Grant Contest Deadline Extended

Because the added step of creating a KICKSTARTER project does demand time and effort -- and because students are nearing the end of the semester -- we're postponing the Grant Deadline til next Friday, December 9th at midnight.

Please touch base with Andrew Rudd if you have a grant application in progress.

Announcing the new Kickstarter Initiative

Are you making a film for the Open Frame Film Fest this year?  If so, you're probably eligible for a production grant (or mini-grant) from the Communication Arts Department. 

We've moved our grant request deadline to November 30th at midnight, so there's still time for you to apply.

Because there are so many (meritorious) films in the mix this year already, we’re planning on funding projects ranging from $100 mini-grants to (potentially) $1000 grants.  This year, the Open Frame Film Fest will fund projects based on similar criteria to previous years. 

This year, we are asking students to pitch their projects to us by making their own KICKSTARTER  projects.  The amount of funding you request from the Communication Arts Department grant should only be HALF (or less) of the total funds you try to raise for your kickstarter project.   

Whether or not your kickstarter project is successfully funded will NOT affect your funding from our department, but in order to apply for funding at all, you MUST prepare and submit a kickstarter project. 

We believe that crowd-sourcing and developing an audience for your short film across the lifecycle of your production process will be an important part of media production regardless of context in the new-media environment where we live, so we view this new step in pre-production to be a key part of your educational experience. 

So get started!  Review the criteria we'll use to judge the projects,  check out a bunch of kickstarter pages (you may want to check out indiegogo pages too, though we recommend kickstarter because of their fee structure) , and then go ahead and make your own.  

Production mini-grant and grant applications will be due on November 30th by midnight.  

Criteria for Judging the Open Frame Grant Project

To be funded, a film project must meet the following criteria: 

1. The film must be submitted to the Open Frame Film Festival.  Receipts will be paid out upon submission of the final film. 

2. All expenses must be approved beforehand (in budget form) by Open Frame director, Andrew Rudd. 

3. Reimbursement may only occur with a receipt.

4. Grant applications will not exceed $1000. 

4. only 30% of a film’s budget may be spent on food / craft-services.

5. only 30% of a film’s budget may be spent on props or costumes (exceptions can be made in the case of period films).  

6. only 30% of a film’s budget may be spent on gasoline.

7.  up to 100% of a film’s budget may be spent on payment to professional crew or equipment rental.

8. Only films with at least three Malone students involved in key roles are eligible for funding.

Grants will be awarded based on these criteria, and priority will be given based upon these additional criteria: ;

• This film and production will exemplify the Malone University Mission (and Foundational Principles) and the Mission of the Communication Arts Department.

• This film script and production proposal demonstrates excellent creativity and vision.

• This film will allow a very significant number of Malone students to gain filmmaking experience and contribute to their learning experiences.

*in cases when other factors are relatively equal, upperclass students will have a slight advantage over lower. In such cases, seniors would have the most advantage.

The grant selection committee will include Communication Arts Faculty members, Faculty members from other departments on campus, alumni and community filmmakers.

Because we recognize that the kickstarter audience is necessarily broader than the Communication Arts Department and Malone University, you may submit a one page explanation of how your film’s process and product will exemplify Malone’s (& the Communication Arts Department’s) mission.  Otherwise the materials for your grant application should be embedded in your kickstarter page. 

With fifteen alumni volunteering their time and expertise, and nine short film scripts, the 2011 Open Frame Script Competition was off to a great start last week.

I spoke with several of the alumni over the week who expressed how enjoyable it was to read the scripts and how some of the returning judges noticed an improvement in the overall quality of the scripts.

Once all the scores were submitted, six of the top scripts were within two quality points from each other.   And....against the odds the winner....?

Was a tie.

With this many judges giving this much feedback, there's no need to break the tie, we'll just award TWO Open Frame screenplay awards this year.

CONGRATULATIONS to

Corinne Abbiss for SILHOUETTES

and to

David Garwood for FAMILY PORTRAIT.

Your scripts are our winners this year.

Next up?  Pre-production begins.  HOPEFULLY all of these quality scripts will go into production and be showing at the Palace Theatre in April of this coming year.

And hopefully we'll see all of you, web readers at that event, watching these scripts in their final cinematic form.

Student Film Shooting in Canton: looking for cast & crew...

Nate Merritt, Trey Duplain, and Santino Vitale are looking to fill roles for their upcoming short student film; Nate is a sophomore Communications/Film major at Malone University, Trey is a junior English major at Walsh University, and Santino is a burgeoning stop-motion animator (who is still in high school).

