Uncategorized

Movie Review: THE CHAMPION (2016)

festreviews 2016 movies, movie, Movie Review, Short Film Movie Review, Uncategorized , , , , ,

MOVIE POSTERTHE CHAMPION, 17min, USA, Documentary
Directed by Patrick McGowan

A former Iraqi boxing champion, Estaifan Shilaita overcomes tremendous hardships as he builds a special bond with his family and taxi cab customers in Chicago.

Shown at the September 2016 DOCUMENTARY FEEDBACK Film Festival

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

The Champion, a powerful short film hailing from the USA, directed by Patrick McGowan, is the story of Estaifan Shilaita, former Iraqi boxing champion turned taxi driver. The story follows Estaifan in his pursuit for a better life for himself in Chicago. Full of stunning re-enactments, brilliant cinematography, powerful composition and above all, breath taking humanity in its’, The Champion is all at once heartbreaking and humorous, compelling and inspiring.

Estaifan may seem on the outside like any other metropolitan taxi driver- friendly, smiling, overtly chatty. But under his ever-calm and ever beaming face is a story of rich history and deep roots. Achieving great fame in his youth in Iraq as a light weight boxer, Estaifan fled to find a better life for himself. He fell in love in Greece and took his new wife to Chicago under refugee status, where they began raising their four children under the American dream.

This film boasts excellent production value, rivaling any highly acclaimed feature. But it is not the visual beauty of the film that makes it sing- it is the honesty, the heart and humanity of Estaifan’s life. His resilience and happiness in the face of conflict is nothing less than a testament to human triumph. As a film, The Champion, glosses over the political and economic tensions that propelled our hero’s to flee Iraq. It glosses over the struggles a young refugee family must have faced in a new country. The film only briefly touches on the pain of loss that Estaifan and his wife feel, at having spent nearly forty years in the USA without ever being able to access their family in Iraq. It glosses over all of these things so that is can focus on joy. For Estaifan’s life is so utterly full of his own encapsulating joy it is tangible. The audience cannot help but be uplifted by it. And it makes this film spectacular.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:

Happy Birthday: Jere Burns

festreviews Uncategorized , ,

jereburnsJere Burns

Born: October 15, 1954 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Married to: Leslie Cohen (29 June 2008 – present) (1 child)

Worked as a cabdriver in Boston and as a lifeguard on Cape Cod, MA, during a two-year hiatus between high school and college.

JUSTIFIED Season 1
2010
Stars:
Timothy Olyphant
Joelle Carter
Nick Searcy		 TV POSTERJUSTIFIED Season 2
2010
Stars:
Timothy Olyphant
Walton Goggins
Jeremy Davies

Best of BREAKING BAD season 3
Watch reviews		 breaking badBest of BREAKING BAD season 4
Watch reviews
breaking badBest of BREAKING BAD season 2
Watch reviews		 TV POSTERJUSTIFIED – Video reviews of every episode
TV POSTERJUSTIFIED Season 3
2012
Stars:
Timothy Olyphant
Joelle Carter		 TV POSTERJUSTIFIED Season 4
2013
Stars:
Timothy Olyphant
Raymond J. Barry
TV POSTERJUSTIFIED TV Series
Best of the series based on Elmore Leonard’s story “Fire in the Hole”		 promPROM
dir. Joe Nussbaum
Stars:
Aimee Teegarden
Nicholas Braun

 

SUBMIT your TV PILOT or TV SPEC Script
Voted #1 TV Contest in North America.		 FILM CONTESTSUBMIT your SHORT Film
Get it showcased at the FEEDBACK Festival

 

writing CONTEST1st CHAPTER or FULL NOVEL CONTEST
Get full feedback! Winners get their novel made into a video!		 SCREENPLAY CONTESTSUBMIT your FEATURE Script
FULL FEEDBACK on all entries. Get your script performed

Happy Birthday: Dominic West

festreviews Happy Birthday, Uncategorized , ,

dominicwest.jpgDominic West

Born: October 15, 1969 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, UK

Married to:
Catherine Fitzgerald (26 June 2010 – present) (4 children)

I went to America to get away from constantly being cast in costume dramas, playing posh people. It’s interesting that I’ve been cast as a working-class cop [The Wire (2002)] because I doubt that would happen at home. The films I most enjoy in England are by Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, but it’s very unlikely I would be cast in them; I’ve tried a few times, but I’m perceived as posh.

