HERE IS HOW THE WEEKLY VOLCANO SEES THE FILMMAKING CONTEST GOING DOWN NEXT MONTH >>>

It's 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, and sitting scattered in The Grand Cinema's theater seats are amateur filmmakers representing 30 teams - all listening to the rules of The Grand's 72 Hour Film Festival.

"We're going to win it," Tacoma artist Teddy Haggerty yells - thinking Alec Baldwin is going to burst into the theater any second. "We're going to kill it."

The competition Haggerty expects to "kill" - the Grand's annual 72 Hour Film Festival - has drawn the aforementioned filmmaking production teams to Tacoma to produce a short film from April 29-May 2. The rules are simple: each team has 72 hours to write, shoot and edit one 5-minute film. Each team is required to turn in their finished product by 7 p.m. May 2, and all films must include a few components, like a specific situation, prop, action and line of dialogue or location. The Grand mixes it up each year, so each team will not know the specific requirements until April 29.

Once the competition is completed, a panel of judges will select the best overall film, best use of prop, best line of dialogue and best use of required action - among many other categories — at the fetsival's screening May 7 at the Rialto Theater. The coveted Audience Award will also be bestowed upon a team of lucky 72-hour filmmakers.

Only a few minutes before hearing the criteria, Haggerty and his team are unfazed by the uncertainty of what lies ahead.

"Give me the makings for a silent horror taco truck vendor story," Haggerty jokes. "I don't care."

Thursday, April 29, 7 p.m.

"I can't stand the suspense," Haggerty says, running up the theater aisle slapping each seat like he's Wolverine. "I'm so freaking excited."

The 30 teams anxiously wait to hear this year's 72 Hour Film Festival criteria.

Then, out of nowhere, The Grand's Executive Director Philip Cowan is front and center holding a scroll. 

Cowan wastes no time. He lets the scroll unravel to the floor, looks left ... looks right ... then flatly says:

"Required prop: Noxzema shaving cream; required action: speaking even when told not to by Gwen Stefani; required situation: dynamite blows up rock, scissors cut fuse; required dialogue: ‘Flash me in such an oblique way that I can still post the pics on Facebook!'"

He pauses.

"Now go."

Such specifics from Cowan garner groans from most of the crowd.

Initially, the four requirements don't sound like a good fit for Haggerty and his crew, who don't know who Stefani is, and don't have much use for shaving cream. Plus, "They don't want unicorns, which really kills all my creative juices," Haggerty adds, seeming momentarily dejected before catching his second creative wind.

"Now we take this and turn it into the winning short film," he says, walking out of the theater.

Thursday, April 29, 7:30 p.m.

All 10 members of Haggertonians gather in the freezing Old City Hall tower. The space serves as the team's home for an intense brainstorming session.

Chairs are quickly arranged in a square, and ideas immediately shoot across the space.

Haggerty spits out the first idea. As is his style, it involves unicorns, which the Stefani chick can ride. But other team members have doubts.

To be continued... (Maybe)

Get your 72 Hour Film Festival tickets

The Grand Cinema with host the 2010 72 Hour Film Festival screening Friday, May 7 at the Rialto in downtown Tacoma. 

Everyone is invited to enjoy this collaboration of 30 films written, directed and produced by local filmmakers. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the films will begin at 7. Tickets are available for $13 general admission or $11 for Grand Cinema members. You can purchase tickets by stopping by the Grand Cinema, or by visiting The Grand's Web site. Tickets will be available at the Rialto Theater's ticket office May 7 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Day of event ticket prices will be $15 GA, $13 members.

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN ON SUNDAY, MARCH 28 >>>

This is a tournament, folks, not a playoff. Each match is do or die - one misstep and you're out of the dance. Burn the tortilla, add a few too chopped onions or clump the cheese, and you can pack your skillet and cry into your canned tomatoes.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Josefina's vs. Taqueria El Rinconsito

Azteca vs. Moctezuma's

Los Tres Hermonos vs. MI Taqueria

Taco Bell vs. Tijuana Taco

Yesterday's battle on Pacific Avenue came down to two points. Taqueria El Rinconsito edged out the colorful Josefina's to advance to the Spicy 16. Is Josefina's neon light in the window too loud? Are the walls too bright?

In the largest victory margin to date in this tournament, Moctezuma's destroyed Azteca with 88.2 percent of the vote. One voter wrote, "Moctezuma's tacos al carbon are muy delicioso."

