(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.
(January 17th, 2017) The Western New York Region of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Union (#52) Studio Mechanics celebrated the holidays by inducting another 17 experienced members into it’s local crew base. Regional Representative John Scardino administered the oath to the new members on behalf of IATSE 52 President John Ford. A tireless advocate for film production in Western New York, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown was on hand to congratulate the new members along with Film Commissioner Tim Clark.
This crew addition will go along way in increasing the the ability of Western New York to attract larger films to the region. It will also make it more affordable for productions by making use of our well seasoned local crew base without having to import union crew members from elsewhere.
PHOTO (L-R) – Daniela Cosmano-Kayser, Matt Nardone, Mike Amato, Bob Ross, Frank Coppola, Rick Liberatore, Matt Quinn, Film Commissioner Tim Clark, Kash Costner, Chris Brown, Chris Rados, Tom Rukavina, Jim Kerr, Rich Battaglia, Regional representative John Scardino, and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.
MCMF was shot at Michael’s alma mater, the Nichols School in North Buffalo and featured the acting talents of actual Nichols Students.
(L-R) Key production personnel of MCML Costume Director Alison Pieroni, Producer Amy Strzelec, and Hair and Make-up Cassandra Lyons at North Park Premiere.
This project was first narrative feature managed by Buffalo advertising veteran Amy Strzelec and featured the talents of Director of Photography Shannon Madden, Hair/Make-up Cassandra Lyons, and Costume Designer Alison Pieroni.
(L-R) Michael Angelakos, Brent Katz, and Director Hana Haley during Q and A at the North Park Theatre.
At a cast and crew sneak peak at the North Park Theatre Angelakos expressed excitement in returning to Nichols where he had a chance to explore and develop his artistic abilities as a student, and how proud he was of the Nichols Students and their performances in the production. Joining Angelakos on the main creative team for MCML teamed up with former Harlem Shakes member Brent Katz and director Hana Haley.
Katz, Angelakos, and Haley seated in front of the entire Nichols School Cast for “Merry Christmas, Mr. Fields”.
(November 21st, 2016) Buffalo Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark will talk about the historic growth of major film production in Western New York as Daemen College’s Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series speaker at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Wick Campus Center’s Alumni Lounge. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Clark will discuss growth in the local film industry, attracting new feature film projects to the Buffalo area, and the economic impact this sector has had on the region.
Daemen House, the college’s presidential residence on the day of Marshall Shoot.
He will also highlight Buffalo’s recent major film projects, including “Marshall,” for which scenes were filmed at Daemen House, the college’s presidential residence, and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.”
“The filming of these recent movies are two great examples of how Buffalo has taken its place among major film production cities in the country,” said Clark. “I look forward to speaking at Daemen about the true renaissance in filmmaking that is taking place in our region.”
Starting out in the television industry, Clark was director of news operations at WKBW-TV and then went on to serve as press secretary for the Erie County Executive. He was named film commissioner of the Buffalo Niagara region in 2006.
“When filming was done at Daemen House, we had the unique opportunity to see first-hand the success of the vibrant film industry right here in Western New York,” said Daemen President Gary A. Olson, “We are pleased to have one of our state’s top film executives come to campus to tell us about the many impressive projects filmed in our region.”
The Daemen Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series brings top government and public officials and business leaders to campus to share their unique perspective on critical state, national and international issues. It is sponsored by Harris Beach PLLC, a major New York-based law firm with offices in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Ithaca, White Plains, New York City and Long Island.
Riley Thomas (Hawk) is sent by her profit-obsessed boss (Chase) to shut down one of the company’s holdings, a small outerwear company in Vermont, for missing profit targets. Riley finds that the company is the lifeblood of a town and, instead of closing down the iconic firm, she unexpectedly falls in love and learns valuable lessons beyond the bottom line.
