I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE November / December 2017
Ft . Lauder dale Int l. Film Fest ival Film Review : "Dog Year s" Int er view : Ken Webb, dir ect or "Ser ious Laundr y" Film Car pet XI
Spooky Empir e Hor r or Film Fest "The Cell" honor ed On t he r ed car pet Opening Night event at Seminole Har d Rock Live, Ft . Lauder dale Int l. Film Fest ival : Todd Vit t um, Chr ist opher Osceola, Bur t Reynolds, Gr aham Gr een, St evie Salas and Chr t ist ina Fon.
Theat er Review : "The Lit t le Foxes"
I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Novem ber /Decem ber 2017
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The Ft. Lauderdale Intl. Film Festival (FLIFF) may have begun back on Oct. 27 but the real kickoff began at the opening night party, held Nov. 3 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino's Hard Rock Live. The night began with a screening of "Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World," and an appearance by its executive producer Stevie Salas, producer Christina Fon, Seminole Tribal Council's Hollywood Representative Christopher Osceola and also actor Graham Greene, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the screening. Greene is known for films like "Dances with Wolves," "The Green Mile," the " Twilight " movies and more. The night continued with the arrival of the legendary actor Burt Reynolds (pictured), who came with his entourage onto the red carpet in an oversized golf cart before being escorted over to a director's chair for the media frenzy to begin. Along with him were cast & crew of his film "Dog Years," which also screened this night, including Nikki Blonsky, best known for "Hairspray," director Adam Rifkin, and other actors from the film, including Todd Vittum, who also works with Burt up at his Jupiter, FL Burt Reynolds Institute (BRIFT) and BRIFT student and local actress Amy Hoerler, among others. Following the screening, Burt gave a tearful Q&A, talking about regrets in his life, mistakes he has made and great people he has met along the way. See review of "Dog Years," page 3 . Of course, the night would not be complete without a party, which included plenty of hors d' oeuvres, perfectly placed props for proper photo opps and a passionate saxophone player who brought everyone to the dance floor via Conga line. It was a wonderful night.
FLIFF
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Film Review : "Dog Year s" By Rach el Galvin (Spoilers included) Before the movie began playing at the Hard Rock Live Nov. 3 at the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival opening night event, ?Dog Years? writer/ director Adam Rifkin told press on the red carpet that he wrote the movie for Burt Reynolds and would not make the movie if he did not come on board. For Reynolds, the movie hit all too close to home, a film about a now aged actor who lived a legendary life. If it had been a few years ago, said Reynolds, he may have said no to the project, but he decided to come on board. When this reporter asked what the most rewarding part of his career was, Reynolds said quickly, ?This film,? adding that he hoped that people would enjoy it and that the film would bring a tear to your eye. He understated the effect the film would have on the audience. ?Dog Years? starts off showing actor Vic Edwards in a veterinarian's office with his dog, who he finds out is beyond help. If that alone doesn't tug at your heart strings, don't worry, the rest of the film certainly will. Edwards now sits 3 alone eating Hungry Man dinners and drinking alcohol
straight from the bottle. His yearning for his younger years is the theme of the movie, as it shows scenes of him lusting after young girls and attempting to pop Viagra, and many scenes of him reminiscing back on his earlier days in the spotlight. Now, he is lucky if people remember his name. Over lunch and a playful back and forth conversation with friend Sonny, played by Chevy Chase, Edwards reveals he has been invited to what he thinks is a prestigious film festival to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Sonny encourages him to go despite his reservations. Enter Lil (Ariel Winter), a young trash-talking pierced and tatted young girl wearing a crop top and shorter than Daisy Dukes pulling up to Edward's place while yelling on the cell phone at her boyfriend.while driving a beaten down piece of junk car. Much to Edwards disgust, he gets in the car, filled with crumbled up paperwork, her evil-looking artwork and