In true grindhouse fashion, Chad Clinton Freeman is calling his second annual film festival a "sequel." The filmmaker and promoter labeled the "new champion of unabashed B-movie sleaze" by ArrowInTheHead.com, is currently calling for entries for his Las Vegas event named the Polly Staffle Grindhouse Fest.
"This is PollyGrind2: Return of the Grind," Freeman said. "Now if I could just nail down a tagline I like..."
"The saga continues, 666 + 777 = 2, no mere mortal can resist the evil of Polly's thrillers and bigger, badder and bi-winning" are among those listed on the event's website www.pollygrind.com.
Tagline or no tagline, submissions are being accepted for PollyGrind2 until July 13. Freeman hopes to announce the official lineup in early September.
PollyGrind is scheduled to be held at threatre7 (1406 South 3rd Street, Las Vegas, NV 89104), Las Vegas' only arthouse theater and art gallery, in October.
The festival will take place Oct. 7-16 and consist of programming in the tradition of grindhouse theaters with nights of double features, bookended by trailers and music videos. October 7 will be a kickoff party during First Friday, an ongoing arts, entertainment, and social block party held the first Friday of each month in the arts district. There will also be replays of some of the winning festival entries Oct. 28-30.
"I love the vibe of the arts district," Freeman said. "This is the perfect backdrop for PollyGrind and there is no better place in the arts district than theatre7 to host this event."
Submission categories include Blood-o-Rama (Horror/Gore Feature Competition), Frontiers Anew (Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Adventure Feature Competition), Area-X (Exploitation/Underground Feature Competition), Weirdville (Arthouse/Cult Feature Competition), Crime Time (Thrillers/Action/Film Noir Feature Competition), Short Film Competition, Music Video Competition and Trailer/Ad Spot Competition.
"The PollyGrind is all about the darker side of cinema," Freeman said. "Edgy, sexy, bloody, cool - any and all genres are welcome as long as they'll fit into the festival's programming."
Last year, Greg Lamberson's Slime City Massacre was crowned The Biggest Baddest Mother of the PollyGrind, while twin sisters Jen and Sylvia Soska's Dead Hooker in a Trunk was voted the favorite feature by the audience.
Thirteen films and more than 30 trailers, music videos and shorts played at the first year event. Five features world premiered, seven had their Las Vegas premieres, and one had a U.S. premiere. Highlights included a triple feature of world premieres from Creep Creepersin, the U.S. premiere of John (Arrow In The Head) Fallon’s short The Red Hours, the world premiere of The Dead Undead, a vampire zombie film starring Luke Goss (Hellboy II: The Golden Army) and Vernon Wells (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior), the music video for Scum of the Earth's Get Your Dead On and a special showcase from Calvin Lee Reeder, a Sundance regular.
Just like the first PollyGrind, there will be a Q&As with all the filmmakers in attendance and meet and greets with the audience for photos, autographs, selling of wares and casual chatting.
"Our aim, as has always been the case with PollyStaffle.com, is to celebrate individuality, diversity, creativity and empowerment," Freeman said. "I want this to be a festival that is more than just a festival. I want it to be an experience. I want it to be fun, but also interactive, intimate, educational for the audience and the filmmakers."
In addition to looking for entries, Freeman is also looking for sponsors to present filmmaker prizes and audience giveaways.
Located near the "Downtown Las Vegas" sign in the arts district, theatre7 is an artlover's and indie film fan's paradise. Owned by filmmaker Derek Stonebarger (I.M. Caravaggio), theatre7 screens independent films, doubles as an art gallery and hosts live theatre performances.
theatre7's upcoming schedule includes works from grindhouse legend Ted V. Mikels, the world premiere of the shoot 'em up revenge One Long Day, a Las Vegas short film showcase, a Mike Conway sci-fi double feature (Exile and The Awakening), and the city premiere of the comedy You People.
Links:
www.pollygrind.com
www.facebook.com/pollygrind
www.theatre7lv.com/
www.facebook.com/theatre7
Somnium Productions: A Night of Short Films TAKE TWO - Thursday, January 27, 2010
The first of the short film of the evening was "Cunning Linguist" A half baked bank robbery is attempted by a group of misfit numskulls, who instead find nothing but trouble at every turn. Filmed all around town, the crew got kicked out of Las Vegas Academy twice and even got permits to carry around and shoot replica guns. Director Mitch Ebert mentioned, “This means alot to me... started making the film two years ago.” In many aspects, the time and effort put in shined through in the writing, acting, and camera work, but it could have used more substance. While at first I found myself amused, I began to lose interest as character patterns began repeating themselves. [ Rating: C- ]
The story behind the next film, "Bubblegum & Broken Fingers" was inspired by and shot on location in Nelson, Nevada. Written and directed by Sean Jackson, with Danish as director of photography, the script, framing, and actor selection were all top notch. Humbly, Sean noted "Film-making is the most collaborative artist thing anyone can do, and I relied on the help of so many people..." Sean made several bold choices with Bubblegum, including German dialogue, a mute character, and closed the movie silent, backed only by nine solid minutes of John Lee Hooker and Johnny Cash. Although these radical decisions can make or break an entire project, this film just got better with each minute and wrapped up beautifully. Initially I was intrigued by the title, but now that I understand the meaning to "Bubblegum and Broken Fingers." I'm enthralled. [ Rating: A ]
Introducing the movie the majority of the audience came to see, Sean proudly announced, "Let me tell you... If you are at all easily offended, if you do not like racial jokes, if you are sensitive in any way, get out right now." "Sweet Ninja Brown" is about Leon Brown, who finally decides what he wants to be when he grows up, a black ninja. After a sweet montage, fitting back story, and hilarious circumstances of rival gangs, Leon quickly finds himself a wanted ninja. This film was a blend of modern day urban comedy and 70s kung-fu blacksplotation. Dynamic characters each perfectly fit their roll, deliver quick punchlines, all with great camera angles. All costumes, weapons, and props were all made from scratch and the choreography, completed by Steve 'Beef Brocolli' Chong , took eight months to complete. The dedication that went into Sweet Ninja Brown was clearly apparent, it reflected well on screen, and often had the viewers bursting in laughter. [ Rating: B+]
Be sure to keep an eye out for Somnium Productions, as they still continue to create films here in Las Vegas, and help expand the community's interest and industry in film-making. Sean Jackson is planning to follow up "Bubblegum and Broken Fingers" with a second act "Hand Job" (which was cast this week), and a third act "Exchange," hopefully ready to premiere by July 30th. I am also happy to report that on February 2nd, Sweet Ninja Brown won the "Award of Merit" at the Best Shorts Competition Film Festival in California. I certainly look forward to what Somnium Productions has to offer, because Take Two was a knockout!
Credits:
* "Cunning Linguist" (Written by Mitch Ebert & Chris “Danish” Andersen [Gorilla Suit Productions], Directed by Mitch Ebert) [ http://www.vimeo.com/9775687 ]
* "Bubblegum & Broken Fingers" (Written and Directed by Sean Jackson) [ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1821355/ ]
* "Sweet Ninja Brown" (Written by Sean Jackson, Directed by Alberto Triana) [ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1822319/ ]
Written by
dot shiva
* "Bubblegum & Broken Fingers" (Written and Directed by Sean Jackson) [ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1821355/ ]
* "Sweet Ninja Brown" (Written by Sean Jackson, Directed by Alberto Triana) [ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1822319/ ]
Written by
dot shiva