Nantucket Film Festival 2009

by Gregory Walsh

Hello everyone! Well it has been awhile since our last film festival (see our Sundance page), but it felt good to jump back into the Hollywood scene. I was the sole representative of Catching On for this trip as Chuck and Nick went to another film festival (more on that later), however, I was joined by my lovely Assistant, Ashley Perkins. With relatives in the area, it was a no-brainer to attend the 14th Annual Nantucket Film Festival. What sweetened the pot for us was the prospect of meeting Ben Stiller and the great Harold Ramis. Stiller, a summer native of the Massachusetts island, is no stranger to this festival, and neither are his parents; Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara own a house on the island and are frequently spotted rubbing elbows with various tourists.

We dove head first into NFF09 as we attended the Comedy Roundtable featuring Ben Stiller, Harold Ramis, director John Hamburg, and director Peter Farrelly. The event, moderated by MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, featured hilarious stories and insight from each of the distinguished filmmakers. Topics included Cameron Diaz’s infamous “hair gel”, Bill Murray’s mystique, Derek Zoolander, Alec Baldwin’s antics, and of course, Rodney Dangerfield’s “family jewels.”

Left to Right: Peter Farrelly, John Hamburg, Ben Stiller, and Harold Ramis.

This event was full of laughs but we unfortunately had to leave 15 minutes early to make it to the next event: the 25th Anniversary showing of Ghostbusters. The special screening was a surreal moment for me as I was too young (not even born) to see the iconic film in theaters in 1984. What made the event even more special was the fact that Harold Ramis was scheduled to be in attendance. After the film we were treated to a private Q+A session as Mr. Ramis talked about seeing the film 25 years later, writing habits, and even Ghostbusters 3. What truly made the event priceless was getting the chance to meet the actor, writer, and director in front of a 30 foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. After getting a quick autograph, Mr. Ramis gave me some advice on various film festivals we should attend/submit to.

Left to Right: Legendary filmmaker Harold Ramis and Associate Producer Greg Walsh

When it was all said and done, I waked away with invaluable knowledge and Mr. Ramis waked away with my business card.

Left to Right: Legendary filmmaker Harold Ramis and Associate Producer Greg Walsh

This festival has an amazingly unique setting that is impossible to replicate. I mean where else can you be walking down the street discussing what movies Anne Meara has been in, only to have her answer you from the window of her house?  All in all, this was a fantastic experience and I will certainly be back for the 15th Annual Nantucket Film Festival next year!

Greg

My Job? Promoting a Controversial Movie Part 1

by Gregory Walsh

“Well, we are brand new and we want to make a splash in the movie industry. So therefore, we want to do our first movie on Gay Zombies.”

That is probably the last thing you want to hear as you take on your first real Marketing job. Alas, that is what greeted me upon graduation and I quickly realized that you can’t reap the rewards without taking a chance.

When we first discussed making this short film, I had serious doubts and concerns from a public relations point of view. I was taught that you always need to be cautious when addressing a volatile topic, even if it is designed to be a satire. Ultimately, I was convinced that if we wanted to get noticed, we needed to make a seemingly shocking movie with a great message. Chuck and I ordered a rewrite and what we were given was a script with the potential to make a huge splash in the film industry.

With the movie in production, it was time for me to start marketing it. The first step was obvious: make a website. Instead of a traditional “informational” website, I wanted to make www.catchingonmovie.com an interactive site with a personal feel to it. I felt that the only way to capture this connection was to go with a blog style website via WordPress. The blog allowed the four of us (Chuck, Nick, Mike, and Yours Truly) a chance to create a close personal connection with anyone interested in our movie and inform them of our progress at the same time.

In order to successfully promote this film and the issues discussed in it, I knew we had to utilize the social networking devices that have infiltrated our lives over the last few years. The first step, in my opinion, is also the most affective of all the social networking tools: Facebook. Thanks to recent updates to the site, we were able to create a “Fan page” that acts just like a profile. Our page allowed us to add photos, communicate with all of our fans, and even link to our website. We saw an example of the power of this simple tool during our Sundance Road Trip. Throughout our adventure, we constantly updated our Facebook status to keep our loyal followers in tune with our life on the road. The result was hard to miss as we watched our website “hits” peak into the hundreds every day. That was proof enough that instantly updating and informing our fan base was a key aspect of marketing in the digital age.

