World Premier of "Worth the Weight" at Cinequest

There are many worthwhile films to check out at the Cinequest film festival--which officially started yesterday--but the one below is well worth highlighting for several reasons:

1.) It's a world premier. The first time the public will get to see the movie will be at Cinequest in San Jose.
2.) The producer was born and raised in San Jose and went to SJSU.
3.) The script was bought off of craigslist for $500 and the writer and director are meeting for the first time at Cinequest.
4.) The director, cast, and crew will be at each of the screenings for Q&A after the movie.

Sounds pretty interesting already without knowing anything about the movie itself! Now check out the trailer and press release below (or for the website click here).


Worth the Weight - Tease from Ryan Sage on Vimeo.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CRAIGSLIST BUY LANDS DIRECTOR AT CINEQUEST

FROM A SCRIPT BOUGHT OFF CRAIGSLIST FOR $500,
“WORTH THE WEIGHT” PREMIERES AT CINEQUEST MARCH 2

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – February 6, 2012 -Craigslist, the go-to website for finding jobs,
housing and deals, offered an unexpected opportunity for LA director Ryan Sage and
Chicago writer Dale Zawada to realize their dream of making a movie. “Worth the
Weight,” the story of one man’s quest to find love while on the challenging journey of
major weight loss, will have its World Premiere at San Jose’s Cinequest film festival
Friday, March 2nd, capping off a year long production that began with a short post on
Craigslist and culminating with the writer and director meeting in person for the first time
at the festival.

“I can’t say I was expecting to sell my first script on Craigslist,” said Zawada. “But my
goal was always to get my script into the hands of some talented and passionate
filmmakers and this just seemed like the right opportunity.”

Sage, a promo writer/producer for ABC’s hit show “Modern Family,” who has directed
many award-winning shorts, commercials and TV pilots, was looking to take on the
challenge of a feature length film. Unfortunately, he lacked the right script. Sifting
through dozens of responses from his Craigslist post, Sage discovered “Worth the
Weight” submitted by Chicago-based stand up comic Zawada and knew he had found
something special.

“What I loved was the story felt very real to me and it was peppered with these really
funny moments,” said Sage. “It really captured the ups and downs and realization by the
main characters that people are defined by more than just their size. Their hopes, their
outlook on life and the way they see themselves are just as important. It’s an inspiring
message that I think will resonate for people, with or without weight issues.”

“Worth the Weight” depicts the hard road of weight loss coupled with a journey to find
love – a story many can relate to. Steering clear of the standard transformation formula
seen on many current television shows such as “Biggest Loser,” the hero finds
acceptance – and love – in unexpected places.

Another reality for Sage was the need to make this film on a tight budget. Shooting on
weekends allowed cast and crew to keep their day jobs and also gave lead actors
Robbie Kaller and Jillian Leigh more time to delve into their characters. Zawada would
also use this time to hone the script from Chicago after getting notes on production from
the weekend’s prior shoot.

“I really think the extra work we put in paid off,” said Sage. “The actors give some truly
break out performances with amazing subtlety and nuance. I wouldn’t be surprised if
they were both household names within ten years.”

The festival will have additional special meaning for both Sage and producer, Kristina
Denton. Denton was born and raised in San Jose, and graduated from San Jose State
University in 2007. Sage spent five years studying film at the Academy of Art University
in San Francisco and spent every summer growing up at his grandparent’s house in
nearby Santa Rosa.

“This is really special for both Kristina and I and we can’t think of a better festival to
premiere at,” said Sage. “It’s basically a homecoming, only without the tiara. Although
I’m packing mine just in case.”

“Worth the Weight” Cinequest Screenings:
Friday, March 2nd -9:45pm (WORLD PREMIERE) | San Jose Repertory Theatre
Sunday, March 4th -4:00pm | Camera 12, San Jose, CA
Wednesday, March 7th -11:45am | Camera 12, San Jose, CA

# # #

Cinequest Begins Today!

