In my first Reelshow interview of 2013 I talk to Adriana Navarro who won The Reelshow Student Film Contest December 2012- January 2013 with her amazing animation film Via Tango.

Hi Adriana, tell me a little bit about your background. What got you into filmmaking and in particular animation?

When I was four, my dad gave me my first VHS tape, the animated film “The Little Mermaid”. I really believed that characters were real and which came to life into the video player. I felt something totally magical. I saw the movie over and over again and I never was tired of watching it. That was the beginning.

Who do you draw your inspiration from?

From the classic masters of animation.

Where did you get the idea for your film?

It was a very interesting and fun story. My film is based on real events. One day I was riding the subway when a drunken stranger bloke asked for dancing to another passenger, telling her: “You have a wonderful smile”. The man started to bow and dance … the coach became his stage. Everybody were laughing. That was the seed of the story, where dance and love joined together in a train.

What did you shoot the film on, and with which particular equipment?

The film was made in the traditional way of 2d animation, pencil on paper, drawing each and every frame. Unlike live-action films, in which you get a recording with the camera instantly, in animation you have to draw everything, step by step, so it is a very slow technique. Once drawings were OK, I scanned them, I adjusted the levels, I cleaned unwanted shadows using Photoshop, and then I have edited the shortfilm using Adobe Premiere.

How long was your shoot?

Two years, as I said, animation is a daunting task. You have to spend tons of time but I’ve learnt a lot making this shortfilm and if I had to do it again, it probably would take me less time than the first time.

Where was it shot, and were there any issues with locations? Did you use college or University facilities?

Unlike live-action films, in animation you do not need ask for permission to record in different locations because the film takes place in a studio. I used the facilities of the Universitat Politècnica de València to develop most of my shortfilm and final editing and I did it at home.

What did you edit the film on?

As I said above I have edited the shortfilm using Adobe Premiere.

Tell us about the success you have had with Via Tango – apart from The Reelshow..!

I’m having a lot of success with Vía Tango. I got the 1st Prize ex aequo in section Asturias day (día d´Asturies) in the International Film Festival of Gijón- FICX50 (Spain) one of the most important independent film festivals in the world, I got a special mention in the Cortocomenius Festival (Valencia) and it was selected in various international festivals and markets such as Mar del Plata, Mexico, Uruguay, New Delhi…
I’m very happy because Vía Tango has been selected in Animac what is the most important animation festival in Spain and one of the most prestigious in the world. Moreover, I’m being invited to participate in some festivals from several countries.

What is your ambition and what are you working on now? What aspect of the industry do you aspire to be involved in?

Now I’m developing a thesis on animation at the Universitat Politècnica de València, at the same time I’m showing my short in film festivals, (The Universitat Politècnica de València is paying part of the shipping costs).
I would like to work in an animation studio and to work with other people but I want able to continue with my personal projects.

What is your opinion of the Spanish film industry, are there lots of opportunities for young filmmakers?

I think that Spain does not give the importance animation deserves. An important part of the public considers it as something childish and only for children and Spanish film industry does not dare to invest as much as in other film genres. On the other hand, I think there are good professionals in Spain. It is very difficult to live moderately well working as an animator . There are not lots of opportunities, if it is true that thanks to the Internet they can be multiplied. I hope that the opportunity Reelshow has given me could help me open some doors in this field.

You graduated from The School of Fine Art, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain in 2012. Can you tell us a bit about your years at university, what courses you took and if they are essential for your career path?

Although the first two years I studied in Salamanca, I graduated in Fine Arts from the Universitat Politècnica de València in 2010. Just that year began the first edition of the Master in Animation, unique nationally for its artistic profile.
During college I had majored in animation, but I felt that I had something more to do, so I decided that I have to undertake higher studies to deepen the knowledge of animation, fully seat the foundations of learning and acquiring higher level with the help of professionals.

Who is your favourite filmmaker?..and why

I have so many! Hard to say, since I have many influences. But if I have to decide it I want to point to the versatile British animator Joanna Quinn, for her sense of humour and her expertise in drawing and her expressive line.

Finally, what’s the last film that you saw and the best film that you have seen in the last twelve months?

The last movie I saw was “Hotel Transylvania”. One of the teachers who gave me class in the Master of Animation, was Jordi Grangel. He was one of those in charge of the character designs.
The best movie I’ve seen in the last 12 months is “The Artist.”