My next move was introducing our wonderful actors to the world. During production, I stole the actors to do individual interviews and pick their brains on various topics. These quick 3 minute interviews were designed to show our potential viewers that there is more to this movie than four college graduates trying to make a name for themselves at the expense of the gay community. It also allowed the viewers to get a feel for the actors and better understand where they stand on the various social issues that are featured in this film. Thanks to “word of mouth” marketing by the actors, we enjoyed a spike in website visits, however, I knew that we needed something else. I spent some time researching social marketing trends and I kept coming back to one untapped resource…Twitter.

Keep an eye out for part 2 of this blog. Topics will include:  Our reluctance to join Twitter, the power of YouTube, getting “topic time” on forums and blogs, the art of dancing around sensitive topics during radio interviews, and finally, my advice for promoting a controversial topic.

Greg

2009…

by Gregory Walsh

For most people, this is yet another year filled with high ambitions and lofty goals that may or may not be accomplished. However, 2009 will be an interesting year for sure: A new President of the United States of America, the second World Baseball Classic, and of course, a new Harry Potter film. (For the record, I am not an avid Harry Potter fan, but everyone else seems to go NUTS for those movies!) But when I think of 2009, I come to the startling realization that I haven’t put much thought into it.

I remember growing up and thinking “Wow! In 2008 I will graduate from college!” This thought resided in me throughout my college days and culminated the day I graduated. For the first time in my life, I face a timeline that has no tangible goals or destinations! Sure I want to get a great job, buy a house, get married, start a family…etc. However, I can’t say “Wow! In 2010 I will find my dream house! And in 2011 I will be married with kids!”

Although there is no defined path to follow, the one thing that is set in stone is the release of Catching On: The Day the World Turned Gay. Since we started this website, we have added “A 2009 Short Film” to most of the descriptions, making it the one tangible goal for us this year. We have each put our jobs, families, loved ones, and savings accounts on the back burner in order to make and promote this movie so needless to say, we are a little excited about the release!

The New Year means a lot of different things to different people, but it means one thing to filmmakers: The 2009 Sundance Film Festival. The 25^th anniversary of Sundance is guaranteed to be a wonderful event and we will be right there to experience the whole thing! The “Four Horsemen” of Catching On will embark on a glorious journey to the Mecca of all independent films as Chuck, Nick, Mike, and I will be leaving Massachusetts on January 17^th. Seeing as we are driving, we are scheduled to arrive in Park City UT on January 20^th, just in time for the second half of the festival. All the antics and tomfoolery will (hopefully) be captured on film and updated to this site via our exclusive Sundance 2009 Podcast. This podcast and our various blog entries will allow you to track our progress throughout the festival road trip.

2009 and beyond is shrouded in mystery. I know what my goals are and what I want to accomplish, but how I get there is certainly unscripted. The one thing I do know is that we will do everything in our power to make our fluid future a tangible reality.

Greg

2008 New Hampshire Film Festival – Part 2

by Gregory Walsh

“You will never guess who I have been talking with” Chuck said to me with a massive smile.

Now in order to fully appreciate what Chuck is about to say, you need to know the back story. There was one film I wanted to see at NHFF08, however, it was playing during the “From Script to Screen” discussion panel. Chuck and I came to the agreement that it would be more beneficial to us (professionally) to attend this panel as opposed to the documentary that I wanted to see for my own interest. The documentary in question was Bill “Spaceman” Lee: High and Outside, all about the life of the great Red Sox pitcher.

Flash forward to Chuck grinning at me at the after party. “Who have you been talking with?” I asked him. “Jim Brown, the Producer of the Bill Lee movie,” Chuck responded, “and he wants to meet you!” Well it appears that Chuck and Jim had something in common: the long wait at the bar for a drink. They got to talking and Chuck told him that I was a huge fan of the Red Sox and Bill Lee, hence why Jim wanted to meet me. Not long after being introduced we started talking sports, documentaries, film, festivals, and a few other things that will remain unsaid. Before we knew it, we had been talking for 45 minutes and I figured I should stop taking up all this man’s time. We exchanged business cards and he asked us to come to the screening of his movie the following day. After talking at length with an accomplished producer, and being personally invited to screen his movie the next day, we truly were on cloud nine. Or so we thought.

We made our way back to our table only to find Deb sitting there. After a friendly exchange, she introduced us to Rich Dirck, DJ for WSCA 106.1 FM, Portsmouth independent radio. He was conducting interviews with people at the festival and Deb recommended that he speak to us. This was too much; why would anyone want to talk to us? We didn’t even have a film at the festival! Regardless, we were interviewed for about 10 minutes about our experience making our film, attending festivals, and this very site. We later found out that the segment aired the following day and we will hopefully obtain a copy of it to post under our Press Section.

