2012 New Hampshire Film Festival-Films and Panels

Below are a list of some films and panels I hope to see at the 2012 New Hampshire Film Festival.  For more information about the films and panels at NHFF please visit https://www.nhfilmfestival.com

FILMS

Children Of The Air

I was lucky enough to do an interview with Damian about the webseries "Candyland". I've heard many wonderful things about this film from the independent film community.

Directed by Damian Horan. Produced by Li Lu, Matt MacDonald, Nick Nides. Written by Damian Horan.  Starring Katheryn Winnick and Travis Van Winkle.

Juxtaposed to the original fairytale of the Little Mermaid, Children of the Air is an unflinching portrait of heartbreak.

Awards/Honors: Finalist USA Film Festival, Winner Best in Festival Lewiston-Auburn Film Festival, Winner Special Jury Award 45th Worldfest Houston International Film Festival.

 

Girls Against Boys

A lot of the people I spoke with at the NHFF Kick Off Party said I should check out this film.  I'm not really familiar with Austin Chick's work. I am however a fan of Danielle Panabaker.

Directed by Austin Chick. Produced by Aimee Shieh & Clay Floren.  Written by Austin Chick.

Starring Danielle Panabaker, Nicole LaLiberte, Michael Stahl-David, Liam Aiken.

Shae is sweet and sexy and men want to protect her, but sometimes also own her. She is the perfect object of male fantasies. Lu is the complete opposite of her. She is dominant, self-confident, self-reliant and uses her female attraction for her own gain. She is everything that Shae cannot be, her fantasy of superiority and self-interest. Shae has been raped by a man whose romantic advances she rejected, so the two women go on a journey of liberation, which soon takes a turn into revenge and vigilantism.

 

Fairhaven

I had planned on seeing this film at another festival but didn't get the chance to. I'm excited that there will be film representation at the screening. I'm going to try to ask a question during the Q+A.

Directed by Tom O’Brien. Produced by Massoumeh Emami, Dennis O’Neill, Chris Messina, Darren Goldberg.  Written by Tom O’Brien

Starring Chris Messina, Tom O’Brien, Rich Sommer, Sarah Paulson.

Jon (writer/director Tom O’Brien) is well past his glory days on the football field and now coping with life as a single man in his small hometown of Fairhaven, Mass. Enter Jon’s oldest friend Dave (Chris Messina), home for his estranged father’s funeral. Impulsive, attractive, and often dangerous, Dave is hell-bent on injecting some spontaneity into his old friends’ lives. Jon, Dave, and their friend Sam (Rich Sommer) reacquaint themselves after years of life-defining experiences, pushing the limits of their friendship and uncovering secrets from the past.

Awards/Honors: Audience award at the Independent Film Festival of Boston

*Film representation in attendance

 

Certainty

This is another film I've heard so much about. It will written by actor (and New Hampshire native) Mike O'Malley. I'm looking forward to seeing Bobby Moynihan outside of Saturday Night Live.

Directed by Peter Askin. Produced by Will Battersby, Mike O’Malley, Per Melita. Written by Mike O’Malley.  Starring Tom Lipinski, Adelaide Clemens, Giancarlo Esposito, Bobby Moynihan.

Dom and Deb are finally getting married, but there’s a catch. Before they can tie the knot, they must participate in a “Pre Cana” retreat, the mandatory course for couples looking to be married by the Catholic Church. Dom has his doubts about the program’s benefits, but is cooperating at his fiancee’s request and his mother’s insistence. While Dom may be unsure of the retreat’s affect, it may just prove to be the hardest test this relationship has faced yet.

*Film representation in attendance

 

In Danger Of Being Discovered

This looks interesting. I haven't seen many documentaries about local bands.

Directed and produced by Marc Dole and Michael Venn.

In Danger of Being Discovered takes a retrospective look at the rise of the music scene in the picturesque seacoast city of Portsmouth, NH in the mid 90′s. At the time, it was hailed by the Boston media as the next Seattle-like musical sensation. Through archival footage from local news outlets and MTV, live present- day performances and interviews with band members, we get an insider’s look at what it meant to be in the right place at the right time but just miss out on “making it” nationally. In this small musical community that was on everybody’s radar and could have been the ‘next Seattle,’ some dreams were realized, some were lost and the magic that binds every local music scene in every small town was tested.

