Slimfest 2024 Arrives on July 21 at the Nerd Emporium in Pueblo, Colorado

“A CELBRATION OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING IN ALL ITS ABSURD, AWESOME GLORY”

— Thomas Eliot - Festival Director

SlimeFest is a summer movie festival focusing on slime-filled horror movies. Blood, guts, and gore, alien ooze, radioactive waste, and anything else slimy - show us what you got! Get ready to create and submit your film.. SlimeFest 2024 will feature the second annual Slimy Awards and will be held at The Nerd Emporium in Pueblo, Colorado.

Awards & Prizes

SlimeFest will be the new venue for the Slimy Awards. Awards include:

• Grossest Movie

• Most Horrifying

• Audience Choice

• And of course, Best Use of Slime

There will be additional prizes created inspired by the individual merits of the entries. Prior awards include Best Kaiju Battle, Best Thriller Set in a Single Room, and Best Scene of Someone Being Killed by Something You Really Wouldn't Expect Them to Be Killed By.

Rules & Terms

You assert that you have all the rights to music, et cetera in your films, and that we can display them. There are no screening fees.

Dates & Deadlines

• September 1, 2023

  Opening Date

• January 1, 2024

  Earlybird Deadline

• March 1, 2024

  Regular Deadline

• June 30, 2024

  Late Deadline

• July 5, 2024

  Notification Date

• July 21, 2024

  Event Date

SlimeFest is sponsored by the Kickass Film Festival, Under Rated Pex Pepper Hot Sauces and Invasion of the Pod People.

CONTACT

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

Thomas Eliot | thomas@thomaseliot.com | 510.415.8330

Storytelling Masterclass Sparks Creativity at Pueblo Film Festival

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Workshop participants at the Pueblo Film Festival at the Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center. Photo courtesy of Gregory Howell.

Aspiring filmmakers at the 2024 Pueblo Film Festival gained valuable insights into storytelling and pitching during a dynamic workshop led by Shahrzad Sherry Dadgar (she/her).

Dadgar, a seasoned film industry professional, emphasized the core elements of a compelling story: someone wants something, but obstacles stand in their way. Using real-world examples, she explored the importance of theme, genre, and mood, encouraging participants to develop their own unique cinematic voice.

Hands-on activities allowed attendees to craft loglines, analyze conflicts, and envision how they would bring their stories to life as directors. Dadgar stressed the significance of a strong first draft and the ongoing process of rewriting and refinement.

“This approach helped the participants realize that story structure is everything. It's the skeleton of your film," remarked Gregory Howell of the Pueblo Film Commission.

The workshop concluded with a focus on the art of the pitch. Participants learned how to distill their project's essence, tailoring their message to capture interest and secure support.

For more information contact:

Shahrzdad Dadgar, M.F.A. | Assistant Professor & Student Media Advisor | Department of Media & Entertainment | Colorado State University Pueblo | s.dadgar@csupueblo.edu

35 Films Over Three Days: Mountainfilm on Tour Returning to Pueblo

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Gallery Images by Kim Pluskota

After a three-year hiatus in Pueblo, Mountainfilm on Tour returned to Southern Colorado for four showcases April 18-20 in the Buell Communications Center on the CSU Pueblo campus. Showcases were held in the recently revamped TV and film production studio at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, with a special Family Feature matinee Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets were free or by donation through www.socostudentmedia.com  or www.csupuebloevents.universitytickets.com. 

The showcases presented 35 short films over the four timeslots. The audience experienced eight to ten films ranging from 3 to 26 mintues, with each showcase lasting around 2 hours. Saturday evening’s films included Spanish subtitles, which was new this year to Mountainfilm on Tour. The last time CSU Pueblo presented Mountainfilm on Tour was as a virtual event in 2021.

