Election Night, an award winning dramedy
A politician’s family waits in the green room on election eve – will the speech be a celebration or a concession? The last 350 votes have yet to come in, and the nerves rattle the family into a comic whirlwind of wild theories, long-held secrets, and a revelation that nobody saw coming.
ELECTION NIGHT has been selected by extraordinary festivals around the world and has won awards, which include: Cannes Film Festival Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the American Pavilion, DC ShortsFest, Florida Film Festival, Hollyshorts, International Festival of Women – Jakarta (Award of Excellence), Los Angeles Comedy Festival, Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Sarasota Film Festival, Seattle ShortsFest, Toronto Inside Out, USA Film Festival (Special Jury Award).
Chosen as one of eight projects to participate in AFI’s prestigious Directing Workshop for Women, the film was directed by Tessa Blake and was written by Blake & her husband, Ian Williams, Produced by Catherine Dent (The Shield) & Grace Santos (that’s me!), and stars Peri Gilpin (Frasier).
Catherine Dent!
Thankful to Catherine for bringing me onto another amazing project. Our first project was Silk – more info about that project here: http://grace-santos.com/silk/
Here’s a pic of Cat and I at Hollyshorts representing Election Night.
Theatrical Release!
A short film could obtain a theatrical distribution deal!?! 🙂
Shorts HD put together 7 short films and called it “Stars In Shorts: No Ordinary Love”. Election Night is paired up with shorts starring Julia Louis Dreyfus, Dick Van Dyke, Matthew Modine and more!
Here’s the press release on Deadline:
ShortsHD Kicks Off One-Week Theatrical Showcase Of Short Films Featuring Julia Louis-Dreyfus & More
And a photo of Election Night actor Caitlin Zambito and me at the cocktail reception:
Crowd Funding!
Crowdfunding i
s a great way for the community to help artists. I’ve used kickstarter and indiegogo on other projects and it is usually months of hard work. But this is the first time that I worked on a project that reached its goal and even more – $20,000 – within ONE (1) week!
Tessa Blake and Ian Williams are amazing – check out the cute video and campaign they put together: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/election-night#/
They are a great team to work with. No wonder so many people wanted to give to the project right away.
Indiewire Project of the Day!
Also the first time I worked on a production that was named Indiewire’s Project of the Day 🙂
http://www.indiewire.com/2014/05/project-of-the-day-election-night-26592/
Cannes!
My first time with a project at the Cannes Film Festival American Pavilion Emerging Artist Showcase!
Here’s a picture of Tessa and I at a Cannes party overlooking the water at sunset 🙂 #CannesFilmFestival #FrenchRiviera #LaCroisette
And fun times walking through the crowded red carpet and up the beautiful white staircase:
More film festivals!
We were blessed to attend several film festivals. Here are two pics from the LA Comedy Fest, with Ian Williams (Tessa’s husband, Election Night co-writer, behind the scenes producer, and so much … he and Tessa are totally a #PowerCouple ) and Dyami Kerr (one of my best friends and was Key Set PA on Election Night but is now producing his own films). During this Q&A, Ian told the audience that he usually starts writing by thinking of an intense situation and then it takes off from there.
Some Behind the Scenes Photos!
Of course the Millennium Biltmore Hotel would have such a fancy sign for filming:
Hat, sneakers, sunglasses … ready for posting filming notices around downtown Los Angeles:
More of our cute actors:
Ellen and me bossing the crew:
With writer/director Tessa Blake:
CREDITS
Starring Peri Gilpin, Jake Johannsen, Caitlin Zambito, Cole Jensen,
