Call to Bronx Filmmakers to Participate in the 2nd Annual Bronx Week Film Festival

If you consider yourself a "Bronxite" in the film, television or the theater industry, or if you are involved with a film or television production about or filmed in the Bronx, please do review the following.

*********************************

Who: Bronx Filmmakers, Producers, Writers, Actors, Thespians, Film Students

What: Meeting of Bronx filmmakers to discuss the 2nd Annual Bronx Week Film Festival and collect submissions

When: Sunday, March 18th 2012 at 2pm

Where: Bruckner Bar & Grill
1 Bruckner Blvd, Bronx, NY 10451
http://www.brucknerbar.com/

***********************************

For anyone who follows the Boogiedowner, last year the blog helped to promote the 1st ever Bronx Week Film Festival. The event was organized by Olympia Film Locations Inc., a start up firm I created with a few friends of mine. The charge was given to us by the President of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC) Ms. Marlene Cintron, with the intent to encourage film production in the Bronx and to promote Bronx filmmakers and films made in or about the Bronx.

Olympia Film Locations Inc., was given the honor by the Bronx Borough President and the BOEDC due to our finding primary locations for Sundance Film Festival sensation Gun Hill Road; which was written and directed by Bronx Director Rashaad Ernesto Green. From the ideas inception by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. at a BOEDC meeting, to it’s execution by Olympia Film Locations Inc., over a dozen Bronx filmmakers showed their films and well over three hundred filmmakers, actors, producers, writers, film festival promoters, elected officials, press and even professional MMA athletes attended the gala to mingle and plot future collaborations. Special thanks to Assemblyman Marcos A Crispo, one of last years keynote speakers actively involved in legislation to promote the arts in NYS.

Last years event was a huge success, mostly due to the die hard Bronx spirit that spawned dozens of gorilla filmmakers from all parts of our beautiful borough and the generosity of the Bruckner Bar and Grill who provided the main viewing venue. If you were part of last year’s crew that made the event a success or if you wish to partake in the 2^nd Annual Bronx Week Film Festival for the first time, here is what you can do;

1- Attend Sundays meeting listed above at the Bruckner Bar and Grill – (Please do bring any submissions you wish to enter enter for festival review)

2- If you can’t make Sundays meeting please do send us any shorts via e-mail to the following e-mail addresses;

info@olympiafilmlocations.com or boogiedowner@gmail.com

3- Save the following dates;

A- Thursday, May 17^th – Film Festival Gala Night

B- Saturday and Sunday , May 12^th and 13^th – Bronx Week Film Festival Dates

4- Help spread the word

I posted a few links to articles and other web sites to provide more background. Please do review the links attached and please do note we have a few surprises in the works to make the 2^nd Annual Film Festival an even bigger success.

Sincerely,

Gregory Tsougranis

Boogiedowner / Olympia Film Locations Inc.

Daily News:

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-04-25/local/29489006_1_borough-president-ruben-diaz-gun-hill-road-local-film-industry

New York Post:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bronx/annual_bronx_week_launches_first_yRYSkkbuYgJAfihIbgsHxK

Bronx Times:

http://www.bxtimes.com/stories/2011/22/bronxtimes-yn_bronx_front_page-21-film.html

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. set to Kick Off Bronx Week on Monday May 9th at 11am

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. will kick off this years Bronx Week celebration on May 9th at 11am at Bronx County Building Rotunda.

In addition to the new events mentioned below, Bronx Week activities will also include the 1st Ever Bronx Week Film Festival. Olympia Film Locations Inc., in cooperation with Bronx film makers organized a 4 day schedule staring on Monday, May 16th. We encourage everyone to attend the ribbon cutting Ceremony to be held at the Bruckner Bar and Grill at 6pm.

The Film Festival runs through Thursday, May 19th concluding with a red carpet gala night at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. The majority of the films will be shown at the Bruckner Bar and Grill located at 1 Bruckner Boulevard. Sundance Film Festival sensation "Gun Hill Road", by Bronx Director Rashaad Ernesto Green will be shown for the first time ever to the general public in the Bronx at the Concourse Plaza Multiplex Cinema at 4pm. The directors, producers and or actors will be present for Q & A session after each showing.