In the third game, the popular Los Tres Hermanos taco truck edged out MI Taqueria with 62.5 percent of the vote.

You can kiss the national franchise taco joints goodbye. Lakewood's Tijuana Taco knocked the last national chain – Taco Bell – out of the tournament by grabbing 74 percent of the vote. The voters claimed Tijuana Taco's fresh, healthy ingredients as the main reason why the voted for the long time Lakewood joint. The second reason for the win according to the voters' comments is their happy, polite staff.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's games are on. Vote here.

MONDAY MARCH 29: FINAL ROUND TWO GAMES >>>

The Spicy 16 begins tomorrow. Which tacos deserve to move on?

Game 1: Hidalgo Mexican Restaurant (806 72^nd St. E, Tacoma) vs. El Tenampa (3121 38^th St., Tacoma)

In Round One Hidalgo pasted Bonita Restaurant with the help of their tasty Mexican street tacos.  In round two, they are up against the strong 38^th Street contender El Tenampa that rocks it hard on MySpace. Have you danced in its massive ballroom yet?

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 2: MI Tres Amigos (8013 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood) vs. Tacos Guaymas (10105 S Tacoma Way, Lakewood)

Pre-tournament favorite Tacos Guaymas moves on the face Lakewood rival MI Tres Amigos. Guaymas' tasty tacos are served with ample onions, cilantro and salsa verde. We prefer the carne asado tacos. Just saying.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 3: Taqueria Burrito Loco (5502 Orchard St. W, University Place) vs. Los Amigos Mexican Food (6402 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma)

Taqueria Burrito Loco overcomes its location in a hidden strip mall behind a gas station with good food and excellent service. Los Amigos Mexican Food overcomes its awful name with juicy chicken tacos that overflows with meat. It's a difficult decision for voters today.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 4: Powerhouse Restaurant (454 E Main, Puyallup) vs. Engine House No. 9 (611 N Pine St., Tacoma)

There's enough history in this final game of Round Two to fill a taco. Dusty Trail converted a grimy rock joint into Engine House No. 9 back in the early ‘70s. He then turned it into Tacoma's first brewpub in the mid ‘90s. He also was a pioneer in the smoke-free dining trend. Trail then opened the Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery in Puyallup in the mid ‘90s. Trail sold E9 to Dick Dickens in 2004. Two tacos from the same gene pool do battle today. Could be epic.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Spicy 16 Taco Battles

Game 1: Los Reyes Del Taco vs. Vuelve A La Vida

Game 2: Masa vs. El Toro

Game 3: Taqueria La Fondita vs. La Huerta International Market #2

Game 4: Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe vs. Hell's Kitchen

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN ON SATURDAY, MARCH 27 >>>

The fabulous weather didn't stop folks from voting yesterday.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Vuelve A La Vida vs. Taqueria El Antojo

El Toro vs. The Funky Iguana

La Huerta International Market #2 vs. Taqueria La Carreta

Hell's Kitchen vs. Dave's Meat and Produce

Vuelve A La Vida a perennial favorite among South Sound folks thanks to its unpretentious atmosphere and well-made comfort food. Taqueria El Antojo sports a modern sheen with its gratis salsa station and devout following amongst Tacoma's taco cognoscenti. It could be argued that this seed was premature in the tournament. Maybe. However, Vuelve grabbed 69 percent of the vote and moves on to the Spicy 16 to take on Los Reyes Del Tacoma March 30.

Local chain El Toro sent The Funky Iguana packing with 73.3 percent of the vote. You can't overlook El Toro's fan base. You can't also overlook its tacos al carbon. Two large, flour tortillas packed with grilled marinated chicken breast then dipped in spicy sauce, lightly grilled and topped with Parmesan cheese. These babies helped comfort us yesterday as we watched our Kentucky get eliminated in the NCAA hoop tournament.

One vote. That's was La Huerta International Market #2's margin of victory over Taqueria La Carreta yesterday. La Carreta can hold its head high today knowing it serves some of the best tacos in town. Besides delicious tacos, La Huerta carries videos inside its store - something La Carreta just couldn't compete against.

Hell's Kitchen again turned out the troops to propel it into another round of the tournament, despite Dave's Meat and Produce's exceptional taco meat. Hell's Kitchen advances to the Spicy 16 to take on Top of Tacoma Bar and Café March 30. This, no doubt, will be an all-out war.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's games are on. Vote here.

