Heal Film Camp’s “Friday Night After the Movies”

February 17, 2011 Comments »

Come see the story of “Friday Night After the Movies” a short documentary that follows a group of 50 kids, ages 10-17, most of whom are on the autism spectrum, during a two-week filmmaking camp with Director Joey Travolta in Jacksonville, Florida last summer on location at the University of North Florida.

The film goes behind-the-scenes during the making of three short narratives and a public service announcement that are written, acted, directed and produced by the young campers.

February 21, 2011 at the Five Points Theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The event is hosted by Jacksonville.comʼs CINEMANIA and includes a question and answer session after the film with some of the film campers!

The theatre is donating 50% of ticket proceeds to the HEAL Foundation, a local non-profit organization serving individuals with autism living in the Greater Jacksonville Area.

For more information about the film or the camp program, please contact producer, Karen Sadler, FILMLAB Productions, (904) 249-9333, or www.filmlabproductions.com.

Special Screening of “The New Year”

January 23, 2011 Comments »

The New Year Trailer from The New Year on Vimeo.

Budding writer Sunny takes time off from college to tend to her ailing dad in suburban Florida, and after two years, a temp job at a bowling alley has turned into a comfortable rut — but then high school rival Isaac returns to disrupt the routine. Friendly fire replaces competitive spirit as the pair pick up where they left off, and Sunny realizes the future holds more than a well-stocked shoe counter.

Special Screening and Q&A with writer/director Brett Haley to follow

Date: Monday, January 24, 2011
Time: 7pm
Location: 5 Points Theatre
1028 Park Street
Jacksonville, 32205
Tickets: $8.50 – Available at door | JFF Members Free

“Brett Haley has built an encouraging feature debut. Ms. Dunn, Mr. Haley and their supporting players appear to have a fine future before them.”
~ The New York Times

“Will break your heart.”
~ The Village Voice

“A slow-building stunner of a character study.”
~ LA Weekly

ABOUT THE WRITER/DIRECTOR
Brett Haley grew up in Key West and Pensacola, Florida. He graduated with a BFA in directing from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2005. He started as an assistant to directors Terry George (Hotel Rwanda, Reservation Road) and John Hillcoat (The Road, The Proposition) before co-writing and directing THE NEW YEAR. His next film is the adaptation of the Jim Shepard novel PROJECT X, for which he wrote the screenplay.

Screenwriting Workshops at UNF

August 20, 2010 Comments »

BEGINNING SCREENWRITING
Saturday, August 21, 2010, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
University of North Florida, University Center, 12000 Alumni Drive, 32224
Instructor: Sharon Y. Cobb

This workshop is an action-packed day for beginning screenwriters. You’ll get: an introduction to the three-act structure, basics about creating movie characters, film stories and plot construction. Film clips will be shown as examples. You’ll also learn about loglines, synopses and beat sheets. Get ready to kick-start your screenwriting career in this buckle-your-seatbelt introductory workshop taught by a professional screenwriter who has sold pitches and scripts to studios and had films produced.

INTERMEDIATE SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP
Saturday, August 28, 2010, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
University of North Florida, University Center, 12000 Alumni Drive, 32224
Instructor: Sharon Y. Cobb

Do you already know the basics of screenwriting but need more? This one-day workshop is for you. You’ll learn about working outside of the common three-act structure and open your writing to alternative story structures. Movie clips will be shown as examples. We’ll do a powerful class writing exercise to help you create organic characters. You’ll learn about how to put emotion on the page and create authentic dialog from a professional screenwriter who has actually sold pitches and scripts to studios and had films produced. This workshop is recommended for students who have either completed the Beginning Screenwriting Workshop or have completed two screenplays.

ADVANCED SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP
Saturday, September 11, 2010, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
University of North Florida, University Center, 12000 Alumni Drive, 32224
Instructor: Sharon Y. Cobb

This one-day workshop is for screenwriters who already know the basics of screenwriting and want to develop more advanced skills. The class will include advanced dialog development and techniques to avoid exposition. Students can participate in writing exercises in class and may share their writing for critique by fellow students and the instructor. Some exercises include: writing powerful opening scenes, introducing protagonists and antagonists by presenting the essence of the character and creating organic and multidimensional characters. Film clips will be shown as examples. This workshop is recommended for students who have either completed the Beginning Screenwriting Workshop or have completed two screenplays.

Click here to enroll or call to register 620-4200.

Cinemania Video Contest

August 10, 2010 Comments »

Cinemania has just launched a Video Contest.

The top three finalists will have their work screened at Movies in the Park at RAM and receive prizes.

The grand prize winner will receive $200 cash!

The deadline is noon, Tuesday, Aug. 17.

Click here for details.

Jacksonville 48 Hour Film Project Wrap Party

June 30, 2010 Comments »

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Walker’s Bar in Riverside

2692 Post Street

6:00pm – 8:00pm

Open to everyone who participated in the 2010 Jacksonville 48 Hour Film Project. Come on out and party with the filmmakers.

And find out who are the nominees for the over 16 prize and award categories from this year’s competition.

The winners will be announced on July 10 at the Awards Show at the Florida Theatre.

