Film Archives - Susan von Seggern

Small Factory Films Premieres Filmmaker Joe Bartone’s Everything Will Be Fine in the End at Silicon Beach Film Festival on September 14 at the TCL Chinese Theater

09/12/2022 by Susan von Seggern

Everything Will Be Fine Key Art Hollywood, CA – Indie film company Small Factory Films is excited to premiere their feature film, Everything Will Be Fine in The End from award-winning, screenwriter, filmmaker, and composer, Joe Bartone as part of the Silicon Beach Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theater 6 in the heart of Hollywood on September 14 at 7:30 pm.

The neurotic film follows the maniacal Buzz, who has taken his girlfriend George’s dog, a labradoodle named Leo. George goes on a revenge spree of poor decisions with her friends Kai and Renka to get Leo back, ignoring that she, in fact, had previously stolen Leo from Tom, a kindly man also searching for his beloved pet. Narrated by Isaiah, an urban shaman, George, Kai, and Renka botch a break-in robbery ending in homeowner Julia’s death – who then follows George around in her ghost form to witness the consequences of their actions.

The film features Kent Harper as Buzz and introduces Elsa Kennedy in her first lead role as George, the film also stars musician actors Cheska Zaide and Steven Michael Martin.

The film features an original score and songs written and performed by the director joined by Kennedy on vocals and Martin on drums, making this film unique for today’s productions and is reminiscent of the punk/DIY spirit of legendary indie films of the 80s, 90s, and 00s such as Paranoid Park, and Repo Man. Trailers for Everything Will Be Fine in The End can be seen here and here.

Filmmaker Bartone notes, “I never dreamed writing songs for my friends would one day bring me to standing in front of an audience at the world-famous TCL Chinese Theater to share my vision, words, and music. I hope that my hard work and that of my cast and crew can show others that all things are possible if we choose life.”

The event will kick off at 6:30 pm at TCL Chinese Theater 6 at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 with a red carpet featuring stars of the film and notable supporters. The screening will take place at 7:30 pm. Following the screening there will be a premiere party at the nearby Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd, starting at 9:30 with a red carpet. In the Hollywood Roosevelt Pool bar, music and a cash bar will continue until 11:15 pm.

Joe Bartone is a WGA caucus member. His films have won 18 awards in filmmaking, screenwriting, and composing. He has also notched 19 finalist placements and 8 semi-finalist placements in film festivals. He was a member of the Warner Bros. team that took the 2013 Technical Emmy for innovative digital delivery systems. His screenplay, Worst Night Ever was chosen as the 3rd best horror screenplay at Slamdance in 2021. In music, he was named among the 2015 best new jazz artists from JazzFM – the top syndicated jazz radio programming for NPR for the album Master Plan B with his group Thelonious Dub.

In addition to his own films, Bartone has been on the sound team of over 120 film and television productions.

The public can purchase tickets at the film festival in advance or at the door. Advanced tickets may be purchased online at https://www.siliconbeachfilmfestival.com/tickets, please scroll down to Block OO Wednesday, 7:30 pm 9/14. Tickets must be added and then scroll down to the check-out at the bottom.

Star of New Documentary, Forte, Brings “The Power of Sound” Performance to Venues Everywhere

06/12/2022 by Susan von Seggern

Acclaimed Violinist Explores Noise Pollution and the Power of Sound with Transformative New Program
Los Angeles, CA. May 19, 2022 – Today, violinist Tatiana Berman announced The Power of Sound – an innovative new performance that explores music’s ability to heal, and also raises awareness for the transformative impact sounds have on our everyday health and emotional well-being.

Featuring customizable classical and contemporary repertoire, this performance includes informative spoken vignettes that provide context for the corresponding pieces. There are multiple variations of the program, ranging from solo to chamber music to orchestral.

“We are exposed to thousands of sounds on a daily basis, but how does this actually impact our health and well-being?” says Berman. “Our bodies are composed mostly of water, which happens to be an excellent conductor for vibrations, so essentially, we are walking conduits of sounds. As we are extremely sensitive to sound, noise, and music, they affect our emotions, behavior, and shape our reality.”

Recently, Berman piloted her music and spoken-word program to private audiences across the U.S. to an incredibly encouraging response. “It has been a cathartic event for so many audience members, and the feedback is that we need these transformative experiences more than ever.”

“I have always loved to explore non-classical music topics, including how modern science intersects with ancient philosophy and sound healing practices,” said Berman. “As a result, I created a project that raises awareness of how noise and sound affect us in everyday life.”

Berman is touring The Power of Sound throughout the U.S. and Europe with a series of private engagements and limited performances open to the public. She is partnering with various organizations including orchestras, performing art centers, retreats, and wellness centers.

Berman stars in the upcoming documentary Forte, available on Apple TV and other platforms on May 27 in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Ireland.

For more information, and inquiries regarding bookings and partnerships, visit www.TatianaBerman.com.

SUNDAY NIGHT FRIGHTS COME TO THE CW WITH SEASON 3 OF STAGE 13’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ANTHOLOGY SERIES TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES DEBUTING JAN. 16

02/15/2022 by Susan von Seggern

Companion Podcast Launches Jan. 25
Los Angeles – January 13, 2022 – An incredibly diverse cast and wildly creative team lead the third season of the horror anthology series TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES debuting on The CW on SUNDAY, JAN. 16 at 9:00PM ET/8:00pm CT. Every episode streams for free on the next day at cwtv.com and the CW app. Stage 13 brings 10 half-hour episodes airing in pairs for the duration of their run. The creator and executive producer is Vera Miao; executive producers are Lisa Morales and Liz Levine, an all-female and LGBTQ+ team. Liz Hsiao Lan Alper is a writer/producer. Shawn Angelski of Pink Buffalo Productions is a producer.

The psychological thriller showcases an array of multicultural talent behind and in front of the camera to tell stories about complex issues facing modern society, paying homage to the horror genre’s long legacy of tackling challenging topics in unique ways. Each compact half-hour episode offers suspense, frights, subversive elements, terrifying realities and outrageous outcomes, as well as multidimensional characters with intersectional perspectives — often from less-heard voices.

