"Levitated Mass: The Story of Michael Heizer's Monolithic Sculpture" will screen at LACMA's Bing Theater during the Los Angeles Film Festival this summer. Shot by CEC's Christopher Chomyn, ASC, the documentary centers on Heizer's famed granite boulder at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Over the course of 10 nights, tens of thousands of people watched the boulder make its way through L.A. neighborhoods to its final resting place.
The film, which chronicles Heizer's life and passion for the piece, premieres on June 20. It is produced by Lynette Howell and Jamie Patricoff of Electric City.
CEC's Adrian Correia, Director of Photography, is currently in production on the independent feature "Happy Baby". Written and directed by noted author Stephen Elliott, the story follows Theo, a former orphan in the Detroit foster care system, who returns to Detroit as a grown man to reconnect with the love of his life.
The film is adapted from the novel Elliott penned of the same name, which has been praised by the New York Times and various other publications. Production is currently underway in New York City.
CEC's Scott Hersh (Makeup Department Head) and Vera Chow (Costume Designer), are currently in production on the new Investigation Discovery series "The Bad Old Days". Helmed by Jeremiah Crowell, the show is "a nod to twisted tales of decades past, detailing the most provocative, juicy, real-life murder cases of the '50s and '60s."
The series, currently underway in New York City, was recently announced as part of Investigation Discovery's largest-ever slate of original programming.
CEC's Nicholas JS Wise, Director of Photography, recently wrapped an episode of the travel series "The Getaway" in London. From the mind of Anthony Bourdain, the series explores "the world's greatest cities through the eyes of a revolving cast of travel-loving celebrities who know them inside and out".
The series premieres this summer on the new Esquire Network.
CEC's Michael Meador, 1st AD, recently wrapped the feature film "Wild Canaries". Written and directed by rising indie filmmaker Lawrence Michael Levine, the film's cast includes Sophia Takal, Alia Shawkat, Jason Ritter, Annie Parisse and Kevin Corrigan.
"Wild Canaries" was filmed locally in New York City.
CEC's Andrew Markus, Composer, was recently honored with a Communicator Award of Excellence for his score on the Silver Shield PSA "Fallen Heroes". The piece, narrated by television news anchor Chuck Scarborough, premiered at Yankee Stadium last fall.
The Communicator Awards is the "leading international awards program recognizing big ideas in marketing and communications. Founded nearly two decades ago, The Communicator Awards receives over 6,000 entries from companies and agencies of all sizes, making it one of the largest awards of its kind in the world."
CEC's Charles S. Rowe, Script Supervisor, recently wrapped season two of the hit NBC/Sprout original pre-school series "The Chica Show". Featuring the voice of Mario Lopez, the animated and live-action series currently airs on the NBC Kids Saturday morning block.
Sprout President Sandy Wax announced the series' second season renewal at NBC's press day.
Showtime's hit series "Nurse Jackie", featuring CEC's Agnes Grandits, Editor, returned for its' fifth season last evening. The critically acclaimed series, starring three-time Emmy Award-winner Edie Falco, follows "a drug-addicted nurse who struggles to find a balance between the demands of her frenetic job at a New York City hospital and an array of personal dramas."
For those who missed last night's premiere, you can watch the full episode online for free for one month, courtesy of Showtime. The new season airs Sundays at 9pm.
The Tribeca Film Festival has announced its full festival slate, which includes the world premieres of "Bluebird","Sunlight Jr." and "Bottled Up", all featuring CEC's Amy L. Forsythe (Makeup Department Head).
"Bluebird", the feature film debut of writer/director Lance Edmands, is set to open the narrative competition. The rural drama, about the dramatic events in a Maine logging town, features "Girls" star Adam Driver, Emmy-winner Margo Martindale, "Mad Men" star John Slattery and Amy Morton.
"Sunlight Jr.", written and helmed by Laurie Collyer ("Sherrybaby"), stars Matt Dillon and Naomi Watts as a paraplegic and his pregnant wife, holding minimum wage jobs and facing difficult life choices. The romantic drama will also appear in the narrative competition category.
"Bottled Up", directed by Enid Zentelis and starring Oscar-winner Melissa Leo, is a modern-day drama about the "heart-wrenching struggle that comes with loving an addict". The film also features Marin Ireland and Josh Hamilton.
The Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 17-28 in NYC.
