I.  Announcements – Presented by UI Secretary, Rosemary Thomas

II.  Guest Speaker – Live via skype from the American Film Market in L.A. – Kurt Eli Mayry

Producer / Production Manager / Director of Education,The Motion Picture Institute of Michigan Kurt Mayry produced the 1992 feature film Hellmaster, starring John Saxon, which aired nationally on HBO/Cinemax. His subsequent producing effort Dark Heaven was released in July of 2004.

His extensive business background has built MPI (The Motion Picture Institute of Michigan) into a premiere film-making program and paved the way for Michigan film professionals to seize much of the incoming Hollywood film production opportunities created by Michigan’s 2007 42% tax-incentive program, by incorporating his film industry knowledge and experience into the classroom where he instructs students on how to organize and manage their films.

Mayry’s extensive film background spans from working on such notable films as Beverly Hills Cop to working as a camera tech for one of the largest Panavision Equipment houses in the Midwest. He holds a Bachelors degree in business from the University of Michigan, is currently the Director of Education at MPI and  recently produced and co-wrote the horror thriller The Rain.

Upstate Independents is pleased to have Mr. Kurt Mayry as November’s Guest Speaker – he will be speaking to us LIVE from the American Film Market in Los Angeles, C.A. about his career, his film “The Rain,” Michigan’s tax incentive program and about the Motion Picture Institute of Michigan.

A Q & A Session will be held thereafter.

III.  Networking  Break -

IV. Upstate Independent November Board Member Elections – November’s UI Meeting marks our annual elections for open Board Member positions.  Positions and details about how to prepare for the elections as a running candidate will be announced within the week.

I.  Announcements – Presented by UI Secretary, Rosemary Thomas

II.  Guest Speaker – UI Board Member to speak about November election.

This November, Upstate Independents will be holding it’s annual election for open Board Member positions. Announcements will be made at the meeting with further information about how to run for an open Board Member position.  The election will take place at the November UI meeting.

III.  Networking Break

IV. Film Screenings

THERAPUTIC – a new graphic horror film that is based on the escapades of relationship therapist Dr. Lina, whose treatment methods are unconventional at best.  The film is the second short of writer/director/producer Evelyn S. Oliver, who previously created “Testimony of a Devotee,” and the first project on which UI Member Erin Deighan has received assistant director credit.  Director/Writer/Producer Evelyn S. Oliver, 1st Assistant Director Erin Deighan, and Lead Actress Misty Easler will all be present.
Run time: approximately 11 minutes

FRONTIERS – feature film:  a mystery/fantasy, period piece set in the year 1839.   A local fur trapper is followed by a mysterious force, leading to an uncharted journey of survival, in which the boundaries of reality become blurred.

HOME SWEET HOME – short film: science fiction, set in 9642, a space pilot encounters severe weather, forcing an emergency landing back on earth, with all communications cut off, the space pilot soon learns that he is on a planet that appears unfamiliar, desolate, and seemingly ancient.

Trailers from both films, directed by Utica-based filmmaker Daniel Calhoun, will screen.  Run time: 3 minute, each trailer

ATMA – Atma (in Sanskrit, ‘soul’) is a woman who has discovered God through the Bhagwadgita. Like all lovers of God, she too lives in a different world. To her, living is God, non-living is God. Philosophy, science, history, art, romance, past, present, future is God. This film is her attempt to understand why the world is the way it is: far from what God describes as truth in the Bhagwadgita.
Running time: 3 minutes

HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND KILL MY MOM – A young man, David, works in a bar with his abusive mother. After a particularly nasty night David sees an opportunity to kill his mother. Later he tries to get his friends, Mustard and Carmal, to help dispose of the body. They refuse and David is left alone to deal with the body, only to find out that his mother is not dead but very upset.
Running time: 17 minutes

A Q & A Session is to each set of film screenings.

Don’t Miss It!

Upstate Independents’ September 7th, 2010

Meeting Line-Up

I.  Announcements Presented by UI Secretary, Rosemary Thomas

II.  Guest Speaker – Line Producer, Production Manager & Asbury Shorts NYC Founder Doug LeClaire.

Doug LeClaire is a Clio Award-winning television commercial and cable network promo Line Producer and Production Manager.  He has worked in the NYC film/video industry since 1980.  Doug was the Production Supervisor on a series of “I Love NYC” spots produced immediately after the 9/11 attacks featuring Woody Allen, Ben Stiller, Henry Kissenger, Al Roker, Yogi Berra and Kevin Bacon. Shot over a year long period on various NYC locations and sound stages. He’s produced over 200 national commercials and promos for networks such as: Comedy Central, Spike, Lifetime Networks, WE, Oxygen, NBC, ABC and PBS.

Additionally, Doug’s also line produced two independent feature films over the past 5 years including “Greetings from the Shore” which received world-wide distribution.  Doug is the Founder and Director of Asbury Shorts New York :  NYC’s longest running annual short film exhibition, which is also a touring event called: “The Short Film Concert.”   The show is celebrating it’s 30th year of screening classic, award-winning short films in venues around the world — AND is coming to Albany at the Linda on September 11th (MARK YOUR CALENDARS!)