Inspired by online microfiction and using social horror to help unwrap complex issues, the series layers thrills and chills with curiosities and provocations from the women-led creative team. Wide-ranging subjects, not always found in horror, include equality, being true to oneself, understanding painful histories, the perils of abusing nature, privilege and fairness, the dangers of using cruelty as a path to power, the interdependence of ecosystems and people, and a warning about tech dominance in every aspect of life.

As varied as the topics are, the themes are all universal — fear, the healing power of kindness, the desire to be loved, inner strength, identity, appreciation of heritage, celebration of differences, and the oneness of humanity — or the lack of humanity.

The series has a writers’ room that is 100% women (80% BIPOC). Notably Lisa Morales, in her first showrunning gig, is one of the few Latina showrunners in Hollywood. The series features 100% diverse (female, BIPOC, LGBTQ+) directors. Many of the over 35 up-and-coming writers and directors of 2SHS episodes have gone onto guild acceptance, larger shows, films and gaming. The show’s casting has also been remarkably diverse.

With the third season airing on The CW, the TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES franchise has aired 28 episodes. The first 5 episodes incubated on CW Seed with a digital season in 2018. The show is unique in that it was a digital-first series, that has also run on linear, and now streaming, doing well across platforms and generations. The first two seasons can be streamed on Netflix.

The series has an audio companion TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES: THE PODCAST that launches JAN. 25 and can be heard on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and elsewhere. The podcast is an immersion into the unique worlds created by each episode of the hit anthology series that features the horror genre and tackles social and cultural issues. In each podcast the hosts talk with the television series creators, as well as celebrity guests, horror experts, social activists, and culture critics as they dive deep into social themes at the intersection of diverse and inclusive storytelling explored on the cult CW series.

Fans can follow updates on season 3 and the podcast and learn more about the show at:

Official Instagram: www.instagram.com/twosentencehorrorstories
Official Facebook: www.facebook.com/twosentencehorrorstories
Website: http://www.twosentencehorrorstories.com/
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWcns0_Y5wQ
EPK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJcTduUPoHM

Season 3 episodes and air order are:

Announced:

Crush (#310) Jan. 16 at 9:00pm ET/8:00pm CT
Directed by Kailey Spear and Sam Spear; written by Amy Do Thurlow.
Twins Mabel and Jane live in a “Grey Gardens” house that’s a little too full of memories and possessions, as well as their love and anger for each other. Their twisted sisterhood is quite a battle, until a new threat arrives. The episode stars twins Joyce and Jacqueline Robbins, who’ve been acting for 40+ years, often together, and is directed by identical twins Kailey and Sam Spear.

Plant Life (#301) Jan. 16 at 9:30pm ET/8:30pm CT
Directed by Vera Miao; written by Stephanie Adams-Santos.
A tech-addict workaholic receives a plant from his boyfriend to enhance his work-life balance but instead faces disturbing changes as the plant takes root in his life. The couple faces the perils of ignoring Mother Nature in favor of the devices and robots controlling their lives. Series creator and executive producer Vera Miao directs the episode.

Toxic (#306) Jan. 23 at 9:00pm ET/8:00pm CT
Directed by Chase Joynt; written by Liz Hsiao Lan Alper.
Class differences and cruelty take hold of a group of high school frenemies as they prank a Yale hopeful in the woods. They might realize too late that not all jokes are harmless and some ghost stories are true. Chase Joynt, director of acclaimed Season 2 episode “Elliot,” returns.

Teatime (#304) Jan. 23 at 9:30pm ET/8:30pm CT
Directed by Kailey Spear and Sam Spear; written by Stephanie Adams-Santos.
A new babysitter’s gig takes a sinister turn when she discovers her charge’s dolls are not what they seem. In her fifth 2SHS episode, Guatemalan-American writer Stephanie Adams-Santos turns the classic horror trope of evil dolls on its head.

Upcoming in January and February:

Teeth (#302)
Directed by Kathleen Hepburn; written by Lisa Morales.
A romantic weekend escape to the woods for a bi-racial lesbian couple goes awry when they are targeted by a group of bigoted locals, other creatures, and a dark and lonely secret their relationship may or may not overcome. Director Kathleen Hepburn has won multiple awards including a Leo Award and a Canadian Screen Award.

The Killer Inside (#307)
Directed by Heidi Saman; written by Sehaj Sethi.
A surgeon is forced to take drastic measures to save her father when following the rules does not succeed. Egyptian-American director Heidi Saman (“Queen Sugar”) draws on her cultural heritage and journalism background with NPR’s “Fresh Air” to bring 2SHS writer Sehaj Sethi’s fourth episode to life (and death).

Patel Motel Cartel (#308)
Directed by Nimisha Mukerji; written by Sehaj Sethi
A teen boy learns his true identity when a violent intruder tries to check into his family’s motel. Indian-American Sehaj Sethi writes her fifth episode for 2SHS and she probes her and award-winning Indian-Canadian director Nimisha Mukerji’s culture.

Erased (#309)
Directed by Albert Shin; written by Liz Hsiao Lan Alper.
An indigenous mom tries to save her home and her family’s rich Hawaiian culture from income inequality, gentrification, and environmental degradation. Writer Liz Hsiao Lan Alper has written for “Hawaii 5-0,” “Chicago Fire” and “The Rookie.”

Encore:

Crush (#310)
Plant Life (#301)

Heirloom (#305)
Directed by DuBois Ashong; written by Lekethia Dalcoe
Pointing out Oregon’s ugly histories and recent resurgence of racism, this episode follows a new widower and his daughter who learn their new home sits on haunted land with deeply rooted horror spanning generations. In a classic 2SHS reversal, the scariest character might not be a ghost.

Homecoming (#303)
Directed by Freddy Chaves Olmos; written by Stephanie Adams-Santos & Lisa Morales
Three Latinx brothers return to their childhood home to visit their dying father only to be forced to confront the demons of their past — and the secrets that families keep. The episode is the directorial debut of Mexican-American Freddy Chaves Olmos, who has had a successful career in VFX.

