NY LOVES FILM ROUNDTABLE
Friday, July 15, 2016 – 2:00 – 2:45 pm in the Filmmakers Lounge – 228 Pettit Avenue, Bellmore, NY 11710. Please be sure to get a ticket, as space will be limited – limit is 25.
Meet the team from the New York State Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development for a roundtable discussion of all things productive in New York State – tax credits, location scouting, finding stages and crew, and more. Whether you’re a first time filmmaker wondering where to start or a veteran producer looking to catch up on the latest, this informal face-to-face Q&A is an invaluable opportunity to Meet Team NY and hear firsthand about all the great things New York State has to offer.
MEET THE FILM FESTIVAL DIRECTORS!
Saturday, July 16, 2016 – 10:30 am – 11:30 AM
Moderated by Katha Cato
Here are what festivals love, and…don’t love about your submissions. Ask questions from your favorite fest directors:
- SOHO Film Festival – Sibyl Santiago
- Queens World Film Festival – Don Cato
- Long Island International Film Expo – Debra Markowitz
- Golden Door Film Festival – Michele Sorvino
- Big Apple Film Festival – Jonathan Lipp
- Williamsburg Independent Film Festival – Peter Bloch
- Others may be added
FREE – In the LIIFE Filmmakers Lounge
(directly West of the Bellmore Movies)
Katha Cato
Katha earned a BA from California Polytechnic University in Pomona, an MFA from the University of Oregon and is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Business Executive Education Program. In the 80’s, she moved to New York with her theatre company ‘Forplay Improvised Theatre’ and pioneered the Improvisational Herald format (the long form) into the NY Improv Comedy scene. Katha won a MAC Award (Manhattan Association of Cabarets) for Best Comedy, and two Backstage Magazine Bistro Awards for Best Director and Best Comedy and the NY Post’s Bill Ervolino named her one of the year’s Most Exciting Improvisers. For many years Katha served as the Director of After-School and Camp Services at the historic Henry Street Settlement. During her tenure she was recognized by NY State Education for exemplary After-School Programming and she received the 2014 PASEsetter Award for her years of leadership in the field. Katha has spent over thirty years developing youth and bringing people together via theatre arts, film and video.
Sibyl Santiago
PRODUCER. ACTOR. FILMMAKER
Member, AEA & SAG
For over 30 years, Sibyl has been involved in film, television and stage production both in the US and Asia. As president of Sitting Cat Productions, Sibylhas several films slated to release in 2016 including the feature “SAM” with Executive Producer Mel Brooks, written and directed by Nicholas Brooks. Having successfully tackled roles ranging from talent management to producing and directing, Sibyl knows firsthand what it takes to bring a story from script to screen.
A recent recipient of The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York, Arts & Culture Award at Carnegie Hall, Sibyl remains an active member of both SAG-AFTRA and Actor’s Equity, and has appeared in several film, television, and Off-Broadway productions in NYC. She trained with the Philippine Educational Theater Association, and has performed in several high profile companies including La Mama, May-I Theater and INTAR’s “Night Over Taos”, directed by Academy award-winning actress Estelle Parsons.
Sibyl currently serves as Executive Director and Head of Programming for the SOHO International Film Festival.
Don Cato
QWFF Artistic Director Don Cato is an experimental and feature filmmaker with a strong academic background, a BS and BLA in Landscape Architecture from Michigan State and an MLA from the University of Oregon where he also studied extensively in the department of Motion Graphics. His films have screened at an international and eclectic group of venues and festivals: Anthology Film Archives, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Lincoln Center, the Dylan Thomas Center in Wales (Best Feature for Be My Oswald in 2006), RealHeART Toronto Film Festival (Best in Venue for Be My Oswald in 2007) and Everglades Film Festival, South Africa. He was the Director of the Eugene Filmmakers Cinematique for 4 years while he distributed films from China and in 1978 he was one of the first western filmmakers allowed into China to create an immersion documentary: China: Behind Silk Curtains. Dixie Lanes, a feature film starring Karen Black, Hoyt Axton & Moses Gunn released in over 40 countries in 1989, is now a Turner Classic Movie. Most recently, in 2013 the short My Kansas which he co-directed and co-produced had a respectable festival run with wins for directing. My Day on which he was the Director of Cinematography, Editor, Sound Designer & Co-Producer brought home several Best Actress awards for Judith Roberts & several Best Short awards in both 2013 and 2014. Currently Don teaches at the New York Digital Film Academy and the Buckley School and he is the driving force behind our Young FIlmmakers Programs.
