2009 Tri-City Independent/Fan Film Festival

The 2009 Tri-City Independent/Fan Film Festival

The Tri-City INDEPENDENT FAN FILM FESTIVAL will spotlight short films made by fans on limited budgets but unlimited imagination.

Date: October 17th, 2009
Location: Tri-Cities WA

First Call - June 1st, 2009
Final Deadline - September 10th, 2009

Awards
-Best Fan Film Award-To be the best of the best "Best Fan Film" award your production must be longer than 10 minutes, and shorter than 60 minutes. Entries can be animated, live action film, or a mix of both.

-Best Fan Film Short-To qualify in this category your short video must be in the range of 10 seconds to 10 minutes. Anything longer must be entered into the "Best Fan Film Award".

-Best Fan Trailer-This is an award for the best editing wizardry in creating a fan trailer.

-TCIF3 People's Choice-This is an award given by the festival attendee's.

Festival Entry Fee: $20.00 (US)

Film Formats: DVD, Mini-DV or CD with broadcast quality Divx, mpeg2, or mp4 file(s)

Where to send my Fan Film for selection

Send your film(s), Bio, short film description, entry fee and contact info to me at:

TC Independent/Fan Film Festival
2201 Rouchelle Lane
West Richland WA 99353

For more information, e-mail the Film Festival Chairman nt.saenz@gmail.com

TCIF3 Last Film Submissions

Breathe (USA)
Chuck Peters
Short Film
11:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
A STORY OF LOVE AND LOSS
INSPIRED BY THE MUSIC OF J. BENJAMIN JONES

Breathe is about being lost in a moment. How love can be so strong it creates a despair even stronger. Liam (TRAVIS GRAY) live in this very world. He doesn’t know what he’s lost but he misses it. He has a pair of wedding rings as his only clue, but he can’t remember who she was. His only anchor, his salvation, lies directly across from him in the mirror’s reflection; Anne (EMILY NASH-GRAY). She fights to find what is missing, her only clue an old book with empty pages. In it she’ll find the answers they seek...but will it save them?

Film maker bio: Chuck Peters - Director Chuck has been involved with film every since he graduated from Eastern Oregon Unversity where he first met Emily and Travis. While working on his first featurette, Four Days, he finally met his hedro-film mate Jonathan Griffith. Their combined passion for well thought out, exciting and deep cinema keeps them working together...along with their penchant love for Turk & Cran sandwiches.Along with directing, Chuck also wrote, edited, and helped produced Breathe as well as directing the cinematography and operating his Canon XL-2 affectionately named 'Goose'.

Jonathan Griffith - Producer Jonathan Griffith graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 2000 after playing drums for seminal Northwest alt-folk-funk-metal band The Dry Season. He wrote briefly for various videogame web sites including IGN and Nintendojo. After spending the last few years learning small business administration, he has moved moved back to his home town of La Grande, Oregon to pursue independant film production and to raise his son Owen with the support of his loving wife Keri.



The Dead Detective (USA)
Andy Wolf
Short Film
20:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Solving a murder is rough. Solving your own is rougher. Join the stiff dic on this hilarious adventure with a long list of suspects who have no problem literally, and gladly, stabbing Martin in the back.

Film maker bio:
Andy Wolf is a southern California native, where he performs his comedy songs in clubs around town as well as sings in two a cappella vocal jazz groups, Swing Shift and In Transit. A Northwestern University graduate, he is a writer, producer, and an actor, having most recently appeared on the pilot of "Dirt" as Courteney Cox’s photographer. He was the Production Manager and an actor in "Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming" with Richard Hatch. He produced and acted in the indie feature "Dreammaker" which has won awards at every film festival it’s appeared at, and the film noir spoof "The Dead Detective" which he also co-wrote. An accomplished puppeteer, he can currently be seen on the pre-school program "KooKooRiKoo" as Doobie, a Hebrew-speaking bear, and at the Skirball Cultural Center, at the Noah’s Ark exhibit.



Bus Pirates (USA)
David Lindsey
Short Film
34:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Dan’s day goes from weird to bad when the city bus he’s on is taken over by marauding Bus Pirates! Along with an alluring blond passenger, Christy, Dan must join Capt. Bonnier’s crew as they set out across the interstate in an adventure of swashbuckling, singing, treasure-hunting… uh, adventure!

Film maker bio:
Dave Lindsay first achieved national recognition and fame with his short musical, "Rattlesnake Jake," which took top prize for Best Music Video at the 2005 Bluegrass Independent Film Festival in Kentucky. Teaching the power of love, the triumph of good over evil, and questionable Native American stereotypes, "Jake" has touched audiences wherever it has screened. Except for that one reservation. Awwwkward….

James Plaxton met Dave his first year of college at UC Santa Barbara where the two collaborated on short film such as "Like Mike-ael Jackson," "What’s Luck Got to do With It?" and the above-mentioned, racially tense, "Rattlesnake Jake". In addition to enjoying dark chocolate and long walks on the beach, James is known as the masterful two-word concept pitcher who gave birth to "Bus Pirates" and "Bakersfield Ninjas". Or maybe it was me who thought of "Bakersfield Ninjas". Only history will tell (or the guy who writes the "About the Filmmakers" bios).

Ben Soper heard about James from his friend Dave. Dave had talked James up a lot, and frankly, Ben had gotten pretty jealous. Ever since Dave had left their home town of Palo Alto, CA for UCSB everything was James this and James that. Nothing’s changed, but now Ben swallows his jealousy out of professionalism and the hope that he’ll one day find justice through a "About the Filmmakers" blurb. When Ben isn’t co-directing with his brother he likes baking and going on three-day Disneyland binges.

