Filmmakers Zak Forsman and Kevin K. Shah of Sabi Pictures/New Breed/CineFist are in the Film Courage studio to share what they learned in Park City, their thoughts on collaboration/interdependence, and digital distribution.

For more on Zak and Kevin, please visit SabiPictures.
Get ready for their Winter CineFist event this Friday 2/12/10. CineFist for details.

Filmmaker and Author Jon Reiss is in the Film Courage studio to discuss his new book Think Outside the Box Office.  Jon reveals how being a part of the Punk Rock movement influenced his thinking outside the crowd, lessons he learned from distributing his film Bomb It, and what his distribution strategy is going to be on his next project.

For more on Jon’s work, please visit thinkoutsidetheboxoffice, bombit-themovie
and new filmmaker resource ultimatefilmguides

A Film Courage Film Festival Roundtable discussion with Festival Organizers Daniel Sol (HollyShorts) in studio while Phil Holbrook (EgoFest) and Johnathan McFarlane (Festivus Film Festival) join in via skype.  They reveal how much money they make with their festivals, their relationships with filmmakers, and how much politics plays into selections.

Please visit FestivusFilmFestival, EgoFestFilms, and HollyShorts for more information on these festivals.

Filmmaker Phil Calderone drops by the Film Courage studio to discuss his film Manhater which has it’s upcoming World Premiere next week on January 11th and 12th at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema.  Phil shares how he financed Manhater, his festival strategy, and what kept him from quitting during the 5-year filmmaking process.

For more on Phil’s work, please visit ManHaterMovie

Acting Coach and Actor Barry Papick is in the Film Courage studio to tell us whether or not we all have the ability to ‘act,’ what actors can do to book more acting work, mistakes that directors make in working with their actors and insights from working with Al Pacino and Gus Van Sant.

For more on Barry’s work please visit imdb

Filmmaker David C. Snyder sykpes into Film Courage to talk about his film The Quiet Arrangement.  David discusses lessons he learned in making 2 bad feature films on videotape, how he crafts the beautiful shots found in his film, and how he got Public Enemy rapper Chuck D involved in the project.

For more on David’s work visit QuietArrangement

Filmmaker Suzy Benfatto joins us in the Film Courage studio while her Music Composer Stu Kennedy skypes in from Scotland.  Suzy shares her experience of directing her first film past the age of 50, her reluctance to work with a music composer outside of Los Angeles, and how her distribution path has evolved for her niche film Bingo Confidential.

For more on Suzy’s work visit BingoConfidential and for more on Stu’s music visit StuKennedy

Actor Samm Levine is in the Film Courage studio to discuss how Lisa Kudrow sparked his career, how he books acting work, and what it is like to audition and work with Quentin Tarantino.

For more on Samm please visit his IMDB and you can connect with him on Twitter

Filmmaker Michael Leoni is in studio to discuss his film Spare Some Change.  He is joined by ‘Crystal and ‘Bubbles’ who share their heart-wrenching stories.  Spare Some Change is more than a movie, it is a movement.  1.8 million kids are currently living on the streets in America. 90% are victims of physical, mental, and/or sexual abuse.  Every single day 13 kids die on our streets.  Michael shares his motivation in making this film, the impact it’s had on his life, and what we can do to become part of the movement.

Join the movement, visit SpareSomeChangeTheMovie

Author and Filmmaker Donald F. Glut visits the Film Courage studio and  why loves monster, horror, science-fiction & fantasy movies. He also shares the budget range on his 6 films, how he financed them, and why he has decided to self-distribute his latest film, Blood Scarab.

For the latest on Donald’s work, please visit DonaldFGlut

Filmmaker Brian J. Terwilliger defied the odds when it came to self-distribution.  He sold 10,000 units of his film One Six Right in it’s first two weeks of release, 45,000 in it’s first year.  In this episode of Film Courage, we learn of Brian’s love for flying, how he made One Six Right, and insight on how he sold so many DVD’s.

To see Brian’s work, please visit TerwilligerProductions

Filmmakers Jamin Winans and Kiowa Winans return to Film Courage to provide us an in-depth case study on their film INK.  They reveal how  much money it took to make INK, their evolving self-distribution strategy, and the deals they got from Netflix and Blockbuster.

