Latina screen siren Eva Mendes, like many other actresses, started her career doing small parts in films and television hoping to get the one role that would help her breaking into into the forefront. Good thing some one saw that special spark in her because she was cast along side Denzel Washington in as his girlfriend in Training Day because that role got her a lot of exposure, small pun intended. From that moment she has become a very recognizable name and face in films with roles in such films as Once Upon a Time In Mexico, 2 Fast 2 Furious, and The Other Guys. After so many films under her belt it appears that she is beginning to do a little behind the camera work as well.
Mendes directed and co-wrote a short film called California Romanza which will be making it's World Premier during the 2011 Florida Film Festival. The film plot of the film according to imdb.com is "Lena heads to her Auntie JoJo and Uncle Pops' for annual Christmastime festivities. Little does she know, this Christmas will be like none of the rest." The film which has a reported running time of 19 minutes will be 1 of 26 competitive narrative short films and 1 of 89 different short films that will screen during the festival.
The Florida Film Festival will be held in Central Florida, Greater Orlando area, beginning from April 8 to April 17. If you have any interest in seeing the film or interested in finding out more about the Florida Film Festival head to their website.
Resources
floridafilmfestival.com
Eva Mendes's Imdb page
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The lure of the Film Festival
Have you ever been interested in attending a film festival but thought it wasn't for you? I understand that some people may only have heard about these festivals because they caught an interview with a star at his festival or saw pictures of celebs there. My first thing that I would like to say to that is "you don't have to be a celeb to go to a film festival". There are more film festivals popping up all over the United States and the world than you would believe along with pre-established festivals. Some of these festivals can be very reasonably priced and some can cost as much as a used car to attend. In the end there are many things about festivals that are very alluring.
As I said, festivals can cost a lot of money but it appears that there are more festivals than you would think that cost reasonable prices to go see films. I was lucky enough to attend the Orlando Film Festival at the end of last year that have the screenings open to the public for FREE. Also I was lucky to attend films at the Florida Film Festival (FFF) which has screenings costing only $10 each which s cheaper than see a film in the commercial theaters.
Beyond the possibilities of cheap screenings there is also the wide variety of people that attend film festivals. If you are really interested in film you are able to learn things about the industry and make connections to other filmmakers. Because people that are in love with film you may be able to network with people for any potential business if you are an entrepreneur or need a job.
There are also the film related events that occur during festival. Of course there are the films that are screened that sometimes first run. At the Orlando Film Festival I saw the premier of Montana Amazon that stars Alison Brie (Community, Mad Men), Haley Joel Osment (The 6th Sense) and Olympia Dukakis (In the Land of Women, Moonstruck) and film won't be offically released until April of this year. Also a lot of the filmmakers or even cast from a film will show up to do a Question and Answer session (Q&A) at a screening. Last year at FFF I saw Winter's Bone (nominated for 4 Oscars this year) and was able to catch the Q&A with one of the film's stars Dale Dickey. Not to mention at the opening film for FFF was Paper Man which starred Emma Stone and Kieran Culkin who both attended the screening. Also there are sometime film panels where you can learn from big industry people. At the Orlando Film Festival there was a panel that featured Florida based industry people that were leaders in the craft as well as Alison Brie and Haley Joel Osment answered questions. Furthermore some of the films that may show up at film festival may be making their premier, could have been nominated for an Oscar, could be nominated for an Oscar in the future or could have won and Oscar.
Beyond that if you have noticed you have seen that there is potential to actual see actors in real life. Besides the ones that I mentioned above, I was also able to get a picture with Amber Benson (Buffy) and Sam Levine who where their promoting a film called Drones. I actually ran into Gena Rowlands (not literally) on my way into a screening at FFF last year.
So if you have ever thought of even going to a film festival take a look a round, there could be one not too far from you. If you decide to go get ready for a new experience if you attend the whole festival.
Not convinced? Check out a few Q&A video I shot at last year's Florida Film Festival:
As I said, festivals can cost a lot of money but it appears that there are more festivals than you would think that cost reasonable prices to go see films. I was lucky enough to attend the Orlando Film Festival at the end of last year that have the screenings open to the public for FREE. Also I was lucky to attend films at the Florida Film Festival (FFF) which has screenings costing only $10 each which s cheaper than see a film in the commercial theaters.
Beyond the possibilities of cheap screenings there is also the wide variety of people that attend film festivals. If you are really interested in film you are able to learn things about the industry and make connections to other filmmakers. Because people that are in love with film you may be able to network with people for any potential business if you are an entrepreneur or need a job.
There are also the film related events that occur during festival. Of course there are the films that are screened that sometimes first run. At the Orlando Film Festival I saw the premier of Montana Amazon that stars Alison Brie (Community, Mad Men), Haley Joel Osment (The 6th Sense) and Olympia Dukakis (In the Land of Women, Moonstruck) and film won't be offically released until April of this year. Also a lot of the filmmakers or even cast from a film will show up to do a Question and Answer session (Q&A) at a screening. Last year at FFF I saw Winter's Bone (nominated for 4 Oscars this year) and was able to catch the Q&A with one of the film's stars Dale Dickey. Not to mention at the opening film for FFF was Paper Man which starred Emma Stone and Kieran Culkin who both attended the screening. Also there are sometime film panels where you can learn from big industry people. At the Orlando Film Festival there was a panel that featured Florida based industry people that were leaders in the craft as well as Alison Brie and Haley Joel Osment answered questions. Furthermore some of the films that may show up at film festival may be making their premier, could have been nominated for an Oscar, could be nominated for an Oscar in the future or could have won and Oscar.
Beyond that if you have noticed you have seen that there is potential to actual see actors in real life. Besides the ones that I mentioned above, I was also able to get a picture with Amber Benson (Buffy) and Sam Levine who where their promoting a film called Drones. I actually ran into Gena Rowlands (not literally) on my way into a screening at FFF last year.
So if you have ever thought of even going to a film festival take a look a round, there could be one not too far from you. If you decide to go get ready for a new experience if you attend the whole festival.
Not convinced? Check out a few Q&A video I shot at last year's Florida Film Festival:
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