Mickey Reece’s Alien[/caption]
Mickey Reece’s Alien is a part comedy/drama/fantasy feature film that delves into divine existentialism and conveys a unique reimagining of the later years of Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s tumultuous marriage.
Mickey Reece’s Alien will be showcased on Friday, June 9 at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the 17th annual deadCenter Film Festival. The film will screen at the Harkins Theatre in Bricktown.
The black-and-white film was written and directed by Mickey Reece and produced by Mickey Reece, Cate Jones, Ron Sutor, James Paulsgrove, Beth Alonso, John Scamehorn, Joe Cappa and Jacob Ryan Snovel in association with Freestyle Creative. “Mickey Reece’s Alien” presents a talented cast, starring Jacob Ryan Snovel (Elvis) and Cate Jones (Priscilla), and featuring Alex Sanchez, John Selvidge and Michaelene Stephenson.
Surrounding discussion of existentialism, Reece capitalized on the idea that Elvis was not of this world and rarely understood, yielding the name “Alien.”
The indie fiction film started as a passion project on Seed&Spark, a crowdfunding website specifically for filmmakers. Reece said he was inspired by John Carpenter’s “Elvis,” Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood,” Kenneth Anger’s “Scorpio Rising” and Ingmar Bergman’s “Persona.”
“When I view the finished product of any movie I’ve made, I know exactly what past film, whether it be an important one or piece of garbage, influenced a particular choice. I think for any cinema buff it is important to see those influences still making it onto the screen in some fashion today,” Reece said.
“It’s an Elvis film that digs into Elvis but it’s also fantastical and hilarious,” Snovel said. “There’s no mistake in the movie. There’s an artistic integrity to the film; it wasn’t just ‘Let’s make an Elvis movie.'”
The deadCenter Film Festival runs June 8 to 11, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWR2Dk0iur0DeadCenter (deadCENTER) Film Festival
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MICKEY REECE’S ALIEN Tackles Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s Marriage at deadCenter Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_22402" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Mickey Reece’s Alien[/caption]
Mickey Reece’s Alien is a part comedy/drama/fantasy feature film that delves into divine existentialism and conveys a unique reimagining of the later years of Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s tumultuous marriage.
Mickey Reece’s Alien will be showcased on Friday, June 9 at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the 17th annual deadCenter Film Festival. The film will screen at the Harkins Theatre in Bricktown.
The black-and-white film was written and directed by Mickey Reece and produced by Mickey Reece, Cate Jones, Ron Sutor, James Paulsgrove, Beth Alonso, John Scamehorn, Joe Cappa and Jacob Ryan Snovel in association with Freestyle Creative. “Mickey Reece’s Alien” presents a talented cast, starring Jacob Ryan Snovel (Elvis) and Cate Jones (Priscilla), and featuring Alex Sanchez, John Selvidge and Michaelene Stephenson.
Surrounding discussion of existentialism, Reece capitalized on the idea that Elvis was not of this world and rarely understood, yielding the name “Alien.”
The indie fiction film started as a passion project on Seed&Spark, a crowdfunding website specifically for filmmakers. Reece said he was inspired by John Carpenter’s “Elvis,” Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood,” Kenneth Anger’s “Scorpio Rising” and Ingmar Bergman’s “Persona.”
“When I view the finished product of any movie I’ve made, I know exactly what past film, whether it be an important one or piece of garbage, influenced a particular choice. I think for any cinema buff it is important to see those influences still making it onto the screen in some fashion today,” Reece said.
“It’s an Elvis film that digs into Elvis but it’s also fantastical and hilarious,” Snovel said. “There’s no mistake in the movie. There’s an artistic integrity to the film; it wasn’t just ‘Let’s make an Elvis movie.'”
The deadCenter Film Festival runs June 8 to 11, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWR2Dk0iur0
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deadCENTER Film Festival Announces 2016 Dates, Opens Call For Entries
The 16th deadCENTER Film Festival will take place Wednesday, June 8 through Sunday, June 12, 2016 in downtown Oklahoma City. Filmmakers may submit their films for review beginning on Monday, Aug. 10. Films will be selected in the following categories: narrative feature, documentary feature, narrative short, documentary short, student film and Oklahoma film.
Submissions can be made online through submissions platform, FilmFreeway. The early bird deadline is Oct. 31 and entry fees vary based on the type of submission: $40 for narrative and documentary features, $25 for narrative shorts, documentary shorts, and Oklahoma films, and $20 for college films. High school films are free to submit.
