Back Lot Films Blog

BillMillios.com now online

2009-09-30T17:47:00.003-04:00

Thanks to all of you who've visited this blog since its inception in April of 2006. This will be the final post on this blog as I will now be posting on an entirely new site - BillMillios.com. At the new site I plan to focus primarily on my individual creative work, be it past films or new projects. Information related to my company’s corporate video work will be posted on the Back Lot Films website.

I've appreciated your past support and I hope to see you on the new site in the days ahead...

Back Lot Films in new issue of P3 Update Magazine

2009-09-12T15:03:00.005-04:00

There's a brief but nice mention of our next two feature-length films (both currently in pre-production) in the new issue of P3 Update Magazine. Click on the image below to read:

Trailer for Nick Purcell's 'The Troop'

2009-08-04T18:16:00.004-04:00

Courtesy of Nick.com here's the official trailer(The Troop Nick.com) for the upcoming TV show The Troop starring Concord, NH's Nick Purcell. As many of you know, Nick portrayed 'Grits' in our 2005 feature-length film Dangerous Crosswinds and it's really awesome seeing him break onto national television like this. The show's tag line is "they're normal high school kids...with a secret" and the trailer looks amazing. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy as Nick worked so hard on our film during production as well as, along with his mother Duvene, being a big advocate of our Dangerous Crosswinds upon its release. Keep up the great work Nick, we're all every proud of you back here and are definitely looking forward to the series premiere next month!

The failure of Food, Inc.

2009-07-30T09:11:00.001-04:00

I was pretty disappointed in the documentary 'Food Inc.'. In fact, I have a hard time believing anyone can be a fan of a film that champions a woman who makes her living torturing chickens as well as trying to make us feel sorry for the plight of illegal alien slaughterhouse workers. The most incredulous part is the 'intellectural cowboy' talking on-camera like a seasoned politician while chickens are being killed ten feet behind him. And, to top it off, the film's end titles urge us to be sure we 'treat animals with respect'. I guess that only includes dogs and cats...

Gina Lee Kim Watercolors

2009-06-05T08:25:00.010-04:00

Our friend Gina Lee Kim is a very talented (and prolific!) artist who recently opened a show of her work at Starbucks in downtown Newburyport, MA. The exhibit features one painting, in particular, which is very special to me and my wife Valerie. Painted as a birthday present for Valerie and entitled 'Missy & Molly', the piece above is of the two pets who we lost earlier this year, our dog Molly in January and our cat Missy just two months later in March. Gina writes on her blog that 'art heals' and I couldn't agree more.

Gina specializes in watercolor, acrylic & mixed-media collage. The photo below is of the new Starbucks exhibit and be sure to check out her blog at http://ginaleekim.blogspot.com/ - keep up the awesome work Gina and thank you again for your wonderful gift!

Don LaBranche R.I.P. 1932-2009

2009-05-25T15:25:00.039-04:00

Learning of the sudden passing this past Friday of actor Don LaBranche at the age of 76 was particularly saddening not only to myself but to so many others who worked with him. As many of you know, Don was, besides being a well-known stage actor throughout New Hampshire, in some ways the 'face' of both of my feature-length films, Old Man Dogs (1997) and Dangerous Crosswinds (2005).

In Old Man Dogs Don portrayed 'Ned Noonan', an elderly hermit who went by the nickname of 'Old Man Dogs', and spent his days digging up holes all over Mount Penobscot, looking for the remains of his long-deceased wife and daughter.

To this day, whenever Don would call me on the phone, he would start off with 'Hi Bill, it's Dogs'' which, of course, would always make me smile. You couldn't compare him to anyone else. He was dependable, relentlessly loyal to the material and his acting abilities gave me, as a first-time feature-film director, an enormous boost of confidence in what we were attempting to accomplish with this film. Low-budget independent films endlessly strive for authenticity and from the very first moment Don appears onscreen (with shovel in hand and walking away from the camera) our film had achieved that.

Eight years later I had the privilege to work with Don again on Dangerous Crosswinds and this time he played a completely different character, the multi-layered seasoned attorney 'Alec Holbrook'. I remember driving to the Dunkin Donuts in Straham, NH with Bill McNally (the lead actor in Old Man Dogs) to offer Don the part. I wanted to have my 'act' together when I explained the new production to Don and having Bill with me ensured that I did. I respected Don so much as a person that I'd be furious with myself if I wasn't prepared and ending up wasting his time.

