Granted [2013] – Artvoice 4-4-13
It has become commonplace for independent films to wear how little they cost as a badge of honor. And it’s certainly one to be proud of in an era where Hollywood movies costing $100 million are not unusual. Still, it often serves as an unspoken plea for lowered expectations—“Don’t expect too much from our movie, we only spent $489 on it!”
That’s not the case with Granted, which calls itself the first made in Buffalo feature to be 100 percent crowd-funded (via IndieGoGo). A drama about an up-and-coming musician (Brian Bernys) whose life falls apart when he is unable to move past a personal tragedy, it’s a tightly crafted film that seldom takes a wrong step. Heading a team that has been working together for a few years, including some entries in the annual 48 Hour Film Challenge, director Anthony Vescio has put together a commanding showcase that all can be proud to have on their resumes.
Granted will have its hometown premiere next Friday, April 12 at 9pm, at the Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, as part of the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival, which runs April 10-14. The Friday screening will be followed by a panel on crowd-funding that should be useful to filmmakers and anyone else who has to depend on outside money.
For full review & trailer
Seadrift Vs. The Big Guy – Post Magazine [2013]
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