DISLECKSIA LIVES

Connecticut’s Captured Time, Inc. has been pushing ahead with DISLECKSIA:  THE MOVIE, Harvey Hubbell’s quest to find out what’s happening in the lives – and in the brains – of his fellow dyslexics. 

[L] Harvey Hubbell, capturing for DISLECKSIA:THE MOVIE holds the plastic brain while the crew sets up the shot on the 16th Street Mall in Denver, Colorado. Photo courtesy of Captured Time Productions. [R] Brian McAward, DP, shoots at the International Dyslexia Association Conference (IDA) in Denver, Colorado.

After a year or two of research, Harvey and his team did the first of a projected dozen shoots at the November conference of the International Dyslexia Association in Denver.  The cameraman was Brian McAward, who has worked with Harvey for more than 20 years. Captured Time coordinator Yvonne Reelick organized the operation. They were joined by a local soundman and six production assistants from the University of Colorado. 

Under dramatic views of the Rockies they shot 18 hours of videotape, ranging from man-on-the-street shoots to interviews with top-gun attorney David Boise, NIH dyslexia maven Peggy McCartle, former IDA president Sylvia Richardson, and more than a dozen other dyslexia experts. 

One of the high points was shooting a workshop on “The Creative Brain: Gifted, Talented . . . and Dyslexic.”  It featured paleontologist, dyslexic, and MacArthur “genius award” winner Jack Horner.  Horner truly represents one of the key themes of DISLECKSIA, the capacity of many dyslexics to think “outside the box.”  In addition to being technical advisor for JURASIC PARK and THE LOST WORLD, he is the first person to discover evidence that dinosaur parents provided parental care of their little dinosaurs. (Horner maintains that dyslexics think “outside the box” because they’ve never been “inside the box.”)   

Back home in Connecticut, Captured Time has picked up six new interns for the coming semester.  The earlybirds are already at work logging the footage, selecting “hot tape,” preparing the tapes for edit, and prepping for future shoots. Captured Time is scouting for graphic designers to prepare computer-generated brain images to show what goes on inside the heads of Harvey and other dyslexics. 

Over the next year and a half Harvey and his team will be shooting wherever the dyslexia story takes them. They will be shooting schools that teach dyslexics and the New York conference of the International Dyslexia Association conference in March. Highlight of the spring will be a trip to Costa Rica with a group of dyslexic high school students who will engage in a special biology research project. Stay tuned to find out if they are indeed good at thinking “outside the box.”    

For more information visit www.capturedtimeproductions.com

Boston Film Night Attracts Over 500

Publisher Carol Patton cuts the cake at the after-party celebration for Boston Film Night. Photo by Vic Clay.

Another Boston Film Night, organized by Midnight Chimes Productions and sponsored by IMAGINE Magazine, attended by over 500 moviegoers at two screenings, at 5 and 7 PM, on November 6th, at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, MA. An after-party at the Knights of Columbus Hall within walking distance of the Regent turned into a great evening of networking. Special thanks are in order for Kevin Anderton and his organizational skills for bringing together a large number of filmmakers and showing their work. Thirty-one films and trailers were shown. The Q&A was lively and extensive with thoughtful questions from the audience that engaged the filmmakers on stage. 

We wish to thank everyone who came out for Boston Film Night with special kudos to actor Vic Clay for his dedicated promotional efforts for the event and attorney Stephen Gaun for making the after party such a wonderful success. These are two of the people who really paid attention to detail as the results testify. 

The goal of Boston Film Night is to provide an opportunity for local filmmakers to get their work seen. It is a rare opportunity too, for audiences to see so many samples of local production at one sitting. It is an annual affair and work has already begun for next year’s event. So, keep making those short films. Plans include broadening the scope so that Boston Film Night will include trailers, local commercial work and documentary films. 

Mrs. Paul’s and Van de Kamp’s Ad Accounts Awarded to LaunchPad Media

Pinnacle Foods Corporation awarded its Mrs. Paul’s and Van de Kamp’s creative account to, LaunchPad Media, an independent agency in Watertown, MA.

The award was a result of LaunchPad’s new TV ad campaign for Hungry-Man frozen foods, another product of Pinnacle Foods. The three Hungry-Man TV spots are humorous, and feature NFL stars Warren Sapp, Clinton Portis and Jeremy Shockey. The campaign netted the agency a 2005 Aegis Award for the Warren Sapp TV commercial. (See IMAGINE September 2005). 

