Boys of Summerville at Roane State

Hot on the heels of their successful 2008-2009 Film Festival circuit for the movie, Boys of Summerville, the Benjamin Brothers have decided to end their festival run in the same place where the movie began: Roane County. Boys of Summerville was filmed entirely in east Tennessee, the majority of which was in Roane County. "Tennessee has so much to offer filmmakers. You have everything you need right here. Mountains, rivers, lakes, plains, valleys. And Roane County had just the look we wanted for the movie."

Boys of Summerville was shot in the summer of 2007. The entire crew, and the majority of the cast was from east Tennessee. And even some of the characters were based on real-life east Tennessee natives. “One of the characters in the movie Charles “Buddy” Davis, was based on our father, Charles Davis Benjamin, who passed away from cancer in 2000. I wanted to make a movie as a tribute to him, and since he loved comedies and softball so much, I thought this would be a perfect movie to make.”

The movie will show as the second installment of the Appalachian Dreams series, produced by Princess Productions and Gary Baker. Princess Productions, in conjunction with Muse Watson and Bill Landry, has been promoting the restoration of the Princess Theater in downtown Harriman while simultaneously pushing to revitalize the artistic movement in the area. Boys of Summerville will show on Friday, June 26th at 7:00 pm at the Roane State theater. Muse Watson and Bill Landry will open the show and also be available with the cast and crew for the Q&A following the screening.

Tickets are only $5 and can be purchased at the Rocky Top General Store and Jewelry Exchange in Harriman, as well as at the door the night of the screening.

--
"Point of Fear"
www.PointofFear.com

"Boys of Summerville"
www.BoysofSummerville.com

Using the RED ONE to Make a Living One Sheet

Living Movie Poster - Start to Finish from Alexx Henry on Vimeo.

3-day Intensive Creative Workshop

Joy Morris is an international Acting Teacher. 30 yrs experience in Hollywood, New York and Abroad. This workshop is for Actors, Executives, Sales, Writers, and anyone who wants to learn professional acting skills that will teach them how to free their inhibitions and communicate more expressively. 

June 19, 20, 21 in Knoxville.  joymorris@comcast.net. For detailed information go to Joymorris.com or ph 865-712-1132

And the Winner Is:

Winner of the Audience Award and First Prize at the Marble City Film Festival 2009. Congratulations to all the winners!

1st Prize 

Zombie
Musical
Erik Hutson and Stinky Pete Productions

2nd Prize

My God Given Right
Documentary
Sarah Davis and the News Station

3rd Prize

True North
Sci Fi
Jacob Boyd and Post Retro

Student

Marble City
Documentary
Maranda Vandergriff and the Road Scholars

The Egg Drop!

Team Movie Chuters from Michael Samstag on Vimeo.


Team Movie Chuters submission to the Marble City 10 Hour Film Festival!

10-Hours to write, shoot, and edit a 3-minute film with three required elements given the morning of the competition. This years elements were:

1) A Dozen Eggs
2) A String of Pearls
3) A Compass

We may not have won a prize, but I promise our team had more fun this year than is allowed by law (though very few laws were broken during the making of this film--including the law of gravity!).

VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO: Skydive East Tennessee!

First Shot of the Day

Waiting on Talent!

Dave takes one for Team Movie Chuters

Tennessee Premieres Tonight at Downtown West

TENNESSEE, written by former Knoxvillian, Russell Schaumburg opens in limited release nationwide on Friday, June 5. Several scenes were shot here on Gay Street several years ago. Luckily, Knoxville was one of the selected cities in which the film will play. Downtown West is the theater.

"Tennessee" was produced by Lee Daniels (MONSTER'S BALL, THE WOODSMAN, PRECIOUS) and stars Mariah Carey, Adam Rothenberg (MAD MONEY), Ethan Peck (grandson of Gregory) and Lance Reddick ("The Wire", "Fringe"). The movie also features an original song performed by Mariah Carey and co-written by Mariah and Willie Nelson.

