The Whitewater Roundtable strives to facilitate community-building within the independent film industry. Through a series of face-to-face, lunch-time discussions addressing the art and craft of filmmaking, industry professionals share the freshest information on a wide spectrum of topics.
Their most recent panel featured a lively discussion on the art and commerce of short films, presented in conjunction with the Hollyshorts Film Festival. Other Roundtables, featured in The Hollywood Reporter , The Huffington Post , The Wrap and Film Closings , have addressed: how to successfully market indie films in the post-print media era, the interplay of image and music, piracy and its effect on independent films, the rise of Transmedia, the impact casting continues to have on foreign pre-sales and domestic deals, and much more. Check out highlights from the State of Independent Film roundtable on Ondi Timoner's a Total Disruption.
The Whitewater Roundtable is moderated by a professional member of the press, previously Jeremy Kay of Screen International and our very own Dana Harris of Indiewire, and guests are encouraged to participate in the discussions that follow a lunch hosted by Rick Rosenthal and the team at Whitewater Films.
A special 5th Year Anniversary Whitewater Film Roundtable titled "#Tbt - Whitewater Films Roundtable - 5 Years Later How has Independent Film Changed," featuring the original panelists from the very first Whitewater Films Roundtable will take place on April 30, 2015 from 1- 3pm in the courtyard at Whitewater Films, 2013 Beloit Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025.
You can RSVP to rsvp@whitewaterfilms.com
Previous panelists have included:
Lynette Howell / Silverwood Films Liesl Copland / Wme Nadine DeBarros / Voltage Pictures Austin Wintory / Composer Anne Goursaud / Editor iZLER / Composer Jordan Passman / scoreAscore Jay Fernandez / Hollywood Reporter (moderator) Sharon Waxman / The Wrap (moderator) Jeremy Kay / Screen International (moderator) Sara Vizcarrondo / Boxoffice Magazine (moderator) Dana Harris / Indiewire (Moderator) Nancy Collet / Cinema Collet Eric d'Aberloff / Roadside Attractions Naomi Despres / Producer Tom Clary / Scoundrel FX Michael Cioni / Lightiron Digital David Cole / LaserPacific Sylvia Desrochers / Big Time PR Harris Done / Writer, director, cameraman Jacob Aaron Estes / Filmmaker And many more.....
Their most recent panel featured a lively discussion on the art and commerce of short films, presented in conjunction with the Hollyshorts Film Festival. Other Roundtables, featured in The Hollywood Reporter , The Huffington Post , The Wrap and Film Closings , have addressed: how to successfully market indie films in the post-print media era, the interplay of image and music, piracy and its effect on independent films, the rise of Transmedia, the impact casting continues to have on foreign pre-sales and domestic deals, and much more. Check out highlights from the State of Independent Film roundtable on Ondi Timoner's a Total Disruption.
The Whitewater Roundtable is moderated by a professional member of the press, previously Jeremy Kay of Screen International and our very own Dana Harris of Indiewire, and guests are encouraged to participate in the discussions that follow a lunch hosted by Rick Rosenthal and the team at Whitewater Films.
A special 5th Year Anniversary Whitewater Film Roundtable titled "#Tbt - Whitewater Films Roundtable - 5 Years Later How has Independent Film Changed," featuring the original panelists from the very first Whitewater Films Roundtable will take place on April 30, 2015 from 1- 3pm in the courtyard at Whitewater Films, 2013 Beloit Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025.
You can RSVP to rsvp@whitewaterfilms.com
Previous panelists have included:
Lynette Howell / Silverwood Films Liesl Copland / Wme Nadine DeBarros / Voltage Pictures Austin Wintory / Composer Anne Goursaud / Editor iZLER / Composer Jordan Passman / scoreAscore Jay Fernandez / Hollywood Reporter (moderator) Sharon Waxman / The Wrap (moderator) Jeremy Kay / Screen International (moderator) Sara Vizcarrondo / Boxoffice Magazine (moderator) Dana Harris / Indiewire (Moderator) Nancy Collet / Cinema Collet Eric d'Aberloff / Roadside Attractions Naomi Despres / Producer Tom Clary / Scoundrel FX Michael Cioni / Lightiron Digital David Cole / LaserPacific Sylvia Desrochers / Big Time PR Harris Done / Writer, director, cameraman Jacob Aaron Estes / Filmmaker And many more.....
- 4/22/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Five Hungarian Holocaust survivors, living in America, remember the awful events of their deportation, imprisonment and the difficult aftermath in deeply moving and disturbing documentary "The Last Days" -- the premiere feature documentary from the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation.
The October Films release, executive produced by Shoah Foundation founder Steven Spielberg, arrives in theaters just in time to benefit from a possible Oscar nomination. But, like massive project to record the testimonies of thousands of Holocaust survivors, it will be available to present and future generations as an almost unbearably sobering remembrance of this dark chapter in human history.