Debra Markowitz
Debra has been on every side of the film industry from creating the Nassau County Film Commission in 1988 where she helped grow and develop the film/tv and video industry to where it is today, second only to NYC in production days in New York State. She joined the Long Island Film/TV Foundation in 1997 and was one of the founders of LIIFE – the Long Island International Film Expo 19 years ago. She’s worked in the film industry as producer and casting director and directed and wrote her own films, The Last Taxi Driver,Leaving and By Blood which have garnered her Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay awards. She recently directed and produced short film, Chosen, starring Cathy Moriarty and Arash Mokhtar for writer/producer Shari Umansky. Current projects include casting/producing pilot, Shoot Me Nicely, for Elias Plagianos, development and fundraising for web series, Couple of Guys, writing horror feature, Far Beyond Driven for producer John Heurer, One Day at Christmas for Michael Fedele, and completing her own screenplays for Porter’s Way, Damaged, but Not Broken, Hurting Places and Back to You. She is also the author of the Karmic Wind Trilogy. www.IntentionFilmsandMedia.com
Michele Sorvino
Michele Sorvino is the Executive Director of Golden Door International Film Festival since 2014. She is also the proud mother of two children, Sofia and Luca, and wife of well-known actor Bill Sorvino who founded Golden Door International Film Festival and sits as board president.
In November 2015 Michele was signed to host the TV talk show Inside Hollywood on the Hudson for local access cable. It has since been picked up to air twice a week and is in talks for distribution on a global platform. Michele tirelessly advocates for children on the spectrum. In 2014 GDIFF expanded its philanthropic branch to raising awareness for autism via filmmaking. Her work as festival director, advocate and for autism, and instituting a scholarship foundation for underserved Jersey City students garnered her accolades as NJ Women of the Year in 2016 by the Italian American Police Society, Italian American Woman of the Year of Jersey City 2016, Women of Distinction of Hudson County 2016. Michele and Bill were recognized by several media publications including Hudson Reporter 2016 Power List #18 Movers and Shakers, 2015 Alston Chronicles 75 most influential, NJ stage Magazine #1 Film Festival in NJ and the prestigious film website Fandango for “support of Autism as a cause and an art”.
Jonathan Lipp
FILM FINANCING/DISTRIBUTION PANEL
Saturday, July 16 • 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m.
“Hear Industry Professionals Discuss the Current State of Independent Film Financing and Distribution”
Moderated by Marc Jacobson, Marc Jacobson, P.C.
Filmmakers Lounge – FREE
(Directly West of the Bellmore Movies)
Marc Jacobson
Marc Jacobson grew up in a household surrounded by entertainment industry professionals. In law school, he determined early on that entertainment law could be a fertile ground for his future. As Founding Chairman of the New York State Bar Association Section on Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law, Marc developed a broad business and legal background and built his unique practice by focusing on two passions: film and music. Today, while still handling sophisticated music publishing and recording transactions, Marc also handles all legal aspects of filmed entertainment for films like “Conviction” (2010) with Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell, “Texasville” (1990) with Jeff Bridges and Cybill Shepherd and “All’s Fair” (1989) with George Segal and Sally Kellerman. He is currently Production Counsel to the forthcoming “Back In The Day,” “Inversion,” “Alex and Emmy,” “The Enigma of Benito Cereno” and is Executive Producer and Production Counsel for “Leaves of the Tree” and “Confidence Game.” As an Executive Producer, he helped create films like “Junction” (2013), and “The Last Film Festival,” Dennis Hopper’s last live action movie.
