PAPA

PAPA
Color HD | Dolby 5.1 | 90+/- min. | 2013
In Production | Black Iron Films

PAPA is a new feature documentary that will chronicle the Hemingway Look-alike Contest and spotlight a number of participating "Papas," their family members, friends, and fans. Additionally, the film will explore the concepts of celebrity, the importance of history, and create a portrait of the eccentric and proud "Conch Republic" of Key West, FL.

PAPA has also recently launched a Kickstarter™ fundraising campaign. There's a ton of great rewards for potential backers that pledge to the film. Pledges range from $1 to $5000. Rewards include posters, buttons, DVDs, trading cards, humidors, among other items. The project is live for only 60 days and must raise $10, 000. By no surprise, PAPA is on a small budget. So any assistance helps.

If you're not familiar with Kickstarter™, which I think most are privy, it's a website devoted to independent projects (film, dance, theatre, science, etc.) that look for financial support from potential independent backers. This type of support is categorized as "fan funding" and is similar to the annual pledge drives of PBS and NPR. 

If you're interested in pledging to PAPA, just follow the links.

PAPA on Kickstarter™ (Pledge to PAPA!)

PAPA of Facebook™ (Like PAPA!)

PAPA on Vimeo™ (Watch the PAPA teaser!)

PAPA on Youtube™ (Watch the PAPA teaser, again!)

dir./pro./cam. Shane Eason | ad./ed./cam. Nick Sacci

dop./cam. Terryll Loffler | cam./pa. Matt Perez

pa. Jessica Del Pino | pa. Sheena Orr

2010 1:1 Super 8 Film Festival

For the third time in South Florida, Black Iron Film Artist Collective and the original One Take Super 8 Event present the 2010 1:1 Super 8 Film Festival. Twenty independent filmmakers and artists from South Florida will load their cameras to take part in this year’s spectacle. These 200 second “masterpieces” will truly display the diversity and creativity from different independent filmmakers of South Florida.

WHEN - Wednesday December 8, 2010

TIME - Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Screening at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE - The Maxwell Room

10 South New River Drive East, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

COST - Free and open to the public! $5 suggested donation.

The original One Take Super 8 Event was established in 2000 in Regina, Saskatchewan by filmmaker Alex Rogalski (Toronto) as a way to help create more independent films by a variety of artists, while giving the local community an opportunity to view these films collectively. The concept of using super 8 cameras is centered on the idea that super 8, often discarded to antiquity in this digital age, is still the most affordable film gauge for independent filmmakers. In recent years, more attention has been given to this film format, as it once sat on the edge of extinction. Now its effects are seen in major Hollywood films, as well as music videos and mainstream television commercials.

The One Take Super 8 Event is a distinct film screening, in that none of the films are viewed before they are screened. The filmmakers are not allowed to edit or preview their films prior to the screening. What they shoot in-camera, is what is shown. There is no physical cuts or splices allowed by the participants and there is no opportunity to make changes. This concept leads to some exciting and refreshing films, and a rare opportunity for public viewing.

The popularity of this noncompetitive festival has enabled it to return each year with more filmmakers participating. Over 550 films have been created, collected and distributed for the One Take Super 8 Event. The event has also expanded to a number of cities throughout North America, the first being Montreal (2005) with the second city being Metro Fort Lauderdale/Miami. This was also the first time the One Take Super 8 Event left Canada for a jaunt south.

The first Fort Lauderdale/Miami show (2006) coordinated by filmmaker and FAU Film Production Professor Shane Eason spawned 20 films, some new and some programmed from previous shows. It had approximately 125 attend and held an impressive festive atmosphere. Further, in 2009, a second festival had 24 films produced and 150 people in attendance. The 2009 festival also garnered a new, standalone, event title, The 1:1 Super 8 Film Festival. Although a new festival was established, the manifesto and concepts from the original would carry over. One cartridge! One take! One night!