“We’re ready to bring Mountainfilm back in-person to Pueblo and Southern Colorado this year and for years to come. The recent addition of Spanish subtitled films [Saturday evening] as an option for our audience along with improvements we’ve made to the department’s facilities and program make this an ideal time to welcome the community back to the campus of CSU Pueblo” said Jon Pluskota, Chair of Media & Entertainment. “Not only are the films great, but students from SOCO Student Media will also gain hands-on experience running the event, which is a centerpiece to our program,” Pluskota said.

Mountainfilm on Tour brings a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and incredibly inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado. The tour will visit CSU Pueblo with films that explore themes connected to Mountainfilm’s mission of using the power of film, art, and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world.

"We're excited to bring Mountainfilm on Tour back to Pueblo. I'm so grateful to partner with the CSU Pueblo Media and Entertainment department to share award-winning and emerging filmmakers' work from Colorado and around the world” said Hope Logan, Mountainfilm Tour Director.

Mountainfilm on Tour in Pueblo is hosted by CSU Pueblo’s Media & Entertainment Department and SOCO Student Media in partnership with CSU Pueblo Women’s Studies; CSU Pueblo Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology; CSU Pueblo Department of English and World Languages; the CSU Pueblo Alumni Association; Outdoor Pursuits at CSU Pueblo; CSU Pueblo Student Engagement and Leadership; CSU Pueblo Library; and the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Pueblo.

The Buell Communications Center is at the front entrance of the CSU Pueblo campus, located at 2200 Bonforte Blvd., Pueblo, CO 81001. See the online ticketing site or www.mountainfilm.org/tour/schedule for a complete playlist.

About Mountainfilm Festival

Mountainfilm is a documentary film festival that showcases stories about environmental, cultural, climbing, political and social justice issues. Mountainfilm is held every Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, Colorado. Along with exceptional documentaries, the festival goes beyond the film medium by bringing together world-class athletes, change makers and visionary artists for a multi-dimensional celebration of indomitable spirit. Mountainfilm’s mission is to use the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. To learn more about Mountainfilm, visit www.mountainfilm.org. 

About Media & Entertainment

The Department of Media & Entertainment is where technological innovation and experiential learning meets the humanities, social sciences, arts, and business. It offers a pragmatic and professionally oriented undergraduate program designed to prepare majors for successful careers in the media, entertainment, and communication industries. The department is home to SOCO Student Media, home of The Today, Rev 89, Digital Sandbox, and SOCO Design. Through student media, students engage in professional media practice across the fields of multimedia journalism, strategic communication and design, sound and film production, and media sales and management.

About Colorado State University Pueblo

Colorado State University Pueblo is a comprehensive state university with an enrollment of nearly 4,000 students. With 34 percent of its students Hispanic, it is a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and a military friendly university. The university is dedicated to interdisciplinary learning and entrepreneurship that elevates its people and community, creates educational opportunities, fosters unique collaborations, and supports inclusion, access, and affordability as a gateway to the world. 

Water on the Mesa: Filmmaker, Palmer Land Conservancy set to premiere documentary on agricultural crisis

By Rory Harbert | Managing Editor | Pueblo Star Journal | April 9, 2024

About 75% of the planet is covered in water, coming in the form of liquid or ice. The Earth cycles this water endlessly, a process that has churned for 3.8 billion years. The ocean, though, holds 97% of this water. The land that people rely on to inhabit, to propagate food and to look for to hold fresh water, makes up only 29% of the planet’s surface. With a faucet running water with ease, while looking out of kitchen windows, seeing large swaths of land that we stomp on, build on and claim easily, these numbers are hard to weave into reality.

The film “MIRASOL,” sponsored by the  Palmer Land Conservancy, aims to bridge this connection between a wider picture and individual perspective. The film revolves around The Mesa, Pueblo’s agricultural mainstay, where the experts and farmers of the area—neighbors—have a much different perspective as they look at an agricultural crisis face on.

According to a press release, the U.S. loses 2,000 acres of land every day to development, which prompted the creation of this film.

