Blue Jasmine is the sort of movie I should love. I’m a personal finance/ business news junkie, and this film tells the story of the scorned wife-turned-widow of a Bernie Madoff-like financier. Cate Blanchett puts in a great performance, and Alex Baldwin phones it home playing every other role he’s played recently, except here he’s in finance. It’s an enjoyable movie to watch actors chew up their parts, but if you actually know this sector, it will be too superficial – like a finance story told from the eyes of a 12-year old. I also couldn’t stand how Blanchett’s character, as unlikeable as she is, turns out to be a bigger bad guy over her husband, even in the eyes of her son. If you want a good story set in high finance, check out Arbitrage with Richard Gere or Rogue Trader with Ewan McGregor or Margin Call with Demi Moore or Boiler Room or even Wall Street. Just watch something else, except if you’re a Cate Blanchett fan.

Philomena made me cry, in a good way. Beautifully acted, poignant without being overly sentimental, funny in the face of a tragic story line, this movie is one of my favorites of the season. Judi Dench is so good that I’ll leave it at that, otherwise I’ll sound hyperbolic, and Steve Coogan, who also co-wrote and co-produced, holds his own and then some.

One Chance is a fun movie, a Cinderella-story for today’s reality talent show generation. As a conservatory-trained musician, I loved the fact that this wasn’t just someone who showed up for 15 minutes of fame, but actually sang his whole life and trained in opera in Italy (love the Luciano Pavarotti scene). This is a great choice for when you want a feel good, underdog wins type of movie.

12 Years A Slave is a tough movie to watch. The ensemble cast is almost perfect, though I was so distracted by Brad Pitt showing up in the middle of a period piece. I didn’t know he would have a cameo, so when his character showed up, I spent all the time thinking, “Why did they cast someone who looks like Brad Pitt?” This is not how you want an important movie like this to drive to its conclusion. I loved how subdued and restrained the performances were in roles that easily could have been overdone.

In sum: a big YES to Philomena, a nod to One Chance for entertainment and inspiration value, a nod to 12 Years A Slave for its important theme and great casting minus Brad Pitt, but a NO to Blue Jasmine.

DAN CHEN co-stars with our own Bruce Faulk in an upcoming episode of Memorable Minorities.

Best known for his work as an actor, Dan has guest-starred on television in the hit HBO series “The Sopranos;” “Third Watch” (alongside Bobby Cannavale and Kim Raver); and opposite rap and hip hop stars Fabolous and Red Café in the music video for “Tonight.” He also played the lead in the official music video for Moby’s hit song “The Right Thing” featuring Inyang Bassey; and was the Chair Umpire in the music promo (“Sean Price Plays Tennis”) for underground rapper Sean Price’s album “Mic Tyson”. Film credits include: the title role in THE FORTUNE WRITER by Eric Gross (winner, Best Dramatic Short at the LES* Film Festival); Zeyen in ZEYEN AND NAZIA (which won Best Undergraduate Film at the inaugural Greater Philadelphia Student Film Festival); and an unlikely demon in the horror/comedy feature HELLBENDERS (in 3-D) by JT Petty, which premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival. Stage work includes regional theatre performances in August Strindberg’s Miss Julie; Neil LaBute’s Bench Seat (from Autobahn); and Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge (directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer).

As a playwright, Dan has been represented in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles with his Strangers Till Now trilogy of plays (Dick and Jane, Yes Before Goodbye, and Dear in Headlights). His play Road Test was featured as a focal piece at the Mid-America Theatre Conference in 2009 and has since been licensed to high schools, colleges, and universities around the country. A graduate of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and Brooklyn Law School, Dan is also an entertainment lawyer who has served as production counsel for feature films and as in-house counsel for NYRA, WRNN-TV, and dGenerate Films where he was Distribution Director and Counsel. He is currently the Director of Legal Education for the National Law Institute, coaches varsity tennis, and chairs the Girls Varsity Tennis Committee for the New York City Athletic Association of Independent Schools (AAIS).