The last time I saw Don was this past August when I interviewed him for a documentary that we're currently producing on the making of Old Man Dogs (to be included with the upcoming DVD re-issue). He was in wonderful spirits that day and especially upbeat when we discussed our next film, Death & Glory, and how I was determined to cast Don in a comic role as I knew how terrific and unique he could be in such a role. Unfortunately, that will never happen.

It was during those interviews for the Dogs documentary that I was especially struck (though I can't say surprised) by the nonstop praise heaped on Don by his fellow cast & crew members. Lead Actress Julia Radochia said, with no room for debate, 'Well Don, he's simply the best." Production Manager Paul Foster commented that he thought Don's performance in the film was 'tremendous' and added how much it meant to him getting to know Don during the production. Wendell Goodrum mentioned how he, like Don, had appeared in both of my films but how they had yet to appear in a same together. Wendell hoped that this would change in Death & Glory. Bill McNally, in particular, was very emotional in describing his time working with Don, how he's forever indebted to Don for being patient, generous with his time and guiding him in all of their scenes together (as Old Man Dogs was Bill's first film).

Don LaBranche was more than just an actor who gave arguably two of the most memorable performances in New Hampshire filmmaking history. For me, Don was a good friend - who also happened to be a wonderfully talented and unique actor. Rest in peace Don, one thing I know for sure is that we will all be thinking of you when the time comes to start our next film and seeing how well we can move forward without the dependable safety net which you were to all of us.

Hollywood Reporter article on The Troop

2009-05-14T07:28:00.005-04:00

There's a nice article in this week's Hollywood Reporter on the upcoming Nickelodeon TV show The Troop. The comic/action series stars Nick Purcell (who portrayed 'Grits' in our 2005 feature Dangerous Crosswinds) and is currently in production in Vancouver, BC. The show received a 26-episode order from Nickelodeon and will premiere this fall. Keep up the great work Nick and we're all really looking forward to it! Click on the image to the left to read the article.

The Sleeping Deep Blog

2009-05-01T09:50:00.004-04:00

Filmmaker Jeff Palmer remains busier than ever. Be sure to visit his blog, The Sleeping Deep, to receive updates about his current film project (currently in pre-production) which captured the top screenwriting prize at the 2008 H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival. Keep up the great work Jeff!

Hippo article on the Ioka

2009-04-30T17:28:00.002-04:00

Great column in today's HippoPress by Jeff Rapsis on the importance of saving Exeter's Ioka Theatre...

Today's Portsmouth Herald

2009-04-30T09:56:00.002-04:00

Interesting article in today's Portsmouth Herald on the subject of screening local films...

Tol'able David to screen with live music in Wilton on March 29!

2009-03-11T18:10:00.002-04:00

Below is the latest press release from Jeff Rapsis, who wrote & performed the music for our 2005 feature Dangerous Crosswinds. This is a terrific and very unusual silent film that I still remember seeing in my "Silent Film Studies" course back when I attended UNH. Definitely try to catch this one if you can:

CALENDAR LISTING / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

'Tol'able David' (1921) in Wilton, N.H. on Sunday, March 29

Classic silent film to be shown with live music; rural drama filmed on location in Virginia

WILTON, N.H. — See a moving rural drama made nearly a century in backwoods Virginia when the silent film 'Tol'able David,' one of the biggest movie hits of 1921, is revived for one screening only on Sunday, March 29 at 4:30 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Richard Barthelmess plays the title role, an adolescent eager for a chance to prove to the community that he's a man; he gets it when three escapees from jail set up shop in town and menance the local residents. When push comes to shove, who will come out on top? Famous for intense story and scenes of long-vanished country life in rural Virignia. 'Tol'able David' will be shown on Sunday, March 29 at 4:30 p.m.; screening includes comedy short subjects and live music by local musician and composer Jeff Rapsis. Free admission; donations encouraged to help defray expenses. For more info, visit www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com or call (603) 654-3456.

The Wilton Town Hall Theatre runs silent film programs with live music the last Sunday of every month. See for yourself the films that made audiences first fall in love with the movies!

Review of 'Tol'able David': "Beautifully crafted...the finale is a rip-roaring piece of movie story-telling." --Leonard Maltin

In 2007, 'Tol'able David' was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

CAPTION: Gladys Hulette, Richard Barthelmess, and Marion Abbott star in 'Tol'able David' (1921), to be screened with live music on Sunday, March 29 at 4:30 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre in Wilton, N.H. Admission free, donations accepted.