Familiar names in the community, Williams Farm & Seed Store, Musso Farms, Professor Mike Bartolo and Martellaro Family Farms, appear in the film to speak on how this rapid land development is contributing to water scarcity.

“This land should be like our only child,” Bartolo stated in the film. “ We should be protecting it with everything we have.”

The 36-minute documentary received a nomination for the 2024 Big Sky Mountain Film Festival. It was also selected for the 5Point Film Festival of the same year.

Award-winning director Ben Knight is impassioned by adventure and environmental filmmaking. His films include “DamNation,” which premiered at 2014’s South by Southwest conference and festival, produced with Patagonia; “The Last Honey Hunter,” in 2018’s Telluride Mountainfilm with National Geographic; and “Learning to Drown,” in 2021’s Tribeca with The North Face.

“‘MIRASOL’ has been a dream project for me,” he stated.

The producing organization behind MIRASOL is the  Palmer Land Conservancy, which manages over 138,000 acres of land in Colorado since 1977. According to the statement, Palmer has been working for the past eight years “alongside the local  Pueblo farmers” and other entities “to protect the Mesa in the face of an impending dry up.” Pueblo’s premier of "MIRASOL” starts at 5:30 p.m. April 25 at the Sangre De Cristo Arts & Conference Center, 210 N. Santa Fe. Ave. See more details on the film’s website: mirasolfilm.com.

Showings of 'Mirasol':

April 25 - Thursday
Pueblo Premiere
5:30 p.m., Sangre De Cristo Arts & Conference Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.
Light refreshments, Cash bar, followed by after party.
More info at: palmerland.org/Mirasol-Pueblo.

April 28 - Sunday
Pueblo Film Fest - Festival Winner Screening & “MIRASOL”
10 a.m. - all day, Sangre De Cristo Arts & Conference Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave. tickets at: filmfreeway.com/pueblofilmfest/tickets.

May 9 - Thursday
Free Community Screening of MIRASOL
5:30 p.m. Rawlings library branch, 100 E. Abriendo Ave

Viewing with county commissioner Daneya Esgar.Registration requested, walk-ins welcome. More info at:palmerland.org/event/mirasol-free-pueblo-library-screening.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

https://pueblostarjournal.org/culture/2024/04/09/mirasol-looking-at-the-sun-documentary-agricultural-crisis/

2024 Brings New Opportunities to Pueblo

Pueblo Regional Film Commission: Committed to Supporting Pueblo's Thriving Film Industry

Pueblo, CO – January 15, 2024 – The Pueblo Regional Film Commission (PRFC) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to fostering the growth and sustainability of Pueblo's film, television, and digital media industry.

The PRFC recognizes the significant impact this industry has on Pueblo's economy. Film productions directly employ skilled local workers, while also generating substantial spending that benefits a wide range of businesses, from hotels and caterers to lumber companies.

Experienced Commission Backed by Strong Support

The PRFC is a powerhouse team comprised of industry professionals with extensive experience across the nation. The Commission enjoys the unwavering support of the Mayor's Office, State government, and County government, all working collaboratively to make Pueblo the premier filming destination in Southern Colorado.

Pueblo: A Prime Location for Film Production

Pueblo's diverse locations, coupled with its cost-effectiveness and proximity to New Mexico, make it a highly attractive filming location. The PRFC is here to ensure a smooth and successful filming experience for all productions.

A Helping Hand Throughout the Process

Whether you're considering Pueblo for your next project or have already chosen our beautiful city, the PRFC is here to provide you with red-carpet treatment. Our knowledgeable staff is here to guide you through every step of the process, from initial inquiries to filming completion.

Let's Make Your Pueblo Production a Success

Valuable information about filming in Pueblo, including permits, locations, and crew resources, is available on our user-friendly website. We encourage you to visit our website OR complete our Contact Form to provide details about your project.

The Pueblo Regional Film Commission is here to help you turn your Pueblo production dream into a reality. Contact us today and let's get started!

Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Hosts 35th Annual Film Festival

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — Driven, spirited and diverse voices make up the 2022 Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, an event that has elevated the stories of women and others often unheard or unseen through film for 35 years.

On November 11th-13th, 2022, the longest-running women’s film festival in North America will host the 35th annual Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, once again making us laugh, cry and question what we thought we knew. Forty-one films will be screened over the three-day festival. A sampling of selections include:

●       Battleground, directed by Colorado College graduate Cynthia Lowen, presents a timely window into the intersection of abortion and politics in America, following three women who lead formidable anti-abortion organizations to witness the influence they wield.

●       Being Michelle, a film that raises awareness around the disproportionate impact of incarceration and systemic discrimination on deaf/disabled people.

●        The Flagmakers, co-directed by Sharon Liese and Oscar-winner Cynthia Wade, is a behind-the-scenes look at the largest American flag factory in the United States where a tight-knit team of diverse refugees and immigrants from twelve nations cut, sew and ship 5 million American flags a year. This is Cynthia’s 7th screening at the Festival, the most of any one filmmaker.

Since inception, RMWFF has screened nearly 1000 films, hosted more than 250 filmmakers, and served an audience of tens of thousands. The Festival is the longest running women’s film festival in the Western Hemisphere.

“We’re so proud of this year’s lineup, the incredible filmmakers that will be represented, and stories that will be shared.” said Linda Broker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film.

“Listening to another perspective matters now more than ever. It’s an honor to do this work and we believe people will leave this festival a little different than they came in.”

The festival will be returning to Colorado College after a two-year hiatus. Screenings will take place in the Cornerstone Arts Center, Kathryn Morhman Theatre, and Packard Hall.  A variety of pass options are available to fit various schedules and budgets. 

●       Full Festival Pass (Friday-Sunday): $140

●       Double Day Pass (Saturday and Sunday before 6:00pm): $100

●       Flex Five: $70

●       Single Day Tickets $55

●       Single Block Tickets (only available 10 minutes in advance of screening, subject to availability): $15

Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival will offer a Virtual Encore November 17-20th.

About RMWF

Rocky Mountain Women’s Film builds community around film, elevating the stories of women and others who are often unheard or unseen. The organization seeks to discover, support, connect and inspire filmmakers, while cultivating connection and conversation around their work.

Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media Showcases New Developments in the Film Industry

Kennedy Pugh opens the Mindful Awareness Festival Awards Ceremony at Watertower Place on Saturday, June 11, 2022.

On Saturday, June 11, 2002 Kennedy Pugh and the Rocky Mountain Creative Experience celebrated the conclusion of the Mindful Awareness Festival 2022 with a special presentation by the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM) and the Pueblo Regional Film Commission.

Acting Pueblo Regional Film Commissioner Gregory Howell welcomed the attendees with an introduction to Hasti Soltani who is the Program Manager of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM). Soltani’s complete slide presentation is included below along with a list of resources that were shared during the Q & A portion of the presentation.

Presentation by Hasti Soltani, Program Manager of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM) Hasti Soltani - OEDIT <hasti.soltani@state.co.us>

COFTM Program Manager Soltani also provided the attendees with a list of networking opportunities and resources to help navigate the current landscape of the film industry in Colorado.

Professional groups and networking opportunities:

Colorado Film and Video Association (CFVA)

Women in Film and Media Colorado (WIFMCO)

Industry Facebook groups:

F.I.N.D Film Industry Networking Denver

C.R.E.W. Colorado Resources for Entertainment Workers.

