May 17, 2017
(May 17th, 2017) For his directorial feature film debut, seasoned New York City based producer Mac Cappuccino decided to bring “Malaisia” home to Buffalo. This dark indy comedy features a love triangle with a strange twist, stars Leonardo Santaiti (Allegiant, Sleepless) along with Sarah Baskin (Who Killed Chandra Levy?), and Josh Nuncio (Love Vampires).
Camera Operator Joe Blodgett uses an Alexa Mini mounted on a Ronan to follow Malaisia actor Josh Nuncio on Hertel Avenue.
Cappuccino discusses a scene with lead actress Sarah Baskin.
Cappuccino, a Lockport native and Canisius High graduate has held producer roles on a number of feature films including Clown, Arthur Newman, and Aftershock. As a director he also has two music videos to his credit for Young Squire and Tidus which he also brought home to shoot in Western New York.
(COVER PHOTO TOP- 1st AD Kyle Mecca, Script Supervisor Adrienne Caminer, Director Mac Cappuccino, and Director of Photography Stevie Ungureanu block a scene at The Buffalo Arts Studio.)
Mar 7, 2017
(March 7th, 2017) Founder/President Bill Cowell of The Buffalo Niagara Film Festival has announced closing submission deadlines for this annual event which takes place September 20th-30th, 2017 at various W.N.Y. screening venues.
Deadlines-
March 15, 2017 Late Deadline
April 15, 2017 Extended Deadline
May 15, 2017 Final Deadline
Submissions can be made now through the Film Freeway Website: https://filmfreeway.com/festival/BuffaloNiagaraInternationalFilmFestival
For more information email info@thebnff.com, call 716-432-1065, or see the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival official website: www.thebnff.com
Feb 21, 2017
(February 21st, 2017) Shot on the frozen tundra of Lake Erie during the “Polar Vortex” of 2015, Ultramedia’s “2307: Winter’s Dream” “has scored sales to multiple markets at the Berlin Film Festival with Vertical Entertainment buying U.S. rights” according to an article in last weeks Variety Magazine. This will ensure a theatrical and VOD release.
Paul Sidu in scene which used Silo City as a backdrop.
Produced by Robert Beaumont and Directed by Joey Curtis “2307: Winters Dream” spent late February and early March of 2015 shooting this futuristic sci-fi adventure on the frozen beaches, and winter time post apocalyptic landscapes of Angola, Hamburg, and Buffalo.
A sunny day on the frozen Lake Erie.
A visual effects set up on the frozen Lake Erie.
Behind the scenes Winter’s Dream made full use of many of Western New York’s seasoned crew base including talents in the camera department like Shannon Madden, Joe Blodgett, Matt Nardone, Kyle Mecca, and Brett Roedel along with Key Grip Kash Costner. Buffalo’s Frank Coppola had set decorating duties along with a cameo appearance in the film.
The cast includes a break out role for Paul Sidhu (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Joey Curtis), along with Arielle Holmes, Timothy Lee DePriest, Anne-Solenne Hatte, Kelcey Watson, Brad Potts and Branden Coles.
Official Site: http://www.ultramedia.com/2307-winters-dream/
2307: WINTER’S DREAM | Teaser from ULTRAMEDIA on Vimeo.
![STAR [SPACE TRAVELING ALIEN REJECT] LIMITED BUFFALO ENGAGEMENT!](https://www.filmbuffaloniagara.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Cover-STAR-1080x644.jpg)
Feb 7, 2017
(February 7th, 2017) DefTone Pictures Studios Inc. is an independent filmmaking company based in Buffalo, NY. DefTone’s latest film, STAR (Space Traveling Alien Reject) will have its world premiere right here in Western New York! Over the past few years DefTone Pictures Studios and Director Adam R Steigert have produced various titles such as the science fiction film Not Human (which is now available on DVD/VOD) and the horror/comedy A Grim Becoming.
The science fiction/thriller STAR is the story of the once famous writer Greg Vincent who is now a struggling alcoholic. Looking for inspiration for his next story so that he can pay off his debts to the notorious crime lord Angelia Branco, Greg finds himself doing a meet and greet at a library on the outskirts of the small village of Metsburgh. Enter STAR, a reject alien escaping death on his home world of Mars. Greg encounters this strange, blue, wise-cracking alien after they find themselves both hiding in the same cabin. With a deadline given by the mob and an alien race hot on STAR’s trail, who will be able to save them? Enter Alex Creed, the former star of a series of grindhouse films such as Devon Danger vs. the Atomic Space Zombies. Creed is joined by Marissa, a teenaged diehard fan of his, who is also searching for her way in life. Can this band of misfits save STAR from a hideous fate and also Greg from himself?
STAR [Space Traveling Alien Reject] promises to broaden the age limitations normally seen for horror and science fiction films however some material may not be suitable for children. Buffalo native Adam R Steigert helms the project as Director/Writer and unites with many local Buffalo actors such as Richard Satterwhite as Alex Creed and A Grim Becoming co-star Aryn Fitzgerald as Marissa. The film also stars newcomer Christopher Barbis in the role of Greg Vincent, Lori Cholewka as Lana, scream queen Nicola Fiore as Sarah, supermodel Melyssa Jade as Angela Branco and Patrick Mallette voicing/puppterring STAR.