The dark comedy "The Brass Teapot", featuring CEC's Arielle Toelke, Makeup Department Head, opened theatrically this past Friday, April 5. Helmed by first-time feature director Ramaa Mosley, the film, praised as a "fresh riff on 'be careful what you wish for' fables", stars Juno Temple and Michael Angarano as a married couple who find a magic teapot that grants them cash for pain. The film's supporting cast includes Alexis Bledel, Jack McBrayer and Alia Shawkat.
Also available on iTunes, "The Brass Teapot" is currently in select theaters in New York and West Hollywood.
Following its premiere at last month's SXSW Film Festival, "Holy Ghost People", featuring CEC's Amanda Riley (Costume Designer), has been acquired by XLrator Media for all North American rights.
The Southern Gothic thriller, helmed by Mitchell Altieri, "centers on 19-year-old Charlotte, who enlists ex-Marine Wayne to infiltrate a snake-handling church deep in the Appalachian Mountains in search of her sister. What Wayne and Charlotte uncover during their time on the mountain - about themselves and the nature of faith - will shake them to their core".
CEC's Nicholas JS Wise, Director of Photography, recently wrapped on an episode of the new Esquire Network series "The Getaway", filmed in Puerto Rico. The original series (from Executive Producer Anthony Bourdain) "explores the world's greatest cities through the eyes of a revolving cast of travel-loving celebrities who know them inside and out." Celebrities lined up for Season 1 include Joel McHale, Aziz Ansari, Aisha Tyler, Grammy Award-winner Eve, and acclaimed chef Jose Andres.
The series premieres April 23 at 10pm on the new Esquire Network.
CEC's Arielle Toelke is currently working as a Key/FX Makeup Artist on the Fox Searchlight crime pic "Animal Rescue", starring Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace and James Gandolfini. Directed by Michael R. Roskam, the film follows a man who "wants to shed his criminal past but somehow gets mixed up in a bad heist and a killing, resulting from a lost and contested pitbull."
Production on "Animal Rescue" is currently underway in New York City.
Season one of PBS/Sprout's "The Chica Show", featuring Charles S. Rowe, Script Supervisor, is currently airing on the NBC Kids Saturday morning block. The three-hour lineup was created to address the developmental needs of preschool-aged children, and features educational series that promote active, healthy lifestyles.
"The Chica Show", a Sprout Original pre-school sitcom, features both animation and live action.
CEC is pleased to announce two new clients to our roster: David Santana (Hair Stylist) and Brad Coffman (Editor/Producer/Photographer).
David is a NYC-based Hair Stylist who has worked on films like Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street", the Sundance pic "Kill Your Darlings", and the Coen Brothers' upcoming "Inside Llewyn Davis". David has also contributed his talents to hit TV shows like "Gossip Girl", "Law and Order: SVU" and "Boardwalk Empire".
Brad, also NYC-based, has extensive experience editing and producing non-scripted content and promos for Logo, Comedy Central, MTV, Bravo and more. Aside from his work as an editor and producer, Brad is also a skilled photographer.
We are excited to welcome both artists on board.
CEC's Emilee Fallo, Wardrobe Stylist, recently wrapped on several commercial shoots, including a recent spot for Toyota RAV4 with director Antoine Fuqua, shot in New Orleans. Emilee also recently wrapped a shoot in Chicago for JBL Audio Electronics, featuring Maroon 5.
Prior to this, Emilee wrapped a spot for Veria Living, shot in NYC with CEC's Director/DP Manfred Reiff.
CEC's Michael S. Chandler, 1st AD, is currently in production on the indie feature "Jamie Marks Is Dead". Described as "part thriller, part ghost tale, part love story", the film is a coming-of-age film that "begins with a shocking murder and ends with a reason to hope".
Directed by Carter Smith, the film has already earned spot #54 in Ioncinema.com's "Top 100 Most Anticipated Films of 2014" countdown. Production is currently underway in New York.
CEC's Thomas M. Harting, CSC, is currently on location in North Carolina for Hallmark's original movie "Shuffleton's Barbershop". Inspired by the paintings of Norman Rockwell, the drama follows a young musician who returns to his hometown at Christmas, where he "repairs old wounds and learns the power of forgiveness."
Tom, based in Los Angeles, is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada.
With the 2013 SXSW Film Festival in full swing, three films featuring CEC clients made their debuts this past weekend in Austin, TX.
