Buffalo Niagara Film Festival: The reviews are in!
Buffalo Niagara Film Festival: The reviews are in! Staff ReportsNiagara Gazette NIAGARA FALLS — Here is a sampling of reviews of films showing at this year’s Buffalo Niagara Film Festival from journalism students at Buffalo State College: “Brother Time” “Brother Time” is a moving documentary about the civil violence that occurred between Kenyan tribes following the 2007 election of President Mwai Kibaki. The documentary showcases the peace there was between tribes in Kenya before the elections and then details how things went sour after Kibaki came to power. One of the three main tribes in Kenya, the Kalenjins, were livid over the election results and started a barbaric civil war, mainly against the Kikuyu tribe which backed Kibaki. Riots broke out in Kenya, steered by young boys murdering and destroying everything in sight with large guns and machetes. Watching the torment in the faces of their countrymen and women was eye-opening to say the least. The torturing, burning of houses and buildings, and murders were a horrid sight to behold, yet the film did its work of bringing awareness to the horror. I appreciated the way this documentary was put together, as it mainly focused on the fallout of citizens that were once bound together as “brothers”. The end of the movie left me pleased that the brutal nature that once consumed Kenya had dissolved and shows the wrongs done by human beings can be defeated. —Aaron Garland “Beware Pickpocket” Is the pickpocket an iniquitous self-employer, or an exploitive observer of another person’s security deficiencies? This is the question you will be asking yourself while watching the short film (18:07), “Beware Pickpocket,” directed by Michael Laicini. A squirrelly man with nomadic tendencies is the best way to describe our protagonist. The story unfolds just north of the border in Toronto, Ontario. The use of symbolism is attempted, but I cannot place my finger on what exactly the white rabbit represents. Himself, endearment, an antagonist, or is it a fleeing sense of his life style? Comedic undertones and a semi-engrossing story line keep you entertained. A short film should never be hard to sit through. And Laicini takes you on a brief embarkment of a man trying to survive and indulge his musing all at once. (8 p.m. Friday, Market Arcade Theater) —Michael Mazzuto “Dot Got Shot” It feels like the worst thing aspiring directors can do: make a movie and send a dvd to the media, but not actually put the film on the disc you mail in.That is exactly what happened to me this weekend when I went to review the independent film “Dot Got Shot”. The movie seemed interesting. According to the press kit details, a police officer who was shot in the head while trying to settle a domestic dispute is left with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and suffers from nightmares that cause her to never sleep. However, I didn’t get see the film, so I don’t know. I’d like to say, “Hey! You should really check out this movie. It’s about a police officer who gets shot in the head and suffers from PTSD. The only problem is, I don’t have the film, just these pictures.” Editor’s note: The film arrived via apologetic email from writer/director Honey Lauren after this review was written. The short turns out to be a journeyman’s effort on a low budget that shows how reality can change for those with PTSD. It’s worth the time to watch Lauren as the beautiful and believable Dot. (5 p.m. April 19, Market Arcade Theater) —Mike Straw “Blind Turn” movie review Jay Dee Walters plays a vengeance-seeking antihero in “Blind Turn,” a thriller about a man who lost his wife and two children in a car accident caused by a drunk driver and the subsequent punishment Walters aims to inflict on the driver, played by Rachel Boston. It’s easy to get behind Walters’ character, whose emotion-evoking performance was very real and very relatable for anybody — not just those with a family. Some of the punishing tests Walters puts Boston through are hold-your-breath worthy in his malevolent quest to teach her a lesson. “Blind Turn” is slow to get going and occasionally transitions awkwardly from scene-to-scene, sometimes stunting any momentum that a scene picks up. Even so, it’s a thrilling tale that warns audience members in one concise message – DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE! (8 p.m. Saturday, Market Arcade Theater) —Tom Gallagher “Record Paradise: The Musical Life of Joe Lee” What do a record store, a nearly 40-year-old establishment, and a human encyclopedia have in common? They’re all pretty hard to come by these days. But you’ll find all of them in the documentary “Record Paradise: The Musical Life of Joe Lee” which follows the life of one of the nation’s most successful record store owners. Joe Lee looks nothing like a rock star but his peddles not only nostalgia, but a wealth of knowledge on every iota of recorded music. The 53-minute film splices Joe’s journey through American music with his experiences since opening the Maryland store in 1974. The film is also a feel-good story of Joe’s perseverance. As the black-sheep son of the former governor of Maryland he simply marched to the beat of a different drummer. The film deviates from the main plot elegantly weaving in Joe’s personal history with that of the local Baltimore rock ‘n roll scene. Throughout the movie, Joe always seems to draw a crowd of people eager to talk music and proudly boast about their record collections. Although they just met moments ago in his store, they talk as if they have known each other for years, something you feel too watching it. There’s just something inviting about Joe’s store. Customers claim it’s full of hidden treasures. But the movie seems to show that the most valuable may be Joe himself. (4 p.m. Tuesday, Market Arcade Theater) —Mike Provenzano Look for more festival film reviews next week.