The largest film festival in Northern California is kicking off their 22nd season today in Downtown San Jose. Hundreds of independent movies from all around the world will be screened to an estimated total audience of 90,000 over a two week period. The screenings will be accompanies by soirees and parties with the film makers and actors, all sorts of interviews, and the Maverick spirit awards ceremony.

If you have never attended the festival, you have to check it out for at least a screening or two. If you have attended, then I'm sure you don't need much convincing to go again. My quick recommendation for newcomers is to try out the "Shorts." These are collections of 2min-15min micro-movies that let you experience multiple works in a limited amount of time. My favorites each year are usually the comedies.

For all of the Cinequest information you could ever imagine, just head on over here or download the brochure.

CQ Maverick Artists Update

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Kimy Martinez


Sean Sczepanik


Steven Sczepanik

Kimy, Sean and Steven have a few days left of painting before the Cinequest Closing Gala this Saturday. All three will be on site at Camera 12 Cinemas Wednesday and Thursday (March 9th & 10th) at various times (11am-11pm) throughout the day. Stop by between films or if you're just in the neighborhood downtown!

Wednesday Wishlist: An Extra Week of Cinequest

Cinequest Launches Today!

Today at Cinequest - March 1, 2011 from San Jose on Vimeo.

San Jose Metblogs: Cinequest 21!!!

Cinequest 21 is headed our way!

from San Jose Metblogs by Cynthia Corral

I hope everyone is taking their vitamins, getting their exercise, and soaking up lots of this February sun…  there are only 25 more days until Cinequest 21 hits downtown San Jose.

This year you can expect 173 films, starring such notable actors such as Edie Falco, Edward James Olmos, Uma Thurman, Catherine Deneuve, John Turturro, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Jenna Fischer and Chris O’Donnell… and even MORE.

Cinequest turns 21 this year, so it’s now of age, and of course in celebration there will be ten Maverick Meetups, 11 VIP Soirees, and of course the fantastic Openingand Closing Parties.

Passione

The opening film will be PASSIONE, screening at 7pm on March 1 in the California Theatre.  These tickets go quickly, so you should be making plans now.  This film is written and directed by John Turturro, and he is expected to attend the festival to receive the Maverick Spirit Award this year.  The opening party will be at Eulipia Restaurant ANDThe Swinging Hookah on South 1st Street, right after the film.

The closing film will be SOUL SURFER, the story of Bethany Hamilton.  This young surfing star lost her arm in a shark attack, and many teenage girls, including my daughter, have her poster on their wall – still surfing, even after the accident.  But this story goes even further.  Bethany found a great purpose in life when she visited Thailand after the tsunami.  Played by AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and also starring Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt and Carrie Underwood, this film should make a great end to the festival.  Bethany and AnnaSophia will both be receiving Maverick Spirit Awards.  The closing party will follow at South First Billiards and will last until they kick us out (kicking and screaming).  This will be another event you need to start looking at tickets for now to avoid missing out.

Nosferatu

Other highlights include:

The 1922 silent film NOSFERATU, A SYMPHONY OF HORROR in a 35mm color tinted restoration.  One of the first vampires on film, you’re sure to have nightmares watching Edward Cullen’s great-great-great-great-great grandfather.

The Day of the Writer forums will focus on Sci Fi!  Part One is called “Crafting the Heart of Sci Fi: The Story”.  Howard Suber from UCLA will use films such as 2001, ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER and TERMINATOR as examples in this story development forum.  Part Two is “Sci Fi Writing Comprehensive” and will be run by writers Steve Cuden (“Startgate Infinity”) and Paul Chitlik (“The New Twilight Zone”).  Part Three is a discussion with two of the industry’s most prominent sci-fi writers:  Academy Award winner David Webb Peoples (BLADERUNNER, 12 MONKEYS) will join whomever wins the Maverick Spirit Award.  Should be interesting to anyone who loves Sci Fi!!

