Thank you for this review, Mike Haberfelner!

“One just can’t but love the concept of this movie, it’s social satire/commentary with some pretty dark moments, packed into a musical, with all the superficial wholesomeness tthat genre suggests – and that “superficial wholesomeness” fits the story rather perfectly, too, as the artificiality of the vlog-verse is one of the central themes of the film. The music’s suitably catchy then and really hits the tone of the film, right in the middle between comedy and drama, without overdoing it in either way, also thanks to the performers who keep things grounded (both in their singing and acting) – and the result is a quite unusual and in its seeming innocence rather thought-provoking movie.” – Mike Haberfelner
Link to full piece:
http://www.searchmytrash.com/movies/filtered(2020).shtml

Also, thank you for posting, Broadway World!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/tampa/article/Sunscreen-and-Sarasota-Film-Festivals-To-Premiere-Musical-Feature-FILTERED-About-Mental-Health-Among-Teens-20210417

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Sunscreen and Sarasota Film Festivals To Premiere

Musical Feature About Mental Health Among Teens.

(Los Angeles, CA, April 17, 2021) – The feature film teen musical, Filtered, is making its world premiere at the Sunscreen Film Festival’s closing night, then immediately thereafter will be presented at the Sarasota Film Festival.

Filtered is a powerful, poignant, honest look at social media told by the teenagers who live it.

The film is based on the stage musical by Katie Combs, who is also the co-director and co-producer of the feature film.  Combs explains, “It originally began as a song cycle, then developed into a full show concept on a car ride with two of my students as they shared their real-life experiences. It is my intention that this film will spark honest, intergenerational conversations around mental health and the impact of social media in teens.”

When S. Roy Saringo (co-writer, co-director, co-producer, and also the cinematographer and editor) saw the stage musical, he immediately approached Combs about making it for the screen. “The main message that’s important to me with Filtered is realizing that times have changed, technology has advanced, and the world has gotten smaller, but connection to each other has always been a staple in humanity and social media has been redefining “connection” in deceiving ways. I want Filtered to give audiences a chance to “eavesdrop” on the Zoomer generation,” he explains.

“We are thriller to have Filtered’s filmmakers here in the Tampa Bay Area, and this incredible cast, who, for many of them, this is their first film festival.  It’s always a great feeling to have your local films thriving at these festivals.” – Ben Daniele, Sunscreen Film Festival Programmer.

“Filtered” showtimes at the Sunscreen Film Festival:

Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 4:20pm

Sunday, May 2, 2021, at 5:30pm

https://sunscreenfilmfestival2021.sched.com/event/h3Mb

“The Sarasota Film Festival is delighted to showcase such a thoughtful, inspired film led by such talented young people.” – Harrison Bender, Sarasota Film Festival, Programming Consultant.

“Filtered” virtual screening information

at the Sarasota Film Festival:

https://sarasotafilmfestival.com/film/?id=605abed5a71676004cdd5606

Executive Producer Grace Santos adds, “When Roy sent the script to me, I knew I had to join the team.  I named Ethos Pictures LLC for two reasons: (a) Ethos means character and I love great character driven work; and (b) Ethos per the Greek meaning of character is the underlying beliefs and ideals that characterize a community or society. ‘Filtered’ contains both of the reasons.  It sparks conversations about mental health and social media in our society.”

For more information on Filtered, please visit the following links:

IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt13535874/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilteredMovie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Filteredmovie

Hashtags:

#FilteredMovie

#FilteredMusical

#SunscreenFilmFestival

#SarasotaFilmFestival

About Writer, Director, Producer Katie Combs: Katie Combs is a member of Vocology in Practice, an organization that stays on the cutting edge of vocal science and technique, and has been writing, directing, and producing young adult and children’s shows for over twenty-five years.  Her original show Carrots was featured in the Broadway Bound Festival.  Her published works include full musicals for live theater and commercial songs. She currently runs a non-profit, Bay Area Performing Arts & Casting, that teaches young artists the application of performing arts principles, as well as guiding students to find, prepare, and participate in professional opportunities. One of her pilot scripts, The Curious Journeys of Samuel Mullins, was recently a finalist in the Los Angeles Screenwriting Competition, a quarter finalist for ScreenCraft’s Family Screenplay Competition, semifinalist at the Atlanta Screenplay Awards. http://katiecvocal.com

About Writer, Director, Producer S. Roy Saringo: Roy Saringo is a Filipino-American filmmaker and graduate of Full Sail University in Orlando, FL. He served 4 years active duty in the U.S. Navy and 3 years active reserve in the U.S. Army Reserves.  Roy has adapted three novels into screenplays as a writer-for-hire for producers, and has two additional original feature-length scripts.  He is a director, writer, editor, and producer with Ethos Pictures LLC, Asian Pacific American Scene, Inc., was the director of video production for a prominent marketing agency in the Tampa Bay area, and is also freelancing in videography and editing.

