Steven Callas http://www.callas.me Assistant Director, Producer, and Filmmaker in Chicago Tue, 07 Apr 2015 15:44:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 Growing Strong http://www.callas.me/growing-strong/ http://www.callas.me/growing-strong/#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2014 23:08:42 +0000 http://www.callas.me/?p=364 ASSOCIATE PRODUCER, PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Having her spirit nearly broken by her father’s abusive tactics, a 15-year-old Lily escapes her Chicago home for the summer to find refuge at her estranged grandmother’s farm where she licks her wounds, discovers parts of herself she didn’t know existed, and musters up enough courage to face her ultimate perpetrator. Facebook]]> Having her spirit nearly broken by her father’s abusive tactics, a 15-year-old Lily escapes her Chicago home for the summer to find refuge at her estranged grandmother’s farm where she licks her wounds, discovers parts of herself she didn’t know existed, and musters up enough courage to face her ultimate perpetrator.

Movie Info

Release Date
2014

Genre
Drama

Duration
30 minutes

Language
English

Format
Digital

Production Company
Kazia Productions

Crew

Director
Rita Ciolek

Writer
Rita Ciolek

Producer
Rita Ciolek
Alex Goldberg
Kevin Quick
Steven Callas

Director of Photography
Erin Hughes

Production Coordinator
Steven Callas

Cast

Sophie Thatcher

Samantha Doane-Bates

Daniel Bruington

Andrew Krukowski

Chandra Michaels

Michael Seely

Links

Facebook

]]> http://www.callas.me/growing-strong/feed/ 0 Empire http://www.callas.me/empire/ http://www.callas.me/empire/#comments Wed, 24 Sep 2014 14:04:57 +0000 http://www.callas.me/?p=340 SET PRODUCTION ASSISTANT From Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels (“Lee Daniels' The Butler," "Precious") and Emmy Award winner Danny Strong ("Lee Daniels' The Butler," "Game Change"), comes EMPIRE, a sexy and powerful new drama about the head of a music empire whose three sons and ex-wife all battle for his throne. Official Site]]> From Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels (“Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” “Precious”) and Emmy Award winner Danny Strong (“Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” “Game Change’), comes EMPIRE, a sexy and powerful new drama about the head of a music empire whose three sons and ex-wife all battle for his throne.

LUCIOUS LYON (Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard, “Crash,” “Hustle & Flow”) is the king of hip-hop. An immensely talented artist, the CEO of Empire Entertainment and a former street thug, his reign has been unchallenged for years. But all that changes, when he learns he has a disease that is going to render him crippled and incapacitated in a matter of three years. The clock is ticking, and he must groom one of his three sons to take over his crowning achievement, without destroying his already fractured family.

Lucious’ favorite is his youngest son, HAKEEM (newcomer Bryshere Gray), a gifted musician and a spoiled playboy who values fame over hard work. The middle son, JAMAL (Jussie Smollett, “North,” “The Mighty Ducks”), is a sensitive soul and a musical prodigy who, unlike Hakeem, shies away from the spotlight. Jamal also happens to be gay, which infuriates and embarrasses his father. ANDRE (Trai Byers, “90210”), the eldest son, is CFO of Empire Entertainment. Wharton-educated with a brilliant business mind, Andre lacks the charisma that Lucious believes is crucial to running the company. But in his quest for power, Andre is assisted by his manipulative and like-minded wife, RHONDA (Kaitlin Doubleday, “Hung,” “Catch Me If You Can”).

As Lucious prompts his sons to vie for the empire, his plans are thrown into chaos when his ex-wife, COOKIE (Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Person of Interest”), mysteriously emerges seven years early from prison, where she’s been for almost two decades. Brash and fearless, she sees herself as the sacrificial lamb who built an empire with Lucious and then took the fall for running the drugs that financed Lucious’ early career.

For now, Lucious remains firmly in control of Empire Entertainment. He is attended to by his hard-working assistant, BECKY (guest star and Academy Award nominee Gabourey Sidibe, “American Horror Story,” “Precious”), and relies on longtime friend and Chairman of the Board VERNON TURNER (Malik Yoba, “Revolution,” “Girlfriends”) for advice and support. He relies on a whole lot more from ANIKA GIBBONS (newcomer Grace Gealey), the head of A&R for Empire and his current girlfriend.

