Category: Filmmakers to Watch

Apr 11 – IFFLA 2015 Shorts Program #2 – Arclight Cinema

 

We are honored to return again as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2015 Indian Film Festival Los Angeles’ SHORTS PROGRAM #2.  The IFFLA programming team has selected some of the best short films of the year by filmmakers of Indian descent.  

Join us on Saturday, April 11th at the Arclight Hollywood for SHORTS PROGRAM #2.  
Buy Tickets

Get to Know The Filmmakers

Sonali Gulati
Big Time – my doodled Diary

Sonali Gulati is an independent filmmaker, feminist, grassroots activist and educator. She is an associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and her films have screened in more than 300 film festivals worldwide. She has won several awards, grants and fellowships, including the Guggenheim Fellowship in Film/Video.

 


Jayisha Patel
A Paradise (Un Paradiso)

Jayisha Patel is an award-winning filmmaker from London whose films have been shown at festivals such as the Berlinale, New York, and AFI Silverdocs. Her first short film, “Gentle Men,” which she shot while studying at the International Film and TV School, Cuba, went on to be nominated for over 36 international awards and was recognized by the British Council as exemplary British filmmaking. Her current project, set in India, is commissioned by Al Jazeera.

 

Pratyusha Gupta
Journey (Safar)

Pratyusha Gupta was born in Madras, India. She worked in documentary, television, and advertising in Mumbai for more than six years. She graduated with an MA in Filmmaking from the London Film School in 2013. Pratyusha has always been fascinated by questions of identity, class, and religion — themes that dominate her films.

 

 

Pranjal Dua
Fly, Bird (Chidiya Udh)

Pranjal Dua is an Indian filmmaker who studied at the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. Hailing from the capital city of New Delhi, Pranjal has witnessed the dynamic process of transformation of his country and its people. With his films, he hopes to examine his own identity within the context of contemporary India. He currently lives in Mumbai.

 

 

 

Sudarshan Suresh
The Rabbit (Khargosh)

Sudarshan Suresh, a qualified lawyer in India, began his career working at a corporate law firm in Mumbai. An avid painter, he quit the law profession in 2012 to pursue his love for the arts. While freelancing as a video artist, he made several commercials and films for NGOs and corporates, before deciding to immerse himself in narrative filmmaking. He is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Film at Columbia University in New York. “The Rabbit” is his debut short film.

 

 IFFLA2015

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Apr 07, 2015 | 0 comments | View Post

Meet The Filmmakers – February 2011

4th African American ShortsFest

meet the filmmakers

 

february 2011

 

American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre

 

Get to know the 14 filmmakers honored this month
at our annual African American short film festival

presented by The American Cinematheque

 



ANACOSTIA
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ANTHONY ANDERSON
Washington DC

Creator, Director, Writer, Star of the ground-breaking, mega-award winning web-series soap ANACOSTIA.

Writer and Producer of 2006 feature film “The Ties That Bind” starring DeLon Howell, Lori Lewis, Nicole Pettis.

Writes and produces thru his Southeast Boy Productions, and is considered one of the leading forces in a burgeoning Metro DC indie filmmaking community.

 CLOSE
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TAHIR JETTER
NYC

At age 16, discovered his passion for filmmaking; attended film school at Tisch.

His short film CLOSE just screened at Sundance ’11, and looks like it will have a big fest run.  The film shows his exceptional ability to direct drama, and to craft compelling modern characters.

Tahir is developing more short films, and several feature screenplays.
GOOD INTENTIONS
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IHUOMA OFORDIRE
Los Angeles

Actress, Writer, Producer originally from DC., she created the intense drama “Good Intentions”to challenge herself as an actress.

She is currently starring in the short film “Kwame”, named Best Short at Pan African ’10, & Sci-Fi feature “Thrillseekers:  The Indoscheen”.

She is also creator of web series “Life, Love & Hollywood”.  She is scribing and developing several new projects via her Good Luck Productions.

 I CHEAT
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KEVIN HEROD
Toronto

Veteran stand-up comic, popular on air host & actor.  Also the voice of Canadian animated series “Ninjamaica”.