dried up pizza crust, among other treasures, and heads to what is perhaps a one star hotel, an Econolodge. This is not the VIP treatment that Edwards was expecting. Surely, the festival must be better. Surely, they will roll out the red carpet there... Not so much. It turns out the International Nashville Film Festival is not the more popular Nashville film fest, but a different one, a horse of a different color, to be sure. This festival ,instead of the glamor he once experienced, is held in a neighborhood bar filled with young hipsters who are fans of Edwards and definitely of a different generation. When Faith (Nikki Blonsky) meets him, the first thing out of her mouth is her long line of social networking sites, enough to make Edward's confused head spin. After being made to sit among his fans and watch a long loop of his own films, he finally has enough and heads to the bar. The drunker he gets, the more belligerent and disillusioned he becomes and takes out his rage at the audience, declaring them and the festival to be losers and soon demands the young driver Lil to take him wherever he wants to go for the weekend. His choice is Knoxville, his hometown, where he
goes on a trip down memory lane, visiting his old home, the temple where he had his bar mitzvah, what used to be the pool hall he once played in and the stadium where he once was a football star, something which was more fun than being a Hollywood movie star (a sentiment later echoed in real life by Reynolds, who did play football for Florida State University). He even goes to a nursing home of sorts to find his first wife, who now has Alzheimer's and does not know who he is. In an attempt to get some closure and make amends, he not only visits her and apologizes, but ?kidnaps? her and takes her to the location where he first proposed, perhaps trying to bring back the memory. These moments are interspersed with real footage from Reynolds career, like his appearance on Johnny Carson show, his character in ?Deliverance? and others. Perhaps most poignant is a scene where the older Edwards is in the Trans-Am from ?Smokey & the Bandit? with the young Edwards (Reynolds) and he gets to talk to himself, saying he wished he could stop him from making the mistakes he will make in the future. In the process of taking this trip, Reynolds decides to take on Lil's life head on, giving her advice to get rid of her cheating and abusive boyfriend. He takes on a mentor role, which she eventually accepts and seems to learn a few lessons about life and settle down in the process watching how he operates. Between the trip and the newfound relationship, Edwards also changes his ways and realizes he has to make amends with the film festival operators, so he does a mea culpa and accepts his Lifetime Achievement Award humbly. This is probably the largest role Reynolds has had in awhile. He has smaller roles in a few other locally-made films in the festival, including ?Shadow Fighter," directed by Alyn Darnay and "Henri," directed by Octavian Onuc. He also has been seen recently in the locally made Internet web show ?Insanity, Florida," in addition to other roles locally in the past. But his role in ?Dog Years? most assuredly is one of his most poignant in many, many years ... perhaps ever. The film seems to have had a profound effect on the actor, evident in the very
emotional Q&A that followed, in which he praised the director, Adam Rifkin. ?He is the best director,? said Reynolds of Rifkin, who added that sometimes Burt would come up with something to say that was better than anything he could have ever written himself. ?I did not realize when I was making the film that it was my life,? said Reynolds. He joked, "About 10 times, I thought I've got to get out of here because I know what is happens next," adding, "I look up and I see all of you people and I'm so blessed." He lamented some of his life failings, but said, ?I have had a terrific time along the way,? adding that when he goes to the Pearly Gates and they ask him what he has done to deserve going here, he will say, ?You haven't seen the film.? His next role is a part in a film called ?Defining Moments.?
Above: Producer Gordon Whit ener, act ress Nikki Bl onsky, writ er/ direct or Adam Rif kin and producer Brian Caval l aro
?I am not driving cars anymore. I am not fighting. I am doing 'Defining Moments,? he said, adding that it is the
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Bu r t Reyn olds w it h cast & cr ew an d FLIFF Ch air m an Jim Nor t on in back .