"Drinking Buddies", featuring Amy L. Forsythe (Makeup Department Head), centers on a flirtatious relationship amongst coworkers at a Chicago brewery. Directed by Joe Swanberg, the film boasts an ensemble cast that includes Anna Kendrick, Olivia Wilde, Ron Livingston and Jake Johnson. The film debuted in the Narrative Spotlight section, with encore screenings scheduled for Wednesday, March 13 and Saturday, March 16.
The dramatic thriller "Holy Ghost People", featuring Amanda Riley (Costume Designer), follows the story of a "young woman [who] enlists an ex-Marine to infiltrate an Appalachian snake-handling church in search of her sister". Helmed by Mitchell Altieri, the film also showcased in the Narrative Spotlight section. Encore screenings will show on Tuesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 14.
"Plus One", featuring Arielle Toelke (Makeup Department Head), is about an evening that descends into chaos when a party is "disrupted by a mysterious phenomenon". Written and directed by Dennis Iliadis ("The Last House on the Left"), the film premiered in the Midnighters section of the festival. Encore Screenings will show on Monday, March 11 and Thursday, March 14.
SXSW kicked off on March 8 and continues through March 16.
FOX recently ordered a second season of its hit new series "The Following", featuring CEC's Stacy Rowe (Script Supervisor) and Rick Dennis (Art Director). Seven episodes into its debut season, the Kevin Bacon-starrer currently ranks as the No. 2 broadcast drama and No. 3 drama in Live+7 ratings.
Season one of "The Following" continues with eight new episodes airing Mondays at 9 pm.
The indie film "Molly's Theory of Relativity", featuring CEC's Jendra Jarnagin (Director of Photography), is currently playing in select theaters in New York City. The fifth feature from director Jeff Lipsky, the film stars Sophia Takal as "a beautiful twenty-eight-year-old astronomer who, having unexpectedly lost her job, is poised to make perhaps the first reckless decision of her life." Lawrence Michael Levine (Takal's real life husband) also stars.
The film, recently profiled in the New York Times, "shows how our parents live inside us, and how our relationships with them continue to evolve even after they're gone." It will be screened in select theaters through Thursday, March 7 in NYC, and will open in Los Angeles late March.
CEC's Agnes Grandits, Editor, recently wrapped on the latest season of "Nurse Jackie". The Showtime series, starring three-time Emmy Award-winner Edie Falco, follows "a drug-addicted nurse who struggles to find a balance between the demands of her frenetic job at a New York City hospital and an array of personal dramas."
FX has officially picked up "The Americans" for season two, with the announcement made only four episodes into its debut season. The period drama, currently being edited by CEC's Amanda Pollack and Daniel Valverde, had the most-watched premiere of any series for the network.
"The Americans", starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, follows the complex marriage of two KGB spies posing as Americans.
The new sci-fi series "Alien Dawn", featuring CEC's Michael S. Chandler (1st AD), premieres tonight on Nickelodeon. Shot on location in New York City, the show follows the adventures of 16-year-old Cameron Turner as he "races to uncover clues of a mysterious conspiracy hidden in the animated pages of a comic book series created by his missing father."
The annual SXSW Film Festival recently announced its lineup for the 2013 festival, which includes several films featuring CEC clients. Established in 1994, SXSW was formed to gather "creatives of all stripes" to "witness, share and inspire the visions that will galvanize the filmmakers and ideas of tomorrow." Amongst the films that made the cut this year are "Drinking Buddies", "Holy Ghost People" and "Plus One".
"Drinking Buddies", a rom-com centered on coworkers at a Chicago brewery, boasts an ensemble cast that includes Anna Kendrick, Olivia Wilde, Ron Livingston and Jake Johnson. Filmed in Chicago, CEC's Amy L. Forsythe was Makeup Department Head on the project.
The dramatic thriller "Holy Ghost People", helmed by Mitchell Altieri, centers on a community of snake-handlers who risk their lives seeking salvation in the Holy Ghost. Shot on location in Crossville, Tennessee, the film features CEC's Amanda Riley, Costume Designer.
"Plus One", written and directed by Dennis Iliadis ("The Last House on the Left"), is about an evening that descends into chaos when a party is "disrupted by a mysterious phenomenon". Filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, the thriller features CEC's Arielle Toelke, Makeup Department Head.
The nine-day event kicks off March 8, 2013 in Austin, Texas.