Tyler Soper first met Ben several seconds before they were simultaneously ejected into this world by their mother (the previous 9 months had been occupied by awkward eye-contact avoidance and quiet humming). Tyler went on to write and direct various projects with his twin, including "Bus Pirates" and "Bakersfield Ninjas". When he’s not on his cell phone he enjoys casting multiple cute girls for the same role, inevitably unfolding in classic sit-com style hilarity.



Man vs Woman (USA)
Juan Carlos Vargas
Short Film
14:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
A science-fiction action film about an explosive duel between four desperate scavengers -- a man, a woman, a cloned velociraptor and a heavily armed robot -- fighting for survival on a desolate dry planet.

Film maker bio:
Juan Carlos Vargas is a professional CGI character animator and visual effects artist. He is a graduate of the Cinema/Television Production Department at the University of Southern California, and his ambition has always been to write and direct films. In fact, his foray into the world of visual effects was motivated by the idea that later on he himself could create visual effects and animation for his own films at a fraction of the cost.
He has co-created numerous music videos, commercials, and promotional videos. His visual effects portfolio includes work as lead character animator, on-set supervisor and pre-production consultant; both as an independent contractor and for companies such as OCS/Freeze Frame/Pixel Magic, Parrot Communications, Davis Entertainment, Brookwell/McNamara Entertainment, Seven Islands Productions, Area 51, and Saban Entertainment/Fox Family. He has worked on projects such as "Good Luck Chuck", "Rush Hour 3", "300", "Next", "The Guardian", "Deck the Halls", "Click", "Scary Movie 4", "The Pink Panther", "Fantastic Four", "Herbie, Fully Loaded", "Mr. & Mrs. Smith", "Daredevil", "Looney Tunes, Back in Action", "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", "S.W.A.T", "X-Men" and many others.



Jason Goes Shopping (USA)
Sean Dillin
Fan Film
3:56 minutes


Film Synopsis:
Jason Voorhees goes shopping....

Film maker bio:
Comedian/Filmmaker Sean Dillin can be found at the comedyspot. About The Comedy Spot Comedy Club - Nationally known comedians as seen on Comedy Central, Leno, Letterman, HBO, Showtime and more frequent this popular comedy club chain! Discounts for Ladies, College Students, Open-Mic Night and more! On-going Stand-Up Comedy Classes available! Old Town Scottsdale.
http://www.funnyordie.com/thecomedyspot



Batman - Terror of the Monk (Australia)
Russell & Janet Devlin
Fan Film
25:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
"Terror of the Monk" depicts the origin of "The Batman" and his first encounter with a supervillian, the undead Monk from Transylvania. Closely based on stories appearing in 1939 Detective Comics issues 31, 32 & 33, it depicts the first use of the Batarang & Batgyro and has Batman’s first love interest. It stars Adrian Sherlock (from web series "Damon Dark") as The Batman, with SF writer/performer George Ivanoff as the Monk and Sarah Breen (star of independent SF thriller "Purge" )as Dala.

Film maker bio:
Black Maria Productions
This is an Australian unit specialising in adaptions of classic SF & comic book stories, both live action & animated. "The Batman-Terror of the Monk" is our most recent production and is intended as a 70th Anniversary tribute to the famed Superhero.



Thirty Second Doom (USA)
Gary Hughes
Fan Film
20:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
At General Applied Sciences, a leading government contractor, the race is on to develop an alternative method of personal transportation in order to ease demand on dwindling oil reserves. With time and funding in short supply, two of GAS Lab’s top scientists submit experimental projects.
When a tragic accident takes Dr. Xavier out of the running, aerodynamic expert Steve Bennett unveils his amazing prototype; a cutting-edge, rocket-powered flying suit! The sudden appearance of a mysterious, masked figure, with designs on Bennett’s invention, sets the stage for fast paced adventure.

Film maker bio:
Gary Hughes (Producer, Director, Co-Writer, Editor, Effects Technician, Actor)- Gary is a first-time amateur filmmaker, heavily influenced by vintage science fiction and classic serials. In addition to the aforementioned contributions, he also built the replica flying suit, ray guns and full size "water heater" serial robot costume. And yes, he performed all his own stunts!

Ruben Contreras (Co-Director, Camera Operator, Actor)- Ruben is currently a film student attending San Francisco State University. He has been involved in several short film projects.

William James Hughes (Screenwriter, Effects Assistant, Actor)- Bill holds a PhD in Political Science and is currently a Professor at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. Along with brother Gary, he developed the screenplay for, Thirty Second Doom.



Dark Resurrection Pt 1 (Italy)
Angelo Licata
LOI Lords of Illusions
61:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
An ancient prophecy leads the powerful Jedi Master Sorran to start an obsessive quest for Eron, a legendary place able to give infinite knowledge to the one who will open its seal.
www.darkresurrection.com/

Film maker bio:
Angelo Licata, creator of guerrestellari.net, is the writer of the script, the director and the editor of Dark Resurrection. He also worked on the photography and on most of the visual effects, creating some new ones by himself. Moreover, he had supervised all the steps of the post-production, included the sounding and the soundtrack. This is his first movie.



Glow (Romania)
Sergiu Lupse
Short Film
14:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
L601 lives in a utopian society who recycles unprintable books. Everyone works in the LIBRARY in shifts. When L601 finds out that he can see images inside the white pages he begins to build his own reality. Inside his dreams, strange memories come out of the depths of his mind, memories buried for a good reason.

