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?

THANK YOU! We hit our crowdfunding goal on Indiegogo so Memorable Minorities is a go.

We hope to shoot in the next few weeks, and we’ll keep you posted on our blog. First up, Game of Thrones. Then, a hysterical piece by Melody Cooper — you will not think of museums the same way again, or the films and characters she spotlights.

Bruce has eyes on The Ring for more Memorable Minorities. What other science fiction and fantasy stalwarts would you like to see?

Blacks, Asians and Latins in Sci Fi, oh my!

Help support our newest project, Memorable Minorities, a series of skits where we will show you what it would be like for there to be color in Sci Fi and Fantasy.  Check out our Indiegogo page, and help us out!

Absolutely eat dessert first. The thing that you want to do the most, do that – Joss Whedon

Ari Karpel posted a great piece in Fast Company on Joss Whedon: How To Be Prolific: Guidelines For Getting It Done From Joss Whedon.

The above quote on doing the fun stuff first is just one of the tips Whedon shares. He talks about rewarding himself frequently (with chocolate).

Whedon also favors consuming different types of content — watching “outside of your viewing zone, your reading zone.” Another point for diversity (though Whedon doesn’t mention this specifically)!

Finally, Whedon advises just doing it, no excuses. He sees younger creators better about doing this: “this generation is not waiting for someone to read their spec script, and I love that.”

Reward yourself often. Mix up your entertainment. Just get things done. What are your favorite tips for being productive?

How is the entertainment business like high school?

• Cliques and stereotypes abound.
• The majority adopt the same formulaic trends (though I did see and enjoy “White House Down” so I’m part of the problem).
• Creative people are outsiders
• Smart people are overshadowed by the beautiful and physically fit
• As time goes on, you see that the truly annoying peak early. The flash-in-the-pan, 15 minutes of fame phenomenon isn’t just related to entertainment!

I’m still puzzled by the film business (see If Steven Spielberg Is Worried About The Film Business, Should We Worry?) like I’m still puzzled by high school

I read with great interest this Hollywood Reporter piece on how Steven Spielberg himself predicts the implosion of the film industry:

If Spielberg feels like it’s tough to make a film, what does it mean for the rest of us?

If literary, creative, or basically any non-tentpole films need to be made for TV, what does that suggest to aspiring filmmakers, screenwriters and film producers?

If Spielberg needs to co-own a studio in order to green-light Lincoln, should filmmakers with less clout (and no studio) choose subject matter with this in mind?

On the one hand, filmmaking has never been so accessible: the technology is cheaper, crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo facilitate fundraising, distribution tools like YouTube and social networks facilitate audience-building.

On the other hand, this means there’s more content than ever, vying for audience and funds. Yes, it’s easier to make a film but it’s that much harder to ensure people see it. Spielberg’s concerns imply that it’s not enough just to make a great film about a great topic.

What do you think about the state of the film industry? Encouraged by the accessibility? Drowning in too much content? Optimistic about the business prospects?