Of course, you are welcome to see the film whenever you'd like (or not see it at all) but Russell is trying to organize a mass audience to attend the screening on Friday, June 5 in the SEVEN O' CLOCK hour. (The exact time will be released next week sometime.) He will be doing a brief Q and A after the screening and his brother, Edwin, is planning an after-party gathering as well. Details to be announced at the show...

If you can't make that screening, the film will be playing in town for a week. And probably longer. You can also catch the film in New York City, Philadelphia, Dallas, Nashville and Franklin, Memphis, Johnson City and Morristown. So please tell (or forward this email) to any friends and family in Knoxville (or in any of the cities listed above) who you think might be interested.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.fandango.com. And, of course, at the Downtown West box office as well.

And general information is at: www.tennesseethefilm.com and www.imdb.com.

5th Annual Marble City Film Festival

Register online at: http://www.marblecityfilmfestival.com/

When I Grow Up

Trailer for "Moon"

Directed by Duncan Jones and starring Sam Rockwell. Plot: Astronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems. Hits theaters June 12th, 2009.

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Last night a lucky group of Knoxvillians were treated to a special sneak preview of several scenes from Ken Burn's upcoming film, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" at the Tennessee Theater. The event was sold out and featured a talk by the writer, Dayton Duncan.


Nearly a decade in the making, The National Parks: America's Best Idea is a visual feast, featuring some of the most extensive, breathtaking images of the national parks system every captured on film. It contains the most contemporary footage of any Ken Burns film since Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery, shot principally by chief cinematographer Buddy Squires (who has filmed all of Burns's documentaries), long-time Florentine cameraman Allen Moore, Lincoln Else (who also is a former ranger at Yosemite) and Burns himself.

As with all of Burns's films, there will be an extensive educational component, an interactive web site that provides more information about the film, the parks and related issues, as well as a large-scale community engagement initiative. Four years ago, WETA and Florentine Films, with generous support from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, launched the Untold Stories project, designed to bring to light stories from the national parks focusing on the role of African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in the creation and protection of individual parks and to engage new and traditionally underserved audiences in the educational richness of the national parks.

Accompanying the series will be a companion book, written by Dayton Duncan and introduced by Ken Burns, which will be published by Alfred A. Knopf, Ken Burns's long-time publisher. PBS Home Video is producing a complete DVD box set that will feature "making of" footage and an interview with Burns and others involved in the film.

http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

Join the Outside In IMAX Production

This is from an email I received from Stephen van Vuuren. I met Stephen last year at the Secret City Film Fest and was blown away by his production. Here's how you can help:

My "IMAX in a Basement" film project, "Outside In" is making some major steps forward. "Outside In" is a not-for-profit IMAX film created entirely from still photographs animated into full motion exploring the question "Why Explore Space?"

First, a 2-minute trailer will be screening in Raleigh on the giant IMAX screen on June 8th at 12:00 noon. It's well worth the trip as the clip will show a couple of time plus a meet and greet. This is a private event - you must RSVP to me if you would like to attend. The event is for donor and supporters only, but you get on-board for just a $1 a month, tax-deductible donation here:

https://www.fracturedatlas.org/site/contribute/pledge/?fiscal_id=924

Second, for those who can't make the screening, "Outside In" has a brand new fundraising plan. Despite the economic downturn which has closed all the sources of funding we planned on applying for, we have come up with a innovative, easy way to fund the completion of "Outside In". It's called "Team 11" in honor of the planned release date of November 11, 2011.

http://www.outsideinthemovie.com/team11

For $1 a month, tax-deductible, between now and the film's release, you can help make a IMAX film! The real power is signing up 1-10 more of your friends or family on your team for a total of $11 a month. Each "Team 11" gets a name of a moon in the Saturn system and listed on the website, credits etc. Plus each team member gets free tickets to the film, free DVD or Blu-ray and invites to private in-progress screenings.

Get your team signed up today and thanks in advance for all the tremendous support from all.

stephen v2
336-202-4777
www.sv2studios.com

"A film is - or should be - more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what's behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later."
Stanley Kubrick

5th Annual Marble City 10 Hour Film Festival Announcements!

The 5th Annual Marble City 10 Hour Film Festival is right around the corner and we'd like to take a moment to update you and remind you of a few things.