Resources on the COFTM website:

How to Find a Film Job in Colorado

Colorado Film Partners

eSports:

Game On! eSports Colorado documentary

Panel discussion

Other OEDIT resources:

Colorado Creative Industries and all of their programs and funding opportunities

All of OEDIT's programs and funding opportunities- for folks with small businesses, there may be something applicable here

Leeds Business School Economic Outlook

Colorado Economic Business Outlook 2022- our section starts on page 60

If attendees have any additional questions or are looking for other resources, feel free to reach out to Hasti Soltani directly at hasti.soltani@state.colorado.us or the general film office email at film@state.co.us.

introduction to creative incubator cine fe

On behalf of Executive Director John Van Wyck, Commissioner Howell introduced Cine Fe which is the powerful creative incubator for Colorado filmmakers, committed to identifying and supporting underrepresented voices. Here is what they do:

John Van Wyck

Co-Founder and Executive Director

• Cine Fe is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Colorado filmmakers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.

• They work one-on-one with filmmakers from across the state, providing mentorship and consultation to help filmmakers make their best work and build their careers.

• Cine Fe also conducts research and advocacy for Colorado filmmaking, and this year will be releasing the findings of a three-year study that was commissioned by Colorado Creative Industries and Denver Arts & Venues, with assistance from the Colorado Office of Film, Television, and Media and Colorado State University.

• Cine Fe is run by John Van Wyck (pron: WIKE) who has over a decade of experience in the film industry as a Creative Executive, and who was involved in such films such as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Sorry to Bother You, and The Florida Project, prior to founding Cine Fe.

PUEBLO FILM CREW AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Commissioner Howell also announced the creation of the new Pueblo Film Crew and Support Services Directory which aims to help Pueblo County’s regional film industry workforce showcase their skills and services to producers who are considering filming here. There is no cost for cast, crew, and support services to register in the directory. We encourage all industry professionals including pre-production resources, production staff and technical crew, producers and production companies, equipment and stages, post production facilities, and support services to register.

The listing will take about 10 minutes to complete. You will not need to register to browse the directory. We plan to publish the online directory in August 2022. Below is a sampling of the crew and support services job titles that will be in the database.

CREW

You are likely crew if you are on the production’s payroll. Crew includes:

• art department

• camera

• casting

• construction

• costume

• directors

• editors

• make-up

• location managers

• sound

• special effects

SUPPORT SERVICES

Support services are mainly vendors including:

• accommodations

• catering services

• equipment

• rentals

• legal

• production companies

• prop rentals

• security

• talent management

• transportation

Students take virtual center stage at The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High with their new original musical ‘Disaster Monthly’

Students take virtual center stage at The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High with their new original musical 'Disaster Monthly'.

Pueblo, CO, October 12, 2020 – As part of The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High’s (TAAPCH) commitment to keeping the Arts alive, even during the time of a global pandemic, Disaster Monthly was written and performed by the students under the direction of Kennedy Pugh. To celebrate the completion of this masterful  production from the eyes of the students, The Arts Academy hosted a Virtual Premiere online for students, faculty, staff, and the general public on Friday, October 16, 2020 at 7:00 pm (Mountain Time). The Premiere Event included a live welcome at the beginning of the broadcast and the evening  concluded with a brief Q&A session. To view the Zoom Q & A use passcode: OG%J7XM9

According to Kennedy Pugh, Artist in Residence and Teaching Artist Coordinator, “this opportunity with these students reminded me of the importance of the Arts in our formation of a human race! The Arts are an integral need!” Disaster Monthly offers an unflinching, intimate glimpse into the world of a high school student during the time of a global pandemic. When the students learned that their beloved spring musical was cancelled due to Covid-19,  they decided that the ‘show must go on’. What transpired over a very short period of time with many deadlines along the way is short of an entertainment miracle. The cast ensemble includes Joy Lopez, Alexandria Shrum, Chloe Vanevera, Bryana Lark, Gavin Grant, and Mark Gomez. The cast was assisted  by three entertainment industry professionals, Ed Chapman, Kate Chapman, and Mary Ann Ivan, who have decades of experience working with some of the very best on many of the most famous theater productions ever to hit audiences. 

