REEL Milwaukee: The blog

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Great News For Milw Filmmakers - MILWAUKEE FILM ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL SCREENING, CALLS FOR ENTRIES

Hey There in Hipster Blog Land:

Read below for the skinny on the next step in the Milwaukee Film Festival world..... begs the question.... what the hell happened? Rumors are swirling, Mark Metcalf is going off with a series of articles on onmilwaukee.com but no matter how you slice it, its a sad collision of art and commerce where the big loser is the filmmaker. Fear not: As usual, film kids will solider on. So for now, let's focus, rise up and get Milwaukee Film rolling!

THE NEED TO KNOW:
Fest Date / Loc: Oct 23rd @ Oriental Theater
Deadline / Cost: Sept 19th / FREE
Who Can Submit: Milwaukee County Residents
Prizes: Milwaukee Filmmaker prize package valued at over $10,000, including a camera rental package from North American Camera.


from Milwaukee Film PR Office:

NEWS RELEASE For More Information:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Marie Maas, 414-390-5500
August 22, 2008


MILWAUKEE FILM ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL SCREENING, ISSUES CALL FOR ENTRIES

Local filmmakers invited to participate in October showcase

Milwaukee – Milwaukee Film, a newly formed independent organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee's premiere film festival, announced today plans for an inaugural screening on October 23, 2008. The Milwaukee Show will be a premiere showcase of diverse locally-made short films at the Oriental Theatre. Films may be submitted by residents of Milwaukee County for consideration at no cost, with select films featured as part of the screening. The top filmmaker will also receive a Milwaukee Filmmaker prize package valued at over $10,000, including a camera rental package from North American Camera. The deadline to submit a short film is Friday, September 19, 2008.
This screening is just one of the many year-round screenings and events Milwaukee Film plans to host, supported by the former staff of the Milwaukee International Film Festival and its primary funders.
“This is a great opportunity for local filmmakers to showcase their work, and a really engaging way for the community to experience all that our city’s growing film industry has to offer,” said Jonathan Jackson, Artistic Director for Milwaukee Film. “We are excited to kick off our first screening in October by highlighting locally-made films.”
For an official submission form or more details, visit the Milwaukee Film group on Facebook or contact Milwaukee Film at (414) 755-1965 or .


ABOUT MILWAUKEE FILM


BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Chris Abele, Milwaukee Film Board Chairman; President & CEO, Argosy Foundation
Tina Chang, CEO, SysLogic
Alec Fraser, Attorney, Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP
Bill Haberman, Attorney, Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP
Carmen Haberman, Vice President, Herzfeld Foundation
Julia Taylor, President, Greater Milwaukee Committee

STAFF:

Jonathan Jackson – Artistic Director
Jonathan Jackson is the Artistic Director for Milwaukee Film, overseeing the content and programming for the organization’s events. Jackson previously served as the Artistic Director for the Milwaukee International Film Festival, directing film programming from 2003 – 2008. He previously worked as the Program Manager of the UWM Union Theatre and has curated film programs for the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Kyle Heller – Operations Director
Kyle Heller is the Operations Director for Milwaukee Film, overseeing logistics and operations planning for the organization. Heller previously worked with the Milwaukee International Film Festival in a similar capacity from 2004 – 2008.

T.J. Fackelman – Program Coordinator
T.J. Fackelman is the Program Coordinator for Milwaukee Film, overseeing development of special events and programming. A graduate of Marquette University, Fackelman previously worked with the Milwaukee International Film Festival from 2003 - 2008, with primary responsibilities for coordinating the Midwest Filmmaker Competition.

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Thursday, August 21, 2008

BEHOLD SOMETHING BIGGER THAN TUPAC Sat 8/24

Sona Voice – this dude means business. His film, Behold Something Bigger than Tupac, is a tale surrounding the life a man (THE VOICE) from a different continent who sees himself as being greater than (in his opinion) the greatest rapper ever (Tupac Amaru Shakur). That’s a whole lotta greatness being addressed. Check their website for screenings and throw your hat into the being greater than the greatest rap debate.

Behold Something Bigger Than Tupac
Sat 8/24
Miramar Theater
Milwaukee, WI

CLICK HERE FOR FILM TIMES & TICKETS - BUY TICKETS ONLINE

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Saturday, August 16, 2008

99 Bottles Documentary - World Premiere Thursday 8/21

99 Bottles - WORLD PREMIERE!

The world premiere of "99 Bottles Documentary", directed by Jason Williams and produced by Glen Popple and David Oplinger is happening in it's home town of Milwaukee WI.
August 21st, 2008
7:00pm
Oriental Theatre
2230 North Farwell Ave
(414) 276-8711

Ticket prices are $10 with half of the box office sales from the premier going to the Kiwanis Club to assist their annual 2008 Metro Kiwanis Brew Fest fundraiser.

you gotta love this:

Mission Statement: Promote exposure and public awareness of the rich and vibrant craft brewing industry.

Journey with us into the unique and exploding industry of the microbrewery industrial movement. Focusing on the region of southeastern Wisconsin, we will explore how this industry began to grow from a lose knit circle of home brewer basement boilers to an industry gaining an increasing foothold in a once oligarchic marketplace.

Come with us as we search for the taste, people, culture and history of Wisconsin's craft brewing industry.

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Wednesday, August 06, 2008

“Jake’s How To” WORLD (Milwaukee) PREMIERE Aug 14th

Get out there and support something more local than your underwear.......


