February 6, 2010 • 5:18 pm 0
Hey… Miss us? Want to hear about the next Cinema Speakeasy screening? Have suggestions for films or venues? Wanna bring Cinema Speakeasy to your town? We’re all ears.
Filed under: Announcements , communication
March 6, 2010 • 11:27 am 0
Let it be known: People from Montreal are officially cool, in our book. Probably one of the better-dressed and more bi-lingual crowd in Los Angeles came last night to support their fellow Canadians Pat Kiely and Kieran Crilly, and their indie film ‘Who Is KK Downey?’.
The film was bloody hilarious, well shot and consisely edited– based loosely on the story of JT Leroy, the film presented a case of falsified identity and desire, set in modern-day Montreal. If you wanna see it for yourself, check out the DVD on IndiePix.
Since photos tend to be worth more than words, have a look at our awesome crowd, and stay tuned for April’s program: Comedy shorts, with a few surprises in the works. That’ll be going down on Tues April 6th @ Echo Park Film Center.
The LA indie core: Jim Mirst, Kevin Shah, Jamie Cobb and Zak Forsman
Echo Park Film Center crew
Some beautiful Canadians
More beautiful Canadians
Pat Kiely acts surprised
Saskia Wilson-Brown & Georgi Goldman
Tammy Singer & Adolfo Nodal
Erik Adolphson & Annie Cederholm
Filed under: Wrap Report , Montreal, Who Is KK Downey?
February 23, 2010 • 5:46 pm 0
Cinema Speakeasy is ridiculously proud to present the festival favorite WHO IS KK DOWNEY?, a Kidnapper Films production.
Director Pat Kiely and producer Kieran Crilly will be in attendance at the screening.
INSTRUCTIONS
* Show up on FRIDAY March 5th, at 7:45PM
* Show up to the right place: Echo Park Film Center (1200 N. Alvarado St. 90026)
* Bring a bottle of something you wanna drink and share, $5, and a shifty look in your eyes
WHO IS KK DOWNEY? follows the story of two wannabes who decided they were sick and tired of trying to make a name for themselves the old-fashioned way. Terrance is trying to make it as a rock star, while Theo dreams of getting his first book published: ‘Truck Stop Hustler,’ a racy look at life on the streets as a junkie prostitute.
After a string of humiliations by both publishers and music critics, the two hatch a plan to turn Theo’s fictional book into an autobiography by having Terrance dress up as the story’s protagonist, KK Downey, and claim all the events as having happened to him.
All of a sudden the book nobody wanted becomes an overnight literary sensation, and Terrance has realized his dream of becoming famous. But at what price? Who is KK Downey? is a hilarious examination of media hype and hipster ideology as told by acclaimed Montreal comedy group Kidnapper Films.
Check out more at www.whoiskkdowney.com. TRT 90 minutes.
Filed under: Screening , Darren Curtis, Echo Park Film Center, film screening, Kieran Crilly, los angeles, Pat Kiely, Who Is KK Downey?
February 3, 2010 • 9:24 am 2
Beth Spitalny & co.
We were really pleased about November 2009’s first ever Cinema Speakeasy Short Film Workshop, where directors Michael Medaglia, Weston Middleton (& writer Erik Adolphson), and the inimitable Tawd B. Dorenfeld presented their short films to a feisty and chatty audience. We were hoping to replicate the positive experience the filmmakers reported having with yet another short film workshop, this time only featuring two, slightly longer short films.
On the recommendation of Zak Forsman, Kevin Shah, Jamie Cobb & Neha Shah over at SABI Pictures, we invited M. David Melvin to present his film ‘All American Tooles’, which is in the final edit stage. We then also invited the uber-talented Beth Spitalny to present her short ‘Procession’.
Settling in.
After a quick introduction by Lisa Marr, I (Saskia) introduced the newcomers to what we’re trying to accomplish at Cinema Speakeasy, and then CS’s own Georgi Goldman came up and introduced ‘Procession’- a short narrative about a teenager grieving her recently deceased boyfriend in secret (with the help of an empathetic and slightly bewildered hearse driver).
With Georgi leading the discussion, Beth fielded some questions about the process she employed in making her film, her choice of locations, filmic accuracy, as well as her choice to score the film with light music as a counterbalancing measure to provide a hopeful note to an otherwise rather melancholic narrative.
M. David Melvin
We then all watched ‘All American Tooles’, a dark, at times suspenseful comedy about a young family at the whim of the wife’s hallucinations… with a major twist. Very well executed and really quite funny, the audience centered their questions and comments mostly around the three options for the ending. Most seemed in agreement, but I won’t give it away…
In any case, as always, a nice night was had by all, and thanks so much to David and Beth for putting themselves forth in this way: Criticism can be unnerving, and their openness to it is a testament to their commitment to their art. Also as always thanks to Lisa Marr and Paolo Davanzo at the Echo Park Film Center.
Adam & Georgi
We’ll see you next month, and in the meantime watch this space: March’s film will be announced soon.
