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Winter 2015 Quarterly Weekly Screenings •Anthology Film Archives• 32 Second Avenue •$6 All Night• Impressions from CCW/SATCON pg.4 Making Grinder pg. 16
Winter Fest 2015
NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Friday, January 2nd Courthouse @ Anthology
6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS DOCUMENTARY SERIES modern travelogue films
Joanna Belbey INDIA: A TOURIST’S VIEW (2014, 5 minutes, video) Jonathan Proctor SMALL TOWN, USA: ANDREWS, NC (2014, 51 minutes, video)
7:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SPECIAL PROGRAM Eric Rivas JASON WULF MEMORIAL (2014, 45 minute, video) A montage documentary on the late Jason Wulf, a longtime friend of the director since they bombed (grafitti’d) from the age of 16. Eric interviewed his family and edited tons of photos and videos for this mini Doc as a memorial.
8:00PM FIRST FEATURE PRESENTATION J. MIsny INTIMATE SEMAPHORES (2014, 59 minutes, video) A collection of three short stories, each a surreal and darkly comic exploration of how our creative impulses have the power to unite us or alienate us. ‘Helberger In Paradise’ stars Kate Lyn Sheil as a New Yorker who returns to her hometown to make good on an anarchistic promise to a deceased lover. ‘High and Dry’ stars Ariane Labed as a privileged street photographer who suspects that her declining eyesight might have disturbing psychological implications.
9:15PM SECOND FEATURE PRESENTATION Howard Weiner WHAT IS LIFE? THE MOVIE. (2011, 89 minutes, video)
“What is Life? The Movie” is a feature-length documentary that viewers have called a cross between “What the Bleep”, “My dinner with Andre”, and Woody Allen. The film explores the big questions in life for which there are no clear answers; Is there a God? What is the nature of the soul? How does one attain meaning in one’s life? Why is there evil? Is there destiny? Dr. Weiner, who serves as the host, tackles these questions with a mixture of philosophy and humor.
Friday, January 2nd
Deren @ Anthology NewFilmmakers night of upcoming Women’s Voices 6:00PM DOCUMENTARY SERIES Vivian Norris OBAMA MAMA (2014, 83 minutes, video) The most powerful man in the world says he owes everything to his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, the mother of President Barack Obama. She was an extraordinary and charismatic woman, who lived a full life, moving halfway around the world, yet remaining a true American both participating in making a better world and observing it with intelligent eyes.
Courthouse @ Anthology NewFilmmakers presents Middle East Films. 6:00PM DOCUMENTARY SERIES Ray Daneshi KANDOVAN (2014, 8 minutes, video) Karzan Kardozi I WANT TO LIVE (2014, 96 minutes, video) 8:00PM SHORT FILM SERIES
Karin Venegas UNAFRAID: VOICES FROM THE CRIME VICTIMS TREATMENT CENTER (2014, 44 minutes, video) Four rape survivors and two pioneering feminists share their stories of trauma, resilience, and activism. A deeply personal documentary, UNAFRAID explores the impact of rape and the capacity of ordinary individuals to effect change.
Saman Hosseinpuor 1-O (2014, 1 minute. video) Eva Daoud THE WATER GENIE (2012, 6 minutes, video) Padmini Narumanchi SAVAGE SISTERS (2012, 12 minutes, video) Marcel Giwargis TEHRANGELES (2012, 6 minutes, video) Roshanak Elmendorf MY SHADOW IS FOLLOWING ME (2014, 11 minutes, video) Tara Atashgah FOR THE BIRDS (2014, 14 minutes, video) Roozbeh Dadvand MOSSADEGH (2012, 24 minutes, video)
8:30PM FEATURE PRESENTATION
9:30PM FEATURE PRESENTATION
Lindsey Copeland GIRLS NIGHT (2014, 87 minutes, video) Five college friends reunite for a concert in Boston. When one of them loses the tickets the group must take on the task of retracing her steps to find the missing tickets, encountering a series of characters along the way.
Arya Ghavamian HAPPENINGS OF THE EIGHTH DAY (2014, 82 minutes, video) A film about a young Iranian director living in USA who is trapped in a circle of deception, betrayal, censorship, and love.
