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.
Oct 27, 2014
(October 267th, 2014) Buffalo Film Expo (BFX), a one day educational event comprised of workshops aimed at professional and aspiring filmmakers, will be held Saturday, Nov. 1st from 10 am to 5:30 pm at the Holiday Inn Buffalo Airport, 4600 Genesee Street in Cheektowaga. Area film professionals serve as panelists covering screenwriting, producing, the NYS Film Tax Credit, cinematography, the business side of acting and gear. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students with ID.
“The film industry in the Buffalo-Niagara region is growing,” says Gregory Lamberson, who organized the event with Chris Scioli. “This conference is aimed at people who want to learn more about the film making process, and people who want to participate in this growing industry in our region. Writers, producers, camera people and actors can all benefit from the information shared here. This is also a great networking opportunity: we encourage people to bring their business cards and head shots.”
BFX is sponsored by Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, which runs Fri, Nov. 7th – Thurs, Nov. 13th at Eastern Hills Cinema; Buffalo Movie-Video Makers, the oldest amateur film society in the nation; and Adam Bloch Sound. Attendees will receive one free pass to see 6 Bullets to Hell, a new spaghetti western playing at Buffalo Dreams Fri, Nov. 7th at 9:45 pm.
The Pierce-Arrow Film Arts Center, 48 Hr. Film Festival, and regional production companies Pixelmander, LLC, White Lion Studios, Metroisha Productions and Martin McGee Productions will all have a presence in the banquet room. All speakers are subject to availability.
Schedule
10:30 am Screenwriting: Greg Stuhr (The American Side), Korey Green (The Romans), Greg Lamberson (Dry Bones).
11:40 am Producing Your First Feature: Bobby Gott (B.O.Y.D.), Elizabeth Nixon (Elizabeth Bathory) Brandyn T. Williams (Dwelling) and John Renna (Dick Johnson & Tommygun vs. the Cannibal Cop).
12:50 pm The NYS Film Tax Credit: Buffalo Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark, Rochester/Finger Lakes Film & Video Office Executive Director Nora Brown, Buffalo Film Office Director of Operations Rich Wall
2:10 pm Cinematography: Chris Santucci, Stephen Powell, Matthew Nardone and Tom Wills.
3:20 pm The Business Side of Acting (Casting/Presentation): Greg Stuhr, Bryan Patrick Stoyle, J. Garrett Vorreuter
4:30 pm Gear Talk: Chris Santucci, Tom Wills.
Buffalo Dreams website:
www.buffalodreamsfilmfest.com
Buffalo Film Expo on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloFilmExpo
Oct 8, 2014
Film Illuminates “It’s not who you are when you’re born, but who you are when you live”
(October 8th, 2014) The Museum of disABILITY History Film and Speaker Series will feature a documentary this October with Buffalo roots. The featured film Kelly’s Hollywood will be held on Friday, October 17, with two showings at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Dipson Amherst Theatre, 3500 Main Street, Buffalo.
Brian and Kelly Donovan
The movie is Brian Donovan’s tribute to his sister, Kelly, who was born with Down syndrome. A 1985 graduate of St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, Brian moved to Hollywood and became a writer, actor, director and producer. The inspirational film is about a brother’s quest to help his sister fulfill her dream of becoming a Hollywood diva.
When asked why he created this documentary, Brain explained, “When I picked up the camera 15 years ago, I didn’t have much of an agenda. I was capturing moments in Kelly’s life that inspired me, but when those moments started to affect me more directly, I got more serious.”
The purpose of the Film Series event is to provide entertainment, educate, challenge stereotypes and explore issues faced by individuals with disabilities. The event goal mirrors Brian’s reasoning for the film.
Brian shared, “By documenting my sister, I hope the film illuminates that it’s not who you are when you’re born, but who you are when you live.”
Brian Donovan
Event proceeds benefit the Museum of disABILITY History, Bornhava and Cantalician Center. The sponsors of the Museum of disABILITY History Film and Speaker Series are Andruschat Law Firm, Buffalo Healthy Living, The Buffalo News and the New York State Council on the Arts.
Brian Donovan has been a professional actor for more than 24 years in film, television and radio. He has worked on-screen with such top actors and actresses such as Jim Belushi, Jim Carrey and Angelina Jolie. He has been the voice of countless animated heroes; currently as Rock Lee from the juggernaut hit, Naruto. Early next year, he can be seen in the indie film, Secrets of an Unborn Child.
