Feb 27, 2024
Director Fred Olen Ray (Photo by Mac Cappuccino)
Prolific Director Fred Olen Ray just wrapped his 13th Feature film shoot in Western New York with his latest holiday feature. Taking advantage of snowfilled WNY locations such as Glenwood’s Kissing Bridge and a Christmas tree farms in the south towns much like the his first project “A Prince For Christmas” our region and crew delivered.
Lead actor Jonathan Stoddard is interviewed by actor Paul Spitale in a scene shot at the Kissing Bridge Ski Resort in Glenwood N.Y..
Buffalo’s Saturn Club and the Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda provided a majestic backdrop for notable holiday film stars Brittany Underwood and Jonathan Stoddard. Look for this yet to be titled, but soon to be holiday classic to hit your television screens this coming November.
Director Fred Olen Ray calls action on a scene with lead actor Brittany Underwood(seated) at a scene shot at The Saturn Club in Buffalo.
Jan 15, 2024
Buffalo, New York – Amazing Fantasy Fest, a new film festival created by cult filmmaker and Buffalo resident Gregory Lamberson (Slime City, Killer Rack) will debut in the Nickel City in September 2024. Lamberson previously co-founded Buffalo Screams Horror Film Festival, which ran for three years, and Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, which just concluded an acclaimed ten-year run. Amazing Fantasy Fest (AFF) is his first festival as solo director.
Like its predecessors, Amazing Fantasy Fest will be a week-long celebration of independent films from around the world in the genres of Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Action, Animation and Experimental. Lamberson will continue to spotlight the work of local artists, including Western New York students. Appropriately, the inaugural 2024 edition will launch on Friday the 13thth of September at Dipson’s Amherst Theatre.
“I love all the genres that embrace the impossible,“ says Lamberson, “and plan to bring the same qualities to this festival that I brought to the events I co-produced: world premieres, professional presentation, in-depth Q&As, and a welcoming atmosphere for filmmakers. I also plan to introduce several programming ideas which will be unique to Amazing Fantasy Fest. And I’ll continue to support filmmakers in the city where I live.”
In 2024, Lamberson will also celebrate his 40th year as an independent filmmaker. In 1984, at the age of 20, he worked as the production manager on I Was a Teenage Zombie. Two years later, he wrote and directed the midnight movie cult classic Slime City in New York City. In Buffalo, he has been a driving force for locally produced films, directing Slime City Massacre, Dry Bones, Killer Rack, Johnny Gruesome, Widow’s Point and Guns of Eden, and working in different capacities on other productions. His fifteen books include twelve horror novels and the filmmaking guide Cheap Scares: Low Budget Horror Filmmakers Share Their Secrets. He is an advocate for film production in Western New York and currently teaches Screenwriting at University at Buffalo.
“Every major arts city hosts a festival devoted to genre filmmaking so Buffalo should have one too,” Lamberson continues. “I devote a lot of energy to these events for the same reason I make movies: this is what I live for. When filmmakers attend screenings I program, they know they’re going to be treated with respect by someone who understands the sacrifices they’ve made for their art. And I love using film festivals as a platform for our local filmmaking community.”
AFF is now accepting film and screenplay submission from creators via FilmFreeway, and Lamberson is seeking sponsors. “Sponsors are crucial for a startup venture like this. I’m a small business owner, so I generally don’t receive the same sort of financial support that nonprofits do. I need to rely on the generosity of the community I serve.”
AFF is not the only Western New York bearing the Lamberson name: Valkyrie International Film Festival (VIFF), showcasing films directed by women, was created by Lamberson’s wife Tamar and daughter Kaelin, who host their second edition March 21st – 25th at the Screening Room in Amherst.
AFF Website: www.amazingfantasyfest.com
AFF FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/AmazingFantasyFest
AFF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amazingfantasyfest
VIFF Website: www.valkyriefilmfest.com
VIFF FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/ValkyrieInternationalFilmFestival
VIFF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valkyriefilmfest
Jan 2, 2024
(August 24th, 2012) Like the structure that contains the Tate Modern in London, England, the Colonel Ward Pumping Station on Buffalo’s Waterfront contains 5 works of art, in this case engineering art with 5 giant Holley Steam pumps built in 1915.