Tickets are available know just in time for the Bronx Borough Presidents Kick off at 11am today. Courtesy of Olympia Film Locations Inc. and various sponsors, tickets are FREE on a first log on, first serve basis. Rush tickets will also be available at the door subject to availability. To review the movie schedule and secure tickets please log onto the following address starting at 10am today (May 9th);

For tickets log onto;

http://bronxweekfilmfestival.com

http://olympiafilmlocations.com/bronx-week-film-festival/films

or

http://olympiafilmlocations.com/

and click on the 1st Bronxweek film festival box

Any additional questions can be directed to; info@olympiafilmlocations.com. The schedule will also be made available on a separate post right here on the BoogieDowner as well but tickets can oly be secured at the above web site starting at 10am as stated above. Enjoy the festivities.

Gregory
*************

BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ to kick OFF BRONX week 2011. The Empire State Building will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the festivities

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. will announce that the Empire State Building will light up in the colors of the Bronx flag to honor the 40th anniversary celebration of Bronx Week. The announcement will be made during the official kick off of Bronx Week 2011.

Bronx Week 2011 will offer many new events, such as an urban farm tour, a centenarian celebration, a festival at the Arthur Avenue Retail Market and a hip hop block party, as well as some of the more popular events from past years, such as the Bronx Trolley, which this year is dedicated to the 420th birthday of Anne Hutchinson, the DiVa Spa, the Business Breakfast, the Health Fair and the annual Bronx Parade. All the events are organized to pay tribute to the progress and success of Bronx people, businesses, educational and cultural institutions and civic groups.

During the kick off, Borough President Diaz will also announce the names of the celebrities and notable Bronxites that will be included on the Bronx Walk of Fame 2011.

When: Monday, May 9
Where: Bronx County Building- 851 Grand Concourse
Rotunda

Time: 11:00 am

Bronx Times Report Prints Article on Upcoming 1st Ever Bronx Week Film Festival

Here is some more press on the upcoming first ever Bronx Week Film Festival scheduled from Monday May 16th to Friday May 19th. The article was written by Patrick Roccio and printed in today’s Bronx Times Reporter. By early next week the schedule of movies to be shown with ticket availability will be posted on the Olympia Film Locations Inc. and the Bronx Tourism Council web site as well. Tickets will be made free to the public on a first come first serve basis. Please stay tunes right here on the BoogieDowner for more information.

Gregory
************

Annual Bronx Week Launches First Borough Film Festival

By Patrick Rocchio
Friday, April 29, 2011 12:11 PM EDT

For the first time ever during the festivities surrounding Bronx Week, a film festival will be part of the festivities.

Around 12 to 15 movies filmed in the Bronx or made by local filmmakers will be screened in the First Annual Bronx Film Festival at the Bruckner Bar and Grill at 1 Bruckner Boulevard, as part of Bronx Week 2011, from Monday, May 16 to Thursday, May 19.

The film festival is being organized by Bobby Zouvelos and Greg Tsougranis on behalf of Olympia Film Locations, a location-scouting company that specializes in bringing filmmakers to spots around the borough.

A group of film enthusiasts and full-fledged filmmakers got support from the borough president, who would like to see more film and television production in the borough.

“The festival will attract a number of films made in the Bronx, by Bronx filmmakers or about the Bronx, and will help us promote our borough through their message,” Diaz said. “I’m looking forward to experiencing the creativity and talent of our residents, this time reflected in the big screen.”

Films that promote a positive message of the borough are what Diaz hopes to showcase, and one of his pet peeves are negative depictions of the Bronx, which he discussed at a meeting of the North East Bronx Community Association on Monday, April 25.

Sundance Film Festival entry ‘Gun Hill Road,’ made by filmmaker Rashaad Ernesto Green, was filmed at a locations scouted by Olympia, and should have a special screening.

The film stars Judy Reyes, an actress known for her work on the television series Scrubs and who has been enshrined in the Bronx Walk of Fame.

