GigSpotting.Net: Writers Archives

My Name is Paul - The Feature

By Dan Thornton on March 12, 2013 9:15 AM | No Comments

The feature length version of My Name is Paul has completed filming and is now in post-production. Hopefully we will be able to see it sometime this year or next depending on how long the editing and scoring take. I've seen some the footage and the cinematography is excellent!

This project started with a screenplay by Vanessa Ore. A short was made and directed by her husband Trey Ore along with a sizable cast and crew. The short was very popular on the film festival circuit winning several awards including the Dove Family Appoved seal for ages 12+.

"The short was selected Globally into multiple Film Festivals on 4 continents and was the Short Film winner at Kingdomwood Film Festival, Films with Valor in Acapulco, Mexico and the Redemptive Film Festival in Virginia Beach, Virginia."

After showing the potential of the story, they have expanded it with the help of Tara Lynn Marcelle into a feature length movie. Also, after having shown the potential with the short film, they have brought in a team of investors to make sure they have the resources to do everything to the best of their ability with the feature. From what I've seen they have the footage to make it even better. Now it's up to the editors.

Continue reading My Name is Paul - The Feature.

Darren W. Conrad - An Officer and a Gentleman

By Dan Thornton on January 21, 2013 8:10 AM | No Comments

Darren has been an officer of the law since 1990 and a participant in the performing arts since the age of five. First playing drums and piano for talent shows then progressing to theatre for church and school, and eventually the school Jazz Band and a local pop band.

As a youngster he invented film roles for his friends to re-enact with him but put away these thoughts when his father died in an auto accident in 1989. Then he turned his attention to law enforcement. Only occasionally participating in movies for a couple of decades. He has been very active in films since 2010 including acting, writing, producing, and working in various crew positions. It seems to be in his blood; the passion he has for film and performing.

Continue reading Darren W. Conrad - An Officer and a Gentleman.

The Hollow Oak

By Dan Thornton on December 19, 2012 9:20 AM | No Comments

Chris Maney has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. To whom? The supporters, cast, and crew of The Hollow Oak a feature film set to be released this coming summer and they are behind him 100%.

It started as an idea he had in high school and has developed into the production that now has been underway for over a year. Along the way he met up with Samantha Katelyn and they have built a great filmmaking team that has their focus on the prize. To finish this thriller for release by the summer of next year.

"I held an audition in Jacksonville back in 2010. I wanted to make a movie for fun. Nothing fancy...
But I had met Samantha. She convinced me I could do so much more with The Hollow Oak. And we have been at it ever since." - Chris Maney

This production has come a long way since the first audition in 2010. Some roles have been re-cast and a lot of effort has been put forth in scouting locations, blocking scenes, setting up and tearing down equipment, not to mention the editing and sound design.

Continue reading The Hollow Oak.

The Strange and Unusual

By Dan Thornton on December 15, 2012 4:00 AM | No Comments

I can't wait to see this movie! The Strange and Unusual is a comedy about a reality series gone awry. Written and directed by Anil Dhokai and brought to us by VisionScape Media.

The Strange and Unusual has just begun filming. What will we see when it's complete? The cast and crew of a cancelled reality TV series with one last episode left to shoot. What goes on behind the scenes and the personalities that one might encounter in a similar television production. Anil, has worked in these situations and is bringing some of the strange and unusual things he's seen to this film.

One of the principals of Strawhouse Pictures, Anil always knows that his partners have his back and can help him put together the pieces of the puzzle for a great production just as he does for their films.

Continue reading The Strange and Unusual.

The Perfect Place

By Dan Thornton on December 4, 2012 8:50 AM | No Comments

There's a lot of talent here in the southeast. There's also some mighty big hearts in the Carolinas. A few of them are the producers, cast, and crew of The Perfect Place.

Written by Taylor-Grace Davis and Patrick Elliott the movie is inspired by Taylor-Grace's work with the Frederick Douglass Family Foundation. This organization, formed by Nettie Washington Douglass and her adult children, exists to carry on the tradition of her ancestors, Fredrick Douglass and Booker T. Washington. By creating awareness that slavery and human trafficking is still going on today, she and her family are following in their footsteps. Her son, Kenneth B. Morris, president of the foundation, travels the U.S. and abroad spreading the message about human trafficking and what can be done about it.

