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.

The Greatest Proposal Ever – A Movie Poster Reveal and World Premiere Screening Event

It’s official. After analyzing elements of various movie poster trends, my short film “ABYSS: The Greatest Proposal Ever” (TGPE) finally has some key art! I find it funny how much of the inspiration for the final concept came from some of the most unlikely sources.

Rather than worrying myself silly about how to come up with a super creative, ultra clever design for the movie poster; how to convince someone to make one for me; how to find money to commission a “proper” design, I went back to the basics. It didn’t take long to get results that I can be satisfied with, thanks to the three things that put the capital P in Productivity -- Pinterest, Polaroid and Palettes.

Who would have thought that the design of this project’s movie poster would be decided based mainly on careful comparisons of material provided by a social photo-sharing service and an electronics manufacturer?! Overall, I’m relieved to have found some workable design concepts when I did, given that the organizers at NewFilmmakers NY has selected “ABYSS: The Greatest Proposal Ever” to screen in their Winter 2014 Screening Series.

The World Premiere of the short film that took me like a whole year to develop – from its script stages to the post-production and beyond – will make its public debut on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 7:00pm at the Anthology Film Archives Theater in New York City.

Of all the pleasant feelings I have in being able to screen a project that I’ve spent so much time working on, in an actual movie theater, I’m just as – if not more – enthusiastic to have the opportunity to show my work in (what I believe to be) one of the best places on earth – NEW YOOORK! The concrete jungle where-dreams-are-made-of; there’s-nothing-you-can’t-do! We’re screening in New York, New York, New Yooork!

Thank you all for your continued support over the last twelve months. Here’s to another twelve months of more films, fun, forward movement and free thinking – for each of us and our friends, loved ones and neighbors. It’s crunch time. Are YOU ready?