About Executive Producer, Grace Santos: Raised in New Jersey and Tampa, Florida, from first generation Filipino parents, Grace Santos is an award-winning actress, attorney, award-winning producer, and executive based in Los Angeles.  She founded the nonprofit Asian Pacific American Scene Inc in Florida to tell more Asian American stories, the nonprofit Grace Faith Inc to help single moms and their children, and Ethos Pictures LLC, a film/tv production company and a management company for writers and directors.  She’s also a creative development executive and business affairs executive with Patriot Pictures in Hollywood.  Grace Santos is an alumna of the Producers Guild of America Power of Diversity Lab. http://grace-santos.com

# # #

I’m thankful to be part of this program.

Producers Guild Of America Unveils Participants For 16th Annual Power Of Diversity Master Workshop

Producers Guild Of America Unveils Participants For 16th Annual Power Of Diversity Master Workshop

By Dino-Ray Ramos

June 16, 2020

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has revealed the 14 participants for its 16th annual Power of Diversity Master Workshop.

The 14 producers selected for the annual workshop represent 10 projects in TV, film, unscripted and documentary. The eight-week workshop offers twice-weekly master classes on pitching, premise development, film finance, line producing, demystifying the writers’ room, agent & manager representation, distribution, deal-making and the world of virtual & augmented reality, headlined by some of the top producers & executives in the industry.

The participants were chosen from hundreds of applications reviewed by a PGA-member led selection committee. n addition to twice-weekly masterclasses, each project will be assigned two PGA member mentors who will provide in-depth feedback, make referrals and become champions for their projects to the industry.

“The impact of the coronavirus pandemic is profound and widespread. However, our industry is still a business built on relationships,” said Master Workshop Co-Chairs Sasheen Artis and Matt Johnson. “Without this level of access, many folks from underrepresented communities will remain on the sidelines and their stories will never be told. Now more than ever, it is imperative that established producers become allies and lead the charge in opening doors for diverse voices.”

The Class of 2020 is:

• Jenny Callaghan & Randi Matthews with the documentary feature, The Luxury of Life: Disparities in Maternal Care
• Marie Cheng with the animated TV comedy, Everybody Screams At Me
• Gabrielle Cordero & Christina Licud with the reverse immigration TV comedy Gringas
• Shari Ellis with the animated TV comedy Fangirl
• Addison Henderson & Kevin Polowy with the sci-fi action TV drama The Healer
• Duran Jones with the vampire TV drama Daywalkers
• Surekha Paruchuri with the Gen Z political TV comedy Millie for President
• Grace Santos & Elesha Barnette with the period feature International Sweethearts of Rhythm
• Mynor Sosa with the veteran suicide feature Shotgun Lullaby
• Harold Williams with the unscripted comedy Unpacking Black

As a precaution against the coronavirus pandemic, the PGA has suspended all-in person activities for the year. That said, all mentoring support and classes will be virtual.

“Producing amid a pandemic is something that we will all have to get used to,” said Artis and Johnson. “We knew that we had to figure out a way to pivot and ensure that including diverse voices remains top of mind for the industry. Diversity & Inclusion can no longer be an afterthought to be ‘peppered in’ later.”

PGA Workshop alums include a roster of producers that have gone on to work on top television shows and major films, including LaToya Morgan (two-time NAACP Image Award-nominee for Turn: Washington’s Spies, Into the Badlands), Eugene Rhee (Into the Dark: Flesh & Blood, Despite Everything) Aaron Rahsaan Thomas (S.W.A.T., Sleepy Hollow, CSI: NY, Southland), Ben Lobato (Ice, Queen of the South, Justified), Hollie Overton (Shadowhunters, The Client List) and Sarah DiLeo (Bless Me, Ultima).

In addition, the PGA Diversity Committee has fostered partnerships with international producers’ organizations, accepting creatives from around the world into the Power of Diversity Master Workshop, and in exchange, conducts the Workshop on four continents, in Jordan, South Africa, Brazil and Taiwan.

The Power of Diversity Master Workshop is free and open to members and non-members of the PGA.  Applications for next year’s program will be available February 2021.

Thank you for this review from The Scream Review about “Odessa”!

“Two very talented main actors take the lead and set the tone for one of the best short films I’ve seen in a while, both Ricky Wayne and Grace Santos work well together and are two fascinating actors to watch.”