Film maker bio:
Sergiu Lupse is a filmmaker from Romania. He graduated Film and Photography and has a Masters Degree in Experimental Film. He received the award for young filmmakers in 2006. In 2007 he got a scholarship from CIANT in Prague on motion capture and stereoscopy. In 2008 he was selected for an Artslink Artist Residency in the United States.
His portfolio include: a product catalog for Vichy, various TV commercials, ads and promos for television, 12 short films, 6 of them - screened at festivals in Europe and US. In his films he uses visual stimuli in the form of colors or sound and music to pinpoint or accelerate emotions and feelings that the character might be experiencing.
In 2004 he founded HOLLOW CUBE FILMS, an independent production house and Visual FX studio in Romania. He is producing his first feature film and is currently working on the screenplay for a sci-fi pilot. When he’s not making films or writing screenplays he enjoy watching movies, sci-fi books, computer games, old punk music or a night out with friends. Currently resides in Sibiu, Romania.




Ray Harryhausen Presents: The Pit and the Pendulum (Canada)
Marc Lougee
Short Film
07:04 minutes

Film Synopsis:
This newly-created adaptation of the classic Edgar Allan Poe story embraces the same retro technology used on Tim Burton’s "Corpse Bride": good, old-fashioned, stop-motion puppets. The result is a gorgeous-looking, spooky short film, presented by special effects maestro Ray Harryhausen.


Film maker bio:
Marc Lougee has over 20 years’ experience directing animation and visual effects on television series, pilots, music videos and commercials. Recent work includes MTV’s "Celebrity Deathmatch" (original animated series broadcast, 52 episodes x 22 minutes), CBC’s "What It’s Like Being Alone" (Episodic Director & series Creative Producer), and the BBC’s "Ace Lightning" television series (Director of Animation).
Currently, Lougee is Director of Animation on the live action/CGI series co-production "Dinosapien’ for BBC /Discovery. "Dinosapien" is slated to air in May/ June, 2007.
Not wasting any time with sleeping, Marc continues to develop new projects with producer Susan Ma, including an animated series pilot for mobile technologies with writer John May. Several short-format projects are in development, as well as a feature-length stop-motion animation film.



Razor Sharp (USA)
Marcus Perry
Short Film
25:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Impenetrable fortresses, SWAT trained security forces, the occasional piece of malfunctioning gear; it’s all in a day’s work for corporate thief Veronica Sharpe. But business turns anything but usual when she’s hired by her underworld boss Rory Dex to steal an exotic codebreaker from a high-security skyscraper. After rallying with her mentor, a grizzled Russian named Karloff Bryce, a plan to breach the tower’s defenses is born. However, the one contingency Veronica could never anticipate is the strain the job will place on her morality and skill once she’s confronted with the dark reality of the codebreaker itself.

Set in a near-future world where corporations strangle the globe, RAZOR SHARP blends a surprising amount of humor with pulse-pounding action to create an experience that is truly criminal to miss.

Film maker bio:
When he’s not busy being an unemployed screenwriter, Marcus pursues his passion for directing. An Undergraduate of The University of Southern California Cinema-Television Production Program, Razor Sharp is his directorial debut. A Texas native, Marcus spent his teenage years in Washington D.C. before moving to California where he currently resides.
Marcus is represented as a screenwriter and director by Brian Spink and Jake Weiner at Benderspink Entertainment (323) 904-1800.



The Blue Man (Canada)
Grahaeme Cowie
Animation
5:47 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Metropolis is besieged by robots, kidnapping Lois Lane and blowing up Clark Kent in the process.

Film maker bio:
Grahaeme Cowie, writer, director and animator of The Blue Man, studied art at the University of Alberta. He graduated in 2000 with a BFA in painting. In 2005, Grahaeme moved to Japan to fulfill a 2-year teaching contract. While in Japan, Grahaeme co-founded the Let’s Film Festival, a festival for 5-minute films designed to unite the ESL community with their Japanese hosts. For the second annual Let’s Film Festival, Grahaeme submitted The Blue Man, winning the audience-voted Best Film award. The Blue Man was his first animated film. This fall he will be attending the Vancouver Film School as part of the classical animation program.




A Tale of Two Galaxies (UK)
Rob Owens
Fan Film
30:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Twelve weeks after ‘Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country’. The USS Hood is sent to a freshly demilitarised Klingon border, to investigate a gaseous anomaly. They are attacked by an unknown enemy and pulled into another galaxy, where they must find a way home and ultimately prevent a galactic invasion!

Film maker bio:
Straitjacket Productions
A Tale of Two Galaxies is the first feature from Straitjacket Productions, comprising of three young professionals from the UK. Philip Davis, Jim Rathbone and Rob Owens, after years of friendship got together to make a film in early 2007. With three degrees in different media between them, they felt they had what it took to make an entertaining movie on a small budget for their portfolios.



The Creator (Australia)
Paul Mayze
Short Film
10:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
It’s 1000 years in the future. A corporation has devised a procedure that has the ability to liberate the human race...or possibly doom it for eternity. The fate of the humanity lies in the hands of a single human being.

Film maker bio:
Paul Mayze works as a TV producer on lifestyle and travel shows in Australia. The Cteator is his first short film.

New Films added to TCIF3

The Call of Cthulhu (USA)
Andrew Leman
Short Film
47:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society presents its all new silent film of The Call of Cthulhu. The famed story is brought richly to life in the style of a classic 1920s silent movie, with a haunting original symphonic score. Using the "Mythoscope" process — a mix of modern and vintage techniques, the HPLHS has worked to create the most authentic and faithful screen adaptation of a Lovecraft story yet attempted.

Film maker bio:
We are a couple of guys with backgrounds in theatre and film. We’ve run the HPLHS for 20 years now and have created several Lovecraftian CDs and films. We decided we wanted to take one of Lovecraft’s stories and make it into a movie that was as effective as the story was. The Call of Cthulhu seemed like a great choice: it’s a famous story, never before adapted to film. It also presents some daunting challenges to independent filmmakers (ships at sea, giant monsters, islands rising from the ocean, huge cast, etc...). We started filming the project in the summer of 2004 and completed the movie in the fall of 2005.

