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.

Monday Movie Meme - Til’ Death Do Us Part

A new year has commenced. Consider this my apology for going all AWOL on this blog, these past few weeks. Today, the Monday Movie Meme returns with a fourth installment in our Rules of Engagement series. The theme for this week’s meme is based on the fact that when it comes to marriage, sometimes things fall apart.

As seen in film, however, not all couples have an amicable breakup, which brings us to the topic of the week:

Til’ Death Do Us Part 

Share on your blog or in the comments section, movies featuring messy divorces.

Here are my selections for this week's Til’ Death Do Us Part theme.

Liar Liar

A lawyer who cannot lie becomes a liability for his client during a divorce case that involves some unscrupulous tactics to win, in this comedy starring Jim Carrey and Jennifer Tilly.

Twister

A weatherman gets more than he bargained for when trying to get his storm chaser wife to sign divorce papers in this action adventure movie, starring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt.

Although this married couple is not going at each other’s throats per se, I doubt that most husbands or wives would want to finalize their split by risking their lives driving after tornadoes – an act that is pretty messy, by nature!

Why Did I Get Married Too?

The bombshell in this drama, starring Janet Jackson and Malik Yoba, causes a group of friends to realize just how fast things spin out of control when one volatile couple plays hardball with each other during their divorce proceedings.

Waiting to Exhale

I need not remind anyone who has seen (or is even vaguely familiar with) this drama starring Angela Bassett and Michael Beach, of the unforgettable scenes involving Bernadine’s furious exchanges with her soon-to-be ex-husband.

There’s that infamous car torching scene, the drunken telephone calls on this betrayed mother’s behalf…and that oh-so audacious charging of the law firm board room, where it’s clear that she means business – and you better duck for cover!

What are some movies YOU watched that feature messy divorces?

Monday Movie Meme - A Toast to the Couple

We covered the most memorable marriage proposals on screen and then followed it up with couples rushing to the altar. It’s only fitting that we take it to the dance floor in the theme for this week’s Monday Movie Meme: A Toast to the Couple. Share on your blog or in the comments section, movies featuring your most memorable wedding receptions.

Here are my selections for this week’s A Toast to the Couple theme.

The Other Sister

Aside from having one of the most groovy groomsmen ever in a movie (tell me those sunglasses didn’t help to turn things up a notch), this romantic comedy also had a heated mother-daughter confrontation during an otherwise happy wedding reception.

Like it or not (for the record, I think this movie is rather cute), “The Other Sister” is one of those movies where many unexpected and awkward events are taking place – for better or worse. You be the judge of that. To this day, I still can’t call it.

The Wedding Singer

Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler – hello?! Let this movie be a lesson that the band and/or performers you choose can either make or break the mood of your wedding reception – especially if they bring their personal issues to work with them. Enter “Love Stinks” for the party, please. I don’t know which couple had it worse – the ones who were led into a slight depression by Boy George or the newlyweds whose family received threats and insults by Adam Sandler’s character. Either way, they had the kind of receptions that guests surely wouldn’t forget.

The Best Man

One lady hogs the bouquet while a groomsman proposes to his girlfriend at a wedding reception in this romantic comedy starring Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut and Nia Long. Still, it wouldn’t be a party without the electric slide!

What unforgettable wedding receptions have YOU seen in a movie?