His hip-hop music video “I Cheat” showcases Kevin’s creativity, guerilla filmmaking acumen, and exceptional comic writing ability. His on-stage humor translates seamlessly to film/video.
KATRINA’S SON
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YA’KE SMITH
Ft. Worth

Shot his first film at 15 while in high school in his hometown San Antonio. Has quickly built an impressive body of work which has already had over 40 fest selections; major award wins, including Regional Student Academy Award, DGA Student Film Award, HBO Short Film Award. Current film “Katrina’s Son” continues to show Ya’Ke’s unflinching storytelling style and bold directing instinct.  His next film is the feature “Wolf” through his Texas-based Exodus Filmworks.
KNOW YOUR ROLE
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DANEL K HUNTER
Los Angeles

Teaming up with his veteran actor/improv pro brother David Hunter, this DC native created their new film “Know Your Role” as part of his move into the directing ranks of the LA film community.

Daniel is a veteran sound editor, with extensive TV network credits.  His extensive music/post background has given him a great foundation to transition to the director’s chair.
MEN OR MICE
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KIARA JONES
NYC

A native New Yorker, Kiara began her artistic journey as a poet and hip hop artist.  She transformed her love for storytelling into an award-winning career in broadcast radio & TV. She has also worked in Vegas producing live shows and has now returned to New York to focus on her filmmaking.

“Men or Mice” explores themes central in Kiara’s films, reflecting the varied American experiences of minorities and women.  Kiara has produced an impressive body of work under her Cultivated Films banner.

 Hilton Carter www.fresh-kill.comMOTH
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HILTON CARTER
Los Angeles

Classically trained as a fine artist, Hilton is an alum of the Fine Arts program at the Maryland Institute College of Art, holds an MFA in Film from the Art Center in Pasadena.

Hilton’s visual sensibility and evocative storytelling style has intertwined powerful images and compelling characters into exceptional commercials & music videos.  He now brings these elements together into narrative live action with his debut drama “Moth”.
MR. OKRA
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ANDRÉ JONES
New Orleans

André is a 12 year entertainment industry veteran, with extensive Post Production experience.  He began his career as an assistant to editor/director T.G. Herrington, and they now run the exclusive post house (literally) MAISON in New Orleans, and their in-house production group NOM DE GUERRE Productions.

Mr. Okra is a heartwarming post-Katrina doc that brings the spirit and magic of New Orleans to the screen through one man’s story.

Andre studied at Loyola in N.O, & did his grad work at Morehouse.

 THE “F” WORD
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ISSA RAE
Los Angeles

One of those rare LA natives, Issa begin her filmmaking while at Stanford, launching “Dorm Diaries”, a soap type web series she streamed to her college mates via Facebook. She is now a one-woman wrecking machine on the web entertainment scene, and is changing the images and voices of African American writing and characters via the web.

She discovered the comic genius of the hip hop trio THE FLY GUYS while directing a music video for the group, and together they launched one of the funniest web series ever “The “F” Word”. The show is now into their 5th season.

February hails the launch of her much anticipated new episodic online series “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl”.
THE KISS
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CAREY WILLIAMS
Los Angeles

From Pensacola, FL, Carey moved to LA after attending film school at Florida St. University.  He began as a PA, eventually landing a gig on the feature TRAINING DAY, working as Ethan Hawke’s assistant.  He then jumped into directing music videos for local hip hop and rock acts, with two of his vids winning MTVu’s FRESHMEN 5 contest, and getting airplay on VH1 and MTV2.

Carey works extensively as an editor and is in prep to direct his next short film CHERRY WAVES.

 

 THE NEXT DAY
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AL ROBBINS
Atlanta

Filmmaker/Writer Al “Skip” Robbins was born in Queens, and started as an actor after attending SUNY/Old Westbury. He became an extra on New York Undercover, then booked several commercials.  He moved behind the camera in 1995 forming his production company Bottom of the Net Filmworks, where he directed his first short “One for the Money”.  After several successful shorts he wrote and directed the feature film “Trust”, and has been writing, producing and directing feature films and web based entertainment.

He is currently in Morocco directing a feature film, and has three feature films projects in development.

Lamont Wayne - animator THEM BONES (2010)
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LAMONT WAYNE
Lynchburg

Lamont Wayne is a freelance animator and artist.  In early 2010, he discovered a new website GoAnimate.com and used it as an educational tool to teach his nephews about how animation is made.  This process led to an animated series based on the boys called Jamari and Bralyn.  The series received unexpected attention thru social media, and let to Lamont being named a Filmmaker To Watch 2010 by HOLLYWOOD SHORTS.