[on The Wire (2002)] The show provokes a kind of obsessive following. Those who love it kind of cherish the fact that it’s not quite as world-renowned as The Sopranos (1999). It’s like being in a secret club.

CHICAGO
2002
dir. Rob Marshall
Starring:
Renée Zellweger
Catherine Zeta-Jones		 THE PHANTOM MENACEStar Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
1999
dir. Lucas
Starring
Liam Neeson
Ewan McGregor
300
2007
dir. Snyder
Starring
Butler
Lena Headey		 MOVIE POSTERTHE PHANTOM MENACE 3D
dir. George Lucas
Stars: Ewan McGregor
Liam Neeson
300HANNIBAL RISING
2007
dir. Peter Webber
Starring
Gaspard Ulliel
Aaran Thomas		 MOVIE POSTERJOHN CARTER
dir. Andrew Stanton
Stars:
Taylor Kitsch
Lynn Collins
TV POSTERTHE WIRE SEASON 1
Reviews of every episode		 actorTHE WIRE season 2
Reviews of every episode
THE WIRE season 3
Reviews of every episode		 actorTHE WIRE season 4
Reviews of every episode		 actorTHE WIRE season 5
Reviews of every episode		 MOVIE POSTERBest of THE WIRE TV Show
Reviews of every episode. Top 100 Characters
Movie PosterPUNISHER: WAR ZONE
2008
dir. Lexi Alexander
Starring
Ray Stevenson
Dominic West		 MOVIE POSTERJOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN
dir. Oliver Parker
Stars:
Rowan Atkinson
Rosamund Pike
SUBMIT your TV PILOT or TV SPEC Script
Voted #1 TV Contest in North America.		 FILM CONTESTSUBMIT your SHORT Film
Get it showcased at the FEEDBACK Festival

 

writing CONTEST1st CHAPTER or FULL NOVEL CONTEST
Get full feedback! Winners get their novel made into a video!		 SCREENPLAY CONTESTSUBMIT your FEATURE Script
FULL FEEDBACK on all entries. Get your script performed

Happy Birthday: Shawn Andrews

festreviews Happy Birthday, Uncategorized , ,

shawnandrews.jpgShawn Andrews

Born: October 15, 1971 in Littleton, Massachusetts, USA

While filming the movie Dazed and Confused (1993), he eloped with actress Milla Jovovich to Las Vegas in October 1992. Since Milla was only 16 at the time, her mother had the marriage annulled.

 Quit the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, mid-term in 1991, by bursting into his acting class (during final scenes) wearing a trenchcoat – before those kids in Colorado turned it into a sign of menace – sunglasses and an unlit cigar. He then proceeded to “flip the bird” to his classmates and Acting teacher. Afterward, he lit the cigar, said only, “Yeah.” and walked out. Teacher Jackie Cowgill, without missing a beat, said “That was his best performance all year!”

SUBMIT your TV PILOT or TV SPEC Script
Voted #1 TV Contest in North America.		 FILM CONTESTSUBMIT your SHORT Film
Get it showcased at the FEEDBACK Festival

 

writing CONTEST1st CHAPTER or FULL NOVEL CONTEST
Get full feedback! Winners get their novel made into a video!		 SCREENPLAY CONTESTSUBMIT your FEATURE Script
FULL FEEDBACK on all entries. Get your script performed

Happy Birthday: Bailee Madison

festreviews Happy Birthday, Uncategorized , ,

baileemadison.jpgBailee Madison

Born: October 15, 1999 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

One of my favorite traditions is that my sisters and I, we all wear the same pajamas. I’ve even still got some from when I was 6. Also, I’ll always remember cooking together in the kitchen and that no matter how busy our schedules are, we are all together for Christmas.

