Indie News & Events
INDIE FILM NEWS 9/6
If you missed the 70th annual WorldCon (ChiCon 7) that happened at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago this past weekend - then you truly missed out on a fantastic event! Screenings of Jason Hul's 'The Drone' and Mark Stolaroff's 'Pig', which took home best sci-fi feature at the film fest, as well as special guest George R R Martin, the 2012 Hugo award winner for season one of 'Game of Thrones', were some of the memorable highlights.
There are a ton of upcoming events and screenings happening in the Midwest all through Sept. Check out our Festival and Events page for a full listing. Don't miss out on Dr. Divatican Daring's Fun-Time Fundraising Festival happening this Fri, Sat, and Sunday at Trap Door Theatre in Chicago! From live music, gift certificate giveaways, and burlesque shows - it's sure to be a good time!
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INDIE FILM NEWS 8/28
For those of you who are fans of Notebook Entertainment or looking for a nice indie web series to follow we recommend heading over to Wyatt Elliot's new youtube channel under username, NotebookMovies. This channel withholds a plethora of entertainment both old and new and will be the new home of the production companies' projects. Subscribe or miss out. The choice is yours.
Travis Legge's super hero web series "Legacy of the Masque" has made it's way to the internet and to our hearts. Head over to amazon and check it out - you're not going to want to miss this action packed super hero extravaganza!
Don't miss the Geek Media Expo in Nashville, TN happening October 26th-28th! Check out the official site for all the details and features of this event! Geeks unite!
Matt Glasson's awesome film "Love Stalker" is back in our lives along with the awesome news that they're be screening an entire week at the Portage theater from Sept. 7 - the 13th. Check out the official site for more information. In case you missed it, here's an exclusive interview we did with Matt way back when 'Love Stalker' first premiered in Chicago!
Cinespace Chicago is a studio facility with multiple soundproof stages, casting, wardrobe, and dressing room spaces, and sizable parking areas for film units, crew, vehicles, and storage trailers. It's a large space, reasonably price, and a great way to feel like woah…shit just got professional. Find out more at their official site!
When newly out teen Olivia loses her family, her home, and her future in one fell swoop, she's taken in by a resilient group of lesbian misfits. Things can only get better. Right? Check out the official site for series 'The Throwaways' here.
We are saddened to have to announce the recent passing of our friend and reality star personality Joey Kovar. We had the pleasure of getting a chance to meet and interview Joey at the Psycho Street screening in Chicago we hosted this year. Joey was best known for his role on The Real World: Hollywood but was also an aspiring wrestler and indie film actor who has recently signed on to be part of the Muscle Wolf Production group. The details surrounding Joey's death are still unconfirmed. Joey was a son, brother, father, and dear friend to a great many people and will be sorely missed. Watch his interview footage here.
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INDIE FILM NEWS 8/8
The Prairie State Film Festival is right around the corner! This multi-genre international film festival offering awards in several categories. The festival will be screening such films as Hand of Glory, Afraid of Sunrise, Only Thunder, and the Perspective of Love along with many other films. The 2012 event takes place on Saturday August 11th at The Portage Theater in Chicago IL! Click here to get your tickets!
Chicago filmmaker Raza Siddiqui produced a short film titled THE LAST HUG in 2011. THE LAST HUG is a story about Mini, a young girl who has everything that people of that age could dream of..a big house..car..a secured future..but what she didn't have..was a father..and she knew just how poor she was. It is now available for viewing on http://www.chicagotalkies.com/
If you feel you're worthy enough you should submit your film to the Ann Arbor Film Festival. Submissions are now open for the 2013 run. This festival provides at least $20, 000 in cash and film stock and/or services to more than 20 filmmakers, serves as a qualifying festival for Academy Award nomination in the short film category, and provides touring opportunities to select filmmakers. In case you want to save the date it'll be held March 19th-24th in downtown Ann Arbor, MI. http://www.aafilmfest.org/festival/submit
'Below Zero' recently screened at the Fright Night and Water Front Film Festivals. The film focuses on a screenwriter (Edward Furlong) who locks himself in a slaughterhouse freezer in the face of looming deadline. Left with nothing but his own demons to distract him, he writes the story of a tow truck driver who finds himself accidentally locked in a slaughterhouse freezer with the barely alive victim of a serial killer. Naturally, reality and fiction eventually merge and his script comes to life. For future screening information or to just watch the trailer check out their official site: http://belowzeromovie.com/
The Midwest Independent Film Festival takes place every First Tuesday of the month at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark, in Chicago. Come out, see some great films, all while mingling with local filmmakers and talent. http://www.midwestfilm.com/pages/home/1.php
Looking for some helpful advice on film distribution? Aren't we all! Check out this very interesting and informative blog, Distribution 101, to learn the ins, outs, and tricks of the trade to getting your film distributed! http://www.ifp.org/resources/distribution-101-foreign-sales-agents/
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INDIE FILM NEWS 7/25
In case you were unawares, online videos, especially through Youtube fall under the category of distribution. We mention this because if you're using sounds or jingles included with Soundtrack Pro you might begin to find your audio missing unless you alter the sounds and or music before "distributing" your video online. Which I'm sure most of you are aware but…we recently had a friend that went through some BS without knowing those simple facts. So…there you go.
