Month: November 2024

Feature Film Review: A DOUBLE LIFE. Directed by Catherine Masud

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A Double Life unveils the gripping true story of Stephen Bingham, a lawyer accused of passing a gun to prisoners’ rights leader George Jackson in 1971. Forced into a life on the run, Bingham spends 13 years underground, eluding capture while fiercely determined to clear his name.

https://www.doublelifemovie.com/

https://www.facebook.com/adoublelifemovie

Review by Julie Sheppard:

A Double Life is a tribute to a courageous hero working for the downtrodden. Basically linear in structure, we are guided through the many stages of Stephen Bingham’s life and legal story with a collection of photos, home movies, interviews, media offerings and court evidence for and against him. Throughout the film, you sense Stephen’s intelligence, gentleness and resilience leading the viewer to root for him. The footage divulging the horrible conditions of the US prisons in 1971 and those fighting for reform, made Stephen’s case even more compelling. Also touching are the scenes with Stephen’s parents over the years, as they waited to hear from him and met him briefly, all the while believing in his innocence. 

The section of the film covering Stephen’s work on activist films in France under an assumed name showed his consistency of character — a fighter for the underdog regardless of his location. As for the film’s music, it is used sparingly yet appropriately, such as touches of French accordion or muted piano motifs. Both the narrations and candid interviews of Stephen and his wife and other friends, notably his lawyer colleagues, sealed his case. 

Capturing the short-lived life of his activist daughter is another element that reveals Stephen’s big-hearted nature and his ability to deal with yet another tragedy he has had to endure. Stephen’s courage and determined spirit is a testament to him, which this film captures to the very end.

Short Film Review: TURNCOAT. Directed by Jason Montgomery

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A shrewd merciless crime boss must investigate the scene of his brother’s assassination for answers, revenge, and to avoid the same fate.

https://www.facebook.com/turncoattheshortfilm

https://www.instagram.com/turncoattheshortfilm/

Review by Andie Karvelis:

The name Al Capone aka Scarface is infamous. You immediately picture a ruthless crime boss from the prohibition era. Turncoat delivers a modern day twist on the criminal underworld and crime bosses.


One of the things I really enjoyed was how this film began, it drops you right into a tense situation so you are glued to the screen. Jason Montgomery wrote and directed Turncoat and he really nailed that seedy criminal underworld vibe. Great cinematography from Will Leforestier and the creative way they moved between past and present events in the film. The story was well thought out and executed really wonderfully.


Maurice Turner Jr. is our protagonist and he gave a stellar performance that was nuanced and believable. The special effects makeup for the gunshot was perfect. You can’t have a gangster film without a dame singing on stage, and this musical performance is gorgeous.


My only complaint is that now I have to wait for the second episode to find out what happens.

Thriller/Suspense Festival – Today’s FilmFreeway Deadline

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Submit via FilmFreeway submission:

The monthly festival that showcases the best of Thriller/Suspense Genre Stories and Films from around the world.

THRILLER festivals occur 12 times a year in Toronto & Los Angeles. Go to the website for information on the next events.

This is a HYBRID film festival with live screenings for the audience feedback video you will receive, plus an optional virtual 2nd showcase to enhance the film’s exposure. Festival also conducts blog and podcast interviews with the filmmaker. We have also started a filmmaker’s WhatsApp group with over 100 joined to date to chat about next project and make contacts etc….

With THRILLER screenplays and films, there will always be a market. This is a genre that will always be popular. Agents and producers are always looking for the next great writer and the next great filmmakers who tell great THRILLER stories. So if that is you, we will showcase your script or short film and make sure the right people see your work.

All festival dates have been moved to private screenings with the same Audience FEEDBACK videos made for the short & feature films, and recorded script readings performed by professional actors for the screenplays. This is our way of showing community over distance so everyone around the world can experience our Audience Feedback videos.

Submit your film or story and get it showcased at the Festival.

Screenplay Festival occurs monthly.

Today’s Podcast: Filmmaker Irene Altagracia Perez Lopez (KILLING R)

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LISTEN to the podcast: https://www.wildsoundpodcast.com/the-film-podcast-by-wildsound/2024/10/9/ep-1328-filmmaker-irene-altagracia-perez-lopez-killing-r

KILLING R, 15min., Sweden

Directed by Irene Altagracia Perez Lopez

In a not-so-distant future where AI technology is part of everyday life, Rebecka (41), a successful architect and mother to Nonno (5), works from home with her sick daughter while her partner Carl (39) is away.

http://irenelopez.se/killing-r/

Subscribe to the podcast:

https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod

https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/

https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Watch Today’s Festival: THRILLER/SUSPENSE Shorts Film Festival

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Watch Film Festival HERE: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/thriller-shorts-festival-november

Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.