We will have Cinequest updates and film reviews up as we get closer to festival time.  Keep checking back for all your Cinequest updates, and while you’re waiting, head over to the Cinequest site to purchase your tickets and film passes!

But most importantly, take care of yourself this month, because in 25 more days we’re all headed back to the theater for a marathon of independent film — JOIN US!

Cinequest Film Festival 21

March 1 to March 13, 2011

Twitter: @Cinequest

Twitter hashtags:  We use #CQFF.  Cinequest inexplicably wants #CQMMC.

Pick one or mix and match!

South First Friday Trifecta this Friday!

We have another triple event going on this Friday!

Downtown San Jose Open House - 5:30-7:30pm. You can check out all 4 of the high-rise condo buildings downtown in one shot: The 88, Three Sixty Residences, Axis, and City Heights. Free cocktails, appetizers, arts experiences (not sure what they mean by that), and tours of the model homes! Click here for more info.

South First Fridays Art Walk - 8pm to however late you want. This is the event that keeps getting better month after month. For the full lineup of whats going down tonight, click here. Or if you're like me, don't click here and enjoy the surprise. By the way, during South First Fridays you can get free pedicab rides from one venue to another!

Cinequest - All day long. One of the top film festivals in the world right in your back yard, what more could you want! A lot of the shows sell out--especially on the weekends--so get your tickets early on the Cinequest Website.

Cinequest Comedy Short Films

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to catch Cinequest Shorts Program 7: Comedy Favorites, and the films were thoroughly hilarious. While I enjoyed them all, I have to particularly point out my 2 favorites. The Action Hero's Guide to Saving Lives and Ducked and Covered: A survival Guide to the Post Apocalypse.

The premise behind Hero's Guide is that a police officer's sister was kidnapped and the hero--Patrick Warburton (Elaine's car salesman boyfriend on Seinfeld)--has to charge in Die-Hard style and save her. The catch is that every time the action hero or one of the good guys dies, the story resets and takes you down an alternate path until they succeed. The story gets more hilarious with every failure, and by the end I was laughing so hard there were tears in my eyes. Since the last showing was 2 days ago, there is no way to watch the full version of the short although there are some talks about potentially making a full-length feature based on it. You can watch the trailer over here, but it doesn't do this masterpiece justice.

Ducked and Covered is a post apocalyptic survival guide as if it were made in the early 80s. No actors, just a few images and a voice-over... simple yet extremely effective. The person that put this together is brilliant! Fortunately I don't have to describe this one much because you can watch it in full OVER HERE.

The icing on the cake was that at the end of the shorts, several actors and directors from the films came to the front of the theater and did a Q&A session. It was like being in the middle of a DVD bonus feature =). The extra layer of icing on top of that were the free gift bags.

The moral of this post is that there are many awesome things to see and experience at Cinequest, and you still have 7 whole days to enjoy the film festival. This is one of the top 10 film festivals in the world, there's no reason no to head down!!

Cinequest Kicks Off Today!

One of the 10 greatest film festivals in the world kicks off today in Downtown San Jose, and there is an excellent post on San Jose Metroblogs providing some great insight as to what Cinequest is, and is not. Have a look for yourself here!

Cinequest Coming Soon!

One of the top film festivals in the world is just a few weeks away from taking Downtown San Jose by storm! This year the festival has expanded to 5 different venues: Camera 12, Camera 3, The Rep, The California Theater, and even San Jose State University.

Over 200 screenings will take place, including 45 world and US premiers, forums with actors and directors, VIP parties at restaurants across downtown, and even a Mavericks award ceremony. Over 80,000 people are expected to attend. This year, I think everyone will be plenty impressed with how far downtown has come. With all of the beatification projects and Groundwerx, the "Cinequest zones" have never looked so good.

Mark your calendars for Feb 23 to Mar 7! To start selecting which screenings you want to attend, hit up this link for a full list of what's playing. Hope to see you there!