Comedy 'Breakthrough Weekend' Offers a Guide to Happiness #IndieFilm

(l-r): Damien Bosco as Sal and Sean Bempong as Yevgeny filming a scene in BREAKTHROUGH WEEKEND.A private investigator named Sal takes an apprentice named Yevgeny under his wing while helping clients resolve their issues in the comedy “Breakthrough Weekend” directed by Brooklyn filmmaker Sujewa Ekanayake. Sal’s personalized approach is somewhat like a caretaker and much different from how I generally perceive private investigators to behave when working with clients. It is a method that seems to work for him and might even be recession-proof, given his ability to command a seven figure income for these services.

While watching the movie, I started wondering if this guy Sal is actually private investigator -- or is he a therapist or a gangster? It's like "Iyanla Fix My Life," except the characters and discoveries in “Breakthrough Weekend” are interesting enough – and in some cases bizarre enough -- that I wanted to know how the story was going to play out. Between cheating, dream manifestations, incest and wizardry, Yevgeny searches for the keys to improving his life, in pursuit of becoming happier and less depressed. This protege seems to find some insight on how to be happy while working on cases with Sal; perhaps it's the realization that there are way more messed up people in the world than we would think.

The overall vibe I get from this movie is a message that no matter how much you think you suck at life, there are many other people living in more undesirable circumstances. Although we’re not the only ones who are fucked up, the good news is that at least we know we have a problem, whereas many other folks don't even realize that they are screwed up themselves. Now, THAT’S depressing! The fortunate thing is the power is in each person’s hands to change his or her own situation, no matter how low one’s happiness level falls or how high it rises.

So tell me…

What's YOUR happiness level?

COMING JUNE 2014:

The U.S. Theatrical Premiere of Breakthrough Weekend is playing June 12^th during the inaugural Breakthrough Festival NYC at Anthology Archives (32 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003), launching this movie’s 1-week run that concludes on June 18^th! Contact Wild Diner Media for showtimes and more details.

The Gratification of a Few Good Men #atozchallenge #IndieFilm

"I think movies can change people.  I want to make films that can change people. I have always been drawn to stories that help us relate to people we might feel we have nothing in common to.  Movies allow people to walk a mile in another man’s shoes." - Ted Hope

Narrative feature film WHITE SHADOW by Noaz DesheArtists who create change, stir controversy or have a large impact with their work, show me time and time again that filmmaking can be a worthwhile endeavor when one’s motivation is bigger than the project itself. Some people aren't making movies just for the fun of the process or the entertainment factor it brings audiences.

Instead, they use the medium as a vehicle for fostering change or understanding among people who view it and their industry peers. This is a reason that I can get behind, because there is a force sustaining one’s commitment to stay the course through the turbulent and uncertain times of making movies. The work makes a difference -- either by calling out a problem or by challenging people to view topics from a perspective that they would otherwise not consider. 

While the most common and obvious place to find a few good men is among Documentary filmmakers, there are many narrative films helmed by people who are shedding light on important matters. Israeli director Noaz Deshe is one of these people. His feature debut “WHITE SHADOW” is about a young albino boy named Alias whose survival continues to be plagued by witch doctors and other locals who are hunting him for spare parts. Deshe’s movie is inspired by the modern-day underground trade of albino body parts in Tanzania, Kenya and Congo – where people are chopping off limbs of albinos, said to be worth thousands of dollars; in these regions, albino body parts are believed to bring good fortune, prosperity and cure for illness.

The logline for “WHITE SHADOW” sums up its story of a child with a price on his head:

There is a saying in Tanzania 
"Albinos don't die they just disappear"

- WHITE SHADOW, written & directed by Noaz Deshe

As this movie currently enjoys a well-received run on the film festival circuit, I’m glad that Noaz Deshe and writers/directors like him have found stirring reasons to make movies. When his production crew contracted malaria, they kept moving forward on “WHITE SHADOW.”

When a lion was shot by local military after it killed ten people in the area where Deshe and his crew were filming, they continued to work towards completing this film. The disturbing realities of albino hunting made him do it. We get to become more aware of the world around us, thanks to Deshe and the few good men – and women – whose efforts cause people to pay attention, and for good reason!

Here are the upcoming showtimes for “WHITE SHADOW”...

• NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL:

(Competing in the New Directors category)

April 23, 2014 – 8:45 p.m. – Green Hills Cinema – Theater 4

April 25, 2014 – 12:00 p.m. – Green Hills Cinema – Theater 15

• SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:

May 4, 2014 - 6:30 p.m. - Sundance Kabuki Cinema
May 6, 2014 - 6:15 p.m. - Sundance Kabuki Cinema
May 8, 2014 - 8:00 p.m. - Sundance Kabuki Cinema

 While you're here, you might as well check out yesterday's post about Flying High on Fame. Also, stay tuned for more observations on why we make movies!

Notes from a NewFilmmakers NY Screening

ABYSS: The Greatest Proposal Ever Movie Poster on display during the NewFilmmakers NY Winter 2014 Screening Series at Anthology ArchivesHaving just returned from the World Premiere of my short film “Abyss: The Greatest Proposal Ever” in New York City; I cannot begin to describe how good it feels to bring closure to a project that has been two years in the making.

It’s almost hard to imagine how not too long ago, I was wondering whether the screenplay would ever be finished and then running around trying to assemble all of the necessary elements to shoot this thing.

Later, I would be in a frenzy over setbacks that popped up just when one was being worked through during the post-production and fundraising stages. The time then came for submitting, waiting and hoping and more waiting for rejections that followed.

The movie that began as a mere list of random scene ideas and outlines in my notebook survived through Hurricane Sandy and a New Year’s tragedy that affected one of the people involved with this project. So it was a delight to watch “Abyss: The Greatest Proposal Ever” screen in front of audiences during the NewFilmmakers NY Winter Series 2014 at Anthology Film Archives Theater, last Wednesday. There is no match for the joy of one’s own visuals being projected on a big screen; looking and sounding better than expected – especially in a field where things tend to go the opposite way.

l-r: Me with DAVID At DAYTIME director Jason Pierre and RED director Channing Godfrey Peoples during the Shorts Program Q&A session.To hear people laughing and gasping at scenes -- all one can really hope for – is sign of a win in my book of this seemingly masochistic illness that is filmmaking.

I have nothing but great things to say about NewFilmmakers NY; they are true champions of independent film and my movie was lucky to be among those selected to screen at their event.

This experience reignited my belief in the relevance of film festivals and related series that showcase a wide selection of movies not playing in a theater near you.

In a world of exorbitant submission fees, red carpet fever, commercial agendas and the general politics of show business, it is a pleasure to have my work shown by an entity that puts the films, and their makers, first and foremost. I’ve attended and/or worked at several film festivals and movie screening events over the years and this latest one is by far one of my most favorite.

Showtimes of films playing at Anthology Archives The premiere of “Abyss: The Greatest Proposal Ever” brought a lot of firsts for me including showing a film in New York, visiting Anthology Film Archives, participating in a NewFilmmakers (I read somewhere that there is one in LA too) event and my first time hosting a reception for a screening.

This – especially the reception part -- was a whole new ball game for me that brought back the kind of lost and isolated feelings I had while trying to get the movie in the can.

Thanks to suggestions on table settings by my aunt, who is a part-time wedding planner, I created a theme around my film that was based on the main character’s marriage proposal. Using a Cupcaketree, a cool cupcake tower that is shaped like a wedding cake stand (Can be ordered from www.cupcaketree.com), I served snacks and dip as well as some drinks while chatting with folks about the screening.

I’m no Martha Stewart when it comes to hosting parties -- let alone planning them, so this cupcake stand came in handy, providing two benefits. It helped me consolidate most of the edibles, leaving additional room for the flyers and other promotional materials that contained information about the movie and screening time. The Cupcaketree also created a central attraction to our reception area, which built enough initial interest in what was going on that I could participate in open dialogue with strangers whom I would likely be hesitant to approach, otherwise.  

Would I do it again? In a New York minute! Well…maybe not all of these things in the exact same way, of course, but I’d be damned if I passed up another opportunity to have such an exciting experience.

It was fun meeting other filmmakers with stories to tell and sharing the joy of movies with most of the cast and crew who were instrumental in helping me wrap mine.

Also, much thanks goes out to the locals and folks from out of town who came to see a good show.

Stay tuned for audience responses and other notes from the World Premiere of ABYSS: The Greatest Proposal Ever!

Photos by: Myself, NewFilmmakers NY and Torian Holt.