kind of film Burt Lancaster would do in later years, and saying, ?I have been an actor for almost 60 years.? He added, ?I have made a lot of mistakes and have done some pretty good things and have met some pretty damn wonderful people that I hope are in my life for as much time as I have left. To be an actor and be good, you've got to be so brave, cough it up and say what you got to say about your life.? When asked about working with Ariel Winter (known for ?Modern Family?), Reynolds said, ?I am not crazy about young actresses using foul language. I asked, 'Do you like Sally Fields? She doesn't talk like you... You would have to hit her with a stick to get her to talk like that...' I told her to stop it or stop acting. She said she would stop.? 5 Regarding attending Florida State University, he said,
joking,? It had been a girls school,14 girls for every guy. I thought I know where I can get a heck of an education.? Regarding his career, he said, ?There were times when I hated it and times when I loved it. What I like ? you can help people do things for them you didn't think you could. They appreciate it more than you could imagine. [What I don't like... people] have you on a pedestal. [You can't be good all the time]." When someone asked him how he was affected by the Vietnam War, he said, ?I was destroyed by it ... When we went to Miami to take the physical [to see if we were well enough to fight in the war], we beat the hell out of each other so we wouldn't pass. [My friend] had a bad back; they didn't care. [I didn't pass but] that kid, he got killed. His last name was Ross. His mother was my teacher in junior high. There's a street named after him.. There is not a time I don't get on the street and think about him.? Actress Nikki Blonsky also had a chance to speak about her part in the film. She said, ?I've been working for 10 years in the industry, long enough to work with great people, but I never thought I'd work with someone who would change the way I look at my life. When I get down on myself and think maybe this industry is not for me, I ask,"What would Burt say?" Pretty much, I would think he would say keep going." She added, "I just finished an animated film with Ziggy Marley. I am getting ready to make a film with Elle Fanning and Vince Vaughn in Ohio. Being here with this man is one of the best nights of my life.?
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Top Lef t : " Dog Year s" pr odu cer M ick i Pu r cell & an d act or Kyle M cKeever ; Gr ah am Gr een e sh ow s of f Lif et im e Ach ievem en t Aw ar d; Pr odu cer / w r it er Ten eille New alo, Dair sh a Ber esf or d, dir ect or / pr odu cer & Dr ew Um lan d, edit or / pr odu cer of " Th e Cu t lass;" Adam Rif k in , dir ect or of " Dog Year s;" Kash a Fau scet t & Sam Wick ey of " Th e Ear t h is Flat ;" Gor don Wh it n er , pr odu cer of " Dog Year s;" Ch ar les Gar r ad, dir ect or of " Wait in g f or You ;" pr odu cer of " Dog Year s" Br ian Cavallar o.
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(L t o R): Top: Direct or Al yn Darnay & M.E. De Pal ma, Richard & Fel icia Casey Anderson; act resses Nikki Bl onsky & Amy Hoerl er; Direct or Ken Webb & IS f ounder Rachel Gal vin. Bot t om: Act ress/ Direct or Bl anche Baker & "Cinema" Dave; Direct or Sam Wickey & act ress Kasha Fauscet t ; producer/ edit or Drew Uml and
C e n t e r p ie c e Film :
"Ser ious Laundr y" Director Ken Webb Talks about his film & music ?Serious Laundry,? labeled as a madcap comedy heist, may be Ken Webb's first feature film, but he has been involved in film, TV and also music before this venture. ?I graduated from NYU. I did an award winning short. It got me a lot of attention. I got hired with VH1 at 22. It is my one and only staff job. I have been freelance since,? said Webb, who has done writing and producing for multiple TV programs. He has directed shorts and music videos too. But he is also a singer/ songwriter and has 12 full-length albums under his belt. He classifies his sound as being influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens.