(Courtesy Image)

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For more info, contact:
Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jrapsis@gmail.com
Images attached.
More high-resolution digital images available upon request.

Guest lecturers announced for upcoming Digital Filmmaking Workshops

2009-02-26T10:11:00.011-05:00

February 26, 2009 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Guest lecturers announced for upcoming Digital Filmmaking Workshops

Seminars on Independent Film return to Manchester on April 25-26, 2009.

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Digital Filmmaking Workshops has announced the guest lecturers for their upcoming weekend seminar, Producing, Marketing & Screening Your Independent Film, which will be held 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (both days) on April 25-26, 2009, at the production studio of Back Lot Films, located at 105 Faltin Drive in Manchester, N.H. The guest lecturers include Matthew Newton (Film Specialist for the NH Film and Television Office), Jeff Rapsis (Associate Publisher for HippoPress), Paul Durham (Associate at Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green) and John Campanello (Actor & Owner of BetweenGigs Casting Agency).

Matthew Newton is the director of the New Hampshire Film and Television Office in Concord which promotes the state as a filmmaking destination for media projects and works to support New Hampshire’s in-state film and video industry. Newton is a 1997 graduate of the Film Production program at Keene State College in Keene, NH, where he returned to teach film production in 2003 and 2004. He has also worked as a Production Coordinator and Editor at C.2K Entertainment, a commercial production company in Los Angeles, CA and in a variety of capacities on feature film and television projects on the west coast.

Jeff Rapsis is a New Hampshire native who wrote and performed the score for the feature-length film Dangerous Crosswinds. (2005) He regularly composes scores for classic silent films, most recently creating and recording music for the newly restored feature comedy Campus Knights (1929) being re-released in 2009 by Looser Than Loose Vintage Entertainment. He regularly accompanies silent films at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre in Wilton, N.H. and the Palace Theatre in Manchester, N.H., and has played for screenings at the New York Public Library, the Kansas Silent Film Festival, and many other venues. Rapsis is co-owner of HippoPress, the weekly arts and entertainment newspaper of southern New Hampshire, for which he covers classical music and serves as Associate Publisher.

Paul Durham is an Associate at the law firm of Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green. He chairs the firm’s Entertainment, Media and Publishing practice group and represents individual artists, authors, independent filmmakers and television producers as well as an Academy Award winning screenwriter. Paul also represented a creative services agency in the negotiation of the television and sponsorship rights for a package of NCAA football games to be broadcast on a national cable television network. Before moving to New Hampshire, Paul was Senior Counsel at Playboy TV International, LLC, where he managed international legal affairs for the television company and assisted executives in launching branded television networks around the world. He also worked as an associate at a major law firm in Miami, Florida and has taught undergraduate and MBA-level law and business courses at Southern New Hampshire University and Daniel Webster College.

John Campanello has been involved in the film and television industry in New England since 1996. As an actor, he has appeared in over 40 local and regional commercials, as well as several corporate videos, print ads, and independent films. His company, BetweenGigs Casting, provides talent casting services to media projects, corporate and private events, and theatre organizations. John is co-host of Hollywood New England, a community access television program that profiles people from New England who are working in the entertainment and media industries. He also recently hosted a documentary segment on pet cemeteries, entitled Unconditional Love, written and produced by Hollywood New England co-producer, Ken Lawrence.

From the crew of Dangerous Crosswinds, Old Man Dogs and the upcoming Death & Glory the Digital Filmmaking Workshops have been created by Bill Millios of Back Lot Films & Marc Vadeboncoeur of Goodheart Media Services with a philosophy towards instructing students how they can achieve their goals with a ‘no-nonsense do-it-yourself’ approach. “This is a terrific group of guest speakers that we’ve lined up for this year’s workshops,” said Millios. “They’re an extremely experienced group of film & theatre professionals who add an important dynamic to our workshops”.

Attendees will receive valuable insight into the creative, technical, and marketing strategies essential for filmmaking. Small class size, practical demonstrations, and a wide range of topics will give students the opportunity to expand their knowledge and put it to immediate use. Testimonials from past workshops have been posted on the http://www.digitalfilmmakingworkshops.com/ website.