You graduated from Cornell and have a law degree. How did you get involved in writing and acting? Do you have training in any of your creative pursuits, or are you self-taught?
I actually began acting at Cornell, took theatre classes there, acted in local productions (including at the Hangar Theatre), moved to NYC upon graduation to pursue acting, went to law school to have a sensible backup career and, in law school, decided to write legal-themed plays as a fun way of supplementing my study. (My recent projects BLACKACRE and THE REMAINDERMEN are remnants of that practice.) After law school, I completed a certificate program in filmmaking at The New York Film Academy (NYFA) while I was working as in-house counsel and Director of Special Projects at WRNN-TV. At NYFA, I had to write and direct and sometimes act in my own projects — and ever since my first project as a filmmaker, which was a short film called BIRD BOY, I have continued on occasion to write, direct, and act in my own projects. Later, while still at WRNN-TV, I enrolled in (and later graduated from) The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (which, at the time, had an evening conservatory program) to further my training as an actor.

You’ve acted in several music videos. How did you get selected for these projects?
I think I have to thank rap/hip-hop artist Fabolous for that. Because ever since I appeared in his video for the song TONIGHT, the floodgates opened in terms of me being featured in other music videos of the genre (including opposite Lil’ Kim in a song called JAY-Z, and, most recently, opposite R. Kelly in an upcoming new track from his album “Black Panties”). I also got to cross over genres to star in Moby’s official music video for THE RIGHT THING.

On the creative side, how do you choose your projects? How do you choose between writing and acting?
I generally look for projects with three-dimensional characters. For example, is the character flawed? Does he make a genuine connection with someone else in the play? Does he have the capacity to change? These are the sort of roles that I’m artistically drawn to. But sometimes there are just people and/or companies I want to work with. As between acting and writing, I tend to prefer acting because there you get to improvise with other people, whereas in writing, you’re improvising with yourself.

How, if at all, has being Asian-American impacted your creative career?
Well, I think there are generally fewer opportunities for Asian-Americans in this industry (at least in front of the camera). There’s simply not much written for us, and so my career strategy has to be to submit for every role I reasonably think I could play and hope that one casting director or producer in ten will think outside the box and consider casting non-traditionally. This reality has helped me make bolder choices in my auditions and not take things as personally if I’m not cast.

You’re an actor, playwright, lawyer, and high school varsity tennis coach. What does a typical day/ week look like for you? What time management tips can you share?
I build my schedule around meetings. Commitments that involve other people come first and then work that I can do on my own gets done during the midnight hours, at home, or remotely, or whenever/wherever I’m on my own. Deadlines are based on my next appointments with the people involved in that project. This keeps me accountable, organized, and motivated.

You seem to balance both business and creative. What advice do you have for readers who want to do what you’re doing?
Never pigeon-hole yourself. You have enough people out there trying to do that to you. With casting, as with any employer, there will always be those who think you have no business interviewing, auditioning, or trying out for a part, but all you need is one person to believe in you and give you a chance. And then the best thing you can do for them in return is to justify their belief in you by graciously accepting the role, doing the best you can with the opportunity, and always being professional.

What’s next for you, either business-wise or creatively? What’s the best way for people to learn more?
Next for me is really to do more leading roles in features and/or television. I keep doing shorts and student projects because that’s what my schedule allows right now, but I don’t want Broadway and Hollywood to think that that’s all I’m capable of. For more information about me, please visit my website at www.DramaLaw.com. Am also on Facebook and Twitter @DramaLaw

Nebraska is an Alexander Payne movie, starring Bruce Dern as an elderly man heading to Nebraska to cash in a winning lottery ticket that is really just one of those magazine subscription advertisements. It’s a well-acted ensemble movie, but way too indulgent for me. I don’t really want to spend 2 hours watching two adult children spending time with their parents. Maybe this is unusual for Caucasian families, but I’m Asian and see this every day.

Kill Your Darlings is a well-acted movie and quite disturbing because it’s based on true events. I don’t know my literary history so I had no idea that Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and Edie Parker were wrapped up in a murder. I felt like I was watching a train wreck unfold right before my eyes. Daniel Radcliffe stars as Ginsberg and made me forget he was Harry Potter. After getting over the shock of the events of this moving having actually happened, I still find myself shocked over how Radcliffe grew up to be so much more than Harry Potter. Kudos to him and this movie!

The Fifth Estate may have gotten lukewarm reviews but I liked it. I’m a fan of Daniel Bruhl already because of Rush, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange provided a spooky fun counterpoint. I could have done without everyone but Assange being so one-sidedly positive. But if that’s the price to shine a spotlight on just how beguiling and confounding Assange and the Wikileaks story is, then so be it. I enjoyed the film. I appreciated the weight of the subject matter. I loved the acting.