The film revolves around Steven, an apprehensive therapist with relationship problems and interesting patients, including a suicidal ice cream truck driver and a man who is sexually-attracted to cartoon rabbits. Steven’s insecurities are rooted in his own psychological issues: he is haunted by hallucinations of a womanizing, cigar-smoking hamster. His problems with women begin to resurface when an attractive female patient steps into his office.
We will be submitting the film to the Canton Film Festival at the beginning of September, so this is an urgent casting call; we will also submit it to the Open Frame Film Festival and other film festivals in the future.

Because of our lack of budget, this is a passion project and the acting will be on a pro-bono basis. Of course, food will be provided on-set and anyone acting will be allowed to use footage for their reel. Filming will take place in the Canton area in early August. We will gladly send a copy of the script upon request, and film reels will be accepted in place of auditions.

We are still casting multiple roles:
-The protagonist, a timid and socially inept 30-something therapist, STEVEN. His waning confidence leads him to seeing a therapist of his own. He also suffers from hallucinations that are brought on by his deceased father’s expectations of hyper-masculinity. Steven is a high-brow bachelor with kind and gentle demeanor.

-A manic pixie dream-girl in her late-twenties to early-thirties, MADELEINE, frequently visits therapists in search of the answer to a problem she cannot define. Her determination to reach the inner layers of her psyche leads her to Steven’s office where her unique sense of style and her own uncertainties catch Steven’s eye. Madeleine is an eclectic blend of fun and sophistication, a combination of Audrey Hepburn and Zooey Deschanel.

-A greying, reformed hippie in her 50’s, DIANE, serves as Steven’s therapist. Though her earthy decor and plethora of pillows makes her look like a witch doctor, her methods of practice are far less savage than chants and shrunken heads. Diane is genuinely concerned with the mental health of her patients.

-An overweight, cigar-smoking patriarch with a sausage-stained wife-beater, STEVEN’S FATHER, is a blue-collar, foul-mouthed bully from Brooklyn in his mid-forties. He is angered by Steven’s inability to live up to his expectations and pressures him to pursue women “like a man.” His poor health is sending him to an early grave. This role takes place during the flashback scene, but would also serve as the voice of TONY, a hamster that personifies Steven’s father and haunts Steven.

-A gawky adolescent around 17, YOUNG STEVEN, lives in fear of his emotionally-abusive father. He only enjoys sitting in his room, playing with his pet hamster. Young Steven is only in the flashback scene.

-A suicidal ice cream truck driver, WILLIE, is under the pressure of his mother to continue on the family business. He is one of Steven’s patients. Willie is a lanky man who is torn between having to endure listening to “the Entertainer” day after day and exchanging money with grubby children or breaking his mother’s heart.

We’re also looking for an editor and a DP. As is the case with the actors, any work done would be pro bono as we have a $0 budget, but we'll definitely feed you and let you use whatever you want for your reel. And if we ever make any kind of profit from it (which we are not expecting to), we would give you a share. We were hoping to film as soon as possible, as our goal is to submit it to this year’s Canton Film Festival (the deadline is 1 September). I’d gladly send you the script so you can look it over and see if this is something you’d be interested in working on.

if you're interested you should email Nate at nemerritt1 at malone dot edu

Script Competition 2011

This year the Communication Arts Department will sponsor a script writing contest to find one script that might be developed into a festival-ready short film of the highest caliber. All scripts submitted to the contest will be reviewed by five qualified judges. Writers will receive feedback both in the form of narrative comments and rankings based on the various criteria. Any script with an overall ranking of SUPERIOR will be eligible for the narrative departmentally sponsored film. The top script (regardless of whether it is chosen to be produced) will receive an OPEN FRAME AWARD at this year’s festival event.

Scripts may be in any genre. Fresh innovative stories told in a cinematic way are best. Scripts may range from one minute to sixteen minutes (one minute = on page in screenplay format). Scripts must be submitted in standard screenplay format. Scripts MUST include a title page, but may NOT include the authors name.

You should submit your script by email to Andrew Rudd at his Malone email address and your script should be in PDF format. Again, with a title, but NO authorial name. In the email you attach your script to, you should list your name, phone number, and the script name.

Scripts are due on September 12th, 2011 at 8 am. Contest winners will be announced on September 20th at 5 pm on the Open Frame Blog.

Getting Ready for NEXT YEAR!

I'm pleased to announce the timeline of next year's Open Frame.