In 2005 Dangerous Crosswinds screened in close to twenty locations in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont, including the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, N.H., Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H. and the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, Mass. Commentators praised the film as an outstanding example of independent film made outside traditional cinema circles. DVDTalk.com awarded the film a four-star rating, New Hampshire Magazine called Dangerous Crosswinds “provocative – a film which explores the light and dark sides of human nature,” John Clayton of the New Hampshire Union Leader wrote that “this is honest and brave filmmaking,” while Mike Sullivan in the Portsmouth Herald described Dangerous Crosswinds as being “independent filmmaking in its purest form.”

Registration for the two-day seminar is $497. In addition, attendees will receive complimentary copies of the Digital Filmmaking Workshops Handbook, a DVD of Dangerous Crosswinds and the Discmakers Ultimate Guide to Releasing Your Film on DVD. For more information please call 1-978-702-9503 or visit http://www.digitalfilmmakingworkshops.com/.

High-resolution photos available upon request.

END

The Strong Man to play Palace Theatre with live music on March 5!

2009-02-19T07:11:00.000-05:00

Here's yet another press release from Jeff Rapsis who wrote and performed the music for our 2005 feature-length film Dangerous Crosswinds. Jeff, along with Dave & Ali Stevenson from Looser Than Loose Productions, have done an amazing job the past few years educating New Hampshire film audiences to what made silent films so magical. And it must be gratifying for them to see all of their hard work paying off as this past Sunday's screening of 'Flesh and the Devil' at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre in Wilton, NH drew more than 150 people, which is no small feat. Keep up the great work guys!

CALENDAR LISTING / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

'The Strong Man' (1926) to play Palace Theatre with live music on March 5

Silent film comic Harry Langdon's best feature; directed by a young Frank Capra

MANCHESTER, N.H. - 'The Strong Man' (1926), regarded as silent film comedian's Harry Langdon's best full-length movie, will be screened with live music on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, N.H. 'The Strong Man' tells the story of an ex-soldier (Harry Langdon), who works as a circus assistant while searching for the girl he corresponded with while fighting in Europe in World War I. The film showcases the unique child-like personality of Langdon, who is forgotten today but for a brief time in the 1920s rivaled Charlie Chaplin as Hollywood's top movie clown. 'The Strong Man' was the first film directed by a very young Frank Capra, who went on to helm such classics as 'It's a Wonderful Life.' Program also includes vintage short subjects. One screening only on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester.

'The Strong Man' is part of the Palace Theatre's first-ever "Silent Film Blockbusters" series, which aims to show best quality prints of silent classics on the big screen with live music. See for yourself the films that made audiences first fall in love with the movies! Palace screening includes live music by local musician and composer Jeff Rapsis. General admission, $7 per person; proceeds to benefit the Palace Theatre. Series sponsored by Ameriprise Financial. For tickets and more info on 'The Strong Man' and other films in the series, visit http://www.palacetheatre.org/ or call the Palace box office at (603) 668-5588.

In 2007, 'The Strong Man' was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
For more info, contact:
Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jrapsis@gmail.com

High-resolution digital images available upon request.

Flesh and the Devil to screen this Sunday in Wilton!

2009-02-11T14:45:00.011-05:00

Here's the latest press release from Dangerous Crosswinds composer Jeff Rapsis, who'll be providing live music for this upcoming screening:

Wednesday, Feb. 11 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Garbo and Gilbert as lovers in 'Flesh and the Devil' in Wilton, N.H. on Sunday, Feb. 15

WILTON, N.H. - Rediscover the passionate romance between Greta Garbo and John Gilbert in a Valentine's Day weekend screening of 'Flesh and the Devil' (1927), the classic silent melodrama that first brought the legendary Hollywood couple together. Set in Germany, 'Flesh and the Devil' tells the story of a love triangle between two boyhood friends (Gilbert and Lars Hansen) and the amoral seductress (Garbo) who comes between them. The two men are eventually forced into a violent struggle over the woman, who marries one but carries on an affair with the other. During the shooting, Garbo and Gilbert developed their own highly charged off-screen romantic affair, the passion of which director Clarence Brown captured on camera. Though Garbo and Gilbert eventually went their separate ways, 'Flesh and the Devil' marked the beginning of of one of the legendary romances of early Hollywood.'