From hilarious comedies and Oscar nominated documentaries to scary horror films and intense dramas, deadCENTER selects a broad slate of films that cater to all tastes. More than 1000 films were submitted in 2015 from Oklahoma and around the world, and 110 were selected for an official screening. The festival added a distribution forum in 2012 to help filmmakers connect with sales agents and distributors.
“For 16 years, deadCENTER has featured over 1,500 quality independent films providing a nationally recognized platform for filmmakers to share their work,” Director of Programming and Education Kim Haywood said. “The level of competition has escalated considerably over the last few years, attracting talent like Tim Blake Nelson, James Marsden, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Famke Janssen, Wes Studi, Bob Berney, Oscar winners Gray Frederickson, Matthew W. Mungle, and Albert S. Ruddy to Oklahoma City. 2016 is gearing up to be equally as amazing.”
A record-breaking 30,000 people attended the screenings in 2015, generating an economic impact of more than $1.25 million for Oklahoma City.
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BEING EVEL, WELCOME TO HAPPINESS Win Top Awards at 15th deadCENTER Film Festival
A documentary about the complicated legacy of Evel Knievel and a metaphysical drama about a children’s book author won top honors at the 15th deadCENTER Film Festival, held June 10-14 in downtown Oklahoma City.
“Being Evel,” (pictured above) by Academy Award-winning director Daniel Junge was selected as Best Documentary Feature, and Best Narrative Feature was awarded to Director Oliver Thompson’s “Welcome to Happiness.”
A generation of Americans grew up worshipping self-styled hero Evel Knievel – watching him every Saturday on Wide World of Sports and buying his Ideal toys. For producer/subject Johnny Knoxville and so many others, he was the ultimate antidote to the disenchantment of the 70’s. But few knew the incredible and often complex aspects of his epic life, which, like his jumps, was sometimes glorious and sometimes disastrous. With an entire genre of sports ascending from his daring inventiveness, now is the time to look at this extreme man and his complicated legacy.
“Being Evel” producers include Johnny Knoxville, Jeff Tremaine, Mat Hoffman, Brendan Kiernan, Justin Moore-Lewy and Daniel Junge.
“Welcome to Happiness” (pictured above) is a metaphysical drama featuring Nick Offerman about a children’s book author who is the gatekeeper to a mysterious door in his closet that only allows certain people to enter. When he learns where the door leads, his life is forever changed.
Best Narrative Short honors went to “This Way Up” by Director Jeremy Cloe, and Christopher André Marks’ “Tiger Hood” won Best Documentary Short.
“Skid,” by Ryan “Staples” Scott, won for Best Oklahoma Feature, and “Course of Food,” directed by Christopher Hunt and produced by Chef Marc Dunham, was chosen as Best Oklahoma Short.
Yoko Okumura’s “Kimi Kabuki” was voted Best Student Film.
Special Jury honors went to “Best of Enemies” in the documentary category, and “The Overnight” for narrative.
2015 deadCENTER Film Festival Award Winners
Best Narrative Feature: “Welcome to Happiness”
Best Documentary Feature: “Being Evel”
Best Narrative Short: “This Way Up”
Best Documentary Short: “Tiger Hood”
Best Oklahoma Feature: “Skid”
Best Oklahoma Short: “Course of Food”
Best Student Film: “Kimi Kabuki”
Special Jury Short: “Nomansland”
Special Jury Documentary: “Best of Enemies”
Special Jury Narrative: “The Overnight”
via deadCENTER Film Festival
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2015 deadCENTER Film Festival to Open With ‘Best of Enemies’ and ‘Rolling Papers’
For the first time in its 15-year history, 2015 deadCENTER Film Festival will roll-out two official Opening Night films: “Best of Enemies,” at 6 p.m. and “Rolling Papers” at 8:30 p.m.at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr.
The 15th Annual deadCENTER Film Festival will take place from Wednesday, June 11 through Sunday, June 14 at five locations in downtown Oklahoma City.
“Best of Enemies” is a feature documentary directed by Robert Gordon and Oscar winner Moran Neville that follows William F. Buckley, leader of the new conservative movement, and Gore Vidal, leftist novelist and polemicist, as they battle for the soul of America in a series of debates hosted by ABC during the 1968 Presidential Conventions. The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Running time: 87 min.
“Rolling Papers” (pictured above) is a feature documentary directed by Mitch Dickman about the Denver Post’s Ricardo Baca, the world’s first marijuana editor of a major newspaper. Policy news, strain reviews, parenting advice and edible recipes are the new norm on a new beat: pot journalism. Running time: 79 min.