 

Alekesam

Hugh Masekela was exiled from his family and native South Africa as a result of apartheid. Undaunted, he would find musical success in America with the 1968 number one hit, “Grazin’ In The Grass.”  Forty years later, his son, Selema, better known as television personality and ESPN X Games host ‘Sal’ Masekela, reflects on his relationship with his father.

 

Exit 7A

I had the chance to meet the people behind "Exit 7A" and "The Check Up at the NHFF Kick Off Party. They are really cool people. They give students from a local college the chance to work on their films. I was told one of the students edited "The Check Up."

A young man must decide what to do next when his hitchhiking passenger says she’s going to kill someone who lives off of exit 7A.

 

The Checkup

Walter visits his doctor complaining of headaches and blurry vision, only to be told his baby genitals have not yet fallen off. .Will Walter need surgery, or will his loving wife Margaret intervene in time?

 

Victim

I'm a fan of character driven thrillers.

Directed by Mark Battle. Produced by MarkBattle and Chris Fuoco. Written by Mark Battle and Chris Fuoco.  Starring Mariah Gale, Chris Fuoco, Megan McCormick.

A disturbed young woman stalks a sadistic serial killer in hopes of becoming his next victim.

 

PANELS

Crowdfunding the Independent Film

As the independent film landscape continues to shift, so does the way in which indie projects are being funded. “Crowdfunding” has become the new norm, with filmmakers using social media to ask for contributions to their projects. 10% of the films shown at Sundance in 2012 were crowdfunded, and more filmmakers are turning to technology to “pre-sell” their projects rather than going the traditional investor route. What are the different crowdfunding platforms out there, how do they differ and what are the pros and cons in each (and in using these sites, in general)? This panel, presented by the New Hampshire Film & Television Office, will take a closer look at the crowdfunding scene and feature advice on using crowdfunding as part of your business model. Local filmmakers will be on hand to share their success stories and personal experiences, and attendees are encouraged to take part in the discussion.

 

A Dual Look at Adaptations

The word “adaptation” is defined simply as something that is changed or modified to suit new conditions or needs.  When that something is a pre-existing story, and that new condition or need is a movie, you’ve got yourself a screenplay adaptation.  Join a group of producers and writers in a lively conversation as they share their perspectives, experiences and advice in bringing adapted material onto the screen.

 

A Conversation on Comedy

Join a motley crew of performers, writers and directors currently working in the multi-faceted genre of comedy in a spirited conversation about getting funny on screen and on stage. You never know who’s going to join in, so listen for any updates.

Producer/Director/Writer: Eiran Lenton

Eiran was born in the town of Kettering, UK in 1987. He went to school like anyone would and hated it like most people do, he never felt he could use his creative side like he wanted to. Now aged 25 not only does he have the best partner in the world and the most beautiful baby daughter, he is a producer, director and writer and uses his creative imagination to make movies and music videos plus anything else he fancies trying his hand at.

He first started running a company with an old school friend working with bands from around the UK, working on albums, organising gigs, doing some promotional work and always trying to think outside the box. After doing this, Eiran moved onto developing his skills in writing and started to work on some film ideas that he had running around his head. A few years later, those ideas have now turned into seven screenplays all of different genres and all containing his own unique style. One of them is almost complete and will be ready to start pre-production soon, the rest are still being worked on.

While doing this, Eiran is also the producer and director of new dark comedy/drama ‘A Mile in His Soul’ which will be filmed during November of 2012. The project has tons of potential and already has interest for a major worldwide distribution deal for 2013! As well as this, he is getting ready to option a period drama called ‘The Culling Principle’ and will also be making comedy film ‘Ambition’ as well as some other films lined up. There will also be some music videos chucked into the mix.

Eiran is very pleased to be living the dream in a career he has wanted to have for a long time and is looking forward to a very positive future where he will be bring some very thoughtful and meaningful movies to the world!

What is the current project you are working on?

I’m currently work on ‘A Mile In His Soul’ which is written by award winning writer Morley Shulman. It’s a Comedy/Drama with a bit of romance thrown in. It’s currently in pre-production and we will start filming at the beginning of November.

