BEYOND THE SEA: Shooting Now on the U.S.S. Croaker

Dec 2, 2015

(December 2nd, 2015) AVD productions is currently shooting their next short film “Beyond the Sea” aboard the decommissioned World War II Submarine the U.S.S. Croaker which is stationed at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval Park on the Buffalo Waterfront.

U.S.S. Croaker

Produced by Keith Lukowski and Andrew Dale, and directed by Vinny DiVirgilio “Beyond the Sea” tells the story of Jimmy, a sailor fresh from boot camp and thrown onto a submarine during WWII. After a routine restocking mission, a malaria outbreak wipes out the crew and strands Jimmy in the submerged vessel behind enemy lines. War quickly becomes the least of his problems.  The story was written by both DiVirgilio and Dale.

Look for Beyond the Sea to hit festivals in 2016.

For more information: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/beyond-the-sea-a-short-film–2#/story

‘Why I Murdered My Roommate’ Pilot Screening September 27th

Jul 10, 2015

(Cast and Crew of “Why I Murdered My Roomate” on set at The Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Center.  L to R:  Robert Swedenhjelm (Sound), Seth Tyler Black (Props), Don Burns (DP), Lou Tomani (PA), Tilke Hill (Lead – EZ), Tate Ammons (Lead – Franklin). Photo by Michael W. Thomas)

(July 10th, 2015) Fractured Atlas presents the pilot episode screening of a half-hour dark comedy series, ‘Why I Murdered My Roommate.’ Featuring a cast and crew from Los Angeles, New York City and the Buffalo-Niagara region, the series tells the story of a woman named ‘EZ’ (Tilke Hill), a renegade performance artist on the run from the law. Cast members include Tilke Hill, Nicole Dionne, Dorian Electra, Tate Ammons, Kim Piazza, Margo Davis and Gary Brice. The series pilot was directed by  Michael Pauly.

The screening will be held at 12:00 pm on Sunday, September
27 at the North Park Theatre located at 1428 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216.

After screening the episode, there will be a Q&A with cast and crew.

Tickets to to event are available online at
www.whyimurderedmyroommate.com
and include exclusive access to the After-Party.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the ‘Why I Murdered My Roommate’ production.

For further information and to view a trailer, visit:
www.whyimurderedmyroommate.com

Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival Winners for 2014

Nov 10, 2014

(November 10th, 2014) The Romans produced by Black Rose Films was a big winner at last nights Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival currently being held at Dipson Eastern Hills Mall Cinemas. Jon Cesar took home best performance by a Western New York Actor, Korey Green recieved best Western New York Director, and Romans as whole took home best Western New York Feature.  The Romans will get an encore screening this coming Thursday, 11/13 at 9:30 pm due to last Fridays Sold Out Show.

(L-R) Romans Assistant Director Durand McCloud, Actor Tony Little, Actor John Caesar, Script Supervisor Sandy White, Writer/Director/Producer Korey Green, and Writer/Producer Larry Quinn.

Here is the complete list of winners following last nights awards ceremony:

 2014 Dreamer Awards

Kim Piazza, WBBZ TV (Left), Awards Host; Isaac Ezban (Mexico) – Best Festival Feature, Best International Feature, Best Director, Best International Ensemble Cast (Center) and Greg Lamberson (Right).

Best Festival Feature – El Incidente/The Incident (Mexico)

Best Action Feature – 6 Bullets to Hell

Best Science Fiction Feature – Channeling

Best Horror Feature – The Drownsman

Best Thriller Feature – Julia

Best Comedy Feature – Spyfall

Best Director – Isaac Ezban, El Incidente/The Incident (Mexico)

Best Screenplay, Feature – Michael Louis Calvillo, Athena

Best Actress – Ashley C. Williams, Julia

Josh McKamie, Ryan Bellgardt (Oklahoma) – Josh McKamie, Ryan Bellgardt, Best Fantasy Feature, Army of Frankensteins

Best Actor – Stephen Kendrick, The God Question

Best Ensemble Cast – The Shower

Best Cinematography – Olivier Merckx, 6 Bullets to the Head

Best Special Make-Up Effects – Call Girl of Cthulhu

Best Visual Effects, Feature – Army of Frankensteins

Best Animated Short – Monstro!

Best Comedy Short: Hellyfish

Best Horror Short: Killer Kart

Best Science Fiction Short: Meet Your Maker

Best Fan Film: Star Wars: Bohemian Rhapsody

Best Music Video:

Mulligan’s Island (Gold)
Delica-m: Mean Something (Silver)
Shane Cole, Burn Away (Bronze)

Special Awards:

City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown (Center), along with Buffalo Dreams Co-Directors Greg Lamberson (Left) and Chris Scioli (Right) after receiving the Buffalo Dreams Local Service Award.

Local Service Award – Mayor Byron W. Brown

Local Hero Award winner J. Garrett Vorreuter

Local Hero Award – J. Garrett Vorreuter

Filmmaker to Watch winner : Hope Muehlbauer

Lynne Hanson (Left) receives Filmmaker to Watch award from Buffalo Dreams Co-Director Greg Lamberson.