Vincent Butta
As President of Solaris Entertainment the company produced “Tumbleweeds” (Winner of Sundance Film Festival and two Golden Globe awards, and one Oscar nomination.) 2005 “Miracle” about the 1980 US Olympic team with Disney, 2007 “Pride and Glory” with Colin Farrell, Jon Voight and Ed Norton and in 2010 “Warrior” which featured Tom Hardy and Nick Nolte. “Warrior” had a best-supporting actor and Oscar nomination for Nick Nolte.
Vincent is currently the producer and in production with “UNTOT” starring Hayden Christensen.
In addition, as managing partner of Crimson Films he executive produced the 2005 cult-hit “Malevolence”, its 2009 sequel “Bereavement”, as well as the horror star, studded cult-hit comedy “Brutal Massacre”.
As an actor, Vincent Played the supporting role of “Dan Seigel” in the Edward Burns/Vincent Rubino 2005 film (winner of the Hamptons Film festival), “The Breakup Artist.”
Vincent also has Broadway credits as the producer of the Musical “Himself and Nora” about the life and loves of writer James Joyce and is the lead producer of the musical “Dean And Me A Love Story” which is the authentic and real story of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. Vincent Butta has hosted and produced TV projects, two food and travel series on television called “Authentic Greece”, and “Authentic Sicily” as well as having a starring role in the ABC’s prime time show called “My Kind of Town”.
Vincent is the producer of a new TV series for the CW called “Malibu Clout”
In addition, he was the winner of the 1980 young comedians show for NBC.
Jim Jermanok
Jim Jermanok is an award-winning writer, director and producer, creative success expert, consultant and speaker. Jim wrote and produced the sophisticated romantic comedy, “Passionada,” which was released by Columbia Tri Star in over 150 countries. His latest film “Em” recently won the Grand Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival and the Criterion International Inspiration Award. It was released last year by Vanguard Cinema and SnagFilms. He is also active in theater, TV and New Media. Jermanok is a former ICM Agent who helped to represent Arthur Miller, Shirley MacLaine, Dudley Moore, Helen Hayes, Alan Arkin and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, among others. Jim also speaks and conducts workshops worldwide on the subject of his upcoming book, BEYOND THE CRAFT: What You Need to Know to Make A Living Creatively, as well as Successful Film Producing and Financing and The Art and Business of Screenwriting.
Chris Bongirne
Chris Bongirne (Producer) began his filmmaking career as a story editor with New Line Cinema (Nightmare on Elm Street). Since then, Chris has worked in all avenues of film production. In the indie arena, he recently assisted Madonna in her directorial debut, W.E., as production supervisor. He has produced the well received, MULTIPLE SARCASMS, with Mira Sorvino and Timothy Hutton; BLACKOUT with Jeffrey Wright and Zoe Saldana; THE TENANTS, based on the Bernard Malamud novel, with Dylan McDermott and Snoop Dogg as well as the ensemble drama, ORDINARY SINNER, starring Elizabeth Banks.
Major studio work includes I AM LEGEND (Warner Bros) as production supervisor and co-producing the ultimate big wave surfing flick, IN GOD’S HANDS (Sony Pictures).
His recent television work includes working with PBS and Ken Burns on THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE film and with Ric Burns on DEATH AND THE CIVIL WAR and INTO THE DEEP.
He is a graduate of New York University Tisch School of the Arts and finished at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles.
ASK A LAWYER
Saturday, July 16 • 1:45 pm – 3:00 p.m.
Entertainment attorneys Marc Jacobson and Michael Prywes will answer your questions about
- Life story rights – Michael Prywes – “A Movie Based on Real Life? What Could Go Wrong?” If you’re producing a narrative or documentary film about real people and events, an understanding of legalities and practicalities can help you avoid potential pitfalls or lawsuits.
- Music rights – Everything you need to know about music in your movies.
- Ask the entertainment attorney’s any topic on which you have a question.