7:30PM SPECIAL PROGRAM
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Saturday, January 3rd
all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives
NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Winter Fest 2015
Saturday, January 3rd
Deren @ Anthology NewFilmmakers presents films from local fimmakers 6:00PM DOCUMENTARY SERIES David Francis VILLAGE FOLKSINGER (2013, 48 minutes, video) Venues that no longer exist...ruins that have been razed to prepare for future ruins...yet the religious statues and the garden gnome look on, imperturbable...the brilliant summer sky domes the brownstone skyline...the waves crash against the pilings, the tugboats plow on...a stranger passes, reflected in a puddle...a girl rides a white bicycle at twilight...in David Francis’ VILLAGE FOLKSINGER. 7:00PM SHORT FILM PROGRAM
New Filmmakers New York Winterfest 2014 Saturday January 3, 2015 at 7PM Anthology Film Archives, Maya Deren Theater 32 Second Avenue (at 2nd St.) New York, NY 10003 Tickets $6 212-505-5181
DOGMOUTH Starring: Stephan Morrow Alexandra Milne William Tate Ray Wasik Executive producer G.a.P.S.
Based on the Play by John Steppling
Written and Directed for the Screen by Stephan Morrow
Produced by Stephan Morrow Director of Photography Crawford Watson Associate Producers June Ospa
Stephan Morrow DOGMOUTH (2014, 91 minutes, video) A gang of anti social Vietnam Vets travel across America on and off freight trains, as they are relentlessly pursued by railroad agents. Their leader Dogmouth takes his gang on a journey into the deepest part of their souls and darkest depths of their psyches. Will the gang find their way back to the light...
Rob Hunkele John Ospa
Sound Paul Dente Assistant Camera Raquel Reyes Editor Michael Kasino
8:45PM FEATURE PRESENTATION Kevin Baggott BENEATH DISHEVELED STARS (2013, 108 minutes, video) Bobby, a NYC super goes to Ireland to carry out his mother’s last dying wish to be buried along side of her long lost love. Once in town he comes upon a drifter. The super is dragged down one rabbit hole after another by this mysterious fella. The super, eventually succeeds in carrying out his mother’s wish - but with much more than he planned for.
DOGMOUTH Some vets never come back the same. Renegades ride for free. Until they’re brought down.
Premiered at the New York City Greek Greek Film Festival
Sunday, January 4th
Courthouse @ Anthology NewFilmmakers presents a Double Feature 6:00PM FIRST SHORT FILM PROGRAM Daehwan Cho FUR ELISE (2014, 3 minutes, video) Viktor Burdiladze MONDAY AFTERNOON (2014, 9 minutes, video) Andrew Chan Gladstone THE SHIPMATE (2014, 10 minutes, video) Steven Smyka ROOK (2014, 14 minutes, video) Chip Hitchcock THE MAN WHO STOLE THE MOON (2013, 21 minutes, video) 7:15PM SECOND SHORT FILM PROGRAM Daniela Schrier Kafshi THE SHOWDOWN {2014, 12 minutes, video) Hiroshi Hara JORDAN’S JACKHAMMER (2014, 14 minutes, video) Mark Lammerding ANOTHER LIFE (2014, 18 minutes, video) Sam Guest MYTH (2014, 23 minutes, video) 8:30PM FIRST FEATURE PRESENTATION Marni Zelnick DRUID PEAK (2013, 112 minutes, video) Set against the backdrop of the wolf reintroduction program in Yellowstone National Park, Druid Peak is a coming of age story about a troubled teenage boy who finds a home tracking wolves in the wild lands of Wyoming. Shot on location in West Virginia, Wyoming, Montana and Utah, the film stars Andrew Wilson (Rushmore, The Royal Tennenbaums, Whip It), Spencer Treat Clark (The Last House on the Left, Mystic River, Gladiator) and Rachel Korine (Spring Breakers, Septien, Mr. Lonely).
all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives
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Winter Fest 2015
NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Sunday, January 4th
Deren @ Anthology NewFilmmakers ends Winter Fest with two new features 6:00PM DOCUMENTARY SERIES Paul Hegemen NIEUW LEVEN IN CONGO (2014, 52 minutes, video) Health care revolution in one of the poorest regions in the world. (Available on NewFilmmakers Online) 7:00PM SHORT FILM PROGRAM Alex Rodia THE PECKING ORDER (2014, 10 minutes, video) Rob Levy THIS IS BUSINESS (2014, 21 minutes, video) Alex Reyme ECHOES IN AN EMPTY APARTMENT (2014, 23 minutes, video) Quincy Perkins SWINGERS ANONYMOUS (2014, 24 minutes, video) 8:30PM FIRST FEATURE PRESENTATION Richard Claflin HAMLET (2014, 63 minutes, video) The son of a drug cartel kingpin, Hamlet leaves his home country to attend a New York City university. Now dating the university president’s daughter, Hamlet believes that he has successfully escaped the violence of his family’s narcotics business. But when his uncle, his mother and even his father’s ghost show up at the university, Hamlet must choose between family loyalty and his desire to escape the violence of the drug trade. 9:45PM SECOND FEATURE PRESENTATION Edward Dublin SMALL TOWN (2014, 104 minutes, video) The anatomy of his life is starting to weigh on David, a recent college graduate, as he recognizes where his decisions have led him. At his lowest he meets a mysterious girl, Kelly, who sees his talent and tries to propel his guarded aspirations. Through a casual discussion of the tale of Rip Van Winkle, David discovers a parallel between his own life and the man that slept his life away. Fearing that his life will pass him by, David must make a choice. Will he choose the path of happiness and a life of fulfillment? Or will he follow Rip’s path, and one day wake up in a world that forgot him?