With New York Fashion Week in full-swing, the web series "In Between Men" was recently showcased on NY1 for its fashion-forward trendsetting and marketing techniques. The popular series, described as a "dramedy about urban professionals that live, work and play in the big apple", has garnered attention from designers who have taken notice of the "very fashionable cast".
Season two of the web series was designed by CEC's own Costume Designer Havi Elkaim, who helped establish and maintain the characters' signature looks. The season also features CEC's Jendra Jarnagin (DP), Donna McKenna (Casting Director) and Michael S. Chandler (1st AD).
"In Between Men", which has racked up an audience of over two million viewers in 150 countries, is pioneering a new online format with 10-minute, fast moving episodes. Season two premieres online on Tuesday, February 12, 2013.
Segments from "The Sunflower County Freedom Project", a documentary feature scored by CEC's Andrew Markus (Composer), were featured on MSNBC's "Melissa Harris Perry Show" last Saturday.
Helmed by Carmen Scott, "The Sunflower County Freedom Project" is about the after-school program by the same name and its impact in Sunflower County, Mississippi. Modeled after the Freedom Schools of the 1960s, SCFP seeks to reverse the county's history of educational inferiority and help its residents gain the freedom not yet gained: education.
Andrew's original score for the project received a Global Music Award in December.
CEC's Havi Elkaim, Costume Designer, and Scott Hersh, Makeup Artist, recently wrapped additional photography for the feature film "Motel". Helmed by David Grovic, the crime thriller centers on a hit man hired by an infamous crime boss. The cast includes Robert De Niro, John Cusack, Crispin Glover and Rebecca Da Costa.
Principal photography took place in New Orleans, LA, with additional scenes shot last week in New York City.
CEC is pleased to officially announce the addition of several clients who have joined our roster in the past couple months:
Michael Walker, New York local DGA 1st Assistant Director ("Red Rum", "Are We There Yet")
Scott Hersh, Emmy Award-winning New York local IATSE 798 Makeup Artist ("Noah", "Men in Black 3")
Amanda Riley, Los Angeles/Atlanta local IATSE 892 Costume Designer ("Drop Dead Diva", "Shake it Up")
Craig Cobb, New York local MPEG 700 Editor ("30 Rock", "Bored to Death")
We are excited to have these talented artists on board.
The sophomore season of "Smash", featuring CEC's David Ray (Editor) returns tonight on NBC. From Executive Producer Stephen Spielberg, the series follows an ambitious team preparing for a Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe. Season two will feature an array of guest stars including Oscar and Golden-Globe winner Jennifer Hudson, Emmy Award-winner Sean Hayes, Jesse L. Martin, Nikki Blonsky and Harvey Fierstein. They join Season one regulars Katharine McPhee, Debra Messing, Jack Davenport, Christian Borle and Anjelica Huston.
Lifetime's original movie "Abducted: The Carlina White Story", shot by CEC's Thomas M. Harting, CSC, has been nominated for two NAACP Image Awards, including "Best Picture for a TV Movie/Miniseries". Helmed by Vondie Curtis-Hall, the film is based on the true story of Carlina White, who was abducted as an infant from a New York hospital. 23 years later, she solved her own kidnapping and was reunited with her biological parents.
Keke Palmer, who joins Anjunue Ellis and Emmy Award-winner Sherri Shepherd in the cast of "Abducted", is also nominated in the category of "Best Actress".
Tune in tonight for the premiere of FX's new series "The Americans". The period drama, about the complex marriage of two KGB spies posing as Americans, is currently being edited by CEC's Amanda Pollack and Daniel Valverde.
"The Americans" was created by Joe Weisberg, former CIA agent-turned-author, and stars Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich.
The premiere is set for Wednesday, January 30 at 10pm on FX.
CEC's Jendra Jarnagin (Director of Photography) and Havi Elkaim (Costume Designer) wrapped last week on the final leg of production for "In Between Men" Season 2. The dramedy web series follows four friends in NYC who feel "caught between two worlds, not truly knowing where they fit in."
"The Brass Teapot", featuring CEC's Arielle Toelke, Makeup Department Head, is slated for a theatrical and VOD release this year through Magnolia Pictures. Helmed by first-time feature film director Ramaa Mosley, the dark comedy was the second pick-up for Magnolia at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival. Described as a "dark and quirky love story", the film stars Juno Temple and Michael Angarano as a "young, poor, newly married couple who find a magic teapot that grants them cash for pain".
"The Brass Teapot" will be available on iTunes February 28, 2013 and is set to debut in theaters April 5, 2013.