SUNDAY, MARCH 28: ROUND TWO >>>

Which tacos deserve to move on to the Spicy 16?

Game 1: Josefina's (4816 Pacific Ave, Tacoma) vs. Taqueria El Rinconsito (72^nd and Pacific Avenue, Tacoma)

Old friends meet in Round Two. Josefina's surprised many of us at the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters when they dispatched Sam's Taqueria in Round One.  They will have their hands full again as they take on Taqueria El Rinconsito, once a cozy neighbor, who has recently moved to a new spot in the Fred Meyer parking lot. Most folks have El Rinconsito in the Final Cuatro on their brackets. Their spicy pork tacos should be bronzed.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 2: Azteca (4801 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma) vs. Moctezuma's (4102 S. 56^th St., Tacoma)

Two bitter South Tacoma area rivals face off here. Azteca, buoyed by its shopping induced famished crowd will do battle with Moctezuma's and its Happy Hour Homies.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 3: Los Tres Hermanos (12^th and Pine, Tacoma) vs. MI Taqueria (8424 S. Hosmer, Tacoma)

Here's an interesting match-up.  The popular Central Tacoma taco truck has a cocky smile as it stares down East Tacoma MI Taqueria, which showed promise by defeating Puerto Del Sol in Round One. Can't blame Los Tres Hermanos. It knows it has a secret weapon - Facebook.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 4: Taco Bell (various locations, Tacoma) vs. Tijuana Taco (10005 Bristol Ave., Lakewood)

Rocky, owner of Tijuana Taco, and his long-time manager, Mickey, told the Weekly Volcano they will not sleep until the tiny Lakewood fast-food joint defeats another corporate chain (they defeated Taco Time in round one).  In fact, late last night Rocky stood over his manager and a box full of fresh tomatoes barking: "Cut them Mickey.  Cut them!"  Such dedication.   

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Taco Battles

Game 1: Hildalgo Mexican Restaurant vs. El Tenampa

Game 2: MI Tres Amigos vs. Tacos Guaymas

Game 3: Taqueria Burrito Loco vs. Los Amigos Mexican Food

Game 4: Powerhouse Restaurant vs. Engine House No. 9

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN ON FRIDAY, MARCH 26 >>>

There are as many ways to express our love of food, as there are people on this planet. Some of us live in kitchens, some travel in search of new tasty tidbits and some create a game (ahem). Significantly fewer foodies declare their obsession with that most permanent of expressions: the tattoo. In honor of this paper's Tournament of Tacos contest, send us a photo of your taco tattoo and we'll post them.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Los Reyes Del Taco vs. Taqueria El Guadalajara

Masa vs. La Fondita II

Taqueria La Fondita vs. El Pulgarcito

Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe vs. Duke's Chowder House  

In the battle of small, sit-down Mexican restaurants, the East beat the South. Los Reyes Del Taco on East McKinley squeaked out a victory over El Guadalajara in Lakewood with 54.1 percent of the vote. Los Reyes will take of the winner of today's battle between Vuelve A La Vida and Taqueria El Antojo - that you can vote on here.

Masa incorporates high-quality ingredients to create tasty fare with an authenticity that is rare among Northwest Mexican-themed restaurants.  They skip the massive plate of rice and refried beans. Plus, thir menu choices allow for good eats for a variety of budgets. Those factors, plus a well-tuned marketing machine, propelled Masa over La Fondita II with 58.8 percent of the votes. Masa will compete with the winner of today's battle between The Funky Iguana and El Toro - that you can vote on here.

South Sound Salvadorans are sobbing today as their beloved El Pulgarcito in Lakewood fell yesterday to the powerful taco truck Taqueria La Fondita, which sits in the Lincoln District.  Rain, wobbly flooring, potholed graveled parking lot - these factors didn't detour voters as the taco truck advances with 71.4 percent of the votes.

