SFSDF Student Chet Patterson's 'lanesplitting' Accepted Into Canadian Film Festival

SFSDF Student Chet Patterson's 'LANESPLITTING'
Accepted Into Canadian Film Festival

  Fresh off the heels of his film's acceptance into the highly competitive 16th Annual Berkeley Video and Film Festival, SFSDF summer workshop Chet Patterson's documentary 'lanesplitting' has been       
     accepted into yet another festival –the WILDsound Film Festival to be held October 23rd at the Canadian National Film Board theatre in downtown Toronto, Canada.   "It's unbelievable," said Patterson. "Getting accepted into the Berkeley festival was SUCH an  
honor, and it's extremely validating to have the film accepted at another festival." In addition to having his film screened in another country, Patterson noted there were only ten films accepted into the entire festival program, and there was no distinction between those produced by students and those produced by professionals.
 
  "Initially, I submitted 'lanesplitting' to the festival because they guaranteed feedback on your film, even if it wasn't accepted," said Patterson.  "Now, because it's an 'audience feedback' festival, I'll have an entire theater giving – hopefully – constructive criticism of my work, rather than just a couple of reviewers."     
 
Scheduled to moderate the film festival discussion is Jerry Ciccoritti, "one of Canada's most provocative and in-demand directors" according to the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), and the director of such critically-acclaimed films as Trudeau, Boy Meets Girl and Paris, France.
 
     Patterson noted that after the screening, 'lanesplitting' will get posted on their website (see http://www.wildsound-filmmaking-feedback-events.com/watch_films_online.html), which, according to WILDsound organizers, receives thousands of visitors every week, "and they’ll actually pay me when people watch my movie.  Very cool."  
  
When asked about works in progress, Patterson is somewhat coy about the subject of his next documentary, saying only that it's a piece about "car communication … it just seems I tend to gravitate more towards 'contemporary social issue' documentaries, rather than, say, personal portraits," he said.  
  
  He noted he's already worked on other productions since this summer's workshop, most recently with fellow classmate Michael Connell on a documentary about the Benecia Yacht Club.  In between festivals and gigs, Patterson continues to seek full-time video production work, noting that "having a documentary shown on the festival circuit hopefully adds to my marketability."     
 
chet patterson
www.echet.com <http://www.echet.com>
starving fish productions

"NAME DAY" RECIPIENT OF COLUMBINE AWARD AT MOONDANCE

"NAME DAY" RECIPIENT OF COLUMBINE AWARD AT MOONDANCE

September 18th, 2007

Filmmaker Nikhil Prakash won the Columbine award for best short film
at the Moondance International Film Festival, which was held from
September 7th to 9th, 2007, at the Universal City Walk in Hollywood.
The film, "Name Day", which follows an Agnostic Arab-American's
journey from the dusk of murderous revenge to the dawn of spiritual
awakening after his devout Muslim brother is killed in a hate crime
during the aftermath of 9/11, is both powerful and timely.

"I hope people see this as more than just another nine-eleven story,"
comments Prakash. "My vision for the movie was to observe a man wade
through the ocean of hatred, depression, and loss that is drowning him
to finally experience a glimpse of the pure, pristine state that's at
the core of us all. The current world with its anti-Muslim hostility
and fear of terrorism is simply a backdrop for this character's
journey."

"Name Day", which was made for a thousand dollars with limited crew,
was one of many projects Prakash made while he was attending the San
Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking. The film premiered earlier
this year at the Arclight Cinemas as part of the Indian Film Festival
of Los Angeles. This marks the first project where Prakash
simultaneously wore the hats of writer, director, producer, and lead
actor.

Moondance International Film Festival's primary goal is to present
films and scripts that have the power to raise awareness about vital
social issues and that inspire positive action. The Moondance
Columbine award is intended to recognize films which reflect
non-violent conflict resolution.

Prakash is currently working on multiple feature scripts while
actively seeking fresh projects. He was recently invited to shadow the
director for an episode of the hit CBS show, "Cold Case"; having found
the experience very rewarding, he is also focusing his efforts on
opportunities within television.

His website is www.atmafilms.com, and he can be reached by email at
nikhil@atmafilms.com, or by phone at 510-299-9437.

Nikhil Prakash
SFSDF Graduate
1-Year Digital Filmmaking Program

News from AROUND JUNE

Around June on YouTube

Several small "behind the scenes" clips of "Around June" are now available on YouTube at  http://www.youtube.com/AroundJune

These clips feature the actors Samaire Armstrong, Jon Gries and Brad Henke and writer/director James Savoca and director of photography Peter Hawkins. They were shot and edited by SFSDF graduate Maria Victoria Ponce who will also do a longer documentary for the DVD of "Around June". Check the clips out and vote for them.  Your vote can help them get more exposure on YouTube.

Feel free to also check out the full website at http://www.aroundjune.com  <http://www.aroundjune.com>  with much more: actor bios, many photos from the film and a director's blog by James Savoca

Achim Voermanek
1-Year Digital Filmmaking Program
San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking
Post Production Supervisor "Around June"