Watershed Post “Robert, Portrait of an Art-er”
Screening “Robert, Portrait of an Art-er” By Jessica Vecchione, May 17th 7:30pm Pine Hill Community Ctr, Pine Hill, NY Robert is a little known artist and long time resident of Franklin New York. In the late nineties, Robert began constructing fantastic stone castles and keeps from native stone in his small backyard. He has since created amazingly unique works at the homes of several Franklin residents. But, Robert’s artistic interests and instincts go way beyond his stonework in ways that are surprising and very enlightening. Robert is funded in part by a grant from the New York Council on the Arts’ Decentralization Program, administered in Delaware County by The Roxbury Arts Group. Robert is an Official Selection at the 2012 Buffalo-Niagara Film Festival and won “Best Documentary Short” at the 2012 DIY Film Festival. Original Music by: Marc Black and the Lost in the Forest Orchestra Steve Koester – Two Dark Birds Laurie & Ira McIntosh (607) 746-6110 Please like the Robert Page:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robert-Portrait-of-an-Art-er/197477903668676 The Watershed Post’s News from Local Businesses column carries news from local businesses in our directory. Visit this business’s page:
An Interview with Citi Field ‘Expert’ Lori Martini
An Interview with Citi Field ‘Expert’ Lori Martini Douglas “Chuck” Booth- (Baseball Writer and @chuckbooth3024 on twitter)- Last year when I applied for the MLB FanCave, I did so with mixed emotions. While the job looked like an awesome experience, it also would never be as exciting as going to the baseball games live. Due to my waiting around for MLB’s decision on the chosen winners, I failed to plan for any extensive road trips last year. I am not disappointed that I didn’t win. Mike O’ Hara and Ryan Wagner did a fantastic job and were completely qualified. What the verdict left me was a desire to prove a point that I have been trying to establish for the last 4 years. MLB’s 30 Baseball Parks provide the best marketing tool that this entity may ever want. It is my ultimate goal to show that people would rather go to the games live. Chasing down the Guinness Book of World Record for visiting all parks in the least amount of days has a plethora of emotions that run through ones body. It is both an adrenaline rush and a hyper vigilant anxiety clashing for every day I am on the road. In my 2 minute video that I sent for the FanCave, I told them that “you either hire me or I am going to end up doing this on my own anyway!” So I intend to go on a 30 MLB Park journey every year from now until MLB decides to pay me a salary. To give our readers the kind of insight and information that make these ballparks the best fan experiences in Major League Sports, I have sought out some of the greatest experts in the field of ballpark chasing. Every park will have a Park Preview, an Expert Interview and a Post Game/Streak Synopsis. Our first expert interview is Lori Martini. Douglas ‘Chuck’ Booth (Baseball Writer)- I had the chance to talk to lifetime Met Fan Lori Martini recently. Lori has been going to Mets games in Flushing Meadows for over 25 years and is Citi Field’s featured ballpark expert. To Our Knowledge, Lori is the first female to have visited all 30 MLB stadiums as a fan in 2005. Guaranteed she will be the first to re-certify this honor when she goes to New Marlins Ball Park for the April.2 exhibition vs the Yankees. Lori has plans to set the Guinness Book of World Record for females attending a full baseball game in all 30 MLB Parks during the 2013 season. I am going to help her with this mission. We are also going to be interviewed on the field for the New York Mets season opener on Thursday, April.5/2012. This is a game that I may need to retroactive the streak back to. Lori is also attending games with me at Citizens Bank Ballpark on April.9th, at Citi Field on April.9th and also at Fenway Park on April.16th for the Patriots Day 11:05 AM start. We had a chance to talk about Citi Field though briefly before all of that happens, this is what we discussed. DB: ” Welcome to the Citi Field Expert Interview Lori. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and then give us a bit of background on your life as a Mets Fan.” LM: ” First off, thank for thinking of me for Citi Field Doug. I’m a born and bred Brooklynite and daughter of a Yankees fan. My dad always watched both, so I chose the Mets as the more exciting team to watch. My dad taught me how to play softball, so I grew a larger passion for the game that I play on about 6 softball teams a year including fall leagues. I’m a screenwriter, songwriter and actress and no matter what I do with my career, it seems to revolve around the Mets.” DB: “Your song “Believe” was adopted by Mets Second Baseman Justin Turner last year as his walkup song. What does it feel like to have all of Citi Field listen to a song you wrote?” LM: “It’s pretty amazing how it all happened. I created a buzz on twitter to tell fans I got a pre-game performance on the May 27, 2011 game vs. the Phillies and tried to get as many people to try to attend that game EARLY. During soundcheck my rep called me over and said that Justin Turner asked Jay Horowitz (VP of Media Relations) if it was OK to use “BELIEVE” as his walkup song. My feet never touched the ground since and I’m still in awe. Turner even mentions me on twitter and in interviews including an SNY Special. People really embraced it. I wrote it specifically for the Mets, but I wrote it so it could cross over to Top 40 Radio and perhaps inspire other people and teams to do so. In fact, tons of sports teams and figures are using the motto. I’m just hoping my song resonates with them.” (You can listen to the song on youtube below.) DB: “Your baseball short-film “CAUGHT” has been accepted into some Film Festivals around the country. Please talk about how this baseball film has impacted your life? What is the future schedule of upcoming appearances for the film?” LM: “I wanted to show how life is similar to plays in baseball. I paralleled this around certain events with my family and friends. I’ve experienced so many things in my life, that I feel I want to share it with the world and hope that they can relate especially because there’s such a double standard with women in sports. Caught has won Best Drama Short in the CT Film Festival and I won Best Actress in the Staten Island Film Festival. I’m really proud of these accomplishments, but mostly because people who have seen the movie come over to me and they truly relate to the story and have a similar experience. It just feels good that I’m not the only one and perhaps it will bring things to light. It has a morality story to it. In a world where anything goes, despite others, I wanted to make sure that the shortcut, dishonesty and selfishness is not going to pan out in the long run. Karma comes back to round those bases. It has recently been accepted in the Garden State Film Festival on March 24th at 1:30pm www.gsff.org; Women’s International Film and Arts Festival Mar 28-Apr 1, 2012 www.womensfilmfest.com; Boston International Film Festival April 15 at 2:45pm www.bifilmfestival.com; Buffalo Niagara Film Festival April 20 at 4pm www.thebnff.com and the Connecticut Film Festival in Danbury, CT April 27-29www.ctfilmfestival.com and the Litchfield Hills Film Festival in Torrington, CT June.28-July.01 www.hillsfilmfestival.com with more to follow. DB: “As a woman that has been to all 30 Major League Stadiums in the Majors (and possibly the 1st woman fan ever), what does this accomplishment mean to you?” LM: “It feels incredible and I hope it encourages more women to be involved with sports, whether as a fan or playing or both. Baseball is such an intellectual/strategical game with lots of passion. I’d love to do it again. I wish I was setting the world record with you.” DB: “Describe the differences between what the experience is like now at Citi Field for a baseball game, as opposed to the Shea Stadium Days?” LM: “Citi Field is more of an entertainment place, where Shea was a ballpark. Citi Field is more open, so people walk around and don’t generally sit in their seats, so it’s difficult to hear the roar of the crowd like it was at Shea. Then again, the Mets haven’t been a winning team since Citi Field opened in 2009. I remember in 2006 in the NLCS when Endy Chavez made that catch, the whole place was not only deafening, but Shea shook like an earthquake. I thought it was our destiny to win. You could hear a pin drop when we didn’t. Fascinating really. Citi Field has the best food.” DB: “The Mets are bringing in the fences this year at Citi Field, do you think this will enhance the fan entertainment aspect of baseball viewing?” LM: “I think it will help the players, especially since they adjusted the fences in Port St. Lucie so they can get a feel of it before the home opener. I sure hope it’s the Mets hitting them