Lamont was a guest speaker and presenter on Animation at the International Children’s Film Festival at the Amazement Square  Children’s Museum in 2009.  He continues to develop JAMARI as well as a short about a bible based superhero kid, and an intergalactic war toon based on the Civil War’s Buffalo Soldiers.


 TROUBLESOME (2010)
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HILLIARD GUESS
Los Angeles

A veteran actor, and alum of both the Bill Cosby TV Writers Fellowship and Nickelodeon’s Writer’s Lab.  His feature script SECTION 8 was a Quarterfinalist in the Nicholl’s Fellowship.  He co-wrote & c0-produced horror feature “Blackout” released in 2006.

“Troublesome” is his directing debut. and is already garnering significant festival attention.  Hilliard has three TV pilots available, as well a slate of feature scripts in development through his Hilldog Productions.
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Feb 23, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post

Meet The Filmmakers – January 2011


HOLLYWOOD SHORTS - Monthly screenings


meet the filmmakers

edition 13.3


learn more about the filmmakers you outta know


On Sunday, we hosted the cast and crew celebration of CERTIFIED by writer/director LUKE ASA GUIDICI, and the Los Angeles premiere of FINDING JACOB by writer/director BRETT STUMPP.  Both filmmakers shared great insight on their inspiration, their process, and some of the valuable lessons they have learned along the way.   If you missed the screening, here is a little more info about these exciting filmmakers.

Brett Stumpp

FINDING JACOB
www.findingjacob.com

Brett Stumpp

A graduate of Vancouver Film School and New England College, Brett spent many years working in different facets of the film industry in order to know first hand what each person’s responsibilities were. This enabled him a well-earned insight into the process of filmmaking.  Brett’s current short film FINDING JACOB is a deeply moving film inspired by his own personal medical crisis, which led him to explore issues of fatherhood and missed opportunities.

Having traveled extensively in his youth, Brett delights in exploring different cultures and customs, which help inform his creative process.  Through the course of his studies in everything from martial arts to shamanism, his voracious appetite for the human experience has helped form an outlook unique to the world. This is the foundation Brett has build his career on.  In the last few years, Brett has been able to hone his writing and directing abilities as a member of the highly esteemed Beverly Hills Playhouse, and has directed the 2010 feature film Walk By Faith 2: After The Honeymoon.
FINDING JACOB continues to garner warm reception on the festival circuit due to it’s original storytelling and exceptional visual style and composition.  The short is enjoying nation-wide television broadcast as part of the African American Short Films television show.

Email BRETT STUMPP




Luke Asa Guidici

CERTIFIED
www.lukeasa.com

Luke Asa Guidici - FilmmakerWhen Luke was 6 years old, he broke the family television.  They never got another one.


Instead he played with Transformers, explored the woods, read encyclopeias, built things with LEGO’s and listened to NPR.  He learned what was funny from Calvin & Hobbes.


After graduating Magna Cum Laude BA/Cinema from SFSU in 2003, he trekked to Los Angeles.  He has worked as an extra, a grip, PA, camera operator, AD, producer, editor, falconer and director.

If Luke wasn’t making films, he would be doing something involving snowboarding, cooking or politics.

Luke is currently looking for one or two feature scripts, in the Sci-Fi/Comic-book/Horror genre. He loves to direct music videos, and is always open to working with new local bands.  He is repped at Bucks Boys for music video & commercials.

Email LUKE ASA GUIDICI

 

 


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Jan 24, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post

RASHAAD ERNESTO GREEN – a SHORT Road to Sundance

 

Rashaad Ernesto Green makes the move from shorts to feature

Choices (2009) by Rashaad Ernesto Green
Choices (2009)

Rashaad Ernesto Green is a very successful and prolific short filmmaker.  Seven films to be exact – all between 2007 and 2009.  His most recent short films Premature (2008), Choices (2009) and Cuts (2009) have each scored massive festival selections and awards, from Sundance premieres to the coveted HBO Short Film Award. On January 24th, Rashaad will premiere his debut feature film Gun Hill Road starring Esai Morales, Judy Reyes and Harmony Santana at Sundance.