 “Just when we thought there was no opportunity to produce or perform when COVID-19 shut down our beautiful spring musical in March, Disaster Monthly made its way and The Show Must Go On! ,” says Roxanne Pignanelli, the Founding Director of The Academy. “Theater is the most collaborative of all art forms and the ancestor to entertainment. The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High is dedicated to keeping the work alive and this amazing project written and performed by students under the direction of Kennedy Pugh is a living testament to our commitment to Arts in education!,” says Roxanne, the director of this production.

The Arts Academy’ now has a  ‘Growing the Arts’ tab on the TAAPCH website which is exclusively dedicated to Disaster Monthly. This page includes the official film trailer, conversations with the cast, and full biographies of the industry professionals who served as Teaching Artists (https://www.taapch.org/disaster-monthly).

CONTACT: Kennedy Pugh, Artist in Residence / Teaching Artist Coordinator

The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High (TAAPCH)

(303) 489-1982 • kpugh@district70.org

Website https://www.taapch.org/disaster-monthly

Premiere Link on YouTube https://youtu.be/FShnYyRss0Y

Download the Press Release

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About The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High (TAAPCH)

The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High is a first for the region. It is an innovation 14 years in the making, an educational institution dedicated solely to all aspects of the performing arts. The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High "TAAPCH",  offers the first of its kind career track arts instruction in the performing arts (Dance, Music, Band, Theater Arts and Technical Stagecraft). All disciplines will include college prep and industry training. This professional arrangement allows the students of The Arts Academy a greater range of high school experiences and elective course choices while maintaining the educational philosophy, rigorous curriculum, and small school field training experience. Housed at Pueblo County High School, courses will be in the newly constructed ‘Arts Corridor’, a bond initiative of 2015, with state-of-the-art facilities. College credit is available for many of the courses and the certificate of completion for higher education and vocational pursuits will be awarded to full Academy students. All faculty members will be required to have spent significant time in the professional entertainment industry as well as being licensed as a certified teacher in the State of Colorado. This will provide students with a learning opportunity from instructors that can impart the "real world" application of the techniques and studies that they are receiving at the Academy. The considerably unique addition to the Academy is the inclusion of the "teaching artist and clinicians". Professionals from all disciplines offered at the Academy will be scheduled to teach workshops, on a monthly basis, to enhance the instructions with extraordinary presentations from dance, music, theater, technical theater, digital music, instrumental music and performance presentation. Certain workshops will be open to the public (for a small fee) and filmed for a library of digital instruction.

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48 Hour Film Festival Themes to be Announced on October 23, 2020

48 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL IS RESCHEDULED AND THE THEMES WILL BE ANNOUNCED TO THE PUBLIC ON OCTOBER 23, 2020

The Pueblo 48 Hour Film Festival invites filmmakers and creative teams to shoot, edit and submit a film within 48 hours. Our judging panel, consisting of industry professionals, will evaluate the submitted films the week before the festival. The short films that receive the highest scores will be screened during the LIVE stream Awards Ceremony. Audience members will also vote on their favorite film during the main event and the People's Choice winner will be announced with all other category winners at the end of the evening.

You may register HERE.

RULES

1. Thematic elements such as a genre, character, prop and line of dialogue will be announced on Oct. 23.  All elements must be incorporated for the film to be judged.

2. All submissions must be an original film created in the allotted 48-hour time frame between Oct 23-25.  Any creative work in advance of the competition is prohibited.  No films or film segments created for other projects may be submitted.  Animation and special effects are allowed, but must be created during the official 48-hour time frame.

3. The only work to begin prior to the Official Time Period is: organizing crew, organizing cast, securing equipment and scouting/securing locations.

4. All films must be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo and submitted by sending the link to filmfestival@pueblolibrary.org.  No hard copies, jump drives or discs will be accepted.

