FRANTIC SCREENING

Last night ActNow presented The ANF FRANTIC Short Film Screening. It was a great night filled with great films. After the screening Aaron Ingram conducted Q&A's with the filmmakers. Check out some of the pictures below.

"Consequences" actors Clinton Lowe, Stephen Wilde and Jarrett Alexander.

The writer and director of "Consequences" Darren 'Nice' Malone.

The writer and director of "F*cking Liar" Celia C. Peters.

Writer, director and star of "Waters" Yana Bille.

The writer and director of "Playguns" Michael 'Boogie' Pinckney.

Ekwa Msangi-Omari the producer of "Weakness".

A big THANK YOU to everyone who came out and supported ActNow and the filmmakers.
Hope to see you at the next screening!

ActNow Profiles...

CELIA C. PETERS

Celia C. Peters is an avant-garde director and award-winning screenwriter creating compelling stories filled with diverse, authentic characters. Peters is a member of New York Women in Film and Television and Women in Production and the Writers Guild of America. Her work has been broadcast nationally and shown in festivals and galleries in New York, Los Angeles and Detroit. Currently, Peters is developing her first feature film, an exploratory sci-fi project entitled Godspeed, as well as writing, directing and producing an illustrated multi-media sci-fi/fantasy Web series called Allevon and writing a live-action science fiction Web series called “Temporal”.

What led you to create "Breakthrough"?

I had a terrifying nightmare that I was riding in a car with my cousin Phyllis (who I get along with great, BTW) and she drove us off a cliff into the ocean. A huge wave rose up and was about to bury the car….everything was so realistic that I was convinced that it was real life. I mean, I consciously thought about it in the dream. As soon as I made peace with the fact that I was about to die, I woke up in my apartment --- but I had no idea where I was for a good 5 seconds.

How was the editing process of "Breakthrough"? Was it difficult to omit certain scenes?

The editing process was tricky because there was a disconnect between the footage and the script --- I realized this in hindsight, of course. The first rough cut of the film was based on the script but then I made adjustments to it (many, many adjustments) to try to get to the experience I wanted to create. Then, about a year or so later, I had a second editor trim the cut and tighten it up. The biggest challenge was realizing what I should have shot after seeing what I had in the can.

What impact do you think this film will have on audiences at the screening?

Overall, I hope the film will take the audience on a little trip out of the box. I am very much a fan of surrealism and “Breakthrough” was an attempt at telling a story in the surrealist tradition. Also, I expect (I hope!) that the interaction of the women --- especially the relationship between Sapphire and her cousin Phillis --- will make people squirm. At the very least, I think that women will recognize the kind of non-physical warfare that we are so ready to get into with each other….and I hope they’ll think about that.

What approach do you take when creating character driven stories?

My approach to creating character-driven stories is really one of exploration. My background is in clinical psychology, so I’m always in my characters’ heads…looking at what motivates them and how they act. I’m fascinated with how complex the human psyche is. I really get into how people feel things and how those feelings drive them…. Especially because it’s so different from one person to the next ---- and it always surprises me how those feelings translate into unexpected and dramatic actions.

What sparks your creativity?

Life sparks my creativity. Or I guess I should say my view of life…and the human existence in particular. Science and spirituality are major, major, major sparks for me.

What keeps your motivated?

The fact that the more I learn, the more I realize there is for me and all the rest of us human beings to discover. That excites me more than anything in the world and it propels me forward.

What can you tell us about your feature film Godspeed?

Godspeed will be my first feature film as a writer/director. It’s an exploratory sci-fi story about a woman who thinks she’s going crazy---but discovers she’s not human. As it turns out, her ‘insanity’ is the key to her redemption. It’s definitely speculative, because I’m looking at a scenario that’s entirely possible.

How would you describe your writing style?

My writing style is inspiration-driven. (Thank God it comes often!) When story ideas or characters come to me, it really is like something is streaming through me and I try my best to get it all out as fast as I can. Then I go back and refine, refine, refine. Aside from that, my writing is psychologically driven; I did graduate work in clinical psychological and almost became a therapist. In terms of technique, I try to read as much about dramatic writing (story, character, etc.) as I can. Reading and enjoying the arts --- watching film, going to theater, going to art galleries, going to see dance and hear music --- all of that is critical to my process. It’s my way of getting the nutrients I need to continue creating.

And what advice can you give to writers struggling to complete a project?

