Year: 2018

Interview with Filmmaker Catherine L. Allard (THE CORD)

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matthewtoffolo's avatarMatthew Toffolo's Summary

THE CORD played to rave reviews at the August 2018 Under 5 Minute Film Festival in Toronto.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Catherine L. Allard: I had this short script written for a while and I wanted to improve technical settings and crew for my next long script. So I asked everyone if they would do this film first and they did!

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

I would precise that the script was already in place. I just rewrite some quotes, shoot and edit in 2 months.

How would you describe your short film in two words!?

Social Schizophrenia

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

To make believe that the 6 friends were real and the Man unreal or awkward.

What were your initial reactions when watching…

View original post 278 more words

Interview with Filmmaker Catherine L. Allard (THE CORD)

festreviews Uncategorized

matthewtoffolo's avatarMatthew Toffolo's Summary

THE CORD played to rave reviews at the August 2018 Under 5 Minute Film Festival in Toronto.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Catherine L. Allard: I had this short script written for a while and I wanted to improve technical settings and crew for my next long script. So I asked everyone if they would do this film first and they did!

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

I would precise that the script was already in place. I just rewrite some quotes, shoot and edit in 2 months.

How would you describe your short film in two words!?

Social Schizophrenia

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

To make believe that the 6 friends were real and the Man unreal or awkward.

What were your initial reactions when watching…

View original post 278 more words

Interview with Screenwriter John McCarney (OPERATION BABYLIFT)

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matthewtoffolo's avatarMatthew Toffolo's Summary

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about?

John McCarney: About the heroic efforts of ordinary people, risking their lives to save discarded mix raced orphans in collapsing war torn Vietnam.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Action-Adventure

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

That we repeat history….To remember that the children that are at the center of debates we have today about immigration, are innocent victims of policies, like those before them, not well thought out resulting in potential horrible consequences for the children.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Heart-wrenching.

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Braveheart

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

Two years

7. How many stories have you written?

One…so far.

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most…

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Interview with Screenwriter Chris Warner (THE SIDEKICK RULES)

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matthewtoffolo's avatarMatthew Toffolo's Summary

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about?

Chris Warner: A young man who often defers to his best friend has to figure out whether he wants to continue as the loyal sidekick or find a way to make himself happy.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Romantic comedy.

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

It’s a rom-com from the POV of the sidekick, who is always the most watchable character. It delves into the life of the “one-liner guy” to discover where he got his sense of humor and outlook on life.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Funny, relatable.

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Shawshank Redemption (“Shawshanked” is a verb for a reason.)

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

Finished the first draft in 2010 and have polished…

View original post 371 more words

Interview with Screenwriter Chris Warner (THE SIDEKICK RULES)

festreviews Uncategorized

matthewtoffolo's avatarMatthew Toffolo's Summary

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about?

Chris Warner: A young man who often defers to his best friend has to figure out whether he wants to continue as the loyal sidekick or find a way to make himself happy.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Romantic comedy.

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

It’s a rom-com from the POV of the sidekick, who is always the most watchable character. It delves into the life of the “one-liner guy” to discover where he got his sense of humor and outlook on life.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Funny, relatable.

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Shawshank Redemption (“Shawshanked” is a verb for a reason.)

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

Finished the first draft in 2010 and have polished…

View original post 371 more words

Interview with Filmmaker Michelle Brand (NOT THE SAME RIVER. NOT THE SAME MAN)

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matthewtoffolo's avatarMatthew Toffolo's Summary

 NOT THE SAME RIVER. NOT THE SAME MAN was the winner of BEST MUSIC at the August 2018 Under 5 Minute Film Festival in Toronto.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Michelle Brand: I am fascinated for a while now with the relationship between time, change, and movement and how they connect and exist together. As humans, we believe commonly that time does exist, because we can see change taking place, so we understand time by spatialising it into stages. This idea can be expressed really well through animation, since it plays with the idea that only through a change happening on each frame, movement, and thus time, is created altogether. So to me, this film was an exploration and thought process of this whole philosophical debate on how time can be understood and perceived.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it…

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Interview with Screenwriter Mary C. Ferrara (RED SHIRT)

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matthewtoffolo's avatarMatthew Toffolo's Summary

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about?