About Stage 13
Stage 13 is a multiple award-winning, fearless, original content studio showcasing a new generation of inspired talent and voices in scripted and unscripted storytelling. With six EMMY® nominations, the brand’s diverse portfolio of series and features are available on the Stage 13 platform, Facebook, YouTube, and its distribution partners, including Netflix, The CW/CW Seed, HBO, and HBO Max. Creating impactful series for multidimensional audiences, Stage 13 is part of the Warner Bros. TV Group.

FALL IN LINE WITH STAGE 13’S DOCUSERIES “MARCH”, AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE REVERED HBCU MARCHING BAND AT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY, DEBUTING JAN. 24 ON THE CW

02/15/2022 by Susan von Seggern

Meet the Featured Students and Staff of this Incredible 300+ Person Precision Ensemble

LOS ANGELES, CA – Step into the riveting and demanding world of the Marching Storm, the award-winning band at HBCU Prairie View A&M University, as its members strive to climb in the rankings, balance the demands of life and school, and carry the bold legacy of the university. Stage 13’s docuseries MARCH debuts on Monday, January 24 at 8:00pm ET/PT on The CW. The 8-episode series is executive produced by Jamail Shelton (“Love & Hip Hop”), Emmy winner Cheryl Horner McDonough (“The T Word”), and Stage 13 EPs Shari Scorca and Marcel Fuentes.

Each one-hour episode of MARCH showcases the dedicated and talented band and staff members including musicians, drum majors, dancers, flag team and faculty advisors as they navigate performing in one of the country’s most prestigious HBCU marching bands as well as tackling rigorous academic schedules and maintaining high-grade point averages. The series chronicles their pressure-filled journey to become the top-ranked HBCU band in the land after starting the season at #8, as ranked on ESPN’s The Undefeated.

The docuseries includes electrifying performances at Homecoming and football games against Texas A&M and Jackson State University. While MARCH shares the personal and unique stories of band and staff members from the more than 300-person marching band, it also explores the legacy and culture of Prairie View A&M and highlights how the Marching Storm is an integral part of that rich history.

Shot in the fall of 2021, MARCH presents the students and staff members navigating a plethora of relatable issues – the effects of the pandemic on their lives, long-distance relationships, the current discussion around pronouns, being a student and a parent, getting along with bandmates, and more. The student band members also cope with the common college issues including the first-year students missing their families, sophomores and juniors growing into leadership positions, and seniors contemplating their next moves – all while working toward the shared goal of musical and performance excellence.

With HBCU bands having been celebrated in pop culture – Beyonce’s homage at Coachella, Lil Nas X’s recent VMAs performance, Lizzo and Ciara videos and the hit film “Drumline” — the marching band experience has already left a lasting influence.

“At Stage 13, we are thrilled to partner with The CW to bring audiences the dynamic energy and inspiration of Black college life via the awesome HBCU marching band experience,” said Stage 13 SVP/GM Diana Mogollon. “PVAMU’s Marching Storm is unparalleled, and its members deliver quintessentially high-stakes entertainment at its best, with swagger, camaraderie, and heart throughout the series.”

“It’s been completely incredible to be immersed in this unique world,” added Stage 13 EP Shari Scorca. “I’m impressed by the commitment of the band members, the tough but nurturing band staff, watching 300 people come together for truly magical moments of music and movement coordination, and seeing these kids grow as musicians and people in real time. Producing this show has been an inspiration for our team, it truly comes through on screen.”

The series launches tonight in time for the February observance of Black History Month and HBCU Awareness Month in March. MARCH is an uplifting show that will make audiences smile, laugh, and even weep while bringing the impressive artistry and cultural import of this cornerstone of the Black college experience vividly to life.

Audiences will fall in love with featured band members and staff:

March -- “Into the Storm” -- Image Number: XXX -- Pictured: Dr. Timothy Zachery -- Photo: Lee Morgan/The CW -- © 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.	Dr. Timmey T. Zachery – Dr. Zachery is the Marching Storm’s tough but loving advisor, who knows and cares about the growth of all the band members in his sprawling organization. After graduating from Peabody Magnet High School in his native Alexandria, Louisiana, Tim moved on to performing in the famed Southern University Marching Band in Baton Rouge. Tim went on to obtain his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music from Norfolk State University. A brief assignment in the United States Navy Band gave Tim the opportunity to travel the world. His journeys to Africa forever changed him when he was given the opportunity to listen to and perform with musicians there. A strong proponent of education, he went on to obtain his Doctor of Music Arts degree from Indiana University. Now, as a former Professor of Music and Assistant Band Director at Norfolk State University and current Director of Bands at Prairie View, Dr. Zachery is poised to infect as many young people with hope and the love of music that he embodies.
Photo: The CW -- (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.	Ms. Shawn Zachery – Shawn is the coach of the Black Foxes dance section and is an inspiration to the young women she guides. She began her career in dance as a Southern University Dancing Doll. After receiving a degree in Computer Science, she began her career in technology at IBM while also continuing her dance studies. She has worked in the IT field for over 30 years while also performing in local dance troupes. She has served as Director and Choreographer for Howard University’s Ooh La La! Dancers, the Champagne Dancers at South Carolina State University, and the Hot Ice Dancers at Norfolk State University. Ms. Zachery created the National HBCU Auxiliary and Dance Directors Association. She is a member of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Photo: The CW -- (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.	Kaylan – Senior, Black Fox, Hometown – Houston. Kaylan is the Captain of the Marching Storm dance troupe, the Black Foxes. Her hard-core leadership style is intense, but she just wants to leave her legacy behind before graduating. Kaylan graduated at the end of Fall ‘21 semester and has already started a full-time job at an architecture firm in Dallas.
Photo: The CW -- (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.	Jalen – Senior, Drum Major, Hometown – Dallas. As a senior Drum Major, he's the most chill person you'll ever meet. Jalen is compassionate and understanding, often mentoring the younger band members as part of the Drum Major’s leadership role. Many band members come to Jalen to discuss their problems. Jalen is a Kinesiology Major set to graduate December ‘22 with plans to attend chiropractic school after grad school.
Photo: The CW -- (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.	Aaron – Senior, Drum Major, Hometown – Charlotte, NC. Aaron is a senior Drum Major who is strict and disciplined. As he is preparing to graduate, he wants to find a Band Director job somewhere because he loves this life so much. Band life is part of his DNA. The band means more to him than most people, and he wants to do this for the rest of his life. He is a Band Performance Major who graduates Spring ‘22 and hopes to find a job at a middle or high school in the Houston area after graduation.
Photo: The CW -- (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.	Shelbi – Sophomore, Black Fox, Hometown – Houston. All signs point to sophomore Shelbi being the next Captain of the Black Foxes. She has the support of Kaylan, the current Captain. Everyone loves Shelbi, but can she win over the Directors to be the next Captain? Also, watch to see if Shelbi and Jalen’s flirtation/casual dating situation becomes something more serious.
Photo: The CW -- (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.	Nehemiah - Junior, Dance Committee Member/Mellophone Player, Hometown – Missouri City, TX. A talented and quick-tempered drum major hopeful, now on the Dance Committee who choreograph and coach movement for the overall band, as well as holding it down playing the mellophone for the band. He has it all— the looks, the personality, and the passion for the band and has real drum major potential.
Photo: The CW -- (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.	Martayvia – Senior. Piccolo Section Leader, Hometown – Dallas. A senior and section leader for the Piccolos - that’s until she got into an altercation with her former friend Euphonium player, Cardavion. They are now both kicked out of band and are fighting to get back in before they graduate. Although band is the most important thing to them, they also try and save what’s left of their friendship.
Photo: The CW -- (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.	Cardavion - Senior, Euphonium Player, Hometown – Dallas. A senior who is part of the Euphonium section in the Marching Storm…that is until they were kicked out of the band for misconduct due to an altercation with a fellow bandmate. While not in the band, they’re keeping busy with two budding businesses – baking and hair accessories.