Don’t give up! Getting over the finish line is *so* worth all the pain and angst and struggle, but the only way you accomplish that is to keep on moving. If you stop, you definitely won’t get there. Think of some work of art that inspired you and imagine how different things would be if that artist had given up when they got frustrated….if you’re really an artist, and you’ve been blessed to experience the joy of creating, you owe it to the artists who’ll come after you to share your unique gift. And not for nothing, but in the worst case scenario, even if you end up leaving that particular project in a desk drawer, the act of completion is critical to artistic growth. When you finish something, no matter what else transpires, you’ve accomplished something huge. You’ve created something. Definitely keep your eyes on the prize and never, ever stop going for it, because whatever you truly believe is what will be.

Finally, can you name a film that changed your life?

That’s not fair---I can’t name just one! I watch movies all the time, almost every day….and certain films have changed me a lot at different points in my life. If you asked me this question 5 years ago, my answers would be different than today, and if you ask me 10 years from now, I bet I’ll have different ones. Here’s a dozen or so that will always be up there:

Blade Runner (Dir. Ridley Scott)

THX-1138 (Dir. George Lucas)

Carmen Jones (Dir. Otto Preminger)

Chameleon Street (Dir. Wendell Harris)

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (Dir. John Cassavetes)

Eve’s Bayou (Dir. Kasi Lemmons)

The Killer of Sheep (Dir. Charles Burnett)

ChungKing Express (Dir. Wong Kar-Wai)

Portrait of Jason (Dir. Shirley Clarke)

The Godfather (Dir. Martin Scorsese)

Stormy Weather (Dir. Andrew Stone)

Nothing But a Man (Dir. Michael Roemer)

The Night Porter (Dir. Liliana Cavani)

Persona (Dir. Ingmar Bergman)

A Raisin in the Sun (Dir. Daniel Petrie)

2046 (Dir. Wong Kar-Wai)

Check out Celia's "Breakthrough" Wednesday August 11 @ Littlefield. And check out Celia's website: www.artisticfreedomfilmart.com

ActNow Profiles......

YANA BILLE

Yana Bille is a native of Cameroon and lived in France for over a decade before moving to the U.S. to further a career in filmmaking. She has written for the critically acclaimed Telesud TV Series, YaMa Afrika and is the head of eM1productions, an independent production company. On Wednesday August 11^th The ANF Short Film Collective will be screening Bille’s short film “Waters” as part of our FRANTIC series. ActNow recently caught up with the director. Check out our interview below.

What lead you to create “Waters”?

It was time. I’d been thinking about it for a while so a couple of years ago I decided to come up with a self-contained idea that could be shot in a day or two with a limited budget.

What was the greatest lesson you learned while directing “Waters”?

The most important lesson I learned was that making a movie is a collaborative effort. So it’s important to choose your cast and crew wisely.

What impact do you think this film will have on audiences at the screening?

I believe this is a provocative movie and people react differently towards it. Some are uncomfortable, some find it very liberating. Once in a while after a screening some people come to me and thank me, in tears, for being their voice.

What sparks your creativity?

Creating is a very introspective process for me most of the time, daydreaming helps too…But I also get inspired by sounds, newspaper clips, delicious meals, and babies’ laughter. Pretty much anything has potential for a story for me.

What keeps you motivated?

I love movies and I don’t see myself doing anything else. Seeing amazing work by artists I respect keeps me going.

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects?

I’m having a fundraiser on August 19^th to finance my next film while I’m editing a feature film screenplay. The fundraiser promises a sensory overload of entertainment, including scenes performed from the film’s script on a live movie set, dancing to the hypnotic sounds of renowned DJ’s such DJ Dhundee and Ant Demby, and free drinks. It will take place at DCTV – 87 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10013.

How would you describe your writing style?

Dark. I try to be as creative as I can possibly be by exploring obscure paths.

What advice can you give to writers struggling to complete a project?

Schedule your writing time and commit to it. Write an outline, it will get you through it. And never edit your work as you’re writing, you’ll have plenty of time to do it.

Finally, can you name a film that changed your life?

There are so many, but I would have to go with Holy Mountain. It’s a jewel that made me look at cinema and art differently. Alejandro Jodorowski is a genius, who uses spirituality, symbolism, incredibly striking images and unbelievable art to express his vivid depiction of the human condition. He makes me want to be good.

Come out and watch “Waters” August 11^th at Littlefield. Showtime 7:15pm. And support Yana's fundraiser on August 19^th at DCTV.

ActNow Profiles...

Wanjiru Kairu

Wanjiru Kairu is a filmmaker based in Kenya. Her primary goal is to create films that promote social dialogue. Her film "Weakness" was the official selection at: Kenya International Film Festival 2009, Amakula International film Festival 2009, Umoja Film Festival 2010, Pan African Film Festival 2010 and New York African Film Festival 2010.

We caught up with the filmmaker. She talks about creating "Weakness", filmmaking and her future projects.

What lead you to create "Weakness"?

