July 27, 2006

Critser Awarded Scholarship

Corey Critser, who took home the first annual Hadrienne Kathleen Mendonsa Young Filmmaker’s Award at this year's Back Row Film Series, has received the Frances Larkin McCommon Scholarship from Savannah College of Art and Design. Critser, a 2006 graduate Chattanooga Christian School, also won CCS' Art Department Award this year. While at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Critser will major in film and television.

News | By colrus | 12:00 PM | TrackBack (0)

July 25, 2006

Gathering of Filmmakers

Chattanooga, TN – Filmmakers, professionals working in the TV industry, film students and media artists are all invited to meet and mingle on Thursday, July 27, 2006. Jarrod Whaley, a local filmmaker and chair of the Commission's Local Projects Committee said, “There are many people in town working in film but they are not connected through any association. This is our first attempt to reach out to those people in an effort to organize, network, and hopefully bond the film community together.”

The event will take place at Foodworks, on 205 Manufacturers Road in the Knitting Mill Complex on July 27 at 6:30 pm. Appetizers will be provided.

Co-Founder and the City of Chattanooga’s Education Arts and Culture Director Missy Crutchfield said, “The Film Commission has a dual mission: generating business by enticing outside production companies to make films here in Chattanooga and also supporting the local film community which is growing and flourishing.”

For more information about the event email Jarrod Whaley at jaimetout@oakstreetfilms.com.

Events | By willis | 04:25 PM | TrackBack (0)

June 28, 2006

Upward Bound Students Produce Story Of AIDS Film

Rising East Ridge High freshmen, Shikela Ray and twin sisters, LaShunda and LaQuanda Kendricks, arrived at UTC's Upward Bound program in early June to embark on six-weeks of pre-collegiate experience.

Within the first week, the threesome were assigned to a creative life skills project, in which they were to tell a story to their classmates through visual projection. They wrote a script, which was supposed to be submitted to Black Entertainment Television for its Rap-It-Up Contest, but they missed the deadline for entry.

They came up with "The Domino Effect: How I Got AIDS," a short film about a young girl who was conceived by a mother who had contracted AIDS through sex with an infected, drug abusing partner. The Kendricks, Ray and other Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math-Science students also serve as actors.

The film will be shown publicly on Friday, June 30, at 1 p.m. in the University Center Auditorium in the UTC University Center. Admission is free and open to the public.

Upward Bound is a pre-college program for low-income, at-risk youth who attend Howard, Brainerd and East Ridge High Schools, and who wish to pursue post-secondary education. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Events | By colrus | 09:50 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

June 25, 2006

Film Investment Offer

Do you want to invest in one of the closest things to a guaranteed venture that there is to offer?

An acclaimed New York Times Best Selling author and film/TV producer, is publishing a book due out this fall. This book is an autobiography of his 25-year quest to uncover the untold sides of current news; he reports what the media won’t. Its a sensational look at what has really been going on for the last 25-years. The book will finally tell things that the public doesn’t know. Its going to be a hit.

This producer has appeared on Larry King Live to promote his previous works, and he is scheduled to go on Larry King again as well as Good Morning America, and many other shows to enhance coverage of the book release.

Just to give you a feel for his previous track record, his last book made over $1 million before it hit the shelves. There is already a movie in the works based on the book, as well as a TV series that his company will produce.

This producer is selling 7.5% of the ownership of his book/movie/TV venture to generate some capital for future projects. This is a commonly practiced way to perpetuate financial momentum within production companies. He is selling:

* 1 point or 1% for $100,000
* 1/4 point or 1/4% for $25,000
* Because of the nature of this kind of investment, the producer will work with chunks of $25,000, $50,000, $75,000, and $100,000.

Even if you don’t have any money yourself to invest at the time, but you may know someone who does, let them know and you can potentially earn part of the perpetuity.

Anything over the producer’s small stated salary will come back to the investor plus partnering residuals. So, if the book/movie/TV/soundtrack (anything at all involved with this production) makes $1 million, a 1% share holder makes back their initial investment. If the project makes $2 million, the 1% share holder doubles his investment.