1. Online registration is open and if you haven't registered make sure to to do so before Thursday June 4th and secure your spot in this fun and challenging event!

2. If you have participated in the festival before you might remember that we've always accepted film submissions on DVD and mini-dv, but this year we're streamlining our screening process and will only be accepting film submissions on DVD. Mini-dv will not be permitted, no exceptions.

3. We're looking for volunteers to assist us the day of he festival. So, if you can't compete, but would like to get involved please contact Karen Daniel at Karen@marblecityfilmfestival.com.

4. This event isn't just for filmmakers, it's also for FILM LOVERS!
One way we're promoting the event to the general public is by offering buy one GET ONE FREE admission! All competitors get in free, but maybe you have friends and family members who might want to tag along. We'll be at the Bijou this Sunday evening prior to the showing of Brazil, offering this buy one get one free admission special! Come see us there from 6:30-7:30pm or email us at info@marblecityfilmfestival.com for more info. on getting tickets.

Movies at the Bijou: Brazil

Sunday, May 31, 2009
7:30pm - 10:30pm
The Historic Bijou Theatre
803 South Gay Street

A thoroughly maddening film (in the best sense) directed by Terry Gilliam. Try to stay with me: a young guy is trying to find a woman who appears in dreams while he's working in a mind-numbing job. He lives in a tiny apartment in a dystopian world which relies way too much on a bunch of poorly maintained machinery to accomplish seemingly every task. There's a Big-Brotheresque government vibe, but without an actual 'Big Brother'. There is a lot ductwork and hoses and valves, and cameo performances by people you wouldn't expect to find here. It's an incredibly trippy movie with spectacular scenic design and one that has a huge cult following.

Screen Capture from the RED

Shot at Cades Cove last week as part of a documentary about the Burchfields and Myers, some of the earliest settlers to the Cove.

Memorial Day Weekend

It's shaping up to be a beautiful weekend, but let's not lose sight of the real reason for the three day weekend--to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Knoxville Films would like to extend special thanks to the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who have served and to their families for your service and dedication to this great country.

GEAR TECH: FilmFellas Episode 10

FilmFellas - webisode 10 from Steve Weiss, Zacuto USA on Vimeo.

"Social Experiment"

Webisode 10 brings you a brand new cast of FilmFellas. Each fella has a different approach to online media, but they do agree on one thing, media is changing and it’s changing fast. Steve opens with the classic and sometimes risky exercise of “say what you think of first”. Each cast member is hit with a variety of terms from web video to social networking and the responses may shock you. Conversation quickly turns to the idea of how physical media is shifting to online media.

Edward Seaton explains, “It depends on how quickly technology can catch up with the idea of online distribution and watching things in a different format.”

Taking that a step further, the cast discusses how advances in home entertainment have also affected the idea of physical media. Technology, again, needs to find a flawless way however, to connect this online content with the home theater equipment. The immediacy of online content creates a roadblock that other lines of media have yet to overcome. Check out the conversation and see what it sparks for you.

On Location, Shooting the RED in the Smokies

AFFT Meeting at Rivr Media

Help Save the East Tennessee Television & Film Commission!

As some of you may already know, the East Tennessee Television & Film Commission (ETTFC) was not included in Knox County’s proposed budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Since the ETTFC is solely funded by Knox County, this would mean that the ETTFC would have to effectively close its doors. Currently the proposed budget has gone before Knox County Commission to be approved. While it’s there, the Commission will have the opportunity to make changes.

We ask that anyone who is interested in seeing the ETTFC continue to please contact your County Commissioner and ask them to reinstate funding for the ETTFC in the upcoming budget. If funding for the ETTFC is not reinstated, Knoxville runs the risk of losing its central contact point for the Television & Film Industry.

Please find a list of County Commissioners posted below.

Thank you for your support.

