The feature film, SCOUT, which premieres this weekend at the Newport Beach Film Festival, was co-written by the director Laurie Weltz and her daughter, actress India Ennenga, who plays the title role of Scout. Laurie Weltz an award winning writer/director gave her daughter, India Ennenga, her first role at the age of three in Laurie’s award winning feature film WRESTLING WITH ALLIGATORS, which was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. But Laurie didn’t let India act again until she was nine, when she finally gave in to her daughter’s frequent requests to try her hand at acting. India was immediately cast in several commercials and as the voice of the title character in Noggin’s animated children’s show, PINKY DINKY DOO. India went on to make several feature films, as well as being a series regular on HBO’S TREME and one of the stars of the new A&E series THE RETURNED.
“One of the most exciting parts about this project has been the opportunity to work with my daughter on developing a character and a screenplay.” Laurie said. “When she first asked me to write her a script, with a part she would really enjoy playing, she gave the film, THE PROFESSIONAL, as the ultimate prototype. From this jumping off point, India and I started to create a character that would both challenge her, and at the same time be believable. We watched dozens of movies together; not only The Professional, but Manny and Lo, Paper Moon, La Femme Nikita, and Thelma and Louise, looking at strong female protagonists and what made them interesting. From here we started to sketch out our own character, finding a voice and a life for her. I’d write scenes, and she’d rewrite them and vise versa. When we felt we had established a strong base for the story, I started to write the screenplay, while India went back to acting and her schoolwork.”
For Laurie directing India was a breeze, because even though they had never worked professionally together before, she always coached India for all her auditions and was frequently on set with India when she was shooting, helping her to prepare for her roles and giving her feedback. “I loved having young Onata Aprile, who plays India’s sister in the film, on set and watching her interact with her mother. I always worried that other directors probably hated having me on set with India, but it was really helpful having Onata’s mother, who is an actress herself, there, helping her daughter. India and I have a shorthand to communicate, and I saw the same thing with Onata and her mother. “
Scout will be playing this Saturday, April 25th at 8:00 PM at Island Cinema and Wednesday, April 29th at 5:15 at the Triangle. For tickets and more information please visit our Newport Beach Festival Page at :
http://newportbeach.festivalgenius.com/2015/films/scout_laurieweltz_newportbeach2015
Or our website. www.scoutthemovie.com
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Flory’s Flame is about legendary 90-year old National Heritage Fellow, Sephardic musician Flory Jagoda screens at the NBFF!
This past week Flory’s Flame screened at the Zagreb Jewish Film Festival and was rated 4.95 out of 5.0 – the highest rating of any film at that festival! In January it was screened at the Library of Congress at a special event organized by the Embassies of Croatia and Spain and introduced by the Ambassador of Croatia. In the last few months since its launch, Flory’s Flame has also been an official selection at a number of festivals, including Palm Beach International, Garden State, Cine Las Americas (Latino film festival in Austin, TX – bridging the Latino and the Jewish Sephardic worlds), Rhode Island International (upcoming), Jerusalem, and many Jewish film festivals internationally. It has already been picked up for international distribution by Content Media.
Flory’s Flame is about legendary 90-year old National Heritage Fellow, Sephardic musician Flory Jagoda. The film weaves Flory's interesting life story (ancestral roots in Spain, grew up in Bosnia and Croatia, escaped to Italy in WWII, then to the US) with delightful and moving selections from a Celebration Concert at the US Library of Congress where she was featured in September 2013, performing with 25 colleagues.
Pamela Lavitt, Director of the Seattle Jewish Film Festival, remarked: "FLORY’S FLAME takes you on a luminous journey lit by Flory Jagoda’s inspired Sephardic song and story. Audiences will delight in her rich history and radiant afterglow, becoming, themselves ‘keepers of the flame.’”
Like Pamela and Content Media, we think you will fall in love with Flory, her music, and her story if you come see the film!
For more information, please check out our website at www.florysflamemovie.com. Director Curt Fissel (cc-ed here) and I would be very happy to make ourselves available for an interview or to respond to any questions or thoughts you might have.