Films like ‘Gun Hill Road,’ made by and about people from the borough, are the ones that Greg Tsougranis, a co-owner of Olympia, hopes to make part of the festival.

“We have a good number of people in the Bronx who are taking it upon themselves to make films,” Tsougranis said. “The Bronx has got a lot of self made people who we do not yet know about, but who are making some great films without waiting for anyone to give them anything or do anything for them.”

ADVERTISEMENTThe plots of the films to be screened range from everything from horror films to a documentary about how fanatical parents can become while watching their children play little league, Tsougranis said.

“We hope that this develops into a yearly thing,” said Jerry Landi, whose horror film ‘Krackoon’ is expected to be among those screened. “We looking to invite are inviting filmmakers and actors from all over the Bronx to participate.”

A special R.S.V.P., V.I.P. black tie event for filmmakers, celebrities, and elected officials is being planed for the evening of Thursday, May 19 at the Bronx Museum of the Arts.

1St Annual Bronx Week Film Festival Gets Great Press in Daily News Article

I never cut and paste articles from other news papers but in this case please see the entire article about Rashaad Ernesto Green, the Director of "Gun Hill Road" and the first ever Bronx Week Film Festival taken from yesterdays Easter edition of the Daily News. Once we select the final theatre venue for the first ever showing of "Gun Hill Road" in the Bronx, expect to see the press city wide. Much gratitude to Tanyanika Samuels at the Daily News.

Gregory
********

It's time for the Bronx's closeup: film festival shines spotlight on borough
BY Tanyanika Samuels
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Monday, April 25th 2011, 4:00 AM


New York filmmaker Rashaad Ernesto Green's Sundance favorite, 'Gun Hill Road,' will screen at the Bronx Week Film Festival.

It started as an ambitious dream to showcase Bronx filmmakers and, in just a few short weeks, it's become real.

The First Annual Bronx Week Film Festival will debut during this year's Bronx Week celebration next month.

About a dozen full-length movies and documentaries will be screened, all with a connection to the borough.

"We are excited about it," said event organizer Gregory Tsougranis of Olympia Film Locations Inc. "I'm so proud that we have all these people in the Bronx who make their own movies."

The lineup features a range of genres from horror flicks to love stories. Among them are Sundance Film Fest hit drama "Gun Hill Road;" "Slime City Massacre" and "Krackoon;" the irreverent biopic, "Bronx Paradise: Diary of a Bottom Feeder;" the independent film, "My Destiny: An Albanian Love Story," and the documentary "New York MMA."

The concept for the film festival first took shape during last month's Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation meeting.

The goal was to shine a spotlight on the local film industry, and promote the borough through films made in or about the Bronx or produced by a Bronxite.

Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and BOEDC President Marlene Cintron approached Tsougranis, who helped scout locations for "Gun Hill Road."

A couple weeks later, in a meeting at the Bruckner Bar & Grill, Tsougranis and some local filmakers brought the idea to fruition.

"We are excited at the prospect of creating additional venues during Bronx Week that will draw more individuals to see what we have to offer in our wonderful borough," Diaz said.

"I'm looking forward to experiencing the creativity and talent of our residents, this time reflected in the big screen."

Local filmmaker Roko Markolovic agreed, saying that the film festival will highlight a little known side of the Bronx.

"The cultural aspect of the Bronx is not really known. No one knows that a lot of movies are being made here," said Markolovic, director of "My Destiny."

In addition to the movie screenings, the film festival is to include several workshops, guest appearances by movie directors and actors, and a gala event.

"This is good for the Bronx. It will bring a lot of attention to the [borough] and the filmmaking industry here," said Tsougranis, author of the BoogieDowner blog.

The First Annual Bronx Week Film Festival will run from May 16-19 at the Bruckner Bar & Grill, 1 Bruckner Blvd. in Port Morris.