Impressions We had the pleasure at NewFilmmakers this year to attend the 2014 CCW/SATCON conference hosted by NAB at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Here are a few of our impressions. This really is a DIY world! With the advent of affordable technology, digital distribution, and crowd sourcing we really are living in a Do It Yourself era. Prefssional 4k cameras are priced under $5,000 which puts them in direct competition with the growing HDSLR market. Why buy a canon 5D mark III 4
when you can acquire a Black Magic Production Camera that shoots with 12 stops of dynamic range, has 4k RAW, and a global shutter? Most digital distributors are fairly open platforms which any indie filmmaker can signup for and with minimal cost self distribute content. If you haven’ty had a chance to check out our very own NewFilmmakers Online, now is the time! Unlike many of the current online streaming services we have not implemented rules requiring Closed Captioning. Amazon, Itunes, and Netflix / Hulu all require these files to be integrated in the final delivery.
From Kickstarter to IndieGoGo and back there are more places to crowd fund then ever before. Did you know that since Kickstarters launch in 2009 it has helped to connect supporters to the tune of $250 million? Video Devices is the new company to watch! Sound Devices has combined their sound experience with a 5” display that can capture ProRes 4444. 2 balanced XLR inputs and phantom power make this the perfect purchase for an indie system which lacks professional sound capabilities.
The films that really distinguish themselves at NewFilmmakers all feature professional sound. Audiences are able to forgive picture a lot more readily then poorly captured audio. To learn more look for the PIX 240i at select retailers.
Telestream.net is now offering the popular MacCaption software to consumers at $1,095. With the average cost for CCing sitting at about $11 a minute you’ll pay this cost off with one feature! Contact Bob Barnshaw bobb@telestream.net Tell him NewFilmmakers sent you
all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives
NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Wednesday, January 7th
Winter Series 2015
6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS DOCUMENTARY SERIES Damien Krisl URBAN HIPPIE (2013, 3 minutes, video) Elizabeth Lo LAST STOP IN SANTA ROSA (2014, 4 minutes, 16mm) Andrew Garbus SOL (2014, 8 minutes, video) Kate Howley RIVER MEN (2014, 17 minutes, video) Todd Stoops MORNING MARY LOU (2012, 19 minutes, video) 7:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Alyx Duncan THE TIDE KEEPER (2014, 9 minutes, video) Samuel Grandchamp DISTRESS (2013, 9 minutes, video) Nicole Cobb ATHANASIA’S WALTZ (2013, 12 minutes, 16mm) Zach Fleming WE’LL BE HAPPY OVER THERE (2014, 13 minutes, video) Tracy Pitts OUTSIDE (2014, 15 minutes, 16mm) Jim Augustine CLUB 86 (2014, 24 minutes, video) 8:45PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION Sonoko Ogata BIRTH DAY (2014, 82 minutes, video) Greg repeats a countdown in his head, over and over, hoping to disappear when he reaches zero. He, near the end of his time at the drug rehabilitation clinic, is allowed to go to the city. Taking advantage of his time out he meets up with old friends, starting with Alex. During their conversation, Greg feels increasingly uncomfortable and it is clear he cannot relate to Alex’s new life. Greg wanders aimlessly through the city until later when he goes to a friend’s birthday dinner party. After the party, Greg leaves with friend to roam the town. They reach a lake just outside the town. It reminds him of the lake where he tried to kill himself earlier. The countdown starts...
Thursday, January 22 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SPECIAL PROGRAM Ani Simon-Kennedy DAYS OF GRAY (2013, 79 minutes, video) In this feature from Iceland it is a world without language. A world where one is raised to respect the rules. Only one Boy questions the verity of what he has been taught, and he must decide whether to continue living in a society of fear or choose his own destiny. 7:30PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Paulina Shur FAREWELL, MY SHORT, BUT BRILLIANT LIFE (2014, 3 minutes, video) Samantha Fontana DIVE (2014, 10 minutes, video) Blaise Godbe Lipman DREAMING AWAKE & EXQUISITE DOORS OF FRACTAL SELF (2014, 12 minutes, video) Rory Uphold SAFETY (2012, 13 minutes, video) Simon Lansberg-Rodriguez STASHBOX (2014, 13 minutes, video)
Eddie Fernandez at the premier of “Martial World”
8:45PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION Marc Lafia 27 (2014, 86 minutes, video) 27, a fiction film in the guise of a documentary, follows an artist, a group of actors, a filmmaker, and students who share similar desires to be free, to try things, to love, and to be loved. James Leary, a young artist who has walked away from his success in New York invites filmmaker Marc Lafia to his studio to talk. The filmmaker constructs a series of narratives to amplify James fears and ecstasies juxtaposing his life with Lola, an early teen poet, Divina, an intellectual with whom he’s in love and who wants to be free of him, and Tzuan, his Chinese student perplexed by translation all this folding into the documentary and another film made by Alejandro, a theater director making a film with James melding Shakespeare and surrealism.
