Rising Starz

After thinking long and hard, I've decided to quit writing. How long can I pretend I'm a "writer" before facing the truth? You're probably all wondering what I'm going to do now. Thanks for the concern, but I've already decided to rob banks, which seemed to work just fine for failed writer Max Solomon in the Denver-based film Skills Like This.

Maybe I'm being a little dramatic, but it's tough being an artist. All the criticism and doubt; I can totally see how it could drive someone to larceny. However, not everyone is like Max and me. There are those who are, how you say, successful. Get a glimpse of these rising stars at the First Look Film Festival — a collection of the best college shorts from around the world — which started Thursday and continues through tomorrow at Starz FilmCenter in the Tivoli. According to Jessica Miller, media contact at the Denver Film Society, the 2007 version is "one of the strongest programs we've had in our seven-year run."

Meet Monty Miranda, director of Skills Like This and a graduate of CU's film school, tonight at 6 p.m. during "The Full Monty Miranda." The event is free and includes clips from Skills, winner of the audience award for Best Feature at this year's South by Southwest Film Festival, as well as highlights of Miranda's commercial career and a question-and-answer session.

Tickets are $8.75 for each of the six film packages ($6.75 for students and $5.75 for DFS members) or $30 for a festival pass ($25 for DFS members). For screening times and other information, go to www.denverfilm.org.
April 19-22