Last Tuesday's series premiere of "Redrum", featuring CEC's Michael Walker (1st AD), drove the ratings records that scored Investigation Discovery its' biggest night in network history. Each episode of the all new original series allows viewers to follow the "backwards tale of murder from false motives and mistaken witnesses to conversations taken completely out of context, until the truth finally comes out at the very end."
Catch new episodes of "Redrum" Tuesday nights at 10pm.
FOX's new series "The Following" featuring CEC's Stacy Rowe, Script Supervisor, and Rick Dennis, Art Director, premieres tonight at 9pm.
From Creator/Executive Producer Kevin Williamson ("The Vampire Diaries", "Scream"), the highly-anticipated new series stars Kevin Bacon (in his primetime series debut) as Ryan Hardy, "a former FBI profiler [who] must track down an escaped serial killer and his online network of minions."
CEC's Timothy Whidbee (Production Designer) and Jeanelle Marie (Art Director) are currently wrapping Season 4 of The Biography Channel series "Celebrity Ghost Stories". The top-rated series features first-person accounts by notable actors, musicians and models who believe they have "experienced the other side."
Featured guests of the series include Joan Rivers, Alice Cooper, Margaret Cho, Michael Urie, Marilyn Manson and Chazz Palminteri.
Ioncinema.com has released a list of the "Top 100 Most Anticipated Films of 2013", which includes three recent projects featuring CEC's Amy L. Forsythe, Makeup Department Head. The independent features "Sunlight Jr.", "Bluebird" and "Drinking Buddies" each scored a spot on the countdown.
"Sunlight Jr.", helmed by Laurie Collyer ("Sherrybaby") stars Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon as a "Florida couple [dealing] with an unexpected pregnancy while holding minimum wage jobs."
"Bluebird", the directorial debut of Lance Edmands, stars John Slattery, Adam Driver and Louisa Krause, and examines "the struggles of regret and redemption at the frontier of modern America".
"Drinking Buddies", written and directed by Joe Swanberg, explores "the limits of friendship, the rules and trials of relationships, and, of course, the unique fellowship that comes from sharing a perfect craft beer." The ensemble cast includes Anna Kendrick, Olivia Wilde, Ron Livingston and Jake Johnson.
Discovery's new series "Amish Mafia", featuring music by CEC's Andrew Markus (Composer), was the highest rated show on cable last Wednesday. The ratings for the series have been solid since its premiere debuted to the highest audience in the history of the network.
The show provides "a first-ever look at the men who protect and maintain peace and order within the Amish community in Lancaster. Untrusting of outside law enforcement, some [members of the community] have for many years regularly turned to them for protection and justice."
Catch "Amish Mafia" Wednesdays at 9pm on Discovery.
1939 single-family cottage in Stone Ridge, NY, is available to rent for upstate productions in the new year. 90 miles outside of NYC, the house's location is central to the closest soundstage and cities New Paltz and Kingston - all within a 20 mile radius. Situated on 12.86 acres, the house offers 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, a country kitchen, and a large living room with a wood-burning fireplace.
French doors open from the living room to a large deck. Well lit space for shooting interiors during the day, great views and a pond.
For rental inquiries, please contact Laura Siegel: lsiegel@cec-entertainment.com.
The revenge feature "Girls Against Boys" featuring CEC's Jeanelle Marie, Production Designer, will be available in select theaters this February. Written and helmed by Austin Chick, the film is a "character-driven psychological thriller about two girls on a killing spree in New York". The cast includes Danielle Panabaker (Piranha 3DD), Nicole LaLiberte (Dexter) and Michael Stahl-David (Cloverfield).
Anchor Bay will release the film in select New York and L.A. theaters on February 1, 2013. The film originally premiered at the 2012 SXSW Conferences & Festivals in Austin, Texas.
CEC's Jendra Jarnagin, DP, recently returned from India, where she was filming a documentary about education. This recent project marked Jendra's second time traveling to India with the company Darby Films. Shooting took place in both Mumbai and Delhi.
CEC's Michael S. Chandler, 1st AD, recently completed production on the indie feature "Blowtorch". Described as "a gritty, urban New York story", the film's cast includes Kathy Najimy and Billy Baldwin.
"Blowtorch" is expected to be released in November 2013.
CEC wishes all our friends and colleagues a very happy holiday!