Abdu Simba, the screenplay writer and executive producer of the film "Weakness" and I met during a story-lining process of an East African television series that Ekwa Msangi-Omari had created and was contracted to produce. It was there that we all got to talk about our passion for film, the challenges and frustrations involved in the process and generally where we'd like to see the East African film industry grow and develop to.

A few months later, Abdu dusted off a script that he'd made for the stage, reworked it then sent it over.

"Weakness" was easy to fall in love with, the hopeless characters and the situations they were in really touched and connected with me. We just had to make this film.

What were some of the challenges you faced in making this film?

Due to budgetary constraints we had one day to shoot the film. Still, it was a really good experience, making "Weakness", and I'd do it again.

What impact do you think this film will have on American audiences?

I sincerely don't know and would very much like to see how an American audience will react to this film, the questions they'll have, and whether they'll think the storyline to be too 'African' or heavily influenced by the west.

"Weakness" stars great Kenyan actors. What direction did you give your actors to help bring the characters to life?

I'm grateful I had some of Kenya's best talent in this film. It would have been hard to pull it off in a day's shoot with novices, and like all professional actors Maqbull Muhammad, Chichi Seii and Melvin Alusa kept giving their best, take after take.

What can you tell us about your first feature Transcedence?

The screenplay is a little ambitious in that it's an African Superhero storyline. It's also very much in its inception stage and there are many mythical and legendary stories that I'm consuming right now, so there are countless options as to how it could go.

What sparks your creativity?

Good books. People are very interesting to observe, questions and learn from. Good music, watching really good films and sometimes asking yourself "what if"?

What keeps you motivated?

My goal is to be instrumental in raising the standards of the films that come from the East AFrican region...and when the going gets tough, I have a support system (family and friends) that help me focus on this goal.

What advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers and writers?

Just do it. Make your mistakes and learn from them. Don't ever stop writing, or creating your films.

How would you describe your directing style?

In a word - chameleon. Every film calls for a different treatment and approach and as a filmmaker, I want to make films that provoke discussion, whether it is about the content or the style.

Finally, can you name a film that changed your life?

Wow, I wouldn't say "changed my life" but, there are films far too many to mention that trigger new ideas and call into question long held beliefs about life or art. Off the top of my head, I'd say She's Gotta Have It by Spike Lee and Quartier Mozart by Jean-Pierre Bekolo.

Check out "Weakness" August 11th at Littlefield. Showtime 7:15pm

ActNow Profiles...

Darren 'Nice' Malone

Darren ‘Nice’ Malone began his film career as a production assistant. He built his skills in all aspects of filmmaking and found his true passion to be writing, directing and cinematography. In 2004 Malone, armed with his knowledge of film and video production, founded Nice Looks Entertainment, a multimedia production company.

“Consequences” Malone’s directorial debut won The 2009 Indie Fest Award of Merit and is the SDBFF Official Selection for 2010. Malone took some time from his very busy schedule to answer a few of our questions.

How did you know you wanted to pursue a career in film?

I always had dreams of making movies. Even when I was little my brothers and I would act out epic sagas in our backyard. I would pretend to have a camera, since we couldn't afford a real one. I took theatre classes in junior high, acted in plays in high school, and worked on student films in college, even though I majored in Computer Science. After working in the corporate world for a while, I was laid off due to budget cuts. That was the excuse I needed to return to my passion.

Where did the inspiration for "Consequences" come from?

There were many inspirations for the setting, tone and characters. The main concept was inspired by true events that took place in a small town in the South. I thought about how stories like this usually end up on Jerry Springer or Maury Povich, and are presented as entertainment. The difference is that many real stories end in tragedy and children are affected by the outcome. As for the characters, they are all inspired by real people I have encountered at some point in my life, directly or indirectly.

"Consequences" was co-written by Celestine Rae. Did you find it easy to work with a partner?

It was a great creative experience, but difficult at times. I had never worked with another writer before and was very hesitant, at first. The story was about 95% completed when I wrote the opening scene. Celestine volunteered to help when I became stuck with dialogue between the mother and daughter. I quickly realized that having a young woman's perspective brought more depth and realism to the female characters in particular. I'm extremely visual in my thinking. Being that the characters were from my personal experiences, the most difficult part was communicating their characteristics in a way that made sense to someone from a different background. She asked many great questions that forced me to examine their motivations and backstories. I was pretty stubborn with the overall vision, because I didn't want to lose the message behind the story. It wasn't easy at all, but I think the result was definitely worth it.

What impact do you think this film will have on audiences at the screening?

You never know what impact a film will have on an individual. I just hope everyone enjoys the experience and takes something positive away with them.

Congratulations on winning The Indie Fest Award of Merit for "Consequences". How did it feel to win an award for your directorial debut?