Please check out the following links for more info:
Clip: https://youtu.be/fb0vLChDoPg
MARCH page: https://www.stage13.com/shows/march/
Stage 13: www.stage13.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stage13network
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stage13network/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stage13network
Hashtag: #CWMarch

Early Episode synopses:
Episode 101: “Into the Storm” Jan. 24 at 8:00pm ET/PT
Meet the Marching Storm, the award-winning marching band of HBCU Prairie View A&M University as its 300+ student members and faculty advisors head into the second half of a unique 2021 collegiate season with plenty of life, school and pandemic challenges. As they prepare for a critical performance and legacy pressures of Homecoming weekend, new leaders begin to emerge for the next season.

Episode 102: “Homecoming” Jan. 31 at 8:00pm ET/PT
Homecoming weekend arrives with lots of nerves and the pandemic as an uninvited guest, but the Marching Storm plans to deliver a performance worthy of the Prairie View A&M name. Camaraderie, relationships and family are all on the minds of band members and faculty as they prepare for the big event.

Episode 103: “Eye of the Storm” Feb. 7 at 8:00pm ET/PT
With Homecoming behind them, the performers focus on the next event: a game with historical gravitas against Texas A&M University. The game brings pressure to win but the band faces added strain of their own to deliver a great performance, all while facing concerns about midterms and their grades.

Episode 104: “The Showdown” Feb. 14 at 8:00pm ET/PT
The biggest crowd of the season and a longtime rival await the Prairie View A&M’s Marching Storm. Opponent Texas A&M University shares a challenging history with PVAMU, who also faces a different audience with this performance. Ousted band members seek to rejoin the band, but first they must soul-search and repair their own relationships.

About Prairie View A&M University
Designated an institution of “the first class” in the Texas Constitution, Prairie View A&M University is the second-oldest public institution of higher education in the state. With an established reputation for producing engineers, nurses and educators, PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degree programs through seven colleges and the School of Architecture. A member of The Texas A&M University System, the university is dedicated to fulfilling its land-grant mission of achieving excellence in teaching, research, and service. For more information regarding PVAMU, visit www.pvamu.edu.

About the Marching Storm
For more than 80 years, the Marching Storm band has entertained audiences around the world. Known for its high-octane performances and unparalleled musical artistry, the nearly 300-member band primarily performs at football games and other Prairie View A&M University and community events. The dynamic field show includes a showcase of performances from the Black Foxes dance troupe, Twirling Thunder flag corp, and the Marching Storm Drumline. Notable alumni include Terry Ellis (member of the Multiplatinum recording group EnVogue); Virgin Records singing group IDEAL; and Ricky LaFontaine of the Richard Smallwood Singers. For more in the Marching Storm, visit www.pvamu.edu/marchingstorm.

About The CW
THE CW NETWORK launched in 2006 as America’s fifth broadcast network, with programming targeting younger viewers, a demographic highly sought after by advertisers. The CW, a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation, now broadcasts across the week, offering fourteen-hours of primetime programming, Monday through Sunday, beginning in Fall 2021. The CW’s primetime programming is also available to stream for free, without authentication, on the ad-supported CWTV.com and The CW app, now available on every major OTT platform. Additionally, The CW broadcasts a three-hour Saturday morning kids block. The CW’s digital network CW Seed launched in 2013 and offers original short-form digital content as well as past seasons of fan-favorite television series. For more information about the network and its programming, visit www.cwtvpr.com

NEW DOCUMENTARY PUTS TECHNOLOGY ADDICTION IN THE SPOTLIGHT

12/08/2021 by Susan von Seggern

DETOX aims to create urgent dialogue on digital wellness, helps parents address and prevent addiction symptoms

Los Angeles, CA – November 16, 2021 — Documentary filmmaker, David Donnelly, today announced a new film to address the increasingly alarming issue of technology addiction, entitled DETOX. The feature-length documentary explores how pervasive technology use is impacting our daily health and wellness, and offers solutions for reducing the harmful effects of tech reliance.

In March 2020, a screening series at The Kennedy Center for Donnelly’s previous documentary, FORTE, was canceled as the nation began closing doors for COVID-19 safety precautions. Donnelly, whose livelihood is making international films, was grounded, and while quarantined in London, began to explore the disturbing proliferation of technology addiction symptoms. His fascination and research became the basis for DETOX.