Go to the festival page directly and watch dozens of films:
https://www.wildsound.ca/todays-film-festival/

See the Full Lineup of Films:

THE APPRAISER, 10min., USA
Directed by C.J. Arellano
Gary takes his partner Nico to his family’s farm, where both men are possessed by unseen forces.

http://cjarellano.com/https://instagram.com/cjlgva

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-the-appraiser



PLAIN AS NIGHT, 4min,. Canada
Directed by Seth Mackie
A man witnesses a murder from his dorm room.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-plain-as-night



THE DIVIDE, 14min., UK
Directed by Paul Parker Parker, Nigel Woodley, Dom Reece Roberts
Following a global humanitarian disaster, mankind seeks survival in the midst’s of more dominant predators on the earth.

http://www.threestrandprods.co.uk/
https://www.twitter.com/strand_three
https://www.instagram.com/threestrandprods

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-the-divide

Watch BONUS Festival: North American STUDENT Film Festival

festreviews film festival, Today's Film Festival

Watch Film Festival HERE: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/north-american-student-festival

Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.

Go to the festival page directly and watch dozens of films:
https://www.wildsound.ca/todays-film-festival/

SEE THE FULL LINEUP OF FILMS:

THE MIRROR, 3min., Canada
Directed by Nicholas Tremblay
Three women in a public bathroom, share various stages of motherhood.

https://www.instagram.com/The_Mirror_Short_Film

STALL, 3min., USA
Directed by Rebekah Grace de Guzman
As Andrea spirals into self-destructive behavior within the sanctuary of a stall in her high school bathroom, she has to realize she has to leave before it’s too late.

https://instagram.com/rebekahdeguzman

TRACES TO WATER, LIFE AND WORK OF RICARDO ANWADTER, 34min,. USA
DIrected by Víctor Gutiérrez Astete, Edmundo Cofré Godoy
Ricardo Anwandter Von Salis – Soglio (1919 – 1993) was the most important watercolourist in the history of Valdivia, Chile. Considered the best national landscape artist in the art of watercolour. Ricardo Anwandter built a Valdivia from his point of view as an artist, making Valdivia known to the rest of the world through his work. His works were characterised by refinement, the very fine perception of colour, chromatic purity and his refined technique, elevating him to the category of national master of watercolour.

EPICEDION, 12min,. Canada
Directed by Julia Thon
At her father’s funeral service, Georgia struggles to come to terms with his passing and what that means for her now.

https://www.instagram.com/epicedionshortfilm/

REACH FOR ME, 4min,. USA
Directed by Hazel Baileh Klein Wolff
Time and space merge as a mother and daughter heal their past and future selves in this ethereal short.

ONE DROP IN THE OCEAN, 5min,. USA
Directed by Nann Tsehay
Usually the strong friend, a woman must learn to keep herself afloat when she encounters a wave of depression.

https://www.instagram.com/nanntsehay/

Happy Birthday Mark Margolis (1939-2023)

festreviews Happy Birthday

QUOTES:

  • I’m addicted to New York, and I like L.A., as I have kids there. Sometimes I think New Mexico is the one place where I could almost live there. It helps your acting; there’s magic in that place.
  • I was a student of Stella Adler and then later Lee Strasberg, and they were into sensory work. At its best, acting is not about words – even when the words are important.
  • I saw an Emmy ad that AMC took out with all the ‘Breaking Bad’ nominees’ photos, and there’s my picture from the show. It’s like World’s Ugliest Man – I’m an automatic winner in that category.
  • I’m in my apartment in trendy Tribeca. I’ve been down here for 37 years, from before it was a fashionable neighborhood. It’s a wonderful place; it looks over the Hudson River. I can see 30 miles into New Jersey. My landlord would like me to die because the rent is very low. I’m trying to outlive him. He can get a lot more if I disappear.
  • I am just a journeyman actor. Most often I take what’s offered me, and I’ve been able to work year after year. I was in ‘Scarface.’ Some people think this must have done me a world of good. Truth to tell, six months after ‘Scarface’ I had to take a job with a real estate development friend for a few months just to get by.
  • I actually don’t pay a lot of attention to the movie ‘industry’… I just do the work when I get it. I never considered anything I was in, or did, as a possible breakthrough for me. I have advised other actors not to expect anything. Expecting a ‘breakthrough’ is almost an automatic for sure ‘let down’ or heartbreak.

Happy Birthday Rita Ora

festreviews Happy Birthday

QUOTES:

  • To me, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from – if you’re a good person and you got my back, I got yours.
  • I don’t get jealous – I get suspicious.
  • I think I’ve always been fine on stage – though I get nervous beforehand. But once I’m on stage, all of that goes out of the window.
  • If I’m not working and getting my makeup done, that’s my chance to do a hair mask and a face mask and my plucking and waxing and all of that.
  • I was signed at 18 and had to grow up quickly.
  • Before every show, I have to put perfume on. I know the crowd’s not necessarily going to smell me, but when I smell good, I feel like I can dominate the room.
  • I have had young fascinations but never love.
  • I’ve always been into looking different.
  • Madonna, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe – they were myths of greatness.

Happy Birthday Garcelle Beauvais

festreviews Happy Birthday

Born

November 26, 1966 · St. Marc, Haiti

Guest-starred on the TV show Family Matters (1989) on four separate occasions, each time playing a different character.

QUOTES:

  • Divorce isn’t one-sided, and I am by no means perfect. Becoming accountable for my role in the relationship was very empowering.
  • Conversations between parents and kids are important – about race issues, about all kinds of things, about heritage.
  • Adultery is the ultimate deal-breaker for me. I would rather be alone than in a relationship that doesn’t honor me.