Reelshow MAG - Student Filmmakers Online Magazine

I talk to Bill Kalamakis director of Cut Damn!, winner of The Reelshow Student Film Contest this August.

Hi Bill, many congratulations on winning The Reelshow Online Student Film Competition in August . Tell me a little bit about your background. What got you into filmmaking, and who do you draw your inspiration from?

Hello! And thank you so much for the opportunity and the distinction. Ok it might sound funny, but my first contact with cinema was in the age of eight when my father took me to the “Greystoke, The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of The Apes” in 1985. Then in 1987 we bought the first VHS player and the party begun. I was always into movies but never was courageous or free from my family and my obligations to move towards to filmmaking. It took me 32 years to make the decision to study filmmaking. The last ten years I am running a DVD store in Athens, and it helped me a lot to understand of the audience ‘s preferences. My inspiration comes from the richest ideas bank. Life itself. In my humble opinion, the best thing an artist can do is to listen and observe the world and life around them. After that it depends on the inner spirituality of the one to translate her/his experience through the personal empirical filters and perception.

Where did you get the idea for your film?

The idea was a joke with a friend of mine at the beginning. Then in all of a sudden he presented a script. It was funny but we left it in the drawer for three years! When during my studies for the bachelor degree my teacher and mentor Efthimis Hatzis insisted that I should shoot a comedy. And what first came to my mind was my friend’s script. I called him and the journey began.

Tell me about the casting process, did you use just professional artists or friends as well?

Actually after my first short in first semester, I promised my self never to use friends or non-professional actors again. So I collaborated with a casting agency and came up with seven professional artists that brought the short to a higher level in my point of view. Our communication was great and the same was in between them. There was a mutual respect and the vibes were all around the set. The fact that they were professionals and that they acted like ones, helped me big time.

What did you shoot the film on, and with which particular equipment?

The film was shot digitally in HDCAM. The camera was Sony Cinealta XDCAM HD EX1 with a 35mm adaptor and cannon lenses. We used through the shooting a pro mist filter to increase the noise and give a bit of film sense to the picture.

How long was your shoot?

The original break down was for five days of shooting, but we lost valuable time for the lighting of the scenes. So I had to go back for an additional two days of shooting. Thank god the crew and the actors were willing to go on set again, even though every body worked with no money…

Where was it shot, and were there any issues with locations? Did you use college or University facilities?

It was shot entirely in the city of Athens and we did a good location scouting from the beginning so that we won’t have problems during the shootings. We shot in 5 different locations, even if in the short we had to make them look more. We modified two apartments, a pharmacy shop and the facilities of Athens University. On my schedule were some facilities of my college but it wasn’t convenient for the breakdown. So I lost a really interesting amphitheater to group better my shooting schedule. Now that I have a good distance from it, I wish I didn’t lose it…

What did you edit the film on?

The editing took place in a studio on AVID. The lady that edited the short is a professional as well and she helped me big time also. I gave her the hard disc with the shooting material, and a list with what I thought was usable. She didn’t call me for a week and just when I was getting worried, she gave me a call, to inform me that she has seven different edits! I was shocked in a good way of course, and a great collaboration and friendship began.

You graduated university in 2011. Can you tell us a bit about your years at university in the UK and Greece and do you think the courses you took were essential for your career path?

They were three great years for me cuz most of all I was very focused. I admire directors that build a career without studies, but for me it worked pretty well. Of course it always depends on the studying program and the teachers, and I feel really lucky on that. I had full support from them both psychological and technical. Every section of the short was examined and analyzed by a different teacher making it more clear and accurate for the final result. All I can say is that I really enjoyed it and what I really learned is that knowledge never stops and I declare myself as an eternal student!

What’s your ambition and what are you working on now? What aspect of the industry do you aspire to be involved in?

My ambition is to direct films for the masses at least for now. I love filmmaking and I feel like I’m in the playground. I want to enjoy it as much as I can and maybe go to more artistic and deep themes later in my career. I already run my own production company in London, which has three productions on schedule for 2013. Two shorts and a feature.

Is there a thriving film industry in Greece – and is that where you see yourself working in the future?

