Kate Lowell – The Emerging Filmmakers Project

Meet the Filmmaker: Guillermo Roques, “The Big Sell”

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Kate Lowell

“The Big Sell”

www.guillermoroques.com

Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?

GR: I finished my Degree in Journalism at the same time there was a big Media crisis and newspapers were closing down. I had a lot of free time and I gave it a try.

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

GR: ¨The Big Sell¨ is a video that I did for the Denver Voice. Once a year, the Board members go out to the streets with the vendors trying to promote the newspaper. They asked me to film it. This is the result of a few hours of a cold morning in Downtown Denver.

It has been used at different fundraising events by the Denver Voice.

Hopefully, in the future it will be part of a broader project about the many faces of homelessness.

Q: What else are you working on?

GR: I´m working around a couple short documentaries about homelessness, and also an experimental piece about The Sand Creek Masacre.

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

GR: I usually edit very fast and I get a rough cut in a few hours. I spend 3/4 of my time looking for background sounds and trying different color corrections.

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

GR: My website is www.guillermoroques.com

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

GR: Good place. Cold beer (sometimes). Great people.

“The Big Sell” will be screening at the January 21st Emerging Filmmaker’s Project.

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

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Kate Lowell

“The Gospel According to Stephenson”

www.stephensonmovie.com

Q: 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.

Meet the Filmmaker, Brianna Matthews, “Just a Body”

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Kate Lowell

“Just a Body”

https://www.facebook.com/abodysjustabody

Q: 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.

Meet the Filmmaker: Dane Ohlrogge, “Daydream”

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Kate Lowell

“Daydream”

danecompany.com

Q: 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.

Meet the Filmmaker: John Hartman, “The Shackling”

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Kate Lowell

“The Shackling”

reelgroovyfilms.com

Q: 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.

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

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Kate Lowell

“Forgive Me Father”

Q: 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.

Meet the Filmmaker: Greg Nemer, “Unredeemable”

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Kate Lowell

“Unredeemable”

http://www.brcyfi.com/

Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?

GN: I wanted to perform as an actor initially. I went to Naropa university studying performance art and Body Psychology, really having no idea how it would help or hinder me as an actor. I was lucky enough to get a job teaching acting at Colorado Film School (foolish on their part as I had so little experience) While there, I became fascinated with production management, assistant directing specifically. I am addicted to being on set figuring out how to fix impossible situations. Only after putting in some years as an AD did I realize that the combination of a history as an actor, acting teacher, as well as an AD set me up well to be a director.

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

GN: “Unredeemable” is a pilot concept by Jim Sea, Writer and Producer. The story engine asks this question about sex offenders. Can they be redeemed, especially the most twisted, or should we lock them up and throw away the key. When working with Jim, he encouraged me in creatively pulling from gripping television dramas like Luther or Breaking Bad. The plans are to pitch this pilot to television and online content creators with an end goal on green lighting a series.

Q: What else are you working on?

GN: Currently, I am experimenting on a feature development in which the main actors are creating characters first then the writer and I design the story that holds all of them. I contacted 10 actors who really blew my hair back in either auditions for “Unredeemable” or other projects I have seen or worked on. I have no idea if this will work but I am excited by the dream cast that I know would electrify every scene.

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

GN: Well I really have not made enough to know a particular style yet as Unredeemable is the first to make it out of post production. Okay, here is a strange one for you. So I am ADing on this film that was a shit show of immense proportions. It had no business making it to post. Day 4 of the 11 day shoot, the director threw away the script because he knew it was a disaster. Nathan Trumbull, the script supervisor and a god amongst mortals as far as filmmaking goes, locked himself away and wrote a new script in a day. The director allowed me to co-direct the new script and somehow… we survived to get to post. At the wrap party, the crew signed a dildo(it was a story prop) and presented me with said dildo, ala a knighting coronation. Best gift I have ever gotten on set.

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

GN: I am horrible at self-promotion so best place to find me is FB. As far as “Unredeemable” please go check out Breaking The Cycle films at http://www.brcyfi.com/. Jim is always doing good work over there, especially the screenplay competition.

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

GN: I’ve been suggesting for a long time now that filmmakers here in Denver need to submit their stuff to EFP. Now the shitty thing is, I have never come out to see an event as I am a homebody, recluse, curmudgeon. Looks like I am a full fledged convert now.

Unredeemable will screen on October 15th at the Emerging Filmmaker’s Project.

Meet the Filmmaker: Brianna Schumacher, “This Light Will Find You”

Posted on September 17, 2015 by Kate Lowell

“This Light Will Find You”

Briannaschumacher.com

Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?

BS: I became a filmmaker because I love watching my characters come to life and I can share it with others.

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

BS: You will be seeing my stop-motion thesis film “This Light Will Find You” and it has not screened elsewhere yet. I plan on continuing to improve it further, because it is not quite finished to the level I was hoping for. I also hope to someday re-create this film again with a team of other talented individuals.

