We kicked off the 2010 Castle Rock Film Festival with an awesome turnout for the:

"TRAILER PARK " MEET-N-GREET
PARTY

being hosted this year at:

THE FOWL LINE
(Sports Bar & Restaurant).

It was a great opportunity to talk and network with other filmmakers, actors, crew, etc., plus it was a chance at a sneak peak of the trailers from the films submitted and from those who just wanted to get the word out about their project, as well as actor reels for those who just wanted to showcase their talent.

Rather than just gathering in a conference room, we've decided to host this event at a favorite local hang-out.  We've reserved the "Team Room" at The Fowl Line.  They have a great setup of large screen TVs that we used to showcase the trailers and actor reels through-out the evening.

With your CRFF wristband, you'll be able to have access to Happy Hour food/drink prices the entire evening!

ACTING WORKSHOP
with Paul Rohrer & Patrick Sheridan

This class provided instruction by not one, but TWO well-known local acting coaches, Paul Rohrer and Patrick Sheridan. It covered techniques on how to approach an audition or cold read, how to prepare for scenes, acting for the camera, etc. In the last portion of the class, students combined with the Studio/Production workshop in order to gain from experience in front of the camera. An edited version of the footage shot during the workshops is available here and the raw footage is also available to all participants.

This was rare opportunity to be instructed by two of the best acting coaches in Colorado, for well below the normal rates.

MORE ON THE INSTRUCTORS:

Paul Rohrer

Paul Neal Rohrer, a resident of Castle Rock, CO, is the Host of ROARING SUCCESS RADIO HOUR, a weekly program about the TV, film, and theatre industry. As a S.A.G Actor and Producer, Paul brings on key industry leaders to discuss the behind the scenes, trends, and topics of an industry that creates billions of dollars of revenue just in the State of Colorado alone.

Rohrer also is well known in the Colorado Industry as one of the premiere Acting Coaches. Every week, Paul conducts his unique Rohrering Success Workshop with both new and experienced actor talent. From auditioning to the fine points of screen acting, Paul employs his "LISTEN! FEEL! RESPOND!" techniques to help his students not only get the job - but thrive within it.

For more about Paul Rohrer, visit www.rsuccessradio.com/1.html


Patrick Sheridan

Patrick Sheridan has been teaching Acting for the Camera for several years in and around Denver, most recently in partnership with The Bug Theatre's Emerging Filmmakers Project. He believes that most actors achieve their greatest on-camera moments when they are able to truly 'be' in the moment. He approaches scenes in class from a director's point-of-view. His classes have been called "unconventional", "liberating", and "mind-blowing".

Patrick is also the writer and director of the soon-to-be-released feature-length motion picture JIMMY SAID and he has written more than a dozen produced short films. Over the years, he's optioned several feature-length screenplays and has others in various stages of development or pre-production. A graduate of the Vancouver Film School's Writing Program, Patrick is also a sought after script doctor and script consultant.

For more information on Patrick Sheridan, visit paddywagonfilms.com/ Or
www.bugtheatre.info/EFP%20-%20Monthly%20Screening.html

STUDIO / PRODUCTION WORKSHOP
with Maria Teresa Garcia & Laffrey Witbrod

What really happens before the Director yells, "Action!"? The studio workshop took students behind the scenes into what it takes to get a scene ready for filming. From the basics of the different job positions to the basics of lighting. Hands-on training was provided on how to properly light a scene, along with a few tricks to help you create the look you want to achieve. Once lighting of the two separate scennes was finished, students got to see them in action as the Actors from the Acting Workshop stepped into the stage and took their places in the scene. Students left this workshop with the basic knowledge to achieve the look of their next film(s). They learned what happens behind the scenes, and see filmmaking from another prospective. It was a beginners class for aspiring filmmakers who may not have had the chance to work with professional equipment. Professional film equipment was provided, and instructors made sure it is all handled with care.

MORE ON THE INSTRUCTORS:

Maria Teresa Garcia
Maria Teresa Garcia began her filmmaking career during her High School internship. She began by interning at Comcast Media Center located in Centennial, CO where she learned the basics of lighting and set protocol from her mentors. Her passion grew as each day she was challenged to advance her skills from talking head interviews to help setting up full sets for live broadcasts.

She continued her career by attending Brooks Institute of Photography in Ventura, CA where she received her BFA in Film and Video Production with a focus on Producing. It was through her mentors at Comcast that she was able to excel at Brooks to be well on her way to becoming a Director of Photography for Portfolio projects. However, when upper class friends needed a Producer, Garcia stepped up to the challenge. Before she could enroll in the Portfolio classes Garcia was Producing Portfolio films, and she did not stop until graduation. Thus, ending her college career with seven Portfolio films produced instead of the required one.

Since college, Garcia has traveled to different states working and consulting on various short and feature films, but is now back in CO. She feels that the best way to encourage the growth and understanding of the entertainment business is to make sure those interested have the chance to learn and nurture their curiosities the way she was able to.

Laffrey Witbrod
Laffrey Witbrod is a cinematographer, gaffer and colorist with over ten years of freelance experience. Recent work includes cinematography on the feature film, Pearman, shot on location in Denver.

Witbrod studied Cinematography at the Colorado Film School (CFS). While getting his BFA in filmmaking, he studied lighting with Ric Waite ASC. During his time as a student at CFS he worked on many award winning short films, including "The Herald", "Taken", and "Ropies". Witbrod is now on the CFS staff.

Witbrod grew up in the mountains of Montana, where he was home-schooled until high school. Between the ages of three and six, he appeared in some of the first live action videos developed especially for toddlers, produced by Bo Peep Productions. Since his mother, aunt and grandmother were developing these videos, he was exposed to many aspects of video production during these early years.