Two of CEC's New York based editors, Daniel Valverde and Amanda Pollack, are currently at work on the premiere season of FX's cold war drama, "The Americans". The series, which stars Keri Russell and Noah Emmerich, premieres Wednesday, January 30 at 10pm.
CEC's Andrew Markus, Composer, was recently honored with a Global Music Award for his original score on the "Sunflower County Freedom Project". The documentary, directed by Carmen Scott, will have its debut screening in January 2013.
The Global Music Awards is a "prestigious international music composition competition" that celebrates independent musicians and serves as a "showcase for original music, unique voices and undiscovered and emerging artists".
Michael Meador, 1st AD, recently wrapped on the independent drama "The Sisterhood of Night", shot in upstate New York. Based on a short story and helmed by Caryn Waechter, the film follows a suburban town that's "plunged into controversy when a teenage girl exposes a secret society of high school girls."
Cast includes Kal Penn ("House M.D.") Georgie Henley ("The Chronicles of Narnia") and Kara Hayward ("Moonrise Kingdom").
The trailer for the independent feature "Molly's Theory of Relativity", filmed by CEC's Jendra Jarnagin, Director of Photography, is currently being featured exclusively on iTunes.
Helmed by Jeff Lipsky, the drama is described as a "sexy, funny, surreal, and devastating portrait of a beautiful twenty-eight-year-old astronomer who, having unexpectedly lost her job, is poised to make perhaps the first reckless decision of her life."
CEC's Michael S. Chandler, 1st AD, recently began production on the indie feature "Blowtorch". Helmed by Kevin Breslin, the story follows "a recently widowed mother whose oldest son is murdered. The detective assigned to the case doesn't pay it much attention, prompting [the mother] to stalk a group of Brooklyn gangsters to uncover the truth."
Cast for "Blowtorch" includes Lois Robbins, Kathy Najimy, Fat Joe and Jared Abrahamson. Principal photography is underway in New York City.
CEC's Amanda Pollack, Editor, recently began work on FX's new series "The Americans". Created by former CIA agent-turned-author Joe Weisberg, the series is a "period drama about the complex marriage of two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington DC shortly after Ronald Reagan is elected President."
"The Americans", which stars Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich, is set to premiere Wednesday, January 30 at 10pm.
The feature film "Hidden Moon", shot by CEC's Christopher Chomyn, Director of Photography, recently premiered in Mexico on November 23. Helmed by Pepe Bojorquez, the film is described as a "depiction of modern reality [that] paints the exquisiteness and rarity of love against the background of gorgeous Mexico." Principal photography took place in Guanajuato and Veracruz.
The cast of the international feature includes Wes Bentley ("American Beauty", "The Hunger Games"), Mexican actress Ana Serradilla, "Dallas" star Linda Gray and actor/writer Jonathan Schaech. Following its premiere in Mexico, "Hidden Moon" will head to European theaters before U.S. distribution.
Christopher Chomyn, based in Los Angeles, has recently been accepted into The American Society of Cinematographers.
CEC's Andrew Markus, Composer, has been tapped to contribute music to season three of VH1's "Mob Wives". He was responsible for over 80 music cues for the reality series in 2011, including the spin offs "Mob Wives Chicago" and "Big Ang".
Andrew's music is frequently heard on VH1, BET, Showtime, MTV, A&E, MSG, Discovery, Biography, The Weather Channel and many other networks.
CEC's David Ray, Editor, is currently editing the sophomore season of NBC's "Smash". The series, from Executive Producer Steven Spielberg, stars Katharine McPhee, Emmy-Award winner Debra Messing, Jack Davenport, Tony-Award winner Christian Borle and Academy-Award winner Anjelica Huston. "Smash" tells the story of an ambitious team preparing for a Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe.
Season two will feature an array of guest stars including Oscar and Golden-Globe winner Jennifer Hudson, Emmy-Award winner Sean Hayes, Jesse L. Martin, Nikki Blonsky and Harvey Fierstein.
The season premiere is set to debut February 5, 2013.
Four CEC clients recently completed the first leg of production for season two of the web series "In Between Men". The dramedy series follows four friends in NYC who feel "caught between two worlds, not truly knowing where they fit in."
The team for season two includes CEC's Donna McKenna (Casting Director), Jendra Jarnagin (Director of Photography), Michael S. Chandler (First Assistant Director) and Havi Elkaim (Costume Designer).