You'll notice that we're taking a year off from sponsoring Indie Film Workshops -- but only because we want to support our partner organizations nearby who are providing great similar resources.

Watch for more posts in the coming days regarding each event and contest and its deadlines.

Open Frame Orientation -- Monday, September 5th at 7 p.m.

Script Competition Deadline -- September 12th 8 a.m.

Announcement of Script Winners -- September 20th at 5 pm

Mini - Grant Deadline -- October 3rd 8 a.m.

Partner Event: Akron Film & Pixel Festival -- October 6 - 9th

Partner Event: Canton Film Fest -- October 13 - 15th

Announcement of Mini-Grant Winners -- October 15th 5 pm

Submissions to the Festival Deadline -- April 5th, 9 a.m.

The OFFF Festival -- Saturday, April 14th at 8 pm


Also keep an eye out for exciting announcements about a new venue this year.

Feature Film in New Philly, Ohio

Open casting call for a feature film being shot in and around Tuscarawas County. All ages and types. No experience necessary.

WHERE
Performing Arts Center
Kent State Tuscarawas
330 University Drive NE
New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663
http://www.tusc.kent.edu/

WHEN
Sunday, June 26, Noon – 6 p.m.
Monday, June 27, 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.

HOW
Just show up. No appointment necessary. Be sure to bring a current photo.

FILM INFO
Title: Old Fashioned
Genre: Romantic-comedy
Rating: PG (expected)
Log-line: A former frat boy and a free-spirited woman together attempt the impossible: an “old-fashioned” courtship in contemporary America.

*** Ever want to be in a movie? This is your chance! Read more below…

Skoche Films has announced an “open” Ohio casting call for the upcoming feature film, “Old Fashioned,” which will be shooting in Tuscarawas County and surrounding areas this fall. In addition to casting sessions for professional actors being held around the country, the production wanted to offer local residents (with or without acting experience) a shot at stardom and has scheduled two special casting sessions on June 26 & 27 at the Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas.

“There is a lot of great natural acting talent that never gets the chance to shine,” said Ohio native Rik Swartzwelder, the film’s writer-director. “This is that chance. We’re thrilled to give Ohio residents the opportunity to audition. There is an authenticity to the people here that just cannot be ‘faked.’ I’m very optimistic about what we may discover and fully expect to cast some roles as a result,” added Swartzwelder, who now lives in Los Angeles but was actually raised in New Philadelphia and is a graduate of Tuscarawas Valley High School.

All ages and types are encouraged to apply and should have a current photo to bring to the audition. Previous acting experience is a plus, but not required. No appointment is necessary.

On Sunday, June 26, auditions will be held from noon – 6:00pm. On Monday, June 27, auditions will be held from 3:00 p.m. – 9:00pm. Both sessions will be hosted by The Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas, located at 330 University Dr. NE in New Philadelphia.

For interested locals that would like to be involved behind the camera or help with the production in other ways, official calls for crew, volunteers, and community partners are forthcoming. For more info, contact oldfashionedmovie@gmail.com or call 330-602-2420, ext. 220. For updates and links to the “Old Fashioned” Facebook page and film production blog, visit www.oldfashionedmovie.com.

Filming of “Old Fashioned” is expected to begin in late September and will wrap in early November. Limited pre-production activities, including location scouting and casting, are already under way.

A romantic-comedy, “Old Fashioned” centers on Clay Walsh, a former frat boy in his mid-30s, who gives up his reckless carousing and now runs an antique shop in a small Midwestern college town. There, he has become notorious for his lofty and out-dated theories on love and romance. When Amber Hewson, a free-spirited young woman with a gypsy soul, drifts into the area and rents the apartment above his shop, she finds herself surprisingly drawn to his noble ideas, which are new and intriguing to her. And Clay, though he tries to fight and deny it, simply cannot resist being attracted to her spontaneous and passionate embrace of life. Ultimately, Clay must step out from behind his relational theories and Amber must overcome her own fears and deep wounds as the two of them, together, attempt the impossible: an “old-fashioned” courtship in contemporary America.

Skoche Films of Burbank, California, the company producing “Old Fashioned,” has multiple active feature projects in various stages of development. “Old Fashioned” marks the first of the company’s slate to move into production and is the feature-film directorial debut of Swartzwelder, who is a veteran director of numerous acclaimed short films.