· Sunday, April 26 at 11 am at the Triangle 2 theater and · Tuesday, April 28 at 12:00 pm at the Islands 5 theater
After the one-hour documentary Flory's Flame, there will be a Q and A!
The World Premier of Pursuing Happiness takes place on Friday April 24th!
The World Premier of Pursuing Happiness takes place on Friday April 24th!
Americans spend upwards of $10 Billion every year seeking Happiness, which doesn’t even include the money we spend on stuff we think will make us happy or the billions spent on anti-depressants. http://www.marketresearch.com/Marketdata-Enterprises-Inc-v416/Self-Improvement-Products-Services-7284574/
What is the power behind happy? Why has it become a leading concern of the 21st century?
We sought to find out.
Pursuing Happiness is our diary of interviews with America’s happiest people. In order to find an answer to one simple question: what does happiness mean to Americans today?, we lived with hundreds of Americans, all of whom are perceived by others as the happiest person they know.
What can they tell us? What lessons can we learn about our own happiness? What are the common threads of the happiest people in America?
We invite you to see what Happiness looks like among real people living everyday lives: from hard-scrabble existences to the terminally ill, from wealthy to those who’ve experienced great loss, come see for yourself. Our World Premier date coincides with the United Nations’ publication of the 3rd Annual World Happiness Report.
After each screening we will be in attendance for a Q&A and are happy to discuss our work and findings in more depth with you.
World Premier: Friday, April 24th at 8pm @ The Regency South Coast Village
2nd Showing: Tuesday, April 28th at 1:30pm @ Island Cinema
Americans spend upwards of $10 Billion every year seeking Happiness, which doesn’t even include the money we spend on stuff we think will make us happy or the billions spent on anti-depressants. http://www.marketresearch.com/Marketdata-Enterprises-Inc-v416/Self-Improvement-Products-Services-7284574/
What is the power behind happy? Why has it become a leading concern of the 21st century?
We sought to find out.
Pursuing Happiness is our diary of interviews with America’s happiest people. In order to find an answer to one simple question: what does happiness mean to Americans today?, we lived with hundreds of Americans, all of whom are perceived by others as the happiest person they know.
What can they tell us? What lessons can we learn about our own happiness? What are the common threads of the happiest people in America?
We invite you to see what Happiness looks like among real people living everyday lives: from hard-scrabble existences to the terminally ill, from wealthy to those who’ve experienced great loss, come see for yourself. Our World Premier date coincides with the United Nations’ publication of the 3rd Annual World Happiness Report.
After each screening we will be in attendance for a Q&A and are happy to discuss our work and findings in more depth with you.
World Premier: Friday, April 24th at 8pm @ The Regency South Coast Village
2nd Showing: Tuesday, April 28th at 1:30pm @ Island Cinema
A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY will be at the Newport Beach Film Festival!
A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY will be at the Newport Beach Film Festival on Wednesday, April 28th at 7pm at the Regency Theatre South Coast Village. Lizzie Velasquez, Director / Producer Sara Hirsh Bordo and Executive Producers Julia & Stephanie Argyros will all be in attendance in addition to other members of our cast and crew. This special screening is a sneak preview of the movie before it is released in theaters this fall and we hope to see you there. Attached please find additional information on the film and, If interested, interview requests should be sent directly to my attention at the contact information below.
NBFF Screening Information
http://newportbeach.festivalgenius.com/2015/films/abraveheartthelizzievelasquezstory_sarabordo_newportbeach2015
ABOUT THE FILM
From the producers of the most viewed TEDWomen event of 2013 comes "A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story," a documentary following the inspiring journey of 25 year old, 58 pound Lizzie from cyber-bullying victim to anti-bullying activist. Born with a rare syndrome that prevents her from gaining weight, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Velasquez
was first bullied as a child in school for looking different and, later online, as a teenager when she discovered a YouTube video labeling her "The World's Ugliest Woman.” The film chronicles unheard stories and details of Lizzie’s physical and emotional journey up to her multi-million viewed TEDx talk, and follows her pursuit from a motivational speaker to Capitol Hill as she lobbies for the first federal anti-bullying bill.