This feel-good epic has set its local release date for April 28th 2017 at 7:30pm at the historic Palace Theater in Hamburg, NY, 31 Buffalo Street Hamburg, NY 14075. Doors open one hour prior to the event and there will be live music from Road to Recovery (premiere night only), adult beverages and a question & answer session after the film! If you miss out on the Friday premiere showing, no problem! DefTone Pictures Studios Inc. has slated two encore presentations for April 29th at 2:00pm and April 30th at 3:00pm. Once again doors open one hour prior to each screening. Presale tickets are $10.00 and $13.00 at the door. Purchase tickets now at www.deftonepicturesstudios.com.
Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxbaq1HnyRw
Ticket information: www.deftonepicturesstudios.com.
Jan 31, 2017
From Open Road Films –
“MARSHALL” STARS CHADWICK BOSEMAN, JOSH GAD, KATE HUDSON, STERLING K. BROWN, DAN STEVENS AND JAMES CROMWELL
Open Road Films has set October 13, 2017 for the nationwide release of MARSHALL starring Chadwick Boseman (upcoming “Black Panther,” “42,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Get on Up”) as legendary attorney and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Josh Gad (“Frozen,” “The Wedding Ringer,” upcoming “Beauty and the Beast”) as lawyer Sam Friedman, Kate Hudson (“Mother’s Day,” Oscar® nominee for “Almost Famous”), Dan Stevens (upcoming “Beauty and the Beast,” “Downton Abbey”), James Cromwell (Oscar® nominee for “Babe”), Sterling K. Brown (Emmy® winner for “The People vs. O.J. Simpson,” NBC’s “This Is Us”) and Keesha Sharp (“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”). Oscar® nominee Reginald Hudlin (producer of “Django Unchained”) is directing and Paula Wagner (“Mission: Impossible,” “The Last Samurai”) is producing through her Chestnut Ridge Productions banner along with Jonathan Sanger (“The Elephant Man”) and Hudlin.
Director Reginald Hudlin stated: “I can’t wait for the world to see this movie. It’s a thriller, not a biopic, about an early case of one of the greatest lawyers in American history. In a time when we need heroes who fight for justice, MARSHALL is an inspirational movie that brings people together. And it’s a lot more fun than anyone expects.”
Open Road Films CEO Tom Ortenberg added: “Thurgood Marshall spent his whole life fighting for justice and his story has never been more relevant. We are living in volatile times and this film, as well as the entire career of Justice Marshall, serves as a potent reminder that fighting injustice is as important today as it was before and during the Civil Rights Movement. We are incredibly proud of all the work that went into MARSHALL – particularly the top-notch filmmaking from director Reginald Hudlin and producer Paula Wagner, as well as fantastic performances from Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Sterling K. Brown, Dan Stevens, James Cromwell and the entire cast. We are looking forward to sharing this film with all Americans and audiences around the world.”
Financiers of MARSHALL are Star Light Media, Inc., Hero Film, Ltd. and Sky Legend. Executive producers are Peter Luo and Belton Lee.
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions is handling international distribution of MARSHALL.
MARSHALL is based on a true incident in the life of Thurgood Marshall, when he was a young lawyer, long before his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. As the nation teeters on the brink of WWII, a nearly bankrupt NAACP sends Marshall to conservative Connecticut to defend a black chauffeur against his wealthy socialite employer in a sexual assault and attempted murder trial that quickly became tabloid fodder. In need of a high profile victory but muzzled by a segregationist court, Marshall is partnered with Samuel Friedman, a young Jewish lawyer who has never tried a case. Marshall and Friedman struggle against a hostile storm of fear and prejudice, driven to discover the truth in the sensationalized trial which helped set the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement to come.
The screenplay for MARSHALL is a unique collaboration between renowned trial lawyer, Michael Koskoff, and his son, screenwriter Jacob Koskoff (“Macbeth”).
MARSHALL is being produced with the full support of the Thurgood Marshall and Samuel Friedman estates, including their children, John W. Marshall and Lauren Friedman.
Jan 27, 2017
(January 27th, 2017) Hollywood Director Fred Olen Ray 4th feature film shot in Western New York “Stage Fright” (formerly known as Curtains) is airing now on the Lifetime Movie Network (LMN).
Jordan Ladd (on couch) gets ready for a scene shot in a downtown Buffalo office.
“Stage Fright” starring Jordan Ladd (Cabin Fever), Brody Hutzler (Days of Our Lives), Western New York natives Bob Rusch (Sons of Anarchy), and Alan Pietruszewski is about a retired opera singer who receives some unwanted attention.
Stagefright shoots in the Colonel Ward Pumping Station.
Familiar locations in “Stage Fright” include North Tonawanda’s Riviera Theatre as the main setting along with the Lockport Cave, the Barton Mansion in Lewiston, Illio Dipaolo’s in Blasdell, and the Colonel Ward Pumping Station.
Stage Fright Trailer : http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/stage-fright