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Oklahoma Film HOLLIS to Premiere at deadCENTER Film Festival
Filmed in rural Oklahoma, the feature film HOLLIS will premiere at Oklahoma City’s deadCENTER Film Festival taking place June 10 through 14, 2015
On Thursday, June 11, “Hollis” will be playing at Harkins Theater (150 East Reno Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73104) at 7 p.m., with an encore showing Saturday, June 13 at noon. Individual tickets will go on sale 20 minutes before the showing.
The film follows a young man, Darryl, who is forced to make the decision of staying in small town Hollis, Okla. to take care of his family versus going of to college to pursue his lifelong dreams.
Should Darryl stay home and protect his brother Hollis, who has cerebral palsy, from his abusive father? Or, should he head of to Duke University to make his dreams come true?
Written and directed by Sonny Priest (of Tall Gardener Motion Pictures), this film showcases a talented cast including Ty Fanning (“Secrets of a Psychopath”, “Home Run”) who plays Darryl, and Matt Altobelli, an OU acting graduate. The film also stars the talented Terry Masters and Cassidee Vandalia (who has acted alongside Javier Bardem in “To the Wonder”).
Produced by Adam Carter of Tall Gardener Motion Pictures, Brian Christopher Cates of Behold Motion Pictures(“Where Was God?”) and Vahid Farzaneh of Freestyle Marketing + Films (“The Posthuman Project,” “No One Knows”) this film is shot entirely in Oklahoma.
“Everything was for Okies by Okies. We shot in Hollis, El Reno, Wellston, near Kingfisher, and all around Oklahoma City. People really opened their doors for us, and we felt the support of the communities as a whole,” said writer and director Sonny Priest.
“We are extremely proud and excited to have Hollis’ world premiere at deadCENTER in Oklahoma City,” said producer Adam Carter. “It’s very cool to think that all of this started here in Oklahoma and is now coming to fruition in Oklahoma. I could not be more proud of our team who worked so hard and long for this dream to be realized. We are so excited for the world to see a bit of Oklahoma filmmaking.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1cY3_r6Azs
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100 Films Selected For 2015 deadCENTER Film Festival
Approximately 100 films have been selected for official screenings at the 15th Annual deadCENTER Film Festival to take place Wednesday, June 10 through Sunday, June 14 at five locations in downtown Oklahoma City.
More than 1,000 films were submitted for the 2015 deadCENTER Film Festival, including comedies, dramas, documentaries and short films from Oklahoma and around the world. Click here to view the schedule
“With well over 1,000 submissions, this was our most competitive year ever,” said Kim Haywood, director of programming and education for deadCENTER Film Festival. “It was a great thrill to see a record eight featurefilms produced in Oklahoma make the cut. It is obvious that our great universities and our state rebate program are having a huge impact on the growth of the film industry here in Oklahoma.”
According to the festival, more than 25,000 people attended deadCENTER Film Festival screenings in 2014, generating an economic impact of approximately $2.1 million for Oklahoma City.
Indoor screening locations will include the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr., Harkins Bricktown 16, 150 E. Reno Ave., Devon Energy Auditorium, 333 W. Sheridan Ave., and the Terrace Room at Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave.
All Access passes are available online for $125 ($75 for students), and gains the holder priority admission to every film, party, panel and special event. Individual tickets may be purchased for $10 at the door prior to each screening. Admission priority is given to pass holders.
There will also be three outdoor screenings that are free and open to the public at The Great Lawn at Myriad Botanical Gardens.
The deadCENTER Film Festival is Oklahoma’s largest film festival, named for its geographic location in the center of the U.S. The nonprofit organization provides year-round events and education to support its mission to promote, encourage and celebrate the independent film arts.
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deadCENTER Film Festival announces 2015 dates, opens call for entries
The 15th annual deadCENTER Film Festival will take place Wednesday, June 10 through Sunday, June 14, 2015 in downtown Oklahoma City. Filmmakers may submit their films for review now. Films will be selected in the following categories: narrative feature, documentary feature, narrative short, documentary short, animations, student film and Oklahoma film.
New this year, submissions can be made online through submissions platform, Submittable, at www.deadcenterfilm.org.
The early bird deadline is Nov. 30 and entry fees vary based on the type of submission: $40 for narrative and documentary features, $25 for narrative and documentary shorts, animations and Oklahoma films, and $20 for college films. High school films are free to submit.