Looking at the producer’s track record, it is clear that his productions produce profits well over these low-end figures. Again, any investment will entitle you, the investor, to any portion of the book, TV, movie, soundtrack, etc. profits.

Too good to be true? Email me and I will send you his name to check out for your self, his IMDB credentials, his website and investment opportunity website, and I if you want some questions answered or just want to check him out for yourself, I will put you in contact with this producer.

This is purely on a 1st come, 1st serve basis. Once the 7.5% is gone, that’s the end. Even if you are skeptical, take a couple minutes, email me, and I will send you the resource information. If you find this to be legitimate, it is well worth your time.

Email me at thomaswentworth@southern.edu.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Thomas L. Wentworth

News | By colrus | 01:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 25, 2006

Back Row Series Continues June 1

The Back Row Film Series continues at the Hunter Museum on Thursday, June 1 at 5:30 p.m. with special guest "Cowboy" Jack Clement and the screening of the film Shakespeare Was a Big George Jones Fan: Jack Clement's Home Movies. In addition to the screening of this popular documentary directed by music historian Robert Gordon, there will be discussion and music provided by Cowboy Jack Clement.

Note: $5 discounted tickets are available for anyone with tickets to the George Jones concert on the same date.

AEC and Hunter members and UTC students and staff $5; all others $12 (admission +$5 movie charge), cash bar.

Visit www.BackRowFilms.com for more details.

Events | By colrus | 09:43 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

Screenwriter Needs Your Help!

A sweet lady named Janine contacted me yesterday. She is looking for a charitable and creative writer-type to give her his or her unbiased opinion on -- possibly make a contribution or two to -- her new screenplay.

The piece is a drama based on a true story with dark comedic twists.
Janine has an agent who is waiting for the script to be finished so it can be marketed.

If you are interested, contact Janine at (423) 320-6895 or E-mail her at jjbaragone@aol.com.

Thanks!

Help Wanted | By colrus | 09:35 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

May 22, 2006

"Anti-Arktikos" Premiere at CTC

The world premiere of Anti-Arktikos (an animated film by local artist Judy Mogul) will take place on Thursday, June 15 on the main stage at The Chattanooga Theatre Centre (400 River Street). Showtimes are 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Contact the CTC box office at (423) 267-8534 for more information.

Anti-Arktikos
Written and Created by Judith Mogul
Cinematographer and Editor: Jarrod Whaley
Music and Sound Design: Bob Stagner & Dennis Palmer

Combining live action and stop motion animation, puppets and children, Anti-Arktikos follows the adventures of a young girl named "Momo" and her penguin friend "Pipi" in a land first identified by Greek geographers. Believing that a large continent existed at the "bottom" of the world, to balance the land that they knew about, early Greeks named this place "Anti-Arktikos".

Constructed primarily of paper, Judith Mogul's puppets and sets are brought vividly to life by the cinematography of Jarrod Whaley and the soundscape created by musicians Dennis Palmer and Bob Stagner.

Based on a dream by the artist herself, the film is set in a fantastical landscape of paper-sculpted glaciers--inhabited by demons, shamans, and a skeptical colony of penguins. Multiple layers of reality co-exist, as we travel from two- to three-dimensional animation and storytelling.

Click here to see a clip. (Real media player required.)

Events | By colrus | 06:45 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Jarrod Whaley's "The Amaranth" Now Online

Here's Jarrod's description of his latest project:

"The Amaranth is an open-ended movie produced and presented in parts. New, sequentially numbered parts will appear from time to time. At some time in the future, the parts will be presented together as a complete movie. Each part is produced independently. They are improvised. The whole is a sort of a one-man exquisite corpse piece.

The compromise: I'll just make the movie in parts instead, and post them from time to time. Kind of like a video blog. Only this is one big movie--shot, edited, and released on a part-by-part basis. We'll see what happens."

Click here to see the first installment.