To learn more, visit boogiedowner.blogspot.com

tsamuels@nydailynews.com

Call for Participation in the “1st Annual Bronx Week Film Festival“ Draws Unexpected High Number of Bronx Film Makers, Producers and Directors

What I assume started the idea of a “Bronx Week Film Festival” was a statement by the Bronx Borough President, Mr. Ruben Diaz Jr. at a recent BOEDC meeting. I assume the statement went something like this: “See if the guy who helped make the movie “Gun Hill Road” can get the director to come back for a film related event or screening during Bronx Week”. In the mean time, this has turned into the “1st Annual Bronx Week Film Festival”. Since my partners and I at Olympia Film Locations Inc, (the official and authorized Producers of the Film Festival) took on the charge, the news of the event has spread like wild fire. The results have been overwhelming. The responses and submissions are nothing short of the best in film and cinema the Bronx has to offer.

Firstly, let me confirm that Rashaad Ernest Green, the producers and the distributor who purchased the rights to the movie “Gun Hill Road” have all vouched their support for the Film Festival. They were adamant that “Gun Hill Road” be filmed 100% in the Bronx and are adamant that they come back to the Bronx to help when needed. Rashaad plans to be present at the screening of his movie at the Film Festival and at the Gala event on Friday May 20th where we are attracting producers, directors, actors, new networks, TV stations, studios, paparazzi, political figures and high net worth individuals all who will join us in showcasing the Bronx as a primary film making destination.

At first glance our goal in holding a successful Bronx Week Film Festival so quickly might have seemed a pipe dream unless of course you consider what Bronx People can do once they are united and have their mind set on a specific goal. We are a population accustomed to doing more even though provided less. Therefore it should have been no surprise when we packed a room with Bronx directors, producers, actors and one symphony cello player, many with award winning films and or signed deals for distribution. The energy and entrepreneurship was amazing. The back room of the Bruckner Bar and Grill this past Thursday was filed with confident “SELF MADE” Bronx film makers who cared about the Bronx, its people and the development of their craft in the Bronx. To top it all off, serendipitously Michael Max Knobbe the Executive Director of BronxNet just happened to be having dinner at the Bruckner with friends. It was a great opportunity to bring him into our master plan as well. As always he was a gentleman.

At our first meeting we had two directors and a band who I posted a blog about last Tuesday. Since there were only two producers, I was able to post links to their sites and discuss basics about their films. This Thursdays meeting consisted of many more films makers and films. I will only list their names and some of the movies they represent. Each film maker and movie submitted will receive the individual attention they deserve over the next week or two via unique posts on this site. Anything less would not show the proper respect due to both the film maker and the movies they produced and or directed.

Film makers and Directors present at this Thursday’s meeting at the Bruckner Bar and Grill were Robert Gadero, James McSherry, Iris Montalvo, Marc Anthony Seda, Diego Mack, Roko Markolovic (with Diana), Joe Mileto, Wayne Gurman, Elizabeth Glushko, Chris Raffaele and Troy Reed. Some of the movies represented that night included ‘Bronx Paradise’, ‘My Destiny’ an Albanian Love Story, ‘Quentine Fortune’, ‘Poetry Man’, ‘Guido Monologues’, ‘Grasslands’ and ‘Baby Bomber’.

We still wish to collect additional full length films and shorts in and about the Bronx. If there is a Bronx connection we want to see it. For any film makers interested in attending this weeks 7 pm meeting at the Bruckner Bar and Grill on April 21st, please do send me an e-mail at the BoogieDowner. My e-mail address is boogiedowner@gmail.com.

In addition to full length movies discussed above we hope to collect shorts and present awards for shorts in the following categories at our Gala event on May 20th;

1-Animation
2-Drama
3-Doumentary

We look forward to receiving and viewing your entries. Please do send submissions to the boogiedowner@gmail.com. After reviewing what you send, I will forward the information to my colleagues at Olympia.

