Robert Rossello joins our team as Production Designer

Oh man, we are so lucky to have this talented man on board with us. Fellow filmmaker, Rob Rossello is lending his considerable visual talents to appleseeds! I've shared many a set with him since 2007, including joining him in the producing arena with his awesome short film Continuum. AND I feel very lucky to grab him before he is a full time director which I hope is very very soon!

Rob looking like a cool director from the 60s

Here is more about him!

Coming from a background in photography, fine art, and graphic design, Robert Rossello first entered the world of film in 1999, joining with a colleague to form visual effects boutique Big Red Pixel. For six years he served as BRP's lead creative, starting with the 2002 remake of Rollerball. He has since served as the visual effects supervisor for such films as 2003's Basic and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and the Oscar-nominated Collateral in 2004, then Transporter 2 and Just Like Heaven in 2005. His graphic design skills came in handy for the main titles of the Bollywood epic Devdas in 2002, as well as Transporter 2. 

A free agent since 2005, he continues to stretch creatively, contributing 2007 indie Where's My Stuff''s production design and script in addition to its VFX. In February 2008 he wrote and directed his first short film, Continuum, and most recently directed and shot a moody promo clip for Bay Area chanteuse Emma Ray, set to premiere in June 2012.

about Duendefilms West production of appleseeds: 

Please visit our indiegogo page to find out how we are trying to make a difference both in our short film and the screening/benefits to follow to raise money and awareness around issues of domestic violence and gender representation in film and media.

Casting Update: Chuck Phelps officially joins our cast!

So excited to have Chuck join our production. I wish I could share his audition but it would spoil the experience of the film so I can't. But I can tell you that he is one of the most passionate and committed actors I've worked with to date. Please read below and Bay area folks, I'll keep you posted on his upcoming theater performances this month.

Chuck Phelps is the eldest of three and was born in Aurora, Ill.  Yes, home to Wayne’s World…. but really it’s full of cornfields as anyone who’s been there can tell you.  Ever since he can remember, he has always liked entertaining people on a stage of one kind or another.  Laughter is “the medicine of the Gods”, and to be the cause of people laughing, crying, feeling, or just plain forgetting about their troubles for a brief period of time is priceless.  (And the icing on the cake, for me anyway, is that it’s a hell of an awesome way to share a meaningful moment between human beings.)

Having thoroughly exhausted a music career that carried him through the first third of his life, Chuck was left with something he had always told himself:  “If I wasn’t playing music, what would I be doing.....?"  The answer always came back acting.  Not only did he have this secret desire to act, but he somehow thought he might be good at it.  Chuck decided to put his theory to the test, and as with everything else in his life, he went at it full force.  Starting with ACT, BATS, and finally finishing it off with the boot camp of all acting techniques ….. Meisner.   After completing 2 years at the Meisner Technique Studio in 2009 it was time to get to work.  Along the way he managed to put together a demo a reel, and a resume full of something he didn’t know he’d fall in love with, live theater.  And although one must take care of one's own dreams.... for ultimate success, it is essential to work with people that have similar dreams. 

"Meeting Robyn and Ashley is literally a dream come true.  To work on a good script with such a great cause; and to be part of a production that truly values acting is (in my humble opinion) a recipe for success.  All I can say is thank you Robyn and Ashley for letting me part of your vision. " - Chuck

House Republicans Exclude LGBT Victims from Violence Against Women Act

From May 16, 2012

Washington – The Human Rights Campaign is condemning a highly partisan vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, where GOP lawmakers just passed a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  Unlike the bipartisan and LGBT-inclusive Senate version, the House bill fails to address discrimination faced by LGBT victims of domestic violence.  The bill passed 222-205, with 23 Republicans opposing it.

Reauthorizing VAWA need not have been a partisan fight.  Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) wanted to offer an amendment to the bill that would have increased protections for LGBT victims, but the House Republican leadership blocked her from even offering the amendment.

“Today, House Republicans put partisan politics above the well-being of victims of domestic abuse,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “It is unfortunate – though not surprising – that some lawmakers refuse to acknowledge the basic dignity and respect LGBT domestic violence victims deserve. These lawmakers are leaving victims out in the cold with nowhere to turn for help, and attempting to further stigmatize many of the stereotypes associated with domestic abuse. We urge lawmakers to work together in conference so that VAWA is inclusive of all victims of domestic abuse.”

Continue reading: http://www.hrc.org



about Duendefilms West production of appleseeds: 

Please visit our indiegogo page to find out how we are trying to make a difference both in our short film and the screening/benefits to follow to raise money and awareness around issues of domestic violence and gender representation in film and media.