Shorts Showcase features short films from around the world and provides exposure for filmmakers in 5.7 million homes via our PBS television show throughout Southern California; it reaches a global audience via our Online festival – and our Shorts Showcase Mobile App – which viewers may also VOTE for their favorites and share with friends.
When a short film goes through Festival, then what? That is where we come in. We always encourage filmmakers to go through their festival circuit because so many festivals (most) do not want films that have aired on TV or even YouTube. But once they have gone thru festival – we bring new life to them. We put them online with an actual film festival, we put them on our mobile app – both with global reach – and many get into our TV show on PBS – which airs in the living rooms (or wherever) of the people who work in Hollywood – and that’s pretty cool! We provide the most comprehensive exposure for the filmmaker that we believe is available today!
Matthew Toffolo interviews Creator Leanna Bonamici:
Matthew: How did the birth of Shorts Showcase happen?
Leanna: I had been a fan of short films for a while – and while I was actually producing a feature,in my production studio,(Casablanca Studios) I began organizing this show about short films – featuring as many as I could. I launched the show in Sept of 2009 on Time Warner Cable. In Nov 2011 – we began airing on PBS Station, KVCR, throughout Southern California – and still do today.
Matthew: What is the ultimate goal of Shorts Showcase?
Leanna: National and International distribution (which is in the works at this time) 🙂
Matthew: Where do you see the future of short films going? Is there a market on television, Netflix etc.. for them?
Leanna: As the pioneer of putting short films on television, yes I absolutely believe there is a market and a huge one. Not only on television but definitely mobile – and that is precisely why we created the Shorts Showcase mobile app – which we launched about 18 months ago – and it is FREE 🙂
Matthew: How do you see Shorts Showcase changing in the next 5 years?
Leanna: We will expand our tv offerings – to one hour of programming instead of a half hour. Our mobile app is being used in new mobile and digital devices for additional exposure to millions. We will change with technology in how to play short films and distribute short form content – and with the viewing audience as well. Most videos on YouTube
Matthew: Do you have a favorite short film?
Leanna: Too many to list…… 🙂 “Change For a Dollar” is one in particular, that really struck a cord with me. (which won our 2012 Festival) And “10,000 Hours” which just won in our 2014 festival.
Matthew: What film have you seen the most in your life?
Leanna: Wizard of Oz, Casablanca (my studio was named after this) and It’s a Wonderful Life
Matthew: Can you give us a sneak peak of what’s to come in 2015 with Short Showcase?
Leanna: Nation Distribution of the show, many more short films for our app – and some really cool digital and mobile devices including our app in their devices…. Global awareness for filmmakers.
Matthew: What are the biggest obstacles you face when programming your short films?
Leanna: Fitting them in to the time frame we have for the TV show. There are only so many we can fit in. Plus we are on PBS so we need to be careful about subject matter. That is not necessarily an issue with our Online and Mobile festival – but it is with the TV show.
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Matthew Toffolo, Interviewer BIO
Filmmaker of over 20 short films and TV episodes, Matthew Toffolo is the current CEO of the WILDsound Film and Writing Festival. He had worked for the organization since its inception in 2007 serving as the Short Film Festival’s moderator during the Audience Feedback sessions.
Go to http://www.wildsound.ca and submit your film, script, or story to the festival.
Go to http://www.wildsoundfestival.com and watch recent and past winning writing festival readings.
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