Swartzwelder is a writer-director-producer whose films have screened at over 145 film festivals worldwide and garnered over 50 major awards, including a Crystal Heart Award (Heartland Film Festival) and a Best Ohio Short Film Award (Cleveland International Film Festival) for his 35mm short “The Least of These” and the Student Emmy for his highly acclaimed graduate thesis film, “Paul McCall.” Other honors include two CINE Golden Eagles plus one CINE Special Jury Award, four ITVA-DC Peer Awards, and the Sprint PCS Filmmaker of the Future Award.

T Shirts For Sale!

Check out the Open Frame facebook page to find out about ordering T-shirts --->

You can also pre-order discs from this year's Open Frame. Contact Kerrie Evans at Malone University.

Hidden Liabilities Artistic Statement

HIDDEN LIABILITIES

We started working on this project immediately after last year’s film festival. Our experience last year working on Benedict Sexton was extremely enjoyable, so we figured we ought to make another short. The first idea we developed related to film noir. The film noir genre, especially from the 40s and 50s, make up some of our favorite films, so we wanted to see if we had enough talent to create a similar film. The reason this genre interests us is that it is distinct from other styles of filmmaking with its exaggerated reproduction of life through a dark perspective. There is something about this way of viewing the world that resonates within each of us.

"The most difficult aspect of creating a film noir work is writing the story, especially when it is supposed to be a short film. Short films already take an incredible amount of skill to write well, so a hard-boiled crime story is a good bit tougher. Hopefully we have succeeded with this script; however, we are aware that we do not compare to Dashiell Hammett or Raymond Chandler.

"In making this film, we hoped to push ourselves as directors and writers. We wanted to learn from the many mistakes we made in our previous attempts at filmmaking and to give ourselves many more opportunities to learn. There were many struggles throughout the process, but we have gained valuable instruction in the areas of organization, collaboration, and assertiveness.

"The greatest thing we can offer the audience is a view into the lives of the characters, to show the world through their perspectives so that the audience may see the world in a new light. Perhaps we can also encourage everyone to watch film noir pieces, which account for a significant percentage of the greatest films of all time."

Dusty Jenkins and Michael Popp, Co-Directors

Reel Life Artistic Statement

REEL LIFE

Reel Life is a film inspired by the mentality of three slackers as they are faced with a proposition that could inevitably end in a student’s worse nightmare: failing out.  Although the film has no direct correlation to us as the creators we felt it would be an interesting twist to try to incorporate multiple ideas into one film. The premise of the film simply arose from our everyday discussions about what type, or genre, we should enter into the film festival. Our inspiration for creating Reel Life came naturally to us because it used what we were good at: coming up with ideas and not necessarily picking one. We constructed tens and tens of movie ideas, but there was always one of us who just didn’t not believe the proposal was adequate. Therefore the film was very simple: create a film about the concepts we think about, and then after each one rip each others ideas apart ruthlessly. As we began to brainstorm we had a sudden realization that in fact the most superlative idea would be to combine the different options into one film, and basically document the journey of how it is we came to our final decision.

           

The process was difficult. Three different minds with fairly distinct ideas made the process longer than expected and at some points very trying mentally and physically, but the excitement and enjoyment every day on set was well worth it.  None of us had very much knowledge about the process of filmmaking nor had we been involved with film production, however through the development of the project we began to understand, respect, and appreciate the effort it takes to bring a creation, from just a concept to and on-screen production, into fruition.  We approached our film in an unusual manner because we wanted to investigate what creating a film would be like if we shot, came up with ideas, and constructed as we went. Overall our experience with this filmmaking process was exactly what we were hoping for; to entertain ourselves while trying to create something that would entertain those who watch.

Matt Kiel,

Co-Director

The Memories Within Artistic Statement

THE MEMORIES WITHIN

Sometimes I wish moments could last forever, and that I could live in that moment for just a little bit longer than what it actually lasts. Then I am snapped back into reality, and the stresses of my life come crashing back into my consciousness. Other moments and memories I wish I could erase. They are too painful to deal with. I am a very emotional person, which makes it hard for me to deal with my emotions. I end up holding things in and pushing them aside. I allow myself to live a lie. If I don’t think about something, maybe it didn’t happen. But I can only live this lie until something jolts it back into my memory and I can no longer hide from it. I have to face it. And deal with it. And my emotions explode, uncontrollably. With time, the painful moments lose their power and it is the happy and carefree moments that I try to cling onto.