This year marks the third 1:1 Super 8 Film Festival in sunny South Florida and it’s already a hot topic of discussion among artists yearning for the sight and smell of super 8 film. So grab a camera, get some celluloid, and shoot for the 2010 1:1 Super 8 Film Festival.

Information | Questions | Press

1to1super8filmfestival@gmail.com or 954-762-5246

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Acknowledgement | Support | Sponsorship

Florida Atlantic University

FAU Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters

FAU School of Communication and Multimedia Studies

The Downtowner Saloon | The Maxwell Room

Black Iron Film Artist Collective | One Take Super 8 Event

PAC LAB INC | Eastman Kodak Films

New Website Under Construction

It has been some time since the last post, so I hope to keep at this. However, I will be spending some of my time creating a new website. It can be found at www.shanechristianeason.com.

The film still above is from the latest film project WORKS OF THE FLESH: SECOND STUDY (2009). The film is the second in an ongoing WORKS OF THE FLESH FILM SERIES that focus on health and body image. So far the film has played the following festivals and galleries: Schmidt Gallery, Boca Raton, FL, 2nd Ave Studio, Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Optic Nerve XII at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami, FL. Additionally, the film has been getting press in print and online. A few are the Miami Herald, Miami New Times, and Miami Art Guide. Of note, the first film in the series, WORKS OF THE FLESH: FIRST STUDY (2005) played Optic Nerve VII and a few other festivals and galleries.

The 2nd 1:1 Super 8 Film Festival

For the 2nd time in South Florida, and after 9 successful years, the original One Take Super 8 Event presents the 2nd 1:1 Super 8 Film Festival. 25 independent filmmakers from South Florida and beyond will load their cameras to take part in this year’s spectacle. These 3-minute “masterpieces” will truly display the diversity and creativity of independent filmmakers of South Florida. The One Take Super 8 Event was established in 2000 by (ex)Saskatchewan filmmaker Alex Rogalski, now in Toronto, as a way to help create more independent films by a variety of artists, while giving the local community an opportunity to view these films collectively. The concept of using super 8 cameras is centered on the idea that super 8, often discarded to antiquity in this digital age, is still the most affordable film gauge for independent filmmakers. In recent years, more attention has been given to this film format, as it once sat on the edge of extinction. Now its effects are seen in major Hollywood films, as well as music videos and mainstream television advertisements.

The popularity of this noncompetitive festival has enabled it to return each year with more filmmakers participating. To date over 500 films have been created, collected and distributed for the One Take Super 8 Event; drawn sold out audiences to its screenings; produced 3 television episodes for community television in Canada; had films from the event screened throughout Canada, Japan, Australia, United States and other nations; produced a DVD collection of the films for distribution; been organized, funded, and supported by it's filmmakers, arts organizations and corporations; been featured in radio, print and online articles and reviews.

The event has also expanded from Regina (2000-Present) to a number of cities throughout North America. The first being Montreal (2005) and the second being Metro Fort Lauderdale/Miami. Furthermore, this was also the first time the One Take Super 8 Event left Canada for a jaunt south of 49. The Fort Lauderdale/Miami show (2006), coordinated by (ex)Saskatchewan filmmaker and Florida Atlantic University Film Production Professor Shane Eason (via Regina/Montreal/Fort Lauderdale), spawned 20 films, some new and some programmed from previous shows.

The 1:1 Super 8 Film Festival and it’s sister events such as the OTS8 are distinct film spectacles, in that none of the films are viewed before the screening. The filmmakers are not allowed to edit or preview their films prior to the screening. What they shoot in camera is what is shown. There is no physical cuts or splices allowed. There is no opportunity to make changes and the sound tracks must be prerecorded or performed live. One take! One night! This concept leads to some exciting and refreshing films, and a rare opportunity for public viewing.

Already a hot topic of discussion among artists yearning for the sight, sound and smell of super 8 film, this soon to be annual autumn screening has adopted a fresh title for the Fort Lauderdale show, the 1:1 Super 8 Film Festival. This festival will continue to remain true from it’s inception, and hold concepts and cinematic attributes associated with the original manifesto of the One Take Super 8 Event that began years ago.