Filmmakers Lounge – FREE
(Directly West of the Bellmore Movies)
Marc Jacobson
Marc Jacobson grew up in a household surrounded by entertainment industry professionals. In law school, he determined early on that entertainment law could be a fertile ground for his future. As Founding Chairman of the New York State Bar Association Section on Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law, Marc developed a broad business and legal background and built his unique practice by focusing on two passions: film and music. Today, while still handling sophisticated music publishing and recording transactions, Marc also handles all legal aspects of filmed entertainment for films like “Conviction” (2010) with Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell, “Texasville” (1990) with Jeff Bridges and Cybill Shepherd and “All’s Fair” (1989) with George Segal and Sally Kellerman. He is currently Production Counsel to the forthcoming “Back In The Day,” “Inversion,” “Alex and Emmy,” “The Enigma of Benito Cereno” and is Executive Producer and Production Counsel for “Leaves of the Tree” and “Confidence Game.” As an Executive Producer he helped create films like “Junction” (2013), and “The Last Film Festival,” Dennis Hopper’s last live action movie.
Michael Prywes
Michael Prywes is managing attorney of Prywes, PC, a law firm devoted to artists and entrepreneurs. A number of his clients are and have been filmmakers and video producers. Michael is a former entertainment producer and has worked in the fields of film, music, television, and digital entertainment. While a student at Northwestern University in the mid 1990s, Michael founded the still-thriving Jewish Theatre Ensemble. Michael’s debut feature film “Returning Mickey Stern” won “Best First Feature” at the LIIFE in 2002, before receiving international and domestic theatrical, television, and DVD distribution.
THE INSIDE DOPE ON DAYTIME SOAPS
Saturday, July 16th • 3:30pm – 4:15pm
Moderated by Marilyn Chris
MARILYN CHRIS appeared as Wanda Wolek on “One Life To Live” for twenty years and remains friends with many of her fellow cast members. Come and hear what she has to say about her 20 year experience and all the behind the scenes action we the viewer are never aware of. Other soap actors maybe be on panel – TBA
Filmmakers Lounge – FREE
(Directly West of the Bellmore Movies)
Marilyn Chris
also featuring Ilene Kristen of General Hospital and Gary Donatelli
Marilyn’s Broadway experience includes work in Neil Simon’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and in Tom O’Horgan’s “Lenny”. A member of the famed Living Theatre, both in NY and in Europe, she also appeared extensively with the Chelsea Theatre Center. She’s the recipient of Obie, Outer Critics’ Circle, Drama Desk, Variety Critics Poll Awards. Some of her filmography includes “Love With A Proper Stranger”, “Honeymoon Killers”, “Rhinoceros”, and “Trees Lounge.” In addition, her TV credits include: TV: “Law & Order”, “Oz”, “3rd Watch” and “Kaddish” but her most famous role was that of Wanda Wolek on “One Life To Live”. Marilyn played the role of Wanda for twenty years.
Marilyn currently lives in North Shore Towers in Floral Park and, with her actor husband Lee Wallace and is co-producer of the Short Film Festival @ North Shore Towers Cinema.
Ilene Kristen
A native New Yorker, Ilene is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Delia Ryan on Ryan’s Hope, and her ten-year stint as the gambling, beer-guzzling and always-inappropriate hairdresser Roxy Balsom on One Life to Live, for which she received two Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actress. Ilene portrayed the dees, dems and does broad Norma Gilpin on Loving and wannabe socialite Madeleine Thompson on Another World. Currently she reprised the role of Delia Ryan in a character crossover on General Hospital
Ilene made her Broadway debut as a dancer in Henry, Sweet Henry. She originated the role of Patty Simcox in Grease and portrayed the infamous Leona Helmsley in Mayor. Off-Broadway shows include Acts of Providence, All That Glitters, Light Up the Sky, The Dolphin Position, Cowboy, and Trust. She also appeared in The Gig at Goodspeed and Marvin’s Room at the Helen Hayes in Nyack. She was also Aunt Toniann in My Big Gay Italian Wedding at the St. Lukes Theatre. An Ensemble Studio Theater member since 1984, Ilene has performed in five of their Marathon of One-Act Plays including Saxophone Music, Naomi in the Livingroom, Cosmo’s in Love, Degas, C’est Moi, A Dead Man’s Apartment and the comedy revue Strange Behavior. Ilene will be performing in the play The Gorges Motel in the NYC Fringe Festival this fall.