Do I dare criticize Fruitvale Station? I wish the movie started with the shooting and fanned out from there. I found the subway scene beautifully shot with nuance and balance. The rest of the film felt Hallmark-light by comparison. I get that the director (Ryan Coogler) wants us to empathize with Oscar (the lead played by Michael B. Jordan) but did we need everything including a dying dog? I almost expected Jordan’s Oscar to break out into song.

Maybe I’ve been seeing too many movies but I’m getting bored with the 2013 line-up. Rush is still my favorite so far. Next up: Blue Jasmin, Philomena, One Chance, and 12 Years A Slave. What have you seen and loved?

Our latest project filmed last week and here is a behind-the-scenes tour:

Bruce Faulk, Director, and Benton Greene, actor (Webisode 1 – The Museum). Benton also starred in FBC Films’ first project, The Battle Below, and was interviewed in an earlier post

Director of Photography, Steve Gladstone, and Melody Cooper, actor (Webisode 1 – The Museum). Melody also wrote The Museum

Production assistants, Emily and Akeem, in one of many action shots

Sound expert, Joel Sterns, and Dan Chen, actor (Webisode 2 – Game of Thrones)

Co-stars for Webisode 2 – Game of Thrones, Dan Chen and Bruce Faulk, who also directs, edits, and can apparently do it all while texting!

The Butler was good like Luna bars are good (i.e., super tasty but you won’t mistake this for dessert). I appreciated The Butler, but didn’t enjoy it. Of course, the subject matter is super difficult to tackle and the film did an admirable job here, successfully navigating the delicate line between being too preachy and romanticizing uncomfortable subject matter. Still, it was no Life Is Beautiful. I was never swept away into the story of The Butler, as I was with Life Is Beautiful. I couldn’t shake the feeling I was in history class, albeit with a very engaging teacher. Maybe it would have helped not to cast Oprah – some people are just too big to play everyday people. (See my musings on celebrities and horror movies for this reason!). So, yes, see The Butler, if nothing else than to participate in what should be good water cooler talk at the office, and try Luna bars too.

Rush is my favorite of the fall movies so far. I loved it so much I covered it for my Forbes column. It’s about as non-diverse as it can be, but hey, it’s race car driving in the 70’s. So enough said for the FBC Films blog, except that I do recommend it.

Gravity is another science fiction movie where the minority quota is filled by a faceless, story-less ambiguously ethnic character who dies quickly. I have to disagree with all the rave reviews and not just for the diversity issue, but just because I got bored with the film after the first few minutes. If you want to feel like you’re in space, I strongly recommend the Star Tours ride at Disneyland. If you want to read more about Gravity, I strong recommend this witty review by Rhonda Talbot.

Captain Phillips features a powerhouse performance by Barkhad Abdi, who I will watch in any other movie just to see what else he can do. Tom Hanks is also as good as always. The film is thrilling without being graphic or exploitative. If you want to save money, wait for the DVD – I don’t think this warrants big screen treatment.

Coming up for me: Nebraska and The Fifth Estate. What do you recommend for the fall movie line-up?

MORE GREAT NEWS! The Battle Below will be screening at Shockerfest 2013. ShockerFest International Film Festival 2013 will be broadcast on the internet TV station CVML-TV and simulcast on www.shockerfest.net from October 15 – 31st. We’re in the Horror – Shorts category and will be screened multiple times during that two-week period. Currently, we are scheduled for screenings on:

• October 15
• October 21
• October 26

All screenings run continuously starting at 7p. Our film is 11 minutes.

We have a chance to win an Audience Favorite, and voting starts on October 15, so we’ll be reaching out again when the link is live.

Denise moved to Los Angeles from Orlando, FL. Denise has been in the entertainment business for more than 20 years primarily as an actress. She can be seen in the latest Mel Gibson movie “Get the Gringo” AKA “How I Spent My Summer Vacation,” “The Last Ride” with Dennis Hopper and on such tv shows as “The Office”, “The New Adventures of Old Christine”, “Samantha Who?”, “Veronica Mars”,”Fashion House”, “Believers Among Us”, “Superboy”,”Guilty Or Innocent”, “The Life of Tonya Harding”, “What Should You Do?”, a recurring role on “Zoey 101”, “Drake & Josh”, “Born on a Bad Day”, “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant”, “Untold Stories of the E.R”, The Michael Jackson Trial on E!”, “Scene of the Crime”, and “The Great Imposter”. Denise has also had lead roles in many feature films.

