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Testing the YouTube waters
An evening in St. Paul occasioned Signal Pictures first upload to the video sharing website.
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MN Narrative Short Filmmakers at Mpls-St. Paul Int'l Film Fest
Signal Pictures short film, "Forgotten," recently screened in the Minnesota Shorts section of the 2008 Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival. The sold-out event was curated by local Fearless Filmmaker's impresario Bobby Marsden and hosted by the Minnesota Film Board's Chris Grap. Many of the filmmakers were on hand for a post-screening Q&A and group photo (click to enlarge). Back row, L to R: Jesse Roesler ("Secrets of the Symmetrical Gentlemen"), Victor Rukavina ("Flesh"), JoEllen Martinson and William Scott Rees ("The Epicene"), and Christopher Gegax ("Forgotten"). Front row, L to R: Sarah Morreim ("Good Morning"), Casey Stangl ("C U @ ED's"), and Andrew Hunt ("Polished"). (Photo by Peter Lee).
Signal Pictures 'Forgotten' screens at Mpls-St. Paul Int'l Film Fest
Signal Pictures is pleased to announce our most recent short film, "Forgotten," will have its first festival screening Tuesday, April 29, 7pm, in the Minnesota Shorts section of the 2008 Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival. You can read a write-up about the film in City Pages. Starring newcomer Katie Rhoades and stage veteran Marilyn Murray, "Forgotten" is about a nun’s chance encounter with a troubled young woman. It is written by Julie Meyer and directed by Christopher Gegax. The screening takes place at St. Anthony Main Cinemas, 115 Main Street NE, Minneapolis (cheap parking at St. Anthony Falls Ramp). This program is likely to sell-out. Arrive early to guarantee a seat, or purchase tickets online.
Signal Pictures teams with Emergence Pictures
Signal Pictures has joined Emergence Pictures to help raise funds for their locally-made documentary film called “The Red Tail.” "The Red Tail" is about Roy Koch, a Northwest Airlines mechanic for 23 years, who, in 2005, after corporate betrayal and faced with layoffs, made the painful choice to strike. "The Red Tail" chronicles this working-class American family’s struggle to adapt to globalization, and seeks to give a voice to employees whose lives were painfully uprooted.
A fundraiser, entitled “ Rock the Red Tail," will take place March 22, 2008, from 7-11pm, at In the Heart of the Best Puppet and Mask Theatre, 1500 East Lake St., Minneapolis. Everybody's welcome! All proceeds go toward completion of “The Red Tail” documentary. As a non-profit venture, donations are tax deductible through their fiscal sponsor, Independent Feature Project Minnesota, a local media-arts non-profit.
Enjoy live music provided by Lori Barbero, Mike Gunther, Artifact Shore, Martin Devaney, and JoAnna James. There will also be live and silent auctions, a scavenger hunt, puppet show, dancing, plus a sneak peek of “The Red Tail.” Come out for an evening of fun and help Rock the Red Tail!
Tickets can be purchased online(suggested donation $20 advance/$25 at door). Can't make the fundraiser but would still like to help? Make a secure online donation here. Thank you.
Who: Emergence Pictures (Award-winning filmmaker Dawn Mikkelson with Melissa Koch)
What: Fundraiser for the documentary film “The Red Tail”
Where: In the Heart of the Best Puppet and Mask Theatre, 1500 East Lake St., Minneapolis
Why: Finance final trip to mainland China
When: March 22, 2008, 7-11pm
A fundraiser, entitled “ Rock the Red Tail," will take place March 22, 2008, from 7-11pm, at In the Heart of the Best Puppet and Mask Theatre, 1500 East Lake St., Minneapolis. Everybody's welcome! All proceeds go toward completion of “The Red Tail” documentary. As a non-profit venture, donations are tax deductible through their fiscal sponsor, Independent Feature Project Minnesota, a local media-arts non-profit.
Enjoy live music provided by Lori Barbero, Mike Gunther, Artifact Shore, Martin Devaney, and JoAnna James. There will also be live and silent auctions, a scavenger hunt, puppet show, dancing, plus a sneak peek of “The Red Tail.” Come out for an evening of fun and help Rock the Red Tail!
Tickets can be purchased online(suggested donation $20 advance/$25 at door). Can't make the fundraiser but would still like to help? Make a secure online donation here. Thank you.