Q: What else are you working on?

BS: Currently I’m heavy into job searching because I just graduated and stepping foot into the industry is extremely important to me. I have a few stop-motion film ideas in the works, though.

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

BS: I have a cat shirt obsession.

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

BS: My website has all of my information and work on it: Briannaschumacher.com

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

BS: I’m extremely excited to have received this opportunity and I really appreciate that this project is shedding light on local filmmakers.

“This Light Will Find You” will be screening on September 17th at the Emerging Filmmaker’s Project.

Meet the Filmmaker: Brent Podosek, “Pho-King”

Posted on September 17, 2015 by Kate Lowell

“Pho-King”

www.brentisfunny.com

Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?

BP: The Grawlix success and everything I’ve read, seen, learned from Patrick Sheridan, SAYS produce you’re own work. I’ve got lots of ideas and putting them to film is a real pleasure. Honestly, EFP gave me a lot of the network and confidence to become a filmmaker.

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

BP: The dumbest 48 seconds of your life. A spoof on the proper pronunciation of PHO and the “Americanization” of wanting to be the PHO-KING.

Q: What else are you working on?

BP: Currently I have 5 other shorts I’d like to complete. They are in different stages of development. Post it notes, selfies, napkins, facebook posts and tweets really. I’m performing in Las Vegas end of September at the SLS on Mia Jackson(Last Comic Standing) where the Rat Pack used to perform. Well, symbolically, the Sands was blown up to rebuild the SLS.

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

BP: I’m becoming a mortgage broker to help fund my film projects.

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

BP: www.brentisfunny.com @brentisfunny on twitter and instagram https://www.facebook.com/brent.podosek

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

BP: EFP is my favorite networking event for film. I’ve really created an extended film family. Patrick performs just for me sometimes, but I know everyone is laughing on the inside. Thank you to The Bug for having us, the beer for drinking us, and my personal favorite the popcorn for about a $1.

Pho-King is screening on September 17th at the Emerging Filmmaker’s Project.

Meet the Filmmaker: Elvis Leon, “Charlie’s: Episodes 1 & 2”

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Kate Lowell

“Charlie’s: Episodes 1 & 2”

https://vimeo.com/beuproductions

Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?

EL: I never in my life thought that I would be a filmmaker. Surprisingly, it has always been in my life or at least in my living room. My parents love to watch films and ultimately their kids grew to love them. My dad used to tell me to get into the movie business when I was a kid, he never asked me to be a doctor or lawyer (wish he did!). I joined the military instead! Fast-forward 4 years, I got out of the military in 2008 and didn’t know what to do with my life until I discovered the Colorado Film School.

Making movies has given me an outlet and keeping busy is the way I have coped with civilian life after the military. I feel lucky to have found a passion that keeps me moving forward. And thankfully, I’ve been able to produce award-winning short films. Some days I don’t know why I’m in the independent movie industry and other days I’m curious to see if my dad was right. I really, really hope he’s right or I’m screwed.

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

EL: I’ll be screening, Charlie’s (an original series) – Episode 1 & 2. It’s a dramedy about a straight bar owner that attempts to turn his straight bar gay. We shot it at one of Colorado’s oldest gay bar, Charlie’s Denver. The story was co-wrote by my best friend, Bobby Kimble and I, two straight guys.

This project has been in the works for 3 years now! There were tons of help from actors and crew that worked for free. The project also had a successful crowd funding campaign that helped us finish in post-production, hire an entertainment lawyer, and send Charlie’s to festivals like you! We hope to pitch this concept to TV networks one day.

For the first time at EFP, I’ll be screening BOTH episodes of Charlie’s (an original series)!!! I’ve been fortunate to have screened Episode 2 at the Alamo Drafthouse in July 2015 and at the SIE FilmCenter in August 2015. I’m happy that I can finally set this project free, but Charlie’s still needs help from Denver. If interested, please reach out!

Q: What else are you working on?

EL: I’m wrapping up 2 projects in post-production! One’s a short doc about a two gay senior citizens that have been partners for over 40 years. One of the old men has dementia and is forgetting about his partner.

The other project is a dramatic short about a cleaning lady that gets some bad news about the state of her health. The rest of her day doesn’t get any better.

Both films have been in post-production for almost 2 years and they will finally be complete in the coming days!

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

EL: My favorite color is yellow, but I don’t own anything that’s yellow.

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

EL: https://twitter.com/be_u_films

https://vimeo.com/beuproductions

https://www.facebook.com/BeUProductions

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

EL: I’m sad to say, that I’m moving away from CO. The Emerging Filmmakers project will be something that I’ll truly miss. The Bug theatre is full of amazing and supportive human beings. I’ll continue to support you guys from afar and wish you the best. Keep putting Colorado films on the map.

“Charlie’s: Episodes 1 & 2” will be screening on August 20th at the Emerging Filmmaker’s Project.