“The combination of global wifi and ubiquitous smartphone usage is influencing the behavior of billions of people, and yet we know so little about how it’s actually impacting us as humans,” said Donnelly. Since he began making the film, countless events have unfolded that spotlight the issue, including Facebook’s recent whistleblower news.

The film features shocking new insights on how tech devices are affecting our physical and mental health from digital sociologist and author, Dr. Julie Albright; bestselling author Robert Greene; the co-founder of one of the nation’s first technology addiction centers Dr. Hilarie Cash; and more. These experts identify the roots of the problem and provide easy, applicable solutions for healthier relationships with technology–especially for parents who are routinely monitoring phone and technology exposure for their families.

The filmmakers are producing the film independently before approaching distributors to maintain the focus and integrity of the message. An Indiegogo campaign is now live to help the film launch essential conversation on digital wellness–supporters can choose virtual premiere tickets, an accompanying DETOX book featuring bonus interview content, exclusive NFTs, and sponsored screenings.

About David Donnelly
Donnelly is an award-winning American filmmaker, writer, speaker, artist, and entrepreneur. He has written, directed, and produced music videos, video installation art, short films, and feature-length documentaries, which have been featured in Forbes, Playbill, and NPR. He has directed three films, Forte, Nordic Pulse, and Maestro, and is currently working on his fourth, Detox. Donnelly’s educational films are used in thousands of classrooms across North America.

Award Winning Short Film Brides of Jesus’ “Inside Me” Michael Rozon Remix Out Now

04/06/2021 by Susan von Seggern

March 16, 2021 – Los Angeles, CA – Brides of Jesus, the eponymous band in the Blacklist celebrated feature script Brides of Jesus, and the award-winning short film, “Brides of Jesus – Inside Me,” just released a remix to their recent single, “Inside Me” here. This “Dub Thief” remix was done by noted producer Michael Rozon (mixing, effects) and the film’s writer/director/producer Joe Bartone (arranging, synths). Rozon is widely known for his work producing and engineering a variety of musical artists including The Melvins, Ministry, Jarboe of The Swans, Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, David Yow of The Jesus Lizard, Gene Loves Jezebel, Wayne Hussey of The Mission, and Sisters of Mercy.

For this remix Rozon goes with the more pop side of his dark electronic sound that compliments the original production sung in the track and short film by musician/actresses Kathryn Jurbala and Natalie Von Kirk who lead the titular band in the short. Drums on the original track were laid down by actor/drummer Stephen Martin, the short’s band’s drummer. The rest of the original track was recorded by the film’s writer/director/producer Joe Bartone who also wrote and arranged all the music in the short.

While the short is only a small look into the world of Brides of Jesus, it’s been a fantastic proof of concept for the feature film. The short has won 18 awards at festivals including the Independent Shorts Awards, the New York Movie Awards, the Venice Film Awards, the Hollywood Gold Awards, the Indie Short Fest, the Culver City Film Festival and others. The feature script has also generated laurels with the Beverly Hills Film Festival, the Glendale International Film Festival, and the Rhode Island International Film Festival.

The film centers on the young nun led New England Punk Rock girl group, Brides of Jesus, who get sucked into dirty doings by the monsignor and the Knights of Columbus in this comic book style comedy thriller. Bandmates CC and Tigre fall in love as they fight the evil cleric and his henchman to clear their names for the Mother Superior’s murder. The movie has the grit and women led music and sexuality of The Runaways plus the comic book vibe and action of Sin City and New England’s issues with Catholicism in as seen in Spotlight.

The lead creatives on the project are musician/composer/director/screenwriter/producer Joe Bartone, who based the film on his experiences growing up in the heavily Catholic community in Rhode Island, which he escaped by diving deeply into the state’s influential music scene that birthed artists including The Throwing Muses, The Cowsills, and Les Savy Fav. He is joined by his co-director/producer/cinematographer/editor Jose Zambrano Cassella who brings experience from directing four features, music videos for artists like Shakira, and over 600 national and international brand commercials.

While the short continues to rack up laurels internationally, Joe, Jose and their team are actively looking for financing for the full-length film, which, as Joe notes, “now is the perfect time for a film about young women fighting an unfair system while falling in love with each other, making great music and saving the day, against a backdrop of comic book influenced production design.”

Award Winning Short Film Brides of Jesus Releases “Inside Me” Video Single Tomorrow

02/10/2021 by Susan von Seggern

January 21, 2021 – Los Angeles, CA – Brides of Jesus, the eponymous band in the Blacklist celebrated feature script Brides of Jesus, and the award-winning short film, “Brides of Jesus – Inside Me,” are releasing their second video single, “Inside Me” on YouTube tomorrow here. The song was sung in the video and short by musician/actresses Kathryn Jurbala and Natalie Von Kirk who lead the titular band in the short. Drums on the track were laid down by actor/drummer Stephen Martin, the short’s band’s drummer. The rest of the track was recorded by the film’s writer/director/producer Joe Bartone who also wrote all the music and lyrics in the short.

The film centers on the young nun led New England Punk Rock girl group, Brides of Jesus, who get sucked into dirty doings by the monsignor and the Knights of Columbus in this comic book style comedy thriller. Bandmates CC and Tigre fall in love as they fight the evil cleric and his henchman to clear their names for the Mother Superior’s murder. The movie has the grit and women led music and sexuality of the The Runaways plus the comic book vibe and action of Sin City and New England’s issues with Catholicism in as seen in Spotlight.

Experiential Meditation Film The Portal, Currently Screening Across the US and Australia to Enthusiastic Response, Launches The Portal App Today

11/18/2019 by Susan von Seggern

Sydney, Australia/New York City – The Portal, a new experiential film that demonstrates the effectiveness of mindful meditation by delving into six powerful personal stories of how the practice brought each of them out of crisis, announced their app launch at their New York City premiere last Friday November 15 at the Village East Cinema (the film’s run there is through November 21). The app is now available globally through the Apple App Store.

