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Meet the Filmmakers: Matthew Levine and Shea Glasheen, “Binge”

Binge | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChvJXgIAdcnXPECwH2toClw

binge-imageQ: Why did you become a filmmaker?
ML: I’ve wanted to be a filmmaker for as long as I can remember. I always wanted to tell stories, and at a certain age I realized that just getting out the camera and shooting stuff was the easiest way to do that.

Q: What are we going to see at the Film Novella & Feature Fest? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
ML: Binge is a short film that we made over the course of last summer. While working on it we would tend to watch a lot of David Lynch movies and The Twilight Zone, so those inspirations sort’ve came out in this short film. It was filmed in New York, and we haven’t screened it anywhere yet, given that a lot of our time has been spent moving to Denver. We’ve only been here in Denver for the last month actually, so its exciting to already be getting into festivals around here.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
ML: Not sure if this would be considered weird but we tend to work with a very small crew when it comes to our movies. There are four people in this movie, and these four people are the only ones who worked on the film. We all act, and some of us also create the score while others edit and others write, but it’s all just us.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
ML: To see more of our work you can go to our Youtube channel: Hyadaga Films. Here you can see the music videos, films, and documentaries that we’ve created over the course of the last four years or so.

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
ML: While we haven’t gotten a chance to experience The Emerging Filmmakers Project yet, we’re excited to get involved. We see this is as a great opportunity to get our work seen and to hopefully collaborate with other filmmakers and actors!

Binge will screen November 20th at 6:00 p.m. during 2016 Film Novella & Feature Fest at The Bug Theatre.

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Meet the Filmmaker: Michael Freeman, “Blood Run”

Blood Run | directormikefree.wixsite.com/directoractor

bloodrun_movieposter_11-4x17_rgbQ: Why did you become a filmmaker?
MF: I believe all of us were given a piece of THE STORY to tell. How we tell our part of is unique to us. Some express it through the written word, others paint, some speak poetry, others build houses, fix cars, cook. I tell my part through film. I want to tell stories that engage the imagination, create excitement and move the heart. My Dad brought home a VHS recorder from his work when I was nine. Once it was in my hands it consumed my heart. As I grew I began to find my voice and passion in the medium for how I wanted to tell my stories

Filmmaking is magic that happens when a group of creative people come together under one vision and manifests an entire universe into being. That universe, birthed out of just an idea in someone’s head, now on screen causing laughter, happiness, excitement, sorrow, joy, and hope is simply amazing. My desire is that my stories, wrapped up in THE STORY, will create an opportunity for that magnificent moment when a person’s mind and heart are touched in such a way that the great Author is found. To that end I will create.

Q: What are we going to see at the Film Novella & Feature Fest? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
MF: Blood Run is a post apocalyptic sci-fi western filled with action, adventure and undying devotion. I really think everyone will really like it. It has screen at two other fest, Jerome International Film Fest and Apocalypse Later Film Fest. The team and I would love to see it in more fest but our hearts and dreams are leaning more towards getting this into a feature formate. Telling this story on a grander scale, getting to know the characters more and upping the adventure gets us madly excited.

Q: What else are you working on?
MF: Currently working on a sci fi/western pilot to pitch, converting BR into a feature, and a short sci noir crime short…I like sci fi.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
MF: directormikefree.wixsite.com/directoractor

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
MF: I am so excited to be a part of this community and love what the EFP is doing. To be around fellow story tellers and creatives is invaluable and so encouraging.

Blood Run will screen November 20th at 2:00 p.m. during 2016 Film Novella & Feature Fest at The Bug Theatre.

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Meet the Filmmaker: Scott Lynch, “Dream Big: A Big Gigantic Story”

Dream Big: A Big Gigantic Story | www.scottlynchfilm.com

slp-logo4-01Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?
SL: From an early age I was impressed with the medium of film to convey a rich variety of experiences to the viewer. The ability to transport the viewer to a different time and space or just show them something different has always been super fun for me. I just love everything about creating an image and the power of transporting an audience is one I’ve been addicted to for the past 13 years.

Q: What are we going to see at the Film Novella & Feature Fest? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
SL: The film I entered [Dream Big: A Big Gigantic Story] is a short documentary that was commissioned by the band Big Gigantic who is featured in it. The director of the project was Steve Conry with myself producing and together we shot and edited the film. The band was going to be headlining for two nights at Red Rocks that summer and we wanted to document their experience of putting together the show, explore the history of the group and how they wanted to give back to their community and fans. It has screened online and was released by Billboard Music, and my hope is that a young musician will see it and be inspired to pursue their own musical career.

Q: What else are you working on?
SL: I’m currently focusing most of my energy on 360 video and immersive VR storytelling. I think there are a lot of possibilities with this new technology and I’m excited to be on the forefront of developing new techniques and methods for capturing and telling stories with it. Outside of that I’m continuing to work in traditional filmmaking and have been producing several documentaries, commercials and a feature film.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies
SL: With my films I’m always trying to find a new way to express a certain feeling or idea and I’ve found that poetry has a lot in common with filmmaking. The way poets can use emptiness and word juxtaposition, for me really informs how a filmmaker can use less to tell more. So I’ve been trying to incorporate those sensibilities into the work I create, which is maybe a different approach then some.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
SL: For my traditional film work I put projects up at www.scottlynchfilm.com for my 360 and VR work I’ve started a new company called VOYRE which you can learn more about at https://www.facebook.com/its.voyre/

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
SL: I think organizations like EFP are critical for our industry and I’m excited to help contribute a piece to screen here. I’d recommend to check out the variety of programs and talks that EFP promotes throughout the year to learn more about the industry and network with your fellow Colorado filmmakers.

