Jan 15, 2015
(January 15th, 2015) If you saw the last season of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire you witnessed the work of WNY’s newest post production house, Empire Visual Effects. Located in the Tri-Main Center on Main Street. Empire was tasked with creating ocean backgrounds and other post production visual effects to make the Boardwalk’s scenes shot in Brooklyn look like 1920’s Atlantic City, New jersey. You also saw the work of some Daemen College Visual Effects Graduates getting paid to apply their skills on a very high profile project. All of this happening in the same building they received their training in, Daemen’s newly completed 2 million state-of-the-art visual effects facility which had it’s ribbon cutting this past December.
This training combined with access to professionals with resumes including The Matrix and Harry Potter make Daemen the place to be in Buffalo for future jobs in the growing post production industry. Combined with the recently expanded post production tax credit implemented by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, this program and facility will be extremely competitive in the immediate future.
For more information:
Daemen Visual Effects Program
Empire Visual Effects
Empire web reel 2014 from Ben Porcari on Vimeo.
New York State Post Production Tax Credit
Dec 29, 2014
(December 29th, 2014) One of the most exciting aspects of the work that the Buffalo Niagara Film Office does, is helping to create that moment of discovery that happens when out of town producers, crew, and talent explore the beauty of the Buffalo Niagara region for the first time. This was certainly the case with Irish Actress Sarah Bolger (“In America,” ABC’s “Once Upon a Time”) as she came to town for a 30 day shoot as the starring villain in the feature film “Emelie” this past fall. Over 120,000 followers on Twitter and Instagram experienced her Western New York enthusiasm through tweets and posts as she visited Niagara Falls State Park, a Bills game, and more. Thank you Sarah! We can’t wait to to see you again on the big screen in 2015.
Sarah Bolger: Twitter, Instagram, and IMDB
Lastest on Emelie: Variety
Dec 17, 2014
(16 December 2014) A burned down church, and four runaway 12 year olds on bicycles are just two parts of this adventure produced by Brian and Brett Roedel. Find out what happens as they premiere this short film with a post film Q and A at the North Park Theatre on January 3rd at 11:30 AM.
The Bikers features dozens of local actors, filmmakers, and artists who have contributed to this project over the past 2 years.
The North Park Theater is located on 1428 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, New York 14216. Tickets are available at the theater box office for $5
Bikers Kickstarter Website
Dec 4, 2014
(November 27th, 2014) After 5 weeks of pre-production and 4 weeks of filming in East Aurora, Niagara Falls and Buffalo, “The Alcoholist” recently wrapped principal photography.
Working with New York producer Justin Martell, European based movie company Explorer Entertainment from Rome, Italy came to Western New York to lens this thriller.
Martell is no stranger to Upstate New York and the Buffalo Niagara Film Office. This is a return visit for him after realizing the benefits of shooting here while making Lloyd Kaufman’s Return to Nuke ‘Em High in 2012.
“The cinematic look of Western New York is stunning,” said Martell. “I love shooting here because of the varied locations, the cooperation and the people who make up this community.”
“Filmakers from around the world are taking notice of Western New York State and all of the advantages it provides us.”
Actor Bill Moseley
“The Alcoholist” stars Bret Roberts ( The Night Stalker, Pearl Harbor) , Gabriella Wright (The Transporter Legacy, True Blood), and Bill Mosely (The Devil’s Rejects, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2). It tells the story of Daniel (Roberts) a chronic alcoholic, broken by the loss of his wife and child and obsessed with avenging their death. Under a false identity, he has taken residence in the house across from the man (Moseley) who took his family away in a car accident months prior. Wright plays a determined volunteer who wants to help Daniel overcome his Alcohol Addiction.
Many members of the local film community were enlisted as actors and crew and local vendors provided the necessary gear, catering and logistical support.
Movie goers around the world will soon see the beauty of our area on the silver screen including scenes shot at Niagara Falls, Knox Farm in East Aurora and many Buffalo area streets.
An April 2015 release is expected for “The Alcoholist.” It will first be seen in Europe and then hopefully make it’s way to America later next year.
Oct 21, 2014
(October 21, 2014) See the premiere of “Within” as it make it’s world premiere on Halloween night at the North Park Theatre, 1428 Hertel Ave in Buffalo, NY.
From Director Ken Consentino-
“Within” follows the story of five strangers who have been brought together by unforeseen circumstances during the outbreak of a highly contagious virus that brings the dead back to life. While attempting to cope and survive in a farm house, the group begins to learn about each other’s pasts. It’s not long before zombies are knocking on the door, hoping to get in so that they can devour human flesh!
This film is unrated, has some harsh language and lots of blood and gore. There is also loads of comedy and tongue in cheek references to classic films.“We did our best to make this a film that can be enjoyed by anyone, but our main audience is the zombie loving demographic,” says director Ken Cosentino, “there is a scene that’s a shot for shot remake of the eye gouge from Fulci’s ‘Zombie’, and a lot of other fun stuff.” The film starts Tyler Austin as Albert, Cynthia LaForest Gerber, Joseph Giambra, Madison Ranne, and nine year old Noah Wisniewski, all of whom are local to Western New York.
“The main character, Albert, is gay, and Tyler Austin is gay in real life, so this film really appeals to the LGBT crowd as well. It’s the first zombie film I’ve ever seen with a gay protagonist” says Cosentino, whose company Little Sicily Productions recently produced the comic book film “Crimson”, which is available in major retail stores in North America. “Crimson” was shot almost entirely in Niagara Falls.
Doors open at 9:30 pm and the movie starts at 10 pm. The film is 90 minutes long and will be followed by a Q & A with the cast and crew.
Tickets are $12 presale or $15 at the door, (unless you dress “head to toe” in costume, then they are $12). Guests are encouraged to come celebrate in costume. An after party will be held at 12:30 am at Fat Bob’s Smokehouse in Buffalo. There will be prizes for the best costumes and anyone who purchased a movie ticket will have the opportunity to party with the cast and crew.
Jul 24, 2014
(July 24th, 2014) Lockport Native, Saint Joe’s HS and UB Film Grad Scott Cummings has been named to Filmmaker Magazines 25 New Faces of Independent Film for 2014. Cummings is currently hitting the festival circuit with his latest short film Buffalo Juggalo’s which he shot in Buffalo, Lockport, and Niagara Falls in 2013.
Scott Cummings (center) on the set with cast (left) and crew (right) in Niagara Falls for Buffalo Juggalo’s.
Scott Cummings’ half-hour Buffalo Juggalos is straightforward about its title setting and subject and twisty about everything else. A series of minute-long shots executed with James Benning’s mathematical framing and juxtapositioned precision and Ulrich Seidl’s unnervingly unbroken gaze, it’s a rigorously staged series of tableaus of one of America’s most-feared subcultures making a depressed urban space their own.
Cummings studied experimental film at the State University of New York-Buffalo before realizing he wanted to gain tools for a narrative skill set and applying to the California Institute of the Arts. His 2006 short The Hesher, succinctly described by Cummings as “a guy abusing himself,” played at the Museum of Modern Art and other gallery spaces. “I made more normal narrative stuff, but I never liked it as much,” Cummings explains. “I was the only person in it, and I shot it by setting up a tripod.” – Filmmaker Magazine
Look for a Western New York screening of Buffalo Juggalo’s this year.
Buffalo Juggalos Official Website