As the Lyons slug it out, an emotional chess game begins that will either cause the family’s destruction or redemption. Lives and loves will be lost as the complicated family will come together and fall apart over the elusive throne, all set to an original soundtrack written and produced by legendary hip-hop hitmaker Timbaland. Will the family unite and learn to love each other before it’s too late? Love, war, family, sacrifice, money and music: this is the story of EMPIRE.

empire

Movie Info

Release Date
2014

Genre
TV Drama/Musical

Duration
42 minutes

Language
English

Format
Digital

Crew

Directors
Lee Daniels
Sanaa Hamri

Writers
Lee Daniels
Danny Strong
Joshua Allen
Ilene Chaiken

Producers
Sean Sforza
Ilene Chaiken
Lee Daniels
Brian Grazer
Sanaa Hamri
Danny Strong
Francie Calfo

Directors of Photography
Sidney Sidell
Andrew Dunn

Cast

Terrence Howard

Taraji P. Henson

Bryshere Gray

Jussie Smollett

Trai Byers

Grace Gealey

Malik Yoba

Kaitlin Doubleday

Gabourey Sidibe

Links

Official Site

Facebook

Twitter

]]> http://www.callas.me/empire/feed/ 0 Small Town Music http://www.callas.me/small-town-music/ http://www.callas.me/small-town-music/#comments Tue, 27 May 2014 21:11:31 +0000 http://www.callas.me/?p=300 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Clark's day at work is bombarded by "interesting" people that keep barging into the music store. IMDB | Facebook]]> Clark’s day at work is bombarded by “interesting” people that keep barging into the music store.

Movie Info

Release Date
2014

Genre
Comedy

Duration
7 minutes

Language
English

Format
Digital

Production Company
Blue Line Gator

Crew

Director
Andy Bosnak

Writer
Chris Deir

Producer
Alexander Mallory
Chris Deir
Andy Bosnak

Director of Photography
Eddie Avinashi

Assistant Director
Steven Callas

Cast

Will Burkhart

Joette Waters

Paul Barile

Homer Marrs

Michael Wollner

Jason Goldberg

Links

IMDB

Facebook

]]> http://www.callas.me/small-town-music/feed/ 0 Can’t Stop http://www.callas.me/cant-stop/ http://www.callas.me/cant-stop/#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2014 02:41:41 +0000 http://www.callas.me/?p=260 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Ted has a terrible addiction, but his latest victim might be more than she appears. IMDB]]> Ted has a terrible addiction, but his latest victim might be more than she appears. Filmed at Cinespace Film Studios in Chicago, IL.

Movie Info

Release Date
2014

Genre
Drama
Thriller

Duration
6 minutes

Language
English

Format
Digital

Production Company
DePaul University

Crew

Director
Nick Silva

Writer
Nick Silva

Producer
Elliott Lonsdale

Director of Photography
Eric Liberacki

1st Assistant Director
Steven Callas

Cast

Agata Cieniawski

Doug Shuetz

Links

IMDB

]]> http://www.callas.me/cant-stop/feed/ 0 Humane Resources http://www.callas.me/humane-resources/ http://www.callas.me/humane-resources/#comments Fri, 14 Feb 2014 18:56:53 +0000 http://www.callas.me/?p=173 PRODUCER, 1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Humane Resources follows David, a staffer at a Chicago humane society longing for the cushy corporate life. Can he survive the semi-dysfunction of this non-profit long enough to realize his dreams? It’s Scrubs meets Office Space. Plus kittens. Official Site]]> Humane Resources follows David, a staffer at a Chicago humane society longing for the cushy corporate life. Created and written by Shaun Baer and with seven short episodes slated for season one, Humane Resources lightheartedly explores the workplace relationships of a Chicago humane society while exposing the audience to the importance of pet adoption and charity. David’s dreams of corporate life are challenged when he discovers that doing good work can mean more than building a resume.