Sincerely,
Gregory

Here are some photos taken before and after the meeting.
14April (LtoR) Peter Matsis(Olympia),Peter Zotis(Olympia),Laura Cicciu(Olympia),Michael Max Knobbe(BronxNet), Bobby Zouvelos (Olympia)

Bronx Film Makers Meet at the Bruckner Bar and Grill to Plan 1st Annual Bronx Week Film Festival

One of my many ambitions related to taking over the “Boogie Downer blog” was to help bring the film/TV industry to the Bronx. For anyone that follows my blog, I am sure they have periodically seen my posts promoting Bronx film makers. In the very beginning I also mentioned my association in helping Bronx film director Rashaad Ernesto Green find locations for his award winning film, “Gun Hill Road”.

Since receiving the phone call about a year ago, “Gun Hill Road” was accepted to the Sundance Film Festival and sold for world wide distribution. Much like Brooklyn has Aronofski the Bronx now has Rashaad Ernesto Green. It is important to note Rashaad is 100% Bronx and that he was adamant that his film be 100% shot in the Bronx.

Due to my association with the movie “Gun Hill Road” and its success, The BOEDC and the Bronx Borough President, Mr. Ruben Diaz Jr., have given me and my colleagues at Olympia Film Locations Inc, the charge to establish, coordinate and manage the “1st Annual Bronx Week Film Festival”. The goal of the festival is to attract a number of films which are made either by Bronx filmmakers or are about the Bronx and that promote our borough through their unique message.

We at Olympia Film Locations Inc., will launch a web site exclusively representing a few hundred million dollars worth of Bronx properties that will be available for rent to the film and TV industry. The film and TV rental fees generated should provide opportunities for local Bronx residents, businesses and building owners trying to make ends meet in a difficult real estate market. It gave me great joy when Bronx residents living in the building ‘Gun Hill Road’ was filmed in, especially children, were featured in the film or when rental revenue received by the property owners were used to improve living conditions.

Bronx Week is scheduled from May 16th to May 21st. The Film related activities will consist of various film/TV and music video screenings and workshops. The film festival red carpet gala event will be conducted on May 20th. Our Bronx Borough President, Rashaad Ernest Green and others will be present on the 20th. We will have an eclectic mix of artists, producers, investors, distributors, non-profits and Bronx political figures attending. Together we will announce to the world that the Bronx is united on this front and that it we will bring quality jobs to our borough by promoting the film and TV industry in the Bronx.

The Buckner Bar and Grill has become ground zero for our clandestine meetings with film producers and other people in the industry. At first I was surprised at the quantity of Bronx residents that on their own produced movies in or about our borough. I took a photo of our last meeting at the Bruckner Bar and Grill and posted below along with various links about the productions made by the attendees photographed. Last Thursday concentrated on our Bronx horror film producers. Included at the meeting were the producers of ‘Slime City Massacre’ and ‘Krackoon’. The first has also been sold for world wide distribution and the second is presently in negotiations to be purchased for world wide distribution.


I am sure there are more Bronx film makers that we need to include in our Bronx Week Film Festival. Please send leads or contact information to the BoogieDowner. I am especially interested in anyone who has information on the following Bronxites:

1- Director Mike “TS” Demitro – Writer / Director / Producer
of “the Boogieman of Sousa Woods”
2- Bronx rapper Cory Gunz – Star of new Bronx Based Reality Show

In addition to Bronx directors or film makers we also hope to hear form Bronx actors and actresses that have “made it” in their profession and wish to commit to a workshop or attend our gale event on the 20th. The list of Bronx “Stars” is extensive so if the shoe fits and you wish to participate please do send me an e-mail at BoogieDowner@gmail.com.


Gregory

(Bronx film makers, band members of "A Moments Worth" and representatives from Olympia Film Locations Inc. meet to discuss the 1st Annual Bronx Week Film Festival)

(Mark J. Makowski, Peter Zotis, Anthony DeBellis, Jerry Landi, Bobby Zouvelos, Anthony Albaneese and Alex Bondarev) (Photo of the Lila who is part of the pleasant atmosphere always in abundance at the Bruckner Bar and Grill)

More on "Gun Hill Road" the movie;

http://sundance.bside.com/2011/films/gunhillroad_sundance2011

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1525838/

More on Mark J. Makowski - "Slime City Massacre"

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1409491/

Jerry Landi - "Krackoon"

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3804326/