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Meet the Filmmaker: Henry Cavalier, “Special Delivery”

Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?
HC: My passion for filmmaking began in middle school where I would come up with random stories and tell them to my friends. Apparently they were entertaining because my friends were always asking for more! Near the end of middle school I was introduced to the greatest technological achievement in consumer videography at the time – the Mini DV camera, and I began to record random stories and scenes throughout high school and beyond. To make a long story short, I have always had a desire to tell stories and to make them entertaining. I believe that film is a great medium to visually tell a story and I am blessed that passion has stayed with me through the best and worst of times in my life.

Q: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
HC: You will be watching Special Delivery, which I consider to be the funniest, cringiest action short film ever shot in Denver. Not all projects filmmakers create come out as intended. Sometimes they turn out to be shit like Special Delivery and we decide to save ourselves from embarrassment and never let anybody see it. I have no future plans for Special Delivery. It’s a flop and not a good representation of my best work, but I hope that other filmmakers can watch it and learn from my mistakes as it’s a great lesson in the filmmaking process. It will live on my hard drive forever after the screening, unless I ever decide to teach at a film school, where it would likely be used as a case study in much of the core curriculum.

Q: What else are you working on?
HC: I am currently putting the finishing touches on a short film that I worked on with the late actress Stacy Farrar. Due to the tragedy of her and her son’s passing occurring after the first day of filming almost 7 months ago, production was instantly halted and it was until only recently that our close cast and crew came together to finish the film in her honor. We hope to screen the film in her and her son’s memory at a future EFP event.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
HC: My wife says I act a lot like a neurotic Woody Allen or Larry David, and… she’s right!

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
HC: For more information about me and to get in touch regarding production assistance/collaboration, email me at epicskymedia@gmail.com. For information specifically about film scoring, which is something I also specialize in, please visit www.epicharmony.com.

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
HC: I would like to thank the EFP for giving little-known filmmakers like me a venue for showcasing their work and for supporting local, independent film. I wish I had heard about EFP over 10 years ago! If it weren’t for you, I not only would have had the opportunity to screen my film, but also to network with other like-minded people and see the wonderful talent that Colorado has to offer. Keep it up guys!

Special Delivery will screen at The Emerging Filmmakers Project on Thursday, December 21st at The Bug Theatre.

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Meet the Filmmaker: Thomas Crandall, “A Moment.”

Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?
TC: I became a filmmaker because I really like how intimate and involved the process is. I could give the canned answer “I love telling stories”, but I don’t really know what that means for me. I like people, and I enjoy putting all of myself into sharing someone’s life perspective. Although it’s terrifying, I love having that final, tangible product at the end and sharing someone else’s story, and a part of myself, with others.

Q: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
TC: I made A Moment. in about 48 hours for a New Year’s Vimeo Weekend Challenge. The theme was New Year’s Resolutions, and so I made this short film about a girl I really liked, and how I made a choice (or didn’t) which I regretted and wanted to re-explore. It screened online and to my surprise, ended up winning the challenge. I’m so glad people connected with the story. The film also screened at Pikes Peak Art Council’s “Show Us Your Shorts” and at the Denver Animated Pixelshow earlier this year. I hope to continue sharing the film with audiences and may consider doing more, similarly personal stories like this as part of a future series.

Q: What else are you working on?
TC: I shot a feature my friend wrote/directed over the summer called JULY RISING, and will be shooting the rest of pickups before Christmas. I also edited the teaser and trailer, and will be editing its BTS featurette. The film is a coming of age story about a young girl on a farm in northern California. You can follow at https://www.facebook.com/julyrisingfilm/, and see some of our content we’ve release at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/july-rising-film-farming#/. I’m also developing an idea for a short documentary centering around the question, “Where do you want to be in 5 years?”, in which I plan on interviewing young children (elementary school age) and seniors to gain insight into how time and age may affect your dreams and ambitions.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
TC: I am VERY self conscious and was especially self conscious about this story, but being alone in my house, I only had my Mom to help me. So, I asked her to make sure my eyes were in focus, then leave me alone to record the interview. It was strange.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
TC: I am still in the process of building a website, so right now the best place to see my work is my vimeo page, vimeo.com/thomascrandall.

