Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/108313
SARASOTA ON THE SILVER SCREEN Burns Court Cinema in downtown Sarasota, where the private screening of Blind Pass was held, is a small, independent theater known for showing indie or limited-release films that are often not available at major movie theaters. All photos by Arielle Scherr LOCAL FILMMAKERS PREVIEW THEIR NEW INDEPENDENT MOVIE, BLIND PASS, AND TALK OF THEIR HOPES FOR ITS IMPACT ON THE AREA'S FUTURE IN FILM By Tyler Whitson Staff Writer When Sarasota-area director Steve Tatone and actress Danielle White previewed their new psychological thriller, Blind Pass, to a packed house of crew members, potential investors and media representatives at Burns Court Cinema on the evening of Jan. 26, the atmosphere in the room was one of great excitement, not just for the film itself and all the effort that went into it, but for what it could mean to the future economy of the Sarasota-Bradenton area. Tatone and White — who co-produced Blind Pass for their production company, Midnight Pass Productions — had previously worked together on the Sarasota-based musical Beau- tiful Noise. They have made it clear they see Blind Pass as a statement that the Sarasota-Bradenton area has the potential to compete with powerhouse film production locations such as Los Angeles and New York in producing independent films shot on location with the hard work and support of local professionals and community members. "It's definitely a watershed moment," Tatone, who directed his latest film on what he referred to as a "low budget," told The Sarasota News Leader in an interview the day before the screening. "We're building something here that doesn't exist," he continued: "Indie filmmaking that's not brought from the outside in,