Icing Breaker

Sweet Talking with the Film Bandits

by Monica Weymouth

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When Rosalie Kicks starts talking about her latest project, Pinheads!, it's hard to imagine she 9-to-5s it in human resources. "I thought it would be cool to put villains in a bowling alley," says the 24-year-old filmmaker. "And I knew there had to be a cupcake bandit."

But after graduating from Temple two years ago, things weren't looking promising on the artistic front. The film and journalism major expected to continue to write, create and participate in a like-minded community, but instead found herself unconnected to her daily work. "I was depressed," says Kicks. "I went to school to make films. I went to be creative."

Instead of getting too comfortable in her office, Kicks decided to get busy this past January. She hit Craigslist looking for other local filmmakers, artists, writers and anyone else who was interested in making a short film. Turns out, she was in good company.

The collective of 15 or so, who call themselves the Film Bandits, finished casting for Pinheads! last week. Written by Kicks with input from her newfound group of peers, their first short is the story of a group of second-rate villains — a pickpocket, a dine-and-dasher, a movie pirater and the aforementioned cupcake thief — who play in a bowling league against an equally unimpressive lineup of heroes.

"I'm surprised by how great people are here when you tell them about a project," says Kicks of early support for the film. A bake sale at August's First Friday saw cupcakes going for $5 a pop, and fans have been gobbling up the promotional tote bags, earrings and tees on their Web site (although this could be because the group's mascot —which is pictured above and stars on the merch — is a cutie).

The Film Bandits will continue their fundraising antics this Saturday at Jefferson Square Park with the Cupcake Bandit Film Festival. The evening begins with a cupcake hour (both vegan and buttery varieties will be available), proceeds from which will go toward the production costs of Pinheads! The Cupcake Bandit himself will be making an appearance, but no taking nibbles out of good-natured production assistant Shawn Feehly — he made the costume with the help of his mom and a repurposed trash can.

While fundraising is an important aspect of the night, it's also an opportunity for other local filmmakers to show their work. Screenings include Billy Goat Caller, a short narrative by 18-year-old Bandit Tim Kish about a menacing prankster. Another Philadelphian, Francis Friel, will present an experimental project, I Want You to Know I Love You Baby, and Adam Bishop submitted his Front Page Jackson all the way from L.A. Kicks will screen two pieces, a narrative and a documentary she made as a student about her uncle, a fellow eccentric who earns a living as a flea market vendor.

In the spirit of its organizers, the Cupcake Bandit Film Festival won't adhere to a strict schedule of screenings. Instead, anyone who comes with a short film (15 minutes or less) will be able to show, provided the content is reasonably appropriate for any families who may wander through. "There aren't enough places to show what you make," says Kicks. "We really just want people to get excited about what we're doing, about what others are doing." We'll bake to that.

The Cupcake Bandit Film Festival Sat., Aug. 23, 5:30 p.m. music, 7:30 p.m. cupcake hour, 8:30-11:30 p.m. films, donations appreciated, Jefferson Square Park, Third Street and Washington Avenue, banditfilmfestival.com