Humane Resources Cast

Movie Info

Release Date
2014

Genre
Comedy

Duration
7x10mins

Language
English

Format
Digital

Crew

Director
Kurt Naebig
Alex Thompson

Writer
Shaun Baer

Producer
Steven Callas

Director of Photography
Eddie Avinashi

Assistant Director
Steven Callas

Cast

Shaun Baer

Hillary Marren

Greg Davies

Linda Rudy

Mallory Backstrom

Chris Brickhouse

Khaki Pixley

Austin Pendleton

Links

Official Site

Facebook

Twitter

]]> http://www.callas.me/humane-resources/feed/ 0 Iceland http://www.callas.me/iceland/ http://www.callas.me/iceland/#comments Sat, 08 Feb 2014 03:31:26 +0000 http://www.callas.me/?p=165 PRODUCER, EDITOR A pair of quirky and ambitious street thugs get ready for the jewelry heist of their lives. Directed by Erich Ebner, produced by Steven Callas. IMDB | Facebook]]> Stu and Morris are petty street criminals ready to score big time with a diamond heist. Inexperienced and full of delusions of grandeur, things begin to go wrong when each of them tries to take control of the situation. Will either of them make their dreams come true and escape the fury of The Boss?

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Movie Info

Release Date
2014

Genre
Crime
Dark Comedy

Duration
10 minutes

Language
English

Format
Digital

Crew

Director
Erich Ebner

Writer
Erich Ebner

Producer
Steven Callas

Director of Photography
Eddie Avinashi

Editor
Steven Callas

Cast

Lucas Thatcher

Jimmie Tolliver

Sean Patrick Leonard

T.L. Williams

Links

Facebook

IMDB

]]> http://www.callas.me/iceland/feed/ 0 A Priceless Woman (1961) http://www.callas.me/a-priceless-woman-1961/ http://www.callas.me/a-priceless-woman-1961/#comments Sat, 08 Feb 2014 03:14:45 +0000 http://www.callas.me/?p=159 1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Winner of 10 awards at the 2014 Premiere Film Festival in Chicago. When perfectionist scientist Dr. Víctor Junco loses his wife, Maribella, in a car accident he builds a robotic version to replace her. This short will be a part of a larger feature, "In Search of Francisco," a fake documentary about a filmmaker's search for the great (fictional) Mexican horror director Juan F. Moctezuma II who peaked in the 70's then disappeared. IMDB]]> When perfectionist scientist Dr. Víctor Junco loses his wife, Maribella, in a car accident he builds a robotic version to replace her. This short is part of a larger mockumentary about a fictional Mexican horror filmmaker, Juan F. Moctezuma. Filmed at Cinespace Film Studios in Chicago, IL.

Movie Info

Release Date
2014

Genre
Sci-Fi
Thriller

Duration
19 minutes

Language
Spanish

Format
Digital

Production Company
Blue Bassoon Pictures

Crew

Director
Alaric S. Rocha

Writer
Alaric S. Rocha

Producer
Elliott Lonsdale

Director of Photography
Erin Hughes

1st Assistant Director
Steven Callas

Cast

Miguel Nunez Natoli

Lisandra Tena

Alec Torres

Carlos Diaz

Ben David Garza

Leopoldo Vasquez

Links

In Search of Francisco

IMDB

Awards
2014 Premiere Film Fest Best Picture
2014 Premiere Film Fest Best Directing
2014 Premiere Film Fest Best Producing
2014 Premiere Film Fest Best Sound Design
2014 Premiere Film Fest Best Production Design
2014 Premiere Film Fest Best Editing
2014 Premiere Film Fest Judges’ Choice Winner
2014 Premiere Film Fest Audience Choice Winner
2014 Premiere Film Fest Voice & Vision Filmmaking Award
2014 Premiere Film Fest Film Festival Submission Prize

priceless01 priceless02 priceless03 priceless05 priceless06 priceless07 priceless08 priceless09 priceless10 priceless11 priceless12 priceless13 priceless14

 