Festival
New York Bill Woods - NY Coordinator Barney Oldfield - NY Producer Brandon Ruckdashel Director of Programming Info@newfilmmakers.com Los Angeles Larry Laboe Executive Director LA@newfilmmakersla.com
Masthead
Quarterly
Editor - Brandon Ruckdashel Brandon@newfilmmakers.com Publisher - Barney Oldfield Barney@newfilmmakers.com For advertising inquiries Marketing@newfilmmakers.com
Online Bill Elberg - Online Director
Support@Newfilmmakersonline.com
all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives
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Winter Series 2015
NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Tuesday, January 27th
NewFilmmakers presents a 27th anniversary screening of LADYKILLER 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SPECIAL PROGRAM Experimental Documentaries Curated by Tova Beck-Friedman Chris Bravo IN HABITAT (7 minutes) Ann Deborah Levy ON THE TRAIN TO KUTNA HORA ...AND BACK (8 minutes) Ann Deborah Levy SPECTATOR(S) (12 minutes) Ann Deborah Levy RAIN PAINTING (6 minutes) Chris Lynn AFTERNOON IN JIMING TEMPLE (8 minutes) Chris Lynn SHIPS PASSING ON THE HUANGPU RIVER (8 minutes) Leandro Listorti MONTEVIDEO (7 minutes) 7:15PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Noah Engel ZUZU’S COMPASS (2014, 10 minutes, video) KT Niehoff RAIN BEATS DOWN (2012, 10 minutes, video) Gwen Arner LADYKILLER (1987, 15 minutes, 16mm) Joshua Fisher LET HER DANCE (2014, 16 minutes, video) Kenneth Murphy REACHING HOME (2013, 18 minutes, video)
8:45PM NEWFILMMERS FEATURE PRESENTATION George Manatos RED RIGHT RETURN (2014, 79 minutes, video) Ian and Cullen, brothers who have been estranged largely from Ian’s problems with addiction, travel to their family beach house to reconnect before Cullen is to be married. When Cullen asks Ian to be his best man, Ian invites down old friends to give his brother a real bachelor party, inviting substances which put their relationship to test.
Attendees at our previous night of experimental womens films, July 9th
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all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives
NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Wednesday, January 28th
Winter Series 2015
NewFilmmakers presents a night of Crime and Punishment featuring SKINHEADS IN LOVE 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Allen Berry A DATE WITH IRONY (2014, 5 minutes, video) Jackie Marie BROKEN CRYSTAL (2014, 13 minutes, video) Randy Wikins DOCKET 32357 (2012, 14 minutes, video) Sarah Harrison SWITCH (2014, 15 minutes, video) Dirk Craft SKINHEADS IN LOVE (2014, 17 minutes, video) 7:15PM NEWFILMMAKERS FIRST FEATURE PRESENTATION Rich McKee CONFIDENTIAL (2013, 123 minutes, video) On a quiet secluded beach in eastern Long Island’s North fork, a body is discovered, washed up and hidden amongst the seaweed and other discarded detritus, to be found by a dog-walker in the coarse and rocky sand of this otherwise picturesque and idyllic place. A pair of police detectives are horrified and set out to solve the case and wonder ‘who could have done such a thing?’
9:30PM NEWFILMMAKERS SECOND FEATURE PRESENTATION Donna Roman Hernandez CROSSING BLOODLINES (2014, 105 minutes, video) An NJ mob boss, Joe Tullo, seeks revenge against his corrupt Detective Sergeant cousin and mob enforcer, Angelo Longo, and an Internal Affairs Police Lieutenant and childhood rival, Lt. Carmine De Blasio, who is preparing to send both Tullo and Longo to prison so he can be made the next Police Chief.