?Words are important,? said Webb, who is a Baritone. ?Filmmaking is more constipated; it takes two years to relieve yourself. As a songwriter it is instantaneous. You can do it in a couple hours. It is a younger man's game. You can always direct later," said Webb, who said he is entering a new phase in his life. He was asked to teach a 16 mm class at film school and, in the process of doing that, he said he forgot he was a director. Working a job allowed him to make money to make projects, including ?Serious Laundry,? which he pulled off for an extraordinary low price of $40,000 by utilizing a two person...yes, two person... crew: himself and his camera assistant Hideki Shiota. He did his casting through Backstage.com. ?The only reason I wrote a script is because I wanted to direct. Does it look like a movie? When I saw something that looked like a movie, I jumped. I think I pulled it off," he said, adding that it took 25 days to shoot the film. He is a great example of the reward of perseverance. ?[The film] was rejected 45 times,? he said. ?Greg [FLIFF CEO Gregory von Hausch] saw it and loved it. I submitted it Sunday and got an email the next day. It is showing in three time slots in prime time.? He hopes to find a sales agent and distribution as he goes through the film festival circuit. Maybe the fact that he won the Renaissance Award will help! For the budget, the amount he was able to accomplish is extraordinary --with several locations, plenty of chase scenes and multiple actors, utilizing some of his own music. The ensemble cast, Jason Zednick, Michele Richardson, Tatiana Grey, Michael Gentile, Jeffrey Alan Solomon, and Malcom Mills, were in attendance for the film?s Q/ A and Red Carpet. Of the movie, he said, ?I engineered a good ride for a
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is best enjoyed in a theater with an audience. The film was not only selected in the fest, but chosen to be the Centerpiece Film, shown Nov. 10 at Sunrise Civic Center. And his cast was in attendance. A party followed. For more on Ken Webb, visit ht t p:/ / kenwebbsit e.com.
Top: "Serious Laundry" cast wit h direct or Ken Webb (3rd f rom l ef t ): Jason Zednick, Tat iana Grey, Michael Gent il e, Michel e Richardson & Mal col m Mil l s. Bot t om: Chairman JIm Nort on; CEO & President Gregory von Hausch; Ken Webb accept s Renaissance Award; Mayor Ryan.
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On Nov. 18, FLIFF lovers donned their togas in time for a special Toga party held at Villa de Palma, the home of Steve Savor, complete with an appearance by "Animal House" actress Karen Allen and a performance by Otis Day with the help of saxophonist Aldo Reed. The "Animal House" film was projected on a large screen outside and food like hamburgers and hot dogs, and chicken, as well a kegs of beer added to the frat party mentality. It was quite the party! Above: Pet er Wein & Gregory von Hausch; (L t o R): Janet Schwart z & Irwin Levenst ein; Jim Nort on & St eve Savor; Rachel Gal vin & Ot is Day (Bel ow): Jim Nort on & Gregory von Hausch wit h Karen Al l en as she get s her Lif et ime Achievement Award at Cinema Paradiso f ol l owing showing of her f il m "A Tree. A Rock. A Cl oud," bef ore Toga Part y ; Karyn Turk, of Eye on Sout h Fl orida, wit h model s f rom event ; t he part y was f abul ous!
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The closing night party occurred at Bailey Hall in Davie on Nov. 19. The film shown was "After You're Gone," directed by Anna Matison, whose husband Sergey Bezrukov starred in the film and won Best Actor in the fest. FLIFF president & CEO Gregory von Hausch announced the film awards (See pg. 12). Afterward, guests went outside to enjoy Italian food and saying heir goodbyes, sad that another FLIFF was over. (Top): FLIFF madness--guest s coul d get f ace paint ing at event (L t o R): Anna Mat ison, direct or of "Af t er You're Gone; 1310 Bandit s, whose l at est f il m "Kal i Ma Tina" was shown at f est , wit h Rachel Gal vin; f il mmakers pose on red carpet ; Gregory von Hausch, CEO & President of FLIFF; st ar of "Shadow Fight ers" St eve Darren f aces of f wit h his direct or Al yn Darnay.
