A short film made entirely in Myrtle Beach and Conway, SC has been hitting
film festivals the past couple of months.
"Dolls for Strangers," written and directed by Myrtle Beach
resident Ken Cohen, stars all local talent and used a Director of Photography out
of Wilmington, NC, Joe Ensley. The film
is about a young man who starts making
voo-doo dolls for people in hopes of gaining an explanation on why his
sister became mysteriously paralyzed. So
far it has been the Official Selection of this year's Fort Myers Film Festival
and Charleston Film Festival, where it won a Regional Short Film Award.
To learn more about the short film, check out the links below, and become a
fan of the facebook page to keep up to date with festival showings and release
dates.
Absolutely Positive is a dramatic short film that follows four characters, all from different walks of life, as they get tested for HIV. It shows the events of why they decide to go get tested, the thoughts that run through their minds as they wait for their results, and how they decide to live their lives after finding out their results. This truthful, original screenplay is being filmed here in the Raleigh area.
Below is an exclusive interview with Anthony Williams who directed the film.
Sunday, February 19th at 6pm at the LGBT Center of Raleigh, located at 411 Hillsborough St, Raleigh. A Q&A session with the cast and director will commence directly after the film. Admission is FREE, but donations are encouraged and accepted. They will go to benefit the LGBT Center as well as the completion of Absolutely Positive. Snacks will be provided, so bring your curious questions for the director and cast, blankets, lawn chairs, bean bags, etc and enjoy the laid back, drive-in movie style atmosphere of Absolutey Positive.
Kickstarter: The Kickstarter campaign (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/81894688/absolutely-positive?ref=live) has been launched to help raise funds for the completion of the film.
William Brooks is a graduate from the Art Institute of Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in digital film and video production. Some of his work has been selected in local student film festivals as well as showcases in the Charlotte community. He has experience in all types of video work including short films, music videos, commercials, short documentaries, and television. He is cofounder of a small production company with two of his friends called Envy Pictures. His main passion for filmmaking is telling stories that create emotions for audiences while giving them an escape from their normal lives.
The Modest Truth is a short film about a 12-year-old boy named Daniel Ferris Jr. and his struggle to overcome physical weakness in order to impress his father and build their relationship back to normal. The story takes place in the 1960's where family is the most important aspect of any household but Daniel Jr and his father find it difficult to remedy. Daniel Jr finds that he has to put away his childhood and begin exercising in order to gain back his father's love.
For more information about The Modest Truth please visit
Lawrence "LAW" Watford is Brooklyn based filmmaker. He began producing movies as a film student at Regent University in Virgina Beach and In since then has been actively engaged in the craft of filmmaking. Law works on major feature films and episodic television shows, while producing independently under the Lawville Solutions banner. In 2005 he wrote and directed "A Christmas Wish", which starred James Avery (‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’), and most recent "The Mourning After," the story of two people who survived the 9/11 tragedy as a result of an illicit affair.
His film A Christmas Wish tells the story of a man whom one year after his wife's Christmas Eve murder, he is on the brink of suicide. He is approached by a stranger who convinces him that he can reunite his wife. Asia accepts the deal, only to discover the catch: He must relive the day of her death over and over again in order to be with her.
Tripp Green (DP) and Chase Kliber (talent stand-in)
Chase Kliber is the writer, director, and (somewhat
reluctant) producer of a new short film entitled DRAG HIM OUT! The story
follows a revered bounty hunter who is called in to extract a high-value target
from a crumbling building. The stylistic love-child of anime classic Cowboy
Bebop and the entire filmography of Sergio Leone, the film has some intense
action sequences sandwiched between some moody and tense character moments. The
production team are currently fundraising for a 4-night shoot in early January,
2012.
Chase Kliber is a recent graduate of the UNCW film studies
program. Jumping immediately onto the new Showtime series Homeland, he survived
the entire season as Assistant Art Department Coordinator, wrapping just in
time to follow his short doc on laughter yoga (Laugh, And Love Life) presented
at the Cucalorus film festival. He has been developing DRAG HIM OUT! ever
since.
For more info about the film and how tou can support DRAG HIM OUT! Check out the film's Kickstarter link HERE
The newly formed Brotherside Entertainment, LLC has garnered awards recognition for its debut film, "Un-Perfect". "Best Narrative Short" (Honorable Mention) was presented to the project by this year’s Los Angeles Reel Film Festival. This marked the film’s first official selection and award.