Filmmaker to Watch Awards: Hope Muehlbauer, Lynne Hansen

Indie Genre Spirit Award – Aceifer Genovese (Left) with Greg Lamberson(Center) and Chris Scioli(Right).

Indie Genre Spirit Award – Aceifer Genovese

George Pal Visionary Award – Isaac Ezban

International Awards:

Best International Feature – El Incidente/The Incident (Mexico)

Best International Ensemble Cast – El Incidente/The Incident (Mexico)

Best International Horror Short – Waterborne (Australia)

Best International Science Fiction Short – Ruby’s Skin (UK)

Best International Fantasy Short – Henry and the Midnight Dentist

Best International Comedy Short: Happy Birthday, Mr. Zombie (Belgium)

Best Action Short: Watch Over Me (UK)

Best Visual Effects, Short – Orbit Ever After (Ireland)

Western New York Awards:

Best Western New York Feature – The Romans

Best Western New York Director, Feature – Korey Green, The Romans

Mattew Lorentz – Best Western New York Screenplay, B.O.Y.D.; Best Original Screenplay, Rin of Terror

Best Western New York Screenplay – Matthew Lorentz, B.O.Y.D.

Best Performance by a Western New York Actor – Jon Cesar, The Romans

Best Performance by a Western New York Actress – Tilke Hill, Elizabeth Bathory

B.O.Y.D. Best Western New York Ensemble Cast:(Left to Right) Kyle Scritchfield, Christopher Brechtel, Greg Lamberson, Christopher Scherr and Christopher Marriott

Best Western New York Ensemble Cast – B.O.Y.D.

Best Western New York Medium Length Film – Scope of Practice

Best Western New York Short – Road Test

Sign screenwriter Lou Rera accepts Best Western New York Director, Short Award for Joe Blodgett.

Best Western New York Director, Short – Joe Blodgett, Sign

Drew Bialy & Chris Greco – Best Western New York Short, Road Test

Best Western New York Screenplay, Short – Drew Bialy, Road Test

Rhonda Parker – Norah Parker, Best Student Film, Friends Don’t Let Friends – Date Friends and Buffalo Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark. Lamberson

Best Western New York Student Film – Friends Don’t Let Friends – Date Friends

Best Western New York Micro-Short/Best Micro-Short – Nigel Eastman

Best Western New York Music Video – Will Graver, Find a Little Boogie

Best Western New York Special Make-Up Effects Winner- Ken Cosentino

Best Western New York Special Make-Up Effects – Ken Cosentino and Matt Lord, Within

Best Original Screenplay Award

Rain of Terror – Matthew Lorintz (Gold)
Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite – Ron Brawer and Shakir Farsakh (Silver)
Midnight Daisy – Jesse Vigil (Bronze)

Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival continues screenings throughout the week at the Dipson Eastern Hills Cinemas. For the latest listings (Click Here)

Mayor Brown to Be Honored at Buffalo Dreams Film Fest This Weekend

Nov 3, 2014

(November 3rd, 2014) Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, which runs this Friday, November 7th – Thursday, November 13th at the Eastern Hills Cinema, 4545 Transit Road in Williamsville, will recognize City of Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown and J. Garrett Verreuter, Director of Operations at Pierce arrow Film Arts Center and owner of the Film Collective, for their efforts on behalf of the film industry in the area. Mayor Brown will receive the festival’s Local Service Award, previously awarded to Buffalo-Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark and Buffalo-Niagara Film Office Director of Operations Rich Wall, and Verreuter will receive the Local Hero Award. The Dreamer Awards will be held in the theater beginning at 6:15 pm on Sunday, November 9th. Awards will be given to films competing in local, national and international categories.

“Our festival supports the current growth of film production in the region,” says Gregory Lamberson, who co-directs Buffalo Dreams with Chris Scioli. “Mayor Brown voted in favor of the film production tax incentive as a state senator, and as mayor has worked with Tim Clark and Rich Wall to help facilitate film productions in the area. Garrett came to Buffalo to study medicine but became inspired by the possibility of a real film industry here, and has dedicated himself to helping develop that industry.”

Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival has a two-fold mission: to bring the finest independent films from around the world to Buffalo, and to spotlight the work of local filmmakers. This year’s event kicks off with the Buffalo premiere of The Romans, a contemporary urban take on the story of Julius Caesar, directed by Korey Green and executive produced by Larry Quinn, shot entirely in Buffalo.

In total, 70 films will screen over the course of the week, 19 of them features, including the spaghetti western 6 Bullets to Hell, starring and co-directed by Tanner Beard, and El Incidente/The Incident, a thriller from Mexico, written and directed by Isaac Ezban. Beard and Ezban will be among fifteen filmmakers traveling to Buffalo to screen their work for the festival. For a complete schedule, visit wwww.buffalodreamsfilmfest.com. For advance tickets, visit www.dipsontheatres.com.