For Reuben, objects hold memories in this film. His story is told through flashbacks, as he picks up objects and is bombarded by the memories he tried to forget. He is, in a sense, reliving these moments of his life at the flea market. For this reason, I choose to leave the flashbacks in color as opposed to black and white. By the end of the film, Reuben is changed only because these memories came flooding back at him all at once. Memories affect a person from within. Memories shape how we act and react. It creates and molds character. Memories influence how we see the world, how we see strangers, and how we see objects. How we see everything. Our past is forever clinging to us.

  corinne abbiss, director

One Small Candle Artistic Statment

ONE SMALL CANDLE

One Small Candle is the collaboration of footage done over three missions trips to Native American reservations in New York, Florida, Arizona, and South Dakota. When I went on a trip to a native reservation in March of 2010, I was awakened to many problems that i knew were widely overlooked. I've made some awesome friends on these reservations, and I hope to be back soon. I'm not much of a film maker, but I felt God telling me to empty my life savings to buy a video camera. So that's what happened. I'm hoping to start a missions organization around the concept of going to reservations to socialize more than evangelize, and to truly attempt to love the Native Americans instead of pushing ultimatums on them.

This film was difficult for many reasons. First, planning fruitful missions trips while being a full time college student and trying to pay my bills. Secondly, Native Americans are extremely camera shy for many good reasons. Many people have pretended they were helping or doing a service in some way, but many of them end up making films or news reports on Native Americans that only show the negative side of everything on the reservation. So naturally, it’s difficult for them to trust us. I was also using a DSLR camera, primarily used for taking pictures. I’m also not an experienced videographer/director or filmmaker by any means. So filming and editing was quite a learning experience!

         I really hope this film changes the world. I want so badly for Native Americans to be loved, and not viewed as such a fringe of society or second class citizens. In the bible, there’s talk about the importance of healing our land, and I believe this reconciliation is an important part of the process..

steven berkenkemper, 

director 

Customer Satisfaction Artistic Statement

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

When Erin Chilensky and I first came up with the idea for Customer Satisfaction, we were poking fun at ourselves. There have been so many times in our friendship that I have told her that someone did something horrible to me, only to have her respond skeptically, “I don’t think that really happened like that.” She was usually right. The “slight” against me was a result of my perception of events, and not an accurate representation of them. In Customer Satisfaction, I wanted to explore what it would be like for a person to be so wrapped up in her own little world that it would be difficult for her to recognize what other people were feeling and seeing, or even what effect her actions had upon others.

         

The process of making the film was amazing. It was the first time I have worked closely on a film project with non-students, and I think their enthusiasm inspired me and definitely made this film what it is. It’s more or less a workplace comedy, and so the characters are, for the most part, caricatures of people you have no doubt encountered, especially if you have ever worked retail. At the same time, this isn’t a film about the workplace as much as it is a film about the brief encounters we have with others in that kind of environment.

         

And so, when you’re watching this film, I hope that you laugh. I hope that you find the characters a little absurd. But I hope that you won’t be too hard on poor Ledell, who is secretly me, and is secretly Erin, and is secretly all of us at some point in our lives, whether we like it or not.

taylor hazlett,  director

Push Tags Artistic Statement

PUSH TAGS

Push Tags is a documentary that allows the audience a glimpse into the life of a local, young, and upcoming graffiti artist who explains his art, expectations, and ambitions.  I started filming Push Tags back in February as I would hear about local areas that contained Push’s street art.  Never knowing exactly how long Push’s art would remain in the street, I had to document his work soon or it may be removed and lost forever.  Then in March, I became a part of the action as I spent an evening helping to create the art and then ultimately traveling through the Canton night scene documenting the graffiti process.  After a short confrontation with Local Police Officials at our second location, the intensity, and anxieties of the process grew greater.  However, the evening withheld from any further surprises, and left me with a night I would never forget.  Later, I conducted an interview with Push to use as a voice over and story line, and ended the filming process with hours of editing the material. 

As a film maker, I am trying to encourage the audience to become more open to the idea of graffiti.  I want to show that graffiti is not an act of vandalism or defacing public property, but instead an expression of an artist.  Graffiti is far greater then the street art.  It is about the messages that the artists are trying to convey, and also the artists themselves.  It’s difficult to “Stay Up” as an artist or in everyday life, and the best is yet to come is the message I want to convey.

ryan barnett, director

Mansfield Artistic Statment

mansfield

Mansfield, a loose adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Mansfield Park, tells the story of how protagonist Fray Price deals with an unexpected and discouraging surprise during her spring break. As she spends the time writing music with her friend, Ed Bertram, she finds she isn't entirely on her own.

