Aug 12, 2015
(August 12th, 2015) After a month of filming in Western New York at a plethora of locations in downtown Buffalo, Hamburg, Angola, West Seneca and Clarence, Deftone Pictures wrapped it’s latest feature “S.T.A.R.” [Space Traveling Alien Reject] on August 9th.
“S.T.A.R.” tells the story of a once famous award winning horror and science fiction writer Greg Vincent who is now a struggling, alcoholic. Looking for inspiration for his next story so that he can pay off his debts with a notorious Italian crime lord, Vincent finds himself struggling. In attempt to find his next story he finds himself doing meet and greats at a local library on the outskirts of Metsburgh. It’s here he meets S.T.A.R, a reject escaping death on his home world of Mars in search of a safe haven from the hideous “Meroarks”. With a deadline given by the mob, and alien beings on the trail of S.T.A.R., the race is on to save them both.
Director/Writer Adam Steigert (second from left) sets the scene in downtown Buffalo.
With a Spring 2016 release S.T.A.R. [Space Traveling Alien Reject] promises to broaden the age limitations normally seen from horror and science fiction films. Adam R Steigert directed and wrote “S.T.A.R.” which reunited him with “Not Human” star Richard Satterwhite as Alex Creed and “A Grim Becoming” co-star Aryn Fitzgerald as Marissa. The film will also stars newcomer Christopher Barbis in the title role of Greg Loomis, Lori Cholewka as Lana, scream queen Nicola Fiore as Sarah, supermodel Melyssa Jade as Angela Branco, and Patrick Mallette is voicing and puppeteer-ring the S.T.A.R. character.
Check out DefTone Pictures Studios website for more information.
Aug 6, 2015
(Pictured: Director of Photography Matt Quinn, Actress Erica Christenson, Mayor Byron Brown, Director/Actor Jon Abrahams and Film Commissioner Tim Clark)
(August 6th, 2015) At a press conference in McKinley Square today, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown announced that the feature film “Two for One” had begun shooting in Buffalo. On hand for the announcement along with the Mayor was Director/Actor Jon Abrahams, Actress Erika Christensen, Director of Photography Matt Quinn, and Buffalo Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark. Abrahams expressed his excitement to bring the shoot to Buffalo, home of his longtime friend Quinn, and how impressed he was with the Buffalo locations and the professionalism and expertise of the Buffalo based production crew.
“Two for One” tells the story of how a young up-and-coming artist in New York City (Abrahams) has his life and dreams forever altered when the tragic events of 9/11 take the lives of his two best friends and he accepts guardianship of the couple’s two young daughters. Now 11 years later, and teaching art at an elementary school, he raises the girls as if they were his own, but the financial grind to live in NYC is too much, so he decides to take the girls away from the only place they’ve ever called home and move back to Buffalo where he grew up. This “non- traditional” family now faced with change, new surroundings, and a new journey, must learn how to adjust to this new life, while trying to find themselves along the way.
Christenson takes the podium.
Along with Abrahams (Meet The Parents, Scary Movie) and Christensen (Traffic, Parenthood), Two for One will see feature actors Annie Potts (Ghost Busters, Designing Women), Mickey Sumner (The Borgias, Francis Ha) and Stephen McKinley Henderson (Lincoln) in front of the camera in Buffalo.
Two for One will also feature an all Buffalo crew with the support of ND Studios, Filmkiln, and Pan American Sound.
“Two for One” Actor Stephen McKinley Henderson(Lincoln) rehearses scene with actress Nicole Berger at GCR Studios.
Voluntary background extras will be needed for “Two for One” for various scenes now through August 17th. Interested persons over the age of 18 should email a snapshot with contact information to westernNYcasting@gmail.com .
Aug 6, 2015
(August 6th, 2015) With all of the movie and film projects taking place in Buffalo this is a great way for anybody to become a part of the local film scene. The 48 Hour Film Project, the world’s largest timed filmmaking competition, is returning to Buffalo on August 7th-9th, 2015. Teams will race to produce short films from start to finish over the course of one weekend using quick-witted creativity, helter-skelter innovation and gallons of caffeine.
This speed-based filmmaking contest has become a rite of passage for filmmakers, crew and actors.
The 48HFP is open to all – professionals, aspiring filmmakers and actors, and those who want to give it a try in a short, structured and exciting way. The contest is part of a global competition in which teams compete for the chance to win a $5,000 grand prize and the opportunity to take their film to Hollywood and to screen at the Cannes International Film Festival’s Short Film Corner in 2016.