Dream Big: A Big Gigantic Story will screen November 20th at 2:00 p.m. during 2016 Film Novella & Feature Fest at The Bug Theatre.

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Meet the Filmmaker: Andrew Olas, “The Offer”

The Offer | https://www.youtube.com/user/ThuhManeMan15

the-offer-malcolm_promoQ: Why did you become a filmmaker?
AO: My first attempt at state university failed when i found myself (more often than not) skipping class to write novels. About a year later i took a film class at a community college, and on day 1 i knew i had discovered my true calling. I just want to make films that people enjoy.

Q: What are we going to see at the Film Novella & Feature Fest? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
AO: The Offer was my 2015 senior thesis film at CU Denver and is making its festival premiere here at the EFP. I’d like to continue submitting it around until everyone gets tired of it already.

Q: What else are you working on?
AO: Although i haven’t directed anything of my own this year, i have been writing a lot for other directors. The experience has simultaneously been uncomfortable and freeing. Like how i’d imagine sending one’s kids off to college might feel.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
AO: I taught myself to speak backwards when I was 8. Also, in each of my films I credit my friend Paul, even if he had nothing to do with it. Once he was credited as “Invisible Mime.”

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
AO: I don’t have a website or anything, but I’ve got some other films and silly stuff on youtube, if you like, under the channel ThuhManeMan15. Detective Meredith Hitler, Secret Private Investigator is a fun and popular one.

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
AO: Superfluous thank yous to the EFP for selecting my film, as well as to the busy, busy Arthur Martinez for convincing me to submit.

The Offer will screen November 20th at 6:00 p.m. during 2016 Film Novella & Feature Fest at The Bug Theatre.

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Meet the Filmmakers: Carrie O’Toole and Brendan O’Toole, “Forfeiting Sanity”

Forfeiting Sanity | www.solarrevelationproductions.com

fsQ: Why did you become a filmmaker?
BOT: I’ve been doing this since before I can remember. According to my kindergarten teachers, I would direct kids in reenactments of Star Trek on the playground, and I’d make little movies on whiteboards to bring in to show and tell. It kind of just grew from there.

Q: What are we going to see at the Film Novella & Feature Fest? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
BOT: You’re going to see “Forfeiting Sanity,” which is a documentary about three families who adopted children from Vietnam, from the same orphanage, and all of them lived in Colorado. Through the struggles brought on by what’s known as Reactive Attachment Disorder, none of the children remain with the families they were originally adopted into. It has already premiered, and our plan for it isn’t big or grand. It’s found its legs as a tool that other families use to show the people around them what they’re going through in the midst of a difficult adoption.
COT: At the Film Festival, we will be showing “Forfeiting Sanity,” the story of three families who adopted children using the same adoption agency, through the same Vietnamese orphanage, in the same room. All three children came to live in Colorado. Describing very similar struggles with Reactive Attachment Disorder, and behavior stemming from their children’s traumatic early years, the three families share their difficult, decade-long journeys through parenting, and the horrendous struggle about what to do to help their children heal, while holding their families together.

Q: What else are you working on?
BOT: I am currently working on getting a feature film financed for production next year. It’s called Artemis One, and it’s about a girl who’s created a Warp Drive in her backyard.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
BOT: I don’t know if this is weird or not, but I enjoy trying to eke out every last drop of potential I can from whatever resources I’m working with.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
BOT: You can visit my website at, www.solarrevelationproductions.com
COT: People can find Carrie at www.carrietooole.com. She works as a Life Coach, helping families who have been traumatized through parenting traumatized children. She is a sought after speaker, and author of Relinquished: When Love Means Letting Go.

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
BOT: It seems like a great tool for local filmmakers. Another film I worked on as a 1st AC has been shown you EFP, and I hope that others can take advantage of it on their way to becoming better filmmakers.

Forfeiting Sanity will screen November 20th at 4:00 p.m. during 2016 Film Novella & Feature Fest at The Bug Theatre.

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Meet the Filmmaker: Kristine Hipps, “Lenny C Rocks the Mic”

Lenny C Rocks the Mic | www.facebook.com/papercatfilms/

krisQ: Why did you become a filmmaker?
KH: I became a filmmaker because I love the creative freedom of video. I can venture out alone with my camera and shoot stock footage of whatever catches my eye, or put together a cast of co-creatives to work on an ensemble piece – so many possibilites.

Q: What are we going to see at the Film Novella & Feature Fest? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
KH: Lenny C celebrates the life and work of Denver poetry legend and activist Lenny Chernilla, who passed away in 2015, leaving behind a unique legacy of fiery protest and celebration of life, in the Denver poetry scene. It was completed in August of 2016 and has not yet screened in any other venues. I am in the process of entering the piece into national film festivals and hope to garner as many screenings as I can, to share Lenny’s work and message.

Q: What else are you working on?
KH: I just finished a stage/film hybrid production at the Bug – Night of the Living Dead…Urban Legends. I am also in pre-production for a mockumentareality show about the magic shop I co-own with my boyfriend, and a documentary about good deeds.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
KH: My first projects were all horror and sci-fi films and shorts, and now I do documentaries – kind of a weird segue. I only have one kidney.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
KH: www.facebook.com/papercatfilms/

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
KH: EFP is the premiere platform for screening original work in Denver, and we’re so lucky to have this organization with it’s screening and networking opportunities, classes and festivals.

Lenny C Rocks the Mic will screen November 20th at 8:00 p.m. during 2016 Film Novella & Feature Fest at The Bug Theatre.