In order to develop the novel into a screenplay, many details had to be cut. In doing this, the script raised a question pertinent to any of Austen’s novels – when the romance is removed, what do we have left? As the excess was stripped away, the film ends up presenting an answer to one of the lesser conflicts found in the original novel – how to cope with loneliness.

In making the film, I wanted to convey the relationships Fray has with the people in her life. She is extremely tight with her brother, casual with Ed, and uneasy with Henry. While Fray may seem like a 'shadow' to Ed as she tries to adapt to living in Mansfield, she is affected by these relationships and learns to grow as a person because of them.

I hope you get a sense of the nuances found in Austen’s work through a more updated and easily-relatable perspective. “Dramedy” is personally my favorite storytelling genre because of its tendency to be "true to life;" conveying both the sincerity and humor in one's situation. I hope you find the blend of emotion and lightheartedness that the actors brought to the film an appealing aspect.

Working on this film was a truly a great experience, and I, along with the rest of the Mansfield cast and crew, hope you enjoy.

Kristin Rayz,

Director

Never a Bride Artistic Statement

never a bride

Many horror films deal with dark subject matter.  Whether it is a young girl possessed by an evil spirit or a psychopath wearing a leather mask and wielding a chainsaw, the outcome is usually a dark, chilling, and sometimes gruesome experience that the viewer might recall the next time they walk into a dark hallway or their car breaks down on a dark country road.  Horror films have the ability to instill a sense of fear in the viewer both during the film and sometimes long after the credits have rolled.

Never a Bride is no exception.  The film is about how the roles of good and evil realistically play out in human nature.  Each character in the film has two sides to them that are revealed as the film progresses.  This is especially true for the central antagonist who physically changes his appearance and seemingly becomes a different person.  I see the antagonist as only one person, however, that has both good and evil churning within him, living from moment to moment never knowing what side of the coin he, or she, will be on.

Evil manifests itself in the most unlikely of places, a lonely bed and breakfast owner and a priest.  Evil and wickedness are real, and horrible things occur every day.  As I strive to be an agent of truth, I believe that is important to shed a light on the wickedness in this world, even if it comes from a friendly business owner or a revered man of God.  George Romero, director of zombie classics like The Night of the Living Dead, put it best when he said he has “always felt that the real horror is next door to us, that the scariest monsters are our neighbors”.  The central message conveyed in the film is that there is corruption in the most righteous of people, darkness in the most holy of places, and perversity in the most sacred of vows.   

kyle mallow,

director

Hatchetmen Artistic Statement

hatchetmen

The idea for Hatchetmen came from a love of period films and crime dramas.  In a mafia film, one can expect Tommy guns, brass knuckles, fedoras and nice suits worn by all.  These are not cliche aspects of the genre, but actual pieces of mafia history that have been embellished on screen in an effort to keep to the way things were.  So naturally, in order to do so, we used these aspects of  1930s crime, but not without prioritizing the key to the film...character.  The goal was to tell an interesting story but through focusing on the characters involved.  What they feel, think and do are so important in creating the film that everything revolved around them.

We shot the entire film in two days in Plain City, Ohio.  We used high end video equipment including a jib to capture the footage exactly how we wanted it.  The large amount of costumes for the film, the guns and even a 1930 Model A Ford gave the actors the world in which to work.  Everything fell right into place because of the entire cast and crew who worked on it in a very professional way.  It was impressive to see everyone do their job as if they were born to do it and in turn make something we can all be proud of.

Movies reach out to audiences and grip them in a way that explores aspects of the truth of life and I hope Hatchetmen speaks to people in that way too.  For the Open Frame audience, I advise you to take it all in.  This includes the wardrobe, guns, settings and most definitely the characters in order to experience it to its fullest.

David Garwood,

Director

STAN Artistic Statement

STAN

We so often misrepresent Satan by either trivializing or romanticizing him, rather than acknowledging the full awful entity that he is.

This film seeks to parody this misrepresentation, along with a healthy dose of fun-poking at Malone campus life.

This would not have been possible without the amazing people who dedicated time and effort on very short notice and the blessing of God. We present to you a film to make you laugh very hard, and, perhaps, think even harder.

Kaitie Fox & Corey Clark,
Directors

Open Frame Wrap Up

The Open Frame Film Fest was an exciting, crowded night of celebrating the good work of hundreds of people producing ten films. You can see more pictures and read more about the event if you facebook like the new OPEN FRAME FILM FEST page.