Last August over 1900 people attended Asbury Shorts “Short Film Concert” at Summer Stage in Central Park.

Check out Doug’s recent interview on WAMC’s Roundtable with Sara LaDuke:

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1696551

III.  Networking Break

IV. Film Screenings for – UI/Asbury Shorts Film Contest Selections

Don’t Miss It!

UPSTATE INDEPENDENTS is pleased to announce:

Upstate Independents’ August 3rd, 2010

Guest Speaker: Ballston Spa Film Festival Founder & Director Daniel DeFabio

Daniel DeFabio got his first job in “Hollywood” in Troy, N.Y. working as a production assistant on Martin Scorsesse’s “The Age of Innocence.” Not long thereafter, he moved to Los Angeles and worked on a few other films including True Lies before turning his skills to the then new internet. Thereafter, he became a pioneer in online movie marketing and was the co-writer and -producer of the first animated entertainment series on the web, Madeleine’s Mind.

In 2006 he moved back to live in Ballston Spa, N.Y., where he discovered the BSBPA was doing Concerts in the Park and was inspired:  Why not Movies in the Park, too? In 2007, he screened a free Movie in the Park each First Friday throughout summer and in 2008, The Ballston Spa Film Festival (BSFF) was created. In addition to the other monthly movies, DeFabio continues to work in entertainment marketing, creating TV commercials and motion graphics. His work was seen last summer on TNT’s “The Closer.” Most recently, two of his short films aired on WMHT (PBS) TV.

Q & A session to be held thereafter.

Don’t Miss It!

Where we’re located:

Upstate Independents meets the first Tuesday of every month at The Linda: WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio, 339 Central Avenue, Albany, NY from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Click here to view the Google map and get directions. It is a great opportunity to network with others who are interested in all aspects of film and television production.

Check out the best independent film and media resource in Upstate New York. For more information, e-mail us at info@upstateindependents.com

See you there!

Upstate Independents July 6, 2010

Guest Speaker: Senior Entertainment & Music Executive, Carl Griffin

Upstate Independents (UI), the resource for filmmakers, actors, screenwriters, and other media artists based in the Capital Region, welcomes three-time Grammy winner Carl Griffin 6:30 p.m. on July 6 at The Linda: WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio. Having accumulated over 38 years of experience in the music and entertainment industry, Carl Griffin is a force with which to be reckoned. Having accumulated over 38 years of experience in the music and entertainment business, Carl will offer some perspective about the artists and stories that shaped his career and American jazz and R&B.

He has worked with a “who’s who” of musicians that include BB King, Diane Krall, Jane Monheit, Arturo Sandoval, Ramsey Lewis, Ronnie Dunn, Evelyn Champagne King and Jonathon Butler. Carl’s Grammies include recognition for his work as Producer for BB King, Live at the Apollo and Arturo Sandoval’s Hot House.

Recently, he produced six shows at the Carnival Performing Arts Center, Miami, Florida, featuring Dave Brubeck, the Count Basie Orchestra, A Tribute to Tito and Machito, Patti Austin, Sonny Rollins, and Chick Corea.

Like many artists who recognize the value of music and pictures, Carl has a hand in TV and film production as well. Last year, Carl contributed as Artist Coordinator the L.R.P. Media production, History of Recorded Music, which covers over 300 interviews with a diverse range of artists such as Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones, Clint Eastwood, and Paul Simon.

Q & A session to be held thereafter.

Member Film Screenings:

Chriss Vincelette, Director/Editor -V Productions – Film Title: “Books for Change”

Synopsis: A grassroots group of humanitarians team up with an indie filmmaker. Their mission: To bring books and literacy to developing countries while promoting understanding and acceptance of the cultural diversity in their own local communities. Run time: 4 minutes 30 seconds.

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Alexander Uhlmann, Writer/Director – Film Title: “Across the River”

Synopsis: A true story about the young George Washington. Run time: 16 minutes.
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Richa KhandelwalBhat, Director – Film Title: Atma (in Sanskrit, ‘soul’)

Synopsis: Atma (in Sanskrit, ‘soul’) is a woman who has discovered God through the Bhagwadgita. Like all lovers of God, she too lives in a different world. To her, living is God, non-living is God. Philosophy, science, history, art, romance, past, present, future is God. This film is her attempt to understand why the world is the way it is: far from what God describes as truth in the Bhagwadgita. Run time: 3 minutes.

Don’t Miss It!

Where we’re located:

Upstate Independents meets the first Tuesday of every month at The Linda: WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio, 339 Central Avenue, Albany, NY from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Click here to view the Google map and get directions. It is a great opportunity to network with others who are interested in all aspects of film and television production.

Check out the best independent film and media resource in Upstate New York. For more information, e-mail us at info@upstateindependents.com

See you there!