Directed and edited by James Moll, "The Last Days" focuses on Hungary because it was the last country invaded by Germany and its Jewish population was hurriedly moved to concentration camps in Poland. With the Allies clearly winning the war, the effort to exterminate the Jews was increased. As one participant says, Hitler was determined to not lose the war against the Jews.
We are introduced to five men and women -- U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos, D-Calif., artist Alice Lok Cahana, teacher Renee Firestone, businessman Bill Basch and grandmother Irene Zisblatt -- as they recall their country and lives before the war. Although much of Europe was in flames and death camps were already in operation, the suppression of Jews in Hungary came about slowly -- until Germany invaded.
Moll conducts straightforward interviews, utilizes brutally graphic archival footage and shows the five on their painful return visits to hometowns and the camps. Each one of these remarkable individuals has memories that searingly get under one's skin, even after the numerous outstanding works on the subject.
Take, for example, Zisblatt who was born in Poleno, Czechoslovakia (which was annexed to Hungary in the late 1930s and now is part of Ukraine). Initially relocated to the Munkacs Ghetto -- after a terrifying two weeks hiding in their sealed home -- she and her family were herded into cattle cars and told the train would take them to a rural region to make wine.
Sensing that they were headed toward something far worse than forced labor, Zisblatt's mother gave her a few diamonds to use for food should they be separated. Upon their arrival in Auschwitz their worst nightmares were realized. In an initial strip search, she swallowed the diamonds -- and kept on swallowing and recovering them during her long ordeal. Today, they are a family icon to be passed on to the first daughters of future generations.
Zisblatt in the grips of the horror realized "they" wanted something from her. But she vowed they would never have her soul after taking everything else.
THE LAST DAYS
October Films
Steven Spielberg and Survivors of the Shoah
Visual History Foundation present
A Ken Lipper/June Beallor production
Director-editor: James Moll
Producers: June Beallor, Ken Lipper
Executive producer"Steven Spielberg
Director of photography: Harris Done
Music: Hans Zimmer
Color, black and white/stereo
With: Congressman Tom Lantos, Alice Lok Cahana, Renee Firestone, Bill Basch, Irene Zisblatt
Running time -- 87 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
The October Films release, executive produced by Shoah Foundation founder Steven Spielberg, arrives in theaters just in time to benefit from a possible Oscar nomination. But, like massive project to record the testimonies of thousands of Holocaust survivors, it will be available to present and future generations as an almost unbearably sobering remembrance of this dark chapter in human history.
Directed and edited by James Moll, "The Last Days" focuses on Hungary because it was the last country invaded by Germany and its Jewish population was hurriedly moved to concentration camps in Poland. With the Allies clearly winning the war, the effort to exterminate the Jews was increased. As one participant says, Hitler was determined to not lose the war against the Jews.
We are introduced to five men and women -- U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos, D-Calif., artist Alice Lok Cahana, teacher Renee Firestone, businessman Bill Basch and grandmother Irene Zisblatt -- as they recall their country and lives before the war. Although much of Europe was in flames and death camps were already in operation, the suppression of Jews in Hungary came about slowly -- until Germany invaded.
Moll conducts straightforward interviews, utilizes brutally graphic archival footage and shows the five on their painful return visits to hometowns and the camps. Each one of these remarkable individuals has memories that searingly get under one's skin, even after the numerous outstanding works on the subject.
Take, for example, Zisblatt who was born in Poleno, Czechoslovakia (which was annexed to Hungary in the late 1930s and now is part of Ukraine). Initially relocated to the Munkacs Ghetto -- after a terrifying two weeks hiding in their sealed home -- she and her family were herded into cattle cars and told the train would take them to a rural region to make wine.
Sensing that they were headed toward something far worse than forced labor, Zisblatt's mother gave her a few diamonds to use for food should they be separated. Upon their arrival in Auschwitz their worst nightmares were realized. In an initial strip search, she swallowed the diamonds -- and kept on swallowing and recovering them during her long ordeal. Today, they are a family icon to be passed on to the first daughters of future generations.
Zisblatt in the grips of the horror realized "they" wanted something from her. But she vowed they would never have her soul after taking everything else.
THE LAST DAYS
October Films
Steven Spielberg and Survivors of the Shoah
Visual History Foundation present
A Ken Lipper/June Beallor production
Director-editor: James Moll
Producers: June Beallor, Ken Lipper
Executive producer"Steven Spielberg
Director of photography: Harris Done
Music: Hans Zimmer
Color, black and white/stereo
With: Congressman Tom Lantos, Alice Lok Cahana, Renee Firestone, Bill Basch, Irene Zisblatt
Running time -- 87 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
"There was a report of a pod of dolphins off the coast of Mexico who spent three days swimming around a dying dolphin, trying to keep him afloat. They took turns pushing him back to the surface for air until they finally let the ocean have her way."
Thus is the stage set for "Ocean Tribe", a winning portrait of a group of childhood surfer buddies who reunite to see their terminally ill friend catch one last wave.
First-time writer-director Will Geiger makes a considerable splash with this energetic and moving picture, which recently received its world premiere at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival.