The films included:

HATCHETMEN

MANSFIELD

NEVER A BRIDE

REEL LIFE

ONE SMALL CANDLE

STAN

PUSH TAGS

THE MEMORIES WITHIN

HIDDEN LIABILITIES

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION


Here's how the awards fell out:

Best Actor - Paul Croce for HIDDEN LIABILITIES

Best Actress - Trisha Landis for CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Best Supporting Acting - Brittany Yeager for MANSFIELD

Best Screenplay - Corinne Abbiss for THE MEMORIES WITHIN

Best Editing - Jordan Grubbs for CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Best Contribution by a Non-Malone Student - Joe Siebert for CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Best Original Score - Jon Lincoln for CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Best Cinematography - Dusty Jenkins for HIDDEN LIABILITIES

Best Directing - Taylor Hazlett for CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Outstanding Achievement in Production Authenticity - David Garwood for HATCHETMEN

Outstanding Achievement in Genre Excellence - Kyle Mallow for NEVER A BRIDE

Outstanding Achievement in Documentary Film - Ryan Barnett for PUSH TAGS

Best Film - Danyella Tonelli, Monica Small and Taylor Hazlett for CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Hidden Liabilities Trailer

Corinne is in the news now!

Click HERE to read more.

Taylor's In The News...

CLICK HERE to read the story.

Hatchetmen Trailer

That's A Wrap!

The film festival submission deadline is coming in just a week.   Films are due on Tuesday morning, April 5th at nine a.m.

Many of our student films wrapped production this past weekend.  A few are still putting the last pieces in place.

If you're thinking of submitting a film, make sure that Andrew Rudd knows that you're planning on it, so he can send you information about format, submission and rules for entering films into the contest and into the festival.   You can call him or email him at his (web accessible) Malone University contact points.

Congratulations those of you who have moved into the editing phase, may be your wits be sharp, your caffeine be potent and your fingers nimble.  We can't wait to watch your work!

Behind the Lens Contest

Films That Need Actors

The OPEN FRAME FILM FEST gives Malone University student filmmakers an opportunity to learn filmmaking skills by making short films and then screening them for their peers. Each year the OPEN FRAME FILM FEST screens films that are written, produced, directed, scored, shot and edited by students. These films include comedies, dramas, experimental, music videos, animation, short shorts and documentaries.

Right now, FOUR of our films need to cast talented (volunteer?!) 20s -60s, non-student actors. If you are interested in getting involved in any of these opportunities, you can contact faculty member, Dr. Andrew Rudd at the Open Frame email address the[dot]open[dot]frame[at]gmail[dot]com.

Here’s some information about the roles we have yet to cast:

Dr. Gwendolyn Watkins - "(28), an assertive, intelligent, and inquisitive psychiatrist"

August Williams - "(40s), white, upper-middle class"

Officer O'Donovan - "(40s), who seems nice enough"  

Cop 1 - Fellow police officer. Not as old as O'Donovan

Geiser - Voice Only - (60s) - Head of corruption

Mother-- 35-50 years old,  After leaving her family years ago, she tries to reunite with her son at her ex-husband's funeral.

Father--35-50 years old,  He continues to love his disconnected son as he fights cancer. 

Sean: male, 22-28 years old.

Woman: female, 32-38 years old. Average height (5’4”-5’7”) but a little overweight.

Lady: female, 60-65 years old, height around 5’5”-5’8” and skinny.

Wendy: female, ranging in age from 25-45. Tall (5’7” at least) and with a muscular build. 

Cross Dressing Inn Owner 45 - 65, male, our anti-hero.

Minister - 50 - 65, male.

If you’d like to talk to someone directly, please call Dr. Andrew Rudd at three three zero, four seven one, eight five two three.

INDIE FILMMAKERS WORKSHOP on POSTPRODUCTION

....will be held THIS TUESDAY!

You don't want to miss Tuesday night's event. It's free. It includes experienced filmmakers. And opportunities for networking.

Like all Indie Filmmakers Workshops, it is a panel. The three panelists are

Len Brown

Tom Wilson

Steve Felix

Each panelist will take 10 minutes at the beginning to share their best advice about post production to YOU, a diverse audience of indie filmmakers -- ranging from newbie first time student filmmakers to experienced commercial artists.

Plenty of time for questions! Plenty of time for follow-ups.

The event will be held at Malone University in the Silk Auditorium at 7:30. There will be dessert treats and plenty of time for networking.

