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Industry News

A report of news & happenings in the local industry for July 2008.

By Erin Trahan

Email news to news@newenglandfilm.com.

This Month

Photo by Gretchen Roth. [Click to enlarge]

In a rush to claim Hollywood for its own, several New England communities have co-opted the moniker (Is Boston Beanywood? NH has a new television show, Hollywood New England). But in Plymouth, MA, frustration came not from the association with glamour-production but when giant lettering “Hollywood East” (used with permission from the Hollywood, CA chamber of commerce) blocked a Vietnam Veterans’ memorial. Plymouth Rock Studios erected the sign to generate buzz and now has plans to move the sign. Here is video.

Speaking of Plymouth, the Plymouth Independent Film Festival, normally held in July, is re-grouping with hopes for an abbreviated festival sometime this year, according to festival director Lisa Mattei. She expects to announce plans for 2009 in the next few weeks. Visit http://plyfilmfest.org /for updates.

You may be thinking . . .isn’t the Boston Film Festival normally in July, too? Yes, but not this year. Hold on until September 12-18 for the 24^th annual.

The Maine International Film Festival runs July 11-20 in Waterville. Find out more.

Re-design is all the rage, and gender is just one way to fluidly re-express yourself. So goes the story of Gender Redesigner, a doc by Johnny Bergmann, to screen on July 16th at the Brattle Theater, with the film’s subject, fAe Gibson, present. Brought to you by CineMental.

The next day (July 17^th), the Brattle hosts a fundraiser, Trailer Treats, which includes a trailer smackdown. More at www.brattlefilm.org.

Michal Goldman and Ellen Brodsky’s At Home in Utopia screens at the MFA, Boston on July 3rd and July 6th and airs on WBGH on July 27th at 10 pm.

The Woods Hole Film Festival runs July 26-August 4. Preparatory reading can be found here and here. We acknowledge our bias in recommending Red Sneakers, a short by NewEnglandFilm.com’s founder, Michele Meek, which screens on July 26^th at 5 pm. Check out the film's site for more information.

Catch the Roxbury Film Festival between July 28-August 3. More online.

Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival’s summer series runs every Wednesday -- starting July 2nd -- and promises dinner, live music, and a double feature (a film for kids at 5:30 pm and one for older audiences at 8 pm).

On Tuesdays beginning July 15th, the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society screens films at the historic Tabernacle. Lots of special guests.

Also on the Vineyard: the Hebrew Center is screening films from the Boston Jewish Film Festival on Sunday nights at 7:30 -- Praying with Lior on July 6th; Three Mothers (Shalosh Imahot) on July 13th; The Powder and the Glory on July 20th; Making Trouble on July 27th; Sixty-Six on August 3rd; and Bad Faith on August 10th. Many events include special guests.

Perkowski. [Click to enlarge]

And yet, even more on the Vineyard: Screenwriter, author, and email correspondent extraordinaire, Andre Perkowski, is summering on the Vineyard with a Smith and Wesson -- oops, I mean a Smith Corona. Or perhaps it’s just him and Corona (s). What I can say is that Perkowski is up to so many different film things (a doc, a feature, Ed Wood fandom) all at once and most of it funny-sounding, that one would rather you just remember his name. Perkowski. For temporary clarity, watch this. PS: Perkowski collaborates with Christopher Roy, a one-time resident of Fort Kent, ME.

Coming Soon

The Rhode Island International Film Festival seeks community hosts for visiting filmmakers, August 5-10. Richard Corso, RIIFF's hospitality manager explained the duties: “All you need to do is provide a place to sleep; filmmakers are responsible for their own transportation and meals.” In exchange, RIIFF Ambassadors will receive a pass to all festival screenings, and other perks. For specifics, contact Richard Corso via email RichardC@film-festival.org or phone (401) 861-4445.

SNOB (Somewhat North Of Boston) Film Festival (November 7-9) wants submissions by July 31^st.

Boston Latino International Film Festival (September 24 –28) has an open call for submissions.

The TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund offers financial support to films that explore scientific, mathematical, and technological themes and storylines, or a leading character who is a scientist, engineer, innovator or mathematician; all genres welcome (except science fiction or fantasy). Apply by August 1^st.

A Man Among Giants, shot primarily in Pawtucket, RI as well as around Boston, premiered at the Hoboken International Film Festival on June 4th. The doc follows Republican candidate Doug "Tiny" Tunstall through his bid to be mayor of Pawtucket. Director Rod Webber writes, “This is no small feat, since he is an African-American little person on public assistance whose primary work experience was as a professional wrestler.” Webber is working on a New England screening for later this summer.

Underlying Notes is set in Rhode Island and available for adaptation. [Click to enlarge]

Eva Pasco says her recent novel, Underlying Notes, affirms how “love, passion, and adventure remain integral parts of a woman's life past her prime.” And it all takes place in the author’s native Rhode Island. She thinks it would make a great film and wonders if anyone in New England is interested? Time wrote about the novel here. Contact the author at atlanticgoddess1@cox.net.

Mary Trainor-Brigham, who contributed a profile of Anne Makepeace this month, is putting the final touches on a forthcoming book, Deep Cinema: Film as Shamanic Initiation, in which she explores the connection between ancient initiation rites and contemporary films.

Screenwriter Caitlin McCarthy (of Worcester, MA) celebrated a one-day trifecta at the end of June: The Writers Place selected her screenplay Vera as a third place winner; Free Skate was accepted as an “Official Selection” of the 2008 AOF International Film Festival; and Free Skate will be interpreted on camera by actors Molly Leland, Robert McAfee and Greg Humphreys at the AOF fest.

Just one week prior, McCarthy’s Wonder Drug was awarded third place in the 2008 Women in Film & Video/New England Screenwriting Competition. The grand prize went to Jessica DiGiacinto for Me and Christian and Sarah Schulman won second with Lonely Hunter. WIFV/NE will host a public celebration with partner Lesley University later this month.

July NewEnglandFilm.com contributor Raúl daSilva also has good news: his memoir, My Friend Rod Serling, a Legacy is published in this month’s issue of Fate Magazine.

The NH Film Office reports that Ralph Morang, a New Hampshire seacoast-based photographer, will be shooting a short film, Breakaway, Backdown, in September in Portsmouth. He adapted a short story by James Patrick Kelly of Nottingham.

The 5th Annual New Haven Underground Film Festival will be held on September 27^th on the campus of the University of Hartford, with an emphasis on CT-made films. Phil Hall, contributing editor for Film Threat and author of the books The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies and Independent Film Distribution, is hosting and programming. For more information, go to www.nhuff.com.

Screenings, festivals, meetings and other events at at www.NewEnglandFilm.com/events/

Erin Trahan is the editor of NewEnglandFilm.com and the managing editor of The Independent. Contact her at editor@newenglandfilm.com.

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