Flesh and the Devil' is the latest in a series of monthly silent film screenings being held at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre. The series aims to recreate the lost magic of early cinema by bringing together four crucial elements needed for silent film to work: the best films in best available prints; projection on the big screen; live musical accompaniment; and a live audience.

"These films are still moving and intense experiences if you can show them as they were designed to be screened," said Jeff Rapsis, who provides musical accompaniment for the screenings. "There's a reason people first fell in love with the movies, and we hope to recreate the right atmosphere for these films to be seen to its best advantage. At their best, they were communal experiences in which the presence of a large audience intensifies everyone's reactions."

For 'Flesh and the Devil,' Rapsis will improvise a music score for the two-hour film using a selection of original themes he recently created. However, none of the the music is written down; instead, the score will evolve in real time as the movie screens based on audience reaction and the overall mood. The appeal of 'Flesh and the Devil' has withstood the test of time. In 2006, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Reviewers have continued to praise the picture's many good qualities, often singling out Garbo's performance as particularly memorable. "

Pulsatingly romantic, beautifully filmed, probably the best Garbo-Gilbert love match," wrote critic Leonard Maltin, while David Parkinson of Empire Magazine wrote that "Garbo is mesmerizing in this wild and heated romance..." Carol Cling of the Las Vegas Review proclaimed 'Flesh and the Devil' as "Garbo & Gilbert at their steamy, sultry silent peak."

'Flesh and the Devil,' a great way to round out Valentine's Day weekend, will be shown on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 4:30 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H. Free admission; donations encouraged to help defray expenses. For more info, visit www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com/ or call (603) 654-3456. The Wilton Town Hall Theatre runs silent film programs with live music generally the last Sunday of every month. See for yourself the films that made audiences first fall in love with the movies! The Wilton Town Hall's silent film series is sponsored by HippoPress, the Manchester Express, and Looser Than Loose Vintage Entertainment of Manchester.

PHOTO CAPTION: John Gilbert and Greta Garbo star in 'Flesh and the Devil' (1927), to be screened with live music on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 4:30 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre in Wilton, N.H. Admission free, donations accepted. (Courtesy Image)

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For more info, contact:Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jrapsis@gmail.com
Images attached.
More high-resolution digital images available upon request.

Body Transformation Course 2.0 now available

2009-02-03T16:32:00.008-05:00

The Body Transformation Course 2.0 was recently released by my friend Dave Soucy of Perfect Fit LLC. Back Lot shot and edited together more than six hours of video for this comprehensive, 12-week fitness/nutrition/exercise program. Click here to more information or to purchase.

4th Annual Digital Filmmaking Workshops announced!

2009-01-29T14:29:00.004-05:00

Here's a press release for our upcoming Digital Filmmaking Workshops:

January 29, 2009 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

4th Annual Digital Filmmaking Workshops announce spring dates for Producing, Marketing, and Screening Your Independent Film

Popular hands-on production seminar returns to Manchester, NH on the weekend of April 25-26, 2009.

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Digital Filmmaking Workshops have announced that their popular Producing, Marketing, and Screening Your Independent Film Workshop will be held on the weekend of April 25-26, 2009. The workshops will run from 10:00-6:00 pm on both days and will be held inside the Manchester production studio of Back Lot Films, located at 105 Faltin Drive in Manchester, N.H. The lineup of guest speakers will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

The DFW was founded by Bill Millios of Back Lot Films & Marc Vadeboncoeur of Goodheart Media Services with a philosophy towards instructing students how they can achieve their goals with a ‘no-nonsense do-it-yourself’ approach. Their feature-length films include the regionally shot and distributed Old Man Dogs, Dangerous Crosswinds and the upcoming Death & Glory.

“An ongoing myth for independent filmmakers is that once they complete their first feature, it’ll be accepted into festivals, secure big-money distribution and the filmmaker’s career will be set from that point onward,” said Millios. “That’s a fantasy world which occurs to a select few. Our workshops continue to address the reality of independent filmmaking to the student who loves filmmaking but isn’t sure how to proceed. We offer genuine solutions based on our experiences. If a student’s goal is simply filling up their film’s website with photos of their crew posing alongside Hollywood actors then this workshop clearly isn’t for them. However, if that same student would rather have their film’s website include a link to purchasing their DVD, as well as list of film-friendly theaters in the area who would like to screen their film, and then these workshops are perfect.”

