Feb 20, 2014
(February 19th, 2014) A meeting with Mayor Paul Dyster, a trip to the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, and a wintery visit to the brink of Niagara Falls were all on tap as the BBC’s “Travel Show” made it’s way to Western New York this week with the Buffalo Niagara Film Office there to guide them.
Ade Adepitan (Left) interviews Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster (Center).
BBC host Ade Adepitan made his way from London in search of the natural Falls experience that can be had at Niagara Falls State Park, as well as exploring the economic rebirth of the U.S. Side. Also on tap were interviews that explored the unique culinary experiences that are available to Niagara Falls, N.Y. visitors. Adepitan’s trip included a signature Falls rainbow as a reporting backdrop, and a trip to Duff’s Cheektowaga location for an authentic Buffalo Wing sampling on the way to the airport.
Additional location support for the BBC Travel Show was provided by Michelle Blackley at the Niagara USA Tourism, Angela Berti at Niagara Falls State Park , and Paula Sandy at Niagara County Community College which operates the Niagara Culinary Institute.
Feb 6, 2014
(February 6th, 2014) An unsolicited email from Paramount Pictures to Buffalo’s Cathy Carfagna set in motion the inclusion of a classic song “If You Lose an Angel” written by singer/songwriter (and also Buffalo native) Buck Quigley in the latest feature from director Alexander Payne (The Election, Sideways) called Nebraska.
“I didn’t know what to think at first” said Quigley. “I had originally written the song for my band The Steam Donkeys back in 2003, and I wondered what the catch was when I saw the email?” he added. There was no catch in the end, and a deal was executed to include the song which is heard in the background of a barroom dialogue scene.
“If You Lose an Angel” had been rerecorded by Carfagna in 2009 on her album “Turn Your Face to the Sun” , which is where the music supervision team for Nebraska discovered the song.
Nebraska was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival,where Bruce Dern won the Best Actor Award. It is also nominated for 6 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Payne, Best Actor for Dern, Best Supporting Actress for June Squibb, Best Cinematography for Phedon Papamichael, and Best Original Screenplay for Bob Nelson.
Feb 4, 2014
(February 4th, 2013) After searching the Northeast for an accommodating subway station, producer Roland Uruci and his crew from Dyrranchium Productions out of New York City, chose the Buffalo Metrorail to film their next feature “Subway Station”. This short form narrative directed by Dhimitri Ismailaj, tells the story of a father and son who face religious discrimination and violence while waiting for a subway train.
The cast and crew of “Subway Station” pose for a group shot after wrapping this past Sunday.
The shoot which took place Sunday, February 2nd at the Summer Best Station, relied on the support of Buffalo’s newest production company Filmkiln., as well as hiring many other talented Western New Yorker’s including the acting talents of Jason John Beebe who joined the New York City based cast. Filmkin. has scored post production duties for “Subway Station” in Buffalo as well. Look for “Subway Station” to premiere at top festivals this summer.
Jan 6, 2014
(January, 6th, 2014) For Nike SB’s latest line the “Lunar One Shot” released just this week, a production crew of over 50 descended on Buffalo’s Central Terminal, Colonel Ward Pumping Station, Silo City and other parts of Buffalo this past September to capture the this new line in action. An international multiple media roll out of the“Lunar One Shot” will be covered through TV, web, and print advertising, all of it shot in Buffalo focusing mainly on three of skateboarding’s biggest stars Shane O’Neill, Sean Malto, and Luan Oliveira with some special guests.
After previous Nike SB campaign shoots all over the world, for the Lunar One Shot Campaign, Buffalo beat out Berlin, Nike SB Producer/Project Manager and Buffalo Expat Ben Wall suggested the Central Terminal to the Nike SB Creative Director’s Damion Triplett, Michael Hernandez and Lead Designer Eric Lovejoy. A quick August scouting trip from Portland, the assistance of Central Terminal Restoration Corporation Executive Director Marilyn Rogers, and an extensive scout throughout the City of Buffalo with the Buffalo Niagara Film Office and Sunday Skates JP Gillespie, production was set for and completed on what turned out to be a beautiful late week in September.
(L-R: Nike SB Featured Professional Skate Boarder Sean Malto, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Nike SB Global Marketing Manager Kasper Van Lierop, and Buffalo Native – Nike SB Producer/Project Manager Ben Wall on the Central Terminal Set)
Mayor Byron Brown continued his support for production in Buffalo with City owned location requests which included parts of the terminal and also the Colonel Ward Pumping Station. Rick Smith allowed filming at the always creatively buzzing Silo City. JP Gillespie gathered a hardworking crew to helped clean and prep the various sets around the city.