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
TC: This will be the first time I screen with EFP, and I can’t wait to screen with other amazing, local filmmakers. Thanks for all your work. I can’t wait to share my film with the EFP audience, y’all are so supportive.

A Moment. will screen at The Emerging Filmmakers Project on Thursday, December 21st at The Bug Theatre.

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Meet the Filmmaker: Josh Boehnke, “(Because in the end) It’s Only Helium”

Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?
JB: I love storytelling, and learning and reflecting about life through the things we create and the stories we tell. It’s also just fun. Who wouldn’t want to make a movie?

Q: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
JB: (Because in the end) It’s Only Helium, is a short drama about moving on from grief and heartbreak, and the processes that we’re willing to go through in order to find clarity and resolution. It’s kind of got that “Eternal Sunshine” mentality, not that I would ever try to compare it to that film. It was finished right after most of the festival deadlines in Colorado this year, so it’s only had a few minor screenings. It’ll hopefully be screening more in 2018, here in Colorado.

Q: What else are you working on?
JB: I’m working on learning and studying. Right now, I’m trying to get on set as much as I can, and shoot as much as I can to stay sharp. And I guess I should say, the right type of sets and shoots that are going to help me grow as a filmmaker. I’ve been fortunate enough to work on some commercials recently, meeting and working with a few people that came in from out of state. We worked on a Verizon commercial a few weeks back, and I learned so much just by being there and absorbing, just those little things. I’m also hoping to write more, and write better. I’ve realized that no matter who you meet or what resources you have, none of it matters unless there’s a script, an idea. That’s the blood and oxygen of all this. Beyond that, we’ve made a few short little videos that are posted online. I just finished up a short little video about two high schoolers and their first kiss, called First, of course.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
JB: I’m really not a big fan of bacon.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
JB: You can check out my work and some of my buddies work here:
https://vimeo.com/user39180818
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2mmlQNpjpuEKuFv2ZGXGDg

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
JB: It’s so important to have organizations like EFP supporting and embracing local filmmakers, so thank you for screening us!

(Because in the end) It’s Only Helium will screen at The Emerging Filmmakers Project on Thursday, December 21st at The Bug Theatre.

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Meet the Filmmaker: Olivia Abtahi, “Father Sun”

Father Sunwww.oliviaabtahi.com

Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?
OA: I remember watching a show called “AHHH! Real Monsters” when I was a kid and they had a projector that hooked into your brain to show everyone else what you were thinking and seeing. I was totally obsessed. When I learned that the machine wasn’t real, I realized that filmmaking was the closest I’d ever get to showing people exactly what I was thinking and feeling. It’s one of the few portals I have into my brain to share with others.

Q: What are we going to see at Mile Hi Mocs & Docs? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
OA: Father Sun is the story of a Navajo community getting solar energy on their community building. In Navajo/Diné culture, the sun is the father of creation, and powers our spiritual and physical lives. With solar energy, we see a community’s God powering their daily lives in a very tangible way.

Q: Who would enjoy attending the festival? Is it just for the filmmaking community, or is there a reason why non-filmmakers should attend?
OA: Anyone who loves being transported should definitely attend– doesn’t matter if you’re a filmmaker or someone who’s never been to a film festival before. These are stories that we might not see on the big screen that still speak to our daily experiences of living in this region.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
OA: I try to make all of my narrative films with the restrictions I have. Budget, location, access to props, etc. I write to the resources I already have, not the ones I want.

Q: What else are you working on?
OA: I’m working on a new short film called Female Character.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
OA: www.oliviaabtahi.com

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
OA: Thanks so much for considering me!!

Father Sun will screen December 3rd at 6:00pm during the 2017 Mile Hi Mocs & Docs Film Festival at The Bug Theatre.