Attendees will receive valuable insight into the creative, technical, and marketing strategies essential for filmmaking. Small class size, practical demonstrations, and a wide range of topics will give students the opportunity to expand their knowledge and put it to immediate use. Testimonials from past workshops have been posted on the www.digitalfilmmakingworkshops.com website.

In 2005 Dangerous Crosswinds screened in close to twenty locations in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont, including the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, N.H., Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H. and the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, Mass. Commentators praised the film as an outstanding example of independent film made outside traditional cinema circles. DVDTalk.com awarded the film a four-star rating, New Hampshire Magazine called Dangerous Crosswinds “provocative – a film which explores the light and dark sides of human nature,” John Clayton of the New Hampshire Union Leader wrote that “this is honest and brave filmmaking,” while Mike Sullivan in the Portsmouth Herald described Dangerous Crosswinds as being “independent filmmaking in its purest form.”

Registration for the two-day seminar is $497. Seats for this popular workshop fill up fast, so interested parties should register early. In addition, attendees will receive complimentary copies of The Digital Filmmaking Workshops Handbook, a DVD of Dangerous Crosswinds and the Discmakers Ultimate Guide to Releasing Your Film on DVD. For more information please call Marc Vadeboncoeur at Goodheart Media Services at 1-978-702-9503 or visit www.digitalfilmmakingworkshops.com.

High-resolution photos available upon request.

END

The Crowd to screen at the Palace this Monday January 19

2009-01-18T16:52:00.006-05:00

Here's the latest press release from Dangerous Crosswinds composer Jeff Rapsis:

Jan. 18, 2009 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Jeff Rapsis at (603) 236-9237
• e-mail jrapsis@gmail.com
• www.palacetheatre.org/
'The Crowd' (1928) to play Palace Theatre with live music on MLK Day, Jan. 19
Silent film drama about need for hope, human dignity maintains power to move audiences

MANCHESTER, N.H. - 'The Crowd' (1928), regarded as one of finest Hollywood films of the silent era, will be screened with live music on in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, N.H. 'The Crowd,' directed by King Vidor, chronicles the fortunes of young couple struggling to survive in 1920s New York. The film, which appears on many lists of the top 100 films of all time, is considered a timeless masterpiece that maintains its power to movie audiences more than 80 years after its release."

The film tells a great story, but it's especially appropriate for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with ageless themes that include the struggle of the individual to find meaning and dignity in an imperfect world," said Jeff Rapsis, a local composer who will perform an original musical score for the film to accompany the screening."It's a remarkable depiction of the human condition, and I think is a great way to ponder the message that Dr. King had for everyone," Rapsis said. "It's not only first-class entertainment, but it also helps you appreciate the value of character and integrity, and how hard it can be to find fairness in an unfair world."Combining humor and melodrama, 'The Crowd' centers on a young couple's struggle to find meaning in their lives following a tragic turn of events that strains their relationship to the breaking point. As the film progresses, they are forced to fight to keep their ever-diminishing dreams alive in a soulless urban society. The movie stars James Murray as John Sims and Eleanor Boardman as his wife, Mary. Murray, an unknown actor when selected by director Vidor for the film's lead role, was praised by critics for a bravura performance as the young husband who believes he's destined for big things. Boardman, an actress who was Vidor's wife at the time, was also praised for her masterful work. Director King Vidor was hailed not only for the film's storytelling sweep and grandeur, but also for technical achievements of 'The Crowd.' The movie's innovative lighting and design included sets built at unusual angles to emphasize the emotions of the actors, and camera angles and techniques borrowed from the then-new German "expressionism" school of cinema. The film, one of the last silent features to be released by MGM before talkies arrived, was immediately recognized as one of the silent era's great achievements, and continues to win praise today. 'The Crowd' was named one of the top 100 American movies of all time by the American Film Institute and Time Magazine, among others. Critic Leonard Maltin described 'The Crowd' as "one of the greatest silent films, holds up beautifully." Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle called it "as good as people say, and it's worth seeing now."The film's status as an all-time classic makes it a worthy vehicle with which to honor the legacy of Dr. King on the holiday that bears his name, organizes said."

Though 'The Crowd' was made and released long before Dr. King came on the scene, it speaks to the timeless issues that were at the core of his message to everyone," Rapsis said. "It's a moving way to see how such issues as human dignity and the need to believe in something have been part of life for generations, and the importance of compassion, and how we should reserve judgment, for we may some day be judged ourselves."