View the Trailer: ENGLISH | SPANISH Download the Poster: ENGLISH | SPANISH
ABOUT WOMEN RISING
Women Rising champions unique stories and creates memorable experiences that empower women and girls worldwide. In 2013, Women Rising produced and programmed the inaugural TEDxAustinWomen in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. The event became the #1 viewed TEDWomen event of 2013 from over 220 events
across 58 countries. In 2014, Women Rising produced the documentary “A BRAVE HEART: The Lizzie Velasquez Story.” The film’s production was funded via a Kickstarter campaign and was one of the site’s most successful crowdfunded documentary projects of all time. A BRAVE HEART premiered opening weekend of the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival and went on to win the Audience Award in its category. Directed by Women Rising CEO and Founder, Sara Hirsh Bordo, the film will begin its release in the US by Cinedigm in Fall of 2015.
THE FILMMAKERS
Director & Producer - Sara Bordo | Director of Photography - Ben Powell | Editor - Christopher Roldan | Co-Editor -
Jose Marcelino Ortiz | Writer - Michael Campo | Line Producer - Jessica Chou | Associate Producers - Ngoc Nguyen,
Tamar Teifeld, Michael Campo, Joanne Storkan | Executive Producers - Julia Argyros, Stephanie Argyros, Lizzie
Velasquez, Alexis Jones, Justine Ezarik | Original Music - Sara Bareilles and Javier Dunn
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE
The View: Lizzie’s Appearance on “The View”
NY Times: They called her "The Ugliest Woman in the World". Now Lizzie Velasquez is fighting back
The Washington Post: She was mocked for looking different.
Now she fights bullying in SXSW documentary
People: How Being Called the 'World's Uglies Woman'
Inspired Lizzie Velasquez to be an Activist
Variety: SXSW Film Awards
JAMES KICKLIGHTER’S DOCUMENTARY “A FEW THINGS ABOUT CANCER” TO MAKE IT’S LA DEBUT AT 19TH ANNUAL FIRST GLANCE FILM FESTIVAL, APRIL 24- 26TH
JAMES KICKLIGHTER’S DOCUMENTARY “A FEW THINGS ABOUT CANCER” TO MAKE IT’S LA DEBUT AT 19TH ANNUAL FIRST GLANCE FILM FESTIVAL, APRIL 24- 26TH
LOS ANGELES, April 21 -- “A Few Things About Cancer,” the Documentary Short that chronicles newlyweds Jada and Caleb Mock’s quarter-life crisis through cancer, will make its film festival debut at the upcoming First Glance Film Festival, Saturday, April 25, at 2:30 at the LA LIVE Regal Theatre Stadium 14 complex in downtown Los Angeles.
In the fall of 2013, Georgia native Caleb Mock was on the life path he had always dreamed of-happily married to his wife, Jada, and pursuing his career of choice – engineering. Then things changed drastically after experiencing pain in his abdomen. Soon after, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Burkitt’s Lymphoma and his life was in abeyance. Five months later, after seven cycles of chemo, Caleb was Cancer free. During this time, Caleb and Jada, joined by their college friend, noted film director James Kicklighter with cinematographer Kyle Maddux-Lawrence, decided to make a documentary depicting Caleb and Jada’s trajectory through this ordeal. Both Kicklighter and Maddux-Lawrence had experience with family members suffering from cancer and other life-threatening illnesses and knew that Caleb and Jada’s story was important and needed to be told.
Caleb and Jada are excited to share their story with the world. “We hope that what we have been through can inspire others to look for the silver lining in their own struggles.”
According to Kicklighter, “Through this film, I wanted to showcase the rarely observed emotional process of terminal illness. Making it has been one of the most difficult tasks of my professional career, being that I had no idea what the outcome would be at the onset. My thanks to the entire Mock family for their trust and support through this journey. We hope that by removing the clinical aspects that define these types of films, Caleb and Jada's story will provide light to many others in their darkest days.”