In addition, he has been the executive director of the Los Angeles Repertory Theatre since 1994, producing and directing more than 50 inner-city high school workshops and live shows. He is also the creator, writer and producer of the Mighty Me Training Camp, a top ranking children’s self-empowerment program streamed by Discovery Education for more than five years. A past resident of Kenmore, NY, Donovan lives in Los Angeles with his family.
The Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of artifacts relating to the history of people with disabilities. The mission is to tell the story of the lives, triumphs, and struggles of people with disabilities as well as society’s reactions. The Museum of disABILITY History, located at 3826 Main Street in Buffalo, NY, offers educational exhibits, programs and activities that expand community awareness.
People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to more than 12,000 people with special needs, their families and seniors throughout Western New York. Since 1971, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity.
In between the movie showings, a reception with keynote speaker Brian Donovan will be held at 5 p.m. at the Museum of disABILITY History, 3826 Main Street, Buffalo (half mile from theatre).
Movie tickets are available in advance online and at the Museum of disABILITY History and also available during the event at the Amherst Dipson Theatre. Tickets are $10 per person in advance and $15 on the day of the event. The reception is free to all film screening patrons. For more information or tickets, go to disabilityfilmfest.org or call 716-629-3626. The 80-minute documentary is rated PG-13.
Facebook event (link)
Oct 6, 2014
(October 6th, 2014) DefTone Pictures Studios Inc is proud to announce the world premiere screening(s) for their horror comedy A Grim Becoming. The film follows the story of Raphael, a young executive who has to fight a supernatural curse after he sees a Grim Reaper taking a soul. The film stars local actors Brandyn T Williams and Michael Sciabarrasi and independent film horror icons Melantha Blackthorne, Bill Oberst Jr, Jessica Cameron, Lynn Lowry and Devanny Pinn. Britt Griffith from the SyFy series Ghost Hunters is also in the film. The historic Hamburg Palace Theater at 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg, NY 14075 will be the setting for the three night event.
The Advanced screening will be Friday October 31st at 11:59 pm, the Premiere screening will be Saturday November 1st at 3:00 pm and the Encore screening will be on Sunday November 2nd at 1:00 pm. Tickets are available at agrimbecomingmovie.com, the Palace box office and the World Hollywood Entertainment store at the McKinley Mall. Pre-sale tickets are $12 and will be $15 at the door. Guests who dress in costume for the Friday night Halloween show will get admission at the door for the pre-sale price. The Friday and Saturday showings will have beer and wine available for purchase.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZwY1W0aZaU
In additional DefTone Pictures Studios news: the film Not Human (formerly Ombis: Alien Invasion) is now available on VOD (Video on Demand). Look for it on Comcast, Micosoft, ITunes, Amazon, Cox, Youtube, Vudu and in Canada on MTS, Amazon Insta, Shaw Cable and more. The DVD will be available at Walmart as well as other retailers in December of this year.
Oct 6, 2014
(October 6th, 2014) See a discussion regarding the Noir genre throughout the decades, and it’s application to one of the latest projects shot in the Buffalo Niagara Region – “The American Side” Thursday, November 9th, 2014 at The Burchfield Penny Art Center.
Actor Greg Stuhr(Left) and Director Jenna Ricker(Right) on the set of “The American Side” at Silo City.
The co-writers, director and star of The American Side, Jenna Ricker and Greg Stuhr will be onstage in the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Auditorium to discuss this genre and show clips of their film.
For more information: (Click Here)
The American Side: (Official Site)
Sep 10, 2014
(September 9th, 2014) The end of August 2014 found the Buffalo Niagara Film Office supporting yet another thrilling demonstration of athletic ability, as the Red Bull Wakeskating Team descended on the Erie Canal in Lockport, NY to “Pop the Locks”.
With supervision from the Niagara County Sheriff’s Marine Division and special permission from the New York State Thruway Authority, and the City of Lockport, the Red Bull Team spent 2 days navigating the Erie Canal, going through the lock system. and then hitting the base of the historic Flight of Five lock system where they attached a special winch system to perform the difficult challenge of jumping from one lock to the next. After numerous tries by two of the best Wake-skaters in the world Brian Grubb and Andrew Pastura ……success!!!
See it all here via Red Bull.
Local production support via ND Studios – Matt Nardone, Scott Franklin, and Kash Costner.
Special Thanks:
City of Lockport, NY – Mayor Anne McCaffrey
Niagara County Sheriff’s Marine Division
Sheriff James Voutour, Sgt. Ron Steen
New York State Thruway Authority
Historic Films
Assemblyman Sean Ryan
(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.