5. Any type of filming equipment and/or cameras may be used.  Multiple cameras are permitted.

6. Any stock photos or music used in the film must be original or the team must acquire rights for use.

7. Films must be no longer than 6 minutes and 30 seconds (including credits).

EVENTS

Thematic Elements Reveal Party: October 23. LIVEstream from PCCLD's YouTube or Facebook pages.

Come find out what the required thematic elements will be for the 2020 Pueblo 48-Hour Film Festival! 

Film Submission Deadline: October 25

All films must be submitted by October 25. Please upload your film to YouTube or Vimeo and share the link to filmfestival@pueblolibrary.org

Red Carpet Screening and Awards: October 30, LIVE stream.

Join us for the screening of this year’s 48-Hour Film Festival submissions and submit your vote for the 2020 People’s Choice Award!  The film screening will be followed by an awards ceremony to recognize the work of filmmakers of all ages and skill levels.  Co-sponsored by the Pueblo Regional Film Commission.

WORKSHOPS

October 21, 2020 LIVE 6:00 pm

Editing 101: Setting yourself up for success 

A seasoned editor explains how to set up your file system and editing software in advance, and coordinate with your cinematographer and composer. When footage and sound arrive, you won’t have to waste time, and you’ll be ready to dig in and start editing!

Led by cinematographer and editor Adrian Montgomery, who just finished editing a feature-length documentary that he recorded all the video and sound for, in 9 interviews around the country. Adrian participated in a 48HFP in Denver a couple of years ago, so will offer his top tips on what to make sure to do, as well as what to watch out for.  

Pueblo Filmmakers Premiere New Productions to the Local Community in October

Voyage of the Chimera

His family on the brink of ruin, young aristocrat Marcus DeVol takes command of the destroyer/escort starship Chimera in a last attempt to restore his status by running down pirates and blacklisted vessels for prize money. It's a "safe" job by military standards, but a change of orders just before cast-off will send Marcus and his crew far from home and into very real danger.

Marcus has few illusions about his purchased commission. An academic, he is untested as a leader of men, and his curious mix of officers and crew regard him with a wary eye. Like Chimera herself, they've been pieced together based more on Marcus' tight budget than their experience and reliability. Many of them are foreigners with pasts who have joined the service for a clean slate. Some are more competent than others; few of them have seen real combat.

In the course of their mission, they will encounter both friend and foe, and venture into uncharted territories whose occupants each come with their own strange agendas. Marcus and his crew will soon be tested by combat, by uncertainty, and by fear, as every leg of their journey and every encounter brings a new set of unknowns and challenges. Nothing in the Void is certain.

The Show

The year is 2641. Humanity has spread out and colonized the galaxy. Some colonies remain loyal to their masters, others rebel or request independence. Instead of monolithic United Federations ruling the galaxy, individual worlds play host to many nations, each with their own culture, traditions, and territorial claims in space.

​Voyage Of The Chimera is, first and foremost, a story of characters, of military men far from home and cut off from family and loved ones -- imagine a submarine movie, set in space. There will be action, but it will always be in service to the story. We've even made a deliberate effort to strip down the tech and avoid the usual gimmicks. No aliens, no laser guns, no holographic interfaces, no fusion reactors... and NO SHIELDS -- these guys are going to have to rely on heavy armor, countermeasures, and strategy to survive. Chimera is not a wealthy vessel; her crew is making do with both limited provisions and materials during their perilous mission.

Shot entirely using green screen technology at Watertower Place in Pueblo, Colorado!

Watch the Official Trailer Now

Live Premiere Screening on October 10, 2020 at 8:00pm (MT)

Tonight’s the night! Get your popcorn ready and questions prepared for the filmmakers and cast, as they will be doing a LIVE Q&A after the season 1 movie airs tonight at 8pm MT. Register now and you will receive an email before we start the live stream of Voyage of the Chimera: access.live/Voyage If you’re not registering, make sure to go to the URL above tonight at 8pm MT to watch. See you there!