It felt like I could exhale a little bit. I felt like "Ok, at least it doesn't completely suck." *LOL. Really, I was so excited. I felt so relieved that someone outside of my circle saw the film, liked it, and got the message. It gave me a lot of confidence for the future.

You watched "Consequences" with Michael K. Williams. (Omar from "The Wire") What did he think?

I never want to answer for someone else. He seemed to like it a lot. He pointed out particular plot points and character arcs. I was just glad that he really watched it and paid attention to the details.

What is your next project?

I'm gearing up for my first full-length feature. It's an indie project based on a novel which was released. I can't really give too many details right now, because there' still a lot of paperwork to be done. I will say it's going to be intense. I'm also launching a monthly video magazine which features actors, models and filmmakers. There will be interviews and also video segments very similar to still photo shoots for models and actors. The first issue should be out later this year.

What sparks your creativity?

Literally everything. The smallest details of life to the whole universe. I know it sounds a little out there, but I am truly inspired by everything past, present, and future. I'd have to say science and technology are special interests of mine, though.

How would you best describe your writing style? And what advice can you give writers struggling to complete a project?

I guess I'd describe it as 'visual emotion'. I see the story unfold visually and jot down the main points. Then as I'm writing in more detail I get inside each character's head to feel what they are experiencing. With action or suspense scenes, I sometimes feel like a spectator in the scene that is hidden to the characters. Like I'm there, but just observing.

As far as advice...Finish it! Even if you don't like the first draft, just get it done. It is much easier to have a complete draft and fix it than to sit for weeks pondering over each detail as you write it out.

Finally, can you name a film that changed your life?

Star Wars original trilogy. I'm still amazed by those films. The geek in me loves the sci-fi, but the story and the adventure is what pulled me in. It's why I wanted to make movies.

Check out "Consequences" August 11th at Littlefield. Showtime 7:15pm

ANF Bimonthly Short Film Collective Presents: FRANTIC

FRANTIC (adjective)

- Excited with strong emotion or frustration.

- Distracted by Fear. Pain. Joy.

- Frenzied.

We over at ActNow know the 3 things you will be doing Wednesday Aug. 11 at 7:15pm (doors open @ 6pm).

FIRST:

You will make your way over to Littlefield (622 Degraw St. Brooklyn, NY 11217). Once there you will prepare yourself to enjoy an evening of short FRANTIC films. Here is a little a taste of what the filmmakers have in store.

“BREAKTHROUGH” by Celia C. Peters

When a nightmare becomes too real one woman wakes to find she is in more danger that she ever dreamt.

“WEAKNESS” by Wanjiru Kairu. Executive Producer/Writer Abdu Simba. Produced by Alodu Simba & Ekwa Msangi Omari.

When a recovering alcoholic in severe debt goes to his brother for one more loan the brothers get more than they bargained for.

“WATERS” by Yana Bille

What begins as a normal day turns into a women’s ferocious attempt to break free of contamination.

“GUN PLAY” by Michael Boogie Pinckney

A young man’s decision will forever change his life.

“F*CKIN’ LIAR” by Celia C. Peters

A snapshot of the very tricky nature of deception -- it’s enough to drive you mad.

“CONSEQUENCES” by Darren “NICE” Malone

A nineteen-year old mother’s reckless behavior puts her family at risk and now she must face the consequences.

SECOND:

After the screening give a round of applause because these films are amazing! Then stick around and mingle with some of the ActNow staff. We are pretty awesome people.

THIRD:

Get home safely. Once home get on the interweb. Log on to the ActNow Blog and comment on your favorite shorts of the night!

Which of these films are you most looking forward to? Let's talk about it.

WELCOME!

Welcome! You have entered the ActNow blog and we are ready to serve you a healthy helping of the arts.

Lead by Executive Director Aaron Ingram, the ActNow Foundation is a not-for-profit company created to provide a platform for ethnically and racially diverse artists. We supply a home for filmmakers, producers, writers and actors who are eager to share their stories with limitless creativity.

Throughout the year ActNow hosts events that will take you on a journey that enriches your cultural background. One of our most popular expeditions is the ANF Bimonthly Short Film Collective. Twice a month ANF screens short films from the African Diaspora, Latino community and other underrepresented backgrounds. The films are all tied together with a common theme. Our next screening will be on August 11th at Littlefield. The theme is: FRANTIC.

This blog will be the go to spot for all your entertainment needs. That means when you want to check out stellar shorts, tantalizing theatre or fulfilling features you go to this spot!

Now that you know us, we want to get to know you.

In the handy dandy comments section tells about an amazing theatre and/or film experience you had. Did a film change the way you view the world? Did a certain play give you goose bumps? Let’s talk about it.

I’ll get the ball rolling.