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FLIFF AWARDS DOG YEARS Best Film THE THIN YELLOW LINE Best Foreign Language Film DEDE President's Award Best Foreign Film GROOVE Best American Indie CRIES FROM SYRIA Best Documentary CURTAIN CALL Best Short Film THE STORYTELLER Best Family Film SHADOW FIGHTER Best Florida Feature ROTTEN MANGOS Best Florida Short
Best Actress THE EARTH IS FLAT Humanitarian Filmmaking Award Darisha J. Beresford (THE CUTLASS) Mariam Khatchvani (DEDE) Intrepid Award in Filmmaking Zhang Lufor (A QUIET DREAM) & Matteo Vicino (LOVERS) Best Director of Foreign Language Film Lori Stoll (HEAVEN'S FLOOR) Best American Indie Director Ken Webb for SERIOUS LAUNDRY Renaissance Award for Writing, Directing, Cinematography, Editing and Music Jesse Robinson (YOUNG & INNOCENT) Best Debut Director Brooklyn Rae Silzer (THE STORYTELLER) Star On The Horizon Karen Allen Graham Greene Burt Reynolds (Part Deux) Lifetime Achievement
FALLING SOUTH Best Florida Screenplay Sergey Bezrukov (AFTER YOU'RE GONE) Best Actor Virginie Efira (THE SENSE OF WONDER & IN BED WITH VICTORIA)
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I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Novem ber / Decem ber 2017
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People dressed for success and posed on the red carpet at the 11th installment of Film Carpet, an Alexandra Bello creation on Nov. 5. This time, there was a performance by John Rhynes, who rapped while his music video played for his song "Breathe," followed by the following films being shown: "Kuru" Directed by Jonathan Cuartas, "Safe House" Written by John Rhynes, "Devil's Kiss" directed by Kristopher Stoltz, Blinds" Directed by Matthew Monelli and "Americana" Directed by Jacob Allinson, in addition to several trailers. The event was also horror themed. TOP: St even Aronson, Karen Chimat o, Mireya Kil mon and Cel ina Al va discuss "Evil s of a Fost er Chil d;" Krist opher St ol t z answers quest ions about "Devil 's Kiss;" Mireya & Rachel -- who are cast as sist ers in "Coupons & Dreams;" Yarnel Nichol s, direct or of "Tears of Joi" being int erviewed by "Mrs. Print ;" Al exandra Bel l o get s int erviewed t oo; af t er t he event , guest s mingl e in t he l obby.
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I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Novem ber / Decem ber 2017
Pu blish er 's Not e Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks, but something that should continue daily. When you thank friends, family and your creator, also take time to thank yourself for getting yourself to where you are now. Give yourself a break. Life isn't always easy. Take it one day at a time and be grateful. You never know what miracles are right around the corner. Break a leg! Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!
St ay i n -t h e-k n o w : SEE ARCHIVES ... - w w w.in depen den t st r eak m agazin e.com
Wan t t o adver t ise? Get an ad as low as $25! Con t act u s at w r it er r ach el@yah oo.com
Rachel Galvin Publisher 14
I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Novem ber / Decem ber 2017
Spooky Em pir e Hor ror Film Fest ival From Oct. 27 to 29, the Hyatt Regency in Orlando was filled with horror fans for this year's Spooky Empire. As usual, there were plenty of vendor booths, seminars and guests, including Loni Anderson, Molly Ringwald, John Cusack, Anthony Michael Hall, Shannon Elizabeth, Fairuza Balk and so many others. Upstairs was the Horror Film Festival, run by Kurt Donath and IS founder Rachel Galvin for the first time. There were great films brought in this year and many of the filmmakers came in. Galvin moderated a filmmaker panel with Brendon Jackson Rogers & Alea Figueroa from And You Films and Thomas Smith, director of "Full Moon, Inc." The closing day was also the day for awards, created by Barry Anderson. Best International Film went to "The Child 15 Remains." Best Film went to "Lou Simon's 3." Best Short
went to "Fly Away." Best Florida Film went to "VR: Violent Realm." Best Special Effects went to "Something Within." (L t o R): Al ea Figueroa, Brendan Jackson Rogers, Rachel Gal vin & Thomas Smit h; Kurt Donat h & Todd Bruno; Kurt & Dirk Shol ar, direct or of "VR: Viol ent Real m;" and (bel ow) Kurt wit h Ant onio Al onso?? direct or of "Fl y Away."