INK is now available on DVD on Netflix, Blockbuster, Amazon, iTunes, and most importantly www.DoubleEdgeFilms.com

Producer Ted Hope, one of the most prominent voices in the world of independent film, joins us on Film Courage to share with us why he loves cinema, how he chooses his projects, what attracts him to working with first-time directors, the changes happening today in the film marketplace, and details on his upcoming film Super.

Filmmaker Mark Duplass drops by Film Courage to share his thoughts on Social Media, improvisation in his films, Sundance, and what it's like going from making micro-budgeted films to one in the millions.

For more on Mark and his films please visit DuplassBrothers

Actor Sean Patrick Flanery visits the Film Courage studio to give us his thoughts on fame, the difference from working on a television set compared to a film set, and how he prepared for the role of Connor McManus in his latest movie The Boondock Saints 2 - All Saints Day.

For more on Sean and his work you can visit SeanFlanery

Filmmakers Tony West and Mark Riley of Woodville General Films are in studio to talk about their films Dartsville and Skylight, their perceptions of success, insights on the Film Festival circuit, and the steps they are taking to transition from making successful short films to making their first feature film.

For more on Dartsville and Skylight, as well as Tony and Mark, please visit WoodvilleGeneralFilms

Filmmaker Rob Williams visits Film Courage to tell us how he has made 4 feature films in 4 years, how he has secured distribution for his films, the advantages and disadvantages of working in a niche market, and details on his latest film Make the Yuletide Gay which is available through all major DVD outlets on November 10th, 2009.

For more on Rob’s work, please visit GuestHouseFilms

Filmmaker Jack Marino is in studio to talk about his film Forgotten Heroes.  Jack discusses what prompted him to go out and self-finance a 35mm Vietnam war picture, his path of self-distribution, and why $5.00 of every DVD sale goes to the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Fund.

For more on Jack’s work, please visit ForgottenHeroesTheMovie

Actor Clifton Collins, Jr. joins us on Film Courage to discuss his perspective on auditioning, what it’s like working with director J.J. Abrams, how he goes about preparing for the variety of roles that he has booked, and his thoughts on how he broke through in the competitive world of acting.

For more on Clifton’s work, please visit CliftonCollinsJr

In the first half of this show, we are joined by Filmmaker Doug Pray.  He’s on the line to discuss his 2009 Sundance Official Selection Art and Copy including how some of the top Ad Executives of our time ended up in his film, why he makes the films he makes, and his process of making a documentary.

For more on Doug’s work, please visit artandcopyfilm

In the second half, Knuckledraggers Producer Paul J. Alessi revisits us in studio to shed some light on ‘Deliverables,’ what they are, how much money filmmakers should set aside before making their film, and whether filmmakers should expect distributors to cover the tab.

Filmmakers Laura Russo and Charles Wall join us on Film Courage to discuss production tricks of the trade; such as helicopter shots and shooting on an Indian reservation.  Though the bulk of this interview centers on secrets of self-distribution and how they have made over $30,000 by selling their film Road Reps through their film’s website.

Filmmaker Alex Holdridge joins us in studio and discusses why he couldn't fathom winning the John Cassavetes Award (Independent Spirit Awards), how he has gotten through his darkest times, and despite its making over Two Million Dollars worldwide why his film In Search of a Midnight Kiss doesn't have a DVD deal here in the U.S.

To learn more about Alex's work, please visit MidnightKissMovie

Filmmaker David Spaltro accompanies us in studio and discusses how he ended up living at Penn Station in New York while attending Film School, secrets on how he raised money for his first feature Around, his post-production nigtmares, and how he has gotten it reviewed over 80 times.

For more on David’s film ‘Around’ visit AroundTheFilm

Filmmaker Lynn Shelton joins us to discuss why her last two films have been about male relationships, her reactions to all the positive press that her movie Humpday is receiving, and how her life has changed since winning an Independent Spirit Award in early 2009.

For more on Lynn, visit lynnshelton and to find out when and where you can see Humpday, visit humpdayfilm

Actor/Comedian/Producer Jeff Grace and Writer/Director/Actor Todd Berger of The Vacationeers are in studio to share their secrets of writing comedy, how they got hired by Google to create web videos, and to discuss the distribution process of their feature film The Scenesters.