Continue reading The Perfect Place.

Things Are For Stealing

By Dan Thornton on November 19, 2012 10:15 AM | No Comments

Things Are For Stealing. Are they? That is the premise and title of Zachary Davenport's new movie which will be premiering this Wednesday in a private screening for the cast and crew.

"Trapped by a horrifying past, Marty struggles with day to day life. As a pastor in his community he realizes his impact on those around him but does little more than go through the motions of his position. Life has little meaning to him. He simply clings to things that seem to give him some memories of what might have been."

Zachary is a student at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington and is relatively new to filmmaking but from the looks of the footage I've seen he is well on his way to making a name for himself.

Continue reading Things Are For Stealing.

Hollywood East Mixer - Wilmington, NC

By Dan Thornton on October 15, 2012 8:00 AM | No Comments

There will be a mixer on November 8th for anyone working in the North Carolina film industry hosted by Karuna Sun and Jackson Ross. The event is sponsored by Hypnotized Promotions and will be at Club Karmaa in Wilmington where you will be able to meet others in the film business, network with them, and make new contacts.

$6 gets you in the door and after that food will be provided. Bring your business cards. You never know what kind of opportunities might arise and new friends can turn into future business. There will be a DJ and dancing on the second floor of Club Karmaa. The meet and greet is in the lounge on the third floor.

Continue reading Hollywood East Mixer - Wilmington, NC.

Tiger Lili - A Screenplay by Brandi Alyssa Young

By Dan Thornton on July 18, 2012 1:19 PM | No Comments

Tiger Lili is a new screenplay by Brandi Alyssa Young set to become a short film sometime next year. A story about a young woman named Lili Jackson who has endured domestic violence and how she emerges from her troubled past. Produced by Baystar Productions, filming will begin at the end of this year. They are still casting for the male lead and crew members.

Brandi is an accomplished actor and has several films to her credit as well as theatre, dance, and singing. See her credits at IMDb.com: Brandi Alyssa Young She was nominated for Best Performance in a Short Film - Young Actress at the Young Artist Awards in Los Angeles for her performance in Broken Pieces where she plays an autistic girl. Brandi also worked on the script and acted in The Silver Key co-written with her mother Sally Young and Patricia Raven.

I talked with Brandi this morning and here's what she had to say about the screenplay.

"It is a short about a girl who has been abused and she finally decides that enough is enough, and she is ultimately the one that can change things. She refuses to be meek and quiet any longer and is determined to make the negative into a positive. So, she makes a decision that sets her on a path that will eventually bring her to her destiny."

What was her inspiration? It seems that it came as an idea that was cast aside at a 48 Hour Film Project session. Writing it was a stream of consciousness, if you will, where everything came easily and time flew by..

"A few weeks ago, I was involved with the 48 Hour Film Project again. And this story came from a combination of ideas we had during the brainstorming session. The screenwriter decided on another path, but I couldn't stop thinking about everything. And I was so inspired, after being up for all that time, drove 3 hours home and I sat down and wrote half of it in 3 hours and then died from exhaustion, then first thing when I awoke wrote for another 3 hours and there was Tiger Lili! It just flowed out of me, one of the easiest stories I have ever written."

Continue reading Tiger Lili - A Screenplay by Brandi Alyssa Young.

SAG and AFTRA Have Merged

By Dan Thornton on March 31, 2012 6:52 AM | No Comments

Coco After Sag-Aftra Merger (Photo credit: Coco Mault)

Yesterday, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists merged. Now the SAG-AFTRA union represents more than 150 thousand movie and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA will have national offices in New York and Los Angeles as well as local offices nationwide.

Continue reading SAG and AFTRA Have Merged.

Tavis Smiley Interview with Michael Mann

By Dan Thornton on February 16, 2012 12:11 AM | No Comments

Michael Mann (Image byThbz via Wikipedia)

Tavis Smiley interviews writer, director, and producer Michael Mann about his new HBO series about horse racing called Luck that stars Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina, and Nick Nolte.

Some of the TV and films you may know Michael Mann for include Starsky and Hutch, Vega$, Miami Vice, The Last of the Mohicans, Ali, The Aviator, Public Enemies, and Texas Killing Fields.