The app is designed to facilitate the audience’s ongoing journey into meditation and includes guided meditations, yoga sequences, podcasts, inspirational insights, and behind-the-scenes footage.

Filmed in the USA, Canada, Australia and a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, THE PORTAL is richly visual and sonically powerful. Mesmerizing cinematography and the raw intimate stories draw the audience in, while the immersive soundscape breaks ground in film history with its use of binaural beats in what is already an evocative score. These landscapes and textures become the sound and visual-scape for the app environment too.

“I believe real-time change is possible, and that through the poignant personal stories and ideas unfolding and weaving together in an immersive way we’ve got a portal to our greatest potential,” said the film’s director, Jacqui Fifer. “This project has been a catalyst for many of us involved and I’m seeing it jump-start a lot of other people too. In hindsight, I’ve spent my life preparing for it and watching many facets of myself emerge and harmonize in order to weave it together–the filmmaker, the musician, the dreamer, the feminine and so on–has been a fun process. I’d say it’s indicative of the times we’re living in, it’s the age of transformation, so to have tools that inspire us and help us move beyond the scars of our past and really come alive to what it is we are here to do is essential right now.”

The film focuses on six deeply moving stories from a diversity of viewpoints – from military veterans to scientists, humanitarians, high-performers and more, There is Ron ‘Booda’ Taylor—a retired US serviceman managing PTSD, Human Rights Expert Amandine Roche whose commitment to global peace took her on a quest for inner peace, Vietnamese refugee Due Quach who overcame developmental trauma through ‘mind hacking’, elite athlete Heather Hennessy who reinvented herself following a career-ending injury, Rabbi Ronnie Cahana who found freedom in the confines of a personal catastrophe, and neurosurgeon James R Doty MD who had to lose everything to find the meaning of life.

Supported by insights from three of the world’s foremost futurists—and a robot—the stories unfold as a beautiful, audiovisual spectacle that takes the viewer on their own mindfulness journey through the pain, joy and memory fragments of life. As THE PORTAL juxtaposes chaos with calm to provoke an emotional and psychological shift in the audience, experts Mikey Siegel, Dr. Julia Mossbridge, and Daniel Schmachtenberger unpack concepts that are emerging from the zeitgeist, inviting us to consider the bigger questions facing our society. How can we approach life in a new way? Is technology a tool for transformation? What does it mean to be human?

ENTER THE PORTAL
Making excellent use of these powerful mediums–film, book… and now app–THE PORTAL opens hearts and minds to an exciting vision for humanity transformed. Said producer and noted meditation leader Tom Cronin, “This is not sci-fi—this is real life. Humankind is staring into an abyss, yet within us all, we have the capability to bring ourselves (and our species) back from the brink. We’re part of a growing movement of game-changers to create a reimagined global future—I think people are ready for something different and technology can play a big role in uplifting us into a brighter future. This is why we created the app to help center people and guide them back to their inner space.”

In the spirit of the cinematic experience, the ENTER THE PORTAL App weaves a captivating and vibrant tapestry of technology, love, human potential, brain-hacking, stillness, and inner peace. Unique to the App experience is the addition of Movement to enhance what is an experiential and genre-defining approach to personal change and to accompany users on the next phase of their human evolution.

“It’s clear we just can’t play by the same old rules anymore when there’s an urgent need for meaning, connection, and harmony staring us in the face,” said Fifer, “We wanted to create a gateway to experience those missing pieces.”

###

ABOUT TOM CRONIN
Tom Cronin a former finance expert with a longstanding successful track record in business, as well as meditation, is the founder of The Stillness Project, a global movement to inspire one billion people to sit in stillness, daily. He is passionate about reducing stress and chaos in people’s lives. Tom’s ongoing work in transformational leadership and cultivating inner peace through meditation takes him around the world presenting keynote talks in such countries as Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, and the USA; hosting retreats; mentoring clients across the globe; teaching in schools; writing books; hosting mindfulness courses in the corporate sector; and creating THE PORTAL film-book experience, all as part of his commitment to the current planetary shift.

ABOUT JACQUI FIFER
Jacqui Fifer has had a dynamic career in the film industry line producing such films as BETTER WATCH OUT (2016), The OSIRIS CHILD (2016) and INFINI (2015) as well as producing the multi-award-winning dramatic feature CONCEALED (2017). She also co-directed the 2012 and 2013 “Dones en Art” (Women and Film) festivals in Spain. An advocate of human capacity development, Jacqui is thrilled to turn her hand towards a subject that is close to her heart with THE PORTAL experience.

ABOUT SUPERHUMAN INTERNATIONAL (SHI)
SHI is pushing the boundaries with this unique and transformational hybrid feature film experience, The Portal. SHI is an Australian company registered in the state of New South Wales. Tom Cronin is the company director. The project qualifies with the Australian Documentary Foundation for tax concessions.

MANGURAMA BRINGS THE PORTAL TO THEATRES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA

11/07/2019 by Susan von Seggern

Calm Your Mind, Open Your Heart, Transform The World
New feature documentary from meditation expert, Tom Cronin, takes an inside-out approach exploring how everyday people overcome challenging obstacles.

NEW YORK / LOS ANGELES (October 17, 2019) – Mangurama, a partnership between Abramorama and Giancarlo Canavesio’s Mangusta Productions announced today the North American theatrical run for Tom Cronin and Jacqui Fifer’s groundbreaking documentary THE PORTAL. The film will be released in theaters across North America starting November 1, 2019 (current list of dates is below).

“The time is certainly ripe for THE PORTAL,” stated Abramorama CEO Richard Abramowitz, “The film’s healing potential is exactly what we need at this moment.”

Directed and written by first-time Australian director, Jacqui Fifer, and written and produced by international meditation expert, Tom Cronin (The Stillness Project) the captivating film has inspired crowds throughout the world and audiences across North America will get their chance to experience THE PORTAL this fall.