JAKE'S HOW TO

Thursday, August 14, 2008
7:00pm - 9:00pm
The Oriental Theatre
2230 N. Farwell (at Farwell and North Ave.)
Milwaukee, WI

http://www.BuckleyBrothersProductions.com

August 14 on DVD and Milwaukee's Oriental Theatre @ 7pm! AFTER PARTY @ CANS!

Summer's ending. School's starting. Your life is almost over... Ok, that's a little dramatic, but you can put school out of your mind for one more night. Come see "Jake's How-To" on August 14, and laugh your ass off to a sweet summer movie.

Let's not forget that this is the one and only official WORLD PREMIERE (aka, you get to be the first person ON THE PLANET to see it) of Whitefish Bay graduates and Milwaukee natives Kyle and Vincent Buckley's feature comedy "Jake's How-To"!!!! And it's only $10!!!

COME SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND MEET THE FILMMAKERS!!!!!
August 14, 7pm at the Oriental Theatre main auditorium, which was voted in the top 10 theaters in the nation!

Ok, sounds amazing, but what's it about?

Well, you can check out the trailers / clips etc. at:
http://www.BuckleyBrothersProductions.com

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Friday, August 01, 2008

Breaking Dolly Lemke

Dolly Lemke is a poet. And not your chain-smoking, sad-just-because poet. I'm talking artist-writer-organizer-real-deal-poet. So, why is she in the film section of VITAL? We'll get to that. Stir in your Splenda and read on.

Since 2002, Lemke has been deeply involved in the Milwaukee arts scene. Be it film work, coordinating with artists on Gallery Night or thinking up ‘zine ideas with friends, Dolly is there. Lemke’s resume is totally take-her-home-to-meet-the-parents: she was recipient of the Howard A. Jansen Scholarship (2002-2006), poetry editor for FURROW Magazine (which she helped revive after a four-year hiatus), reader on the Wave Poetry Bus Tour, organizer for UWM's Visiting Writers Series and contributor to locally-pressed lit publications Blue Canary and Burdock. She also somehow managed to find time to study abroad at Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England.

Reviving poetry magazines? Who does that?! Herst-wha Castle? I'm not even going to Google that castle place – I'm afraid it will find out I'm questioning it and cast a spell on me. This fall, Lemke will attend graduate school at Columbia College in Chicago to fine tune her poetry and move toward starting her own Milwaukee-based press. Dolly is the kind of girl Morrissey has been writing about all these years. (Or is it a guy? Morrissey, you 80s juggernaut of sexual ambiguity! Anyway, you tell me.)

So, why the film section? Film is poetry in motion. And in addition to Dolly’s serious turns as a writer, she's been on-sets for more than a few guerrilla-style, super-indie short films shot in and around Milwaukee. It should be required by law to interview people like her. Below is a pie slice of our conversation:

VS: What film breaks your heart?
DL: Tideland, by Terry Gilliam. I felt this instinctual force in me to take care of this little girl lost in her own fantasy world of fucked-up people and underwater pandemonium. [She] grew up not understanding real familial love, not understanding death, [she was] alone when her father overdosed. Although her imagination was stunning and beautiful – making for an excellent film – she didn’t understand the boundaries of being a child; she was destined for a dysfunctional existence. It really got to me.

VS: What writers break your heart?
DL: There is this poet named Peggy Munson who just came out with a book, Pathogenesis (Switchback Books). Her words represent something so painful and personal, [so] vivid and poignant. I empathize – and more importantly want to write as profoundly as she does; I want to know myself as sharply as she does. It is truly magnificent and heartbreaking, but not in a sob-story, memoir-bullshit kind of way. It’s completely human and real.

VS: Briefly describe the 48 Hour Film Project. How were you involved?
DL: The 48 Film Project is a chance for local filmmakers to bust ass for two days and create a work of art within limited means. I was a bystander, supporter, actor-on-demand, and PA; I held a clipboard and looked important. The team I worked with is called Guyshouse Productions and they have been active for several years doing comedy skits [and] short films. The main dudes are Ryan Spiering and Patrick Vitrano, Jacob Liptack, Bob Villareal, Justin Krushas, and Nadia Husain. It’s not like you can be strictly a filmmaker in Milwaukee, but you can have a very versatile existence … Ryan is a 3-D modeler for an architect firm, Bob works at Masteq, Patrick and Jacob work for Milwaukee County Parks, Justin has been painting his mom’s house for three years and Nadia works in NYC for Big Star Motion.

During the filming all I could think was “hurry up” and “what the hell is that for.” Everything just takes so long: changing shots, lighting, sound, getting the right take. [But] it really comes together in the end. It made me think about the steps in producing a book of poetry; a manuscript is taken into consideration, and with editing and finishing touches it can become a published book, but with far fewer time restraints.

VS: What about Milwaukee inspires you? Or not?
DL: My main gripe about Milwaukee is the lack of a thriving literary scene … one where every night there are readings all over the city. There is a lot going on, but it’s spread out, and the poets don’t live here – they come through here. Commuter poetry. There is a lack of small presses, independent publishers, literary publications, and again, I know they are here, but not enough to satisfy my future career goals. I hope to [return to the city] and start my own press or literary publication after grad school. So that lack of something inspires me to make something happen. I love Milwaukee and I know it like the back of my hand, but I am excited to expand the back of my hand and be able to come back and re-vamp the literary scene. VS

To read the full interview of Dolly Lemke, click on REEL Milwaukee’s blog.

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