Month: March 2018
Winning Best Scene Screenplays for March 2018
Watch readings of the winning screenplays performed by professional actors:
 FEMALE BEST SCENE Screenplay – FIRST TIME FOR PENNYMarch 2018 Reading by Janice Walker |
 FEMALE BEST SCENE Screenplay – REBEKAH’S CLOSETMarch 2018 Reading by Amy Jackson |
 FANTASY BEST SCENE ScreenplayMarch 2018 Reading by J. David Thayer |
 FANTASY BEST SCENE Screenplay – BIOSMarch 2018 Reading by Michael Clohesy |
 LGBT BEST SCENE Screenplay – LOOK IN MY EYESMarch 2018 Reading by Eddie Baca |
 THRILLER BEST SCENE Screenplay – BACK FROM THE DEADMarch 2018 Reading by Jonah Jones |
 COMEDY BEST SCENE Screenplay – OCCUPY WALLY STREETSKIMarch 2018 Reading by |
 BEST SCENE Screenplay – TOUCH TABLEMarch 2018 Reading by Scott Timmins |
 BEST SCENE Screenplay – THE DENMarch 2018 Reading by Kelsey Ann Wacker and Nathan Simpson |
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Op: Mary Cox
Winning Short Screenplays for March 2018
Watch readings of the winning screenplays performed by professional actors:
 SCI-FI SHORT ScreenplayMarch 2018 Reading by Jade S. Bokhari |
 CRIME SHORT ScreenplayMarch 2018 Reading by Christine Sherwood |
 CRIME SHORT Screenplay – WHEN THE DUST SETTLESMarch 2018 Reading by Derek W. Wright |
 1pg. SHORT ScreenplayMarch 2018 Reading by Marc Lalonde |
 STUDENT SHORT Screenplay – DIMAGGIOMarch 2018 Reading by Taylor Zaccario |
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Op: Mary Cox
Winning Short Screenplays for March 2018
Watch readings of the winning screenplays performed by professional actors:
| SCI-FI SHORT Screenplay March 2018 Reading by Jade S. Bokhari |
| CRIME SHORT Screenplay March 2018 Reading by Christine Sherwood |
| CRIME SHORT Screenplay – WHEN THE DUST SETTLES March 2018 Reading by Derek W. Wright |
| 1pg. SHORT Screenplay March 2018 Reading by Marc Lalonde |
| STUDENT SHORT Screenplay – DIMAGGIO March 2018 Reading by Taylor Zaccario |
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Op: Mary Cox
Winning Feature Screenplay for March 2018
Watch readings of the winning screenplays performed by professional actors:
 FEATURE Film Screenplay – POOP MOVIEMarch 2018 Reading by Byron Erwin |
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Op: Mary Cox
Film Review: MAKER OF MONSTERS: THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF BEAU DICK (Canada 2016) ***
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Meet Beau Dick gives an intimate look into the life of one of Canada’s greatest artists. Beau Dick worked within an ancient tradition and rose to the ranks of international success within the white cube world of contemporary art.
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Beau Dick is a famed artist, activist, mask carver and musician. He has teaching residency at the University of British Columbia. He is also native Canadian, which is the reason mainstream Americans have never heard of him. The emblem of a truly great artist is the ability to give form to the intangible. Tapping into the collective memory of his people and breathing new life into an age-old tradition, Beau Dick is one such artist.
The film begins with a beautiful shot of Alert Bay. The Village of Alert Bay is a municipality on beautiful Cormorant Island, northeast of Vancouver Island. It is the home town of Beau Dick. There are many stunning shots of British Columbia interspersed throughout the film, the film likely being positive incentive for B.C. tourism. The film goes on to detail the history of the man and his ancestors before he became famous.
The question is why anyone would be interested in Beau Dick. Or why anyone would want to spend 90 minutes learning about his life. The reason is simply that the man is inspirational. What he has done for his culture and people is remarkable and there are major lessons to be learnt from Beau Dick.