The Futurist (USA)
Brad Winderbaum
Short Film
7:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
CHARLES GUTHRIE is suicidal, but whenever he tries to take his own life, fate thwarts his every attempt. When his fiancé, ANNA KAY finds Charlie, she learns of the traumatic events that lead to his current condition: Six months earlier, Charlie piloted the first time travel mission into the future where he came face to face with THE FUTURIST, a real life superhero. Before he could return to the present, Charlie discovered that his destiny was tied to this enigmatic character in a way that would both cause his suicidal condition and yet prevent him from being able to die. In the present, Anna and Charlie confront this paradox, accepting their fate, and embrace their love by unraveling the mystery behind THE FUTURIST!

Film maker bio:
Brad Winderbaum great up in New City, New York where he had a healthy obsession with comic books and sci-fi movies. He studied Art at NYU, where he began directing pulpy, underground theater. He studied filmmaking at USC where his award winning thesis film THE FUTURIST played in festivals around the world. In 2006 he launched the website ITSALLINYOURHANDS.COM, a gallery for interactive, online serials, which received the 2007 People’s Choice Webby Award for Best Film and Video Dramatic Website. He won the 2007 Emmy Award for Outstanding Broadband Drama for his sci-fi thriller SATACRACY 88, which he wrote and directed. Satacracy 88 was nominated again for a 2008 Emmy Award. Brad currently lives in Venice, CA where he writes, produces, and directs film, broadband, and comic book projects.

Final Journey (Germany)
Lars Zimmermann
Animation Film
7:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Jake Waylon dreams of leaving his meagre life behind. His most valuable possession is a flyer extolling an expensive trip to a south sea planet. One day, the company he works for holds a competition with that very trip as a prize. Jake immediately sees his chance to finally achieve his personal aim.

Film maker bio:
In November 1981 I was born in Limburg/Lahn, Germany. The short movie FINAL JOURNEY is my graduation work in "Media-Design" at the University of Applied Sciences Mainz. During my studies from 2002 till 2006 I produced several 3D short animations. Some of them can be seen on my website. Since 2000 I’ve been working as a freelancer in web and print media. To Lars’ website: http://www.artworx3d.de/

Amnesia (Canada)
Jean-Francois Morin
Short Film
7:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Amnesia tells the story of JEN, a young man condemned for heresy by the Inquisition. After his trial, he’s condemned to be cure... In a society where the experiences of life are strongly restricted to a low range of possibilities, the control on the memories and knowledge are essential for the mass’s control and the upholding of tradition.

Film maker bio:
A young student filmmaker from Montreal Canada.

11 Minutes Ago (USA)
Bob Gebert
Feature Film
83:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Traveling in 11-minute increments, a time-tumbler from 48-years in the future spends two years of his life weaving through a two-hour wedding reception. The multi-award winning feature was shot in eight eleven-minute takes in one.

Film maker bio:
Bob sold a feature comedy pitch to Paramount Pictures. He was the writer/artistic director at Renata’s Dinner Theater where he oversaw 600 performances of his original plays. His long running play The Illusionist (no relation to the film) landed him in "Who’s Who in Magic." Continuing his acting career, 2008 appearances include CRIMINAL MINDS and MONK.

The Joker’s Card (USA)
Johnny Wu
Fan Film
17:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
In the not too distant future, the offspring of Nightwing and Wonder Woman are caught between the revenge planned by the sons of The Joker and Mr. Freeze. A Comedy/Anime Styled short film blending the style of 60’s TV with the wire-fu of the 90s.

Film maker bio:
Johnny K. Wu, a veteran filmmaker with a MBA specializing in marketing, has been involved in the media creation of visual and audio services since 1998 when he co-founded MDI (Media Design Imaging). Since then, he has helped small and medium business in developing focused visual media through promotion videos, commercials, corporate videos, while at the same time, creating his own short/feature films and documentaries that has continued to be shown worldwide at film festivals, online sites, colleges, national televisions, DVD distribution, and sci-fi or horror conventions. Wu has been featured in many publications including the Smart Business magazine, kungfucinema.com, Kungfu Magazine, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Free Times, Cleveland’s Scene Magazine, FilmThreat.com, and Erie Chinese Journal, World Journal, Post Magazine, Cleveland Magazine, and others.
Johnny Wu belongs to several organizations including the American Federation of Film Producers, Indieclub.com, International Karate and Kickboxing Fall of Fame, the World of Head Family Sokeship, to name a few. He has also spoken at Universities and film festivals. He also helped organized and produced numerous events for organizations, including a benefit in Hollywood with the participation of Alicia Keys, Steven Seagal, Uncle Kracker, Kevin Bacon, Kid Rock, Will Smith, Eve, Pamela Anderson, and many others during his commute to Los Angeles from 2000 to 2002, which he also worked directly with prestigious public relation firms such as PMK, Lee Solters and Co., and Roger and Cowan.

List of Films at TCIF3 - Part 2

Green Arrow: The Long Bow Hunter - Part1 (USA)
Chris Rayback
Fan Film
9:45 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Based on the Mike Grell comic series, The Long Bow Hunter, is a fan film directed by Chris Rayback, and produced by Razorback Productions, Tang Nguyen, and Kevin Gallager. Shot on a budget of a thousand dollars, the idea was to make a three part short film that when put together. would create one entire movie. For those unfamiliar with the comics, "The Long Bow Hunters" is a part of the Green Arrow comic series that brought upon a dark, more series, approach to Green Arrow characters and comics in general.