From hilarious comedies and insightful documentaries to scary horror films and intense dramas, deadCENTER selects a broad slate of films that cater to all tastes. More than 1000 films were submitted in 2014 from Oklahoma and around the world, and 90 were selected for an official screening. The festival added a distribution forum in 2012 to help filmmakers connect with sales agents and distributors.
“For 14 years, deadCENTER has featured over 1,400 quality independent films providing a nationally recognized platform for filmmakers to share their work,” Director of Programming/Festival Director Kim Haywood said. “The level of competition has escalated considerably over the last few years, attracting talent like James Marsden, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Famke Janssen, Wes Studi, Daisy Von Scherler Mayer and Oscar winners Gray Frederickson, Matthew W. Mungle, and Albert S. Ruddy to Oklahoma City. We can’t wait to see what surprises 2015 will hold.”
A record-breaking 25,000 people attended the screenings in 2014, generating an economic impact of more than $1.25 million for Oklahoma City.
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‘Hellion’ and ‘Alive Inside’ take top honors at 14th annual deadCENTER Film Festival
HellionA portrait of a family on the brink of dissolution set against the haunting backdrop of the refineries of Southeast Texas, and a heartwarming story about the healing power of music, have won top honors at the 14th annual deadCENTER Film Festival, held June 11-15 in downtown Oklahoma City.
“Hellion,” directed by Kat Candler, was selected as the Grand Jury Narrative Feature category winner, and Michael Rossato-Bennett’s “Alive Inside” won top honors in the Grand Jury Documentary Feature category.
Other award-winners included:
“Hellion” – Grand Jury Narrative Feature
Director Kat Candler won Best Narrative Short at last year’s deadCENTER Film Festival for Black Metal and also screened the short film Hellion here before debuting the feature at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Hellion is a portrait of a family on the brink of dissolution set against the haunting backdrop of the refineries of Southeast Texas and stars Emmy Award winner Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) and Oscar nominee Juliette Lewis.
“Alive Inside” – Grand Jury Documentary Feature
“Alive Inside” debuted at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and became an internet sensation when a clip from the film was shared millions of times online. “Alive Inside” follows Dan Cohen who, on a whim, brings iPods to a nursing home to work with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. To everyone’s surprise- residents with memory loss ‘awaken’ when they hear music from their past.
Special Jury Prize: “The Case Against 8,” a behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California’s ban on same-sex marriage. Directed by Ben Cotner and Ryan White.
Special Jury Oklahoma: “Sewing Hope,” the story of Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe and her fight to bring hope back to her nation after 25 years of terror in northern Uganda at the hands of Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army. Directed by Derek Watson.
Best Oklahoman Film: “The Posthuman Project,” the story of a group of high school friends who go on a rock-climbing trip to celebrate their graduation, the teens receive a genetic boost that gives them superhero abilities. Directed by Kyle Roberts.
The Posthuman Project is the feature film debut of Emmy Award winning music video director and NewsOK videographer Kyle Roberts. When Denny and four of his closest friends go on a rock-climbing trip to celebrate their high school graduation, the teens receive a genetic boost that gives them superhero abilities. With amazing special effects and an inspirational story, The Posthuman Project is exciting fun for the entire family.
Best Narrative Short: “The Karman Line,” the story of a mother who contracts an unusual illness and begins to rise gradually into the air. Directed by Oscar Sharp.
Best Documentary Short: “Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace,” follows New York-based painter Kehinde Wiley as he steps out of his comfort zone to create a series of paintings of women and reveal a new look at beauty in the 21st Century. Directed by Jeff Dupre.
Best Student Film: “Playtime,” the story of a 10-year-old British expat living with his mother in a suburban neighborhood in Kuwait. Directed by Hamad Al-Tourah.
Best Short Screenplay: “Tattoo,” by R. Wayne Gray.
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deadCENTER Film Festival to open with Winterbottom’s improv comedy “The Trip to Italy”
The Trip to ItalyThe official opening night film for the 14th annual deadCENTER Film Festival will be the improv comedy “The Trip to Italy,” screening at 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 12 at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The 14th annual deadCENTER Film Festival will take place Wednesday, June 11 through Sunday, June 15 at five locations in downtown Oklahoma City.
“The Trip to Italy” is a semi-fictional improvised tour of Italy from director Michael Winterbottom starring two of Britain’s best loved comedic actors: Oscar nominee Steve Coogan (Philomena) and Rob Brydon. In the long awaited follow-up to the smash hit comedy “The Trip,” Coogan and Brydon embark on a new culinary road trip around Italy in the summer, where they enjoy mouthwatering meals in the gorgeous surroundings of Liguria, Tuscany, Rome, Amalfi and Capri. They riff on subjects as varied as Batman’s vocal register, Pompeii, the artistic merits of Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill,” and compete on who can do the best Michael Caine impersonation.