Ilene was featured in the films Preacherman, Tinseltown, Signs of the Cross, Mattie Fresno and the Holoflux Universe, Luscious, Knock, Knock, and Manhattanites. Night time TV sightings include Deception, Unforgettable, HBO’s Show Me A Hero, Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, The Good Policeman, Third Watch, The Sopranos, Family, and The Black Donnellys. Ilene is currently in 4 internet series :Pride, Tainted Dreams , The Bay and Reality Sets In.
In addition to a full-time performing career, Ilene co-founded The Jean Renoir Cinema, a film theatre showing independent and foreign films. While affiliated there, she produced the award-winning short The Aftermath. In 1997 she was a producer of the feature Angels with Angles, starring Frank Gorshin and Rodney Dangerfield. As a songwriter, Ilene has penned album cuts for teenage phenom Kaitlyn Lusk and jazz guitarist Chuck Loeb, as well as producing for the label Tuxedo Records. A regular on the club circuit, Ilene has recently released her first CD of her own original songs titled “I’m Not Done With U Yet!
Gary Donatelli
Gary Donatelli is a 7 time Emmy Award winning Director and Producer. Early in his career as a cameraman he won 4 Emmy awards for his work with ABC Sports. At that time, he also covered major news events for ABC News, such as presidential inaugurations and space shuttle events. As his career progressed, he rose from shooter to technical director and, finally, to a director of daytime dramas:Loving, Another World, One Life to Live, General Hospital and The Bold & The Beautiful, resulting in over 1,000 cumulative hours of broadcasted work in that genre. He is very excited to be on the panel with Ilene Kristen and Marilyn Chris having directed both of them.
Gary was recently a Producer on his first feature film, 23 Blast,winner of the Audience Choice Award at the Heartland Film Festival and a slot on Netflix. Gary was a Vice President of the Directors Guild of America for many years and is presently an Alternate to the National Board. Current work includes the documentary Clearing Larry Floyd (http://clearinglarryfloyd.org/).
PANEL AND FILMMAKERS BREAKFAST
Sunday, July 17 • 10:30 a.m. – Noon
“The Good, the Bad and the Horror Stories: The Perils of Independent Filmmaking.”
Moderated by Mitchell Bard, Snapper Films
Filmmakers Lounge – $5.00 for breakfast and panel.
Participating filmmakers, gold pass holders and platinum pass holders are free.
Mitchell Bard
Mitchell Bard is a writer, producer and director who has also served as the head of acquisitions for Film Threat DVD and director of development for Snapper Films, for whom he continues to consult. His feature film debut as a director, “Mergers & Acquisitions,” played 12 film festivals (including opening night at the Long Island International Film Expo) and was distributed in North America by Go-Kart Films. Mitchell has been hired to write, adapt and rewrite screenplays for various production companies, and has directed and produced a range of projects, including features, short films, music videos and corporate work.
“WRITE STUFF” – PANEL ON SCRIPTWRITING
Sunday, July 17 • 12:15 – 1:00 p.m.
Moderated by Mitchell Bard, Snapper Films.
Everyone enjoys a good story. Now you can meet the people who write them. Sit back, relax, and get ready for a shot of inspiration and encouragement. Whether you are a fan who wants to know where writers get their ideas from or a writer trying to break in to the business, this panel and question-and-answer session will give you some insight into the mind of the writer.
Filmmakers Lounge – FREE
(Directly West of the Bellmore Movies)
Mitchell Bard
Mitchell Bard is a writer, producer and director who has also served as the head of acquisitions for Film Threat DVD and director of development for Snapper Films, for whom he continues to consult. His feature film debut as a director, “Mergers & Acquisitions,” played 12 film festivals (including opening night at the Long Island International Film Expo) and was distributed in North America by Go-Kart Films. Mitchell has been hired to write, adapt and rewrite screenplays for various production companies, and has directed and produced a range of projects, including features, short films, music videos and corporate work.
Loren-Paul Caplin
Loren-Paul Caplin is a screenwriter, director, playwright, and composer-lyricist
who teaches screenwriting at Columbia University, The Tisch Department of Dramatic Writing at NYU and The New School. He has written film scripts for studios such as Paramount, Columbia, Orion, and TriStar, as well as numerous independents; has had plays produced in New York City and across the country; and has had numerous poems published in publications like The Paris Review and Rolling Stone. Loren’s feature film The Lucky Ones, which he wrote and directed, had its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival. Loren’s television pilot “Watching the Detectives” was chosen by the WGA East for a live reading at Lincoln Center, one of only two pilots (and the only drama pilot) chosen for this prestigious event in 2015.