Kamal Ahmed and friends at the screening of his film “Laugh Killer Laugh“
all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives
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Presents
© MUCO Pictures LLC 2014 All Rights Reserved
MUCO Pictures LLC presents “Knightmares” a film by Nicholas M. Holmes, Produced by Markus E. Mueller Kyle Donnery | Chase Bolnick | Dorothea Swiac | Frank Palmer | Merly Bermudez | Steve Shoup and Rob Byrnes Line Producer Jana Sintschnig Assitant Director Batu Kaplan Production Manager Ronald Jarrett Written and Directed by Nicholas M. Holmes Director of Photography Markus E. Mueller Edited by Victoria Valles Art Director Eduardo Alcivar Music by Spyros Poulos SFX Make up by Deadworld Effects VFX Supervisor Michael Clarke Video Game Animation Burcag Yildrim Colorist Eric Alvarado
Winter Series 2015
NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Black History Program Co-Produced with The Black Panther Party of Harlem Wednesday, February 11th
Courthouse @ Anthology NewFilmmakers celebrates Black History month 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS DOCUMENTARY SERIES Mozell Miley-Bailey AND I ON THE OPPOSITE SHORE (2012, 13 minutes, video) Adam Radly FACE OF UNITY (2014, 68 minutes, video) Face Of Unity is the definitive Nelson Mandela documentary feature and first retrospective to be released since the president’s death in late 2013. It includes a never before seen speech where Mandela outlines the groundwork for peace and reconciliation to future generations. The piece also includes tributes to Nelson Mandela from President Barack Obama, Sam Jackson, Jack Nicklaus, George Lucas, Ray Charles, Morgan Freeman, and two former Australian Prime Ministers, among others. 7:15PM NEWFILMMAKERS SPECIAL PROGRAM presented by the Black Panther Party of Harlem 8:45PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza KNOW HOW (2013, 106 minutes, video) A film written and acted by foster care youth ripped from the stories of their lives. Five youth’s worlds interweave as they confront loss, heartbreak, and come of age in this tale about transience and perseverance. Addie struggles to graduate from high school while her best friend Marie loses her grandmother. Megan copes with being taken from her abusive family and faces the harsh reality of living in a residential treatment center. All the while Eva works to be mother to her sister while their father falls deeper into a crack addiction. Finally, there’s Austin who’s living on the street with his brother; barely able to feed himself. All of them must decide to survive or else fall victim to a broken system.
Stay tuned for information about our Annual July 3rd screening with the Black Panther Party of Harlem
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all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives
NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Wednesday, February 11th
Deren @ Anthology NewFilmmakers celebrates Valentine’s Day
Winter Series 2015
Sing Me to Sleep Wednesday February 11th @ 7:00pm
6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SPECIAL PROGRAM Foreign Romance Kyle Novak HOUR ANGLE (2013, 16 minutes, video) Sylvia Bussman RENDEZVOUS (2013, 31 minutes, video) 7:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS FIRST SHORT FILM PROGRAM Relationships on the lighter side Misa Spencer FALL BEATS (2013, 10 minutes, video) Bianca Panos BETWEEN DREAMS (2014, 11 minutes, video) Fredgy Noël MILKING IT (2014, 11 minutes, video) Crazy Legs Conti TIDDLYWINK (2014, 12 minutes, video) Marko Grujic SHE BE THE ONE (2013, 13 minutes, video) Dennis Schebetta MY DATE WITH ADAM (2013, 15 minutes, video) Mark Rotondo SING ME TO SLEEP (2014, 15 minutes, video) Ben Tolpin BROKEN UP (2013, 15 minutes, video) Hamad Al-Tourah PLAYTIME (2013, 19 minutes, video)
a Mark Rotondo film A reclusive writer pines for the beautiful violinist who lives next door.
Unshamed
Wednesday February 11th @ 9:00pm
9:15PM NEWFILMMAKERS SECOND SHORT FILM PROGRAM Relationships on the darker side Alexander Villafane THE TRUTH I HOLD (2014, 3 minutes, video) Raella Rothman CRAZY GLUE (2014, 6 minutes, video) Carries Issacman UNSHAMED (2013, 7 minutes, video) Scott Cassidy A TEST (2012, 14 minutes, video) Joseph Accardi THE SOFT SHELLED CRAB AND THE METAL CLAW (2014, 15 minutes, video) Edward Smucygz SCRYING (2014, 16 minutes, video) R.G. Rader SUDDEN SANITY (2014, 17 minutes, video)
a Carrie Isaacman film Two friends are almost pulled apart by bullies of their same age peers. The girls believe that they are suddenly at odds with each other and they find a way to find humor in what could be an impossible situation. The movie has a powerful message about the power of friendship.