The 1:1 Super 8 Film Festival is happening December 11th, 2009 at The Bubble, 810 NE 4th Ave., in Fort Lauderdale. Doors will open at 7 PM and the screening will begin at 7:30 PM. A $5 suggested donation will be accepted upon entry. After party to follow at the Briny Riverfront located at 305 South Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Filmmakers will be in attendance at the screening, however the program is subject to change. Special guest, Alex Rogalski will also be in attendance and will be holding a short lecture before the screening on the history of the One take Super 8 Event and the aesthetic characteristics associated with super 8 film making and exhibition.

Alex Rogalski was raised in the small town of Melville, Saskatchewan. He studied film production at the University of Regina, where he was introduced to the worlds of David Rimmer, Allan King and Unit B. Thus began a life of travel and a passion for small film. He has been the director of the One Take Super 8 Event since 2000, promoting and screening small-gauge cinema across Canada and the United States. His own super 8 films have screened across Canada, the US, and Europe. Rogalski moved to Toronto in 2004 to complete his master’s degree in communication and culture at York University and serves as a board member at the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre. He has guest lectured at Concordia University, the University of Regina and Oberlin College. Since 2007, he has been a member of the Toronto International Film Festival’s Short Cuts Canada programming committee. He has also served as a panelist for Canada's Top Ten 2008 and programmed for numerous festivals including Human Rights Watch, Images, and Pop Montreal.

Information & Questions 1to1super8filmfestival@gmail.com

Acknowledgements Florida Atlantic University, FAU School of Communication and Multimedia Studies, FAU Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, The Bubble, Independent Working Artists Network (IWAN), One Take Super 8 Event, Briny Riverfront Irish Bar and Restaurant, Exclusive Film and Video, Eastman Kodak USA, Ghost Shadow Studio

Chester Gillette + Grace Brown Documentary

I returned from NY and Connecticut in one piece, considering I flew standby, which obviously has it's positive and negative characteristics. How? Positive in the sense that it's cheap and quick, if it's in the low season of travel. And negative in the sense that it can be very time consuming during the high season of travel, which in-turn is an extremely frustrating experience due to the countless flight bumps. Aside from the air travel and airport naps, it was a good trip and a great opportunity to get behind the camera for a colleague.

Derek Taylor (Dir.), Mike Bay (HD DP), Kate Taylor (Foto + Food), myself (16 mm DP), and a small crew of Southern Connecticut State University students (Jay and Alex) and local talents spent 5 days shooting a new documentary on Chester Gillette and Grace Brown.

It was 1908 in Herkimer County, New York when Gillette was accused of killing his pregnant lover and somewhat secretive companion Grace Brown. Gillette, at the time of the homicide, allegedly clubbed Brown on the head with his tennis racket while they sat idle in a small row boat on Big Moose Lake located in the Adirondacks. She fell overboard and struggled to stay afloat, eventually drowning. He swam ashore to a waiting suitcase of which he placed prior to the incident and fled on foot. Although the evidence gathered by the detectives was largely circumstantial, Gillette was later caught, tried, convicted and later executed by electric chair at Auburn Prison.

There were a number of shooting locations used for the documentary. The first was a small lake in rural NY. The second was the actual Herkimer County Jail built in 1934 where Gillette spent his days after arrest and during trial. The third location was at a turn of the century home built in the early 1900's located in Lincoln, NY.

Hours of footage were collected on HD, along with 2000+ feet of 16 mm film burned. All this footage will add to the hours of previous interview and archival footage collected by Taylor and Bay.

Next step for Taylor's film is post production. Until then, here is press and production stills from the documentary: Herkimer Telegram, SCSU@Facebook, Utica Observer Dispatch, WKTV Utica, NY. Liz Taylor and Montgomery Clift would be proud.