ALTERNATIVE FILM FINANCING AND THE INDIE THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION MODEL BY CHOICE FILMS
Sunday, July 17 • 1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Moderated by: Tony Glazer and Summer Crockett Moore – www.choicefilms.com
Learn how to use an Alternative Film Financing Model to protect your investor’s money and achieve a higher ROI while still utilizing Section 181 and State Tax incentives. Also join the discussion re: The Indie Theatrical Distribution Model / A New Frontier for Indie Film Releasing or how to have your film in theaters beyond the film festival marketplace. Learn about different release windows, on different platforms, and how to plan a release roll-out if you don’t have a studio distributor as a partner.
Filmmakers Lounge – FREE
(Directly West of the Bellmore Movies)
Summer Crockett Moore
Summer Crockett Moore is an award-winning actress/producer and a Managing Partner and founding member of Choice Films & Choice Theatricals. As a producer, she has helmed award-winning independent feature length and short films, Off-Broadway and off-off Broadway theater productions and multi-media projects, and chaired an annual Celebrity Awards Gala Saluting NY Theatre and Film. Projects include the Off-Broadway world premieres of Scrambled Eggs, Reading Under the Influence, Stain and In The Daylight, as well as the regional / world premiere of the new play, American Stare. Film projects include: Junction, Trust Me I’m A Lifeguard, These Things We Hold, A Younger Man, and the recently wrapped feature comedy Lost Cat Corona. Summer’s upcoming film projects include: American Stare, The Alternative and Miss Liberty.
Other New York theatre Off-Off Broadway producing credits include: Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, by Alan Ball, Between the Lines, TUNE iN at Caroline’s On Broadway, Love Angst & the Way In, the From Stage to Screen Workshop Series entitled Looking for Limerance, and the world premiere of a new multi-media adaptation of Strindberg’s Playing With Fire at NYC’s famous burlesque club The Box. Summer served as a Managing Member and as a Member of the Board of Directors for The Private Theatre from 2011-2013 and also served as the President of the Board of Directors at T. Schreiber Studio from 2009-2013 before stepping down as Chairperson to continue serving as a regular Board Member.
Summer can be seen and heard in various national and international television and radio commercial spots (over 650 in her commercial career) as well as in recurring roles in television shows and in feature films. She also voices multiple characters in several cartoon series.
Tony Glazer
Tony Glazer is an award-winning writer, director and producer, and a Managing Partner of Choice Studios Group. Tony’s plays have been produced in New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, England and Canada. As a lead Producer, he just wrapped post-production on the star-studded feature film Lost Cat Corona, coming to theaters fall 2016 and as a Director, he just completed principal photography on the feature film After The Sun Fell, which is now in post. Glazer’s multi-award-winning feature film, Junction, which he wrote and directed, won 17 major film festival awards around the country before a national release and international theatrical release (under the name Hostage). He was the director of the short Trust Me I’m a Lifeguard which premiered at the 2014 TriBeCa Film Festival and the writer/director of These Things We Hold which premiered at the 2015 Soho Int’l Film Festival. Other films in development include: Miss Liberty, The Alternative and American Stare. Glazer’s short stories Single White Mammal and Buster won dual prizes in Writer’s Digest’s Best Short Story Competition and were published in Writer’s Digest’s 2006 Competition Collection.
