Tag Archives: Long Island

LIIFE 2015 Long Island International Film Expo

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
July 20, 2015

LIIFE 2015 was held at historic Bellmore Movies. The 18th Annual Long Island International Film Expo, including screenings, panels, parties & more, spanned July 8-16, with Official Opening Night & Tech Awards on July 10th, and the Awards Ceremony on July 16th.

Bellmore, New York, USA. 16th July 2015. KEVIN BROWN, DOT COM on the TV series 30 ROCK, hosts the LIIFE Awards Ceremony at Bellmore Movies. It was the 18th Long Island International Film Expo. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, New York, USA. 16th July 2015. KEVIN BROWN hosts the LIIFE Awards Ceremony at Bellmore Movies. (© 2015 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Actor KEVIN BROWN, Dot Com from the TV series 30 Rock, hosted the Awards Ceremony; presenters included actors LUKAS HASSEL (In Montauk) and MARILYN CHRIS (TV’s One Life to Live), and actor JOHON AMOS was an LIFTF Lifetime Creative Achievement Honoree for his work, including the groundbreaking miniseries Roots. DEBRA MARKOWITZ, Nassau County Film Commissioner, was the Director of LIIFE 2015.

Bellmore, New York, USA. July 16, 2015. Actor LUKAS HASSEL and DEBORAH MARKOWITZ, Nassau County Film Commissioner, are on the Red Carpet at the 18th Annual LIIFE Awards Ceremony, at the Bellmore Movies. Markowitz is the director of of the Long Island International Film Expo. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. July 16, 2015.  Actor LUKAS HASSEL, a Presenter, and DEBORAH MARKOWITZ, Nassau County Film Commissioner, are on Red Carpet at LIIFE Awards Ceremony, at Bellmore Movies. (© 2015 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

HENRY STAMPFEL, owner of Bellmore Movie Theater, shared background about the theater, which was built in 1912 and is Long Island’s oldest operating theater —  and has been part of my family’s entertainment life for over half a century.

Bellmore, New York, USA. July 16, 2015. HENRY STAMPFEL, owner of Bellmore Movies, and NICOLE GONZALEZ, pose at the 18th Annual LIIFE Awards Ceremony. The Long Island International Film Festival was held at historic Bellmore Movies. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. July 16, 2015. HENRY STAMPFEL, a co-owner of Bellmore Movies, & NICOLE GONZALEZ, a staff member, pose at 18th Annual LIIFE Awards Ceremony. (© 2015 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

If films are an important part of your LIIFE – the annual Long Island International Film Expo – is for you.

LIIFE 2015 Ceremonies:  PHOTO GALLERY

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Car Show at Old Westbury Gardens 2015

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
June 11, 2015

One of the things I most enjoy about covering Long Island over the years is getting to know our people, and I was happy to see quite a few familiar faces (and cars) at Sunday’s Antique Car Show. The 50th Annual Spring Meet Car Show sponsored by Greater New York Region Antique Automobile Club of America had over a thousand antique, classic, and custom cars throughout the vast green lawns of historic Old Westbury Gardens.

Old Westbury, New York, United States. 7th June 2015. JACKSON STERN, five-months-old, holds the steering wheel of a red 1954 Chevrolet Corvette convertible as he sits in the lap of his father JOSHUA STERN, at the 50th Annual Spring Meet Car Show sponsored by Greater New York Region Antique Automobile Club of America. The Corvette, which was parked, is owned by Adam Heller of NYC. Over 1,000 antique, classic, and custom cars participated at the popular Long Island vintage car show held at historic Old Westbury Gardens. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, USA. June 7, 2015. JACKSON STERN, five-months-old, holds steering wheel of red 1954 Chevrolet Corvette convertible as he sits with his father JOSHUA STERN, at 50th Annual Spring Meet Car Show at Old Westbury Gardens. Adam Heller, of NYC, is owner of the Vette. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Some of new faces I met were: Ex-Chief NEIL HICKS and firefighter ALEX SEQUEIRA at the prize-winning Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department truck; SAM GRECO and LAURA GRECO who brought 5 vintage cars to the show; likely the youngest ‘driver’ there, JACKSON STERN, with his dad JOSHUA STERN in Adam Heller’s 1954 Corvette; and Veteran JOHN GIORDANO and his fellow Marines giving Free Hugs at the Marine Corps League North Shore Queens Detachment #240 booth.

When I visited the trophy area, at first I didn’t recognize the charming woman – decked in pearls, vintage-style dress and black straw sunhat – who was getting ready to hand out the trophies. When an equally charming man, in dapper suit and straw hat with black band, came over and said his name, I realized they were ALTHEA TRAVIS and TOM MCCARTHY, the smiling couple I had captured photos of last December in Huntington at the Sparkboom Jingle Boom Holiday Bash!

Old Westbury, New York, USA.  June 7, 2015. A 1966 Ford Good Humor Ice Cream Truck, owned by Richard Blech, is featured at the 50th Annual Spring Meet Car Show at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, USA.  June 7, 2015. A 1966 Ford Good Humor Ice Cream Truck, owned by Richard Blech, is featured at the 50th Annual Spring Meet Car Show at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

At the end of that warm spring day, I was happy RICHARD BLECH‘S The Vintage Ice Cream Guys 1966 Ford Good Humor Ice Cream Truck, with the 4 classic bells by the Bevin Brothers, was still stocked with frozen pops for sale.

Car Shows at Old Westbury Gardens:
PHOTO GALLERY 2015   •  PHOTO GALLERY 2014

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“The Interview” Opens at Merrick Cinemas on Christmas

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
December 31, 2014

On Christmas morning, I read that The Interview, the supposedly satiric comedy by Sony Pictures Entertainment, was playing at Merrick Cinemas, the only movie theater showing it in Nassau County, Long Island. So, even though I still had most of my Christmas present wrapping left, I headed out to capture news photos before the first show, 12:30 pm.

Merrick, New York, USA. December 25, 2014. The Interview plays at Merrick Cinemas, the only movie theater showing it in Nassau County, Long Island, on Christmas Day. (© 2014 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. Dec. 25, 2014. “The Interview” opens at Merrick Cinemas, in Nassau County, Long Island, on Christmas Day. (© 2014 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

In November, hackers illegally gained access to Sony Pictures computers, and later threatened theaters planning to show The Interview, in which stars James Franco and Seth Rogen play civilians recruited by the CIA to assassinate North Korea’s dictator.

Due to the terrorist threats, Sony originally canceled public release of the film, but then changed its plans again, and released the film in a limited way, including several hundred independent theaters.

The Interview has earned overall poor ratings, from movie critics and from audiences on sites such as IMDB.com and RottenTomatoes.com.

Several people who bought tickets to the movie in Merrick said they were seeing The Interview mainly to protest the attempt to suppress Americans’ Right to Free Speech.

The Interview at Merrick Cinemas:  GALLERY

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