Melissa Tang, Noel Arthur, Aedra Ho
Directed by Tessa Blake
Written by Tessa Blake & Ian Williams
Story by Ian Williams
Produced by Catherine Dent & Grace Santos
Co-Produced by Stasia Droze
Consulting Producer – Cynthia Granger
Associate Producer – Brent Austin Knight
Cinematographer – Jim Jost
Editor – Cristina Rackoff
Production Designer – Shamim Seifzadeh
Costume Designer – Deanna Marie Saul
Costume Consultant – Victoria Auth
Casting Director – Lisa Zagoria
First Assistant Director – Li Lu
Second Assistant Director – Allan Aguilar
2nd Second Assistant Director – Jeremy Chang
Script Supervisor – Cheryl Starbuck
Camera Operator – Jason Goebel
First Assistant Camera – Lex Rawlins
Second Assistant Camera – Christy Friers
DIT – Michael Hubbard and Colleen Marshall
Still Photographer – Stasia Droze
Gaffer – David Klassen
Best Boy – Kyle Behrens
Electrician – Chad Buning
Key Grip – Anthony Yamamoto
Grip – David Libertella
Grip / Driver – Eric Hunter
Make-up Department Supervisor – Jennifer Zide-Essex
Key Make-up – Laura Monteleone
Key Hair – Dana Kelley
Assistant Editors – Yuri Chernykh and Sophie Worm
Digital Colorist – Derek Hansen
Sound Editor and Designer – Laurent Kossayan
Re-recording Mixer – Elliot Tyson
Production Sound Mixer – Scott Stolz
Boom Operators – Michelle Guasto and Dyami Kerr
Art Director – Heather Shephard
Prop Master – Paulina Bugembe
Costume Assistants – Sandra Wasche and Joyce Tom
Assistant to Director – Jack O’Shea
Office PA – Ellen Esling
Key Set PA – Dyami Kerr
Production Assistants:
Alberto Mazzotta, Connor Falson, Courtney Klembara,
Eleonora Mozzi, Jessica Jazayeri, Marco Fabbro,
Stephanie Acosta, Tanya Gillette, Toyin Giwa
Studio Teacher – Amber York
Catering – Full Moon Pickles, Jen Smith, Steve Saenz
Craft Service – Gary Matosian
Background Performers:
Samy Abdulahad, Stella Ademiluyi, Dila Andersen,
Sophie Avedikian, Camille Banville, Beau Bassewitz,
Ricardo Benavides, John Bohan, Haley Brown,
Morgan Cavanaugh, Chia Yu Chen, Nikki Cicurel,
Drew Wheeler, Armond Dorsey, Jessica Escobar,
Adrian Gomez, Mike Graham, Jeanette Hattan,
Blake Hubler, Ephraim Hui, Leslie Ivy, Cate Jo,
Veronica Johnson, Doug Kiphut, Sarah Klein,
Gabriel Lawrence, Stina Lundberg, Gabriela Macera,
Michael Martin, Natasha Maslova, Lena Maslova,
Kanika Mehta, Molly Moore, Catherine Pineda,
Nicolas Quinten, Geraldine Ramos, William Rabiej,
Kalyn Rivers, Dana Robie, Suellen Romani, Hiair Salvador,
Terra Scott, Annie Sims, Greg Sims, Shaniece Smith,
Kayla Sokolowski, Suvi Sola, Jessica Strong, Mariela Ticas,
Jenny Torgerson, Marian Wer, Emily Yan, Joel Zegna,
Ty Anaya, Rene Bremond, William Carson III, George Clarke,
Gretchen Dickason, Debra Eckloff, Winifred Elam, Gigi Glynn,
Jonesey Harp, Ramiro Huerta, Piankhi Iknaton, Houston Isabelle,
Laura Juilly, Kaisli Kaprielle, Dominic Lee, Melissa Monroy,
Angelica Neece, Rhoda Pell, David Perez, John Rodiger,
Jay Suzara II, Magaly Varela
SPECIAL THANKS:
Big Sky Edit – Chris Franklin, Cheryl Panek, Agnes Gunawan
Mark Gethin, Amanda Ornelas and MPC
Michele Gan and Serves You Right Catering
Poleng Hong, Caron Haley, and the Millennium Biltmore Hotel
Anthony Medina, Deb Aquila, Geoffrey Nauffts, Cynthia Silver
Monica Nordaus, David Petrarca, Jason Lyon, Lucy Blake-Williams,
Noah & Colette Jost, Debbie Merlin, Rob & Gaby Greenberg,
Daisy von Scherler Mayer, Salem Suber,
Patty West, Trilby Beresford, Joe Petricca, Chris Schwartz, Nicole Ettinger, Terra Abroms,
Denise Brassard, James West, Robert Myrtle, Robert Vaughn, Justin La Forge, Zach Moller
The Directing Workshop for Women 2014
Edited on an Avid
HD Equipment courtesy of Sony Corporation of America
Lenses courtesy of Clairmont Camera
Camera Dollies by Chapman / Leonard Studio Equipment Inc.
Grip and Electric Equipment by Castex Rentals Inc.
