In-kind contributor spotlight: Robin Kincade - Producer and Location Scout/Manager

We would not be able to pull this production off without the help of people like Robin Kincade. Her name was given to me by the awesome Jim MacIlvaine: Special Events Coordinator + Oakland Film Office. She gave us access to her files and time for free to find one of our key locations (creepy stairs at The City Team shelter), I would not have found it without her help!


Here's a little more about Robin Kincade and her location scouting services! Can't wait to buy this lady lunch!!


From Robin's bio:

"I started my business in 1990 in Sacramento, California and moved to the Bay Area in 1996. Since then, I’ve been producing and directing for a variety of clients.

Working on projects that include everything from “Confessions of Alien Abductions” to a week in Las Vegas with over 30,000 Bikers, I’ve helped to produced a wide variety of programming. Covering famous celebrities and CEO’s of successful companies to ordinary people in extraordinary situations, I consider myself lucky to have heard so many fascinating stories. 

With over thirty years experience in broadcast television, I can take a project from start to finish depending on your needs.  I have experience in production management in the Bay Area from hiring crews to making sure the production stays within budget all the way through to post production.

Over the past fifteen years producing in the political arena, I have directed the electronic media and purchased the buys with many campaigns including California District races for Congress, Supervisor, District Attorney, Sheriff, District Judge and Assessor.  

As a location scout/manager, I’m familiar with many regions along the Coast of California, from Humboldt County to San Diego. I understand the process of pulling permits, logistics and parking for large and small productions and I’ve worked in various counties all over the state.

Due to traveling over the years for many of my clients, I’ve worked with crews across the United States and have a healthy data base. Using Apple based equipment and the iPhone/iPad, I can have consistent communications with my clients.

My passions are open water swimming (yes, I am one of those crazy people who swim in San Francisco Bay without a wetsuit) sculling, yoga, lost wax sculpture and guitar. I’m a member of the South End Swimming & Rowing Club. "

Link to Robin and Company website: Link

Check out our website and stay tuned for more information about our "save our post production" auction. Okay, we are still trying to find the right name for that but it's COMING SOON!

www.appleseedsthefilm.com

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

New Perk Launch for just 5$ contribution: appleseeds Production Diary

That's right, for just 5$ you can have full access to our exclusive production diary site!  A full production diary, from prep to post and beyond! All contributors will get exclusive access to videos, pictures, interviews and more.

click here to sign up and remember to check out the other perks and help us rock this production:
indiegogo

Scout for Johnny Hi-Fi's Music Video: Politician

Here's a short taste of why production diaries are cool. Example here: The music video Politician I directed for the awesome band JOHNNY HI-FI! The music video was produced by Stephanie Watanabe and crewed by some of the most talented people I've had the pleasure to share a set with.

PREP STAGE LOCATION SCOUTS: Personally, one of my favorite times in production because it's all about possibility at that stage. How does this location fit the vision? Or does it expand what you have on the page? Locations are almost always the last element to be locked in any production. It's really important that you know why you are choosing a location and what it represents in your tale.

Check out some of our early location scout pics below and then watch the music video. See how awesome Johnny Hi-Fi is and also see how we transformed the locations for our story. Can you guess what book we pay homage to? 

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.

Geena Davis talks about gender imbalance in film and media

Had the great experience to see Geena Davis announce her Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
two years ago. I was just coming out of 2 months of radiation treatment and was lucky enough to have my future as a Breast Cancer Survivor in front of me. She inspired me so much at that talk and made me think what I could do with my passion for storytelling... how I can become part of the change I want to see.

Ms. Davis is  funny, articulate and fiercely intelligent. She has started the very important dialogue of gender balance in representation in film and media. Here she speaks with The Wall Street Journal's Rebecca Blumenstein in reference to the "Unlocking the Full Potential of Women in the U.S. Economy" report.



video courtesy of The Wall Street Journal


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 that will 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