“The 904″: A Hard Look at Jax’s Crime Epidemic

May 29, 2010 Comments »

This past Thursday, the documentary “The 904,” produced by “First Coast Connect” host and producer Melissa Ross had its debut screening at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Melissa Ross on Making “The 904″ from Natalie Halpern on Vimeo.

Chronicling the stories of people whose lives have forever been changed by the city’s violent crime epidemic like shop owner Brian Martin, who was shot in the stomach and has had multiple surgeries to repair the damage to his colon, it’s a difficult film to watch.

Mary Goodman talks about the murder of her young son, DeJuan Graham, as she holds an urn with his ashes—struggling still to come to terms with his death.

One of the most moving parts of the documentary is Jacksonville Jaguar Richard Collier’s address during the trial of the man who shot him 14 times, leaving him paralyzed and robbing him of his dream of playing football.

As a newcomer to Jacksonville (I moved here two years ago from DC, once the nation’s murder capital), it’s disturbing to know that we’ve been the murder capital of Florida for the last 10 years.

Jacksonville has so many wonderful things going for it: a great quality of life created by the warmth and inclusiveness of its residents, a burgeoning local arts scene, a fantastic symphony, two of the best high schools in the country, and such natural beauty with its marshes, beaches and the scenic St. Johns River forming the backdrop for some of the city’s most charming neighborhoods.

Why is violent crime so rampant?

Like in many other cities socio-economic factors, a racial divide and inequity in education for the city’s poorest play a role. Melissa Ross’ film does a great job of addressing those factors, along with the lack of reentry programs for offenders who serve their sentence only to be sentenced again by society. Instead of achieving rehabilitation through gainful employment and other activities, they become repeat offenders.

Despite the tragedy it documents, the film also has a powerful message of hope.

Melissa Ross on The Biggest Lesson of the Film from Natalie Halpern on Vimeo.

“The 904” was directed by Frank Goodin II and filmed and edited by Bernardo Santana III.  The filmmakers plan to screen the documentary throughout the community and submit it to film festivals around the country.

Click here to learn more about the making of the film and watch a trailer.

Exclusive Screening of “Collapse”

April 25, 2010 Comments »

Join the Jacksonville Film Festival on Thursday, April 29, 7 p.m at MOCA for an exclusive Jacksonville screening of:

COLLAPSE
A documentary on Michael Ruppert, a police officer turned independent reporter who predicted the current financial crisis in his self-published newsletter, “From the Wilderness.”  Paul Cohen from the Torchlight Program at FSU and Red Hills Releasing will present the film.

Jax Beach Writer’s TV Movie Screens at Mudville

April 14, 2010 Comments »

Hometown Screening: “Secrets of the Mountain” Viewing Party
Friday, April 16, 8:00 p.m., Mudville Grill, 3105 Beach Blvd.

Come watch NBC’s premiere movie “Secrets of the Mountain” with the film’s writer Dante Amodeo of Jacksonville. It’s a family-friendly film and Dante calls it a cross between “The Waltons” and “National Treasure.”

For more information on the film, read The Florida Times-Union article about Dante and “Secrets of the Mountain”

Jacksonville Film Festival Works in Progress Screening

April 12, 2010 Comments »

Trailer for A Beautiful Belly from A Beautiful Belly on Vimeo.

Monday, April 19, 6-8pm – “A Beautiful Belly”
WJCT Studios

Filmmaker and Flagler College Alumnus Andrew Kenneth Gay will share his film that is in the finishing stages of Post Production.

When aspiring children’s entertainer Jason Ackart gets his long-time crush Danny pregnant on their first date, the two choose to make a life together as husband and wife. With the support of church friends and family, Danny and Jason do their best to start out on the right foot, but as the prospect of fatherhood looms, Jason begins to realize the toll it may take on his career aspirations. He begins to focus all his attention toward one last push to accomplish his dream of becoming an established children’s entertainer before the baby is born. As a result, Danny feels insecure and ignored by Jason and begins to question whether their fledgling marriage can survive.

Alienated from one another, Jason and Danny find themselves attracted to the attentions of other people. Jason meets Allison James, an intern at a local cable station who wants to develop a children’s show utilizing his talents, and Danny meets Nathan Long, a fine art photographer who goes out of his way to encourage Danny and build up her confidence. As these new friendships begin to hint at the possibility of romance, Jason and Danny must decide whether they are willing to risk the future of their family for the indulgence of a moment’s pleasure.

The Works in Progress FREE series is designed for all realms of filmmakers to share their project at any stage of production for general feedback from our local film community.

Location:
WJCT Studios
100 Festival Park Ave

Cinemania Presents Free Screening of “CA$H”

April 4, 2010 Comments »

Producers and Cinemania invite you to see Sean Bean’s new indie film. It’s not a thriller. It’s not action. It’s neo noir satire. It’s a “genre” film gone rogue. A law abiding couple finds a briefcase stuffed with cash and decides to keep it. When the owner (Sean Bean) finds them, they’ve spent a lot of the money. He moves in with them until they replace every last cent, even if it means they must tap into their dark sides to pay it back.

Tuesday, April 6, 5 Points Theatre. 6:30 p.m.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m.. FREE ADMISSION. Invite your friends.