Aquaman (USA)
Chuck Peters
Fan Film
16:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Our story takes place after the events of Zero Hour. Aquaman has lost his hand. His only son died when Aquaman made the choice to pursue his attacker rather than rush his son to aid. And his wife Mera has been driven mad by their loss.
In our world, the surface dwellers see him as nothing more than a sidekick. He is a cartoon character with the power to control fish. Among his people, he is a King who has abandoned them as he, in their eyes, sought out glory on land. He is truly a man without a country, Hamlet beneath the waves.
Ashamed with his failures and confused by his place in things, he has fled Atlantis and the comfort of the sea to find himself. Little does he know, he is being followed..

Hot Rod Girls Save the World (USA)
D.A. Sebasstian
Short Film Trailer
2:45 minutes

Film Synopsis:
When big city newspaper reporter Vanessa Trojan (Lindsay Calkins) goes to a small backwater town, named Anywhere, Washington, to do a feature article on two female Street Racing icons, she doesn’t realize that this will be the last article she ever writes. When the icons- the always talkative Jo Leene Dodge (Melene Marie Brown) and permanently mute Betty Petty (Kimberly Layfield) take Vanessa to a rukus rockabilly house party, a stange light appears from the sky, and people start to feel sick. Hot Rods, Hot Dames, Half Zombies and Aliens all converge on the small town as it quickly falls into campy B-Budget movie chaos. Can the Hot Rod Girls Save The Town? Can They Save The World? Find out- in the Black & White, Lo-Fi, "Sure to be a drive-in classic" film by musician turned writer/director- D.A. Sebasstian.

Film maker bio:
D.A. is a musician & writer turned film maker. My main music projects are Kill Switch...Klick (formed in 1991) & D.A. Sebasstian & The Inner Demons. I also have been known to write for various music mags as well as CK Deluxe and Ol’ Skool Rodz.

00:05’01 (USA)
Brian Winterton
Short Film
6:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
A scenic work of art about nature, human nature, and the unknown, 00:05’01 is set in an apocalyptic future where life is scarce but plant life is plentiful. The story chronicles one Future Human (Melissa Frank) who begins to question her routine way of life, a life controlled by her watch.

Film maker bio:
Director and Writer Brian Winterton started his career making films with his father Bruce at a very young age. He attended New Canaan High School in Connecticut where he formed his film foundation under the multi-talented Peter Kingsbury. One of his first short films ROCKSTARS (2003) won The Connecticut State’s Gold Key Award from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and soon thereafter the National Gold Award. From New Canaan High School, he was awarded the Fritz Eager Memorial Purchase award for his short films IMPORTED SILK (2003) and ROCKSTARS. He then attended New York University’s Summer Program and made five 16mm shorts, fine-tuning his film form. For a short time he was also enrolled in The Lee Strasburg Institute to study acting. Eventually, he joined the best at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts where under the guidance David Maquiling, Kenny Hall, Robert Ballo, and John Ferraro, he finished 00:05’01 and premiered it on Easter Sunday March 23rd 2008. Brian was a Production Assistant on LOOPY (2004), a Columbia University Graduate film, a 2nd Assistant Camera on BELIEVE IT (2007), a USC Graduate thesis film, and a Development Assistant under producer Jonathon Komack Martin at Dark Trick Films (2005-2007).

Red Princess Blues Animated: The Book of Violence (USA)
Alex Ferrari
Animation Film
7:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
In this tale we meet her as a 12 year old little girl who finds herself in a strange country looking for her father. She is then taken in by a "unique" looking man who goes by Nino. The short film is completely from the perspective of Princess and what she is going through. She soon discovers the "Book of Violence" and slowly begins her journey that one day will lead to vengeance.

Film maker bio:
Red Princess Blues Animated: The Book of Violence is an animated short film prequel to Alex Ferrari’s upcoming feature film Red Princess Blues starring the lovely Paula Garces. Artist extraordinaire and Creative Director of the Visual Effects House Numb Robot (http://www.numbrobot.com), Dan Cregan makes his directorial debut. RPB Animated is a chance to explore the world of "Princess," the main character of Red Princess Blues. The film is done completely hand drawn with a few shoots using 3-D and pays homage to the great Japanese Anime films of the past.
Here is a link to the official site: http://www.redprincessblues.com

List of TCIF3 Film Entries - Part 1

Imprint (USA)
Van Blumreich
Short Film
15:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Rob Cardine is dying of the recent Long Virus. In order to keep himself alive, he carries out assignments to receive treatments for his disease. But when an assignment goes wrong, Rob is confronted with his own questions of ethics and humanity. How far is too far?

Film maker bio:
Van is one of the millions of people currently based in Houston, Texas. He has had no major accomplishments accredited to his name, as well as no experience in spelunking. However, he is broke and likes madlibs. Van is excited about finding even more ways to spend money on hobbies, get bored and then move on. He plans on pursuing his dreams of filmmaking and crime-fighting, although not necessarily at the same time. He is also very talented at flaring his nostrils and teaching his little cousins stupid magic tricks.

Guy’s Guide to Zombies (England)
Daniel Austin
Animation
03:26 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Zombies. Shambling scourge of the modern world? Or just a little misunderstood? If in doubt, check out Guy’s Guide To Zombies, the definitive A to Z guide to living with the dead! Peaceful coexistence is just a handshake away!

Film maker bio:
Guy’s Guide To Zombies is Daniel Austin’s third short film, and his first fully animated short. Made in partnership with brothers Chris and Matt, his films have so far enjoyed considerable international success, with screenings as far and wide as Edinburgh, Rotterdam and Vienna. Dan’s next project will be a feature length adaptation of an Austin brothers short film.