CEC's Amy L. Forsythe, Makeup Department Head, recently wrapped on the feature film "Eye of Winter". The indie thriller, helmed by Tze Chun, follows a struggling motel owner and her daughter who are "taken hostage by a nearly blind career criminal to be his eyes as he attempts to retrieve his cash package from a crooked cop."
The cast for "Eye of Winter" includes "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston, Logan Marshall-Green and Alice Eve. Shooting took place in upstate New York.
Arielle Toelke, Makeup Artist, recently wrapped a shoot in Florida for the Discovery series "Lived to Tell", which focuses on amazing tales of survival. Arielle, an expert in special effects makeup, did FX for two shark attack re-enactments, as well as a story about being lost in the woods.
1939 single-family cottage in Stone Ridge, NY, is available to rent for your next upstate production. 90 miles outside of NYC, the house's location is central to the closest soundstage and cities New Paltz and Kingston - all within a 20 mile radius. Situated on 12.86 acres, the house offers 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, a country kitchen, and a large living room with a wood-burning fireplace.
French doors open from the living room to a large deck. Well lit space for shooting interiors during the day, great views and a pond.
For images and rental inquiries, please contact Laura Siegel: lsiegel@cec-entertainment.com.
The Biography Channel's highest-rated series "Celebrity Ghost Stories", featuring CEC's Timothy Whidbee (Production Designer), and Jeanelle Marie (Art Director), is currently filming its' fourth season. The show, which features "personal, first-person accounts by notable actors, musicians and models", delivers a "compelling, surprising and downright chilling look into the world of the paranormal by those who believe they have experienced the other side."
Featured guests include Joan Rivers, Alice Cooper, Margaret Cho, Michael Urie, Marilyn Manson and Chazz Palminteri.
CEC's Adrian Correia, Director of Photography, is currently on location in Israel shooting additional scenes for the indie film "Dovid Meyer". Based on a novel, the film tells the story of a British family that hires 13-year-old Dovid Meyer in a desperate bind for an au pair. Agreeing to keep him as a temp, they have no idea that he is about to turn their lives upside down and inside out.
"Dovid Meyer" is described as a "Jewish themed film with a universal message, humorous and heartbreaking, full of drama, comedy, and a cast of colorful characters." The majority of the film was shot in upstate New York.
CEC's Agnes Grandits, Editor, recently started up on Showtime's hit series "Nurse Jackie". The award-winning dramedy series, currently in its' fifth season, tells the story of "a drug-addicted nurse who struggles to find a balance between the demands of her frenetic job at a New York City hospital and an array of personal dramas."
Emmy-award winner Edie Falco stars as the title-character of Nurse Jackie Peyton.
Lifetime's original movie "Abducted: The Carlina White Story", featuring CEC's Thomas Harting (Director of Photography), recently premiered to over four million viewers. Helmed by Vondie Curtis-Hall, the film is based on the true story of Carlina White, who was abducted as an infant by from a New York hospital. 23 years later, she solved her own kidnapping and was reunited with her biological parents.
"Abducted", which stars Aunjanue Ellis, Keke Palmer and Emmy-Award winner Sherri Shepherd, airs again on Wednesday, October 17 at 7/6 C.
The much buzzed-about horror film "Sinister", featuring CEC's Arielle Toelke (Makeup Department Head) and Stacy Rowe (Script Supervisor), hits theaters tonight, October 12. Helmed by Scott Derrickson ("The Exorcism of Emily Rose"), the film follows a true-crime novelist (played by Ethan Hawke) who stumbles upon found footage that helps him realize how and why a family was murdered in his new home.
Ken MacLeod, commercial Production Designer, wrapped on a shoot yesterday for The Climate Change Project. The PSA was directed by Clay Williams and produced by MJZ.
"Excuse Me for Living" stars Christopher Lloyd, Jerry Stiller and Robert Vaughn were honored for "Best Ensemble Cast of Yesterday and Today" at yesterday's Friars Club luncheon in New York City. The award-winning cast was assembled by CEC's Donna McKenna, who served as Casting Director and Co-Producer for the indie rom-com. Charlie Prince, Executive Director of the Friars Club Comedy Film Festival, praised the film as a "wonderful and deeply funny new comedy that truly represents some of the finest comedic actors of the past and future."
CEC clients Chase Bowman (Director of Photography), Michael S. Chandler (1st Assistant Director) and Amy L. Forsythe (Makeup Department Head) also contributed their talents to the film, which opens theatrically and on VOD this Friday, Oct. 12.