(L-R – 1st AC Jeremiah Pitman, 2nd AC Shannon Madden, and BB Grip Nick Earley set up a dolly shot with the Sony Phantom.)
Trish Phelan handled local Production Manager Duties, and Christi Allen served as Assistant Director for the extensive local crew that supported Portland’s AfterAll Productions Ike Martin and Jon Humphries as well as the entire Nike SB Creative Team. The “One Shot” Campaign was shot with two Arri Alexa’s and a Sony Phantom. Director of Photography was Greg Schmitt, with Buffalo’s Shannon Madden serving as a 2nd AC among others.
A hardy group of Nike SB Team Members made their way up to Niagara Falls State Park and the Cave of the Winds. Brazil’s Luan Oliveira leads the way.
Over 27 out of town crew members spent a week hitting Buffalo’s great cuisine at restaurants such as Mother’s, The Anchor Bar, The Black Rock Kitchen, Gabriel’s Gate, The Lodge, Allen Street Hardware, and others.
Along with the current segment featuring Australia’s Shane O’Neill, segments featuring Luan Oliveira starts in 3 weeks, and Sean Malto starting in March.
Nike SB Lunar One Shot – http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/skateboarding/lunar-one-shot
Nov 18, 2013
(November 18th, 2013) Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival will hold several “Best of Buffalo Dreams” nights at the Screening Room Cinema Café, 3131 Sheridan Drive, in the Northtown Plaza. The first year festival programmed 85 films from around the world over seven days: 26 features, 59 shorts, 27 international films and 13 local productions. Forty awards were handed out, including Dedication to Indie Excellence for Troma pioneer Lloyd Kaufman; the Indie Genre Spirit Award to cult filmmaker Albert Pyun; and Local Service Awards for Buffalo-Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark and Buffalo Film Office Director of Operations Rich Wall. The later awards were presented by Pat Kaufman, the retired New York State Film Commissioner. Paige K. Davis, Director of Business Development for Alternative Cinema, gave a seminar on DVD and VOD distribution for independent filmmakers.
Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival celebrates the best independent films in the categories of science fiction, fantasy, horror, action, thriller, animation and cult cinema. Over 30 filmmakers traveled to Buffalo for the event, which festival directors Gregory Lamberson and Chris Scioli cite as a measuring stick for success. Simon Pearce, director of the feature Judas Ghost (winner of the Best International Horror Feature Award) came all the way from the UK to answer questions from the audience. A benefit screening of Kaufman’s Return to Nuke ‘Em High Vol. 1, lensed in Niagara Falls, raised almost $3,000 for the Niagara Arts and Culture Center (NACC).
“We exceeded our expectations as far as attracting out of town filmmakers to Buffalo,” says Lamberson. “These are people who stayed in Buffalo hotels, enjoyed Buffalo restaurants, visited Niagara Falls, and supported each others’ film screenings. It was a great week for our festival launch, and a great week for Buffalo.”
On Wednesday, November 27th,at 7:00 pm, the Screening Room presents Don Thacker’s Motivational Growth (Best Cult Feature, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Special Make-Up Effects), about sentient mold (voiced by Re-Animator’s Jeffrey Combs) that takes over the life of a depressed shut-in. The film has won awards at festivals around the country. At 9:30 pm, the German suspense film On Air (Best International Thriller, Best Directors), about a serial killer who calls in to a pirate radio station host, with dire consequences, is guaranteed to have viewers on the edge of their seats.
On Saturday, November 30th, Brendan Steere’s Animosity (Best Horror feature, best Actress Tracy Willet) screens at 7:00 pm. At 9:30 pm, the local short Broken Wings (Best Western New York Short, Best Action Short, Best Western New York Screenplay), which examines the nature of a mysterious pulp superhero, plays with Pearce’s Judas Ghost (Best International Horror Feature). Four more features will screen Friday, January 10th and Sunday, January 11th. Admission is only $7 per feature, or $10 per double feature.
Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival will re-open for submissions in December. Visit www.buffalodreamsfilmfest.com and www.screeningroom.net for details.
Nov 15, 2013
(November 15th, 2013) The Best Man Holiday directed by Malcolm Lee opens in theaters today. The football sequences featuring Morris Chestnut as veteran football star Lance Sullivan were filmed entirely at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park. The film is a sequel to The Best Man and stars Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard, Harold Perrineau, Morris Chestnut, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long and Regina Hall, reprising their roles from the 1999 film.
The Best Man Holiday (Official Site)
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