Local film festival gets boost from industry players

by Paul Schreiber

SBJ Reporter

pschreiber@sbj.net

Touted as bringing "a taste of Hollywood to the Ozarks," the Cinemerge Film & Video Festival will offer a roster of players who have plied their trade both locally and in Hollywood, said coordinator Mike Strain. The three-day event will be held May 21-23 at the North Town Mall theater at Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street.

The itinerary will feature 15 guests, eight teaching workshops and presentations of various films made locally and nationally, Strain said. There will even be a film submission coming from London, he added.

Last year's approximately 200 attendees prompted Strain to try it again. "It wasn't huge, but we had a pretty good response." Last year's cost was about $2,000 and the event recovered that, he said, adding that interest in this year's event is considerably stronger.

While the idea is based on events like the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Strain said, the driving force behind the local event is "to generate more interest and work in the area" of local film-making and production.

In addition to working in special effects, Strain has done a few films of his own: "Vile 21," "Hotel of Terror," "Until Sunrise" and "Mysteries, Monsters and Magic."

Gary Roberts attended last year and commends Strain's gumption to keep the event going. Roberts has set up equipment, hauled actors to locations and done car stunt work in various films and television shows. He worked on "Bats" with Lou Diamond Phillips and "About Schmidt" with Jack Nicholson, as well as "Touched By An Angel" with Roma Downey.

Roberts said working in the film industry requires going where the films are made and then, if necessary, hounding those who can get you on the set. When not on a set somewhere, he installs flooring to make additional money.

Scheduled guests

Strain has assembled a variety of guests to share their experience and expertise from actors and directors to talent managers and production assistants. Many are individuals he has worked with on projects.

William Forsythe, a veteran of 81 feature films including "Raising Arizona," "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo" and Springfield-made "Larva," will offer insights regarding the craft, said Strain.

David Winning will speak at the event, Strain said. He has directed Power Rangers movies, episodes of "Earth the Final Conflict" and "Andromeda," as well as episodes of "Dinotopia."

Woody P. Snow, disc jockey for KGBX-FM, will talk about film production in the Ozarks, especially a recent short film he wrote and directed "The Bit."

On "The Bit," Snow worked with local businessman Mike Hill, who provided the $3,000 necessary to make it. Snow said actual production took about $2,000, and with what's left he plans on distributing the 20-minute short to film festivals in order to promote it.

"People came out of the woodwork to help (on "The Bit)," Snow said. "It was just an amazing experience" that took about six months to complete, he added. Since no one was getting paid for their contribution, it was necessary to work around everyone's schedules, he added.

Other guests scheduled to appear are set dressers Steve and Betsy Johnson; director Gabe Campisi; actor Jeci Ramos; cameraman Adrian Kill; and Nick Brown, lighting gaffer for "Frasier." Brown also worked on films with directors Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg, and on the TV shows "Bonanza," "Simon & Simon" and "The In-Laws."

Strain did not disclose speaker fees, but said, "Yeah, they cost," adding that event business sponsorships are an important component in defraying those expenses.

Businesses providing either cash or goods are A.B.C. Pictures, Paul Phillips Formal Wear & Tuxedo Rental, Don Johnson Tobacco World, Campbell 16 Cine, The Mud House, Incredible Pizza Company, Apollo, Eastman Kodak, Lee Lighting and iCuff, Strain said.

Fantasy Creations

Having worked in the special effects business for nearly 20 years out of his home, Strain now operates Fantasy Creations with Sarah Wilson Dewald from a 3,500-square-foot space in North Town Mall.