Mexican music doesn't blare from the speakers. Owners Jason J and Jaime Kay Jones don't don Caporal suits. And the joint doesn't have piñatas hanging from the ceiling. Yet this popular neighborhood bar rules Tacoma's taco world according to its fan base. People adore Top of Tacoma Bar & Café's tacos. "Best Taco in Tacoma fosho!" commented one voter yesterday. And the mighty tasty fish tacos that Duke's Chowder House creates were no match for the Top's taco, which grabbed 84.4 percent of the vote yesterday.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's games are on. Vote here.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27: ROUND TWO >>>

Game 1: Vuelve A La Vida (5312 Pacific Ave, Tacoma) vs. Taqueria El Antojo (3801 McKinley Ave., Tacoma)

Here's proof that there are not any easy games in the Round Two.  This match-up pits two East Tacoma powerhouses against each other. Will El Antojo be able to prevent pre-tournament favorite Vuelve from getting inside its head? Does the fact that Vuelve doesn't serve chips and salsa hurt its chances in Round Two?

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 2: The Funky Iguana (2941 S 38^th St., Tacoma) vs. El Toro (various locations)

This game features two restaurants that pulled mild upsets in Round One.  The Funky Iguana must pull out all the punches to overcome El Toro's army of fans that comes with longevity and multiple locations.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 3: Taqueria La Carreta (8302 S Tacoma Way, Lakewood) vs. La Huerta International Market #2 (5605 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

La Huerta #2 looks to stay hot coming of its big win just two days.  But like we have written before, the ability to drink beer will watching Mexican daytime television inside a grocery stores is a plus for Huerta. Taqueria La Carreta, toughened by its position in B&I's shadow, will not go down easily.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 4: Hell's Kitchen (928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. Dave's Meat & Produce (1312 N I St., Tacoma)

Hell's Kitchen, still basking in the glow of a first round Swiss beatdown, will need to stay focused as they face sneaky Dave's Meat & Produce who dispatched the Tacoma Golf & Country Club earlier. They both serve tacos every Tuesday at a discount. However, you can't overlook the fact that Hell's Kitchen can add $2 beers and wells to the order.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Taco Battles

Game 1: Azteca vs. Moctezuma's

Game 2: Josefina's vs. Taqueria El Rinconsito

Game 3: Los Tres Hermanos vs. MI Taqueria

Game 4: Taco Bell vs. Tijuana Taco

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN THURSDAY, MARCH 25 >>>

Yesterday was the end of Round One voting. Below are the exciting results. Word of warning: Any time someone asks you to partake in something that involves ice cream and deep-frying, the innate human response is to heartily acquiesce. We can't help it; the response involves the same part of our reptilian brain that takes over whenever we hear the words "open" and "bar" in the same sentence. Fight this urge. It will make your face look fat.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Hidalgo Mexican Restaurant vs. Bonita Restaurant & Lounge

The Swiss vs. Hell's Kitchen

Matador vs. El Toro

La Huerta 2 International Market vs. La Peceras Taqueria

Hidalgo Mexican Restaurant's traditional Mexico City street tacos were no match for Bonita Restaurant & Lounge. Hidalgo grabbed 64.6 percent of the votes. It now moves on to battle El Tenampa on March 29.

Slow-paced, constant fouling and even a depantsing early in the game- the battle between the taco nights at The Swiss and Hell's Kitchen was a spectacle in the true sense of the word. A second-half voting spurt propelled Hell's Kitchen into the next round with 70.3 percent of the vote.

Is Matador too sexy for its tacos? Yes, according to El Toro. The local chain blew out Matador's candles with 68.8 percent of the vote yesterday. El Toro takes on The Funky Iguana tomorrow.

The final game of Round One was the closest. La Huerta 2 International Market put the huerta on La Pecera Taqueria with 55.1 percent of the vote. No doubt the option of drinking beer and watching Mexican television at La Huerta was a factor.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's games are on. Vote here.

FRIDAY, MARCH 26: ROUND TWO BEGINS >>>

Game 1: Los Reyes Del Taco (6308 McKinley, Tacoma) vs. Taqueria El Guadalajara (7421 Custer Rd., Lakewood)

Los Reyes fresh off their impressive opening round victory takes on surprising winner El Guadalajara in Lakewood.  A birth in the "Spicy 16" would benefit both, as these two restaurants tend to fly under the taco radar.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 2: Masa (2811 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. La Fondita II (2620 N. Proctor, Tacoma)

Masa - rested after a big opening round victory over Chevy's on the first day of the tournament ­- must rally its fans to help them do battle with Proctor District's red-hot La Fondita.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 3: Taqueria La Fondita (38^th St. & G St., Tacoma) vs. El Pulgarcito (12134 Pacific Hwy. SW, Lakewood)

The Lincoln International District taco truck moves on to battle El Pulgarcito, a tiny Salvadoran restaurant on Pacific Highway in Lakewood. This should be an interesting game - two authentic tacos do battle. 