Thomas Duncan
Project Coordinator
ETTFC
Phone: (865) 246-2629

Knox County Commissioners
General Mailbox:            commission@knoxcounty.org
Amy Broyles:                Amy.Broyles@knoxcounty.org
Brad Anders:                 Brad.Anders@knoxcounty.org
Bud Armstrong:             Bud.Armstrong@knoxcounty.org
Craig Leuthold:              Craig.Leuthold@knoxcounty.org
Dave Wright;                  Dave.Wright@knoxcounty.org
Ed Shouse:                   Ed.Shouse@knoxcounty.org
Finbarr Saunders:          Finbarr.Saunders@knoxcounty.org
Greg Lambert:               Greg.Lambert@knoxcounty.org
Ivan Harmon:                 Ivan.Harmon@knoxcounty.org
Mark Harmon:                Mark.Harmon@knoxcounty.org
Michael (Mike) Brown:    mike.brown@knoxcounty.org
Mike Hammond:            Mike.Hammond@knoxcounty.org
Paul Pinkston:               Paul.Pinkston@knoxcounty.org
R. Larry Smith:              larry.smith@knoxcounty.org
Richard Briggs:              Richard.Briggs@knoxcounty.org
Sam McKenzie:             sam.mckenzie@knoxcounty.org
Thomas Strickland:        thomas.strickland@knoxcounty.org
Tony Norman:                Tony.Norman@knoxcounty.org
Michele Carringer:           Michele.Carringer@knoxcounty.org 

AFFT Tennessee Knoxville Chapter Meeting

The Local Chapter of the ASSOCIATION FOR THE FUTURE OF FILM AND TELEVISION IN TENNESSEE will be holding a meeting this Wednesday, May 20th at Rivr Media, 342 Troy Circle, Knoxville 37919. Check out their web site at www.rivr.com.

Meeting agenda will be:
6 PM to 6:30 PM Meet and greet and a chance to tour the facilities
6:30 to 7 PM Jerome Jarnigan from Rivr will discuss what Rivr has to offer, the projects they are involved in and answer any questions from the group.
7 PM to 7:30 PM Our guest speaker, Dave Porfiri, Mindflow Media in Chattanooga, will be talking about what he and the Chattanooga Chapter of AFFT are doing to increase production opportunities in their community.

If you are interested in increasing work opportunities in our area, come and find out what you as an individual and we as a group can do for our future in this industry.

If you have friends that are not members, encourage them to come with you on Weds. night and join. The yearly membership fee is $25.00. We all need to support the state wide effort of AFFT to affect the legislation that will benefit the film, television and video production industries and those of us associated with it.

Lifted from Pixar

From Wikipedia:

Lifted is a 2006 Pixar computer animated short film directed by Gary Rydstrom. This is the first film directed by Rydstrom, a seven-time Academy Award winning sound editor and mixer.

The film was released theatrically with Pixar's Ratatouille (June 29, 2007). The short also received a sneak peek at The 42nd Chicago International Film Festival.

Plot

A young alien, Stu, is inside a spaceship taking an examination in abduction. He must snatch a sleeping farmer named Ernie under the watchful eye of his imposing instructor, Mr. B.[2] To accomplish this, Stu must, from memory, utilize the array of thousands of unlabeled toggle switches on the giant console before him. Using the correct switches, Stu must manipulate the tractor beam, lifting the human from his bed, out the window, and into the ship. With a few hesitant flicks of the wrong switch, and eventually a frustrated swipe at the array, he mistakenly propels the human into walls and occasionally the ceiling, but never waking the farmer from his slumber. After repeated failures to successfully lift the human into the ship, Mr. B takes over and, wielding the massive bank of switches with ease, returns the farmer to his bed and cleans up the mess inside the farmhouse.

Ashamed over his failure, Stu starts whimpering, trying to hold back his tears. In a rare moment of compassion, Mr. B generously offers Stu the opportunity to launch the space ship back home. Full of glee, Stu takes hold of the steering apparatus and starts to lift the ship into the air, but the flying saucer plummets to the ground, crushing the farmer's house. When the spaceship finally departs, its underside covered in debris, all that remains is a crater with a tall pillar of dirt in the center, left by the tractor beam's cargo entry, atop which the farmer is still sleeping soundly in his bed.

During the end credits there is the sound of an alarm clock, the farmer waking up, yawning, a loud scream which echoes (meaning he fell in), then a thud.