Tag Archives: film

The little bit of feel good for August 2016

Posted on by

Happy August!

Whether you are a regular or new Thursday Interview reader/subscriber, thank you.  It’s a thrill going to a party and finding out someone enjoys the Thursday Interview.   It’s a treat to know that the featured interviewees are finding new fans for their projects and businesses.

And because I want everyone to keep enjoying the Thursday Interview, I’m taking August off for a blogging break.   But no worries!  I will leave you with a little bit of feel good list for the month ahead.  Enjoy!

Fireworks @ Coney Island
Fridays

The Films of Joe Dante Film Series @ BAM
August 8-24

Andra Day/ Son Little @ Prospect Park
August 13

The Living Room Candidate
This online repository of Presidential campaign ads is fascinating.

Future Hive Pop Up
August 2-8

Cocktails at Cooper Hewitt
Thursdays

Flatiron Tech Tuesdays – Coding for Everyone
August 9

Launching a new biz or project?  Let’s talk!  
Happy Creating, Cultivating and Growing!

 

Curtis Caesar John, The Luminal Theater

Posted on by
thursday interview creatives brooklyn film

Curtis Caesar John, Executive Director, The Luminal Theater

***The Thursday Interview is a showcase for creators, innovators, troublemakers, small business owners to share news and insight about the creative impetus and inspirations behind their latest project, launch or business.

Keep reading for the story behind  micro-cinema The Luminal Theater from executive director Curtis Caesar John. Enjoy!

Name:  Curtis Caesar John

Organization: The Luminal Theater

Launch date:  July 24, 2015 (official)

Motto: “the microcinema for the Bedford-Stuyvesant community…and beyond”

Describe your path to founding and launching (congratulations!) The Luminal Theater
Working in exhibition over the past seven years, I was always thinking of creating a space for filmmakers, especially filmmakers of color, since there are limited regular spaces for us to display our work.  But the idea of launching the microcinema – a one-screen and usually simply designed venue often made affordable to niche and independent filmmakers – really came to me in the early 2014.  I was already familiar with a few other micros, but learning more about the history of exhibition while getting my MA from NYU’s Cinema Studies program opened up even more possibilities to me about how this all could work. Later in 2014 I approached my now business partner Clairesa Clay, who also worked in exhibition over the years, primarily with helping to launch the Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival, and she soon thereafter agreed to come on as Artistic Director.  Cut to late Spring 2015, and the opportunity arose to use a pop-up space in Bedford-Stuyvesant! Though launching so early wasn’t in the original plan, we decided to take advantage of this opportunity and thankfully were granted the space for a few months. Then the madness began!

How has the Bed Stuy community responded to the screenings?
The Bed-Stuy community has been very gracious to us.  Bed-Stuy has always been an enclave of talented and famous artists, and in the past decade that has grown to a lot of filmmakers – especially young ones. So we’re glad that their work has been able to be put on display here. The best part though is that the community is grateful to have an alternative to just restaurants, hair salons, and the like around. They want access to local entertainment and we’re proud to be able to provide it to them.  

How did you connect with artistic director Clairesa Clay?
I met Clairesa when I was in college at LIU –Brooklyn. We work in the same circles and have kept in touch pretty well over the years.  She was one of the first people I thought to approach, and did, when deciding to launch The Luminal. Clairesa really brings some out-the-box ideas to the Theater’s programming that I probably wouldn’t have thought of!

What are your go-to resources for managing a film non-profit?
Beg, borrow and beg some more.  I somewhat joke, but we are dependent on the kindness of friends and strangers.  Our alma mater, the Long Island University – Brooklyn Campus’ Media Arts Department, has lent us some crucial equipment that we would not able to operate without. Because of the relative speed that we got the venue, some key resources we could have relied upon were not accessible to us, but we are currently applying for local and national grants.  

What’s on the schedule for September 2015 and beyond?
On September 11th we are hosting a pre-festival event for the Reel Sisters of the African Diaspora Film Festival on which the focus is on gentrification.  They are screening of Bed Stuy Do or Buy directed by Negesti Cantave and Why We Stay directed by Crystal Kayiza and Peter Quandt. The talkback, hosted by community activist Lumumba Bandele, will be a discussion on the impact rising rents have had in pushing long time residents out of their neighborhoods and the fight to preserve the culture of their community.  

The following day September 12th we are hosting the New York premiere of the documentary Adina Howard 20: A Story of Sexual Liberation which focuses on the titular singer’s struggle of being a provocative singer proud of her aggressive sexual nature before it was popular for Black female artists like Rihanna and Nicki Minaj to do so.  It’s pretty dope.  We will also be showing new short films from Bed-Stuy filmmaker Shaka King (we showed his film feature film Newlyweeds on Sept. 4th) as well as fresh films from others, and we are also hosting a special event on seniors and the community put together by The Laundromat Project. There’s a lot going on here!

Wow! I’m impressed with how much The Luminal Theater has been able to accomplish in such a short time. I hope you are able to support by attending a screening this month and following them on Facebook and Twitter.

