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Meet the Filmmaker, John Schuermann, “The Gospel According to Stephenson”

“The Gospel According to Stephenson”

www.stephensonmovie.com

profile picQ: Why did you become a filmmaker?
 
JS: My answer is probably not even remotely original – it simply has to do with a love of films that goes way back to childhood. I loved going to the movies as far back as I can remember. My own personal desire is to make films that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. In my view, the two qualities need not be mutually exclusive!
Q: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
JS: I will be screening the “proof of concept” trailer for the feature film, “The Gospel According to Stephenson.” We shot the trailer to show the overall concept of the film and demonstrate our skills as filmmakers. We used this proof of concept trailer to build awareness around the film and as a tool to attract talent and investors. The trailer also became the basis of our crowdfunding campaign on Seed and Spark, where we exceeded our campaign goals and raised over $35,000 toward pre-production.
Much like SCREAM was a slasher movie about slasher movies, “The Gospel According to Stephenson” is a vampire movie ABOUT vampire movies – one that satirizes religious fundamentalism and cults in the process. Combined with its science vs. religion themes, we think our story is an original and very entertaining “meta” take on the vampire genre.
Here is the logline: After awakening in modern times, a “real-life” vampire capitalizes on the current pop-culture vampire craze to recruit followers and start his own religion. Standing in his way – a skeptical cop and the tools of modern science.
Q: What else are you working on?
JS: Actually, I am working on a sequel script to “The Gospel According to Stephenson.”
Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
JS: When it comes to screenwriting, I tend to massively overwrite. The original draft of the “Stephenson” screenplay was over 180 pages long. I always end up with more material than I need! The fun part comes in trimming all the fat out of the script so that what remains is tight, solidly constructed, and to the point.
Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
JS: There is lots more information about the film – including a full plot synopsis and character breakdown – atwww.stephensonmovie.com. In addition to being a writer and director, I also have a successful career as a film composer. The last score I composed, for “The Creep Behind the Camera,” was chosen as a Soundtrack Pick of the Month at Film Music Magazine Online (http://www.filmmusicmag.com/?p=15186). More information on my film composing and post production audio business can be found at www.jsmusicandsound.com.
Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
JS: I appreciate the opportunity to screen my trailer and talk about the film at a great venue like the Bug Theater! I also appreciate the fact that the EFP helps support the work of local filmmakers and supplies them with a platform where their work can be seen 🙂
“The Gospel According to Stephenson” proof of concept trailer will be screened at the December 17th Emerging Filmmaker’s Project. 
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Meet the Filmmaker, Brianna Matthews, “Just a Body”

“Just a Body”

https://www.facebook.com/abodysjustabody

11906732_464094860428689_3102571039283377857_oQ: Why did you become a filmmaker?
BM: Films are and always have been a way for me to connect to others without the dread of socializing and better understand myself. I loved movies since I was a child and always had creative interests but no inherent arts talents. As I got older, the film industry fascinated me. How creative decisions were made the business worked were things I found easy to understand and had great interest in.
Q: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
BM: “Just a Body” is a necrophiliac musical that I produced with a group of filmmakers as our thesis project at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. We’ve screened at two film festivals in North Carolina and a small filmmakers venue in Chicago. We’ve submitted to several other festivals including Slamdance and Boulder International. Fingers crossed!
Q: What else are you working on?
BM: Me and Harry Rossi, the director of Just a Body, are developing a low budget feature length absurd mystery script about a group of 12 year girls that I’m really excited about. I’m also working on getting my MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises from Northwestern University, hopefully this will help me get investors on  board for future projects.
Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
BM: I made a necrophilia musical, how much weirder do you want me to be?
Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
BM: Our facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/abodysjustabody You can also find me on IMDb!
Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
BM: I’m so excited to screen one of my films in my home state!
“Just a Body” will be screening on December 17th at the Emerging Filmmaker’s Project. 
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Meet the Filmmaker: Dane Ohlrogge, “Daydream”

“Daydream”

danecompany.com

3403827_origQ: Why did you become a filmmaker?