Industry? Ammm, nope! It’s an unknown word at least till now. Government funding made most of the films, and the producers cared only about putting the money in the pocket. Never cared from my point of view for the career of the films they produced. So as a result we have a poor box office when it comes to Greek films and a dissatisfied audience. And the crisis came. Government funding disappeared and all this generation of producers as well. There are many independent productions that take place now in my country, and the thematic is much easier to export as well. I think it will take many years before we can say that Greece has a film industry. I’ll try to keep contact of course with my country but I want to go to UK or to the US. Let’s hope for the best to happen.

Who is your favourite filmmaker?..and why

Oh my. It’s so difficult to say just one. Let’s say two! Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan. Steven Spielberg for raising me up, and Christopher Nolan for making me move.

Finally, what’s the last film that you saw and the best film that you have seen in the last twelve months?

The last film I watched was the remake of Total recall with Colin Farrell which I enjoyed I have to say, and the best in my point of view for the past year was The untouchables of Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache.

Thank you very much for the opportunity and keep on the good work helping new filmmakers.

Cut Damn! directed by Bill Kalamakis

Reelshow MAG - Student Filmmakers Online Magazine

Spotlight On Filmmakers Lucas Barr, George Ellis, Matt Hyland

The directors of ‘Missing Piece’, Reelshow Editor’s Choice for September, tell us about the making of their film.

‘Missing Piece was born of our connection with Encephalitis, the neurological disease on which the film focusses. Our team member Matt suffered from the condition during his early teenage years, but thankfully made a full recovery. His family had a strong connection with the Encephalitis Society, which represents sufferers and their families in the UK, and it is here where our research began. We managed to make a strong breakthrough with the society and were directed towards the country’s leading Encephalitis research scientist Tom Solomon, who features in the film. From there we made contact with various sufferers, with various experiences of the condition, and it is here that we feel the film is most successful.

We managed to get a really strong representation of the effects of Encephalitis on both the individuals and their families. We hope that the film has opened people’s eyes to this horrific infection and continues to make people aware of it’s often devastating effects.

As far as production was concerned it was rather minimalist. We used Canon DSLRs to shoot the film, and we hired lighting and sound recording equipment from FACT Liverpool  and  LJMU. The editing was undertaken using Final Cut Pro studio 7, on a 13″ MacBook Pro, with and external monitor, we edited the film in 3days at LJMUs Screen School.

We are extremely proud of this film, and are overwhelmed with the response it is receiving!’

Support Missing Piece, and spread the word….
http://vimeo.com/missingpiece
http://missingpiecethedocumentary.tumblr.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Missing-Piece-Documentary/320821311290161?ref=hl

Missing Piece

Reelshow MAG - Student Filmmakers Online Magazine

Editor’s Choice September 2012

Missing Piece directed by Lucas Barr, George Ellis, Matt Hyland

This documentary ticks all the right boxes for me and is my choice of student film for September 2012.

It is described as follows: ‘Missing Piece explores the lives of people who have had to adapt after becoming victims to a rare neurological virus.’

Production Values

Reelshow MAG - Student Filmmakers Online Magazine

Hi Dima, congratulations on winning the Reelshow Online Student Film Competition in June 2012. Can you tell me a little bit about your background. What got you into filmmaking, and who do you draw your inspiration from?

Thanks so much for the prize and the opportunity of letting my film participate in the competition. On the other hand my inspiration was made from my sister and from the outer society seeing girls suffering in relationships and not knowing how to deal with it and struggling with the daily external factors buzzing their lives

Where did you get the idea for your film? Why did you want to make Behind A Veil, is it a subject that you feel very strongly about?

The idea of the film was all the same but the girl was unveiled. Before a week of the shooting I had a conversation with a close friend and he helped me fix some little details and we got into this conversation of booming the movie in letting the girl to be coming from a religious family

Tell me about the casting process, did you use just professional artists or friends as well?

All the cast are not professional I chose them randomly. The dad is my father and the mother is my relative and others are friends.

What did you shoot the film on, and with which particular equipment?

I shot on a 7d Mount Camera.

How long was your shoot?

It was for 2 full days

Where was it shot, and were there any issues with locations? Did you use college or University facilities?

The shooting took place in several locations the house, the hotel, the restaurant, mall, the shop , the Nails bar and sea side. No I had no problem in locations because they were fixed before the shooting days and everything was ready for us on the shooting day.

What did you edit the film on?

Final Cut

Is there an active film industry in Lebanon and are there many opportunities for young women, like yourself, to find work?