Our 2014 Valentines screening with the premier of Curing Eve
all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives
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Winter Series 2015
NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Wednesday, February 18th
NewFilmmakers presents a night of films from the Boroughs and our historic sister city London 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS FOREIGN FILM PROGRAM from London, UK Mariana Conde C.T.R.L (2013, 4 minutes, video) Max Myers THE BIRTHDAY GIFT (2013, 11 minutes, video) Shekhar Bassi NO LOVE LOST (2013, 15 minutes, video) Per Krogh THE DROWNED MAN (2013, 17 minutes, 16mm) Adam Morse THE WINDOW (2013, 18 minutes, video) 7:15PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Simone Smith RED (2014, 8 minutes, video) Ana Celada SANDY (2014, 7 minutes, video) Catya Plate HANGING BY A THREAD (2013, 10 minutes, video) Sen-I Yu MILK (2014, 11 minutes, video) Deukyun Hwang DUST (2014, 12 minutes, video) Charles Alexander WEIGHT CLASSES (2014, 13 minutes, video) Mo Faramawy YABANCI (2013, 17 minutes, video) 9:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION from Staten Island Dave Broitman BALL BOY (2014, 25 minutes, video) Andre Joseph DISHONORABLE VENDETTA (2012, 97 minutes, video) DISHONORABLE VENDETTA is a dark, twenty-first century action-crime thriller in the vein of Miami Vice, The Departed, Eastern Promises, and Lethal Weapon. When a Bolivian drug lord and his family are gunned down by a rival group of Russian drug runners, the Drug Enforcement Agency enlists two young agents.
Tuesday, February 24th
NewFilmmakers presents a night of science fiction and fantasy 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM SERIES curated by Dan Abella, PhillipKDick Festival 7:30PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Jeff Meyers THE BLOOD OF LOVE (2014, 20 minutes, video) Robin G Phillips VALIANT (2014, 30 minutes, video) 9:15PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION J. Hanna I WAS A TEENAGE SUPERHERO SIDEKICK (2013, 78 minutes, video) Kid Dynamic, sidekick to Dynamic Man, quits the whole superhero racket and struggles with the transition...with finding himself. His hippy-dippy headshrinker, who insists on outdoor yoga classes during psychoanalysis, helps him find the courage to go for the simpler life he yearns for. What he comes to understand is that life isn’t so simple, with or without the cape.
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all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives
NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Wednesday, March 4th NewFilmmakers presents new films
Winter Series 2015
6:00PM YOIUNGFILMMAKERS PROGRAM YoungFilmmakers in association with Copyright Alliance will screen new films and videos from high school and college filmmakers monthly in New York and Los Angeles. 7:30PM COLLEGE SERIES with Digital Film Academy
9:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION Jordi Torrent LA REDEMPCIO DELS PEIXOS (2013, 88 minutes, video) A trip to Venice is the dream of thousands but for Marc, his journey is no vacation.Instead, his quest is to meet the father he never knew, a rite of passage for a youngman seeking to make sense of his own life story. In the process he discovers his father’s murky past as he enters into the age-old labyrinth of Venice: with its temptations and its delusions, its beauties and its deceits... What will he bring away?
YOUNGFILMMAKERS YoungFilmmakers will give young filmmakers not only the opportunity to show their films to audiences and critics but will give them the chance to network with each other at live screenings and online. YoungFilmmakers in association with Copyright Alliance will screen new films and videos from high school and college filmmakers monthly in New York and Los Angeles. Films will include documentaries, short films, and feature presentations and represent the best creative work of the next generation of filmmakers.
all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives
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Winter Series 2015
NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Wednesday, March 11th
NewFilmmakers celebrates Brandon Ruckdashel’s birthday with a night of Christian Sex 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Jett Strauss THIS PAINTING WILL SELF DESTRUCT (2013, 2 minutes, video) Daniel Armour SO… WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT? (2014, 9 minutes, video) Samantha Smith CON VEX (2014, 14 minutes, 16mm) Todd Rosken UP THE VALLEY AND BEYOND (2012, 15 minutes, 35mm) Edward James Anderson HOOKER (2014, 21 minutes, video) Jason Altman AMBER (2013, 21 minutes, video) 7:45PM NEWFILMMAKERS FIRST FEATURE PRESENTATION Liz Manashil BREAD AND BUTTER (2014, 90 minutes, video) On the brink of turning 30, endearing misfit AMELIA searches for signs to show her how to deal with her obsessive parents, her eccentric boss and her virginity. 9:30PM NEWFILMMAKERS SECOND FEATURE PRESENTATION Stewart Schill FRANK VS. GOD (2013, 100 minutes, video) Sometimes overcoming life’s obstacles begins by serving God... with a lawsuit.