Fantastic Fortune (USA)
Mike Fisher
Animation
07:30 minutes


Film Synopsis:
An astronaut discovers the most valuable asteroid in the galaxy and, if everything goes according to plan, he’ll soon be the richest man in the universe!

Film maker bio:
Mike Fisher has a love of science fiction and comic books his whole life. He has been a cartoon contributor to Starlog magazine, which covers the world of science fiction, for over 15 years! He also has been creating full-page color cartoons for Animation Magazine, featuring his vharacter, 3-D Pete. Mike’s award winning studio, Goofa Man Productions can be found at http://www.goofaman.com/.




Alpha Worm (USA)
Mike Fisher
Animation
06:30 minutes

Film Synopsis:
An astronaut and an alien at war with each other drift helplessly through space together. Who will win this contest of will power and intellect?

Film maker bio:
Mike Fisher has a love of science fiction and comic books his whole life. He has been a cartoon contributor to Starlog magazine, which covers the world of science fiction, for over 15 years! He also has been creating full-page color cartoons for Animation Magazine, featuring his vharacter, 3-D Pete. Mike’s award winning studio, Goofa Man Productions can be found at http://www.goofaman.com/.



Invisible Master (USA)
Mike Fisher
Animation
04:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
An odd man in a strange craft must complete a mysterious mission with mindblowing consequences!

Film maker bio:
Mike Fisher has a love of science fiction and comic books his whole life. He has been a cartoon contributor to Starlog magazine, which covers the world of science fiction, for over 15 years! He also has been creating full-page color cartoons for Animation Magazine, featuring his vharacter, 3-D Pete. Mike’s award winning studio, Goofa Man Productions can be found at http://www.goofaman.com/.



Haunted Planet (USA)
Danielle Stallings
Short Film
15:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
A woman and her male friend are convinced that reality is a nightmare. His nightmare, in fact. This is the best explanation of all the atrocities in the world. They resolve to end the nightmare and the attendant evils of the world, by waking him up ... or killing him.

Film maker bio:
Film classes at USC and Ohio State University convinced her that, as a medium, film is the best way to apply all of the artistic disciplines she enjoys: storytelling, choreography, photography and music, in concert. After learning film fundamentals by working on scores of student films at Loyola Marymount University, Danielle’s sixth film, "Porn Queens of the 70’s", a verite style short about the tumultuous lives of porn stars earned her DGA recognition two years before "Boogie Nights" was produced. "Haunted Planet" is one of two 35mm shorts Danielle has produced in recent years. "Up Under the Roof", the other, is based on a classic story by Manly Wade Wellman and is in post-production. Danielle currently pays the rent by working as a film paralegal at the elite law firm of Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown in Beverly Hills. She’s also a member of AEA and ATAS.





L19: Disposed (Canada)
Paul Whittington
Animation
02:30 minutes


Film Synopsis:
The last few moments of an android life...

Film maker bio:
I am a filmmaker from Vancouver Island. I played around with film when I was younger but didn’t take it seriously until later on. I mainly create short films however I do plan to get into producing feature lenght films in the future. My interests include Filmmaking, Writing, Stop-Motion Animation, Science Fiction, Robotics, and the future.





Android 207 (Canada)
Paul Whittington
Animation
10:00 minutes


Film Synopsis:
A stop-motion animation film about an android trapped inside of a large maze. The maze is vast and filled with many surprises.

Film maker bio:
I am a filmmaker from Vancouver Island. I grew up in Calgary, Alberta and spent most of my childhood drinking slurpees and hanging out at the arcade. I got my first taste of filmmaking at an early age but never really got into it until much later. I spent the better part of my high school days running around with a video camera filming everything in sight and making crazy horror movies with my friends.



Captain Amazing-Lad (USA)
Keith Carter
Animation
5:00 minutes


Film Synopsis:
Captain Amazing-Lad is the hilarious misadventures of one man’s quest to combine domestic bliss with the world of super-heroics. Think Space Ghost meets Al Bundy and prepare for unmitigated chaos. Saturday morning cartoons never looked this good.

Film maker bio:
In 1993, Keith Carter began a career in animation with the D.C. based studio called News in Motion. While working with clientele such as Disney, CNN, CBS and LucasFilms. He is currently a broadcast animator for USA Today Live, where he has garnered three Emmy nominations. This is his third film.



Ascension (Australia)
Vickie Gest
Short Film
13:45 minutes


Film Synopsis:
Searching for the cause of a blackout late one night, exhausted trainspotter Tim mistakenly enters a neighbour’s apartment, blundering into a group of cultists desperate to escape earth and ascend to the Thribelian solar system… unfortunately for Tim, they need a sacrifice!

Film maker bio:
Vickie Gest has been working in the Brisbane film industry since 1996. She is a producer and the Managing Director of VizPoets. With a strong interest in independent films with ‘something to say’, Over My Dead Body is Vickie’s first collaboration with the ABC. The film deals with the pending human tissue trade in Australia. It explores how donated dead bodies are recycled to create new biotech products and reveals who is making a profit from this seemingly free gift.
Currently Vickie is producing two half-hour documentaries for Film Australia and the ABC - Rare Chicken Rescue and Roller Derby Dolls. Vickie’s earlier work includes short dramas such as Ascension, Hole in the Wall, Bad Ass Mono-Winged Angel, Other People, The Kangaroo and Faithless. Her films have been nominated and won numerous awards including Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Independent Film, Best Producer, Best Actress and Best Musical Score. The films have screened both locally and internationally at more than 200 festivals in total. Vickie has been a supervising producer and executive producer on eight short films with Qpix (QLD Screen Resource Centre).