out and not the other teams. At least it won’t be called “Citi Field: The place where home runs go to die anymore.” DB: “How does the fan base feel about Jose Reyes leaving the club, do you think this will impact the attendance?” LM: “We’re all upset really. Is it that he wasn’t made an offer or was he just greedy? In all honesty, he isn’t worth what he was paid due to his constant injuries and if he really wanted to stay with the Mets, he would have taken a lower offer. I’m a team player and I stay loyal to my team. Nobody’s truly sure what went on behind closed doors.” DB: “What is your favorite method of transportation to and from Citi Field.” LM: “I seriously dislike public transportation, especially since it sometimes takes me 2 hours to get home at night, when it takes me only 20-30 minutes to get to the stadium via car. I park on the side streets to avoid paying the parking lot fees and seriously, the walk is great exercise and I get home quicker by doing that than if I had entered the parking lot. Of course, elderly, people with children or handicapped people would need to use the lot…or tailgaters. I just try to be economical, healthy and save time getting home.” DB: “What advice would you give for somebody experiencing Citi Field for the very first time?” LM: “I personally like the excelsior level section. Tons of foul balls and t-shirts land there within the infield. I ended up on TV because my friend Mike caught a foul ball off Ike Davis‘s bat. He jammed his finger, but he caught it bare-handed. We’re on the MLB Highlight Reel. I think June 25, 2010 vs. Twins. I also like section 103 in the front few rows. You feel like you’re playing RF. Section 128 has a great view of all angles/corners of the stadium. I personally love the Empire Party Suites and I usually organize a couple per year. Anyone interested should contact me. It’s all-inclusive: Food/Beer/Wine/Soda etc. Plus I host the best parties and I include goodies.” DB: “What is the food like at Citi Field? What is your favorite ballpark food there?” LM: “It’s the BEST of ALL the stadiums. Shake Shack is my favorite. Get there early because the lines are long. The Mex Burger which is near section 128 I believe is also amazing. They have Pastrami sandwiches, Reubens, Casacarinos Pizza, Taqueria, Box Frites, Blue Smoke. All incredible. They also have a gluten free section and sushi in RF near section 103.” DB: “What is your feeling towards the Wilpons cutting salary on the teams current payroll? Do you feel ripped off as a ticket buyer?” LM: “I’m somewhat disappointed, but I also don’t want them giving ridiculous contracts anymore like in the past: Oliver Perez; Jason Bay; Luis Castillo etc. They’ve actually reduced the price of tickets this year. We’ll see what happens. I think Sandy Alderson knows what he’s doing and he has a great sense of humor. Our farm system is improving, so hopefully by 2013 or 2014, we will have a competitive team. Then again, I always BELIEVE so I’m hoping those kids fight in 2012 and surprise us.” DB: “What is your favorite all time game as a Met Fan that you have been in attendance in Citi Field or Shea Stadium?” LM: I’ve been to SO many incredible games, but I’d have to say June 30, 2000 when they played the Braves and were down 8-1 until they scored 10 runs in the 8th inning. I had said if Piazza homers and we win, that this is the turning point of the entire season and it was. It was also magical because it was the first and only time I caught a foul ball and it was fireworks night. DCB: “As a Brooklyn native, do people still talk about the Dodgers leaving town? Do you think there are enough baseball fans in Brooklyn for MLB to ever bring a 3rd baseball franchise in the area if a new ballpark was built?” LM: “Some of the older crowd talks about them. I wonder what it would have been like. I’d surely be a Brooklyn Dodgers fan had the Mets not existed. OMG I’m sure and that would be awesome if it happened, but I am a loyal person, so I can never abandon the Mets. “ DB: “Thank you very much Lori.” Lori Martini with her friend Maria Rusolo in 2009 at Citi Field (Inaugural Season) ***Thank you to our Citi Field expert- Lori Martini for participating in today’s article. To learn more about Lori Martini click these links.*** www.lorimartini.com www.twitter.com/lorimartini www.twitter.com/shortfilmcaught www.youtube.com/007martini *** Thank you to our Baseball Writer- Douglas “Chuck” Booth for preparing today’s feature on MLB reports. To learn more about “The Fastest 30 Ballgames” and Chuck Booth, you can follow Chuck on Twitter (@ChuckBooth3024) and you can also follow Chuck’s website for his Guinness Book of World Record Bid to see all 30 MLB Park in 20 days click here or on the 30 MLB Parks in 20 days GWR tracker at the Reports click here. *** Please e-mail us at: mlbreports@me.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. To subscribe to our website and have the Daily Reports sent directly to your inbox, click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