Could you use some Tango lessons? Well you're in luck since they just so happen to come with a benefit event for the film "Deadly Embrace." It's a BYOB event this Friday, the 27th in Chicago, Illinois. There's a tango workshop beginning at 8 followed by Live Music from the films' band starting at 11. For more information check it out here. They're also in need for extras and tango dancers!
Luca Valentine's upcoming project "Vera's Garden" is a short film about a 72-year-old immigrant family-business owner, forced by her own distancing children to come to terms with the present generation's changes in lifestyle and aspirations. You can see Luca explain all the details and ask for your help on the indie go-go page.
It's July and you know what the means…Christmas is right around the corner. So start by celebrating early at the 3160 bar on Clark, Chicago, IL this Thursday the 26th from 6-9pm to party with some of the cast and crew of Scrooge and Marley, A Christmas film with gay sensibility for the whole family.
Our lovely friend Wyatt Elliott will be releasing a new series called Retales A web-series with 2-4 minute episodes about retail workers and the crazy people they deal with on a day to day basis. It'll be premiering August 13th under Notebook Entertainment's youtube channel. So stay tuned.
It feels good to help people…don't believe us? Fine. But we have the perfect opportunity for you to test our theory! "The Days God Slept" is in post production looking for financial help…..aren't we all? But this cool production still photo should convince you to possibly give them a buck or two. If not then listen to the synopsis…"The Days God Slept" is a cinematic prayer that deals with love and secrets; with faith and acceptance. Kristy has a secret to tell John and when she does - will their burgeoning ties of affection be strengthened or severed? Or will they find that the hardest thing to accept might be oneself? Confused? You won't be, after this movie is made with your help.
Here at FRM we look after our viewers and make sure you will be well entertained over the weekend by attending some of the latest premiers. This Saturday and 11:15am, in Michigan, at Birmingham8, Theater3 you can check out Somewhere West. The visually breathtaking road-film that explores the human spirit with emotional breadth and quiet subtlety.
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INDIE FILM NEWS 7/11
FRM had one crazy adventure after another at the Fright Night Film Festival in Louisville, Kentucky beginning of July. From meeting stars like Colin Ferguson, Glenn Hetrick, Paul Morrell, Nicholas Brendon, David Della Rocco, and Charlie O' Connel to meeting amazingly talented indie film artist's like Christopher Emerson and David Campfield, it will be one weekend the ladies will not soon forget! Stay tuned for exclusive footage and one on one interviews with some of the aforementioned in upcoming episodes of FRM! Special thanks to Alienbee,net's Brian Shirley for inviting the FRM ladies out and giving them this great opportunity!
The Chop Shop Fundraiser and Film Festival is taking place July 21st at the Arcadia Theater in Saint Charles, IL. The event screenings will include various entertaining projects by filmmakers like the AWARD WINNING director Tony Wash, Tony Passarella, John Wesley Norton, Ben Lewandowski, and Jose Carlos Gomez. Don't miss this awesome event and opportunity to support indie film whi8le networking with some of the Midwest's best filmmakers!
Director Gary Schultz film 'Devil In My Ride' will be having a free, yes FREE, screening of the feature length horror comedy July 14th at The Portage Theater in Chicago. Doors open at 7pm and the film screens at 8pm. Learn more about the event here.
FRM has joined forces with Zack Daggy’s Spookshow.tv in a collaborative effort to reach more indie fans with the project news they want to know about. The official announcement was made at Spookshow’s panel table at Days of The Dead Indianapolis this past weekend. FRM is extremely excited to co-collaborate with Zack, who not only created Spookshow.tv but also is an established indie film director. Learn more about the network by checking out www.Spookshow.tv.
Hey Wisconsin people! You creative at all? Yeah? Well prove it! Submit your film to the Wisconsin Film Festival, we dares ya. They're taking submissions from now until September. So get on it.