Watch | By colrus | 06:36 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

"Chattanooga's Homeless Challenge" Documentary Premiere

"Chattanooga's Homeless Challenge," Wes Rehberg’s feature-length documentary exploring the lives of Chattanooga’s homeless and those who minister to them, premieres Thursday, May 25 at 6 p.m. at the Memorial Auditorium (399 McCallie Avenue). Admission is free. Call (423) 642-8497 for more information.

Click here to see some clips.

Events | By colrus | 06:32 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

May 09, 2006

Shaking Rays' New Film Collaboration Coming Soon

The Shaking Ray Levi Society has collaborated with artist Judith Mogul on a stop-motion short film entitled, "Anti-Arktikos." A Chattanooga premiere and a DVD are planned.

Click here to see a clip. (Real Media Player required.)
Click here to hear the end credit music by the Shaking Rays' Bob Stagner and Dennis Palmer.

News | By colrus | 04:23 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

UTC Rock Bottom Video Clips Online

Click here to check out the "Michael Jackson Acquittal Party" from the now-defunct, UTC student-produced "Rock Bottom" TV show.

There are other clips available on the right side of the page.

Watch | By colrus | 09:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 24, 2006

Feedback, Please

This site was created to promote local filmmakers and their works. Since it's sometimes a struggle to find things to write about, I need your help. I'd love to hear your ideas on how to make this site better.

What would you like to read?
What would you like to see?
Would you like to contribute?
Am I missing any local film events?
Do you have any swell ideas for articles, links or features?

Please let me know.

Help Wanted | By colrus | 10:02 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Back Row Film Series Continues with "Confederate States of America"

The Back Row Film Series continues with the Chattanooga premiere of a Spike Lee-produced film entitled Confederate States of America, an eye-opening faux documentary about what America might have looked like if the South had won the Civil War. The film event will take place at the Hunter Museum of American Art, in collaboration with the Hunter Happens series, on Thursday, May 4, at 5:30 p.m.

In addition to the screening, the film’s director, Kevin Willmott, will share his experiences of creating and screening the film to standing-room-only crowds around the country. The event will also present the Winner of Best Short Documentary from the local film competition.

Willmott, a film professor at the University of Kansas, created this darkly comic movie to reach audiences who might not otherwise see a film about slavery and to encourage intelligent talk about race relations. The film’s presence in the US has been quite limited, so event organizers from the AEC, Hunter Museum, and UTC are thrilled about the opportunity to show this film for the first time in Chattanooga, and bring the director to share his own stories about this unique film endeavor.

Tickets are $12 and include museum admission. Hunter members, AEC Film Club members, and UTC students and faculty are admitted for only $5. To purchase tickets in advance, call the AEC at 423-267-1218. Tickets will be available at the door, but seating is limited. A cash bar will be open.

For more information, visit www.BackRowFilms.com or call (423) 267-1218.

Events | By colrus | 09:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 18, 2006

Back Row Opener Redux

The Back Row Film Series got off to an encouraging start Saturday night at GPS’ Evans Auditorium as a somewhat small yet enthusiastic crowd enjoyed a wide range of music videos and short films by local and regional students and independent filmmakers.

Highlights included Stratton Tingle’s Best Friend and Krusty by Jim Burer. Local musicians Travis Knight (Actress), Brad Merrill (Night of the Wolf) and Josh Boutwell (Tremont Beauty Salon) came together as Sound and Vision to debut their very rocking original score to Edwin S. Potter’s 1903 film, The Great Train Robbery, and Corey Critser, who showed two films -- the funny short A Plague of Tics and a music video for Unwed Sailor’s “Cuckoo Clocks” — took home the first annual Hadrienne Kathleen Mendonsa Young Filmmaker’s Award. Hadrienne’s father Andy was on hand to present the award and a short film by her brother Asher was also shown.

Also on hand was Nashville director Seth Worley, director of the evening’s main feature, Suburban Tumbleweed, the very entertaining story of a 12 year-old zombie-fighting superhero. Worley talked a little bit about the film, relaying stories about the perils of shooting with broken gear and was ecstatic that the audience “laughed a lot.” (The film can be watched in its entirety on the Web at www.NoiseBoxMedia.com.)