Glazer’s stage plays include Stain, and Safe (both published by Samuel French), American Stare, The Substance of Bliss, In The Daylight, and Reading Under the Influence. The Substance of Bliss, which won the L. Arnold Weissberger Award at The Williamstown Theatre Festival, is currently having a World Premiere at NJ Rep. Reading Under the Influence completed an extended Off-Broadway run at Union Square’s DR2 Theatre in New York City in 2011. Stain premiered Off-Broadway at The Kirk Theater on Theater Row. Safe originally premiered at the Jose Quintero Theatre in New York. In the Daylight, premiered Off-Broadway in fall 2009 at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre and two monologues from this play were selected for publication in the 2010 Best Women’s Monologues Compilation published by Smith and Kraus. Glazer’s short play Lines has also been published in the Best 10-Minute Plays 2012 edition. American Stare completed a successful 2012 summer run at the New Jersey Repertory Company and is in development for a NYC transfer. Glazer serves on the Advisory Council of the T. Schreiber Studio where he directed a production of Better Living which received three NYIT (New York Innovative Theater) Award Nominations for excellence. Recent television directing credits include 16 episodes during Season 2 & 3 for the ID Discovery series REDRUM. Tony received his BFA in Acting from Boston University and studied acting with Maggie Flanigan. Find Tony online at www.tonyglazer.com.
DIRECTORS AUDITION PANEL
Tuesday July 19, 2016 11:00 am – 1:30 pm
Have a chance to read for 5 Working Directors for free!! They may or may not have a project now, but they will! You have 10 minutes to leave a resume/headshot and impress! MUST have a spot secured to attend – save your space here (COMING SOON) – Bring two short sides of your choice, or a short monologue.
Filmmakers Lounge – FREE
(Directly West of the Bellmore Movies)
Elke Blasi
Elke Blasi is a writer, producer and director from New York whose credits include the feature length supernatural thriller “*69,” which is currently being distributed in theaters and through VOD overseas, and the 80’s-style horror feature “Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet,” which was distributed by Lionsgate films. Currently in development through her production company ElkTrack films is “Ladies and Gentlemen,” a romantic dramedy exploring the double standards between men and women. Her company is also in talks to co-produce the horror comedy Evil Nature with producer Gil Adler (Constantine, Valkyrie.)
Stevan Mena
Stevan has been compared to directing icons John Carpenter and Sam Raimi, and is being hailed as one of the top up and coming horror directors to watch. Stevan’s much heralded debut feature, Malevolence (2005), was truly a remarkable achievement. Shot on 35mm on a shoestring budget, with the actor’s and crew all taking deferred payments, Stevan wrote, produced, directed, edited and even composed the score for Malevolence. When the film was completed, distributors estimated its production cost at 1.5 to 2 million. Discovering the budget was under $200,000 shocked many in the industry.
Malevolence went on to win several Film Festivals, including best feature at the Long Island International Film Expo, and Best Feature at the NYC Horror Film Festival. It was awarded best screenplay at the 2004 internet choice awards, and was listed on numerous “best horror film of the year” lists. One of the highest selling DVD rollouts in Anchor Bay Entertainment’s history of 3500 titles.
His feature film, the award-winning Bereavement, was a bold departure from the standard cliché ridden horror film, offering genuine scares and shocks. With a bigger budget and stellar performances from Genre Veterans like Michael Biehn and John Savage, to rising stars such as Alexandra Daddario (Percy Jackson, Texas Chainsaw 3d, Baywatch) and Peyton List (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2, Jessie) and Brett Rickaby (The Crazies). Stevan has also directed a comedy called Brutal Massacre, starring Gerry Bednob, David Naughton and Brian O’Halloran, and several episodes of the supernatural series School Spirits for NBC Universal.
While Stevan is mostly known for his work in film, he has always considered himself a writer first, and in 2015 had his first novel, Transience, published through Goldmann books. Stevan is currently working on his second novel, and also prepping the third film in his Malevolence trilogy. Stevan resides in Long Island, NY.