“We’re thrilled to be working with the amazing team at Mangurama to help bring THE PORTAL to cinemas across North America,” said Cronin. “The film facilitates a collective shift on the planet that takes us into a new era of united living; it had to be groundbreaking, and unique.” THE PORTAL is truly a film for everyone. Its commercially viability raises the genre bar while remaining true to its core message,” Cronin continued.

Mangurama brings THE PORTAL, to theaters opening on November 1st at the Laemmle Monica Film Center in Los Angeles and on November 15th at The Village East Cinema in New York City with additional nationwide engagements below. The film will also be released in Australia and New Zealand around the same time.

THE PORTAL ASKS: As the doomsday clock ticks progressively louder: What would happen if 7 billion people meditated? Could it shift the trajectory of our planet?

THE PORTAL IS: An immersive, cinematic experience that answers the question: How can we really change the world?

Through heart-opening contemplation and shared experiences of transformation on a personal scale, with global implications, six ordinary people (and a robot) show how stillness and mindfulness can unlock personal change and ignite a planetary shift, providing hope to humankind.

“I believe real-time change is possible, and that through the poignant personal stories and ideas unfolding and weaving together in this way we’ve got a portal to our greatest potential,” said Fifer. “This project has been a catalyst for many of us and I’m seeing it jump-start a lot of other people too. I couldn’t have found a more perfect project for my first foray into feature docs and directing. I’ve spent my life preparing for this film, without realizing, and watching many facets of me emerge and harmonize in order to weave it together–the filmmaker, the musician, the dreamer, the feminine and so on–has been a fun process.”

Featuring an impressive and diverse cast and crew, led by people from all over the world and all walks of life from military veterans, to scientists, performers and more, There is Ron ‘Booda’ Taylor—a retired US serviceman managing PTSD, Human Rights Expert Amandine Roche whose commitment to global peace took her on a quest for inner peace, Vietnamese refugee Due Quach who overcame developmental trauma through ‘mind hacking’, elite athlete Heather Hennessy who reinvented herself following a career-ending injury, Rabbi Ronnie Cahana who found freedom in the confines of a personal catastrophe, and neurosurgeon James R Doty MD who had to lose everything to find the meaning of life.

Supported by insights from three of the world’s foremost futurists—and a robot—the stories unfold as a beautiful, audiovisual spectacle that takes the viewer on their own mindfulness journey through the pain, joy and memory fragments of life. As THE PORTAL juxtaposes chaos with calm to provoke an emotional and psychological shift in the audience, experts Mikey Siegel, Dr Julia Mossbridge, and Daniel Schmachtenberger unpack concepts that are emerging from the zeitgeist, inviting us to consider the bigger questions facing our society. How can we approach life in a new way? Is technology a tool for transformation? What does it mean to be human?

ENTER THE PORTAL
Supported by insights from three of the world’s foremost futurists and philosophers, THE PORTAL opens hearts and minds to an exciting vision for humanity transformed. Said Cronin, “This is not sci-fi—this is real life. Humankind is staring into an abyss, yet within us all we have the capability to bring ourselves (and our species) back from the brink. We’re part of a growing movement of game-changers to create a reimagined global future—I think people are ready for something different.”

THE PORTAL weaves a captivating and vibrant tapestry of technology, love, existentialism, human potential, brain-hacking, stillness and inner peace. It is an experiential and genre-defining approach to personal change as we embark on the next phase of human evolution.

Is an enlightened planet possible? Enter THE PORTAL and see. Screenings that are confirmed as of 10/24 are as follows:

City	Dates	Theater
Santa Monica, CA	11/1 – 11/7 (week)	Laemmle Monica Film Center
Berkeley, CA	11/3 (one day)	Rialto Cinemas Elmwood
Sebastopol, CA	11/4 (one day)	Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol
San Rafael, CA	11/4 (one day)	Smith Rafael Film Center
San Francisco, CA	11/5 (one day)	Roxie Theater
Portland, OR	11/6 (one day)	Cinema 21
Seattle, WA	11/7 (one day)	Landmark Crest Cinema Center
Bellingham, WA	11/8 (one day)	Pickford Film Center
Taos, NM	11/10 – 11/13 (4 days)	Taos Center for the Arts
Santa Fe, NM	11/10	The Screen
Camas, WA	11/11 & 11/14 (2 days)	Liberty Theatre
Anchorage, AK	11/14 (one day)	Bear Tooth Theatrepub
New York, NY	11/15 – 11/21 (week)	Village East Cinema
Philadelphia, PA	11/18 (one day)	Landmark’s Ritz Five
Boulder, CO	11/19 (one day)	Dairy Arts Center
San Diego, CA	11/20 (one day)	Landmark Hillcrest
State College, PA	11/20 (one day)	The State Theatre
Encinitas, CA	11/21 (one day)	La Paloma Theater
Long Beach, CA	11/23 & 11/24 (2 days)	Art Theatre of Long Beach
Miami Beach, FL	11/24 (one day)	O Cinema
Sedona, AZ	11/25 (one day)	Mary D. Fisher Theatre
South Burlington, VT	12/3 (one day)	Palace 9 Cinema
Nevada City, CA	12/15 (one day)	Nevada Theatre
Hopewell, NJ	12/24 (one day)	Hopewell Theater

Please note most of these screenings will feature post-film Q&As with the filmmakers and some will include some of the film’s subjects as well.

Click here to view the press kit

Click here for stills from the film

Click here to view the trailer

For more information on THE PORTAL, please visit www.entertheportal.com

Kirtan Doc Mantra – Sounds into Silence Premieres in New York March 16, LA April 6, Boulder April 18, and is Available for Screenings Across the US via Gathr’s Theatrical on Demand® Platform

03/07/2018 by Susan von Seggern

Kirtan Enthusiasts Can Book Screenings Now for Theatrical Dates Starting April 24

“A beautiful film which captures the spirit of a music movement that is now spreading across the world. MANTRA is a must-see for anyone who wants to pause and take a look within, accompanied by soulful and uplifting music and singing.”
– Dr. Deepak Chopra, MD, Author of You Are The Universe

Los Angeles, CA – February 22, 2018 – The award-winning documentary about the worldwide Kirtan (chanting) movement, MANTRA – Sounds into Silence will be premiering in New York City on March 16, followed by runs in Los Angeles starting April 6, and Boulder starting April 18. The film is also now available via Gathr‘s Theatrical on Demand® platform for US screenings starting April 24.

