The Independent Film Channel understands the obsessive quality
of the average movie nut. So leave it to them to create a series
which pits film buff against film buff in a battle to the death. “Ultimate
Film Fanatic”, a game show-like venue hosted by Film Threat’s
Chris Gore, scoured the countryside to find that one person
with the most obscure film facts at their fingertips, the greatest
ability to argue their opinions on cinema, and the premiere
collection of movie memorabilia in the U.S.. The lucky winner,
besides the $10,000 cash prize and the title of “Ultimate
Film Fanatic”, gets the opportunity to host and program
a full evening of IFC features.
On July 9 at 10:30 p.m., the first of seven semi-finals will
air on IFC. New York, Phoenix. Detroit, Atlanta. Philadelphia,
Los Angeles, and Denver narrowed down the hordes of fans to
five lucky contestants from each area. Atlanta’s search
found Eric Harvey of Decatur, Joshua Hammonds of Marietta,
Jeff Sutton of Marietta, Billy Murphy of Newnan, and Reed Barker
of Peachtree City.
Barker, who appears on the July 30 episode, keeps a blog
at www.reedyb.com where he comments on films and books, and
a dead Oscar web site at http://members.aol.com/reedyb/oscar/
containing plenty more opinions and lists of movies. The computer
is just the tip of the iceberg. His love for actors and their
roles stretches back to high school when he was able to interview
a young star, Dennis Quaid, for the school newspaper. He was
involved with UGA’s student union film program where he
got to choose and run 35 mm classics like “Laurence of
Arabia”, his favorite movie. His collection of action
figures and movie posters has grown along the way. Regular
reading for Barker includes the massive tome, Leonard Maltin’s
Movie Guide,
Pitted against fellow film experts, the second and third
round elimination events are presided over by a panel of celebrity
judges. Traci Lords of “Crybaby” fame, “Shaft’s” Richard
Roundtree, and Jason Mewes, the speaking half of comedy film
duo, Jay and Silent Bob, decide who can argue best and who
has the most impressive collectibles to offer. Baker got to
meet Lords who he said was “very nice” and he characterized
Richard Roundtree as “a loveable curmudgeon.” Loveable
or not, the three famous names hold the power of life and death
over who will make it to the finals on August 27. Whether you
love movies or just love to watch those who do, “Ultimate
Film Fanatic” is a candid peek at the movie geek.
Barker, who works in strategic marketing for Atlanta’s
N2 Broadband, is married with two girls, Chelsea and Grace,
ages 12 and 10. He promised them that if he won the Southeast
regionals that the family would take a trip to Disney World.