SONGS:
DEPTH OF FIELD
Courtesy of APM
FROGGY WENT A COURTING
Written by Linda Worsley
Performed by Rosewood Studio Orchestra
Courtesy of Redmesa Music
JUST RIGHT
Written by Ian Williams
Performed by eastcoast
Courtesy of Strike Music
AFI Directing Workshop for Women
Funded by:
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences
Jean Picker Firstenberg
Jean Picker Firstenberg Endowment
Nancy Malone
The Bob and Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation
Sony Corporation of America
The Adrienne Shelly Foundation
Roz Wyman
And other generous corporations and individuals committed to providing
opportunities for women in the media arts
© copyright 2015 American Film Institute
Election Night Patrons:
Amy Barrett & Jonathan Lethem
Emma Hewitt & Jason Isaacs
Jason Lyon & Tim Hartley
Election Night Angels:
Sandra T. Blake
Louis & Sophie Girard
David Petrarca
Richard & Carole Williams
The rest of the wonderful indiegogo donors in no particular order:
Eileen Funke, Kaz Brecher, Jen Chambers, Shark Adelic, Amy Heidt,
Jace Alexander & Maddie Corman, Liz Tidy, Emma Hewitt & Jason Isaacs,
Peter Rukavina, Lucy Blake-Williams, Dan Helias, Ted Ridgeway, Debbie Rubenstein,
Neil Reimann, Dan Etheridge, John Hawbaker, David Curtis Smith, Steve Ducey,
Joey Xanders, Stacey Hawkins, Penny Franks, Diana Coatney, Silvia Spross,
Kimberlee Smith, David Sampliner, Garret Savage, Lauren Meltzner and David Fox,
Heather Holst-Knudsen, Susan Comfort, Patrick Breen, Sam Stephenson,
Ilana Levine & Dominic Fumusa, Peter Hirsch & Cusi Cram,
Michael Angelo Stuno, Claire Campbell, Mere Berg, Nar Commerce,
Stasia Droze & Jim Jost, Katharine McFarland & Luke McGowan
Sean & Jordana Williams, Martha Egger, Salem Suber, Sharon Ben-Meir
George & Laurie Gilmore, Parker Bent, Stephanie Barish & Scott Chamberlin
Dave & Lari Cabanilla, Tony Brackett & Robert Speiser, Jordan Imbrey,
Scott Bullock & Danielle Cheriff, Henry Stevens, Donna Obeid, Paul Marcarelli,
Cynthia Birdsill, Jeffrey Lieber & Holly Long, Alec Guettel, Alex Yong,
Rick Maechling, Marty Stonerock, Mary Rachel Dudley, Colette Ballou,
Michael Maren & Dani Shapiro, Catherine Dent, Heike, David and Leo,
Susan Hoffman Hyman, Laura Guzik-Cohn, Mary Ellen Klee,
Amy Barrett, Alyssa Newman, Kevin Coggins, Geoffrey Nauffts,
Mark Freund & Trice Koopman, Bliss Broyard, David Petrarca,
Alberta Nassi, Elizabeth Trundle, Diana Coatney,
Quinn, Jana & the Kofford Gang, Doug & Kristine Christensen
Jennifer Hatfield, Ben & Kara Weber, Laurie Winkler Thurtle
Amy Scott, Seth Shelden, Louis & Sophie Girard, Dennis McFarland & Michelle Blake,
Chuck Price, Sam Polk & Kirsten Thompson, Monica Nordhaus,
Jason Lyon & Tim Hartley, Sam King, Margaret Boyer, Dana & Lindsay Bowen,
Katie Kosma, Lars Lucier, Jodi Kantor & Ron Leiber, Ehren Gresehover,
Tammy Oler, Catherine Corpeny, Richard & Carole Williams, Betsy Cadel,
Caitlin Reed, Kelly Wachowicz, Sean Patrick Williams, Oz Benamram & Gali Freedman,
Steve Williams, Jamie Block, Gaby & Rob Greenberg, Andrew Erlichman,
Betsy Peyton, Lorraine Tobias & Alex Draper, Sandy T. Blake,
Todd Walker & Inge Kautzman, Shannon Worrell, Chris Chapman,
Virginia Heffernan, Joy Huang, Michelle Williams-Vaden, Pippa Bianco, Patty West
Trailer:
orm for female and diverse voices. It’s the only festival that I know of that guarantees distribution to the winners on all platforms – theatrical (through AMC), digital and television (through ARC, Anchorbay/Starz, TV1, or Lifetime), and home video (through BFF’s founding sponsor Walmart and the other sponsors previously mentioned). It was co-founded last year by Academy Award Winner Geena Davis and Hollywood Exec Trevor Drinkwater.
Alex Cohen (NPR); Panelists: Geena Davis, Kimberly Paisley, Nia Vardalos, and Meg Ryan. For an industry that offers so few opportunities for women and minorities, increasing numbers of talented women are pushing back by taking control of their own interests rather than depending on the powerful commercial studios. This panel will feature celebrities who have taken control of their destiny by starting their own production companies and making their own films.”