Not really, its hard to seek this field in Lebanon because it is expensive to produce a film and we don’t have production companies giving opportunities to new upcoming directors to show what they have.

What’s your ambition and which aspect of the industry do you aspire to be involved in?

My ambition is to work on becoming a producer/director in this field and I concentrate of getting the full experience from the TV industry because it’s the only industry that has opportunities in our country and opens doors for exposure.

You graduate from The Lebanese American University this year. Can you tell us a bit about your years at university- what course/degree are you taking and do you think it is essential for your career path?

I took courses related to all radio tv and film and a bit of theater I enjoyed the TV and the film the most but due to the production I concentrated more on the tv industry where it had different doors in it and a lot of opportunities.

Who is your favorite filmmaker?and why

Steven Spielberg, because he is an icon in the film industry and had a significant, permanent and influential contribution to the development of film and the film industry and has a compelling vision and groundbreaking style that has helped to define cinema as we know it today. In addition he is perhaps Hollywood’s best known director. Tintin and Catch me if you can are movies I enjoyed by him.

Finally, what’s the last film that you saw and the best film that you have seen in the last twelve months?

Where do we go now? Directed by Nadine Labaki it was really the last movie I watched due to university projects and work.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us- we wish you well with your film career..!

 Behind a Veil  Winner Reelshow Online Student Film Competition June 2012.

Reelshow MAG - Student Filmmakers Online Magazine

Every month I select a film uploaded to The Reelshow as my ‘Editor’s Choice’. The Reelshow member who has uploaded the chosen film gets a chance to write about the making of his or her film for our magazine -a player on the homepage of our mainsite will show their film as well.

My choice for July is a short ‘awareness’ film called ‘I 4 U’ directed by Varun Vinu. Varun describes his film as follows:

‘Its a short film in which a boy makes a hole for a scarecrow that was in the paddy field spreading a message to donate eyes for blind people….’

Production Values:

Reelshow MAG - Student Filmmakers Online Magazine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

LOS ANGELES CITY FILMS

WORLD PREMIER: MONDAY JULY 2, 2012

BRAIN STORM: NCIS, A True Story

“The Storm Inside The Brain”

LOS ANGELES CINEMA FESTIVAL OF HOLLYWOOD

2007 Rio Hondo College graduate of the Small Business/Entreprenueralism Program, John Salcedo was awarded “Best Short Documentary Award” at the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood on July 2, 2012. Salcedo is a social advocate for veterans issues. As a student at Rio Hondo, Salcedo was recognized by former Congresswoman Hilda Solis for his leadership in promoting access to higher education for veterans at Rio Hondo College.

 This student film is a short documentary highlighting the pioneering work of Dr. Paul G. Harch. M.D.  Using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) on wounded war fighters, Dr. Harch is leading a revolution to help those suffering from blast induced Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during combat operations in Iraq/Afghanistan. LtCol Al Burghard, USMC, Retired, shares his story for the advancement of Dr. Harch’s hyperbaric medicine research.

To date, there are no FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of chronic traumatic brain injury.  The current standard of care for brain injured military veterans is the off-label prescribing of psychoactive medications blackbox labeled by the FDA for increased sucidality.  These medications have been implicated in the 18 veteran suicides per day epidemic.

At the same time, conventional medicine has no suitable alternative treatment. The medical research of Dr. Paul G. Harch, MD, however, strongly suggests that there is an effective treatment.  That treatment is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the simple daily intermittent exposure to increased pressures of oxygen.  Dr. Harch’s research is showing that HBOT 1.5 ATA can improve brain blood flow, metabolism, neurological function, and give patients back their lives.

What: The premier of BRAIN STORM: NCIS, A True Story

Who: Director/Producer, Johnny Salcedo. Creator of the BRAIN STORM series, Johnny Salcedo. Cast members: Lt. Col Al Burghard, USMC, NCIS, Retired. Paul G. Harch, M.D., Congressman Walter Jones, R. North Carolina. Admiral Gary Roughead, USN, Retired. General James Conway, USMC, Retired.

Where: Whitefire Theater

13500 Ventura Blvd.

Sherman Oaks, CA  91423

When: Monday July, 2, 2012

Screening Begins at 5:00pm

Movie Information: Facebook.com/BRAINstormNCIS

Reelshow MAG - Student Filmmakers Online Magazine

This month’s editor’s choice is a documentary directed by David Price called ‘The World’s Saddest Dance’. David filmed this documentary in Bulgaria, by himself, with the aid of an interpreter for his university- Winchester, UK- final year project.