“There’s a lot of mystery surrounding each character and where they’re going, due to the short timing of the film, but it really pushes us to want to know more about them and their stories. This is most definitely the case for the lead female, Estrella (Grace Santos) who did a brilliant job in her role. When we find out more about her, it’s heartbreaking, emotional and we really think about ‘what would you do in that situation.’”

“The cinematography is already incredible, and there are some really amazing shots throughout.”

Link to full review here:

Odessa (2015)

Just a small mention but thankful.  Link:

Kurt Russell’s ‘Bone Tomahawk’ Lands Deal Ahead Of Fantastic Fest Bow

By Patrick Hipes

August 4, 2015 10:05am

RLJ Entertainment has acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to the Kurt Russell starring Bone Tomahawk, the Caliber Media horror-Western written and directed by S. Craig Zahler. The deal comes ahead of the pic’s world premiere as the closing-night film at Fantastic Fest, the annual genre film showcase that kicks off next month in Austin

The deal marks the first title acquired under the RLJ Entertainment brand after it previously released its theatrical titles under the Image Entertainment brand, which RLJ bought in 2012.

Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Lili Simmon and Richard Jenkins co-star in the pic, which centers on an unlikely team of gunslingers, led by Sheriff Franklin Hunt (Russell), that sets out to rescue settlers from the small town of Bright Hope who are kidnapped by a group of cannibal savages. But their enemy is more ruthless than anyone could have imagined, putting their mission – and survival itself – in jeopardy.

Dallas Sonnier, Jack Heller, and Gregory Zuk of Caliber Media produced and Fyzz Facility’s Wayne Marc Godfrey, Robert Jones and David Gilbrey executive produced. The deal was negotiated by CAA, UTA, and Caliber on behalf of the filmmakers and Mark Ward and Grace Santos on behalf of RLJ.

Link directly to the Deadline post:

Kurt Russell’s ‘Bone Tomahawk’ Lands Deal Ahead Of Fantastic Fest Bow

Small mention but thankful.  Link:

Nicolas Cage’s ‘Pay The Ghost’ Picked Up By RLJ; XLrator Lands SXSW Docu ‘Mateo’

By Amanda N’Duka

August 6, 2015 11:06am

RLJ Entertainment has nabbed U.S. rights to the supernatural thriller Pay The Ghost starring Nicolas Cage and Sarah Wayne Callies. Written by Dan Kay and directed by Uli Edel, the film follows Mike Cole (Cage) who reunites with estranged wife (Callies) in search of his young son who disappeared during a Halloween carnival one year prior. In the midst of searching he is haunted by mysterious images and messages and uncovers a legend that refuses to remain buried in the past. The pic will be released in theaters and VOD on September 23. Nicolas Chartier, Craig J. Flores, Ian Levy and Patrick Newall produced, and the deal was negotiated by Voltage and Mark Ward and Grace Santos on behalf of RLJ.

Link directly to the Deadline post:

Nicolas Cage’s ‘Pay The Ghost’ Picked Up By RLJ; XLrator Lands SXSW Docu ‘Mateo’

Thankful for this wonderful review about “Odessa”, a short film I produced and acted in.  Link:

https://horrormoviesuncut.com/2015/05/01/sci-fi-short-odessa-takes-home-grand-jury-prize-at-gasparilla-international-film-festival/

You smell that in the air right? If not take another sniff (unless you are in Southern California then you may want to consider a gas mask) but yes our friends it’s festival season! While many of you deviants will be heading towards Dallas this weekend for TFW there are plenty of others out that are worth your time. One of those is the Gasparilla International Film Festival and it was announced earlier this week that [Sean] Michael Turrell’s ODESSA won their prestigious Grand Jury Award for Best Short Film. Why should you care ? Well because not only is this a stellar short but it is also a first pitch episode for a possible series. So in the future when you are looking to binge watch a new program on HBO, AMC, Netflix or whatever platform this may end up on you can remember you heard us talk about here at HMU! We have some goodies for you to see from the short including a review from our lead guy in charge Travis Brown.

Review:

Usually I look at a short film as a limited experience but from the start I could tell ODESSA was so much more. The backdrop of the film has a post apocalyptic beauty that can only be rivaled by films like THE ROVER, THE ROAD and of course the MAD MAX franchise. ODESSA brings it closer to home and the idea of a separation of Texas from the union is something that ups the realism factor. As beautiful as our world can be there is an underlining of what is to come if we don’t adapt and leave behind our primitive morals and values. ODESSA exploits this to the fullest and draws you into a future where even the free are being held captive by the rules of the land. Not only do I want to seem more of ODESSA I feel that this could be the type of show that could change our way of thought in the future. For those reasons this has to be developed further. ODESSA is a stellar short that leads the viewer on a journey that they will never forget.

