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Industry News

1 Sep , 2003  

Written by Chris Cooke | Posted by:

Maureen Foley's new feature, 'Martha Stewart Living,' and more... A report of news & events in the local industry for September 2003.

Email news to news@newenglandfilm.com

In the News

Avatar Films has acquired the domestic rights to RISD grad Ben Coccio’s feature debut "Zero Day," about two alienated high school buddies, Andre and Cal, who declare war on their classmates and plan an attack on the school. The two record everything relevant to their "mission" on video. Written, produced, and directed by Coccio, the film has won awards at the Atlanta Film Festival, Florida Film Festival, Slamdunk Film Festival, Film Fest New Haven, and Empire State Film Festival. It is scheduled to open September 3 in NYC, October 10 in Boston, and shortly thereafter in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Coccio went to high school in New Milford, Connecticut.

"Mama’s Boy," a feature by first-time directors (and former English teachers) Michael Allen and James Russo, just wrapped filming in the last week of August. The film tells of one woman’s crusade against the rock music she feels is responsible for the death of her son. Her story is seen from many characters’ points of view, even through a pseudo-documentary within the film. Produced by Lenny Manzo for FilmShack, the film was shot in various locations in Massachusetts, including Bridgewater, Danvers, Marblehead, and Canton.

Director Maureen Foley’s full-length feature "American Wake" is in the cutting room, after filming mid-July through early August. Set in the Huron Village area of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the film was shot on location at the specialty food store Formaggio Kitchen and The Fishmonger market in Cambridge, and in Waltham and Boston. The film, which Foley co-wrote with lead actor Billy Smith, is a slice-of-life look at four characters’ search for meaning and fulfillment. Sam Amidon also stars, as a fiddle player. Amidon’s music graces the film, as does that of Seamus Egan (who co-wrote "I Will Remember You" with Sarah MacLachlan for "The Brothers McMullen"). Lucia Small (of "My Father, the Genuis" fame) is producing.

One of the many films to be featured in the upcoming 16-day Boston Underground Film Festival is "Money Shot," written and directed by Daniel Kopec and produced and filmed by Labid Aziz. Completed this summer as part of the 72 Hour Feature Project sponsored by the Bay Area Video Coalition and the Chicago Film Office, the film was written in 72 hours and then shot and edited in 72 hours. The film is 72 minutes long. A sort of "Spinal Tap" of porn, the mockumentary takes place on the set of an adult film. It was shot in Waltham, Massachusetts from May 30-June 1 and premiered at the Gene Siskel Film Center in June.

"Act Your Age," directed by Peter Rhodes & Marcy Goldberg, produced in Brookline with an all Massachusetts cast and crew will screen at the Coolidge Corner Theatre on September 20 and 21.  More information about the film is available at www.communitymovies.com and the film can be purchased at BuyIndies.com.

In major-production news, the HBO film "Empire Falls" has been holding casting calls for actors and extras in Waterville, Maine; and Paramount Pictures’ "The Stepford Wives" shot footage in New Canaan, Connecticut.

The Connecticut Film, Video & Media Office has redesigned its website, enhancing the organization and navigation. Local filmmakers are encouraged to post crew calls, job postings, and other production info on the site — after posting them first here at NewEnglandFilm, of course!

Inspired by the concept of pro shops for golfers, FilmShack Productions, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, will be opening its own ProShop, a complete resource for filmmakers, all under one roof. Film books, videotape, and film stock will be sold, and film workshops and other services will be available to help fledgling filmmakers off the ground. Construction is not yet complete, but the store is expected to open in late September or early October.

"Perpetual Motion," a one-and-a-half-minute short by Suffield (Connecticut) High School grad Kimberly Miner, has won a Student Academy Award. The animated mockumentary postulates "that cats and jam are an answer to the world’s energy problems."

Littleton, New Hampshire’s Chutter’s General Store, home of the world’s largest candy counter (certified by the "Guinness Book of World Records"), was filmed this summer for the Food Network’s "Un-Wrapped" program, in a segment called "#1s." "Martha Stewart Living" has also come calling. Originally scheduled for an August 18 filming, the date has been postponed.

Reality TV update: Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, will be the setting for the collegiate championship series of Jeopardy! on October 3 and 4. Let the games begin! Meanwhile, Boston- and New York-based Scout Productions has made quite a splash with the new Bravo hit series "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." No word yet on when the five fashionmongers will show up to clean my apartment and revamp my wardrobe.

Film Festivals

Festivals and special events this month include:


More screenings, festivals, meetings and other events at www.NewEnglandFilm.com/events/

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