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“Pat McCarthy’s second film, Red Writing Hood, continues his tradition of casting Pueblo, Colorado as a central character in his storytelling. The film moves at an extraordinarily unpredictable pace and heightened editing and unexpected animation prepare audiences for a number of genuinely frightening moments spread throughout the film’s short running time. McCarthy - along with his team of creatives - has infused the film with an unmistakably (and irresistibly) raw sensibility, which does ensure that the characters and storyline remain endlessly fascinating in terms of their visceral qualities and emblematic of Pueblo’s fascinating history and culture. ”

— Gregory Howell • Storyteller & Founder of Pueblo Regional Film Commission

Sunset Revolutions Productions & Rocky Mountain Blockbusters

Sunset Revolutions Productions (SRP) was founded by Pat McCarthy and home grown in the city of Pueblo Colorado. SRP is a leader in conceptual development, production design, capture execution and post production services for video projects of every caliber and nature. The SRP Team captures special events, commercials, music videos and full feature length films of all genres.

Red Writing Hood is a short and fun Halloween season film shot entirely on location in Pueblo, CO. Headphones or speakers make it even better!

Community Leaders and Investors in the Arts Tour Historic Colorado Theater in Downtown Pueblo

At the corner of 4th & Main in Downtown Pueblo and adjacent to the Historic Federal Building is the Colorado Theater. The theater sits atop the footprint of the former Pueblo Opera House which was designed by Adler & Sullivan and opened in 1890. It was their first project out of their home city of Chicago. Frank Lloyd Wright was also a junior draftsman for Louis Sullivan and is credited with the engineering and design of the single span mezzanines of the famed Opera House. Unfortunately after the Annual Grocers' Ball in March 1922 which had taken place in the upper event spaces, a fire started and destroyed the landmark building on a frigid winter day.

Pop Kite, who was the beloved barber in the basement in the Opera House, pledged that the building would be rebuilt and he would return with his business as a symbol of resilience and solidarity. The city was devastated the year prior in June 1921 by the Great Flood, so Pop became the cheerleader for the rebuilding effort which was completed in 1926. Pueblo has an extraordinary legacy of theater and entertainment establishments and in the early 1900s had over 80 theaters dotting the city and its neighborhoods which presented everything from vaudeville to "talkies". As the second largest city in Colorado, Denver and Pueblo were the stops for Hollywood actors as they did their rounds to promote their films (most stayed in the Vail Hotel in Pueblo).

The Colorado Building & Theater have been closed for over 15 years, but there is renewed interest in restoring the historic theater for film and visual & performing arts. There is also an opportunity to convert the upper floors (2, 3 and 4) of the commercial building into housing and mix use. The recently established Pueblo Regional Film Commission has made the restoration and renovation of one of Pueblo's historic movie houses part of its mission. Pueblo is also fortunate to have Eric Gubelman as the new director of Southern Colorado Economic Development District (SCEDD) and he brings some of the best experience in the the operations and management of historic movie houses. His background includes owning and operating small market first run movie theaters, and stacking capital to get difficult deals done. For much of the last decade, he lived in Knoxville, a city slightly larger than Pueblo. Their downtown includes a vibrant entertainment district that has a historic theater that does a mix of live performance and film, a repurposed movie theater catering to music acts, an eight-screen first run theater, and a single screen retro movie house that creatively programs film series and avant garde fare. He has an interest in helping the film commission and promoting downtown development. We had a wonderful group of citizens yesterday who are interested in helping Pueblo bring back one of its historic gems. I have also included images of the Opera House including some of the original drawings that Puebloan Margi Grund discovered while she was in Minnesota conducting research on the Nuckolls Packing Company and the architect Hans Peter Henschien. #thefutureofthepast

Pueblo Regional Film Commission Takes Over Instagram Account of Office of Film, TV & Media

Follow us from May 4 to 8, 2020 as we take over the Instagram account of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM). Look for @filmincolorado and you will find images and stories of the best kept secret in the film industry - PUEBLO • COLORADO • USA.