Break Time (USA)
Dan Byers
Animation
05:53 minutes

Film Synopsis:
Break Time is the computer animated tale of a hard-working robot who must go on a spooky journey to secure his favorite treat.

Film maker bio:
Dan Byers is an independent animator and filmmaker based in Omaha, Nebraska.



Single Female Sci-Fi Vet (USA)
Down with Steve Dir: Luke Ogrodnik
Short Film
06:43 minutes

Film Synopsis:
The movie was made for the 2007 Minneapolis 48 Hour Film Project. It won the audience award in its group at the competition. 48 Hour Requirements: Character: Jill Meyers, Occupation: Veterinarian, Prop: Mp3 player, Dialogue: "They will get them if we let them.", Genre: Sci-Fi

Film maker bio: Coming soon..



Un-Gone (England)
Simon Bovey
Short Film
08:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
"It is upon the flaws of man, not the laws of nature that the thread of our existence hangs." Matter transporters are a reality, and the Trans-Trip Corporation, controllers of this technology, provide the gateway to a new life for Julian Salinger and his wife Maya. But this apparent golden age of travel without boundaries has its shadow side. And when the system malfunctions, Salinger discovers a less palatable future behind the corporate facade. Getting there is only half the problem.

Film maker bio:
Simon Bovey is the author of three BBC science fiction serials: In Cold Blood, The Voice of God, and Slipstream as well as the short science fiction film The Ungone. I was born and raised in Worcestershire in the U.K. I’m not sure if I ever ‘decided’ to be a writer, it just happened. I always wrote, made up scenarios so maybe it was natural progression. I went to film school and wrote a few scripts while I was there, all pretty derivative, but mainly I concentrated on directing. One of my firsts jobs was as an assistant to the film director Lindsay Anderson (who made This Sporting Life, O Lucky Man, If) and he said to me one day that it’s fine to be a director but it’s a verb, when you’re not on a set or in a rehearsal room you’re nothing, so you better learn to be a writer as well. I followed that advice.



The Tragical Historie of Guidolon, The Giant Space Chicken (USA)
Frank Wu
Animation
11:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
This is a short film about a giant space chicken making a film about a giant space chicken. He has delusions of grandeur, thinking he’s a Shakespearean tragic hero, but really he’s just a giant space chicken.

Film maker bio:
Frank Wu is a three-time Hugo Award-winning science fiction artist. He has numerous book and magazine covers to his credit, along with several published short stories. This is his first film project, which he is currently expanding into a feature-length animated film.



The Baseball Card Shop (USA)
Kelly Kennedy
Animation
7:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
In a dark and quiet baseball card shop, a lonely Pez dispenser watches as heroes of the past awaken to play one more game.

Film maker bio:
Kelly Kennedy worked in the animation business doing storyboards for a variety of Kid’s shows. While at Nickelodeon, Kelly created this short animated film that’s played in film festivals all over the US and has won a few awards



The Void (Scotland)
Christopher Dunne
Short Film
7:29 minutes


Film Synopsis:
An interdimensional tale of addition with the chance of redemption. Every time it happens there’s always a task.

Film maker bio:
Written and shot by Chris Dunne. Edited by Chris Dunne and Martin Henderson. Sound design and score by Richard Paynter. This is by far the most mental undertaking we’ve ever done. Composite shots, shallow depth of field effects, mind bending story - its all there. The film has been named as a nominee in the Triggerstreet online film festival.



Aquaman: A Fish Story (USA)
J Hanna
Fan Film
1:30 minutes


Film Synopsis:
Aquaman; A Fish Sory is a tale of sadness, desperation and awkwardness. Aquaman reaches the edge of his madness. He’s lost all hope and he is without any options in the dark twisted take on DC comic’s most not so powerful superhero.

Film maker bio:
J Hanna is the writer/director of this film. He graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in tv/video and film production. A fan of comics, movies, video games and all things geek. He’s currently developing a quirky comedy webseries called Low Art about a group of friends working at a comic book shop.






Star Trek vs Star Wars (Another Nerd’s Fantasy) (USA)
Stephen Emirzian & Craig Murphy
Fan Film
20:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
In the much anticipated sequel to "A Nerd’s Fantasy," stamp nerd Milton Marmeladelson bumps his head on the floor of his basement game room. Instantly, he is transported back to the battle between the forces of Starfleet and the Empire. With Cmdr. Riker and Mr. Worf as reluctant but desperate allies, it’s up to Milton to save the day.

Film maker bio:
Stephen Emirzian - has worked in tv and film for nearly 20 yrs. He graduated fro Central CT State University with a major in video production and minored in theater. In the 90’s he helped create the popular Connecticut cable access comedy "Meezmeyer This Week", and was a production assistant and field producer for the nationally syndicated "Gayle King show". He was also a producer for the talk show "What’s goin’ On" a Warner Bros. affiliate in New Haven.
Mr. Emerizian continues to work as a researcher/writer and volunteers for several Arts organizations in Connecticut. He is credited as the writer, 2nd unit director, camera op, and actor (Mr. Worf) for this fan film.


Craig Murphy - has worked as an artist, graphic designer, editor and runs a videography business in the Hartford area. He is the director, prop master, costume designer and plays Riker in this film. He also did behind the scenes photography. He is an accomplished computer editor and professional special effects artist.



Iron Man: The TV Show (New Caledonia)
David Guivant
Fan Film
2:03 minutes

Film Synopsis:
When billionaire industrialist Tony Stark dons his sophisticated steel mesh armor of his own design, he becomes a living high-tech weapon, the world’s greatest human fighting machine : THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN. 2D frame by frame Animation, fast paced action, enormous fun, THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN is a non commercial fan film inspired by the famous Marvel Comic character and directed by David Guivant with practically no Budget.