(November 7th, 2016) Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival awarded 43 plaques to members of the worldwide film industry in a ceremony at the Dipson Theaters Eastern Hills Cinema on Sunday, November 6th. Buffalo Dreams received 350 film and screenplay selections in 2016, from which it selected 105 entries as Official Selections. The festival recognizes achievement in three divisions: Western New York, North American and International. Pat Swinney Kaufman, who received the Local Service Award for her significant contributions to the Western New York film industry during her 20 years of service as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Motion Picture and Television Production, gave an inspiring acceptance speech. Two for One, filmed in Buffalo, received three awards: Best of the Fest, Best Drama, and Best Actor for Jon Abrahams. Game Changers also won three awards: Best Western New York Drama, Best Western New York Screenwriter for Robert Imbs (who also directed), and Best Actor for Brian Bernys. Buffalo Dreams began Friday, November 4th and continues through Thursday, November 10th at Eastern Hills Cinema, and Nov. 11th – 13th at the Screening Room.
Local Service Award winner Pat Swinney Kaufman post awards with her husband legendary director Lloyd Kaufman.
Local Service Award – Pat Swinney Kaufman
Chris Cosgrave receives Local Hero award from Buffalo Dreams Co-founders Greg Lamberson and Chris Scioli.
Local Hero (WNY) – Chris Cosgrave
Indie Genre Spirit Award – Donald F. Glut
Cinematographer Mathew Quinn and Producer Bethany Hedges accepted multiple awards on behalf of “Two For One” which took home “Best of The Fest”, “Best Drama” and “Best Actor” at Buffalo Dreams.
Best of the Fest – Two for One
Best International Feature – The Forest
Best Family Feature – Six Guys, 6,000 Miles
Best WNY Drama Feature – Game Changers
Best Drama Feature – Two for One
Elizabeth Houlihan, Ken Cosentino, Marcus Ganci-Rotella, and Bill Kennedy take home “Best WNY Comedy Feature”, and “Best WNY Actress” (Houlihan) for “Attack of the Killer Shrews”.
Best WNY Comedy Feature – Attack of the Killer Shrews
Best Comedy Feature – Massacre on Aisle 12
Best WNY Horror Feature – #Screamers
Best Horror Feature – Tonight She Comes
Best Action Feature – Dead Bullet
Best Retro Feature – Blood of the Tribades
Best Science Fiction Feature – The Tomorrow Paradox
Best Thriller Feature – Reunion
Best WTF Feature – La Noche del Virgen (The Night of the Virgin)
Best WNY Short Feature – Squatters
Best Short Feature – Finish Line: The Rise and Demise of Off Track Betting
Best Short Film – Caucemar Capitonne
Best Western New York Short Film, – Pastime
Best International Short Film –The Frozen Eye
Best Western New York Micro-Short Film – Circuit Sizzle
Best Micro-Short Film – Dogged (UK)
Best Web Series – Made in Misojen
Best Music Video – Sidereal Hearts
Best Animated Film – Time Chicken
Buffalo Dreams CO-MC Constance Caldwell with “Beyond The Sea” producers Vinny DiVirgilio and Andrew Dale as they receive “Best WNY Student Film” Award.
Best Western New York Student Film – Beyond the Sea
Best Student Film – Creatures of Whitechapel
Best Western New York Director(s) – Gabe Simon and Alaa “Zak” Noweihed, Edge
Best Director -Matt Stuertz, Tonight She Comes
Best Western New York Screenwriter – Robert Imbs, Game Changers
Best Screenwriter – Nic Costa & Rob Taylor, Neil Stryker and the Tyrant of Time
Best Western New York Actor – Brian Bernys, Game Changers
Best Actor – Jon Abrahams, Two for One
Best Western New York Actress – Elizabeth Houlihan, Attack of the Killer Shrews
Best Actress – Maria Olsen, Reunion
Best Special Make-Up Effects – Shaun Hunter, Let Her Out
Best Visual Effects – Neil Stryker and the Tyrant of Time
Filmmakers to Watch (2) -Elsie Logan, Choices Determine Your Life – Sly Sundown, Sleepover
Young Student Filmmaker (under age 17) – Talia Cohen-Vigder, Holiday of Holidays
Best Original Screenplay – First Place – Tim Auld, The Red Triangle
Buffalo Dreams MC’s Kim Piazza (Left) and Constance Caldwell (Right) on the red carpet with Buffalo Dreams Co-Founder Greg Lamberson(Center).