PARENTAL GUIDANCE
dir. Andy Fickman
Stars:
Billy Crystal
Bette Midler		 MOVIE POSTERDON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK
dir. Troy Nixey
Stars:
Katie Holmes
Guy Pearce
TROPHY WIFE TV SHOW PILOT
2013
Creators: Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins		 Letters to God PosterLetters to God
dir. David Nixon
Patrick Doughtie
Stars
Tanner Maguire
Jeffrey Johnson
BROTHERS Movie PosterBrothers
dir. Jim Sheridan
Stars:
Jake Gyllenhaal
Portman
Tobey Maguire

JUST GO WITH ITJUST GO WITH IT
dir. Dennis Dugan
Stars:
Adam Sandler
Jennifer Aniston		 CONVICTIONCONVICTION
dir. Tony Goldwyn
Stars:
Hilary Swank
Sam Rockwell
SUBMIT your TV PILOT or TV SPEC Script
Voted #1 TV Contest in North America.		 FILM CONTESTSUBMIT your SHORT Film
Get it showcased at the FEEDBACK Festival

 

writing CONTEST1st CHAPTER or FULL NOVEL CONTEST
Get full feedback! Winners get their novel made into a video!		 SCREENPLAY CONTESTSUBMIT your FEATURE Script
FULL FEEDBACK on all entries. Get your script performed

Deadline Oct. 15th: Screenplay Festival Submissions (Feature or Short)

festreviews Uncategorized

WILDsound Festival's avatarWILDsound Festival

SCREENPLAY CONTESTSUBMIT your FEATURE Script
FULL FEEDBACK on all entries. Get your script performed

Deadline: Screenplay Festival – Get FULL FEEDBACK. Get script performed by professional actors
http://www.wildsound.ca/screenplaycontest.html

Watch WINNING Screenplay Readings – Watch videos of past winners performed by professional actors
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/feature_script_readings.html

READ 100s of testimonials from past submitters –
https://wildsoundfestivalreview.com/feature-screenplay-submission-testimonials-wildsound-screenplay-contest-review

WILDsound is a screenwriter’s treasure! They take enormous time to provide the most expert, detailed feedback, even allowing my choice to incorporate all the committee’s ideas or stay with my draft. With caring support, they’ve honored each deadline and every award they promised, and I’m forever grateful for their right-on insightful niggles to enhance my story. WILDsound provides everything a screenwriter needs to find the way to a story’s successful completion. I’m forever grateful!
– Elan Carlton, Cahoots, Feature Script

I have taken the time to review your feedback and have found your comments and suggested invaluable. As an…

View original post 400 more words

Deadline Oct. 15th: TV Festival Submissions (Pilot or Spec)

festreviews Uncategorized

WILDsound Festival's avatarWILDsound Festival

SUBMIT your TV PILOT or TV SPEC Script
Voted #1 TV Contest in North America.

Deadline: TV PILOT/SPEC Script Festival – Get FULL FEEDBACK. Get script performed by professional actors
http://www.wildsound.ca/tvscreenplaycontest.html

Watch WINNING TV PILOT Screenplay Readings
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/tv_pilot_readings.html

Watch WINNING TV SPEC Screenplay Readings
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/tv_spec_readings.html

READ 100s of testimonials for past submitters –
TV Screenplay Testimonials from the WILDsound Festival

This is most excellent. I loved the thorough feedback, and some of the fixes or easy and some require a little more thinking but regardless, I’m glad to be getting your feedback.
– David Baugnon, (The Messiah Project)

Thank you for your encouraging words and for this great chance you are giving me. If I had to rate your feedback, I would give it 110 over 100 !! In fact, it is thanks to your previous feedback that I was able to improve this piece: even when they are harsh, your…

View original post 615 more words

Deadline Oct. 15th: Novel Festival Submissions (1st. Ch., Novel, Transcript)

festreviews Uncategorized

WILDsound Festival's avatarWILDsound Festival

1st CHAPTER or FULL NOVEL CONTEST
Get full feedback! Winners get their novel made into a video!

