producers of Talk To Me – it was a beautiful thing.

First at La Playa, where 200 people packed themselves together and bumble bee-buzzed about the Carmel Film Fest – easily the coolest new thing to hit this Peninsula in years. It was fascinating to watch the reception unwind, with Carmel Film Fest creator Scott Brown and Rappa working the room, muckie mucks from throughout the area curiously anticipating something, unsure about interacting with film director Kasi Lemmons, or actor Vondie Curtis-Hall (Kasi’s husband), or Dewey Hughes, one of the two men upon which Talk To Me is based. Folks were excited, but they really couldn’t figure out why yet.

Then we all found our way over to Century Cinemas at the Del Monte Center, where, amid the anticipatory anguish of ado and pre-adolescents impatiently awaiting the Harry Potter flick, we filled two theaters designated for the truly grown up film, Talk To Me. Don Cheadle, who you better already know, plays Ralph Waldo “Petey” Green, a fine upstanding community leader – had he been raised in the Georgetown suburbs maybe, but unfortunately a too typical by-product of the DC streets. Born of mostly-jailed parents, Petey lived out the behavior he learned growing up: hustling, stealing, doping and generally giving up hope.

A stint in jail provided Petey an opportunity to learn to DJ, where his straight from the streets sensibilities, integrity, plus black and blue honesty broke through the bullshit barrier and touched the inmates’ souls. Through a miracle association with a fellow inmate’s brother, Dewey Hughes, a straight-laced executive with a local radio station, combined with serendipitous timing and a set of balls brassier then the railing at the Capitol Building, Petey wedged his way into WOL, a fading soul music station needing a quick fix to pump its flagging listenership.

Petey became the voice of the community and commandeered the consciousness of DC during yet another of this country’s unconscionable periods, the Vietnam era. It was a time when leaders of freedom were being gunned down and society’s cancerous underbelly was being exposed for its hypocrisy, racism, elitism and creeping fascism. With a rich, stirring soundtrack echoing the times, this film pins your ears back with its honesty, integrity and black beauty.

Now our Peninsula friends knew why they were excited. At least 100 people stayed around after the film to listen to the above named folks talk about the process of making it, the impact, etc. When this film hits distribution and Oprah’s talking about it and Ebert and Roeper are giving it two thumbs as high as they can, the ones who were there last night will all share a sense of pride and community because they got to rub shoulders with Dewey Hughes and hang out with the producers – “Hey man, I went to school with Joey Rappa,” that sort of thing. That’s what being a member of the Carmel Film Society gets you, an insider’s perspective upon today’s most important art form, film. Check out carmelfilmfest.com. There are many such events to come.

IRREGULAR PROGRAMMING… What we won’t have to wait for is watching our own Beer Geek, Chris Nelson on his streaming website TV. He and his wife Meredith have been capturing footage and fun during their recent beer excursions through Europe. Log onto thebeergeek.com to check out the videos. Questions? chris@thebeergeek.com.

Along those same lines – sort of – is the television show being done by Richard Kanakaris of Pavona Wines. He’s doing Wine Nation, a fun, frivolous look inside the world of wine, hosting it under the pseudonym, Riccardo. I believe it is showing on Comcast Cable and there is a planned website streaming it on winenationtv.com coming as well.

Another local, Catherine Bowie, who I met when she was relating to the public for David Armanasco’s gaggle, but is now doing so for Cal Am Water, also has her own Public Access show called Your Town. Apparently it’s on radio as well. On it she interviews guests from, well, your town and discusses the latest news and issues. She must be getting desperate, she asked me to do the show on July 26. It’s live TV from what I understand so there’s no guarantee the FCC won’t be paying a visit afterwards.

THE REAL SCOOP… Got a great story from Firok Shield, owner of both Da Giovanni and Bistro Giovanni in Carmel. One day, he was in Bistro Giovanni at lunch when Gerard Rose, a member of Carmel’s City Council, popped in and told Firok about a big blob of dog poop on the sidewalk right near the restaurant. Firok was thankful and was arranging to take care of it when Rose said, nah, just give me a little plastic bag or something, I’ll take care of it. That’s what I call serving your constituents.

The AIWF is doing an interesting ethnic market grocery tour. On July 28 from 10am ‘til 3pm, join your fellow foodies on a tour of the Asian, Latin and Mediterranean Markets in the area. Gourmet snacks will sustain you aboard the tour bus and a luncheon at Ambrosia Indian Restaurant is also on tap. Call Carol Hillburn 626-9369 or Mary Chamberlin 624-0830 for more info and reservations… Thomas and Kristi Perez are still married… Hey, Sweet Elena’s Bakery in Sand City is now serving dinner. Just read it the way Elena wrote it: “Open for Dinner, yes we are. The food is Franco-Italiano-North African. We serve Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5pm on. Reservations are highly recommended. Please come.” Go, go already, 393-2063… That’s it for today… Love, a boy named Sue.