The World’s Saddest Dance is nicely shot, and approaches this difficult subject very well. It is an impressive piece of work to have produced and shot  single handed.

Story Line:  ‘A short documentary about the life of a dancing bear in Bulgaria and the owners that once kept it.’

Production Values:

Reelshow MAG - Student Filmmakers Online Magazine

 
I catch up with Minkyung Sung, winner of the Reelshow April Student Film Competition with her film The Exit.

Hi Minkyung, many congratulations on winning The Reelshow April Online Student Film Competition. with your film The Exit . Tell me a little bit about your background. What got you into filmmaking, and who do you draw your inspiration from?

As a Philosophy major at Emory University, I’ve always been interested in ethical issues. I believe that many of the solutions for these matters are rooted in legal activism and education. But neither law or education changes easily. Until it changes, I think building awareness is the key. It was then I began thinking about how powerful a film can be when it comes to spreading the message. I want to become a filmmaker who tells stories that need to be told.

Where did you get the idea for your film? You wrote the screenplay, how did you go about your research for the project?

I read a CNN article about a twelve-year-old girl who escaped from the sex industry only to come back later to become a pimp herself. It wasn’t the sex work itself, but its vicious cycle that terrified me. There really exists no “exit” for many girls who actually want to escape. I mainly researched news articles based on interviews with girls who had experienced the sex industry. I think they really helped me creating realistic details for my film.

Tell me about the casting process, did you use professional actors or friends?

 Luckily, all my friends turned out to be fantastic actors/actresses

What did you shoot the film on, and with which particular equipment?

Canon XHA1

How long was your shoot?

3 days

Where was it shot, and were there any issues with locations? Did you use University facilities?

At first, I wanted to shoot the first and the last scene at the Atlanta airport, instead of at Emory parking deck. However, I was denied a permission to shoot at the airport “only” because of the “subject matter.” I was greatly frustrated. I realized that it is such ignorance of people that allow these horrible things to continue.

What did you edit the film on?

Final Cut Pro

What is your ambition when you graduate? What aspect of the film industry do you aspire to be involved in and where do you want to work?

I love philosophy, so I might probably go for Masters degree in philosophy. Yet, of course, my ultimate goal is to become a filmmaker who reveals stories “that need to be told.” A single film may not be able to change the world. I don’t expect everyone to do something. I simply want my film to be a meaningful step–though tiny it may be–in making people less ignorant and more aware of lives around them.

You graduate from Emory University in 2013. Can you tell us a bit about your years at university, what course are you taking and if you think film school is essential for your career path?

Many of the filmmaker I admire never went to the film school. Personally, I think critical thinking skills and open-minded-ness are the most important virtues for the filmmaker. Film schools can certainly teach you these, but other schools as well. But I do think that film school can be quite helpful in learning techniques and tools of filmmaking.

How are you finding things since winning the ReelShow competition?

My film got more views! More people are “aware” of the story! (right?)

Who is your favourite filmmaker?…. and why

A Korean filmmaker Park Chan-Wook, who directed “Oldboy,” is my favourite. He tells stories of deeper human nature with such unique vision and hauntingly beautiful mise-en-scene.

Finally, what’s the last film that you saw and the best film that you have seen in the last twelve months?

“The Hunger Games” was the last film I watched at the theater… The best film I’ve seen in the last twelve months is Korean independent film “Jesus Hospital”.

Many thanks for talking to us Minkyung,  we wish you all the best for the future.

Watch The Exit:

 Film Production Values:

Reelshow MAG - Student Filmmakers Online Magazine

 
The film I have chosen this month as Editor’s Choice is a documentary called Edwin’s directed by Manoj Leonal Jahson a 2012 graduate from LV Prasad Film and TV Academy, Chennai, India.

I love this documentary about the artist Edwin Joseph. The film is visually stunning – It makes me want to go to the forests of  the Vattakanaal, meet and talk to Edwin and see his paintings for myself !

The Documentary is described as follows:

‘This is a documentary on the life and philosophy of an elusive artist EDWIN. He lives amongst the forests of the Vattakanaal and has worked for over 30 years alone on his paintings. Shot in a single day to show the average day in the life of the artist, and edited as a montage.’

Reelshow MAG - Student Filmmakers Online Magazine