I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Novem ber / Decem ber 2017
"Th e Cell" w in s in t h e B ig A p p le Congrats to Bryan Thompson for his film "The Cell" being awarded. "The Cell" won Best Weapons Sequence at the NYC Urban Action Showcase International Film Festival at HBO Studios! Creator & star Bryan Thompson is thrilled. He told IS a bit about the series: "My series has a total of 15 episodes. My distributor asked us to compress it all into a single feature film, so there is a 70-minute version that is our feature film Find out more about the series at www.facebook.com/ thecellwebseries.
Theat r e Review : Palm Beach Dr amawor k s' ?The
Lit t le Foxes? Does This Tale of Wealth Still Hold Up With Time? By Nile For t n er Palm Beach Dramaworks, at 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, recently started its 2017-2018 season by presenting Lillian Hellman?s 'The Little Foxes,' a classic 1939 play and story that many consider to be Hellman?s best work. It ran through Nov. 12.
The play's title comes from Chapter two, Verse15 of the Song of Solomon in the King James version of the Bible, which reads, ?Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.? The story is set in Alabama in 1900; it focuses on the struggle for control of a family business. Lillian Hellman?s play is a dramatic story about the Hubbards, a Southern family chasing the American dream. The family ends up destroying themselves and those they care about. Three siblings: Regina, the cruel and wicked; Oscar and the overprotective Benjamin have decided to partner together to increase their wealth. Regina?s ill husband, Horace, is refusing to give them the $75,000 they need, and so begins a story of lying, cheating, cruelty and, most shockingly, murder. Mayhem and money all combine to tell a story of a broken family. The production and story dives quickly into the plot and showing the audience the heart and characters of the story. The play doesn?t really spend too much time on character development in the traditional way. The audience learns more about the characters through their 16
dialogue, movement and actions. The Hubbards come off as characters that are shades of grey. By this, I mean, they are not perfect people, which, for me, makes them feel more realistic, because I personally like characters that aren?t sculpted to to be perfect. Each individual has motives, and the motives are made crystal clear early on in the play. For instance, the character Regina, played by Kathy McCafferty, simply wants money because she feels like it will gain her opportunities; she wants what she feels like is rightfully hers, and she wants power. Speaking of Regina, I believe when compared to the rest of the characters she is the one with the most back-story. She married for wealth, doesn?t feel love,and you feel for her as if you know her on a personal level. Regina?s character also fits into the era of this play because she is a woman, which makes sense because Hellman?s written work usually deals with the topics of women and or injustice. The entire cast did very well with their stage presence and remembering all of their lines. Not one actor stumbled upon a sentence or had a hiccup. They are some of the best stage actors I?ve seen in a very long time. James Andreassi, as Oscar, and Dennis Cormier, as Birdie Hubbard, were really standouts, especially for the way they were able to portray their emotions and seem so convincing. The best part about the production would definitely be the set design.The props, wardrobe, lighting and set design were perfection. The interior designs of rugs, oval shaped mirrors, lanterns, elaborate carvings on wood furniture, settee couch with skirts, and more, sell the time period; it was as if you stepped back into the Victorian era. Not to take anything away from the cast, but the real star of this play would be Suzanne Clement Jones, Brian O?Keefe, Michael Amico, and the rest of the stage production crew. No matter where you sat, you could see the stage perfectly and really appreciate the beautiful set. Wil l Mil l ennial s appreciat e t he Worl d of Theat er? This is a play where I believe you should be informed on ?The Little Foxes?already. If you are within the ages of 15-30, this play may be a little difficult to understand, especially if you 17 do not understand the era, history and language.
Remember, these characters were written over 80 years ago. So what some of the characters are saying may not really have much of an impact in today?s society... I would definitely check back with the Palm Beach Dramaworks for any future shows. Some of their future shows include early December showings for ?Billy and Me,' May showings for ?Equus,' and ?Edgar and Emily.' For f ut ure shows, inf ormat ion, and t icket s, f or product ions such as ?Bil l y and Me?, ?Equus?, ?Edgar and Emil y?and more, cal l 561-514-4042 or visit www.pal mbeachdramaworks.org.