In addition to a staggering list of accolades and international recognition, Rashaad has been an honored filmmaker at HOLLYWOOD SHORTS’ annual AFRICAN AMERICAN SHORTSFEST at the American Cinematheque twice, and he was named to our 2009 Filmmakers To Watch list.   He was also selected to indieWire’s exclusive 2009 Top Ten list of New Voices In Black Cinema.

We each spend a great deal of our short film journey discussing, plotting, and planning for our own trek from short to feature.  Watching Rashaad’s path to this goal has been inspirational, so we invited him to share a little insight.


Happy New Year Rashaad!  You have officially crossed the bridge from short film to feature film.  You have had several shorts in Sundance – how are things different with a feature premiere?

I have a lot more people behind me this time with a lot of support. And yet, I have so much more to do and accomplish before the festival surrounding the film. It’s been a full on sprint for about 3 months now.

 

Premature - Rashaad Ernesto Green
Premature (2008)

Where did the story of GUN HILL ROAD start for you?  What inspired the screenplay?

Gun Hill Road was actually inspired by a family member who went through something similar as Enrique in the story. My entire family is from the Bronx, and I wanted to investigate another side of the borough than we are used to seeing.


How did your short film work prepare you for the feature film process? What was the most challenging part of making your feature that was different than how you approach your short film work?

Directing the feature was just like directing a short, but with more people, more time, and more toys. The most challenging difference was how little time I spent directing, and how much more I was responsible for lifting the morale of the cast and crew.


Sundance has played a major part of your short film experience over the years.  What does it mean to you to now bring your first feature to the festival?

Sundance has been like a filmmaking family for me. They really look out for filmmakers who have come through their ranks, and I’m deeply appreciative of that. I am humbled and honored to premiere my first feature in a place where so many wonderful films have had their start.


How did the success of your short films play a role in getting your feature film funded and produced?

Esai Morales in Gun Hill Road - Sundance 2011
Gun Hill Road (2011)
(pictured:  Harmony Santana, Esai Morales)

The success of the shorts played a substantial role in getting noticed. I would have never have been trusted to direct a feature if I didn’t have the shorts under my belt.


Any advice for fellow directors who are in the process of the transition from short to feature?

Don’t rush. Get very comfortable in the medium before taking the leap. Shoot as many shorts as you can. Once you’re comfortable and get in the groove, it’s like riding a bike. You’ll be smooth sailing.




Rashaad E. Green on the set of GUN HILL ROAD

Rashaad Ernesto Green on set of Gun Hill Road


Gun Hill Road World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival

Monday, January 24                                
Library Center Theatre
5:30 pm

Full Screening Schedule

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Jan 20, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post

Meet The Filmmakers – November 2010

HOLLYWOOD SHORTS - Monthly screenings

meet the filmmakers

edition 13.2







learn more about the filmmakers you outta know

Meet these filmmakers and see their work at

Allison Craig

BARKO
 www.allisoncraig.com

Allison Craig - Director/Animator

Allison is an alum of Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio where she majored in traditional animation.  She has an animator’s dream gig, working fulltime at Titmouse, Inc. in LA. She has extensive experience in every aspect of animation, from storyboarding to character design.  Allison then moved to Boston, where ‘boarded and animated on children’s television shows.

After moving to LA, she joined the Prynoski’s indie ‘toon shop, where she has worked on Metalocalypse (AdultSwim), Guitar Hero and a ton of other A-list animated productions. She is now working more as a director, most recently directing the animation for the Scott Pilgrim vs. The Animation ‘toon (Adult Swim) produced by Titmouse, Inc.

BARKO was produced in house at Titmouse as part of their Short Film Initiative – providing extensive support and resources for their staffers to grow their directing chops. This is the 3rd short film from the division, and it is tearing up the festival circuit.


Andrew Wilding

PIANO MAN
 www.andrewwilding.com

ANDREW WILDING www.andrewwilding.com

Andrew is a rare breed – he was born and raised in Los Angeles and spend a good part of his youth pursuing a career as a musician, both writing and recording.  He was inspired to begin shooting photos by a local music photographer who was covering his band on stage, and he quickly moved into the visual arts.

“I want to make work that moves you at the very core, … through creating momenta of absolute truth and humanity”. Andrew’s photography lead him naturally to working with moving images and cinematography.  Now he is makes the leap into narrative film directing.  His short film PIANO MAN is a testament to his visual and storytelling objectives; it is simultaneously wicked funny and starkly beautiful.    Adam is currently writing his first feature script and is just wrapping up a music video shoot in NYC.