Thanks to Deb we got some invaluable experience and exposure on the radio, but we couldn’t revel in that moment for too long because there were still a lot of people at the party that we needed to mingle with. It was at this time that we were able to chat more with Mark Constance, Chase Bailey and others and really get an inside perspective of the film industry. One person we thoroughly enjoyed speaking with was Paul Hudson, a big time distributor of independent films. His outgoing personality really made us feel welcome and we had a wonderful conversation topped off by the always present sports conversation.

Speaking with all the professionals at NHFF08 really gave us a taste of how friendly and willing people are to help. Even though we had already exchanged information via business cards, they continued to talk with us and urged us to contact them if we have any questions in the future. This reaffirmed their sincerity and really made a couple of first time filmmakers feel like a part of the “in” crowd.

As the weekend came to a close, Chuck and I split up; he want to another informative panel and I had to take up Jim Brown’s invitation to attend the Bill Lee documentary. Afterward, we both met up and of course we bumped into Deb again. We gave her our card so that she could check out our site and contact us, and much to our surprise she gave us her card. I read the back of her card and what does it say? “Diversity and Awareness Programming.” Turns out Deborah Barry started a nonprofit organization called Awareness UNlimited which puts together special programs and events to promote diversity.

“The mission of Awareness UNlimited is to facilitate awareness and diversity programming with schools, businesses, civic groups/organizations, and communities, fostering understanding and respect, opening minds and opening worlds.” – Awareness UNlimited

Although our movie sounded like a PR nightmare for her at first, she said that she would love to incorporate our movie into one of her programs and that we should keep in touch. This was an amazing turn of events for us; one moment we joking around with an extremely friendly volunteer and next thing we are talking about potentially creating a program around our movie! Even before we found out about her organization, Deb was a large reason why our trip to NH was a huge success.

What is the moral of this story kids? Be nice to everyone because you never know when a hard working volunteer will turn out to be someone really special!

2008 New Hampshire Film Festival – Part 1

by Gregory Walsh

It all started with a simple question. “Do you know where we can park around here?” Who would have thought that asking a simple question like that would lead to a great relationship and many great opportunities?

(And now to the events leading up to that question; we in the film industry call this a flashback).

After the great experiences of Boston and Toronto, Chuck and I were eagerly awaiting our next film festival. This time, our travels would take us to Portsmouth, NH for the 2008 New Hampshire Film Festival (NHFF08).

We were able to purchase an all day pass that gave us access to any movie, discussion panel, or event for the day. Acquiring these passes was very exciting because this festival seemed to be more “hands on” then Boston and Toronto, and we were anticipating great things.

We sat down with schedule in hand to plan out our itinerary and we were shocked when we found out that the $35 Day pass included an invitation to the Festival After Party on Saturday night. This would be the first time that Chuck and I would be able to respectfully rub elbows with the people we are aspiring to become. This meant that we needed to bring our “A” game to NH with us in hopes of making some solid contacts within the industry.

When we arrived in Portsmouth, we were treated to a quaint and friendly town overrun by a film festival. This setting can be perfectly described as a film community, a mindset that resonated throughout the weekend. We were having issues finding parking, so we entered the NHFF headquarters and asked the nearest volunteer “Do you know where we can park around here?” The friendly volunteer identified as “Deb” on her name tag told us exactly where to park, where to pick up our tickets and where our first discussion panel was being held. (Keep in mind this was 9:00 am, being that friendly and outgoing is no simple task!)

We parked, picked up our day pass (a lanyard necklace á la Wayne’s World’s VIP passes), and returned to the NHFF HQ for our first panel. While waiting in line we were again treated to a lovely conversation with Deb and learned a lot about the festival background. Before we knew it, it was time for the discussion panel so we grabbed our seats and opened up our ears. The first panel was on the topic of Budgeting (a problem EVERY movie maker faces). The guest moderator was producer Mark Constance, who participated in the discussions but also directed the panel made up of: producers Dorothy Aufiero, Tracey Becker, Chris Stinson, and IATSE 481 Business Rep Chris O’ Donnell.

Associate Producer Gregory Walsh (left) and Producer Chuck Pistorino (right) at NHFF08.

The one thing that stood out in our mind was the amount of money that goes into making a film. Here we are, two independent film makers with a minuscule budget and we are listening to these experienced producers brushing off $1 million as a small budget. However, Tracey Becker did answer one question with a response that made us feel better about our budget.