For the latest on Jeff, please visit JeffGrace and for Todd visit Todd-Berger. To find our about their latest projects visit TheVacationeers

Actor/Screenwriter/Producer Johnny ‘Roastbeef’ Williams joins us in studio and discusses what it is like working with Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, his thoughts on breaking into the Television and Film Industry, how he got his nickname 'Roastbeef', and details on his latest screenplay, There Is No Pizza In Choochechistan.
For more on Johnny, please visit mamaandson and his IMDB page imdb

Producer/Actor Steve Nguyen stops in at the studio and reveals optioning a script he wrote (to Touchstone) when he was 17 years old, why he has adopted the philosophy of being his own support system, his hands on approach to producing films, and the remarkable story of producing/directing the personal story of memoirist Lac Su entitled I Love Yous Are For White People, The Making of a Memoir.
For the latest on Steve, please visit stickblade along with Facebook and Twitter.

Writer/Director Jason Freeland drops by the studio and shares why as a Maryland native he makes films about Los Angeles, whether or not he was the one who discovered Actress Selma Blair, the ins and outs of making his film Garden Party along with the details of its Theatrical run and where you can now find it on DVD.
For more info on Jason’s latest film Garden Party visit gardenpartymovie

Filmmaker Elana Krausz visits Film Courage and reveals how she got Ian Ziering to star in her film, what it’s like to cast strippers, the impact her film Stripped Down is having on its audience, and why she is giving a portion of the films profits to charity.

For more info on Elana’s latest film Stripped Down visit strippeddownthemovie

Denver filmmakers Jamin and Kiowa Winans call into Film Courage and discuss how they were burned on their distribution deal with their first feature film 11:59 and the steps that can be taken to avoid it happening to you.  They also reveal their distribution strategy for their latest feature film, INK, and their emotions before its upcoming Los Angeles Premiere at the Egyptian Theater on Wednesday June 10th at 7:30pm.

The filmmaking duo Dean and Brian Ronalds, aka Ronalds Brothers call into Film Courage and discuss how being brothers impacts their filmmaking, the benefit of being actors before they moved behind the camera, their latest feature films Netherbeast Incorporated and The Graves as well as their experience in becoming writers on Tyler Perry’s, Meet the Browns.

For the latest on Ronalds Brothers, visit their website www.ronaldsbrothers.com
Their latest features are www.thegravesmovie.com and  www.netherbeastmovie.com

New York based Filmmaker Gary King calls into Film Courage and discusses his leap from corporate life into the world of independent filmmaking, why he spent more money on his first short film than he is spending on his newest feature film What’s Up Lovely, and he shares his views on the Film Festival Circuit.

For the latest on Gary, visit his website ‘An Indie Life’
His latest features are whatsuplovely and nylately

Filmmaker Joseph F. Alexandre joins us on Film Courage and reveals why he wasn’t scared making a documentary about the Chicago Mob, what it was like to work on a Joe Carnahan script, and he provides details into his latest film Warriors of the Discoteque: The Starck Club Documentary.

For the latest on Joseph’s work, please visit his IMDB page imdb

Prolific Filmmaker Dale Stelly visits Film Courage and shares what has motivated him to produce 18 feature film in 5 years, why he has four lawyers, and what it is like to have films distributed by Lionsgate.

For more on Dale Stelly and his work visit DaleStelly and myspace  
To keep up with his running list of credits, visit his IMDB page.

In this in-depth interview, Orlando-based Filmmaker Jose Zambrano Cassella calls into Film Courage and explains why cinematography is so important to directing, insight on how a $15,000 film can compete with a million dollar film, his thoughts on theatrical vs. straight to DVD distribution, and secrets he wishes he knew when he began making films.

For more on Jose and his projects, visit josecassella.  We also encourage you to visit sacredmovie and watch the movie trailer. 

Actor/Producer Paul J. Alessi visits Film Courage to provide us insight on how he began booking acting work, what it’s like to work with F. Gary Gray, and the effort he puts into marketing himself online.

In addition we hear up close and personal how his film Knuckle Draggers was made and his plans for distribution.  This all on the eve of it’s World Premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival on April 26th.  For the latest on Paul, please visit PaulJAlessi.com  To find out where and when you can see Knuckle Draggers, visit KnuckleDraggersMovie

HollyShorts Film Festival co-founders/directors Daniel Sol and Theo Dumont join Film Courage to discuss their annual festival now in its 5th year.  This interview features in-depth discussion on how HollyShorts began, the submission process, their monthly screening series, and their upcoming festival.

HollyShorts is an organization devoted to showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe, advancing the careers of filmmakers through screenings, networking events, and various panel and forums.  For more information, please visit hollyshorts  Filmmaker news available at hollyshortsfilmfestival.blogspot