"Lost in the Wilderness - Quest for Episode I" which was Written
and Directed by Jack Venturo Premiered on June 22, 2000 at the
Film Paradiso Beach Theatre in St. Pete Beach Florida with a
very successful Premiere having a line form around the theatre,
making up its production cost on opening night and having an
almost sold out show filling up almost 300 of the 528 seats in
the house with all kinds of people, young and old.

The "Lost in the Wilderness" premier included behind the scenes
pictures in the lobby, Free gifts to Pre sold ticket holders,
autographed pictures of the cast, Merchandise for sale, and
Live performance by "Kill Theory" playing music from the
original Motion Picture soundtrack, "It was more than a premiere,
it was a celebration" a fan later said.

    

      One of the front counters in the Theatre
with "Lost in the Wilderness" bracelets
for sale (in the green bowl).
  
   
 
Writer Director Jack Venturo presenting the cast of
"Lost in the Wilderness - Quest for Episode I",
Jason Dunkman, Justin Dufffy, Kitt Tran,
Dwight Bynum Jr, and Georges Gallandre-Lebhar.

Writer Director Jack Venturo with Jason Dunkman.

  

Writer Director Jack Venturo with Justin
Duffy in front of the screen.

  

Writer Director Jack Venturo with
The man who made this possible
Creative Director for the
Film Paradiso St. pete Beach Theatre
Richard Hughes Pose for the camera
after a very succesfull Premiere.


The 8x11 "Free Gift" autographed
picture of the cast that was presented
to the first 30 Pre sold ticket holders.

    

One of the "Teaser" Posters
that was posted on many
walls around St. Petersburg.

  

Filmmaker Jeremy Hummer Running the projector in the
Theatre (Notice: Alice Stringer sitting in the background)

  
       

Drummer Erik Jones starts "The Lost
Ballad of the Wilderness" original
theme song written for "Lost in the Wilderness".

  

Josh Stanton on vocals and Russel
Hause on Guitar.

    

Erik Jones Writer of "The Lost Ballad of
the Wilderness" Performing more music
from "Kill Theory" on Premiere Night
June 22,2000
                                                 

Guitarist for "Kill Theory" Russel Hause with Writer Director Jack Venturo and Justin Monaco

          

"Kill Theory" performes on stage to a lively crowd before the movie.

      
                                 
The Audience
One of the guests of honor at the Premiere was Jack’s
mother Maria (and Friend) who has always been
supportive of Jack. (Also note Jason Dunkman sitting
next to Georges Galandre-Lebhar’s Wife Tree.)
   Another of the guests of honor Lawrence Miller
(and his Wife), who has been a great Inspiration
and Mentor to Writer Director Jack Venturo
throughout his young life.
     
Jason Dunkman's Sister Michelle and mother sitting left
 

A Brief History on The Film Paradiso Beach Theatre.

The Film Paradiso St.Pete Beach Theatre is a historic landmark along the west coast of Florida. Built in 1939 for a near $50,000 by Boston financier Stephen Girard. It was said to be the first theater ever erected for sound equipment on the coast. Fitted out with 528 seats.
The opening day Monday January 15th 1940 they showed "Dust Be My Destiny" starring Precilla Lane and topped off the evening with a comedy and the latest Fox Movie Tone News, which in those times covered the horrific WWII stories that were happening every day over in Europe.

When German U-boats were spotted off the coast a blackout was ordered which forced the theater to suspend operation for about 18 months. Except for that period, the theater has operated continuously under a succession of owners up until 1997 when Raza Chouls an International Business Trader bought the theater for his family to run and operate.

The Theatre was the first building on Corey Avenue which was a fairly busy road in those days due to the causeway being the only route on and off St.Pete beach.

If you visit the theater you can see the framed playbill from the theater's debut. The posters corners are slightly torn and the print faded, but the admission catches the eye. The original owners must have been optimistic about inflation because the poster proclaims the price as "10-25 cents, ALWAYS."