Alex Poulos, LaunchPad producer and co-founder, reports that Pinnacle executives have been very pleased with feedback to the Hungry-Man commercials from its sales force and investors. “I think the executives at Pinnacle appreciate that we gave them commercials that combined comedy, celebrity, creativity, and low cost. We’re grateful for the opportunity now to create effective spots for two more of their product lines. 

“Mrs. Paul’s and Van de Kamp’s both have over forty years of heritage in the frozen fish market. Overall, consumers have a good opinion of both brands. So we’re not going to change an image so much as re-invigorate a brand. We want to make it contemporary, and emphasize its high quality, great taste, ease in preparation, and family-friendly nature.  

“We are now in preproduction, and we’re very excited about our script,” says Poulos. “I can’t disclose much about the spots at this time, but I will say that they’re going to be humorous.”  Poulos expects the spots to be finished in early January, and begin to air in early February. 

“This new ad campaign represents a great opportunity for LaunchPad,” Poulos says of his creative agency. “We’re striving to earn a reputation for high quality creativity at competitive rates. We want to show a client substantial savings in production costs, while creating advertising that really gets results. We’re optimistic that this campaign will show that kind of success again.” 

Pinnacle Foods Corporation, based in Mountain Lakes, NJ, acquired the Swanson frozen foods, Vlasic® Pickles and Condiments, and Open Pit® Barbecue Sauce brands from Vlasic Foods International in May 2001. Swanson offers more than 76 varieties of frozen meals. In March of 2004, Pinnacle merged with Aurora Foods, Inc. a producer and marketer of leading food brands, including Duncan Hines® baking mixes; Log Cabin®, Mrs. Butterworth’s® and Country Kitchen® syrups; Lender’s® bagels; Van de Kamp’s® and Mrs. Paul’s® frozen seafood; Aunt Jemima® frozen breakfast products; Celeste® frozen pizza and Chef’s Choice® skillet meals. 

Moving Pictures Welcomes Dina Stavola

Dina Stavola has joined Moving Pictures in Middletown, CT as Production Coordinator/Traffic Manager. Photo courtesy of Moving Pictures, Inc.

Multi-Media/Film & Video Production Company, Moving Pictures, recently hired Dina Stavola as Production Coordinator/ Traffic Manager. Previously, Dina served as Production Manager for I Heard It Media Group/WIZ Radio, Hartford, and various other media-related positions for Infinity Broadcasting, NBC30, Image Makers LLC, and TCI. 

Dina’s knowledge of the industry and her enthusiastic personality will blend with the creative staff of Moving Pictures,” exclaims President, Jim Nikodemski, “and our clients will especially appreciate her attention to detail.” 

Dina began her fulltime position in October. She will handle all incoming requests and distribute responsibilities to the proper personnel. She will also serve as an associate producer on many projects, and eventually handle scheduling of all internal production.  

“Aeon Flux” Box Set Ready to Open Wide!

No Wrinkles here. It’s a new wrinkle to be sure and a predictable best seller for the season of gift giving. Denise Poirier, a Hallowell, Maine resident, is the voice of Aeon Flux for the original MTV series. She traveled to L.A. this spring to record new dialogue for the animation and to film on-camera interviews to be released with the animation DVD and the DVD of the feature film starring Charlize Theron.  

“We had a very bizarre flashback experience yesterday while recording. Jack Fletcher and I were sitting there in the studio in the exact spots we had occupied ten years earlier, directing Denise to record some of the same lines we’d done then. It was like we’d never left. Listening to Denise’s voice on the old track and matching her new readings was like some alchemical (or gnostic) rite - like summoning the mythic Aeon through channeling and incantations,” said Pete Chung, creator of “Aeon Flux.” 

Denise is currently establishing a website and online presence in order to do voiceover work from her home in Hallowell. She spent twelve years in L.A. working in the business and has credits that include guest starring on “Seinfeld”, “Frasier”, “Murphy Brown” and “Third Rock...”.  “The great thing about moving back here (from L.A.) is that I can balance a more gratifying day-to-day life while still doing the work. It’s such a solid place to be.

Aeon Flux, the sexy secret agent extraordinaire that took MTV by storm is back on this DVD! Follow the deftly skilled Aeon on her adventures through a futuristic world brimming with chaos and corruption. Each episode has been digitally restored and has been bolstered with a 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound audio track. Every aspect in the creation of The Complete Aeon Flux has been overseen and endorsed by original creator Peter Chung making this the definitive Aeon Flux collection.