“Whether you are working on a blockbuster with a budget of $20 million, or a small indie film with a budget of $100,000, you still need to approach the budget the same way.” – Tracey Becker, NHFF08

We are nowhere near having a $100,000 budget, however, we learned valuable tricks and lessons from professional filmmakers and we will be able to apply these tools to present and future projects. After the panel, we were able to talk with Mark Constance about bridging the gap between short films and feature length films. He provided us with wonderful advice and gave us his card in case we have any questions in the future. This was a landmark event for us because it was the first time we got to exchange cards with a professional filmmaker and begin compiling the all important Rolodex that is stressed upon so much. In the film industry it truly is who you know, because as Chuck stated in his blog, you will fail without a great supporting cast.

Since we enjoyed the first panel so much, we decided to forgo seeing a documentary and instead attend the next panel titled “From Script to Screen.” This panel was moderated by Tracey Becker and included many great professionals like producer Chase Bailey, Mitchell Ganem (writer/director of Losing Jerry), and distributor Paul Hudson. The discussion was very interesting as many topics related to our film and the troubles we ran into. After the panel, we were able to speak with producer Chase Bailey who was the executive producer for The Libertine, starring Johnny Depp. He was extremely friendly and welcoming and we were able to again exchange cards with an experience professional which only boosted our confidence.

The rest of the day was spent mingling, chatting with Deb, checking into the hotel, and attending the screening of August, starring Josh Hartnett and David Bowie. Following the movie and a Q&A with Director Austin Chick, it was time to put on our game faces and schmooze with the bigwigs at the festival. We left for the after party and upon arrival, we ran into Deb. At this time, Chuck went up to the bar to get a few “festive drinks” as I continued talking with Deb. After about twenty minutes, I started getting worried (and a little thirsty) but Chuck emerged from the crowd with a moderately warm beer and a smile as big as a Hollywood budget. I asked what he was smiling about and he responded, “You will never guess who I have been talking with.”

(We in the film industry call this a cliffhanger! Look for part II of this post next week!)

- Greg

2008 Boston Film Festival

by Gregory Walsh

We were quite ambitious when we chose the Toronto International Film Festival as our first taste of film festivals; however it was a great eye opener for us. Unfortunately, the 2008 Boston Film Festival (BFF08) started the same day that we left for TIFF08 so we missed a good chunk of the local festival. Good thing we have an alert producer who already had our next trip in mind! So one day removed from our exhausting trip to Toronto, we jumped on the T (MBTA) and headed to the BFF08! Located at the indie-friendly Kendall Square Cinema in Cambridge, the stage was set for an amazing day.

Since there was only one day left, the festival had a big night planned for the closing ceremonies. Not only were they screening the Oscar-worthy movie Flash of Genius, but (longtime Producer) first time Director Marc Abraham and star Greg Kinnear were scheduled for the Q&A following the film. This was an exciting opportunity for us as we potentially had a chance to meet a very talented actor and an accomplished Producer. With tickets in hand, we entered the theater and waited in line for the movie.

Flash of Genius is the true story of Bob Kearns, the man who invented the intermittent windshield wipers, and his 15 year battle with Ford Motor Company after they stole his idea. Kinnear was simply mesmerizing and really made you feel for the man who gave up everything in his life (job, house, family, marriage) in order to get the rightful credit for a simple but amazingly unappreciated invention. The movie is a huge success for Abraham, who had put together some amazing scenes and directed his cast brilliantly.

After the movie, we were treated to a humorous Q&A session lead by the subtle comedy of Greg Kinnear. One of the best exchanges was when an audience member asked “Mr. Kinnear, there are so many other ‘David vs Goliath-type’ movies out there. Why did you choose the man who invented the windshield wipers as the subject of your movie.” Kinnear wasted little time in correcting the young man, “Hey! He invented the INTERMITTENT windshield wipers. Not just any old windshield wipers. The INTER-MITTENT windshield wipers. Give him some credit.” To counteract the comedic relief Kinnear was offering, Abraham answered many questions with truthful and insightful responses and really made a strong connection with the audience.

Marc Abraham (Left) and Greg Kinnear (Right) at the 2008 Boston Film Festival. (Photo by Gregory Walsh)

Following with the Q&A, Chuck and I took our leave only to literally bump into Marc Abraham on the way out. After making small talk with him for a few moments, Greg Kinnear appeared next to him and they entertained the ever-growing crowd in the lobby. This was an interesting opportunity as we got to see Kinnear and Abraham interact with strangers as well as old friends. One of Kinnear’s former classmates approached him and it was surreal to see him stop being the entertainer and just be a regular old friend. People often forget that celebrities are just regular people with awesome jobs and some people need to see this type of an interaction to be reminded of it.