Film maker bio:
David Guivant, unemployed and talented designer / illustrator from NEW CALEDONIA South Pacific Island looking for job in the entertainment industry. David wrote and directed a short comedy which explored George Lucas' strong belief in the Force and his close encounter with a young Steven "JAWS" Spielberg. The short film got noticed by LUCASFILM MAGAZINE in France and was chosen to be screened at the Grand Rex Theatre during SW REUNION 2005, the first SW Convention to be held in Paris. Following thier success, George Lucas Legend of the Force was also screened at FORCE IV convention in Melbourne and in SINGAPORE SCIENCE CENTER during the ART OF STAR WARS Exhibition with his new saga: PRIME OF THE JEDI. David also directed THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, an independent short film based on the Marvel Comic Book series and is now working on a not profit project, a live adaptation of the 1940's American Sci-Fi Classic: CAPTAIN FUTURE, hoping that his next venture will land him a job in the industry.



Zombie Love (Netherlands/USA)
Yfke Van Berckelaer
Short Film
37:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
This musical extravaganza tells the story of a zombie boy, who tries to change his flesh eating ways in order to gain the love of a mortal girl. Filled with singing, dancing, blood and gore, this film will have you laughing all the way to your grave!


Film maker bio:
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Yfke grew up spending most of her time in front of the tv. The other half she spent recruiting (sometimes by force) her friends to act in whatever play she had come up with that morning. She performed in many school productions, and at the age of 17, got the opportunity to direct her first real play. After that she was hooked. In 1998 she decided to get her BA and MA in Film History and Theory at the University of Amsterdam, while still directing theatre productions on the side. Two days after graduating she traded Holland for Hollywood to continue her studies at the MFA Film Directing Program at the California Institute of the Arts. She graduated in 2006; Zombie Love was her thesis film. Yfke is currently working on a full length version of Zombie Love.



Iron Bird (Australia)
Chris Richards-Scully
Short Film
28:00 minutes


Film Synopsis:
Iron Bird takes us on board a Lancaster bomber for one of the most destructive missions of the war, the bombing of Dresden, circa February 1945. A young Australian bomber crew carries out the mission, but for their navigator, JP, it is also a personal mission - to erase a painful memory in his past.
As the seven young men battle for survival over the night skies over Germany, a mysterious presence surrounds them, propelling them towards a journey that would change their lives forever. Driven by a thirst for revenge, will JP find humility and forgiveness before it’s too late?

Film maker bio:
Chris Richards-Scully was born in Singapore, but grew up in Perth, Western Australia. Taking a circuitous route to film making, he served as a Policeman before following his heart. Chris is a directing graduate of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). His short films have won awards and screened at film festivals around the world. He is currently developing a number of projects in collaboration with Producer Jocelyn Quioc.



Her Name is Germany (USA)
Gabe DeLang
Animation Film
5:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
A sci-fi animated music video telling of the classic struggle between creator and the created. Just what is a robot’s agenda anyway? Portland’s "The Punk Group." provides the music and Sad World Aniimation creates the motion.

Film maker bio:
Gabe DeLang is a self taught animator living in Portland, Oregon. He splits his time between his day job, his family and his creative projects. Along with animation, Gabe does graphic design for several popular Portland bands including, The Punk Group, The Chromatics, Glass Candy and Reload.




Smiles Aren’t For Heroes (USA)
Perrin Spychala
Fan Film
40:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
In a dangerous world...of danger! England’s second line of defense is first in action! The 5th installment of the Alexander Wellington series has the suave super spy the target of his archrival, Vittorio Falco.

Film maker bio:
The Alexander Wellington Films are the creation of Perrin Spychala. A long time fan of the James Bond films, Spychala set out to spoof, parody, and pay homage to this great series while pursuing a screen writing career. In his films, Spychala cleverly uses locations, seasons and a dry sense of humor to create funny, globetrotting adventures that have been filmed in Minnesota, Chicago, Los Angeles and Osaka, Japan. Serving as the Wellington series’ producer, writer, director, editor and star, Spychala has managed to create five truly entertaining half hour films with very limited budgets. Perrin Spychala is an Addy Award winning a videographer and local TV commercial producer. He also writes and performs stand-up comedy and assists the Ian Fleming Foundation with the restoration screen used James Bond vehicles and props. He lives in St. Cloud, Minnesota.



Shuteye Hotel (USA)
Bill Plympton
Animation Film
7:00 minutes

Film Synopsis:
"Shuteye Hotel" is a film noir murder mystery that takes place in a sleazy hotel. As cops investigate the gruesome murders they become victims of this evil force. What "Jaws" did to swimming, "Shuteye Hotel" will do for sleeping.


Film maker bio:
THE TUNE was animator Bill Plympton’s first full-length feature. His short films have been seen widely around the country, highlighting many animation festivals. His oblique, off-center sense of the ridiculous in everyday life has made the "Microtoons" and his other shorts a popular MTV offering. His distinctive style has even invaded the world of advertising. Commercials for both Trivial Pursuit and Sugar Delight make us chuckle and gasp. But it’s been a lot of hard work.
Shuteye Hotel is very unlike my previous films. It’s not a comedy, although there is a little bit of humor in the film. It is primarily a murder mystery à la Hitchcock, a cartoon noir scored by famed composer Corey Jackson

Tri-City Independent/Fan FIlm Fest (TCIF3)

The TCIF3 is now at 19 films with more coming. I've been in contact with many producers and director's from arould the world. And this is shaping up to be an exciting film festival.

Check out the website at
http://www.thetc3.org/

Nat