Wednesday, March 18th
NewFilmmakers presents new films 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS FOREIGN FILM PROGRAM Australia James Marshall KEYS (2013, 4 minutes,video) Nicky Arnall ONE NIGHT STAND (2013, 8 minutes, video) Jamie Humphris MELVIS (2014, 9 minutes, 35mm) Josh Bryer KINDRED (2014, 10 minutes, video) 7:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM New Jersey Filmmakers Thomas Florek DANCING THROUGH CORN (2014, 4 minutes, video) Nnamdi Simon A CRITICISM (2014, 24 minutes, video) 7:30PM NEWFILMMAKERS SPECIAL PROGRAM about Dance Michael Betancourt DANCING GLITCH (2013, 3 minutes) Alia Swersky BENEATH OUR OWN IMMENSITY (2013, 10 minutes) BertT Shapiro LETS’S TANGO & FOOTNOTES (2014, 44 minutes) 8:30PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION Anthony Fisher SIDEWALK TRAFFIC (2013, 97 minutes, video) It feels like a worldwide conspiracy for Declan, a 30 year-old filmmaker, husband and new father, who cannot seem to get ahead. When he is squeezed out of a promotion, Declan is wracked by internal crises, including career envy, bitterness over bad breaks and the still-lingering fallout from the suicide of his best friend and former creative partner. 14
all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives
NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Winter Series 2015
Wednesday, March 25th
NewFilmmakers presents Brooklyn Filmmakers and Experimental Films 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Experimental Films curated by Lili White 7:15PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Karl Nussbaum NIGHT BLOOMING FLOWER (2013, 11 minutes, video) Nicholas M Holmes KNIGHTMARES (2014, 14 minutes, 16mm) Charlie Reeves PEACEKEEPERS (2014, 16 minutes, video) Adam Turkel ART’S SAKE (2014, 20 minutes, video) Chalkley Calderwood DIG (2014, 20 minutes, video) Djordje Djokovic ECHO (2013, 28 minutes, video) 9:15PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION Justin Daly DOUGLAS BROWN (2014, 83 minutes, video) Douglas Brown is a movie star who wakes up to find he is being blackmailed by someone he doesn’t know. He calls his agent Jack Girardi who calls Hollywood private detective Frank Manascalpo to sort things out. Frank does well, at first, but he finds the wrong man. He finds an aspiring writer/director Max O’Leary, who is under the mistaken impression that the sudden attention he is receiving might be because Douglas Brown wants to make his movie.
NewFilmmakers Online Distribution
NewFilmmakers Online puts the popular New York and Los Angeles screening series on the Internet and gives independent filmmakers the ability to reach audiences worldwide. Now NewFilmmakers Online awards the Film of the Month prize to the online film which sells the most copies. The NewFilmmakers Film of the Month Award is based on actual sales and demonstrates to festival programmers and distributors that the winning film is popular with audiences. Film of the Month winners receive a NewFilmmakers New York Screening and a NewFilmmakers Mailing promoting the film to 25,000 Festival Programmers, Distributors, and Indie Film Fans as well as Featured Placement on the NewFilmmaker web sites for one month.
Do you want your film online? It is as easy as onetwo-three. You purchase dowloads and set your own price. You can promote them on your website and on your facebook or other social media sites with our special widgets. all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives
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NewFilmmakers New York • Winter 2015
Making Grinder
Notes on How My Film Gets Made GRINDER, THE CASTING By Brandon Ruckdashel We thought that casting would be
scheduling).
In the real world I am an actor who works in New York and Los Angeles. I have been very lucky to get some great stage roles in both cities as well as on TV and in a number of films.
For casting we used a combination of Actors Access and Backstage. After more than a few rounds we were able to find a group of talented young actors who are very excited about the projects.
Like most actors and in spite of my fan base, I still find it hard to find meaningful projects. We live in a Kim Kardashian world where the reality has been replaced by a manufactured celebrity culture. My film, GRINDER, exposes an unspoken reality, one that I as a young actor discovered when I came to New York and then Los Angeles. It is not a story that some people, happier with American Idol and America’s Got Talent, will want to hear. Since there is no chance that GRINDER could be made in the Hollywood system, we are producing it independently in New York. But even here in the birthplace of indie film it has been a struggle. This is the story.
the easy part. Not true, especially in New York. Most local actors, were afraid they would ruin their “brand” if they stray and do something too edgy (in reality you only have a brand if you have a name). It is why most major movies shot in New York are still cast in Los Angeles. GRINDER, THE PRODUCTION The actual production portions are probably one of the most interesting parts of our film. In this new world of filmmaking we were able to purchase much of the equipment we needed. We do not need rental houses and labs that were once required to make a film.