—

If you are interested in being a Thursday Interview feature, share your info here and I will contact you.

Elaine Del Valle, Del Valle Productions

Posted on by

***The Thursday Interview is a showcase for creators, innovators and troublemakers to share news and insight about the creative impetus & inspirations behind their latest projects. This week, Elaine Del Valle, the woman who can’t stop, won’t stop with her indomitable creativity and drive.

Name: Elaine Del Valle

Occupation: WGA writer, executive producer, performer, casting executive, owner operator of Del Valle Productions, Inc.

Motto: So many–I like “Anything can happen to anyone at anytime”, “Believe in someone today”.

And Margaret Thatcher’s quote: “Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s a day you’ve had everything to do and you’ve done it.”

My current project is….

The Venn diagram. I run my own production studio which encompasses all of the above. As I speak, I’m casting a full length comedy feature film, and a dramatic short, reading a script for possible production, auditioning for pilot season and promoting my latest episode of Reasons Y I’m Single. I’m also writing under contract with Parachute Publishing who is packaging my play (and true coming of age story) Brownsville Bred as a young adult fiction novel.

And I’m about to write the 7th episode of Reasons Y I’m Single.

What was the inspiration (or inspirations) behind Reasons Y I’m Single? Don’t be shy!

After the success of my Off-Broadway hit play, Brownsville Bred, I knew my next production needed to be something I can write, produce, had to be funny, and most of all something readily accessible to anyone willing to watch. I was inspired by the success of my own play which solidified me as a formidable writer and my voice as a Latina. I was challenged by the lack of truthful Latina roles…and looked at other web series like Lenox Avenue and others as a model for what I wanted to build. Something I could grow with and from.

The production process for the series is…..

It all starts with concepts and funny dialogue. These come to me, usually at night…I pitch them first to my husband…if he laughs I know I need to pick up my phone and write myself an email so I won’t forget. Since I’ve worked with and admired so many fine actors, I usually know exactly whose mouth I want delivering the goods. When I have a moment between jobs I go to my subject line “write this” on my emails and I write the first draft. I then send it to my writing partner Holie Barker (who also plays the role of Joannie). She adds her voice and I start pre pro from there. Casting any guest stars, deciding on locations, wardrobe, securing crew, SAG and WGA contracts, call sheets, craft services, equipment rental and bam…we try to shoot an entire episode in a day which is usually between 4-6 pages and amounts to 8 hours. When I say we, I mean my fabulous cast, crew, assistant director, gaffer, grip, sound engineer, make up, cinematographer, and day of production manager.

After we shoot, we back up all the footage and sound and I begin the edit.

It takes me about three weeks to edit 6 minutes. I send the rough cut to my assistant and or co-director and my writing partner for feedback. Make adjustments til I get to picture lock, send to my sound mixer and colorist and when it’s good enough that I’m happy…I upload and launch it.

Then begins the real work–promoting it.

And by the way after the first week I usually find much I would change…the trick is to learn from those things and not dwell on them.

My best production memory is…

Rewriting my “I tweet jay z” episode on the morning of the shoot. I made the decision that the character would put the pantyhose on in front of the store manager. I still love watching it and am shocked that it cut so beautifully.

My worst production memory is….

I have a pet peeve. When actors stop in the middle of a scene to start over. It absolutely kills the rhythm of the scenes and hurts and frustrates everybody on set…time is our most precious commodity. There is only one director on the set and unless that person says cut please keep moving. It’s rowing in the same direction and that’s what’s needed on such a tight ship that is a web series.

The other thing has to do with time as well. I’ve never been late to a set in my life. I’d rather be the first one there and waiting than have production counting the dollars I’m wasting in every minute by not being available.

What I love most about being a triple threat….

The control. Not being at the mercy of someone else. Working at my own pace…which is fast and laser focused.

 

What’s next for Reasons Y I’m Single?

Episode 7, where we meet all the Moms and further establish our three main characters, more quotable dialogue and highlighting performances. In a perfect world I would like to find advertisers that want product placement or a prominent “brought to you by” title.

What’s next for Elaine Del Valle?

I don’t know what will come my way, all I can do is be ready for it. If nothing comes by way of outside sources than I suspect 2015 will bring a laser focus to my writing of my Brownsville Bred as a feature.

Elaine’s shout outs…

Pamela Moller Kareman who brought Brownsville Bred to its first regional run and then off broadway

Jane Stine who loves Brownsville Bred enough to help it to become a book.

My husband Al Eskanazy for his extreme support, encouragement and patience of my drive.

Taryn Kosviner, my Assistant Director whose talent is profound.

Holie Barker whose style and pace balances Reasons Y.

Gina Tuttle who inspires her character.

My agents at Headline Talent Agency.

My cinematographer Saro Varjabedian.

My family and the Latino and independent film community, who support my every move.

There are many more people I have to thank but I’ll save that for my Oscar, Emmy or Tony speech.

Thank you Elaine — I cannot wait for the next episode!

Interested in doing a Thursday Interview? Email for info!