Buffalo Rising Article
By Michael Hargrave: Article Source Starting April 13, the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival will kick off its sixth year celebrating filmmakers and script writers. The festival, which runs through April 21, will be held in The Market Arcade Film and Arts Center at 639 Main Street in downtown Buffalo. An awards ceremony and final showings will be held in the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls on April 21. Films being shown run the gamut from student films and shorts, to feature films and documentaries. Included amongst the 88 films being shown are five films from native Buffalonians as well as several more films from other WNY filmmakers. Other activities will include a short series of panel discussions for those who might want to learn a bit more about filmmaking. For a calender of events and information on the films being shown, visit thebnff.com/
“Buffalo Niagara Film Festival reaches into Falls with many showings”
Buffalo Niagara Film Festival reaches into Falls with many showings Staff ReportsNiagara Gazette NIAGARA FALLS — Two different movies about extraordinary women will start and end the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival which begins this weekend. ”Kaziah the Goat Woman” about an artist who has pledged to paint all of the fallen soldiers of the Iraq and Afghanistan war, will close the festival during awards ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. April 21 at the Rapids. That event will include a showing of “If I Should Fall,” and distribution of awards and a presentation to local military families. Kazaih Hancock is expected to be there for the filming, although funds are still being sought to fly her and the film’s producer, Kathleen Dolan, to Buffalo. Hancock has painted almost 1,000 portraits of soldiers killed in action, and gifted them to their families, including two portraits to two Niagara Falls families. But the true total of paintings is actually higher, thanks to the open heart of the artist, a goat herder from Utah. “Sometimes the mother would contact me and say, my husbands alive, but he’s missing an arm and two legs, does that count for anything and I’d say, you know what, it certainly does,” Kaziah said Tuesday during a phone interview. Being shown with “Kaziah,” will be “If I Should Fall” which attempts to define the tragedy of war through a family’s loss of an only son. Driven by premonition of death before deployment to Afghanistan, Trooper Marc Diab made a video for his funeral to deliver a message of comfort from beyond the grave. Prophetically Diab died March 8th, 2009 by IED. His video played at his funeral to a sea of tears. Through telling the story of the loss of one family, ‘If I Should Fall’ attempts to tell the story of all families whom have lost a loved one to war. The film festival, which will feature about 100 movies in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, will begin at 7 p.m. Friday at the Buffalo Market Arcade Theaters with the movie “Sophie” about a young ballet dancer who sets out to find her beloved elephant, Sheba, who was sold to a circus. Known faces associated with this years screenings are – G.W.Bailey, Gary Daniels, Deborah Kara Unger, John Rhys-Davies, Clint Eastwood, Billy Boyd, Kristin Kreuk, Carlo Rota, Stephen Mchattie, Natalie Brown, Brea Grant, Kimberly Stewart, Colleen Camp, Woody Allen, Lauren Holly, Wilford Brimley, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Andrew Howard, Dan O’Brien, Judson Mills, Sean faris, Clayne Crawford, Thom Barry, Nicholas Campbell, Krista Sutton, Raoul Bhaneja, Sarain Boylan, Martha Burns, Kristopher Turner and more. (for best resource on biographies and film credits go to www.imdb.com) Tickets are available on line at www.thebnff.com, The Market Arcade Film & Arts Center and at The Rapids Theatre, Niagara Falls. Seats for seniors, students and veterans are always $5.