Denise is the Founder and Director of the Shriekfest Film Festival & Screenplay Competition, now in its 13^th year. Shriekfest has been consistently cited as a leading festival, including an LA Weekly mention as “LA’s most successful and entertaining horror film festival. Denise started this film festival after starring in the horror film “Chain of Souls”.

As an actor you migrated from drama and comedy in theatre to horror in film. What was the biggest adjustment, if any, that you had to make when switching genres and mediums?

Honestly, not much.  If you play the truth of a role, it really doesn’t matter the situation or the genre.    At least that’s what works for me.  I have done a few horror films, but really not as many as you’d think.   I think people just think that because of Shriekfest.  My latest large role was in the Mel Gibson movie Get the Gringo.

Why did you start a film festival? Why a horror film festival specifically?

LOL…good question.   Actually I had starred in a horror film and I really wanted it out there and was telling the producer and director to submit to fests and that’s when they told me there weren’t any fests that catered to the horror genre.  I started checking around and that’s how I came up with the idea.  A silly little idea led to a festival that is currently in it’s 13th year and gets submissions from all over the world.  Such a shock to me.    It has been a great ride.

What catches your attention when you review films for your festival?

Story above all, there are too many films that don’t focus on a story.  Production value is important too.  Get good quality actors, good sound, good camera’s, lighting….a film really is a big package and if it’s missing any of these key elements it can ruin the whole film….especially in competitions.  There really is a TON of competition out there.    Also, editing….just because you shot it does NOT mean you need to use it…this is the biggest problem we see coming through Shriekfest…some films are just not tight.  If it doesn’t move the story along, cut it out.    Some features would be better as really tight shorts.  Have lots of people watch them and take advice, not just your friends or family.

What advice do you have for filmmakers/ producers hoping to attract attention to their film? 

As far as attracting attention to your films…use social media. With all of the social media these days it is very easy to develop a fan base and get the word out about your film….you have to create the hype and horror fans are extremely loyal.  Once they are fans, you have them for life.  ….just remember social media is about give and take….if all you do is post stuff about you or your project, people will tire of it quickly.  Repost things for friends, comment on other’s successes…share their pages.   Get your trailers on youtube….use facebook, twitter…it is a MUST in today’s world.

You’ve been running the festival for 13 years. Of your top 3 favorite entries ever (you don’t have to tell me which ones they are, unless you want to), what makes them your favorite?

Story…it’s usually a complete package like I said earlier.  It’s not the budget that does it for me, I’ve seen plenty of films that look large or are large and they just don’t have it.  It’s the story, the acting, the editing, simple story telling….no fluff.  Those are the ones I love.

You juggle both producing the festival and acting. How do you decide which projects to pursue and what goals to set in your different career areas?

Well, it is extremely hard, let me tell you.  For acting, the role has to speak to me and that is why I haven’t picked my next project yet….I’ve read quite a few scripts and they just aren’t me.

For Shriekfest, goals are based on what is best for the festival and what will help get the word out about the filmmakers and screenwriters.  Shriekfest Radio was created to help people learn and to give extra publicity for these talented filmmakers/screenwriters.  It’s all about promoting them, not us.

What are your favorite time management tips as you juggle among producing, acting, and your interests in animal and children’s charities? 

Well, I’m kinda a workaholic.  I enjoy it.  On my computer, at all times, I have 30 windows open, I can go from window to window with ease and work.  So, that would be all the social media tabs, mine and Shriekfest, of course emails, acting submission sites, youtube, whatever I may be working on…right now the schedule is one of them…the placement of the films for this year’s fest.  So, I multi task like crazy and when I get overwhelmed and I do, I break things down into baby steps.  I have calendars with jobs listed on them to be done daily.  If there is a task I am dreading, I really break it down and before I know it it’s completed.  We can’t get overwhelmed pursuing our dreams, you have to find tricks to help you through it….

You are a fan of The Secret and The Law of Attraction (as a life and career coach, so am I). How has this impacted your life and career?

Nice!  I love that.  I’d love to hear more about your coaching.  Always positive thinking, always surround myself with positive people.    If there are negative situations or people in my life, I get them out.  Life is too precious to deal with that stuff, it will only bring you down.    You have to believe, truly believe and then work your butt off in the direction you want.  If you have a rough day, change that energy quickly before it affects your entire day.

You have managed to make a living out of your art. What do you know now that you wished you knew when you started? What advice would you give your 18-year old self? 