With the crowd growing by the second, Kinnear said thank you and headed to the exit. The crowd obviously followed the star and before we knew it, Chuck and I were standing alone with Abraham and his wife. Recognizing this as a once in a lifetime opportunity, I asked him what advice he could give to first time producers trying to make it in the film industry. He pondered the question for a moment before answering:

“Honestly? Believe in yourself. I know it sounds cliché, but you are going to face a lot of adversity in this business. You are going to get your share of bad reviews and negative press, but no one can make you stop believing in yourself. At the end of the day, if you don’t believe in yourself, why are you in the business anymore? …Believe in yourself and let your passion take you where you need to go.” – Marc Abraham, 2008 Boston Film Festival

Even though his response seemed like a well prepared speech, it came across so sincere and it truly is great advice. I think I speak for Chuck when I say that this quote has become an adopted belief that we will carry with us through our careers. We left BFF08 with a smile on our face and a growing confidence that we could be the ones giving out advice someday. With two great experiences under our belt, we turned the page and set our sights on our next festival: The 2008 New Hampshire Film Festival.

- Greg

Toronto International Film Festival 2008

by Gregory Walsh

Hello everyone! Associate producer Greg Walsh here, fresh off a twelve hour trip to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF08). Producer Chuck Pistorino orchestrated this trip to TIFF08 so that we could get a first hand experience of a big time film festival. Joining us on this trip was production designer Courtland Jones and actor/electrical specialist Zach Egan. We left on Friday at 8:00 pm and drove straight though the night, arriving in Toronto at 6am. After sleeping for an hour in the bottom floor of the parking garage, we hit the streets and started schmoozing.

First up was the Canadian comedy Control Alt Delete. A hilarious story of a man and his love for his… computer. We specifically chose this film because it was one of the premier independent comedies at TIFF08. After laughing for 93 minutes straight, we were left completely satisfied thanks to the original storyline, an extremely enthusiastic crowd, and excellent acting led by up-and-coming actor Tyler Labine.

Following the film we were treated to a Q&A with Director Cameron Labine (yes Tyler and Cameron are brothers), Producers Stephanie Symns, Lynne Stopkewich and Actor Geoff Gustafson. This Q&A was extremely informative and it gave Chuck and myself a taste of what to expect should Catching On be accepted to a major film festival (which it obviously will be accepted).

Next up, we traveled up the street to the Edison Theater to see the highest budgeted Korean film in history, The Good The Bad, The Weird. Directed by Kim Ji-woon and starring Jung Woo-sung as the Good, Lee Byung-hun as the Bad, and Song Kang-ho as the Weird. This epic remake of the John Wayne classic was perceived extremely well by the pack house. The two hour movie seemed to loose the audience around the hour and a half mark, but quickly won them back with a gun blazing showdown finale. After the film, we were treated to a Q&A from director Kim Ji-woon. He seemed to entertain the audience well, unfortunately anyone who didn’t speak fluent Korean was left in the dark waiting for the translator to relay his jokes and anecdotes.

Our final movie for TIFF08 was the South Boston (southie) based movie What Doesn’t Kill You. The film, about two childhood friends who grow up into a life of crime, starred Ethan Hawke, Amanda Peet, Donnie Wahlberg, and Mark Ruffalo. The acting was extremely convincing and the Boston accent was not murdered as it so often is in Hollywood. My only worry for this movie is that it will get lost in the tired “life of crime in Southie” storyline that has been nearly overused after the success of The Departed and Gone Baby Gone. All in all, it was an enjoyable movie and the “based on a true story” element did help to create a surprising twist at the end of the film.

Associate Producer Gregory Walsh (left) and Producer Chuck Pistorino (right) at TIFF08.

Unfortunately though, I was disappointed when there was no Q&A session following film. When you are paying $20.00 a ticket and driving 12 hours to attend a film festival, you do tend to expect something other than just watching the film. However, this was my only complaint and I still thought it was a movie worth watching. All in all, it was a great way to end our Toronto International Film Festival experience.

Toronto was such a great experience for us because we got first hand experience of what to expect from a major film festival. As producers, Chuck and I will be attending many different film festivals all across the continent in support of Catching On: The Day the World Turned Gay and we will be capturing all the behind the scenes antics for podcasts! Once we get a couple festivals under our belt, look for a hilarious “Film festival recap” podcast! As for now? We are off to our second Film Festival: The 2008 Boston Film Festival in Cambridge, MA!

-Greg