Later his family bought a home video camera and Witbrod started making his own movies. At the age of 14, he was able to purchase his own camera by filming local events and distributing them to parents.

Today he has shot in countries around the world and has experience with both narrative and documentary filmmaking.

For more information about Laffrey Witbrod, visit www.laffreywitbrod.com.

SCREENINGS

(For details on the films, click on the film type links below.)

Features Ricky's Rib Shack

Students Deal Half A World Away Just A Little Game The Girl Who Wished The Terrorist

PANEL DISCUSSION
"Distribution 2.0"

As if producing a film is not hard enough, many filmmakers loath the prospect of moving into the distribution phase of filmmaking, because if one is not completely connected to the Hollywood system, dealing with sales agents, distributors, and all the other gate keepers, seems more like dealing with carpet baggers than people who want to help someone make money on their film.

The good thing is that there are local people with experiences and services that we can learn from and employ. Being outside the Hollywood system, these folks are accessible and personable to deal with.

The other good thing is that the internet is changing the rules and the way people watch movies, hence, the way movies are distributed.

During this panel, we discussed how traditional distribution works, why in some cases a gate keeper is required (much like a Real Estate agent is required in the sale of a house), ways that the internet is effecting distribution, and how filmmakers can take a greater control of their product by adapting to, or creating new, marketing and distribution opportunities.

PANELISTS INCLUDED

Darlene Cypser

Darlene Cypser, a resident of Douglas County, CO, has ten years of experience producing and selling motion pictures. She is an attorney with 22 years of experience, licensed to practice in both Colorado and New York.

Darlene is the primary sales agent and negotiator of distribution deals for Inferno Film Productions which sells motion picture distribution rights for a number of other production companies.

Darlene produced Dragon and the Hawk in 1999/2000 and has advised producers, production companies and distributors on tax matters, production, distribution and marketing. She has written articles for magazines and spoken on these topics at conferences including the Legal Aspects of Film and Video Production Conference and the Creative Business Expo in Denver, the Midwest Entertainment Industry Conference in Lexington, Kentucky.

For more information on Darlene Cypser, visit www.infernofilm.com/darlenecypserprofile.html

Ron Meyer

Ron Meyer, a resident of Boulder, CO, founded Centre Communications in the early 1980s to produce a series and programs for the public television system. In the late 1980s Centre turned its focus to acquiring and distributing programs to schools, libraries and the growing number of cable services. Throughout the early 1990s Centre grew its catalog to over 600 shows and series. During this time, production continued for such program services as Discovery, The Disney Channel, National Geographic Explorer, PBS and Nickelodeon, for which it won an cable Ace Award.

Ron recently completed 2 documentary series - America's National Treasures and America's 60 Greatest Unsolved Mysteries & Crimes.

For more information on Ron Meyer, visit www.centrecommunicationsinc.com/history.html

Robert Dean

Robert Dean serves with RareSky Media as President and Executive Producer. Since 2004, he was worked with Media Tech, now RareSky Media, to share the inspirational story which has now become The Heart of Texas film. In addition to storytelling and project management, Robert also is the lead web development specialist at RareSky and helps clients distribute their projects online. Prior to working with RareSky, Robert worked in churches and the non-profit sector and came to RareSky whenever he needed to utilize excellent media for fund-raising and awareness campaigns. He is bringing his strategic planning skills to lead RareSky to continue in creating excellent film and video production while expanding its services with internet and mobile media.


For more information on Robert Dean and RareSky media, visit www.RareSkyMedia.com

SCREENINGS

(For details on the films, click on the film type links below.)

Features Breaking Man Vitreous Floaters

Shorts The Unrecoverable Loss of Eugene

SCREENPLAY READING(S)

Mark Mook, CRFF's Actor Liaison (and himself an actor), lead the presentation of portions of both of this year's CRFF screenplay selections - My Neighbors and The Story of Frank - using a talented group of local actors and actresses to provide the unique experience of allowing the screenwriters' work to be "heard" for the first time. A discussion, and Q&A session will follow the presentations.

SPECIAL FEATURE
The Vessel

(A LOCALLY PRODUCED FANTASY FEATURE)
An epic war story between good and evil, centered around a contemporary young woman and her unborn child. For within her she unknowingly carries the hope for all existence, and as an ancient prophecy from beyond this world begins to unfold, her own hidden destiny is revealed. But as a growing evil begins to take shape, the tides are shifted against those that would see the prophecy fulfilled, and a war started 1,000 years before begins again here on Earth.

Inspired by the vast panoramas and differing looks of Colorado, "The Vessel", a Wednesday Productions film, was shot and produced in Denver, Colorado utilizing numerous locations along the front range and the Rocky Mountain region. Along with the beauty of Colorado, Wednesday Productions also capitalized on the immense talent hiring local actors and crew to bring to life not only the characters of "The Vessel" but the world in which they come from, as many of the interior scenes were shot on sets built from scratch right in the heart of Denver. To complete the varying looks seen throughout the film additional shooting took place in out-of-state locations including Chicago and areas of Utah and Alaska.

2010 CASTLE ROCK FILM FESTIVAL
AWARDS CEREMONY

Festival Director, Tim Gallagher
with the help of

Ryan Reilly
Mayor of Castle Rock
and
Kevin Shand
(irector of the CO Office of
Film, Television & Media

presented these Awards:

BEST FEATURE: RICKY'S RIB SHACK
Feature Runner-up:  Vitreous Floaters

BEST SHORT (tie): CODE OF THE WEST
BEST SHORT (tie): THE BEEKEEPER

BEST STUDENT (tie): DEAL
BEST STUDENT (tie): HALF A WORLD AWAY

BEST SCREENPLAY: MY NEIGHBORS
Screenplay Runner-up:  The Story of Frank