But things are a little different for Buffalo this year. Buffalo has been chosen as 1 of 12 cities who’s city winners will not only go on to compete at Filmapalooza against 130 other cities from around the world but will also compete at the ITVFest in Vermont against only 11 other cities. The winner of the ITVFest goes on to screen at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
Here’s how it works: On Friday, August 7th, each team will draw a movie genre from a hat. They will also be assigned a character, prop, and line of dialogue that must be incorporated into their film. The teams then have 48 hours to write, direct and shoot their film, which must be submitted on Sunday, August 9th at 7:30pm on the dot. The films will then all screen at the beautiful North Park Theatre on mornings of August 15th and 16th .
The Buffalo 48HFP winners receive national prizes of Movie Magic Screenwriting Software and Pond5 gift certificates.
There are many other prizes for other catagories such as 2 free Flyboading rides provided by Lake Erie Flyboadshttps://www.facebook.com/lakeerieflyboard and a full day with No Limit Aerial Photo and video to get some awesome drone footage. https://www.facebook.com/nolimitapv
For details on kick-off event, drop-off event, and the public film screening in Buffalo go to: http://www.48hourfilm.com/buffalo/
– Bobby Gott, Buffalo 48 Hour Film Project Producer
Jul 15, 2015
(Pictured- Ray Guarnieri on the set of Buffalo Boys)
(July 15th, 2015) The Buffalo International Film Festival, now entering its 9th year, has tapped Ray Guarnieri, 25, filmmaker and Buffalo native to be its next Executive Director. Guarnieri is known for his 2013 film Buffalo Boys, released worldwide this past January on an array of digital platforms including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and Hulu. The film was shot locally and is based on a true story from the director’s childhood in Clarence, NY.
Last fall BIFF Founder and former Executive Director Edward Summer passed away, leaving the festival without the strong leadership that he provided for many years. As he assumes this position, Guarnieri speaks of the region’s burgeoning film industry, “Buffalo has been steadily rising for a decade. As businesses have come back to the area, so have artists and entertainers. All the pieces are in place for a major national and international film festival to take hold- the geography, the community, and the resources. The only thing left is to provide the region with an organization that ties these elements together and enables people to not only celebrate the moving image- but to bolster those who make it their livelihood.”
Hoping to build on this tradition, Guarnieri has begun to assemble a team of local film professionals including Garrett Vorreuter, Founder of the Pierce-Arrow Film Arts Center, as festival Co-Director. “Together, Ray and I plan to expand the festival to more city venues and take measures to attract a younger and more diverse audience. We hope not only to bring world-class cinema to Buffalo, but to celebrate the ties that Buffalo has to the birth of the medium itself,” said Vorreuter.
The 2015 Festival will be held October 15th-18th. BIFF is currently accepting submissions for films on FilmFreeway.com until the final deadline on August 7th.
The Buffalo International Film Festival has also announced a crowdfunding campaign in hopes of moving to the festival to the prestigious North Park Theatre. To support the festival’s relocation to the North Park Theater and purchase discounted tickets and passes supporters can visit their IndieGoGo page .
Contact
To learn more please contact BIFF staff,
Office: (917) 853-0173
info@buffalointernationalfilmfestival.com
www.BuffaloInternationalFilmFestival.com
May 18, 2015
(May 18th, 2015) This past Sunday at 6am saw the official wrap of 2nd unit stunt photography for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II on the Kensington Expressway in Buffalo. Legendary Stunt Director Spiro Razatos (Captain America, Back to the Future) spent 12 nights filming various stunt sequences which will make up the the first major action sequence in the film. The Buffalo Niagara Film Office orchestrated the cooperation of the New York State Department of Transportation and the City of Buffalo for Paramount Pictures to close both inbound and outbound lanes of the 33 from Elm Street to the 198 ramp from 7pm to 6am to allow for the filming.
Helicopters, Motorcycles, and a specially outfitted Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle garbage truck all played into the elaborate sequences filmed on the 33.
Buffalo Mayor Byron brown addresses press from the set along with NYS Senator Tim Kennedy and MPAA Chairman and former US Senator Chris Dodd.
Over 250 crew members worked on this project which will create an estimated 7 Million dollars plus in local economic spend according to Empire State Development. “After two weeks of car chases, explosions and wild helicopter rides, the Turtles’ exciting shoot in Buffalo has officially wrapped,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky. “Thanks to the Film Production Tax Credit Program, and the ten percent expansion on labor expenses for upstate productions, TMNT 2 has contributed millions of dollars to New York State’s economy. In just two short weeks, next summer’s blockbuster provided a tangible boost to Buffalo’s businesses and raised the city’s profile as a great place to shoot a major action movie.
