Interview With SyFy and Chiller Programming Executive, Tom Vitale

Tom Vitale is an Executive Vice President, Programming & Original Movies, for the SyFy and Chiller channels of NBC Universal. I spoke with Tom about trends in entertainment, advice for aspiring science fiction/ horror producers, and the state of diversity in the industry today:

 

  • Exclusive, original content is more important now

Vitale has been in the business for 25+ years and noted that a critical trend is the need for exclusive, original content to compete with viewers’ increased access to entertainment (via YouTube, video-on-demand, DVR technology, etc.). To this end, Vitale focuses not just on acquiring and scheduling, but now also commissioning up to 24 original movies per year for SyFy. This is in addition to other original content that his colleagues are creating for different arms of SyFy, such as TV programming.

 

  • Aspiring producers take comfort — channels do buy from smaller companies

According to Vitale, there is no single source for ideas, and Chiller especially looks at smaller production companies. In addition to production company pitches, ideas might flourish internally, not just from the creative side but from the business side, such as marketing. Inspiration for plot lines has even come out of real-life news — a CNN story on snakehead fish migrating from Asia to the US inspired Snakehead Terror). That said, production companies in consideration for selling a movie to these channels have produced something else that has sold – you don’t have to be a big-budget house but you have to have a track record.

 

  • Diversity in both cast and crew includes race, gender, age, and familiarity

These movies often have international distribution so the diversity in the audience demographics requires diversity in the casting. This is not just racial diversity, but Vitale mentioned looking for gender balance and strong female roles. In addition, off-screen diversity is present in the producers and writers tapped for projects, including career changers who might come to the business later in life. Finally, diversity includes a mix of familiar and fresh faces, so while brand name actors help to sell a movie, there is emphasis on introducing new faces as well.

FBC Films Presents: The Battle Below, Episode 1!

Title says it all, folks!

The Battle Below follows Derek, now a college professor, coming back to his old neighborhood. The projects are giving way to Whole Foods, the rents are insane and kids are fighting in dungeons with swords and axes for money, because there are no jobs. Written and directed by Bruce Faulk. Produced by Caroline Ceniza-Levine and Bruce Faulk. Episode 1: ‘Kids Today’ features Jim Burke, Jennifer Loring, Leo Kubota, Andy Zou, and Anton Briones.

We here at FBC are all thrilled with how it turned out – and hope you are, too! Thanks to our crew and cast for helping to make it all happen. Stay tuned for more episodes in the near future!

Interview With Jeff Geoffray, President of Vumanity Media and Producer/ CFO of Blue Rider Pictures

Jeff Geoffray has the distinction of being producer and CFO of a successful entertainment company, Blue Rider Entertainment (more than 100 pictures produced!) and now also co-founder and president of a tech start-up, Vumanity Media. Here are some highlights from my interview with Jeff Geoffray on the movie business today and why an established film producer would pivot to a new platform:

  • Movies today are a mathematical challenge

Geoffray points out that the technology of filmmaking is cheap but the marketing is ever more expensive. The digital revolution has increased competition for viewer attention astronomically. International markets, such as China, are gaining in importance but are complicated to navigate as they play by different rules (e.g., when/ how films can be released). Content providers are struggling to monetize amidst the breadth of free content and multiple access points. It’s a mathematical challenge, and yet…

  • Content still rules, and social engagement is where the growth is

Geoffray sees growth in the social aspect of online video sites such as YouTube. People still pay for movies in theatres, despite VOD and other platforms, because the theatre experience is social. Therefore, while Vumanity is a different play than Blue Rider, for Geoffray, it’s all related to storytelling, content and social engagement.

  • Don’t wait for financing; just get started

Geoffray’s advice for aspiring filmmakers is to just get started. Movies are cheaper to make and distribute. Crowdfunding is a way to finance AND build that important social engagement aspect. Geoffray points to India’s healthy film industry, where the music of the film is released early, so interest and anticipation can be built over time. Filmmakers would be wise to emulate the successful build-up of these movies.

 

More about Jeff Geoffray:

Just after graduating from USC’s film school in 1983, Jeff Geoffray teamed with Walter Josten as producer on the successful supernatural thriller  Witchboard. He was 24. After the remarkable financial and critical success of that film, Geoffray continued his collaboration with Josten as a producer and executive producer on many more films, including Rescue Dawn, Around The World in 80 Days, Then She Found Me, Shergar, Silver Wolf, Behind the Red Door, Back in the Day, Night of the Demons, Surveillance, O Jerusalem, Home of the Giants, Bar Starz, Pool Hall Prophets, The Hollywood Sign, Slow Burn, The Call of the Wild, Uncommon Kindness and Three.

Josten and Geoffray formed Blue Rider together in 1991 with the goal of creating a fully integrated financing, development, production and distribution company. In addition to producing, Geoffray also managed the day-to-day operations of Paragon Arts Releasing, Josten and Geoffray’s US Theatrical arm, and Blue Rider International, its International Sales entity. As such, Geoffray’s experience in the entertainment business encompasses the full spectrum of a film’s life cycle, from inception to distribution and collections.

Currently, Geoffray is also President of Vumanity Media, which is a proprietary tech platform for producing and hosting high-quality video talk shows.