The original, 1995 animated Aeon Flux MTV TV series was released as a DVD box set by MTV Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment, November 22nd to capitalize on the Dec. 2nd opening of Paramount’s live-action theatrical AEON FLUX starring actress Charlize Theron.

Also included are two featurettes, a sneak peek at the animation process and footage from Chung’s other works in animation/commercials. Chung describes ‘Aeon’ as “a freedom fighter and a criminal … she’s an agent provocateur, living in an alternate reality.”

“We remixed the shows and, in some cases, recorded new dialog. There are some things we were forced to change in the original version for TV, and so I took this opportunity to go back and make it closer to what our initial intent was .. We’re talking about bringing her back in animated form ... it will happen, in one form or another.”

B Roll Films Producing Television Series, “Art 617” 

“Art 617” is a monthly 30-minute show featuring the most exciting art, and edgy artists living, working, exhibiting and performing in Boston. Courtesy of B Roll Films.

Boston’s south end production company, B Roll Films, is producing a new television series, “Art 617.” Its name makes it a new wrinkle for the marketplace; identifying it via its area code. In mid November on a Sunday evening, the first episode was screened for a full house at the  premiere celebration hosted by the Red Fez Restaurant in the south end. 

“Art 617” is a monthly 30-minute show featuring the most exciting art, and edgy artists living, working, exhibiting and performing in Boston. Featured in the first episode are scenes and conversations with artists and gallery directors from the October SoWa First Friday gallery opening receptions. 

The series premiered on Monday November 14th at 6:30 pm on Comcast Channel 23 and RCN Channel 83. The program will repeat weekly through the end of the month.  

The program has drawn the support of Zip Car, Inc., and south end businesses Pet Shop Girls, GTI Properties, Video Transfer, Inc., and the Red Fez. 

The program features art experiences like the Bob Dylan photography exhibit at Allston Skirt Gallery with photographer Douglas Gilbert and co-director Randi Hopkins, “Rocks and Ruins” at Gallery Kayafas, paintings from Soprafina Gallery, a south end art primer from south end artist Brian Josselyn, and a visit with Camilo Alvarez of the Samson Projects Gallery.  

B Roll Films principals Ken Kinna and Greg Shea describe their new series as a “short film made of short stories, or uncommon television.” 

Future episodes of Art 617 will feature visits with musicians, dancers, and other film makers. The aim of the series is to illuminate art and its influence on life, it’s cultural and economic benefits for Bostonians.  

“Art 617” will run on Comcast Channel 23 and RCN Channel 83 four times each week. A sneak preview of the first episode can be seen at http://brollfilms.com/ 

SPAGHETTI AND MATSO BALLS’ Director and Star Appear on TV Show

SPAGHETTI AND MATSO BALLS has been selected to appear on a new indie film TV show called “The Screening Room.” The show flew the film’s writer/director David Lewis and star Victor Martins to West Palm Beach on December 6th to tape the show. 

“The Screening Room” airs airs Monday evening December12th at 8 pm in the southern Florida area on both cable and broadcast channels. The interview style show has been on the air in Florida since October of 2005 and will be broadcast in Boston sometime after the first of the year on WHDT TV 26.  

Lewis plans to show a tape of the show at SPAGHETTI AND MATSO BALLS’ DVD release party that will be scheduled early next year. 

“The Screening Room” is the brainchild of and hosted by Hollywood producer Jonathan Krane who has produced over 40 big budget films and was John Travolta’s producing partner and manager for many years. Lewis plans to use this opportunity to give Krane a treatment for his evolving feature, “Mob Yoga.”  

Victor Martins (Vinny Rigatoni in the movie) submitted the film to “The Screening Room”. Their format allows two people from each project to appear on the show and Lewis, of course, included Victor for unearthing such good exposure for SPAGHETTI AND MATSO BALLS. 

Viewpoint Creative Brands “Knicks Night” for MSG Network

MSG Network teamed up again with Viewpoint Creative to develop new program packaging for MSG’s “Knicks Night.” The graphics package positions Wednesday nights on MSG Network as the place to be for enhanced coverage of the NBA’s New York Knicks.