I probably would have only done 2 years of college and moved to LA sooner to start acting.  I wouldn’t have joined S.A.G right away, I would’ve filled my resume with more non union work before I joined.  And I would tell myself it’s not that important…not everything is so important…trust, let it happen.

Shriekfest is in its 13^th year and runs October 3-6, 2013. For more information, click here for the Shriekfest 2013 schedule.

GREAT NEWS! The Battle Below has been selected to screen at the NYC Downtown Short Film Festival on Wed, October 16, 8p, DMAC, 62 East 4^th Street. The official announcement is copied below.

If you’re in NYC, come to the screening and vote! Tell your family and friends. Share on Facebook and Twitter. Tickets are $10 in advance and can be purchased on Smarttix. It’s only an 80-person theatre so tickets will sell out.

Bruce and I already have our tickets so let us know if you’re coming so we can look for you!

10th NYC Downtown Short Film Festival
Audience Choice Screenings
September 21, 2013
DMAC-Duo Multicultural Arts Center
62 East 4th Street
East Village, NYC, USA
Tickets $10 at  Smarttix

Dear Film Maker:

We are very pleased to tell you that your film will be screened at one of the 10th NYC Downtown Short Film Festival Audience Choice Screenings taking place October 16-17-18. 2013 at 8 PM.

To refresh your memory about our festival, we hold screenings throughout the year at which the audience is screened 4-5 films, given ballots and votes, those films that receive the highest votes at these screenings will then be screened at our annual Festival in April  2014.  Please be assured that if you cannot attend your screening, the audience will give your film equal consideration. At each screening it is possible that the audiences vote every film highly and it advances to the festival.

Even though our screenings are generally sold out in advance we need your help and support in making them a success. If you have any actors/crew members/friends/family in the NYC area who may want to attend to support your film we highly recommend that they purchase tickets in advance as we seldom have tickets left for sale at the door.Tickets are $10 at the Smarttix site and $15.00 at the door if they are available.  Tickets are now on sale. For the complete film schedule and to purchase tickets please go to: Smarttix

Due to the size of our screening room, 80 seat,  we can only offer each film 1 complimentary ticket.  Please let us know as soon as you can the name of the person will be representing your film at the screening.

Please feel free to email us with any questions.  Unless we ask for it, the screener you submitted is what we will use.  We do not need any other promotional materials for this screening.

The films we have chosen are of the highest caliber. We are most happy to show them to NYC.

Again, thank you for your hard work. We look forward to meeting you at the screening.

Upon receipt, please confirm that you have received this email. We need confirmation or we will have to replace your film. Your support is vital to make these screenings a success.

Best,

Michelangelo Alasa’
Luke Valerio
NYC Downtown Short Film Festival
www.duotheater.org

Film Schedule:
Wednesday October 16 8 PM

Battle Below Directed by Bruce Faulk (Drama)A teacher returns to where he grew up, only to find that everything has changed. The projects are giving way to Whole Foods. The rents are insane. Kids are fighting in the hood with swords and axes….Wait, swords and axes?

Will Tiao, founder of Film Finance Master Class and writer and speaker on getting your film funded, recently wrote a piece on corporate sponsorship as a means to fund your film: Can I Get Advertising Sponsors to Pay For My Film? The Role of Branding, Advertising and Product Placement in Indie Films. One of Tiao’s early jobs was in product placement for an independent film so he has firsthand experience in this area. He also has firsthand experience as an independent filmmaker successfully getting funded for his own project. So his insights are a worthwhile read (in a nutshell, Tiao favors this option, though he warns that you need star power in your cast to land substantive sponsorship dollars).

Regardless of whether or not you pursue sponsorship for your next film, thinking through how you might do it is a worthwhile exercise:

• What audience are you targeting that might attract sponsors?
• What themes run in your film that might attract sponsors?
• Do you feature products whose companies may want to sponsor or can you build that in in a non-intrusive way?
  • Aside from sponsors, might there be grants or patrons interested in supporting your film?
  • Based on all of this — audience, themes, product placement, attractiveness to other funders – what are the companies that may want to sponsor your film?
  • Is the pursuit of sponsorships something you’re willing to budget your time and effort against?
  • Is there someone in your cast/ crew with an interest? Perhaps a fan or other supporter of your work?

We decided to crowd fund for our next project, Memorable Minorities. How are you getting funding for your creative work?