Buffalo News Article
Buffalo News Now playing: Film fest offers screenings, tributes to military By Toni Ruberto Published:April 13, 2012, 12:00 AM A mix of documentaries, music videos, feature films and shorts will be shown during the sixth annual Buffalo Niagara Film Festival, opening today with daily screenings in the Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre and concluding April 21 in the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls with an awards ceremony, special events and documentaries honoring the military. Events begin at 6 p.m. today in the Market Arcade (639 Main St.) with two documentaries, “Search for the Jefferson Davis: Trader, Slaver, Raider” by Peter Pepe, about the lost shipwreck of the Jefferson Davis off of Florida, and “Living River,” followed at 7 p.m. with “Sophie,” a feature film by Leif Bristow; at 8 p.m. with a block of short films and at 9 p.m. by “Heniek” ( “Henry the Dealer”), a portrait of the new middle class in Poland. Screenings start again at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday with more blocks of shorts mixed with documentaries and features running through the evening. The festival also includes the free workshops “A Breakthrough Guide to Scriptwriting” with writer, director and author Alyn Darnay at 6 p.m. Wednesday and a film panel about publicity and marketing with publicist Dick Delson at 6 p.m. Thursday; both are in the Market Arcade. Closing-day events begin at 1 p.m. April 21 in Rapids Theatre (1171 Main St., Niagara Falls) with a block of short films. A ceremony at 6:30 p.m. showcases a performance by singer and Staff Sgt. Angie Johnson ( “The Voice”). At 7 p.m., the documentary “Kaziah the Goat Woman” details the story of Utah goat rancher and artist Kaziah Hancock, who has painted more than 1,000 portraits of fallen soldiers that she gives to families in remembrance. Following that is “If I Should Fall,” an award-winning documentary about the Canadian Afghan War experience that shows the human face behind the war through the story of Marc Diab, who made a prophetic video message he wanted played at his funeral if he died in war; in 2009, he was killed at age 22 in Afghanistan when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb. The evening concludes at 9 p.m. with a dedication of Kaziah’s portraits to families of fallen soldiers in Western New York and Ontario and an awards presentation. Individual film passes are $10 general or $5 for senior citizens, students and veterans; day passes are $25 and $12.50; tickets to the awards ceremony and presentation are $25 and $12.50. Weeklong and VIP passes are also available. Visit www.thebnff.com. —– PREVIEW WHAT: Buffalo Niagara Film Festival WHEN: Opens today through April 21 WHERE: Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre, 639 Main St. Closing events April 21 are in the Rapids Theatre, 1171 Main St., Niagara Falls. TICKETS: Individual films are $10 general, $5 senior citizens, students and veterans.
Artvoice Feature
Buffalo Niagara Film Festival by M. Faust Ajob Prem Ebong Nine days of film begins Friday The sixth edition of the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival begins eight days of screenings this Friday through Saturday, April 21. The lineup includes 27 feature films, 21 documentaries, and nearly four dozen short films, music videos, and student films. The opening night feature is Sophie, a family film from Canada about a young girl with two great passions: ballet and the elephant featured in her family’s zoo. When her parents are forced to sell it to a traveling circus, she follows in an effort to reclaim her oversized pet. Closing night features two documentaries. The short “Kaziah the Goat Woman” follows a woman who is determined to paint portraits of every American solider who died in the Afghan War. If I Should Fall is the story of Ontario trooper Marc Diab, who died in Afghanistan but left a funeral video for his family. Among the other films scheduled: 10 Terrorists 10 Terrorists—A reality show that seeks contestants to compete in an international terrorist campaign is the premise for this Australian comedy. A Wake—Ensemble drama about the members of a once renowned theater troupe who dig up old tensions when they reunite for the funeral of their director, who died under mysterious circumstances. Ajob Prem Ebong—Black comedy from India set in a village where the death of a man killed by a bus sparks an uprising against political corruption. Boys—Buffalo native Lisa Willice, a former assistant to Pierce Brosnan and Cameron Crowe, co-produced this Boston-based mob drama that should appeal to fans of GoodFellas and The Sopranos. Blind Turn—A year after a woman kills most of a family in a drunken driving incident, she is kidnapped and held captive by their survivor, who has a plan to exact justice. Bullycam —Two teenaged girls use a camcorder to document and expose bullying at their high school in this debut film that was Awarded “Best Narrative Feature” at the NYC Independent Film Festival. The Custom Mary—Urban LA is the setting for this story about a young Latina recruited to be the mother of a new Christ, cloned from a Turin-like shroud, by an apocalyptic cult. Edut (Testimony)—From Israel, a docudrama in which actors read testimonials given by Israeli soldiers and Palestinian civilians about the horrors and atrocities of that seemingly endless conflict. Heniek (Henry the Dealer)—From Poland, a comedy based on a true story about a group of car dealers who are stunned to learn that their sluggish co-worker has been arrested as a criminal mastermind. Homecoming—An Army medic on leave in her hometown outside of Orlando enjoys a reunion with two high school friends in this semi-improvised