If you've been to any of our events this year or last, you know that there are always take home bits of wisdom -- and whether your skills are well-developed or barely starting -- you'll learn from the experts and enjoy getting to know other attendees.

Come find out about the 8 student films currently in pre-production -- some of which will start shooting next week! Or come to meet all different kinds of filmmakers -- student and community alike. Hope to see you there!

We're limited to 50 guests...call Kerrie Fisher at 330.471.8201 to reserve your spot.

Hatchetmen

David Garwood and collaborators will make a 1930s gang film about violence and redemption. Garwood’s piece won funding from the Communication Arts film production contest.

Hidden Liabilities: aka Cookin The Books

Dusty Jenkins and Michael Popp return to direct a noir psychological thriller with a female protagonist and all the darkness that you’d hope to find in a noir piece. Jenkins’ and Popp’s entry to last year’s Festival was an artfully crafted homage to Clockwork Orange that included impressive performances, shooting and editing. Award-winning production team Danyella Tonelli and Monica Small are also helming this production which is still casting and picking up crew. Hidden Liabilities also won funding in this year’s Communication Arts film production contest.

the memories within

Corinne Abbiss will direct this quirky nostalgic piece about grief and recovery. The film tells the story of Rueben who has disconnected himself from the world and his father. But after his father’s death, Rueben re-experiences his past through objects at a flea market. Corinne won both the Open Frame Script writing contest and runner up in the Communication Arts film production contest. Abbiss is still adding crew and cast to her team.

Push

Sophomore Ryan Barnett brings a documentary vibe back to this year's film fest. Ryan is developing a documentary about an artist in Canton, Ohio whose public art is both cool and controversial.

Untitled Nate Ross Project

College is often a series of hoops that seem neverending, daunting and pointless.

This heist film dares to ask the question, but what if you could get around the hoops.

Mansfield

Amanda Fulwell wrote this modern day adaptation from the classic novel -- Jane Austen fans will enjoy! Fulwell will also star in the piece which is being directed by Media student, Kristin Rayz.

Untitled Scott / Pearson / Kiel Project

This revenge thriller pits big-time assassins against steel town corruption....and an angry twenty year old kid figures somewhere in the middle.

Reel Life

Senior Jordan Scott wowed the Open Frame Crowd last year with the music video for BEAST MODE, his own rap creation featuring the Malone Football Team. Jordan returns with collaborators Willie Pearson and Matt Kiel with this multi-genre film. This piece is a comic romp through familiar film genres with a familiar college - student - dillema.

Never A Bride

Senior Kyle Mallow returns to this year’s festival planning our first horror film. The story is delightfully warped and creepy. And Kyle’s visual skills have been impressively displayed in last year’s submission to the Open Frame -- FILM SCHOOL and in the web project:The Rise and Fall of Chazz Michael Bishop. He’s looking for crew!

Customer Satisfaction

In this wry comedic short, a grocery story clerk narrates the story of her last day on the job to her best friend, all the while pressing the boundaries of her perceptions versus those of everyone else.

Taylor Hazlett, whose film (W)HOLE was invited to show at the Canton Palace Theatre International Film Fest this past year, will direct CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.

While (W)HOLE was Hazlett’s first student film, it included a number of impressive Open Frame benchmarks -- award-winning editing and talented cinematography (both from first time, female, underclass students); artist’s festival rights acquired; profoundly cinematic storytelling and an impressively coordinated production experience for cast and crew.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION was co-written by Taylor and Erin Chilensky. Erin won the writing award for the OPEN FRAME for her script THAT KIND OF AFFECTION and is currently studying in Los Angeles.

Returning alumni JOE SIEBERT will help the Director of Photography role for this short. Joe now writes and directs for Stonekap Productions. Joe’s short documentary THE REAL BOLD BAD MEN was featured on opening night at this year’s Akron Film Fest and a version of this film can be viewed at reelate.org .

Award-winning producing team Monica Small and Danyella Tonelli will return to art-direct and produce CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. Casting will begin soon for this film. The producers are still looking to fill general crew positions as well as key sound positions.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION will shoot during the month of March.

Stay tuned for more information.

Student Films In Pre-Production

Seven student films are officially in pre-production now, so over the next few days I'll be blogging about them.  Each of the productions are still filling a few positions (cast and crew) so whether you're interested in supporting student productions, building skills, or just staying in touch with opportunities in film at Malone, keep an eye on the next few publications.

We'll also be pushing the info out on facebook so if you haven't already joined our OPEN FRAME group -- go join now!