We are luck to have Michele Martin, who is currently featuring along side Sir Ben Kingsley, Jena Malone and Julian Sands in ‘A Doll’s House’, in the lead female role and also Mark Paul Wake who recently won best actor at the BIFF’s for his role in ‘Masterpiece’ playing the lead male role. We also have some other pretty well-known actors taking on other roles and we will be able to announce them soon. Also attached is Jimmy Star who is an incredibly talented guy, who knew a guy could multitask! Radio show host, celebrity clothing designer, record label owner, the list goes on!

Why have you decided to donate a percentage of the films profits to charity?

We decided from an early stage that it would be great to pick a charity that we would like to support in raising money and also awareness due to the fact that the movie storyline is strongly centered around the homeless and the challenges they face on a day to day basis.

We will donate a percentage of the movies profits to a charity based in Edinburgh (where we will be filming) who work with the homeless, the charity that the money will go to is still to be decided.

What is the estimated number of projects you have worked on?

This is actually my first movie that is in production, a lot of my work before this was in the music industry where I worked with bands and solo artists, organising gigs, working on albums etc. After that, I started to write screenplays and also will be doing music videos. I now have ‘A Mile’ to work on and am looking at optioning a period drama called ‘The Culling Principle’ which we will start to work on early next year and also a comedy called ‘Ambition’ which I look to do towards the end of next year.

As well as this, I am working on seven of my own screenplays with one that is almost complete.

Is there anyone you would let "Walk A Mile In Your Soul"?

Hmmmm, good question! I don't know if anyone would want to walk 'A Mile In My Soul' but there are plenty of people who I would say I would like to 'Walk A Mile In Their Soul!'

Why do you think a person would "moonlight" as a homeless person?

To be honest, I have no idea! I guess they feel that it is an easy way to earn money, or to con people.

In ‘A Mile’, the main character, Malcolm, moonlights because at a young age his father left the family to live on the streets and he never knew why so he thinks that by doing it himself, it’s less money that could potentially go to his father and also to people that would spend it on drugs and alcohol.

Of course the majority of people you see on the streets are genuinely homeless, it’s just a shame that there are people out there who view it as an opportunity to con people and earn themselves some extra cash!

What's one thing you take for granted?

While working on a project like 'A Mile' I think you start to really appreciate what you have. It's another reason why I love the story so much, it will make people stop and think how lucky they are. They might think their house is horrible or they don't have much, but really you have everything. I can't begin to imagine what it's like to be on the streets with no friends or family around you so I think the small things that you think are 'normal' are the things that are taken for granted.

How do you define success?

Success is a difficult thing to define. I guess in the movie industry some people would say that if they get to Hollywood then they have been successful. For me, to now be doing what I have worked hard to achieve is a success itself.

How do you handle rejection?

Of course when it comes to making a movie, rejection is something that comes along naturally but I find that you just have to let it go over your head and move on.

I think what I found hard was the lack of belief from people who don’t think it’s possible to make a career in film especially as a producer and director, they seem to think you are living in a dreamworld just because you want to do something that’s a bit different. In the end, you just have to put it all behind you and work even harder to achieve your goal which in the end, if you believe in yourself, you can.

One of my current cast members recently said “If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough” and that is totally true, never give up no matter what anybody thinks.

What's your favorite quote and why?

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them” - Walt Disney

It pretty much sums up everything I’ve been trying to do, my dream is to make meaningful and powerful movies that I truly believe in, I’ve had the courage to pursue that dream and now it’s coming true!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Firstly, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this interview. Also, I would like to thank Spectra Records who will be the official distribution company for both our movie and soundtrack, they will be releasing both for us worldwide both online and in stores everywhere next year.

I would also like to add some links to pages for 'A Mile In His Soul' which are as follows: -

Website - www.amileinhissoul.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/amileinhissoul

Twitter - www.twitter.com/AMileInHisSoul

Distribution - www.spectrarecords.com

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Thank you for doing the interview Eiran.  I think it's wonderful that a portion of the money to make the film will go to charity.  I'll do what I can to spread the word about your film.