GRINDER, THE STORY
WRITING When I came to New York after college, I ran this gauntlet of bottom I grew up in the late 90s, which was feeders, model managers and supa fairly common era to have pirated posed agents. software. I think GRINDER that this in part exposes this lead to the open Within Celtx studio I can shadow world source movemanage everything from where young ment. When I people become script, to budget, to shot lists, started writing commodities that scheduling, and back again. about 7 years ago get bought and I had a choice sold. between using the industry accepted FinalDraft or moving to the lesser known Celtx. GRINDER, THE FINANCING I have never regretted my choice to use Celtx. Within Celtx studio I The irony of GRINDER was that the can manage everything from script, financing was easy and the casting to budget, to shot lists, scheduling, hard. We found people that are will- and back again. ing to support films that they understand. Many independent films are The $9.99 a month is more than about imaginary worlds that only worth the cost. There is a bit of a their filmmaker populates. Others learning curve, but it is getting betare about absolutely nothing. Our ter. They have promised me 1/8s film struck a chord. of a page within the next year or so (The only bone I have to pick with
Brandon Ruckdashel Brandon is a New York based film and television actor. He is an alumni of the EC Glass Theatre program, the UNCSA summer drama intensive for High School Students, and holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from East Carolina University. Starting out his career in New York theater and Avant Garde films, Brandon starred in the New York Times critically acclaimed “Ascension” at the Lion Theatre while finishing principal photography on, French auteur filmmaker, Maria Beatty’s “Boy in a Bathtub” Following his work in New York he left for Los Angeles to star in the Drama Desk Award Winning “Twist” and shoot his first TV recurring role 16
CASTING
EQUIPMENT The biggest consideration for me with this project has been whether it should be shot UHD or HD. Especially worrisome to me was the reaction from our distributors on my last film to anything shot in less than HD. The prices for UHD TVs are coming down at a rapid rate and this could potentially make a film shot less than 2k or 4k undistributable within a years time.
that temperatures sitting a good twenties degrees below freezing should help me test the limits of a camera I’d be shooting with in April. Thankfully we had no major problems. I was completely stunned almost instantly by the image quality. My last feature was shot using the Canon 5D Mark II HDSLR with Magic Lantern installed. The move from a 420 to a 422 sensor blew my mind. The images were sharp and crisp beyond belief and the added stops of DR were absolutely insane. I could shoot an interior and still have information from exterior portions of the frame properly exposed. The 3 stop ND filter saved me on the exteriors more times than not. Before ordering the filter I had spent many hours online flip flopping between 3 stops and 4 stops. The 3 stops really allowed me to keep the iris in the sweet spot of 4.0-5.6 while still taking advantage of the camera’s native ISO/ASA of 400. Sound is the only major drawback of the BMPC-4K. Instead of balanced XLR inputs it sports 2 x 1/4” stereo jacks. A rep at NAB noted that this was due to real estate available on the body, not a poorly researched design decision.
Admitedly I spent a good two hours at NAB this year drooling over the I ran my AT-897 through my JuiceBlack Magic Design URSA camera, Link preamp to reduce the gain however I determined that the cost necessary from the cameras internal of expendables needed to run the preamps. I did notice some small camera efficiently and no ETA on hiss from the 1/8” the availability of to 1/4” crossover, the CFast storbut not enough age cards was UHD or Bust it couldn’t be retoo much of a moved during the risk. The biggest consideration for course of regular me with this project has been dialogue denoisI decided to whether it should be shot UHD ing in post. move forward or HD. with the Black Next Quarter I’ll Magic Design 4k go into the post Production Camproduction workera. The $2,000 flow from “Symptomatic” and the I saved on the URSA I threw into a set of Anton Bauer DIONIC-HC bat- pre-production of “Grinder.” teries and enough SSDs to keep me shooting all day. FILMMAKERS! “SYMPTOMATIC,” THE CAMERA TEST With the new equipment purchased I headed up to the Adirondacks to put it through its paces. I reasoned in “The Lair,” a television series on HERE! TV. While filming “The Lair” he was offered the series lead in HBO/Cinemax’s hit series Coed Confidential. He also worked with Jerry Zucker on a comedy pilot for TBS and flew to Romania to shoot a recurring role for “Life on Top.” After completing season 4 and Brandon returned to New York city.
Would you like to tell us about making your film? Email us at Brandon@newfilmmakers.com
Brandon has become a recognized film actor. Upcoming films include the comedic horror film “Symptomatic” and thriller “Grinder.”
When not acting, Brandon volunteers as the program director for NewFilmmakers New York, a weekly film series which screens nearly a thousand films a year, and serves as a juror of the Grinder New Director Award for the Grinder is a New York set ThrillAsian American er which will be lensing in April. International Film You can follow the production Festival. on facebook at Facebook.com/ GrinderMovie
More recently Brandon has starred opposite Tony Todd in “Changing the Game” (Lionsgate) and worked with Roger Corman alumni Fred Olen Ray and Jim Wynorski. With almost a dozen made for TV Movies and over 30 episodes of television,
all screenings at 32 Second Avenue (@ Second Street) • Anthology Film Archives