Corporate sponsors for this showing of 'The Crowd' include Ameriprise Financial, Looser Than Loose Vintage Entertainment, Back Lot Films, Lunchbox Films and the Palace Theatre.

'The Crowd' will be shown for one screening only on Monday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester. 'The Crowd' is part of the Palace Theatre's first-ever "Silent Film Blockbusters" series, which aims to show best quality prints of silent classics on the big screen with live music. See for yourself the films that made audiences first fall in love with the movies. General admission, $7 per person; proceeds to benefit the Palace Theatre. For tickets and more info on 'The Crowd' and other films in the series, visit www.palacetheatre.org or call the Palace box office at (603) 668-5588.

Poster caption: An original poster for "The Crowd" (1928), an acclaimed silent film drama, to be screened with live music on Monday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, N.H. Tickets $7; for more info, visit www.palacetheatre.org or call the box office at (603) 668-5588.

--- 30 ---

For more info, contact:
Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237
• jrapsis@gmail.com
Images and cutlines attached.
High-resolution digital images available upon request.

Blog updates

2009-01-15T22:13:00.006-05:00

It's been two months since I last posted and I wanted to announce a few updates:

The URL for the new Back Lot Films Corporate Blog is http://blog.backlotfilm.com/. I posted an initial entry a few days ago for this blog which will focus on the various production and business aspects involved with producing corporate video. A link to this blog will always be available on the Back Lot Films website.
This blog, the Back Lot Films Blog - http://backlotfilm.blogspot.com/ - will resume shortly in a manner similar to before (though I may eventually switch publishing to WordPress rather than Blogger as well as attempt some new experiments with live video outlets such as UStream.tv).

I appreciate all of the positive feedback since my previous post. Thanks for sticking around, I've been posting here since April of 2006 and I guess I'm not done just yet...

Corporate Video Blog + Indie Film Blog

2008-11-13T16:21:00.007-05:00

Beginning with my next post this blog (the Back Lot Films Blog) will begin to deal only with corporate film/video production and not independent filmmaking. I've made a number of changes of late to the Back Lot Films website, one of which was linking the "News" link to this blog.

However, I've also decided to launch a new blog which will focus on regional independent filmmaking as well as my opinions/thoughts on indie filmmaking, silent film screenings, self-distribution strategies, etc. So, if you're a filmmaker, don't hesitate to continue sending me your latest press releases/photos and I'll do my best to promote it. I'll announce the new blog URL here in the days ahead.

The Wayfarers to screen on Cape Ann on November 16

2008-11-07T08:09:00.006-05:00

Here's some information that I pulled from filmmaker Todd Norwood's blog regarding an upcoming screening of his 2005 feature-length film The Wayfarers. Keep up the great work Todd!

The Wayfarers is the story of a family of lobstermen who are reunited when the dying, compulsive lying matriarch of the family wants to stage a Remembrance Ceremony while she's still alive. It is a feature film dramady about family, love, and lobster set against the backdrop of a New England fishing village, shot entirely in Rockport. It was written and directed by Todd Norwood, a native of New Hampshire who spent his summers growing up in Rockport.

Todd’s family roots in Rockport run deep. He is descended from Francais Norwood, who settled in Rockport in the 1600’s, as well as Caleb Norwood Jr. who built the “Inn On Cove Hill.” In addition, his great-great grandfather Rubeun Norwood was a fisherman, like many of the characters depicted in the film.

Todd’s goal in the production of the film was to create a story that is both funny and sad, and a “personal story about a world I knew well – an eccentric family.”After having an incredible festival run with the film, from California to Stratford, England, Todd is excited to be showing the film on Cape Ann, which is the most fitting place for a film that is all about coastal New England.Come meet writer-director Todd Norwood as he presents the film and leads a Q&A after the show. The screening is at 2:45 on Sunday, November 16th, on Cape Ann. For more info, go to: http://www.massbayfilmproject.org/#nov16.

Scott Caseley interview in this week's Hippo

2008-11-06T18:05:00.006-05:00

This week's HippoPress has an interview with New Hampshire filmmaker Scott Caseley who will soon begin work on a new feature-length film, The Kingsmen's Redeemer. Scott was brought on to co-direct this film by Director Petros Tsanlaredes based upon Tsanlaredes' script. Auditions are scheduled for this coming weekend at the Granite Media Center in Tilton, NH. Click here to read the article.

