The 2013 HollyShorts Film Festival

 

(C) 2013 by Rych McCain, All Rights Reserved. No part of this column may be reprinted, re-posted or duplicated without written permission from Rych McCain Media/Syndication. Violation is subject to applicable laws.

The 2013 HollyShorts Film Festival

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

By Rych McCain, www.twitter.com/rychmccain and Facebook

 

The 2013 HollyShorts 

Film Fest

Delivers Serious Upcoming Talent!

Photos by RMMS

 

     The HollyShorts Film Festival is an organization devoted to showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe, advancing the careers of filmmakers through screenings, networking events, and various panel and forums. The HollyShorts Film Festival showcases the top short films produced 30- minutes or less. As with every year since its inception nine years ago, the HollyShorts Film Festival grows bigger and better while attracting serious up-and-coming young film makers and the film industry’s decision making pros. This event is the brainchild of its creators Theo Dumont and Daniel Bol. Nicole Castro is their very able, right hand go to administrator. Short film makers from around the world flock to HollyShorts because short films are all they deal with and this does make a difference.

 

    One of the special highlights of the entire fest was a special showing of several short films of actor/film maker Matthew Modine who held an incredible Q&A session afterwards with some of the best advice this columnist has ever herd and I've covered quite a few film fest Q&A sessions. 

   Over 25 workshops dealing with film financing, sound engineering, editing, distribution, pitching, women in film, indie production, screenwriting, directing, producing, casting, sets, equipment rentals to you name it were offered with the industry people who make it happen everyday. And of course, what is a film fest without the opportunity to meet, greet and mix with your fellow film makers in a festive social atmosphere? The after parties each night was a highlight, especially the closing night award ceremonies.

   

L-R: Ricky Horne, Jr and Cory Hardrict "Free Lunch"

Although we spoke to many of the film makers, I’m highlighting the makers of “Free Lunch” and “Guest House.”  “Free Lunch” was directed by Ricky Horne, Jr. and starred Cory Hardrict and Alison Haislip. When asked about his concept of a guy breaking into a house just to eat, Home explained, “I actually saw a similar situation go down on the news about a guy who broke into a house and only asked for food and at the same time I was reading some stories in Esquire about the guy who actually killed Bin Laden who was part of the members of Seal Team Six, so I just wanted to merge a serious subject and not so serious subject and see if we could make it work dramatically.”

     They shot the film in one day over a 12 to 14 hour period and will be showcasing it in a couple of more film festivals. What is the moral of this short? Horne laughs, “We don’t want to be to heavy handed man. We all are trying to be the best kind of people we can be. If it challenges you a little bit to kind of question how good of a person you are or when was the last time you did something good for somebody or how good are you being to your significant other to whatever it is. It’s all about being better people.” After the film’s festival run you can see it posted on www.rickyhornejr.com 

    

R-L: Mark Gessner and Aaron Wolf "Guest House"

Our other film “Guest House” was brilliantly made by writer/producer/director Aaron Wolf through his “Howling Wolf Productions” company. How did Wolf come up with the concept of an unemployed son (played by Mark Gessner) still living with his parents and was dumped by his girlfriend suddenly confronting a poster on the wall of a bikini girl who comes to life as well as some of his favorite toys who all tell him to get it together? Wolf says, “It was based loosely on some real life experiences that I’ve had and I though a lot of people could relate to losing a job, losing a girlfriend and being stuck back with their family. Then the imagination runs wild. When you have time to think you never know what can happen.” What was his writing process like? Wolf laughs, "I think we did it in about 18 drafts. So what it started with and what it ended with is different in the same. There were so many incarnations, brainstorming and working with Mark and my dad who co-wrote it. We were constantly trying to come up with the best words and the best moments so that everything could hit home."   Wolf too will do more film festivals and eventually have his short up on Amazon.

Comic/Poet/Writer Leroya Sanford

If you missed the 2013 HollyShorts Film Festival now is the time to get ready for the 2014 Festival.  To all my so called film makers, “Don’t wait until the last minute, start now.”  This is an incredible event is for all types of productions, with awards given for best animation, best commercial, best cinematography, best drama, best action and a bunch more.   I am guilty of procrastinating as well.  Let’s make a deal and agree to get off our butts and put something together.  I am working on a producing a docu-comedy-drama about my life.  www.Kickstarter.com gave me the thumbs up to submit a video for requesting donations for the film/sitcom 18 months ago.   What am I waiting for???   Did everyday life get in the way?  Let’s not let life get in the way of our living our true “life”.   So if there is a videographer, editor or filmmaker of any type who’d like to partner, hit me back… let’s do this or whatever you inspire to do.

Editor's note: 
To see Leroya's performance at the Beverly Hills Country Club click on www.youtube.com/watch?v=abb1bBcaDvg  or go to youtube and type in "Leroya Poetry & Comedy at the Beverly Hills Country Club."

To see her on ABC-TVs "The View"click on
www.youtube. com/watch?v=wf7y9joqIJI

© 2013 Rych McCain Media/Syndication TM 

(You DID Hear It From Me!) 

Twitter@rychmccain and Facebook