Debra Markowitz
Debra has been on every side of the film industry from creating the Nassau County Film Commission in 1988 where she helped grow and develop the film/tv and video industry to where it is today, second only to NYC in production days in New York State. She joined the Long Island Film/TV Foundation in 1997 and was one of the founders of LIIFE – the Long Island International Film Expo 19 years ago. She’s worked in the film industry as producer and casting director and directed and wrote her own films, The Last Taxi Driver, Leaving and By Blood which have garnered her Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay awards. She recently directed and produced short film, Chosen, starring Cathy Moriarty and Arash Mokhtar for writer/producer Shari Umansky. Current projects include casting/producing pilot, Shoot Me Nicely, for Elias Plagianos, development and fundraising for web series, Couple of Guys, writing horror feature, Far Beyond Driven for producer John Heurer, One Day at Christmas for Michael Fedele, and completing her own screenplays for Porter’s Way, Damaged, but Not Broken, Hurting Places and Back to You. She is also the author of the Karmic Wind Trilogy. www.IntentionFilmsandMedia.com
Fred Carpenter
FRED CARPENTER is a Graduate of Stony Brook University and then went on to work in Sales at United Artist and Publicity at Paramount Pictures. Fred worked with Sly Stallone, John Travolta, the Cast of Star Trek and Director James Toback to name a few. Fred has directed 18 Independent Films all here on Long Island and Produced 21 Indie Films. Fred’s films have gotten Distribution Deals with Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, HBO, SHOWTIME, The Movie Channel, Verizon, United Artists, Multi Com Entertainment, Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cox Entertainment, Walmart and Red Box to name a few. Fred has Directed ARMAND ASSANTE, GARY BURGHOFF, MICHAEL WRIGHT, WINGS HAUSER, Rapper CRAIG MACK, ERIC ROBERTS, ROBERT CLOHESSY, JASON MILLER, SEAN YOUNG, TONY LoBIANCO, GIANNI RUSSO, WILLIAM FORSYHE and ROBERT FUNARO.
Joey MHz
Joey MHz is the founder and CEO of MHz Media Group.
Born in New York, Joey made his first attempt at directing movies as soon as he was old enough to use a video camera independently. While going to school in the evening and working for a computer firm during the day, Joey came across an article about Canon’s digital camera, the XL1, and it reignited his desire to make movies. Soon after researching digital cameras and filmmaking, Joey took on the name Joey MHz and filed papers creating his company, MHz Productions.
Joey took on the challenge of writing, producing, directing, and co-starring in his first film THE ADVERSARY, a supernatural thriller set in modern day New York. In 2003 Joey shot his second film titled TRADITION. In addition to movies, Joey has directed music videos for artists and bands on a variety of genres, the latest being Dr. Hollywood’s pop/electronic hit “We Run LA.” Joey also directed the gospel video “I Believe” by recording artist Gary Samuels, which was nominated for best director in the 2009 Stella Awards and best director in the 2010 BET Music Awards. He filmed his short film, BIRR, this summer, and has been in negotiations to turn it into a series.
The primary strength of any company is in its management team. MHz’s principal, Joey MHz, has extensive experience in the entertainment industry. In addition, the company has relationships with key consultants and advisers who will be available to fill important roles on an as-needed basis.
He has shot films in Dubai and Japan also taught classes in Abu Dhabi. He started an European film company in Germany, and plans to branch out on Long Island, where they are currently looking for space.
Janice Villarosa
JANICE VILLAROSA, (Director/ Producer), born in the Philippines, is a dual citizen of the Philippines and the USA and currently spends her time between the two countries.
The desire to pursue filmmaking started when a very good friend of hers was sentenced to serve over 20 years in prison for something he did not do. She vowed from then on that she would find a way to be the voice for those oppressed, for the silent and gravitated towards social issues.
One of her short films is about domestic violence and sexual discrimination (Heaven’s Door). This film, aside from the other films she has produced dealing with social issues, were followed by “Shunned”, about the lives of transsexual women in the Philippines, and deals with gender discrimination. (www.shunned.info)
Shunned won numerous Best Documentary and Jury awards. Janice has directed: “Pagtuo (Faith)” [2011, 6 min.]; “Deep Water” [2011, 4 min.]; and produced: “Aether” [2011, 12 min], “Please” [2011, 9 min.], “My Friend Charlie Whight”, and “A Day in the Country”. “She is in pre-production for the feature film, “The Next Page”, (directed by Colombian brothers David and Francisco Salazar) of which is the Producer. Currently in production for the short film, “The Letter”.
She is in pre-production for the short horror film, “The Night Driver” (directed by Celso Ad Castillo’s son, Christopher Ad Castillo), of which she is the Producer. She is also collaborating with him on various feature films currently in development.
She is in production for a Philippine life style tv show.
She is in production for another transgender feature film.
She is in development for three other narrative feature films.