4.5 / 5

-Travis Brown (Horror Movies Uncut)

Direct Link to post:

https://horrormoviesuncut.com/2015/05/01/sci-fi-short-odessa-takes-home-grand-jury-prize-at-gasparilla-international-film-festival/

Just a small mention, but thankful.

Link:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/image-entertainment-picks-up-hugh-748833

Image Entertainment Picks Up Hugh Grant Comedy ‘The Rewrite’ for U.S.

12:03 PM PST 11/13/2014 by Austin Siegemund-Broka

Grant plays a screenwriter and stars alongside Marisa Tomei

Image Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the Hugh Grant–Marisa Tomei comedy The Rewrite.

The Castle Rock-produced film is the fourth collaboration of Grant and writer-director Marc Lawrence, following Music & Lyrics, Two Weeks Notice and Did You Hear About the Morgans? 

It centers on a screenwriter (Grant) who once had it all — an Oscar, a hit movie and a beautiful wife. Fifteen years later, he’s divorced and broke, so when his agent gets him a teaching job at a small university in New York, he grudgingly takes the position while hoping to write a new script. His perspective starts to change when he gets to know his students, including a single mom (Tomei) looking for a fresh start.

Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons and Aja Naomi King co-star. The film was produced by Castle Rock’s Liz Glotzer and Martin Shafer with Red Granite’s David Koplan executive producing.

Image, a subsidiary of RLJ Entertainment, recently released films including the Reese Witherspoon West Memphis Three drama Devil’s Knot and the horror threequel Cabin Fever: Patient Zero. Its upcoming slate includes the Adam Sandler starrer The Cobbler.

Its deal for Rewrite was negotiated by CAA on behalf of the filmmakers and Mark Ward, Jess De Leo and Grace Santos Feeney on behalf of Image.

The film opened in the U.K. on Oct 8. Stateside, a theatrical release is planned for next spring.

Email: Austin.Siegemund-Broka@THR.com
Twitter: @Asiegemundbroka

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/image-entertainment-picks-up-hugh-748833

Just a small mention, but thankful.

Link:

Hugh Grant – Marisa Tomei Comedy ‘Rewrite’ Bought by Image for U.S.

Dave McNary

Film Reporter

@Variety_DMcNary

NOVEMBER 13, 2014 | 02:19PM PT

Image Entertainment has acquired all U.S. rights to the Hugh Grant – Marisa Tomei comedy “The Rewrite”.

The film is the fourth collaboration between Grant and writer-director Marc Lawrence, who previously teamed on “Two Weeks Notice,” “Music and Lyrics” and “Did You Hear About The Morgans?” Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons and Chris Elliott also star.

Grant portrays a flailing screenwriter who’s divorced, broke and approaching 50 who gets a job teaching screenwriting at a university in upstate New York. There, he meets a single mom looking to start a new chapter in her life.

Producers are Liz Glotzer and Martin Shafer.

Grant has been cast opposite Meryl Streep in the opera biopic “Florence.”

The deal was negotiated by CAA on behalf of the filmmakers and Mark Ward, Jess De Leo and Grace Santos Feeney on behalf of RLJE/Image Entertainment.

Hugh Grant-Marisa Tomei Comedy ‘Rewrite’ Bought by Image for U.S.

Small mention but thankful.  Link:

http://www.screendaily.com/news/misfire-hits-mark-for-hannibal/5066562.article

Misfire hits mark for Hannibal

11 February, 2014 | By Jeremy Kay

EXCLUSIVE: Image Entertainment secures US and UK deal, among other sales, for R Ellis Frazier’s action film.

Hannibal Pictures has licensed a slew of territories on R Ellis Frazier’s action film Misfire led by a US and UK deal with Image Entertainment.

Rights have also gone to Spain (Inopia Films), France (Marco Polo), Greece and Turkey (Tanweer), former Yugoslavia (Montenegro Discovery Film & Video), Hungary (M-rtl Zrt), Poland (Monolith Films), Romania (Prorom Media-Trade), Middle East (Eagle), Latin America (California Filmes), Japan (Klockworx) and China and Hong Kong (Star Alliance).

Frazier and Geoffrey Ross are producing the film and anticipate a late April delivery.

Misfire stars Gary Daniels, Vannessa Vasquez, and Michael Grego and tells of a DEA agent who heads to Mexico after his ex-wife is kidnaped by a cartel boss. Benjamin Budd wrote the screenplay.  Luis Gatica, Geoffrey Ross, and Patricia Peinado Cruz round out the key cast.

Hannibal chairman and CEO Richard Rionda Del Castro and VP Hayley Arabia brokered the deal with Image chief acquisitions officer Bill Bromiley and Grace Feeney.

http://www.screendaily.com/news/misfire-hits-mark-for-hannibal/5066562.article