Readers take their best shot for contest

Las Vegas is where Hollywood goes to give its film characters a debauched vacation. Judging from submissions to the R-J Online Film Festival, however, we should be a go-to locale for directorial talent.

"The Stall Thief," a comedic short film by Spiro Siavelis, trounced an ambitious batch of comedy, horror, drama, documentary and arthouse submissions to become the contest's reader favorite.

"I'm really excited to win," said Siavelis, 23, a Chicago native pursuing a master's degree in screenwriting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

For the Review-Journal prize, features staffers chose "Looking Back," a black-and-white film noir by Jan Fair about the murder of an IRS agent.

Both winners will receive plaques marking their victories.

"I couldn't be happier," said Fair, a local author, journalist and first-time filmmaker.

Entrants were given only three directives:

1. Limit their film to less than four minutes.

2. Incorporate an issue of the Review-Journal.

3. Post it on YouTube.

Last month, visitors to the R-J website picked their winner from among five finalists selected by newspaper staffers. (For links to these films ­-- as well as some other submissions that obeyed our guidelines ­-- see lvrj.com/filmfestival2010.)

"The Stall Thief," according to Siavelis, is based on an experience he had while attending another college in Valencia, Calif.

"I was in the handicapped stall, doing my thing," he said, "and an old man tugged on the door."

Siavelis assumed he walked off in frustration, but he was wrong.

"He tried to squeeze into the stall next to me with a gigantic walker," he said.

The result, Siavelis said, was "the most guilty feeling I've ever had in my life."

The entire cast and crew of "The Stall Thief" consisted of Siavelis, a classmate playing the old man and another holding the camera. Action was called at 10 on a random weeknight on the third floor of the UNLV Student Union.

No permission was sought from the school.

"We didn't think anyone would be up there," Siavelis said. "We were wrong."

Several takes were ruined by men walking into the restroom. In addition, according to Siavelis, one guy busted in because he heard loud noises.

"He thought someone was getting attacked," Siavelis said.

The story behind the R-J pick, "Looking Back," packs nearly as many twists and turns as the film. Fair ­-- who declines to reveal her age -- writes a column for The Vegas Voice senior monthly. She also has authored 40 textbooks, mostly math.

"But I want to write other stuff," she said.

Over the years, Fair -- a New Yorker who raised two kids as a single mom near Santa Barbara, Calif. -- has tried plays, novels and comedy sketches. But little has seen publication or a stage.

"I was really inspired to try making this film," she said.

Fair scouted locations and, unlike Siavelis, obtained all required permissions. She lined up some friends to play the dead IRS agent, the private detective working the case and the suspects: a homeless person, bartender and a newspaper carrier.

She even purchased a $2,500 Mac laptop and software, just to edit the film.

A few days before the shoot on Labor Day, however, all her actors flaked. Rather than give up, Fair elected to play every role herself.

Then the camera operator flaked. Still, Fair would not cave. She bought her own camcorder (another $700) and learned how to operate it herself. (A girlfriend filmed the scenes that couldn't be accomplished using a tripod.)

"I was up all night the night before figuring out how to work it," Fair said.

Before being told of her victory, Fair said, the contest had already paid off. She has since created a website to promote her book pitches and posts videos on that site to elaborate on her more unconventional ideas.

"It makes me more viable as an author," Fair said. "Now I've got a whole new career, I think, because of this contest."

Siavelis -- who works in a VIP lounge at the Palms and keeps his acting and comedy chops fresh as a member of the Jest Serendipity improv group -- said he hopes his victory will provide an early career boost.

"Hopefully, something's gonna happen," he said.

The clock is ticking, however.

"If I don't sell a screenplay or make it big by age 26," he said, "me and my friend back home are going to try and make our own films and break in that way.

"I've got three more years."

Contact reporter Corey Levitan at clevitan@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0456.