 

The Battle Below’s Cast Spotlight: Andy Zou

Today’s cast spotlight is on Andy Zou, who plays the role of Chin Sun in The Battle Below. Andy is a real funnyman, but his talents don’t stop there! Read on:

Andy Zou was born in St.Louis, Missouri and moved to New York to study experimental theatre at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

He is currently residing in New York to continue pursuing a career in Commercial, Film, and Television acting.  He aims to fulfill a career in comedy and stunt work.

He spent 3 years in high school performing with a shortform improv troupe and 3 years in college performing with the sketch group Hammerkatz.  After graduating, he has spent his time collaborating with fellow graduates as well as exploring for new connections in the industry.  He is also a fan of biking, gymnastic training, video games, burgers, beer, and graphic design.

Learn more about Andy on his website, www.andyzou.com

 

The Battle Below’s Cast Spotlight: Leo Kubota

Production commenced this past weekend, and what a success! Thanks to our wonderful cast, including today’s spotlight – Leo Kubota:

Leo Kubota is a driven young actor who has begun to make his mark on both the stage and the screen. On screen, he played Manlien/Street Thug in the webseries Jeza and The Bells and is currently playing Tiger in The Battle Below.

On stage, his prior works include: Macbeth, as Malcolm at The 13th Street Rep; Nixon in China, and Aida both at The Metropolitan Opera. Leo has currently been re-cast in Aida and will be returning to the MET stage for this fall’s performances. Leo is represented by Landslide Management.

The Battle Below’s Cast Spotlight: Tania Verafield

Today’s cast spotlight is on Tania Verafield, who will be playing the role of Marta. Tania has an extensive background in film and television, making her a great asset for our webseries:

Tania Verafield is a Los Angeles native, who relocated to NYC in 2011.  Her film & television credits include: I AM NOT A HIPSTER (Sundance 2012), NEW YEAR’S EVE, THE FIRST TIME (Cannes 2009), SHORT TERM 12 (Best Short Sundance 2009), JULIA, HARSH TIMES, 24, GHOST WHISPERER & STANDOFF. Recent New York stage credits include LOBBY HERO (November 2012), FAIRY TALE, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED & BENEATH THE VEIL (Lincoln Center) and in Los Angeles, the world premiere of TREEFALL. She is excited to be working with FBC Films.

If you want to learn more about Tania, check out her website: www.taniaverafield.com

The Battle Below’s Cast Spotlight: Jasmine Carmichael

Next up on our cast list is Jasmine Carmichael, who will be playing the role of Malaika in The Battle Below. She is a wonderful actress who will definitely up the ante on our webseries.

Jasmine Carmichael (Malaika) received her B.F.A in Acting from Mason Gross School of the Arts. Her television credits include Unforgettable (CBS) and NYC 22 (CBS). She also recently made her Off Broadway debut as part of the original cast of King’s River, a new play which ran at the Medicine Show Theatre. In addition, Jasmine has recorded several radio commercials and appears in promotional ads for the new FOX show, The Following.

The Battle Below’s Cast Spotlight: Carl Ka-Ho Li

Next up on FBC’s cast list for The Battle Below is Carl Ka-Ho Li, who will be playing the role of Cooper. Carl is a real jack-of-all-trades, we are lucky to have him!

Carl Ka-Ho Li was born in Hong Kong and raised in Connecticut.  Ever since childhood, he has been passionate in his pursuit of the arts.  For high school, he attended the Academy of the Arts as a dance major. Later, Carl earned a BFA in Acting at the University of Connecticut, where he trained in Suzuki Technique under Eric Hill. He continued to hone his techniques in the Eric Morris System at the Bova Actor’s Workshop (in NYC), and today Carl continues to explore new modes of self-expression in the arts.  He has lived in NYC for about 7 years, during which he has worked on various film, television, stage, and dance productions. Carl has also been involved with the (non-profit) Asian American Film Lab since 2006, and lead as the president from 2010-2012.

Carl is also currently in a webseries called ‘Math Warriors;’ check out the Facebook page here.

 

The Battle Below’s Cast Spotlight: Jamahl Garrison-Lowe

Today, FBC would like to introduce Jamahl Garrison-Lowe in the role of ‘Rock and Coal.’ I will avoid the easy (albeit tempting) pun of Jamahl ‘rocking’, etc. He is, however, a serious actor with serious talent:

Jamahl Garrison-Lowe started his journey with humbling beginnings and Virginia roots. Tricked into an audition by a high school drama teacher, in his hometown of Charlottesville, he first stepped on stage as The Prince Of Morocco in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. He soon became a constant fixture at Charlottesville’s Community Theater: Live Arts. He began a studious progression that led him to New York City and the prestigious conservatory: The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts, a bedrock of theater training since 1884. Under the experienced faculty, his intrinsic love of theatre and the respect for the craft of behaving truthfully, honestly, and spontaneously under imaginary circumstances cemented. Jamahl resides in New York City where he has appeared on numerous New York stages, from Lincoln Center to The Public Theater. He continues working in theater and film developing his form and art.

If you wish to learn more about Jamahl, check out his website here.

 

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