Throughout the world there are only 8 Holly Pumps remaining. The size and scope of the Colonel Ward Station came from a time when Buffalo was one of the Top 3 cities in the United States and needed a capacity to accommodate millions of people versus the remaining thousands we have today. In their heyday these pumps handled 30 Million Gallons per day per engine with 20′ 30 ton flywheels which generated 1,200 HP. The plant currently operates electric pumps today that supply the City of Buffalo along side the 5 legendary pumps which serve as a reminder of Buffalo’s tremendous past accomplishments.
COMPLETE PHOTO PACKAGE
Dec 4, 2023
Cindy Abbott Letro reviews the year 2023 for production in the Buffalo Niagara Region from the historic surroundings of Buffalo’s City Hall.
Nov 29, 2023
COULD THIS BE BUFFALO’S YEAR? FILMMAKERS CONSIDER THE “UNBILLIEVABLE!” IN NEW COMEDY
Blue & Red Carpet Premier Dec. 2 @7 p.m./Buffalo’s historic North Park Theatre
November 28, 2023 — BUFFALO, NEW YORK: Yes, this is really happening. In the alternate reality conjured by the movie UNBILLIEVABLE! there is a world where Buffalo’s football team gets their inevitable victory over the forces of evil and the AFC East.
Now, the public can view the official trailer and pre-order the movie before its release this Saturday, December 2, 2023. Just go to unbillievablethemovie.com for more info.
- A Digital Premiere Pass and UNBILLIEVABLE! logo t-shirt ($19.95)
- Ticket to the Blue & Red Carpet Premier Screening at the North Park Theatre ($19.95)
- VIP Package: A Digital Premiere Pass, Poster-Art-T-shirt, and VIP ticket to the Blue & Red Carpet Premiere Screening at The North Park Theatre on Saturday, December 2, at @7:00 p.m. ($34.95).
“I decided to write the script because I’m a lifelong Bills fan, and I’m losing my mind,” says UNBILLIEVABLE! filmmaker Scott Rubin, who served as the Editor-in-Chief of National Lampoon for ten years. “How many times can your heart be broken as a sports fan? With the Bills, it seems endless. There has to be a way out of this, and if they can’t win a world championship in the real world, at least I can try to make them win in the movie world.” Co-directors J. Garrett Vorreuter and Scott Rubin take you on a wild ride as they unmask the generational pain, hope, heartache, and perhaps glory that awaits every Bills fan when that long-awaited special Sunday returns. The film has been shot entirely in Buffalo, of course.
The movie has been crowdfunded by the fans, invested in by the fans, and sponsored by the support of local Buffalo Businesses. It is a project driven by the love of the Bills and the city of Buffalo. “I realized that so much of the story is about us, the fans,” Rubin says. “Players come and go, but we’re still here. I’ve been a fan since 1964! It turns out that we’re much more interesting, at this point than the actual football team: How we survive as fans, year after year; our interesting quirks and coping mechanisms that make us come back the next season even more committed and insane.”
www.unbillievablethemovie.com
Oct 18, 2023
Robbins Stunt Team is holding a John/Joan Wick style stunt bootcamp at The Sportsplex in North Tonawanda. Saturday and Sunday October 28th-29th actors and stunt performers will take a high-octane stunt bootcamp with professional stunt performers/fight choreographers, armorers, and firearm safety experts.
Founder, Greg Robbins is leading the bootcamp along with his professional stunt team. “Greg Robbins and his team are very knowledgeable, safe and are the go-to stunt team for the projects that come to Buffalo.” said Buffalo/Niagara Film Commissioner, Tim Clark.
Mr. Robbins has been preforming stunts, stunt coordinating and armorer for decades with credits that include, stunt coordinator on Hail Mary, Bad Cupid, Givers of Death, Bunker, Bound and was a stunt performer on The Terminator, Clover and Cabrini. Just to name a few.
“The film industry in Western New York needs more stunt performers” says, Greg Robbins. “This is the perfect time to bring up the next generation of stunt performers, firearm safety experts and future coordinators. We have wonderful support crews that complement the film tax credit and our beautiful city attracts the motion picture industry. We need more stunt people here, so we don’t have to hire outside of our area. This bootcamp will help with that need.”- Greg Robbins
To register email Greg Robbins: GregvRobbins@gmail.com
Website: www.robbinsstuntteam.com
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua29brLjU1tWsywsF-QTwg