Immediately preceding Tumbleweed was the premier of a trailer for the next Lazy Bear Productions movie, Killing Elvis, starring Kashad Moore. While Lazy Bear’s Ryan DiGiorgi and Logan Lee are extremely tight-lipped about the near full-length project, if the trailer is to be believed, the film will be parody of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill series. Watch it and decide for yourself at www.KillingElvisMovie.com. The film will premiere in Chattanooga this fall.

News | By colrus | 11:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 11, 2006

Film Up Front: Back Row Film Fest Kickoff at GPS

The Arts and Education Council’s 2005 Summer Film Series at the Hunter Museum was a rush job. The museum—complete with a brand new movie theatre—had just reopened after a massive expansion, and AEC (organizers of the Independent Film Series at the Bijou) hurried to expand their film offerings into the summer despite having little time to plan or attract sponsors. Once each month, AEC collaborated with the Hunter to show classic and independent films coupled with discussions with film historians and filmmakers, and preceded by short films from local filmmakers.

At the same time, organizers of the UTC-based Firefly Film Fest were mulling options for their next event. Their first event, held in the fall of 2004 at Club Fathom, featured a bevy of local, regional and national short films, but was hampered by similar time and money issues. And just as plans for a Firefly follow-up were being solidified, organizers from both sides met to brainstorm an idea for a brand new festival. In November of last year, the idea for the Back Row Film Series emerged.

“After we met with [the organizers of Firefly],” says Hunter Curator of Education and Back Row co-chair Adera Causey, “we all realized that we could join together to create one large partnership of film programs for a much stronger, large-scale offering that could have an even greater impact citywide.”

AEC board member and Back Row organizer Maury Nicely says that the Back Row series will be more of an “event” than its predecessors and he hopes that it can turn into a “marquee event” for the city.

“This year, we wanted to shift the focus of the series to bring in unique and interesting films which might not be otherwise available to Chattanooga filmgoers,” says Nicely. “At the same time, we continue to couple these films with additional presentations, including speakers, musical performances, and so forth, to enhance the viewers’ experience of the films.”

Incorporated into the museum’s Thursday night “Hunter Happens” schedule, the six-event Back Row series is a “celebration of film” that runs through September (see schedule below), offering an eclectic mix, from the edgy, Spike Lee-produced documentary Confederate States of America to music- and food-related film events to a panel discussion about the film Deliverance. A night devoted to local and regional short films kicks off the series at the GPS Evans Auditorium on April 15.

Causey is excited about the opportunities Back Row provides for up-and-coming filmmakers.

“This is a great venue for (local filmmakers) both to see and be inspired by professional films, to meet nationally known filmmakers and scholars, to be inspired and mentored by them and, of course, to showcase their own films to the local community in a prestigious forum.”

Featured at the series opener will be Suburban Tumbleweed, a slick and hilarious short about a 12-year-old zombie hunter, directed by Nashville filmmaker Seth Worley. Worley will be on hand to discuss the film. Members of the bands Actress, Gold and the Kissfits will be performing their original score to a silent film and a handful of other shorts and music videos will also be featured, including Jim Burer’s Krusty, Corey Critser’s Plague of Ticks and a few short films by Asher Mendonsa, the St. Elmo teen who was paralyzed after falling while shooting a film last year at Parkway Towers. The Hadrienne Kathleen Mendonsa Young Filmmaker’s Award—named in honor of Asher’s sister who passed away in November of last year after an automobile accident—will be given out in honor of, as Causey says, the Mendonsa’s “commitment to the film community.” A short film competition will take place for the duration of the series with winners in each category being screened on each film night.

In addition to submissions from UTC’s documentary production class, the series will also feature other local filmmakers’ works each week, including films made by Chris Willis’ video production students at UTC and the high school students who attended his workshops at the Hunter earlier this year. Willis, who served as a faculty advisor for Firefly and now serves as co-chair of Back Row, says events like Back Row are crucial to the development of a true local film scene.