Who: Emergence Pictures (Award-winning filmmaker Dawn Mikkelson with Melissa Koch)
What: Fundraiser for the documentary film “The Red Tail”
Where: In the Heart of the Best Puppet and Mask Theatre, 1500 East Lake St., Minneapolis
Why: Finance final trip to mainland China
When: March 22, 2008, 7-11pm
'Forgotten' press kit now available
Signal Pictures goes 'On The Lot' with Andrew Hunt
Signal Pictures' Chris Gegax will moderate a discussion with Minnesota filmmaker Andrew Hunt on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 7pm, at IFP Minnesota. Andrew will share his experiences, lessons and work samples as a finalist on the Fox reality TV show, "On The Lot." Produced by Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett, "On The Lot" featured filmmakers competing in weekly elimination competitions with the ultimate prize of a million dollar development deal at Dreamworks. IFP Minnesota is at 2446 University Avenue West, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114. Ticket prices are $5 for IFP and MFA members, $8 for the general public. Hope to see you there.
Signal Pictures short film 'Forgotten' earns top ScreenLabs prize
Photo by Tom Gegax (L to R) "Forgotten" Director-Producer Christopher Gegax, Actress Katie Rhoades, Screenwriter Julie Meyer, and ScreenLabs Executive Director Robb Mitchell.
The jury at the Screenwriter’s Workshop’s 2007 ScreenLabs Challenge awarded the top prize for Best Film to "Forgotten," by Minneapolis director Christopher Gegax. The dramatic film revolves around a nun’s chance encounter with a troubled young woman, and focuses on themes of judgment, understanding, mercy and compassion. "Forgotten'" is the fourth short film by 36-year-old Gegax, after "A Specialist in His Field" which was shown in festivals across the nation. “It feels great to be recognized by leaders from Minnesota’s film community. This wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been for Julie Meyer writing a great script,” said Gegax. Richfield screenwriter Julie Meyer took home the Best Screenplay award for "Forgotten."
The 2007 Screenlabs Challenge asked screenwriters to write and produce a short film with the theme "A Simple Twist of Fate," and required Minneapolis’ Stone Arch Bridge be used as one of the locations. Minnesota film professionals making up the jury included Minneapolis Community and Technical College Cinema Department chair Hafed Bouassida, Director Craig Rice, Producer Christine Walker, and Cinematographer Greg Winter. ScreenLabs is a program of the Screenwriter’s Workshop, Minneapolis. For more information about ScreenLabs or Screenwriter’s Workshop check out their website.
'Forgotten' gets a one-sheet
The one-sheet for Signal Pictures short film "Forgotten" has arrived and we really dig it. Click on it to see a larger version. It was created by graphic design pros Andy Weaverling and Matt Travaille at Rotor Design, Minneapolis. Rotor Design also did the film poster artwork for Signal Pictures previous film, "A Specialist in His Field."
Essential viewing
If you're a film fan like me you're always interested in finding great new (or old) movies to see. I was recently alerted to The 50 DVDs Every Film Fan Should Own, as chosen by the folks at PopMatters. Divided into five sections, covering as many significant shifts in the motion picture perspective, the list encompasses Part 1: Pure Classicism and moves through Part 2: The Changing Face of Filmmaking, Part 3: The Stellar ‘70s, Part 4: Challenging Convention and finally, Part 5: The Return of the Auteur.
I've seen most of their picks, but I'm excited to add the others to my queue. Fun stuff. Check it out.
First Look: Signal Pictures latest short film 'Forgotten'
Here's the first production still from "Forgotten," a new short film by Chris Gegax. Suzie (Katie Rhoades) asks for help from Sister Michael (Marilyn Murray). The scene was shot at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis.
Research underway for upcoming Signal Pictures project
Came across a documentary while conducting research for an upcoming project that I had to share. Both moving and upsetting, Earthlings is not for the squeamish. Duration is 100 mins. and it's available here for online viewing. Warning: the video contains graphic imagery.
Signal Pictures website goes online
Signal Pictures new web site has arrived. It's not totally bug-free yet, but you get the idea. You'll be able to stay on top of Signal Pictures movie news, screenings and future DVD releases through this news weblog, or feel free to subscribe to our mailing list (at right). Head over to contact and let us know your impression of the new site. Signal Pictures has some exciting projects in the works so stay tuned.