"Un-Perfect" was filmed last fall in Pennsylvania. The cast includes Award-Winner Lauren Jane Krystofolski ("Inside of Me", “The Cage"), Robert X. Golphin (Denzel Wsahington’s "The Great Debaters", "Punch Me"), Christopher Mann (Councilman Anthony Gray on HBO's "The Wire"), Bella Nabiyah ("Simply Untitled"), and Emmy Award-Winner Janet Conner-Knox.
“Un-Perfect” tells the story of a family that faces the cycle of domestic abuse. But the type of abuse audiences may be used to seeing is not what one will find here. Instead, mental and verbal abuse is explored.
"There are no black eyes, bruises, or busted lips in this movie," says Golphin, "Our intention is to show that any form of abuse is wrong. And in many cases, you may not even be aware that you are being abused, or even doing the abusing."
In June, "Un-Perfect" premiered in Wilson and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where it garnered extremely favorable reviews from audiences. Both screenings were attended by industry celebrities and/or media, politicians, dignitaries, city council representatives, etc. Viewers moaned, groaned, shuffled and laughed. The film incited conversation and debate, and may help serve as a catalyst for change.
"Un-Perfect" is produced by Janet Conner-Knox and Gail Y. Bennett and executive produced by Golphin, S. Zachary Knox, J. Knox, and Samuel Joshua Sauls.
Gabe the bartender finds himself caught up in a conversation about sex and friendship with a beautiful, mysterious girl. Before he knows it, he's pulled into a twisted game of seduction and must answer the ultimate question - can guys and girls really be just friends?
"Thank you for riding the CTA Orange Line" a phrase that resounds in the ears of Chicago residents every day on their commute to work, play, or just along for the ride. This experimental film takes you on an eight and half minute journey into the world of the famous "L" metro system in Chicago, Illinois.
The short film depicts arbitrary shots of exteriors of the train from the doors, rails, and buildings it passes each and everyday to interior shots of seats, poles, windows, and reflections. There are little to no passengers to upstage the train in scenes...just the train itself on its daily journey connecting from A to B. The film has a majestic feel because of its soothing cello concerto playing in the background. At times the shots matches equally with notes on the strings, making this movie truly feel like you are on a ride.
Watching the film brings back memories of my years spent in Manhattan hearing the sound of "stand clear of the closing doors please".
The short film This...is the Orange Line is the official selection at the Cucalorus Film Festival coming up next month.
About the filmmaker:
Nathan is originally from Los Angeles, but now splits his time between Springfield, Missouri and New York City. His love for cinema began at the young age of seven. By the time he was 18 his passion for watching movies turned into a long awaited passion for making them. In the past few years Nathan has become an avid blogger and loves to communicate on social networks. Much of his filmmaking influences come from neorealism and surrealism backgrounds.
Today is September 11th. If you are interested in watching a great independent film that honors this day take a look at The Mourning After. There have been a number of films within the last five years that deal with circumstances around the tragedy of 9/11 in New York City. A new film by budding director, Lawrence LAW Watford called The Mourning After is about an extramarital relationship between a man and a woman and affair that took place the night of Sept 10th that would change their lives forever.
Chris and Felicia work at the World Trade Center and on the evening of Sept 10th, the two decide to rent a room in a high rise Manhattan hotel suite. The film begins with Chris and Felicia preparing to go to work when the sounds of police sirens and fire trucks surround the background. Chris' cell phone is ringing off the hook and he immediately turns on the television to see what is going on. The face of Geroge W. Bush is seen annoucing to the world that two airplanes crashed into the twin towers in New York City.
The story turns now to Chris and Felicia, who were supposed to be in that building if not for their heated affair the night before, and both live with not only the guilt of cheating on their spouses, but also the torment of what would have been if they decided to stay faithful to their partners. The film takes a dramatic turn when Chris' life after the affair changes significantly compared to that of Felicia's and the two are battling feelings of shame, pity, and resentment that comes to a climactic close.
There are solid performances in this film and stunning shots of New York City's ground zero. It's a film that shows meaning and purpose in a meaningless act that occured on September 11th. The film was shot on a shoestring budget, but asthetically looks like it was made on larger scale indie budget. The Mourning After is definitely a film worth seeing and shows an intensity in a small sliver of screen time that has you yearning for more.
The film was made on a $12,000 budget in New York City. The trailer of the film can be seen here. Please contact Lawville Solutions if you are interested in more information about the film.
Here at NCIndieSeen we like to recognize work of local filmmakers. Take a look at 3 clips below from filmmaker Ken Cohen. If you are a filmmaker, writer, or editor and you would like your work to get heard and SEEN contact us at ncindieseen@gmail.com and we will post your movie clip here!
This site not only about information about independent film, but it's also about YOU! Get SEEN!!!
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