Contributing artist spotlight: Osiris Rain

  Artist Osiris Rain contributes his gorgeous painting for us!

 

 

This beautiful little painting from classically trained painter Osiris Rain, a North Carolina based artist known for his contemporary figure paintings. This painting of a reclining nude is streaked with turquoise and pink, giving it a sunny, pleasant feel. 

Bid on this painting: HERE

Osiris Rain trained at the Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy where he studied the masterpieces of the Renaissance firsthand. Later he went on to study in the Odd Nerdrum apprenticeship program in Stavern, Norway. Learn more about Osiris' work here: http://www.osirisrainstudios.com/

During out post production drive, we have 3 new ways to contribute!

Ebay auction of art, music and more: appleseeds Ebay Auction

Contribute $250 or more and make it tax deductible: San Francisco Film Society Fiscal Sponsors page

Contribute directly to appleseeds for any amount or bid on one and only tarot read by Megan Breiseth: appleseeds website

Ashley Perryman Quach in our very own Post Production Auction: 6 days to go!

You don't own any artwork by Ashley? Wish you did?

Well, check out her fantabulous artwork in our post production auction:
appleseeds EBay auction: Ashley

Here's a little more about Ashley:
Ashley Perryman Quach, Writer and Executive Producer on appleseeds, hails from North Carolina and brings with her the oral traditions of the South. Her stories are vivid, peppered with tragic heroes and told with the comfortable finesse of a Delta troubadour. Her writing career bloomed from the obsessive character profiles that filled notebooks when she was enrolled in a Stanislavsky conservatory.

Her first full-length screenplay, Fire Sale, was recognized by the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences in the quarter-finals for the Nicholl’s fellowship. Since then she has garnered recognition from the Page Awards, Storypros International and Scriptapalooza for her work. In 2012 her newest screenplay Farewell, Great Leader put her in the finals for the National Youth Theatre writing fellowship.

In addition to her writing, Ashley produces a burgeoning comics website, sassquach.com and donates her time to 826 Valencia, a free-to-all tutoring center in the Mission District of San Francisco. 
 

During out post production drive, we have 3 new ways to contribute!

Ebay auction of art, music and more: appleseeds Ebay Auction
Contribute $250 or more and make it tax deductible: San Francisco Film Society Fiscal Sponsors page
Contribute directly to appleseeds for any amount or bid on one and only tarot read by Megan Breiseth: appleseeds website

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.

5 days to go and 20 min Skype perk for just 40$! Hazar!

Ashley Perryman Quach dreaming of Skyping

Been thinking about contributing but keep asking yourself, "who are these people anyway?"

Been wanting to contribute more but keep asking yourself "What is their favorite film? I wonder if they want to hear about my screenplay idea? And what REALLY happened the day Robyn met Angelina Jolie....hmmmm"

The answer to all those is, in the correct order. (let's see how many times I can put Skype in this)
1) 20 minutes, Skype and apple juice should tell you all you need to know about us
2) what's yours? Tell us on Skype.
3) yes!
4)....heh. Skype and you shall know all!

5 DAYS to go and so close... give now if you can and if you have, give a little more because you may want to know about us but we also want to meet you! Because without you, this film would not be getting made. That is the bottom line!

40$ Skype with us and help us reach our goal!!

With all our hearts we thank you!
Appleseeds team

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.

Contributing Artist Spotlight: Singer-Songerwriter Arro Verse

Seriously folks, this just gets better and better. The awesome Arro Verse will be writing a song for appleseeds ! I'm am so jazzed, I've worked on two music videos with this amazingly talented woman and am so grateful to have our collaboration be part of the this film.

Wait, you haven't heard Arro's new song just released on  Itunes! Before you read on, go check it out and you'll see why I'm so excited: Love Follows Me But make sure to come back for more info.

One of my favorite shoots of all time was working with Arro and Jeanette Aguilar (among a list of talented people in our cast and crew) on the music video "Don't be my Boo Boo." Arro had such a great sense of story and this spirit of adventure with her work visually. I love what we ended up creating! Check it out here: Don't be my Boo Boo music video

Arro is that kind of authentic artist whose work seems to channel directly from her soul. Read about her new song "Love Follows Me" and the inspiration behind the song: www.rightouttv

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.

Casting Update: Alexis Boozer joins the cast for short film "appleseeds."

Hazar!!

So very excited to announce that Alexis Boozer is heading our cast for our short film appleseeds.

Alexis Boozer

I first met Alexis when we were shooting the second season of the web series We Have To Stop Now.
Working with her was such a great experience and I was so impressed with her work that I immediately thought about her for the lead role in this film.

We need an actress able to convey a very complex range of emotions with very few lines. We need to see her struggle, strength and her fear, through every glance and movement. Alexis was able to convey a really rich, complex character in just a few minutes of screen time in the web series, so I can't wait to see what she does with this role.

As a director, I couldn't be happier that she can join us in this film and also be part of the screening/benefits we plan for the fall of 2012. We are using this film as a centerpiece for panel discussions with female leaders in the entertainment industry to explore the representation of women and girls in film and media. We are very happy that Alexis will join those thought leaders and help raise money and awareness for women at risk, domestic violence and abused children.

Alexis also stars in the award-winning series, Leap Year.  Check this out the show's second season premiere on HULU premiere on June 18th. The First season is available now on HuluPlus here.
The show has garnered all sorts of awards including Winner of NATPE 2012 Digital Luminary Award and Winner of 2012 Silver Telly Award: Best Comedy. Alexis was nominated for 2012 IAWTV Award Best Female Performance (Comedy). Don't miss this show!

 - RDettman

Join our team and support us at indiegogo here.
Check out Alexis's facebook page here.
Check out her website here.

Study finds that females are more likely to be put in sexual, violent scenes

Really interesting study on the representation of females in film and media. Every role sends a message to young girls and teens. Every image tells a strong story: what story are we trying to tell with these numbers? How can we change this trend in the film industry?

 Journal of Adolescent Health - April 2012

"Women continue to be under-represented in film overall and twice as likely as males to be seen in sexually explicit or violent scenes, according to a new study from the Annenburg Public Policy Center. The report analyzed 855 top box-office movies from 1950 to 2006, with co-author Dan Romer noting surprise at "the same representation of women today as was prevalent in the 1950s. With women increasingly playing major roles in all walks of life, Hollywood appears to remain in the mindset of a much earlier era."

Continue reading: jahonline.org

Join Duendefilms West and their campaign for 'appleseeds" the film. All proceeds from screenings donated to local and national organizations to stop domestic violence.
Check us out at www.indiegogo.com/appleseeds