P.S. We are always open to film suggestions, ideas, deep dark desires. Just drop us a line.
Filed under: Wrap Report , beth spitalny, Echo Park Film Center, Georgi Goldman, m. david melvin, Saskia Wilson-Brown, short film, Short film workshop, Wrap Report
January 20, 2010 • 3:14 am 1
We recently attended the Slamdance / Sundance extravaganza in Park City (check out our postcard on the right, there).
While there, we witnessed many discussions by filmmakers about their next steps. Barring an acquisitions deal – rare, especially for low-budget independent films – many people had little idea how to get their film seen theatrically, post-fest. Luckily we have a solution: This issue of distribution we think is easily resolved by taking control of your theatrical release, yourself.
How, you ask? It can be done – simply – by contacting organizations such as ours across the country and asking to have your film screened. Sometimes you can even arrange a revenue split at the box office- like we do for Cinema Speakeasy. But bear in mind that the take will, realistically, usually be slim.
We’ve compiled a quick list of groups that curate and/or host ongoing four-wall independent film screenings, above and beyond Cinema Speakeasy:
There are so many more– will keep adding as they come up.
Filed under: Announcements , DIY Distribution, independent film, independent film screening resource, slamdance, sundance, theatrical distribution, we made a postcard
December 16, 2009 • 1:43 am 1
February’s special instructions
* Show up on Tuesday February 2nd, at 7:45PM
* Show up to the right place: Echo Park Film Center (1200 N. Alvarado St. 90026)
* Bring a bottle of something you wanna drink and share, $5, and a shifty look in your eyes
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We’re back, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
We had such a good time at our last short film workshop that we’ve decided to do it again, this time with two spanking new short films to critique. So, we’ve invited a few really good filmmakers to showcase their most recent work, hot off the presses and ready for scrutiny. Unleash your inner pundit and join our discussion leaders, Cinema Speakeasy’s Saskia Wilson-Brown & Georgi Goldman, as they guide us through this critical exercise. Just be sure to come prepared to give good constructive feedback. And hey, no haters.
ALL AMERICAN TOOLES
Dir. M. David Melvin
TRT: 21 minutes
Todd Toole is in a crisis. His sleep deprived wife refuses to let their 1 ½ year old old son sleep in his own room, which the psychiatrist warns will be disastrous for her frail mental health. Luckily, a saleswoman presents Todd with the perfect solution: the BabyCam 9000 SC, a high-tech surveillance camera that allows parents to monitor their babies from anywhere, 24/7. Todd’s relief comes to an abrupt halt when his wife starts seeing their son doing creepy weird things in the monitor at night. Todd’s convinced his wife is losing her mind and decides to take drastic measures.
PROCESSION
Directed by Beth Spitalny
TRT: 17 min
With their relationship kept a secret due to their Jewish-Orthodox religion, Shayna can’t grieve when her boyfriend passes away suddenly. Unable to fathom the idea of letting her first love ‘go’, Shayna stows away in her boyfriend’s hearse with the hope to bide some time and find some closure. This becomes difficult when she comes face-to-face with Tim, a grumpy hearse driver who’d rather be alone with the dead than with a ball-of-emotions teenager. These two strangers from very different worlds end up sharing a journey much greater than either one could have ever imagined
Filed under: Announcements, Screening
November 14, 2009 • 1:04 am 0
Jackie Beat, Alexis Arquette and Calpernia Addams. Photo by Austin Young
About 200 amazing looking people showed up to ‘Ultra Fabulous, Beyond Drag’ on December 2nd at the Downtown Independent in Los Angeles. In anticipation of the screening, curators/producers Austin Young and Saskia Wilson-Brown (repping Cinema Speakeasy) put on a Tranimal Workshop at Machine Project on Alvarado in LA.
Here are press links for both events:
LA Times: click here
LA Weekly: click here
Brand X: click here
Dangerous Minds: click here
Flavorpill: click here
Blackbook: click here
WOW Report: click here
Filed under: Holy shit we're in the papers , Ultra Fabulous Beyond Drag, Wrap Report
• 12:30 am 0
Cinema Speakeasy is pleased as punch to present its first Big Event Screening (caps added for emphasis): the second installment of the shorts film program Ultra Fabulous Beyond Drag.
December’s special instructions
WTF IS ‘ULTRA FABULOUS, BEYOND DRAG’?
Developed by Austin Young and Saskia Wilson-Brown, Ultra Fabulous, Beyond Drag was first screened in 2007 as part of the Silver Lake Film Festival. Selling out the LA Gay and Lesbian Center’s 200 seat theatre, the first edition of UFBD included films by iconic performers & filmmakers – Jefree Star, Peaches Christ, Darren Stein and Walt Paper amongst others – as well as live stage performances from Sir Heffington and the late, great Steve Lady.
This new follow-up program presents a comprehensive look at developments in transsexual/ transgender/tranimal culture through short films by and about the performers working in this – paradoxically – gender-neutral yet hyper-gendered space.