DO: I began making short films with my friends and neighbors when I was about 15 and really enjoyed writing, shooting, directing and editing these films and giving them to my friends was always a lot of fun.  I guess I just decided to keep perusing what came naturally to me and what I was passionate about.

Q: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?

DO: “Daydream” was my last short film while attending DePaul University in Chicago, IL.  It has not screened anywhere publicly and was just a labor of love to keep experimenting with my film-making back in early 2014.

Q: What else are you working on?

DO: On December 15th a full-length independent web-series that I was produced under my production company and was cinematographer for is being released called “THE DREAMERS.”  12 episodes, 30 minutes each, we shot the whole season last fall in Chicago.  I also am working on post for a psychological horror short flick called “The Attic.”

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?

DO: This particular film was inspired by a real life location.  I walked into a basement bookstore and began perusing around, then suddenly inspiration came and strangers stuck in the basement of a bookstore due to an attack came to my imagination.  I wanted this piece to mirror the same type of aesthetic as a modern day The Twilight Zone episode.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

DO: I have a website: danecompany.com

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?

DO: Thank you!

“Daydream” will be screening on December 17th at the Emerging Filmmaker’s Project. 

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Meet the Filmmaker: John Hartman, “The Shackling”

“The Shackling”

reelgroovyfilms.com

11064617_10153162557267118_8633554484561632606_nQ: Why did you become a filmmaker?

JH: Filmmaking provides a playing field or ‘fantasy land’ sorely needed to help myself (and others like me) sift through the harsh realities of the physical world, and more: the hope to inspire other humanoids to expand consciousness…or at least laugh!

Q: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?

JH: “The Shackling” has never screened eleswhere. It is a trailer for what might be the only VHS feature film, in the entire world, being produced at present. My hope is to keep the glitch and grain of analog films alive by paying homage to them.

Q: What else are you working on?

JH: “Retro Tube” — an analog web series respecting the Tube TV experience as it was 30-40 years ago. I use VHS and super 8 film for this purpose…it authenticates the visual experience, if nothing else.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?

JH: Only one? I fantasize about living in a TV Tube or robotic trash can…I guess that might have been done in film, before, but it has not been done by me, so I fantasize about it.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

JH: Reel Groovy Films on youtube and Vimeo and/or reelgroovyfilms.com

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?

JH: I likely would not have pursued filmmaking as much as I have without the EFP to encourage the process.

“The Shackling” will be screening at the December 17th Emerging Filmmaker’s Project. 

 

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Meet the Filmmaker: Henry Jarvis, “Forgive Me Father”

“Forgive Me Father”

HeadshotQ: Why did you become a filmmaker?

HJ: I’ve wanted to be a filmmaker for as long as I can remember. The medium of film attracted me because it was one of the few art forms that can be reached by a broad audience in a fast amount of time. It is really the most convenient art form in terms of storytelling and that is something that always drew me to it.

Q: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?

HJ: You will be seeing “Forgive Me Father” as short film I made over the course of three hours. It has been rejected from every film festival I have submitted it to thus far except EFP. My current plans are for it to be rejected from the remaining film festivals and then I can release it online finally.

Q: What else are you working on?
HJ: College! I’m currently applying to film school. So if a Film School admissions person is reading this, please accept me to your college. I’m 19 and set goals higher than I should have. Please accept me. I’m desperate.
Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
HJ:  I tricked my high school into thinking that I was attending the University of Havana in Cuba. So if anyone asks, I live in Cuba.
Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
HJ: You can friend me on Facebook. You can follow me on twitter: @byronichenry. You can come and talk to me if you see me on the street. I’m a pretty open and friendly person.
Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
HJ: I’m glad this outlet exists. Even if people watch my film here and hate it, I’m glad this outlet exists for those who are more talented than I am and I’m honored to be a part of it.
“Forgive Me Father” will be screening at the December 17th Emerging Filmmaker’s Project.