“Local filmmakers are kind of challenged by what this city’s got to offer in terms of venues for showing their stuff and people to support them,” he says. “So, unless we get something rolling here, people are going to keep leaving (for bigger cities) to do this kind of work. We really need to create a scene here for people to get plugged into. Otherwise, they’re out of here. My goal is to build something that lasts here in Chattanooga; something that’s bigger than what we can do on our own, that’s citywide and hopefully has some longevity to it. AEC has helped with that.”

Continue reading "Film Up Front: Back Row Film Fest Kickoff at GPS"

Events | By colrus | 04:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Indie Films at Barking Legs in May

F3Films, in cooperation with The Barking Legs Theater of downtown Chattanooga, is proud to announce “Movies in May” on Friday night, May 5th, at 7 p.m. They will be premiering four short independent films produced and directed by Tennessee’s own Jon Russell and Tracy Cring, a husband and wife team bringing a little bit of Hollywood to the Volunteer State.

The four films being presented are Dinner, The Man with the Red Hat, 12/23 and Inside, ranging in style from suspense and horror to Christmas to an historical drama to a dream-like sequence on the nature of creativity.

“Being an independent filmmaker means you have to use what you’ve got and make it look like what you want,” jokes Tracy Cring, main cinematographer. “Sometimes I wonder if we could make Ben Hur out of what we found in our couch cushions.”

When asked what F3Films stands for, Jon Russell replies, “It stands for fantasy, faith and farce—the three realms we wanted our films to explore that would cause adults to think and be entertained while not having to chase their kids out of the room.”

Each film runs about fifteen minutes in length.

They will also be showing trailers of their first feature-length film, Lenders Morgan, a mysterious epic drama set in rural America in 1969.

Mr. and Mrs. Cring will be at the screening of the movies to talk about the process of mini-budget filmmaking and the potentials available for budding artists as writers, actors and producers. The Barking Legs Theater is one of four stops in the Tennessee area in the month of May. Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased at the door. For more information, please call 1 (800) 643-4718 then press 74.

Events | By colrus | 03:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 31, 2006

Back Row Film Series Site Online

The fantabulous new Back Row Film Series site (designed by Coptix) is online.

News | By colrus | 04:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 13, 2006

Films Wanted

ChattanoogaArt.com is accepting submissions from filmmakers in and around the Chattanooga area for an upcoming film festival. Organizers are looking for edgy and experimental short videos or films from at least a few minutes in length to up to a half hour.

News | By colrus | 05:19 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Back Row Kick-Off Event

The Back Row Film Series kickoff event will take on Saturday, April 15 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the GPS Evans Auditorium. This is the first event in the series co-sponsored by the Hunter, the Arts and Education Council and UTC. Local shorts will be presented and the audience will have a chance to vote on the best short, which will receive the Hadrienne Kathleen Mendonsa young Filmmakers award. The night will also feature a screening of the short film, Suburban Tumbleweed, as well a Q&A session with the film’s director, Seth Worley. Local musicians from the bands Actress, the Kissfits and Gold will be performing original music to an old silent movie. Admission $3 per person. Visit www.ArtsEdCouncil.org for more information.

Events | By colrus | 05:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

DV Filmmaking - Production

So our second workshop at the Hunter Museum on February 18th focused on the production phase of making your film. Quite honestly, the day wasn’t as action-packed as the first workshop on screenwriting, but there were some highlights. One was a presentation of Lazy Bear Productions’ “How to Make Your Movie: Episode 1 – Twelve Simple Steps.” Check it out on Google Video here. Another was Jim Burer’s presentation of “Krusty,” which can be seen on his site, www.angusgroove.com.

Other than the above-mentioned highlights we did take time to point out some basic DV filmmaking tips and tricks, starting with the very basics.

Continue reading "DV Filmmaking - Production"

Articles | By willis | 03:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)