Watch Writer-director-producer Michael Mann on PBS. See more from Tavis Smiley.

Tavis Smiley at PBS.org

Show Us The Way Film Contest

By Dan Thornton on February 10, 2012 12:36 AM | No Comments

Image by M62 via Wikipedia

Levi's, along with the American Film Institute is sponsoring a short film contest called Show Us The Way. In this contest you will submit your treatment for the film and if you are one of the six winning participants you will receive $5,000 to make the film and an additional $5,000 in Levi's wardrobe for the film. A mentor from the American Film Institute will also spend ten hours guiding you with their experience as filmmakers.

All six films will have the opportunity to be screened at the 2012 AFI Fest sponsored by Audi and each director will be flown to the event, all expenses paid, to present their vision.

All in all a nice bunch of perks to help you produce a five minute short film about a tomorrow that is better than today.

Checklist

Film should be no longer than five minutes.
Deadline for submission of film treatment: March 30th, 2012
Things to consider in completing your submission.

Where will you get equipment from?
Where will you get or how much money will go toward music license?
How many days will be spent shooting?
How will you safely approach production challenges (children, stunts, crowd scenes, etc...) if any?

You must be 18 years old or older.
Legal resident of the U.S. or Puerto Rico
Read the complete list of rules.
Submit your film plan.

Continue reading Show Us The Way Film Contest.

Virginia Screenwriting Competition

By Dan Thornton on February 3, 2012 12:43 PM | No Comments

English: A view of Apple Orchard Mountain from...

Apple Orchard Mountain in Virginia (Image by Gafoto via Wikipedia)

Submissions for the Virginia Screenwriting Competition will be accepted starting March 5th through May 25th. Open to residents of Virginia this competition is for screenplays that could possibly be filmed in the state of Virginia.

So if you have a screenplay you're working on or have finished and it is not in production yet keep these dates in mind and send in your submission.

Learn more about the competition at:

The Virginia Screenwriting Competition

2012 Oscar Nominations

By Dan Thornton on January 24, 2012 9:18 AM | No Comments

Image by User:Crowlei via Wikipedia

The nominations are in for the 84th Academy Awards.

Best Picture

The Artist Thomas Langmann, Producer
The Descendants Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Scott Rudin, Producer
The Help Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
Hugo Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
Midnight in Paris Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
Moneyball Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
The Tree of Life Nominees to be determined
War Horse Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

Actor In a Leading Role

Demián Bichir A Better Life
George Clooney The Descendants
Jean Dujardin The Artist
Gary Oldman Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt Moneyball

Actress In a Leading Role

Glenn Close Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis The Help
Rooney Mara The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams My Week With Marilyn

Continue reading 2012 Oscar Nominations.

Charlotte Film Community

By Dan Thornton on January 13, 2012 7:41 AM | No Comments

Charlotte, North Carolina (Image by Justin Ruckman via Wikipedia)

The Charlotte Film Community based in Charlotte, North Carolina is an organization where filmmakers and actors meet to share their work, network with like minded people, and have a good time. All in the name of furthering the filmmaking business in Charlotte and it's surrounding areas. It's not all business either. If you are simply a lover of films and filmmaking you can find your place in this group.

Monthly meetings and special events are held throughout the year including award shows and contests. You never know who may show up to speak at the next event. It could be a producer that is in town working on a film or perhaps a casting agent explaining what casting agents look for during an audition including how to dress and what you should and should not do.

These meet-ups often lead to collaboration among the members as you will see in the film below. The next film contest planned is called Inspire Charlotte 2012 and requires that 75% of the film to be made within a 60 mile radius of Charlotte.

For more details about the Charlotte Film Community and the Inspire Charlotte 2012 contest go to:

Charlotte Film Community

Inspire Charlotte 2012

Continue reading Charlotte Film Community.

Cleveland Film Commission - Holiday Party and Mixer

By Dan Thornton on December 3, 2011 8:59 AM | No Comments

Public Domain Image via Wikipedia

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC) is having a holiday mixer and party at the Cadillac Ranch this month.

A great way to network with people in the film industry around Cleveland. It doesn't matter if you've worked on a Cleveland film or not. If you have an interest in getting involved you should come. Everyone is welcome!