Screen grab from Viewpoint Creative’s branding of “Knicks Night” for MSG Network. Images courtesy of Viewpoint Creative

“MSG Network needed a killer design solution for the unveiling of their new “Knicks Night” program package,” stated Viewpoint Creative Designer Matt Naboshek. “The goal was to creatively focus on the key players and coach of the New York Knicks while informing the viewer that it was going to be an exciting night of highly competitive professional basketball.”

Building off the slick, dynamic lines of the logo developed by Viewpoint Creative, the core of the design gives the package a feel of constant movement and energy. Vibrant action lines swirl through the footage interacting with key players and creating shapes that highlight intense play-making. The players, themselves, are roto-scoped allowing designer and editor to create a seamless and powerful connection between game footage and brand design. The package has a big, event feel and the message is clear, “whether you’re a Knick’s fan past or present, MSG Network has the professional sportscasters, the enhanced game coverage and up-to-the-minute NBA information you want.”

The program package included logo design, program open, customizable bumps and four different animated backgrounds.

As part of its ongoing relationship with MSG Network, Viewpoint Creative also developed the new logos for “Hockey Night in New York”, MSG’s Thursday night action featuring the NHL and New York Rangers.  

Viewpoint Creative is an award-winning creative services firm providing clients with an exceptional range of advertising and design solutions to promote their brands. From concept to completion, Viewpoint Creative delivers extensive national and international experience in television, print and radio production. Clients include MSG Network, HBO, Discovery Networks, ESPN, WE, OLN, HGTV, Court TV, Cinemax, Showtime, Travel Channel, DIRECTV, PBS, AETN International®, SciFi Channel and FX.   

39 POUNDS OF LOVE Takes Honor in 2005 Boston Jewish Film Festival & Opens in Boston at Landmark’s Kendall Theatre 

Audience members at screenings at the 17th annual Boston Jewish Film Festival have made their preferences known, as the votes have been tallied for the Audience Choice for Best Feature Documentary. They chose 39 POUNDS OF LOVE, by Dani Menkin, who will receive an Avid Xpress DV software package from the Tewksbury, Massachusetts-based company. 

Photo courtesy of 39 POUNDS OF LOVE.

Menkin was here for both screenings of his film. The film is a 2005 Israeli production, in Hebrew and English with English subtitles, and is 70 minutes long. Its Festival appearance marked its Massachusetts Premiere. 

39 POUNDS OF LOVE opened in Boston on December 9, exclusively at the Kendall Square Theatre and will eventually air on HBO. I met with director Dani Menkin who softly enkindled my desire to see his passionate work. 

This beautiful documentary film is the winner of the Ophir Award (Israel’s version of the Oscar®) for Best Documentary. The film is the inspirational and humorous non-fiction account of a remarkable man and a remarkable journey. Ami Ankilewitz was diagnosed with an extremely rare and often fatal form of muscular dystrophy that severely limits his physical growth and movement. Yet at 34 years of age, he continues to outlive a doctor’s prediction of life expectancy by 28 years, and counting…Ami, who weighs only 39 pounds, works in Israel as a 3D animator and creates his art despite the fact that his bodily motion is limited to a single finger on his left hand, and in doing so he continues to redefine notions of a “limited” life. 

39 POUNDS OF LOVE is an emotional roller coaster, a fascinating, humorous and truly inspirational ride through life with someone who embodies the very term, Carpe Diem The film follows Ami’s journey in search of the doctor who predicted his early demise. Along his journey, Ami attempts to come to terms with another major incident from his past and to complete a lifelong dream: to finally ride a Harley Davidson. The logistics of undertaking such a journey were complicated and the risks were dangerously real. For Ami, who often requires special equipment, no detail could be overlooked or spared. A trailer was outfitted for Ami’s needs. His best friend and former caretaker, Asaf, was onboard to provide physical assistance and support. And so, this seven-member crew set out on the road from Los Angeles, through the American southwest and eventually as far East as Florida, in search of that doctor who had diagnosed Ami when he was born. 

Along the way, Ami’s dream became the crew’s dream as well: to document Ami’s journey, to find the doctor, to reconcile relationships, to tell his story, but above all, to give hope to others through its telling. From Ami’s best friend Asaf, to his brother Oscar and mother Helena, everyone surrounding Ami, both onscreen and off, was forced to come to terms with themselves, with their loves, their fears and their hopes, as they worked to keep both Ami and his dream alive. 

Director, Dani Menkin, first saw Ami in a Tel Aviv bar, and was instantly drawn to him and thus began a relationship with Ami that eventually led to making this film. 

For more information visit www.39PoundsOfLove.com