DEADLINE: 1st CHAPTER/FULL NOVEL Festival. Get your story performed at the Writing Festival. FULL FEEDBACK on all entries.
http://www.wildsound.ca/book_contest.html

NEW OPTION: Or, just submit for an actor performance reading transcript of your novel (any 5 pages of your book). Great way to promote the sales of your book if you’re already published. (see examples on the video playlist below)

Watch the Recent Winners. At least 3-10 winners every month:
http://novelwritingfestival.com

Thank you. thank you for your honest & detailed appraisal of my work! It is extremely helpful & insightful.
– Michelle Desgagne
The Distracted Yogi, Novel

I appreciate WILDsound’s committee feedback on the first chapter/prologue submission of my memoir Am doing a rewrite to address your recommendations and, per your suggestion, will send back my revised submission as soon as possible.
– Danielle…

View original post 529 more words

Died Today (October 14th): Keenan Wynn (1916–1986)

festreviews Died Today, Uncategorized , ,

keenanwynn.jpgKeenan Wynn (1916–1986)

Born: July 27, 1916 in New York City, New York, USA
Died: October 14, 1986 (age 70) in Los Angeles, California, USA

Married to: Sharley Hudson (8 January 1954 – 14 October 1986) (his death) (3 children)
Betty Jane Butler (11 January 1949 – 3 March 1953) (divorced)
Evie Wynn Johnson (30 September 1938 – 25 January 1947) (divorced) (2 children)

My billing has always been “and”, or “with”, or “including”. That’s all right; let the stars take the blame.

I do not consider myself a star. I’m a craftsman and I know my craft.

ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD
1951
dir. Clarence Brown
Stars:
Paul Douglas
Janet Leigh
Song of the Thin Man
1947
dir. Edward Buzzell
Cast
William Powell
Myrna Loy
posterPOINT BLANK
1972
dir. John Boorman
Starring:
Lee Marvin
Angie Dickinson

 

DR STRANGELOVEDr. Strangelove
1964
dir. Kubrick
starring
Peter Sellers
George C. Scott		 PIRANHAPiranha
1978
dir. Joe Dante
starring
Bradford Dillman
Heather Menzies
SUBMIT your TV PILOT or TV SPEC Script
Voted #1 TV Contest in North America.		 FILM CONTESTSUBMIT your SHORT Film
Get it showcased at the FEEDBACK Festival
writing CONTEST1st CHAPTER or FULL NOVEL CONTEST
Get full feedback! Winners get their novel made into a video!		 SCREENPLAY CONTESTSUBMIT your FEATURE Script
FULL FEEDBACK on all entries. Get your script performed

Happy Birthday: Ralph Lauren

festreviews Uncategorized ,

ralphlaurenRalph Lauren

Born: October 14, 1939 in New York City, New York, USA

Married to: Ricky Lauren (20 December 1964 – present) (3 children)

They know they’re going to look beautiful, and I don’t think women should look like costumes. They shouldn’t look like fashion victims.

I don’t design clothes, I design dreams.

 

 

SUBMIT your TV PILOT or TV SPEC Script
Voted #1 TV Contest in North America.		 FILM CONTESTSUBMIT your SHORT Film
Get it showcased at the FEEDBACK Festival
writing CONTEST1st CHAPTER or FULL NOVEL CONTEST
Get full feedback! Winners get their novel made into a video!		 SCREENPLAY CONTESTSUBMIT your FEATURE Script
FULL FEEDBACK on all entries. Get your script performed