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 4: Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe (3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma) vs. Duke's Chowder House (3327 Ruston Way, Tacoma)

East Tacoma's scrappy, gritty Top of Tacoma Bar & Café plays the underdog role against the waterfront's Duke's Chowder House featuring a very tough-to-beat fish taco.  But, as everyone knows, watch out for the underdog in the second round, especially since the Top just hosted its "Taco Thursday" night. 

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Taco Battles

Game 1: Vuelve A La Vida vs. Taqueria El Antojo

Game 2: The Funky Iguana vs. El Toro

Game 3: Taqueria La Carreta vs. La Huerta 2 International Market

Game 4: Hell's Kitchen vs. Dave's Meat & Produce

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

THURSDAY, MARCH 25: THE END OF ROUND ONE >>>

Yesterday's Results

Yesterday saw one blowout and two last-minute victories.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

El Perran vs. El Tenampa

Reyna's Mexican Restaurant vs. La Fondita II

The Beach Tavern vs. Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery

El Pulgarcito vs. Taqueria Los Parados

Game 1 yesterday saw the biggest blowout of the tournament so far. The authentic Mexican environment of El Tenampa crushed el Perran's sports bar like environment. El Perran must have not paid attention to Tenampa's massive dance floor in the back of its restaurant. They packed them in on the weekends for Mexican cumbia by large touring bands.

The hole-in-the-wall Reyna's held a slight lead all day until the nightlife crowd logged on. On the strength of its bar we believe, La Fondita pulled ahead in the final few minutes of the voting to capture 86.7 percent of the vote. We're sure no one expected Reyna's to go down in the first round.

The Beach Tavern also held a lead all day over the Powerhouse in Puyallup. Then the comments began to flow in - every single one cheering on the Powerhouse. Where were the Beach Tavern fans? Where was its cheering squad? Our guess is the Beach Bunch was inside their beloved Titlow Beach watering hole instead of logged online. Powerhouse, with 52.2 percent of the votes, moves to the next round.

El Salvador wins! The Salvadoran El Pulgarcito nestled in Ponder's Corner in Lakewood grabbed 55.2 percent of the vote sending Taqueria Los Parados packing.

Let's get down to the hard shell facts. The following are advancing to the next round:

El Tenampa

La Fondita II

Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery

El Pulgarcito

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's Competition

OK, time to move on to today's competition, which is the last day of Round One. Hey! We heard that sigh. Grab a bottle of Pepto and get back at it! ...

Game 1: Hidalgo Mexican Restaurant (806 72^nd St. E, Tacoma) vs. Bonita Restaurant & Lounge (5604 Portland Ave., Tacoma)

Hidalgo serves traditional opened-face tacos as one can find on the streets of Mexico City. While offering several meat fillings, we always head for the lengua (tongue). It's a strong competitor. Bonita is backed heavily by its loyal nightlife following. 

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 2: The Swiss (1904 S Jefferson Ave., Tacoma) vs. Hell's Kitchen (928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

The Swiss' Thursday taco night squares off with Hell's Kitchen's popular Tuesday taco night. Both tacos are cheap, tasty and served fast. We expect the whistle to be blown constantly in this game.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 3: Matador (7212 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. El Toro (various locations)

The Matador serves outstanding chorizo and fish tacos with a strong tequila bench in a downright sexy environment.   El Toro, locally owned with many locations in the Tacoma area, is the Cornell of the tournament. Nothing flashy - just a good consistent taco.  Flash versus a workhorse. Hang on to your hats folks.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 4: La Huerta 2 International Market (5605 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. La Pecera Taqueria (10422 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

The final game of Round One could be a blowout. Juan and Rossy Murguia opened La Huerta two years ago serving authentic Mexican food amidst aisles of grocery products, a meat department and a bakery. Their fresh tortillas alone could carry them to the next round. What La Pecera has in its pocket are authentic Mexican tacos served at unbelievably low prices.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Taco Battles, Round Two

Game 1: Los Reyes Del Taco vs. El Guadalajara Lakewood

Game 2: Masa vs. La Fondita

Game 3: Taqueria La Fondita vs. El Purgarcito

Game 4: Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe vs. Duke's Chowder House