Sean Gannet

DOTTIE’S THANKSGIVING PICKLE
www.seangannet.com

SEAN GANNET - Filmmaker www.seangannet.comSean Gannet was born to drive slow, dance fast, and make movies.  He joins us on Sunday literally moments after wrapping production on a new feature film.  He also just completed production on the short film “The Poets” written by Lori Fischer, starring Susan Louise O’Connor & Jeff Hiller.  This year he also Line Produced the epic TED Prize MissionBlue Conference in the Galapagos Islands.  Sean clearly loves the short format – he also has a pretty rockin’ musical THE ONE THAT I WANT – also produces as part of RIPFEST Collaborative Film Project.

Sean was the Associate Producer of Mike Myers’ THE LOVE GURU and worked on the Shrek franchise during his three years at Myer’s Nomoneyfun.  He has also staffed Tribeca Film Festival, the IFP Market and other NYC film shindigs.  In addition to his propensity for writing and directing, Sean is a road-trip enthusiast, celebrated turkey chili chef, and lauded amateur dancer for whom crowds of strangers have oft circled-up to watch him shake it.  Sean is based in Brooklyn and is a Northwestern film school alum.


M. Keegan Uhl

WAIT FOR ME

M. Keegan Uhl - FilmmakerKeegan was born in Madison, Wisconsin but quickly moved to Boston where he spent most of his young life. He was introduced to film in high school via the local access TV station where he created his first critical success: a regional champion video in the National History Day competition. Yes, he is a nerd. He received his BFA from Middlebury College in Vermont in 2001. There he enjoyed a liberal arts education, was awarded the David I. Goldman Prize for Excellence in Film and developed a love for Hitchcock and surrealism in film.

He was a full time editor of award-winning educational programming for three years in Boston. In 2007 he moved to Los Angeles with his wife Martha and their cairn terrier Buzz Lightyear to pursue a directing career. He attended the Los Angeles Film School where he was nominated for the 2008 ASC student cinematographer awards and schooled in the ways of Hollywood.

Also an avid and award-winning photographer, Keegan is inspired by the inherent beauty of our world and driven by a quest for TRUTH in all its forms. He believes the greatest films push the medium to its full potential to tell compelling stories and create a unique experience that teaches, inspires and entertains.Keegan recharges with backpacking trips in the Eastern Sierra, and is an elite ultimate frisbee player and the captain of a top level team based in L.A.

George Hickenlooper   (May 25, 1963 – October 29, 2010)

SOME FOLKS CALL IT A SLING BLADE 25 minutes   –  1994

FESTIVALS:  Sundance, New York, Locarno  WINNER:  Aspen Shortsfest,  San Sebastian, Aspect Short, Vila Do Conde, USA, Chicago Int’l

George Hickenlooper (1963-2010)So much to say about George, and yet words seem so deficient.  This short film was a collaboration between Billy Bob Thornton and George, born from a character study Billy Bob developed as part of his 1986 one-man play “Swine Before Pearls”.  George and Billy Bob first worked together on George’s feature “Ghost Brigade”, then George came on to direct Billy Bob’s short script.  The film was shot in three days in a Simi Valley hospital that was the location of “Terminator 2”.   Billy Bob went on to win the Academy Award for Best Screenplay for the feature version of Karl’s story, which he also directed and starred in.  Watching the short film navigate the process from short fest programs to Academy Award Winning Feature was a gamechanger for me personally.  The power of this film changed the way I thought of shorts, and their place in my own life and filmmaking career.  I started HOLLYWOOD SHORTS the next year.

George’s film career, cut so brutally mid-sentence, includes an incredible body of feature films, short films and documentaries.  George was enjoying one of the those magical years we all dream off – his “Casino Jack” starring Kevin Spacey  World Premiere at Toronto, with a distro deal secured, great reviews for Spacey growing from screening to screening.  More great news about the film buzzing about as the film lands screenings at Doha, and Austin, locking an LA premiere at AFI and then… Denver.

I can think of no better way to say good bye to a storyteller I truly respected, and always considered a Really Nice Guy, than to remember the first time I saw his name on the screen and the 25 minutes that ensured  I would never forget it.

See ya later, George. Thank you.




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Nov 19, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post