comedy-drama. Irvine Welsh’s Ecstasy Irvine Welsh’s Ecstasy—Canadian production based on the Trainspotting author’s novella “The Undefeated,” about the relationship between a married woman and a heavy drug user who meet at a rave. With a cameo by Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson. Maria—Popular Mexican actor Fernando Allende makes his directorial debut with this drama about an orphan girl who falls in love with the cousin whose family took her in. Meherjaan—This love story set during the Bangladeshi war of liberation in 1971 has gained controversy in that country for its depiction of a woman’s affair with a Pakistani soldier. Moon Point—You’ll be reminded of David Lynch’s The Straight Story during this Canadian comedy about a young slacker who sets off on a trip to woo his childhood girlfriend in a wagon towed by his friend’s electric wheelchair, top speed five miles per hour. The Pact—Penn State theater professor Matt Toronto wrote and directed this comedy about a pair of brothers who make a drunken agreement to forsake women for a year, only to find that they can’t break it even if they try. Schlafende Hunde (Sleeping Dogs)—A man haunted by premonitions of violent death tries to mend bridges with his long-estranged adult son in this German drama. The Search For Kennyboy—A pair of bounty hunters in need of cash accept an assignment to look into the death of Enron CEO Kenneth Lay in a microbudget comedy that claims to have no political agenda. Sure Shot Dombrowski 3—Second sequel to the Canadian mockumentary about the career of a legendary hockey superstar. Tag und Nacht (Day and Night)—German drama that asks the question, why shouldn’t two attractive young women in need of money work as escorts when they’re already having bad sex for free? West Is West—In this sequel to 1999’s East Is East, tradition-bound Mr. Khan (Om Puri) takes his troublesome London-born son to Pakistan to straighten him out, only to cause a crisis with the family he left behind when he emigrated to England. With the exception of closing day, all screenings will be held at the Market Arcade Film and Arts Center (639 Main Street). Screenings on Saturday, April 21, take place at the Rapids Theatre (1711 Main Street, Niagara Falls). Tickets are available at the venues and at the festival’s website, thebnff.com, which also has a full listing and schedule.
Dot Got Shot
“Stop walking me home” Making its rounds through underground film festivals, Honey Lauren‘s Dot Got Shot brings a relevant psychological punch with its ultra low-budget aesthetic. The acting is not the greatest and the cinematography choices may be a bit too artsy at times, but the story of Dot—a decorated policewoman haunted by the nightmares of reliving the moment she was shot in the head breaking up a domestic squabble—is unique enough to overcome its faults. Written, co-directed with Carlos Ramos Jr., and starring Lauren, the short crime drama finds itself going somewhere you wouldn’t necessarily expect. Crossing between horrific memory and real life, we see early on how erratic Dot has become after receiving the lead souvenir lodged in her skull. Crying profusely once awoken from the recurring dream of that afternoon, her composure at a crime scene is strange considering it’s bad enough to cause partner Steph (Steph DuVall) to think he’ll be sick. Looking at the obliterated remains of their victim, all Dot can think about is a craving for Italian food—a dry joke that may or may not be a testament to her appetite. Walking home after dinner brings forth a rage blackout of temper and before she knows it she’s yelling at a couple engaging in PDA on the sidewalk. Suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), it’s a wonder Dot is even in the field while the stitches are still embedded with her flesh. The physical pain of the gunshot and the emotional anguish of watching her girlfriend end their relationship after is taking its toll, yet she hides it well enough to keep moving, crack jokes, and try to leave it all behind. This hope for normalcy, however, flies out the window when she enters a convenience store by her apartment that seconds later becomes the scene of an armed robbery. Hiding behind a shelf of processed food, Dot waits for her opportunity to be the heroic officer of the law she knows she can be. Looking past the shoddy performances, one does need to take note of the cinematic skill used in putting it all together. With a showcase tracking shot down a narrow alleyway mimicking a first-person view for Dot meeting up with Steph at the homicide, the cropping of certain close-ups and overall camerawork does captivate with framing and vibrant colors when not overly flashy. For an underground piece, the production value is somewhat staggering—complete with a perfectly placed “She’s Not There” by The Zombies for its dénouement. Give Lauren and company credit for making the film look as good as it does with successful choices like subtle make-up effects and gore rather than over-the-top, amateurish excess. The real draw to the film, however, comes from its memorable conclusion chock full of amorality and unanswered questions. Dot getting shot may have left a few more dangerous and lasting effects than just the sleepless nights. The final moments with robber Jeff Blumberg caught in the crosshairs of her gun trigger an impulse that may prove her reactions to the dead body earlier more important than previously thought. And with a carefully placed t-shirt on the loverboy in the street contextually saying “Take Me All the Way Home”, one also has to wonder if what we’re watching is real or the manifestations of a broken person lost in the dark recesses of a fractured mind. Dot Got Shot 6/10 | ★ ★ ½