]]> http://www.callas.me/a-priceless-woman-1961/feed/ 0 Las Fieras (1969) http://www.callas.me/las-fieras-1969/ http://www.callas.me/las-fieras-1969/#comments Mon, 02 Sep 2013 05:18:16 +0000 http://www.callas.me/?p=125 1st ASSISTANT DIRECTOR When a curse strikes and werewolf like creatures invade the city Alcira locks herself into the University bathroom. Weeks of pure loneliness teach her the strength of human connection and in the end it is her love for others that will save her. This short will be a part of a larger feature, "In Search of Francisco," a fake documentary about a filmmaker's search for the great (fictional) Mexican horror director Juan F. Moctezuma II who peaked in the 70's then disappeared. ]]> Alcira is a bookworm and student of human nature through art and poetry, though rarely participating. When a curse strikes and werewolf like creatures invade the city Alcira locks herself into the University bathroom. Weeks of pure loneliness teach her the strength of human connection and in the end it is her love for others that will save her. This short will be a part of a feature, a fake documentary about a fake Mexican horror director, Juan F. Moctezuma II.

Movie Info

Release Date
2014

Genre
Sci-Fi
Horror

Duration
13 minutes

Language
Spanish

Format
16mm Film

Production Company
Blue Bassoon Pictures

Crew

Director
Alaric S. Rocha

Writer
Alaric S. Rocha

Producer
Aric Jackson

Director of Photography
Joseph Strand

1st Assistant Director
Steven Callas

Cast

Gabi Mayorga

Dagoberto Soto

Miguel Nunez Natoli

Madrid St. Angelo

Isabel Quintero

Ben David Garza

Links

In Search of Francisco

lasfieras1 lasfieras2 lasfieras3 lasfieras5 lasfieras4 lasfieras6 lasfieras7 lasfieras8

 

]]> http://www.callas.me/las-fieras-1969/feed/ 0 Scotty Works OUT http://www.callas.me/scotty-works-out/ http://www.callas.me/scotty-works-out/#comments Wed, 21 Aug 2013 05:22:41 +0000 http://www.callas.me/?p=90 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, EDITOR 2014 Geneva Film Festival People's Choice Award for Best Narrative Short and 2013 Cinema Diverse Audience Pick Festival Favorite Short Film Scotty has spent years working out at the same gym. He'd love to make a connection with someone, but spends most of his time listening to music and creating fantasies in his head. Then one day his mp3 player breaks! Scotty is forced to talk to fellow gym goers for the first time. Can he finally make a meaningful connection? OFFICIAL SITE | IMDB | Facebook]]> Scotty has spent years working out at the same gym. He’d love to make a connection with someone but spends most of his time listening to music and creating fantasies in his head. Then one day his MP3 player breaks and Scotty is forced to talk to fellow gym goers for the first time. Can he finally make a meaningful connection without earphones?

Movie Info

Release Date
September 2013

Genre
Comedy
LGBT

Duration
14 minutes

Language
English

Format
Digital

Production Company
PalCinema

Awards
2013 Cinema Diverse Audience Pick Festival Favorite Short Film in Palm Springs
2014 Geneva Film Festival People’s Choice Award for Best Narrative Short

Crew

Director
Dan Pal

Writer
Dan Pal

Producer
Dan Pal
Jason Knade

Director of Photography
Jason Knade

Editor
Steven Callas

Assistant Director
Steven Callas

Cast

Shaun Baer

Chris Brickhouse

Matt Irvine

Kenneth P. George

David Cook

Bruce Butler

Beth Horn

Tom Murdock

Ryan Heywood

Zack Kulak

Owen Garrett

Links

Official Site

IMDB

Facebook

scotty_poster scotty_screen_diverse scotty_screen1 scotty_screen2 scotty_screen3 scotty_screen4 scotty_screen5

 

]]> http://www.callas.me/scotty-works-out/feed/ 0 All The Queen’s Horses Promo Trailer http://www.callas.me/all-the-queens-horses-promo-trailer/ http://www.callas.me/all-the-queens-horses-promo-trailer/#comments Sun, 14 Jul 2013 22:47:00 +0000 http://www.callas.me/?p=81 EDITOR Combed through over 70 hours of footage to cut a short trailer for All The Queen's Horses: The Rita Crundwell Story by Helios Digital Learning.]]> Client:
Helios Digital Learning

Year:
June 2013

Task:
Cut a short promotional trailer for a documentary on Rita Crundwell.

Solution:
Combed through over 70 hours of provided footage to come up with a meaningful trailer.

]]> http://www.callas.me/all-the-queens-horses-promo-trailer/feed/ 0