The film takes time to unfold. A bit of patience is needed but the waiting pays off. Directors Boll and Fazakas realize that it takes time to establish the roots behind Dick’s actions, especially the political marches. One political march that took place stretched all the way from B.C. to Ottawa which culminated with the breaking of a copper body plate. It sounds silly but it is a native tradition that had not been practised for ages.
Among those interviewed are his two daughters from his ex-wife and his ex-wife herself. A biologist studying the humpback whales in Victoria is yet another who gives her input on the importance of the environment as Dick fights for the environment as well. She provides insight on wild and farmed salmon fishing, which is new to me. One should be able to tell when eating wild vs. farmed salmon from the colour and texture of the fillets.
One of the directors, Fazakas is an art gallery owner herself. She turns the camera on herself as she describes Beau Dick. praising him for the emotion in his work.
Beau Dick has had bad days in his life. He had been on the wagon for 10 years after succumbing to alcohol for a full twenty years. He was also addicted to crack cocaine before getting his life straight. The film has him confessing about his addiction but never comes back to it. Directors Boll and Fazakas stress his positive contributions to his people and Canada.
The film will be playing initially two shows, one on March 29th and one on April 1st in Cineplex theatres (markets below) across Canada, then be available digitally nationally on March 30th.
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/251359571
Film Review: READY PLAYER ONE (USA 2018) *** Directed by Steven Spielberg
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When the creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune.
Director:
Writers:
Zak Penn (screenplay by), Ernest Cline (screenplay by) | 1 more credit »
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At the promo screening of READY PLAYER ONE, the MC who introduced the movie said that if one enjoys gaming, special effects and CGI, this is the movie, and if not…..” His words are so true, as Steven Spielberg’s latest venture, based on the book of the same name by Ernest Cline is just that – too much going on screen for the average moviegoer to absorb. Half of the humour and logic are completely lost, but on the other hand, half of what transpires on screen might be appreciated.
The film is set in the future of 2045 in Chicago where people live in what are called ‘the stacks’ as their cramped quarters are stacked one above the other. The hero of the piece is an orphan, Wade Watts (Sheridan Tye) a youth of 18 who lives with his aunt (Susan Lynch) and her abusive boyfriend.
The is is the story’s premise. The world is in the grip of many worries: energy crisis, disaster caused by climate change, famine, poverty, war, etc. In this chaotic world, OASIS is a global virtual reality system ], accessible through head-mounted and haptic devices such as gloves and coveralls. Originally conceived as a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), it has become over time a true virtual society which all humanity uses as an outlet. It is a place everyone wants to be in and where everyone gets to be whoever he wants. The players win coins (shades of bitcoin) but lose everything if they are killed. Its creator, James Halliday (Mark Rylance, who now appears to be Spielberg’s favourite actor), is one of the richest men in the world. Immediately after his death, a video is released in which he appears, explaining that he decided to bequeath his huge fortune, 500 billion dollars, and his company, GSS, to the person who will find an easter egg hidden in the OASIS. The goal is to find three keys scattered in the OASIS and which are the preliminary to the discovery of the egg.
The villain of the piece is Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn) who for the most part wears a suit and tie. He was Halliday’s partner who wants to own the entire OASIS, though he is not that familiar with all the pop culture that comes with OASIS. He, comically has someone who does, connected to him via headphones so he can impress whoever he wants that he knows all. He tries to foil Wade and his gang from finding the three keys. Yes, there is also romance between wade and Samantha (Olivia Cooke) amidst all going on behind the action.
The search for the 3 keys and the east egg (in a film appropriately timed to be released at Easter) takes our heroes though a journey that includes, of all things, Stanley Kubrick’s horror movie THE SHINING. Those familiar with the film will be pleased to see the twin girls and the river of blood coming from the two open doors.
The film, despite dwelling on pop culture kitsch has a few sensitive moments – a story of soul to be found in a special effects soulless film. The film looks stunning with cinematography by Oscar winner, Janusz Kaminski (SCHINDLER’S LIST). The film costs a huge bundle of millions to make and it shows. The film astounds as it bores, is soulful as it is soulless, a contradiction in entertainment but nevertheless, an successful failure.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSp1dM2Vj48
Festival Reviews 