Despite its subject matter, this is no movie-of-the-week sob story. Packed with colorful characterizations and breathtaking surfing cinematography, "Ocean Tribe" defies its bottom-of-the-barrel budget with rich storytelling and production values.
When they receive word that their childhood pal Bob Vaughn Roberts) is lying in a cancer ward with a grim future, Noah (Gregg Rainwater), Schwartz (Robert Caso), Jeb (Troy Fazio) and Lance (Mark Matheisen) reunite for the first time in seven years for a farewell road trip to Baja, Mexico.
Of course, things have changed since high school. Noah has a green-card wife and is about to become a father; Schwartz is on the verge of becoming a doctor even though he's terrified of the sight of blood; rebel Jeb just came out of prison after serving time for a drug offense; and ladies' man Lance is having trouble kick-starting his acting career.
When they show up to kidnap their buddy from his hospital bed, Bob, freshly bald from chemotherapy sessions, is less than enthusiastic. But when his friends return with shaved heads and refuse to take no for an answer, he ultimately goes along for the ride.
Strapping a wheelchair to the top of their brightly painted Olds ambulance-turned-surf wagon, they take to the road in search of a monster swell, not to mention themselves.
Geiger's cast, many of whom have worked with Tim Robbins' Actors Gang, make for a believable group of childhood friends -- in many ways no longer the people they once were, though they often revert to their old behavioral patterns.
The film is not without its share of murky plot points and could do with fewer montages of sun-kissed vistas, but Geiger shows considerable promise as a writer and director. A twilight sequence involving the actors swimming among a group of dolphins is magic, as is the touching closing scene.
Technical contributions are all first-rate, led off by Harris Done's crisp photography and, especially, Jeff Neu's invigorating water footage. Jeremy Kasten's smooth editing and Sean Murray's always-in-sync atmospheric score also shine.
OCEAN TRIBE
SeaReel Prods.
Director-screenwriter Will Geiger
Producer Will Geiger
Director of photography Harris Done
Art director Steve Espinoza
Editor Jeremy Kasten
Costume designer Georgia Alemanni
Music Sean Murray
Color/stereo
Cast:
Noah Gregg Rainwater
Schwartz Robert Caso
Jeb Troy Fazio
Lance Mark Matheisen
Bob Vaughn Roberts
Padre Delbert Brian Brophy
Running time -- 102 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Thus is the stage set for "Ocean Tribe", a winning portrait of a group of childhood surfer buddies who reunite to see their terminally ill friend catch one last wave.
First-time writer-director Will Geiger makes a considerable splash with this energetic and moving picture, which recently received its world premiere at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival.
Despite its subject matter, this is no movie-of-the-week sob story. Packed with colorful characterizations and breathtaking surfing cinematography, "Ocean Tribe" defies its bottom-of-the-barrel budget with rich storytelling and production values.
When they receive word that their childhood pal Bob Vaughn Roberts) is lying in a cancer ward with a grim future, Noah (Gregg Rainwater), Schwartz (Robert Caso), Jeb (Troy Fazio) and Lance (Mark Matheisen) reunite for the first time in seven years for a farewell road trip to Baja, Mexico.
Of course, things have changed since high school. Noah has a green-card wife and is about to become a father; Schwartz is on the verge of becoming a doctor even though he's terrified of the sight of blood; rebel Jeb just came out of prison after serving time for a drug offense; and ladies' man Lance is having trouble kick-starting his acting career.
When they show up to kidnap their buddy from his hospital bed, Bob, freshly bald from chemotherapy sessions, is less than enthusiastic. But when his friends return with shaved heads and refuse to take no for an answer, he ultimately goes along for the ride.
Strapping a wheelchair to the top of their brightly painted Olds ambulance-turned-surf wagon, they take to the road in search of a monster swell, not to mention themselves.
Geiger's cast, many of whom have worked with Tim Robbins' Actors Gang, make for a believable group of childhood friends -- in many ways no longer the people they once were, though they often revert to their old behavioral patterns.
The film is not without its share of murky plot points and could do with fewer montages of sun-kissed vistas, but Geiger shows considerable promise as a writer and director. A twilight sequence involving the actors swimming among a group of dolphins is magic, as is the touching closing scene.
Technical contributions are all first-rate, led off by Harris Done's crisp photography and, especially, Jeff Neu's invigorating water footage. Jeremy Kasten's smooth editing and Sean Murray's always-in-sync atmospheric score also shine.
OCEAN TRIBE
SeaReel Prods.
Director-screenwriter Will Geiger
Producer Will Geiger
Director of photography Harris Done
Art director Steve Espinoza
Editor Jeremy Kasten
Costume designer Georgia Alemanni
Music Sean Murray
Color/stereo
Cast:
Noah Gregg Rainwater
Schwartz Robert Caso
Jeb Troy Fazio
Lance Mark Matheisen
Bob Vaughn Roberts
Padre Delbert Brian Brophy
Running time -- 102 minutes
No MPAA rating...
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