I. Announcements – presented by Rosemary Thomas

II. Guest Speaker of the Month – Mike Feurstein

Mike Feurstein’s production staff consists largely of student apprentices between the ages of 10 and 21. He is committed to helping area youth realize their talent as actors, storytellers and crew. These students have worked on set with industry professionals and alongside professional actors with credits on network TV soap operas, feature films and the national stage. He endeavors to help them create their own short films and media projects.

This goal is best seen in productions of the acclaimed web series eScape, seen at eScapetheseries.com, and the antibullying movie “How to UnMake a Bully” which has been widely acclaimed and is currently in high demand from regional and national school districts and counseling organizations.

He dedicates his time to ensuring that all children–and adults–he works with are able to encounter the same wonderful opportunities he was afforded throughout his own life.

His work has won gold medals, Telly awards, and recently a proclamation which named June 14th as a day in his honor throughout the town of Glenville. His shorts have screened in NYC theaters, as part of television anthologies and is consistently used by larger companies such as Activision and Pitney-Bowes in their outreach and company branding. Mike has also directed cinematics for the blockbuster, award-winning Guitar Hero game series. He is at work co-creating high quality lecture-series DVDs about instructing children with autism. His past work screened at theaters in New York City and venues across the country as part of a traveling film festival. He owns a lighting rental company at cucumberalley.com, servicing low budget and indie productions, with customers as far and wide as LA and the UK.

A 15-minute Q & A session is to follow.

III. A 15-minute Networking Break

The Upstate Independents Board:

Kevin Craig West: President

Rosemary Thomas: Secretary

Ron Pucherelli: Membership Chair

Heidi Philipsen: Programming Chair

Barbara Whitchurch: Media Chair

Charles Galuski: Web Chair

Rich Lundy: Fundraising Chair

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

I. Announcements – presented by Rosemary Thomas

II. Guest Speaker of the month: Schenectady County Film Commissioner, Don Rittner

Please join us as we hear the latest and greatest from Don Rittner, from the Schenectady Film Commission, about his experience in building a film commission from the ground up and bringing the production of “THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES” with stars Bradley Cooper and Ryan Gossling to Schenectady this summer. A 20-minute Q & A session will follow.

III. A 15-minute Networking Break

III. Film Screenings

IV. We’ve got great film screenings on the slate for July – get ready to take ‘em in, give honest feedback and don’t forget the popcorn!

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

I. Announcements – Made by UI Secretary, Rosemary Thomas

II. Guest Speaker – Michael J. Massey

Michael J. Massey – Media Man, Your Ad Here

Michael J. Massey always felt he was bound for greater things. He started his career in banking after graduating from SUNY Brockport with a B. A. in History but over the years has become known up and down the East Coast as a media mad man and skilled strategist who generates measured results for clients.

His portfolio of clients has included a Fortune 500 insurance company, a commercial real estate firm, a Southeast based wealth management bank and several community based credit unions in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. He has consulted with several small to medium size businesses on developing advertising and media campaigns including a retail drugstore chain, a men’s grooming franchise, a high end butcher shop and a commercial builder.

He also has learned to channel his creative energy into many on going projects including developing several TV pilots, a screenplay, and a novel about reincarnation. He and his business partner, Chrissie VanWormer, have co-authored ‘Your Ad Here: De-mystifying the Business of Media and Advertising’ which is a how-to book written in an easy to follow conversational format geared specifically for small to medium sized businesses.

But it’s not all business. Massey lives with his wife and three children in Upstate New York where he enjoys all fitness activities but especially running and weight lifting.

A 15-minute Q & A session is to follow

III. 15-Minute Networking Break

IV. Film Screenings:

a. Daniel Trinh – SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST – Survival of the Fittest is a dark drama film that explores the psychological mind of school shooters through three survivors’ experiences with the perpetrator of the United Valley Community College shooting.

This is Daniel’s first film as a filmmaker, as he has worked mainly as actor. H was Director, Producer, Writer, & Lead Actor on this project and worked with both UI members (Barbara Whitchurch) & Non-UI members to put this production together and even worked with people from out-of-state. Daniel’s goal with this film is to get it out there to the film festival world (including Sundance) to stimulate interest in creating the budget for a feature feature film loosely based off the short film.

RUN TIME: 15mins

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

Thanks and see you there!

I. Announcements – Made by UI Secretary, Rosemary Thomas

II. Guest Speaker – Debby Goedeke, Albany County Film Commissioner, Capital-Saratoga Film Commission, www.albany.org

Debby Goedeke is currently Convention Services Manager of the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACCVB) and Albany County Film Commissioner for the Capital-Saratoga Film Commission. Since 2000 Debby has also worked as a Corporate Sales Manager for the Crowne Plaza Albany hotel and Vice-President of Meetings & Conventions for Empire Meeting Solutions, Guilderland, NY. Debby assists all of her clients by matching up the right “Albany” resource for their sporting tournaments, military reunions, family reunions and conference needs. In addition, Debby works with the motion picture industry as well as providing assistance on documentaries and television projects. She recently worked with Columbia Pictures on SALT and The Other Guys.

Debby is originally from the High Peaks region of Keene, NY where her family was in the hospitality industry. In her spare time, Debby enjoys running and participating in marathons and triathlons. Debby and her husband, Art, live in Delmar with their Yorkshire Terrier Lance.

A 15-minute Q & A session is to follow

III. 15-Minute Networking Break

IV. Film Screenings:

a. We’re excited to be screening work from UI actress, Yvonne Perry:

1. Law &Order: Criminal Intent Shot March 2009, NYC ~1-2 minutes

Short scene with Yvonne Perry, Julianne Nicholson and Jeff Goldblum

2. Cultural Competence: RN Training Program Shot summer 2010 ~3 minutes

Yvonne Perry as moderator, working off a teleprompter.

3. Risk Management: Managing Difficult Patients &Family Members Shot Fall 2010 Bronx, NY ~3 minutes

Yvonne Perry plays a Doctor dealing with a difficult family member in a busy hospital.

b. Rich Lounello will be screening his new actor’s reel.

c. Heidi Philipsen will be screening her reel interview with George Clooney.

d. Kevin Craig West will screen his latest short, “Chicken Feed,”(3 min. 41 sec), shot entirely on his camera phone video!

e. Mike Feurstein will screen “Save the Date” with Kevin Craig West, Christy Lee Hughes, Tim Dugan and Hillary Parker.

Test screening for 9 minute short about two dates gone wrong and “wronger.” Seeking feedback on editing choices and material.

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

In memoria di Vincenzo Spataro

Tom Mercer and Mike Camoin, co-founders of Upstate Independents will guest speak at the April 5th, UI meeting in honor of our network’s 16 year anniversary.  Both will lead a discussion offering an historical perspective of UI values and highlight recently deceased UI member, Vince Spataro, aka “The Time Keeper” since the early days of UI.