Mary C. Ferrara: A woman named Muriel goes on a blind date at a diner, she knows nothing about the guy she is meeting but that he will have a red shirt. Being an awkward person and a bit overwhelmed, she runs into the bathroom shortly after she arrives and runs into Julia, a woman from high school who was one of the popular gals; Julia knows the whole truth about Muriel and her lonely life and corners Muriel on meeting this date…NOW.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

I’d say comedy and a bit of romance.

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

I think because even though Muriel’s life might be more extreme than most women (or maybe not?) there will be a good deal of women that can relate to this story in some capacity…

View original post 592 more words

Interview with Filmmaker Michael Willer (The Volunteer)

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matthewtoffolo's avatarMatthew Toffolo's Summary

THE VOLUNTEER was the winner of BEST PERFORMANCES at the August 2018 FANTASY/SCI-FI Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Michael Willer: I love films that highlight a strong female perspective, usually flipping the dynamic where the woman has the power and the know-how, and she’s the one who is actively involved in the plot and making things happen. That and shooting out in the wilderness, the woods, which I love, were huge selling points.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

The process took almost exactly 2 years, from the time that Sarah sent me the script to the time that post was finished. Part of that was a slow development process, and once we started shooting it took about 6 months to finish.

3. How would you describe your…

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Interview with Screenwriter Jean Barker (EDEN)

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matthewtoffolo's avatarMatthew Toffolo's Summary

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about?

Jean Barker: A teenage first love, between two girls, one of whom breaks into a cult’s garden to save the other.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Fantasy and coming of age, and mostly drama.

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

It’s low budget and high stakes, driven by emotion.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Idealistic. Scary.

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Clueless (but not on purpose). Y Tu Mama Tambien (on purpose).

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

About two years, but on and off. I have a lot of projects going.

7. How many stories have you written?

About five screenplays, one bad novel, and dozens of others short stories, feature articles, and columns.

8. What is your favorite…

View original post 356 more words

TIFF 2018 Review: WHAT THEY HAD (USA 2018) ****

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Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2018. Go to TIFF 2018 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.

What They Had Poster
Trailer

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Bridget (Hilary Swank) returns home at her brother’s (Michael Shannon) urging to deal with her ailing mother (Blythe Danner) and her father’s (Robert Forster) reluctance to let go of their life together.

Director:

Elizabeth Chomko

Writer:

Elizabeth Chomko

Stars:

Taissa Farmiga, Michael Shannon, Josh Lucas

Playwright and theatre actress Elizabeth Chomko delivers a gut wrenching directorial debut with her award winning screenplay.  The film is fortunate to have four top notch actors delivering unforgettable performances – Hilary Swank and Michael Shannon playing duelling siblings trying their utmost best to look after their parents, Robert Forster playing the father looking after his dementia stricken wife played by Blythe Danner.  Bridget (Hilary Swank) returns home at her brother Nicki’s (Michael Shannon) urging to deal with her ailing mother, Ruth (Blythe Danner) and her father Burt’s (Robert Forster) reluctance to let go of their life together. 

 The drama works as the script offers each of the family’s point of view on the problem.  And each member is right and has sacrificed in her or his own way.  There is no one correct solution.  As the Burt character talks about love: “You find someone you can commit to, and then you work at it.”  This line is also true even if you one finds ons soulmate or love at first sight.  One has to work at it.  The film contains many dramatic sets-ups with excellent dialogue and tearful moments.  WHAT THEY HAD has a Gala Presentation at TIFF and might be a likely shoo-in for the People’s Choice Award.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kBGxsyp__o

 Submit your Screenplay to the Festival TODAY