debor009

I'm drawing up my grocery list in preparation for a day of cooking turkey, but I just saw that Shawn Christensen's film Before I Disappear is opening this week and I had to say a few words. I saw his short film Curfew , which won more than 40 film festival awards before taking the Oscar for short film in 2012. It was very funny and clever and an example of what a writer can come up with if his take on life is prefaced with "What if....?" Before I Disappear is Curfew taken to feature length. Here's the gist: "At the lowest point in his life, Ritchie gets a call from his estranged sister, asking him to look after his 11-year-old niece, Sophia, for a few hours." (The film actually opens with Ritchie in the bathtub cutting his wrists. I will say no more.) Christensen has added a few name actors to the feature, like Ron Perlman , but he still stars himself as Ritchie and has retained Fatima Ptacek as Sophie. I actually thought Ptacek was the weakest link...

I haven't watched a vampire film since Count Yorga, Vampire scared the bejeesus out of me as a kid by letting the vampire win. (What fun is that?) But what I've read about A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night , written and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour , has me intrigued. This sounds like a brilliant twist. More later when I actually get a chance to see it.  As I said, lots of good films out, and women filmmakers!

Arlan Godthaab, Vampire Hunter A Los Angeles actor friend, Arlan Godthaab , posted photos yesterday on Facebook from "I Had a Bloody Good Time at House Harker," a horror-comedy now shooting in snowy Wisconsin, with a cast that includes Jacob Givens , Derek Haugen , Noel Carroll , and Keely Gelineau. These were interesting shots that not only made me want to learn more about the film but also got me thinking about how actors and production companies use social media to publicize their product. His is one way, and it’s a good one. Yet most production companies, even the big ones, don’t yet get social media. Filmmakers trying to break into the business have enough on their plate just trying to figure out funding, casting, logistics, lighting, shooting, and editing. Marketing is rarely in the budget, so they don’t even think about it. They should. They have a whole team on set that can help get the word out about their production, but often the best most young filmmakers can d...

A post script to my note on Los Angeles below.  I was out there primarily to attend the LAWebFest, along with other members of the cast and crew of CapSouth (see photo), a WebFest official selection and the political comedy in which I play Congresswoman Gracie Todd Englewright. Well CapSouth took home no prizes from the WebFest, but at the Indie Series Awards last night at the El Portal Theater in L.A., writers #RobRaffety, #AndrewHeaton, and #SatyaThallam took home the prize for "Best Comedy Writing."  Well deserved and well done Guys! Rob had L.A. actor Mike Moser on hand to accept.  Rob texted everyone at 1 a.m. and was absolutely beside himself, especially since the competition included Hollywood pros and a writer/producer for Buffy the Vampire Slayer!  Here's a clip of the ISA award announcement.  By the way, rumor has it that Sat'ya Thall'am is changing his name to John Smith.  Hah! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8jHWlGsluM&feature=share...

The producers of House of Cards are getting creative in touting their cast for the upcoming Emmy awards. Here in Washington, DC, where the show is a hands down favorite of Hill staff, we love the yardsign idea. The 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will honor the best in primetime television programming airing from June 1, 2012 until May 31, 2013, so the 13 HOC episodes released by Netflix slide right in there. But will they consider it officially television? Well, it's being broadcast in Australia! The awards ceremony, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris , will be held on September 22, 2013 at the Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, California.  I'm pulling for Corey Stoll , who gave a riveting performance as Congressman Peter Russo - tragic, human, heartbreaking in his final scenes on screen.  Illuminating interview of Stoll at ET Online here . This was truly a breakout role for a terrific actor.