Refreshments will be served and there will be a cash bar.

Greater Cleveland Film Commission

Media Industry Mixer & Holiday Party

Wednesday, December 14th

Cadillac Ranch

200 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio

To R.S.V.P contact Jason Drake at jdrake@clevelandfilm.com!

If you have any film news to announce at this event contact Jason Drake at jdrake@clevelandfilm.com!

Behind The Scenes - Curtis Pew/Stuart Morriss/Adrienne King

By Christy Bradshaw on November 29, 2011 4:08 PM | 1 Comment

Christy is the producer and host of Behind The Scenes with Christy Bradshaw. Her podcasts can also be found at The Bradshaw Chronicles and her blog is Behind The Scenes with Christy Bradshaw.

Behind The Scenes with Christy Bradshaw

In this episode I interview producer Curtis Pew and actress Adrienne King. Curtis is the writer and producer of the film Back to the Lake and Back to The Lake II. Adrienne, who plays a part in these two films also helped produce them. She has been working in the film industry for many years and has the movie credits to show for it, including the role of Alice Hardy in Friday the 13th.

Stuart Morriss of Misty Moons Exhibitions & Events talks about some of the projects he's working on including the art of Adrienne King. There are also music clips by Johan Paul.

Continue reading Behind The Scenes - Curtis Pew/Stuart Morriss/Adrienne King.

Below the Line with George Peroulas - Animation and Acting

By Dan Thornton on November 23, 2011 9:33 PM | No Comments

Computer Generated Image by Elikrotupos, @it.wiki (Own work) via Wikipedia

Check out this video of George Peroulas interviewing writer/director/animator/composer Donnie Christianson and Helen Kearney Konen an acting coach from Charlotte via Hollywood. George is always having interesting guests on his show and has many videos of his productions on YouTube. Visit him on his Facebook page and see his YouTube offerings with the links provided below.

Below the Line with George Peroulas

Facebook - YouTube

Email: belowtheline@gmail.com

Donnie Crhistianson's work on Star Force 7

Helen Kearney Konen's Setting the Stage

Continue reading Below the Line with George Peroulas - Animation and Acting.

Made In Charlotte Film Competition - What Scares Me?

By Dan Thornton on November 20, 2011 2:07 PM | No Comments

Image by DouG!! via Flickr

See what happened at the Made In Charlotte Film Awards.

Corbin Bernsen Screening - 25 Hill - Charlotte, NC

By Dan Thornton on November 12, 2011 12:49 PM | No Comments

Corbin Bernsen (Image by Bryan Horowitz via Wikipedia)

Corbin Bernsen, who starred in the TV series LA Law and is currently in the USA Network series Psych, is screening his independent film named 25 Hill in Charlotte, North Carolina today. The film is about an 11 year old boy whose father died in Afghanistan and Roy Gibbs (Bernsen's role) who lost his son in the line of duty as a firefighter. The two work to revive the Soapbox Derby and in doing so recover something lost.

Corbin wrote, produced, and directed this independent film. He will be on hand at the screening to talk about the movie and answer questions and will be in Morganton on Sunday for a race. Adults and children are encouraged to attend and participate. The screening and race are free to the public.

Screening:

Saturday, November 12th

6:00 pm

Charlotte Epicentre Theaters

210 East Trade Street

Charlotte, North Carolina

Race

Sunday, November 13th

Noon - 5:00 pm

Burke County Fairgrounds

145 Bost Road

Morganton, North Carolina

Michael Melendez Interview and Charlotte Makes Scenes Awards

By Dan Thornton on October 21, 2011 1:12 PM | No Comments

Charlotte, NC (Public Doman Image by Byron Galentine via Wikipedia)

Michael Melendez chats with Juli Emmons and Haven Wilson in this Screen Time video posted on Vimeo by Dan Honeycutt. Screen Time is produced by the Charlotte Film Community and showcases talent in and around the Queen City. They discuss Michael's film Turning Home and there are also interviews with Catherine Trail of On The Red Carpet at the Charlotte Makes Scenes Awards.

Continue reading Michael Melendez Interview and Charlotte Makes Scenes Awards.

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