International in scope, ‘Ultra Fabulous, Beyond Drag: Part Deux’ is a a celebration of gender identification – featuring androgynes, the transgendered, drag queens and tranimals… Going way beyond the boas, glitter and whip-smart sass, it aims to showcase a new filmic genre — a genre we are dubbing ‘transploitation’ — born of, and predicated on the instant accessibility of internet culture, the do-it-yourself ethos of home publishing, and, the humorous narcissism inherent to self-reflection, gender identification and ‘otherness’. All this, through the best new performance video and short film work by established filmmakers, avant-garde performers, iconic chanteuses, Gen Y viral superstars, and developing talents alike. Oh, and a lot of make-up.
The screening will be complemented by a critical panel exploring ‘Gender Identity and Transploitation in Contemporary Media’, moderated by Jackie Beat, featuring Calpernia Addams, Buck Angel and Zackary Drucker.
We will also be offering a workshop on November 30th at Machine Project on tranimal make-up application led by Fade-Dra and Squeaky Blonde, with before/after shots by Austin Young and quick costume-making tips by Scott Cronick.
Made possible by the generous support of M.A.C. Cosmetics,The Downtown Independent and Machine Project, Ultra Fabulous, Beyond Drag remains a collaboration between artist & filmmaker Austin Young, and independent film strategist Saskia Wilson-Brown.
Ultra Fabulous, Beyond Drag is presented in part by Cinema Speakeasy, and is Curated by Austin Young & Saskia Wilson-Brown. We are also indebted to Georgi Goldman @ Cinema Speakeasy, Mark Allen & Michele Yu @ Machine Project , Sarah Shewey @ Pink Cloud Events, James Kirst @ the Downtown Independent, LACE, Shana Nys Dambrot @ Flavorpill, Lena Lecaro, Frontiers Magazine, and many more to come…
Filed under: Screening , Austin Young, downtown independent theatre, Fade-Dra, Georgi Goldman, Jackie Beat, Jer Ber Jones, Machine Project, Saskia Wilson-Brown, Squeaky Blonde, tranimal, Ultra Fabulous Beyond Drag
November 4, 2009 • 8:13 am 2
Erik (with Zak in the back)
In presenting a short film workshop, Georgi and I (Saskia) were hoping to incite a proper discussion about film- centered on specific examples. We wanted to capture the vibe we used to get back in college where a bunch of passionate people discussed the finer points of something they all love. To that end, our short film workshop was just. fucking. perfect.
After charismatic Paolo Davanzo manned the podium to explain the purpose and programs at the Echo Park Film Center, I went up and blabbed on for a minute about my favorite topic (namely, getting us all the hell out of waiting for permission to do things that we care about, but I’ll spare you).
Then, we invited director Michael Medaglia up to the front of the room to present his short thriller, the slightly surreal and lush KITTY KITTY.
Michael Medaglia
After the film, Cinema Speakeasy’s Georgi Goldman, came up and led a robust conversation about the finer points of the film while Michael stood in the hot seat and talked about the interests that led him to make KITTY KITTY, the process of choosing the actors, and his sound design decisions. I found myself thinking of the film as an interesting parable for love, how in loving someone you are sometimes required to take on their particular set of idiosyncrasies (in this case illness), and about the beauty and dangers one faces in that process.
Tawd b. Dorenfeld
Next up was Tawd b. Dorenfeld, presenting the first episode of his CHASSIDIC TALES: THE STORIES OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV, a stop-motion animation, told as it was written, and completely on point with the teachings it aims to elucidate. The discussion around the film centered on the concepts of art vs. culture (namely, how being true to a culture can potentially limit artistic decision-making). I personally concluded that the lack of irony in his work – the authenticity to the Chassidic tale it was spinning- was refreshing and authentic.
Weston & Georgi
Finally, director Weston Middleton and writer/editor Erik Adolphson showed their short CIVIL, a cat and mouse game about a Confederate soldier trying to follow one last set of orders, with a Union troop hot on his tail. The discussion centered around the finer points of the editing process, the timing and the beat of the film. Overall, it was concluded that it was a very ambitious, very BIG film- cinematic in scope and brilliantly executed.
So, all in all, we got exactly what we wanted out of this night, and certainly hope that the feedback was helpful to Michael, Tawd, Weston and Erik.
The Beautiful Lisa Marr
Thanks – again and again – to Lisa Marr & Paolo Davanzo for allowing us to have our monthly event at their fine establishment. We also want to thank Zak Forsman for being so kind as to film the critique (and for his support and good vibes, all around), and as always all the friends and strangers who come and support independent culture with their entrance fee, their insight, and their Tuesday night. Oh, and Michael, Tawd, Erik, Weston for braving public critique and showing their brand new films. Hasta la proxima!
Filed under: Wrap Report , Cinema Speakeasy, Echo Park Film Center, Erik Adolphson, Georgi Goldman, Michael Medaglia, Saskia Wilson-Brown, short film, Short film workshop, Tawd b. Dorenfeld, Weston Middleton