Director James Kicklighter has become a multi-award winning writer/director whose work has been recognized by leading film publications around the world, including The Hollywood Reporter, The Times of India and FilmInk Australia. His first feature film, Desires of the Heart, was an official selection of the 2014 Cannes Marché du Film and winner of Best Foreign Film at the 2013 Los Angeles Femme Film Festival. An international crossover film from writer/producer Solila Parida (Vishkanya), Desires and stars Val Lauren, (Interior. Leather. Bar., Sal) and Alicia Minshew, (All My Children). He is currently developing several films with a southern voice, including Erk, a biopic about legendary college football coach Erk Russell for producers Richard Saperstein (The Mist, Se7en), Beau Turpin (Counterpunch) and Catherine Paura (Joyful Noise) and Escaping Bellview, a coming-of-age film about the transition from childhood to adolescence.
Directed by James Kicklighter, and produced by Kyle Maddux-Lawrence and Elizabeth Kaiser.
Tickets for the screenings can be purchased in advance at the festival website http://firstglancefilms.com/. The Regal Theatre Complex is located at 1000 West Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90015.
Deborah Gilels
LA Media Consultants
13351-D Riverside Drive Ste. 621
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423Phone: 818-758-6509
Cell: 818-648-9513
LOS ANGELES, April 21 -- “A Few Things About Cancer,” the Documentary Short that chronicles newlyweds Jada and Caleb Mock’s quarter-life crisis through cancer, will make its film festival debut at the upcoming First Glance Film Festival, Saturday, April 25, at 2:30 at the LA LIVE Regal Theatre Stadium 14 complex in downtown Los Angeles.
In the fall of 2013, Georgia native Caleb Mock was on the life path he had always dreamed of-happily married to his wife, Jada, and pursuing his career of choice – engineering. Then things changed drastically after experiencing pain in his abdomen. Soon after, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Burkitt’s Lymphoma and his life was in abeyance. Five months later, after seven cycles of chemo, Caleb was Cancer free. During this time, Caleb and Jada, joined by their college friend, noted film director James Kicklighter with cinematographer Kyle Maddux-Lawrence, decided to make a documentary depicting Caleb and Jada’s trajectory through this ordeal. Both Kicklighter and Maddux-Lawrence had experience with family members suffering from cancer and other life-threatening illnesses and knew that Caleb and Jada’s story was important and needed to be told.
Caleb and Jada are excited to share their story with the world. “We hope that what we have been through can inspire others to look for the silver lining in their own struggles.”
According to Kicklighter, “Through this film, I wanted to showcase the rarely observed emotional process of terminal illness. Making it has been one of the most difficult tasks of my professional career, being that I had no idea what the outcome would be at the onset. My thanks to the entire Mock family for their trust and support through this journey. We hope that by removing the clinical aspects that define these types of films, Caleb and Jada's story will provide light to many others in their darkest days.”
Director James Kicklighter has become a multi-award winning writer/director whose work has been recognized by leading film publications around the world, including The Hollywood Reporter, The Times of India and FilmInk Australia. His first feature film, Desires of the Heart, was an official selection of the 2014 Cannes Marché du Film and winner of Best Foreign Film at the 2013 Los Angeles Femme Film Festival. An international crossover film from writer/producer Solila Parida (Vishkanya), Desires and stars Val Lauren, (Interior. Leather. Bar., Sal) and Alicia Minshew, (All My Children). He is currently developing several films with a southern voice, including Erk, a biopic about legendary college football coach Erk Russell for producers Richard Saperstein (The Mist, Se7en), Beau Turpin (Counterpunch) and Catherine Paura (Joyful Noise) and Escaping Bellview, a coming-of-age film about the transition from childhood to adolescence.
Directed by James Kicklighter, and produced by Kyle Maddux-Lawrence and Elizabeth Kaiser.
Tickets for the screenings can be purchased in advance at the festival website http://firstglancefilms.com/. The Regal Theatre Complex is located at 1000 West Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90015.
Deborah Gilels
LA Media Consultants
13351-D Riverside Drive Ste. 621
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423Phone: 818-758-6509
Cell: 818-648-9513
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