The film is rated PG-13. Running time is 1 hour, 55 minutes.
http://youtu.be/DtlEQ6y8Rp8
Michael Winterbottom is a British director who brought Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Simon Baker and Jessica Alba to Oklahoma in 2009 to create a filmed version of the acclaimed crime novel, “The Killer Inside Me,” by Oklahoma novelist Jim Thompson.
FrankAt 8:30 p.m., “Frank,” directed by Lenny Abrahamson and starring Oscar nominees Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Fassbender, will receive its Oklahoma premiere screening in the Access Midstream Theater at Harkins Bricktown.
“Frank,” a quirky comedy that electrified audiences at its Sundance Film Festival debut, is the story of Jon, a young wannabe musician, who discovers he’s bitten off more than he can chew when he joins an eccentric pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank. Running time 95 min.
http://youtu.be/Wk-hWzq67w4
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deadCENTER Film Festival Announces 2014 Dates
The 14th annual deadCENTER Film Festival, named for its central geographic location (in Oklahoma City, the center of the U.S.), announced 2014 dates – the festival will take place Wednesday, June 11 through Sunday, June 15, 2014 in downtown Oklahoma City. Filmmakers may submit their films for review beginning on Monday, Aug. 19.
Films will be selected in the following categories: narrative feature, documentary feature, narrative short, documentary short, student film, Oklahoma film and short screenplay. Submissions can be made online at www.deadcenterfilm.org. The early bird deadline is Nov. 30 and entry fees vary based on the type of submission: $40 for narrative and documentary features, $25 for narrative and documentary shorts and Oklahoma films, $20 for college films and screenplays. High school films are free to submit.
image via Facebook
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“THE SPECTACULAR NOW” and “OUT OF PRINT” Win Top Awards at 2013 deadCENTER Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_3372" align="alignnone" width="550"]
THE SPECTACULAR NOW[/caption]“THE SPECTACULAR NOW,” directed by James Ponsoldt, won the Grand Jury Feature category, and Vivienne Roumani’s “OUT OF PRINT” won top honors in the Grand Jury Documentary category at the 2013 deadCENTER Film Festival. THE SPECTACULAR NOW is a “sharply witty coming-of-age story” of youth confronting the funny, thrilling and perilous business of modern love and adulthood. OUT OF PRINT is “a thoughtful look into the impact of the digital revolution” with testimonials from authors, entrepreneurs, and educators alike highlighting how the digital revolution is changing every aspect of the printed word – and how it’s changing us.
Winners also included:
Special Jury Feature: “WORM”
Special Jury Short: “Running Deer”
Okie Feature: “Home, James”
Okie Short: “Sherman & Pacifico”
Narrative Short: “Black Metal”
Documentary Short: “This is Normal”
Screenplay: “Uterus Chat”
Student Film: “The Treehouse”
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Hollywood producer Hunt Lowry to Receive 2013 Oklahoma Film ICON Award at deadCenter Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_3876" align="alignnone" width="640"]
deadCENTER Film Festival in Oklahoma[/caption]Hollywood producer and Oklahoma City native Hunt Lowry will receive the 2013 Oklahoma Film ICON Award at at 2013 deadCENTER Film Festival in Oklahoma. This year’s festival is June 5 to 9, and features a lineup of 115 comedies, dramas, hard-hitting documentaries and short films from Oklahoma and around the world
The Oklahoma Film ICON Award is given annually to an outstanding Oklahoman whose success in the film industry brings honor to the state and helps increase the profile of the local film industry. This is the second year for the award. Last year’s recipients were Oscar-winning producer Gray Frederickson and actor James Marsden from Stillwater.
Lowry, a Casady grad, is best known for producing the Oscar-winning epic “The Last of the Mohicans” and the legal thriller “A Time to Kill,” starring Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock and Samuel L. Jackson. He started his career on classic comedies like “Airplane!” and “Top Secret” before shifting gears to bring the intense family drama “Surviving” home to be filmed in Oklahoma City. He captured the teen market with his Gaylord Films “A Walk to Remember,” “What a Girl Wants,” “A Cinderella Story,” and the “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.” During the past decade, Lowry has produced successful comedies like the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie,” and “Thou Shalt Laugh.” Independent film lovers hail the cult classic “Donnie Darko” as Lowry’s masterpiece.