Chaplin's The Kid to screen in Manchester on November 20

2008-11-04T18:33:00.004-05:00

Here's another press release from Dangerous Crosswinds composer Jeff Rapsis regarding the upcoming screening of the silent classic The Kid.

CALENDAR LISTING / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

'The Kid' (1921) to play Palace Theatre with live music on Nov. 20. Box office hit was Charlie Chaplin's first full-length feature breakthrough.

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Charlie Chaplin stars in the silent film blockbuster 'The Kid' (1921), story of an impoverished tramp who tries to raise an orphaned boy on his own. Highlights include a performance by five-year-old Jackie Coogan as the abandoned child. Hailed as Chaplin's first full-length masterpiece. Program also includes several classic Chaplin short comedies. One time only on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester.

'The Kid' is part of the Palace Theatre's first-ever "Silent Film Blockbusters" series, which aims to show best quality prints of silent classics on the big screen with live music. See for yourself the films that made audiences first fall in love with the movies! Palace screening includes live music by local musician and composer Jeff Rapsis. General admission, $7 per person; proceeds to benefit the Palace Theatre. For tickets and more info on 'The Kid' and other films in the series, visit http://www.palacetheatre.org/ or call the Palace box office at (603) 668-5588.

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For more info, contact:Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jrapsis@gmail.com

Images and cutlines attached.

High-resolution digital images available upon request.

Wings to screen in Manchester, NH on November 10

2008-11-03T16:26:00.006-05:00

Here's the latest press release from Dangerous Crosswinds composer Jeff Rapsis regarding the upcoming screening of the silent classic Wings.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pioneering war epic 'Wings' (1927) to be screened Monday, Nov. 10 for Veterans Day. See first-ever 'Best Picture' with live music at Manchester Public Library, Manchester, N.H.

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Honor Veterans Day this year with a screening of 'Wings' (1927), a silent drama about World War I aviators that captured 'Best Picture' at the very first Academy Awards. Innovative early action film masterpiece was first to take viewers along in the cockpits of biplane fighters during high-altitude dogfights. Starring Clara Bow, Gary Cooper, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, and Richard Arlen; directed by William Wellman. Original score performed live by New Hampshire composer Jeff Rapsis. One screening only, starts at 5:30 p.m. in the downstairs auditorium of Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H. Free admission but donations encouraged; proceeds to support the New Hampshire Aviation Museum at Boston-Manchester Regional Airport. Sponsored by HippoPress, The Manchester Express, Looser Than Loose Vintage Entertainment, and the New Hampshire Aviation Historical Society. All welcome, especially veterans.

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For more info, contact:Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jrapsis@gmail.com
Images and cutlines attached.
High-resolution digital images available upon request.

Portsmouth Herald article on NH filmmaker

2008-10-30T07:39:00.007-04:00

Here's another quick update on NH filmmaker Jim McCrackin. To promote its screening tomorrow night in Exeter, NH today's Portsmouth Herald features both Jim's new film The Other Side of Hell and the Ioka Theatre (going digital projection with Emerging Pictures) on the cover of their Spotlight section. Click here to read the article - Jim's controversial film has generated quite a bit of local press of late largely through the effort of he and his crew. They made a film they believe in and are doing all they can to make it as available to local audiences as possible.

As I've written here in the past, aggressive self-distribution is an extremely difficult path to take for the independent filmmaker as there are so many hurdles to overcome. However, due to the sheer volume of feature-length films currently being produced in the United States, the indie filmmaker faces absolutely overwhelming odds that their film will ever be accepted into a major film festival or be picked up by a legitimate distributor. So, unless indie filmmakers want few people people to see their film or to make no money, there is no other logical choice than a self-distribution strategy of some kind. With aggressive self-distribution, if done correctly, there's no more gratifying result or accomplishment for your film, both financially and artistically.

Keep fighting Jim.

Bedford Journal article

2008-10-28T10:29:00.004-04:00

This week's Bedford Journal has a nice article on Jim McCrackin's new feature The Other Side of Hell. Click here to read the article. Jim and his film have been getting some well-deserved press of late for his creative self-distribution efforts and are now prepping for their largest screening yet - they'll be at the Ioka Theatre in Exeter, NH this coming Friday. It's no small feat putting together a screening like this one. Visit www.lunchboxfilms.com or the Ioka's website for more information.