A movie that starts with a donkey’s behind seems an unlikely winner in a film contest designed as a marketing campaign for the City of Renton. But that’s the beginning of “Finger of God,” the movie that took best picture, best actor and first place in the Open Division in Renton FilmFrenzy 2008.

The movie won these honors during Tuesday night’s Renton FilmFrenzy Curvee Awards at IKEA Performing Arts Center.

Chris (Bob) Anderson and Sam Graydon didn’t expect their film featuring two characters sarcastically extolling Renton’s virtues would win top honors in the 50-hour film contest. But the pair, both 31 and of Renton, are happy with their success. Anderson calls himself the co-writer, actor and producer. Graydon was director and actor — the winner of the best actor. The pair had two others on their film crew.

“It’s amazing,” Anderson said of their win.

“Yeah, we didn’t expect it,” Graydon added.

“Politically Incorrect” won first place in the Student Division. The film is a love story between John McCain and Barack Obama — sort of. It’s actually a love story between a young woman wearing a John McCain mask and a young man wearing a Barack Obama mask.

“It’s cool. We’re happy about it,” CJ Capes said of the first-place win. Capes helped edit, film and produce the movie. He is 17 and a senior at Kentridge High School.

“Finger of God” and “Politically Incorrect” were among eight Curvee winners. Eleven films were entered into the contest.

Curvees — glass statuettes made by Uptown Glassworks — and cash — were awarded to first through third places in the student and open divisions. Curvees were also awarded for best actor, a special judges award, honorable mention for acting, best use of Renton and best picture. The winning films were shown at the Curvees.

Judges included local film

makers, film critics and a representative from the Renton Municipal Arts Commission.

The Curvees were emceed by Randy Matheson, communications director for Renton School District, and Kelley Balcomb-Bartok, communications specialist for the City of Renton.

Curvees were presented by members of the Renton Community Marketing Campaign, who developed Renton FilmFrenzy. Campaign members include Renton Chamber of Commerce, Valley Medical Center, Renton School District, Renton Technical College, Renton Visitors Connection and City of Renton. Renton Municipal Arts Commission is also a Renton FilmFrenzy partner.

FilmFrenzy filmmakers had a few other restrictions in addition to the 50-hour limit. Films had to be four minutes or less, shot entirely in Renton and appropriate for all audiences. Films also had to include The Piazza, a piece of Renton public art and the phrase “Ahead of the Curve,” which is Renton’s marketing slogan.

In addition to the Curvees, Renton FilmFrenzy included official before and after parties and Renton FilmWalk, during which all the entries were shown at downtown businesses.

All that was missing was the red carpet, which Valley Medical Center CEO Rich Roodman recommended rolling out during next year’s FilmFrenzy.

“It was fantastic — an amazing effort from the whole community,” Renton’s Economic Development Director Suzanne Dale Estey said of the first-annual Curvees.

She said Renton FilmFrenzy was meant to promote Renton and boost creativity.

It seems to have been successful. Many of the Curvees’ entrants already have new films planned. Nick Dugovich, who helped make “Politically Incorrect,” plans to enter a 24-hour filmmaking contest sponsored by Apple Computer. Dugovich, a 17-year-old senior at Kentridge, plans to attend film school.

Up next for Bob Anderson and Sam Graydon? “Finger of God” webisodes. The shorts will feature the same two characters bumbling through Renton. Anderson says some of the dialogue in those webisodes and the original “Finger of God” is from conversations he’s had with Graydon.

“We’ve always wanted to put them in movies, and now we can,” he said.

Renton FilmFrenzy 2008

Curvee Award Winners

Open Division

• First place: “Finger of God,” Sam Graydon, Chris (Bob) Anderson, Seth Wessel-Estes, Ryan Soupe

• Second place: “Loaf’s Labors Lost,” Andrew Forderer, Chris Iley, Elizabeth Snow, Jared Thomas

• Third place: “Renton Van Winkle,” Nate Jones, Joe Pergamo, Neal Schrepfer.

Student Division

• First place: “Politically Incorrect,” Travis Higden, Karly Burmark, Nick Dugovich, Matt Griffin, CJ Capes.

• Second place: “Renton is My Court,” Jordan Santos.

• Third place: Tie, “Renton on the Run,” Jessica Schmitt. “Summer Breeze,” Dustin Aulrich, Jayson Baugham, Jon Goodgion.

• Best Picture

“Finger of God”

• Best Use of Renton

“Renton is My Court.”

• Best Actor

Sam Graydon, “Finger of God.”

• Honorable Mention for Acting

CeCe the dog, “Loaf’s Labors Lost.”

• Special Judges Award

“Let’s Dance,” Ty Taufausau, Louis Brown, Adriana Gadsen, Angel Bowman, Alajawan Brown.

Judges

Virgina Bogert, Women in Film, Laughing Dog Pictures; Jim Dever, King 5 TV; Frank Frey, Boeing Films; Fred Lund, Renton Municipal Arts Commission and Andy Maier, 911 Productions

For more FilmFrenzy information, visit http://rentonfilmfrenzy.com.

For upcoming “Finger of God” webisodes, enter PolmadeQ at www.youtube.com.

Prizes have been handed out for entries into the Renton FilmFrenzy and you can view them all and vote on your favorites right here.

Click on the video players below to view the movies, then scroll down to the bottom of the page to vote.

For more on the FilmFrenzy, head over to www.rentonfilmfrenzy.com.

Renton on the Run

Politically Incorrect

Loaf’s Labors Lost

Let’s Dance!!!

Quick Crimson

My Game is Ahead of the Curve

The Finger of God

Summer Breeze

The Highest Point

Welcome to Renton City

Renton Van Winkle

What was your favorite film at the Renton FilmFrenzy?
( polls)