A feature-length documentary, exploring the growing musical and social phenomenon of chanting, MANTRA – Sounds into Silence shares the stories of people who are finding healing and a sense of inner peace by singing mantras together. It’s a film about spirituality not religion, about people reconnecting with their true selves and with others.
As our characters’ stories about their connection to the music unfold, we meet the musicians who have inspired them and brought them together. Through these encounters, we will discover how Deva Premal & Miten with Manose, Krishna Das, Snatam Kaur, Jai Uttal, Dave Stringer, Lama Gyurme & Jean-Philippe Rykiel, MC Yogi, C.C. White, Nina Rao, Mirabai Ceiba, Gaura Vani, Charlie Braun, Guru Ganesha, Wah! and others came to this music themselves and to the practice of Kirtan, and how, over the years, it transformed their lives as well.

Other notable experts who appear in the film include: Sharon Gannon, Co-founder, Jivamukti Yoga School, Anand Semaltry, Brahmin & Vedic Astrologer, Stephan Rechtschaffen, MD, Co-Founder Blue Spirit, Costa Rica & Omega Institute, Andrew Newberg, MD, Director of Research, Marcus Institute of Integrative Health, Elizabeth Leuthner, Hope Acts Program, Manager, Jill Purce, Sound Healing Pioneer, Susan Shannon, Buddhist Minister, San Quentin State Prison and more.

For those unfamiliar with Kirtan – it is a participatory, call and response form of singing that is becoming increasingly popular throughout the world as westerners discover its uplifting and healing effects. Kirtan is not in any way religious but many do describe it as spiritual. At a Kirtan event, the lines between musician and audience are blurred: the audience members play a vital role in the music through their singing in response to the “call” of the artist. It is now so popular that several artists have been nominated for and won Grammy awards.

The New York City premiere and run will take place at The Rubin Museum Theater. The Rubin Museum of Art is dedicated to the collection, display, and preservation of the art and cultures of the Himalayas, India and neighboring regions. They recently hosted another successful Gathr spiritual release, Walk With Me, a documentary about the world-famous Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. MANTRA – Sounds into Silence will premier March 16 followed by a two-week run. The New York run will feature post film Q&As by noted Kirtan artists Charlie Braun (3/16), Gaura Vani (3/17), Nina Rao (3/18), Krisha Das (3/21), Lily Cushman (3/22), Scott Whitmore (3/24), AMBIKA (3/25). They will also lead the audience in a post-film Kirtan experience.

The week-long Los Angeles run will begin at the Santa Monica Laemmle Theater on April 6. The first screening will include a Q&A with the director. Kirtan artists to appear on this run will be announced soon.

A week-long run has also been booked in Boulder, Colorado from April 18-24 at the Dairy Arts Theater. Boulder is something of a spiritual hotbed due to being the home of a Buddhist college, Naropa University, and its stunning natural beauty.

For other US screenings the Mantra team is working with Gathr Films, the creator of Theatrical On Demand® releasing. Theatrical On Demand® allows individuals the opportunity to organize and promote film screenings in movie theaters across the country. With Theatrical On Demand®, fans can bring the films they want to see play in their local movie theater. It is so easy! Fans, called Movie Captains, just pick the date, time, and theater where they want to host their screening. Gathr Films will set everything up. It doesn’t cost Movie Captains anything to host a Theatrical On Demand® screening. Movie Captains don’t have to pay any screening room rental or exhibition fee. All they have to do is promote the film and get people to reserve tickets.

MANTRA – Sounds into Silence was directed by Barcelona based filmmaker Georgia Wyss. Her other recent work includes co-producing/co-writing/editing the documentary No Plorar Mai (Never to Cry) for the Spanish station TV3; editing The Lightbulb Conspiracy – winner of Best Documentary at the Spanish Television Academy Awards, and A Crude Awakening, a feature documentary shown at over 70 film festivals and winner of 5 awards for best documentary. Earlier in her career Georgia focused on music documentaries for VH1 and MTV, including the series “Where Are They Now,” Aretha Franklin’s “The Legends,” and EPKs for Tina Turner, and Paul McCartney’s “Back in the World” tour, and much more.

About Kirtan and the film Wyss notes “It was the music of Deva Premal & Miten that first inspired me, which I discovered in 2005. It was when I was seeking some balance in my fast-paced life of juggling work and raising two small children. I joined meditation and yoga classes where I slowly became aware of the power of music in meditation. These experiences became far more profound when I had to accompany a dear, close friend through cancer and her eventual passing. She died at the age of forty-two. During this time, I delved into the music of Lama Gyurme and Deva Premal & Miten. Their music gave me a feeling of trust, which helped me get through and accept my first experience of losing someone who was close to me.”

She added “In the following years, I deepened my experience of Kirtan, and I discovered that the essence of it is more than just support in difficult times, it is really about people finding themselves and their place in the world. It’s about discovering or rediscovering, in our increasingly atomized world, the joys, and the importance, of belonging; that sense of community that many of us have lost, or, in some cases, never had.”

The film was produced by Raymond McCormack and Georgia, who have a creative partnership together, stretching back more than a decade. With a background in music – having collaborated with leading artists like Sir Paul McCartney and Queen – Raymond made his feature producing debut with Welcome to the Cheap Seats, an award-winning documentary on UK post-punk outfit, The Wonder Stuff. He is also an award-winning director, in his own right, for the Netflix staple, A Crude Awakening.

About Gathr:
Pioneers of Theatrical On Demand®, Gathr uses documentaries and independent films as “empathy-building machines” to galvanize local communities around social impact and political action, while championing a renaissance of theatre-going. Through grassroots marketing and outreach Gathr’s film teams generate public and private screening event requests for its films
and then accommodates and books those requests in local theaters and non-theatrical venues.
Gathr’s Theatrical On Demand® is perfect for niche films’ decentralized communities. The Audience Has Spoken™ www.Gathr.us