A promotional video for Maybelline's new Dream Fresh BB cream, shot by DP Jendra Jarnagin, is currently available to view online. The promo for the skin-perfecting product features interviews with various women on the streets of Manhattan.
Jarnagin, who has extensive experience in commercials, series and film, also recently wrapped production on "The Carrier Series", a supernatural suspense thriller written and directed by Joe and Tess Smalley.
CEC's Chase Bowman, Director of Photography, recently wrapped additional photography in Los Angeles for the feature film "Maple Heart". The Hollywood/Bollywood drama, featuring a cast of 140 actors and numerous dance scenes, is based on Indian gangs in the late nineties.
The film was shot in both English and Punjabi on the RED Epic and RED MX, with filming taking place in four countries.
CEC's Manfred Reiff recently released a trailer for the 12-part series "La Musique et L'Ardeur" on YouTube, which is rapidly racking up thousands of views. The digital series, on which Manfred is serving as Director, DP and Producer, is about the fast-rising classical pianist Lola Astanova, who made her Carnegie Hall debut in January of this year.
Lola's emotive playing and magnetic sense of style brings a contemporary spirit to one of music's most historic genres, which is attracting new audiences. The series, set to debut this month, will feature her thoughts on classical music, as well as performances of some of her favorite pieces.
CEC's Nicholas JS Wise, Director of Photography, is currently in production on Season 2 of TLC's "My Crazy Obsession". The reality series, which profiles some of the "most extreme and unique obsessions", provides a behind-the-scenes look into homes "dedicated entirely to the owners' infatuation with various objects, people, or lifestyles". Production is taking place in various cities throughout the U.S., as well as Canada and possibly the UK.
Highlights of Season 1 include a wig lover with over 2,000 wigs in her possession, a collector of mannequins who prefers them to real people, and a couple that boasts a collection of over 5,000 dolls.
The romantic comedy "Excuse Me for Living", featuring four of CEC's clients, will be available nationwide in select theaters, on Video on Demand, and online platforms this October. The film features CEC's Donna McKenna (Casting Director/Producer), Chase Bowman (Director of Photography), Michael S. Chandler (1st Assistant Director), and Amy L. Forsythe (Makeup Department Head).
Written, directed and produced by Ric Klass, "EMFL" centers on the story of a "young recovering drug addict who's required by his doctor to join a geriatric men's group." The ensemble cast includes Tom Pelphrey, Melissa Archer and Robert Vaughn, with Christopher Lloyd, Jerry Stiller, Wayne Knight and Dick Cavett also appearing.
The dark comedy "The Brass Teapot", featuring CEC's Arielle Toelke, Makeup Department Head, was recently picked up for North American distribution by Magnolia Pictures. Helmed by first-time feature film director Ramaa Mosley, the "dark and quirky love story" stars Juno Temple and Michael Angarano as a "young, poor, newly married couple who find a magic teapot that grants them cash for pain".
The film, which premiered on September 8 at the Toronto International Film Festival, was the second pick-up for Magnolia at the festival.
CEC's Andrew Markus, Composer, recently scored a promotional video for The Silver Shield Foundation, an organization that donates money towards the education of children of firefighters and police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The video will be shown at NYC's Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, September 18, before the start of the game.
Andrew's music is frequently heard on VH1, BET, Showtime, MTV, A&E, MSG, Discovery, Biography, The Weather Channel and many other networks.
FOX's new thriller series "The Following", featuring Rick Dennis, Art Director, and Stacy Rowe, Script Supervisor, is currently in production in NYC.
The series, from creator/executive producer Kevin Williamson ("The Vampire Diaries", "Scream franchise), stars Kevin Bacon as Ryan Hardy, a former FBI profiler [who] must track down an escaped serial killer and his online network of minions.
CEC's Michael S. Chandler, 1st AD, recently wrapped on the Nickelodeon sci-fi series "Alien Dawn".
The show, shot on location in New York City, "follows the adventures of 16-year-old Cameron Turner as he races to uncover clues of a mysterious conspiracy hidden in the animated pages of a comic book series created by his missing father."
The first 26-episode season premieres in 2013.
CEC's Charles S. Rowe, Script Supervisor, wrapped recently on the feature film "Christmas Dreams" from director Andrew Repasky McElhinney, and has started production on "The Suspect". The indie thriller shoots this month in Pennsylvania.
CEC's David Ray, Editor, has wrapped on Season 2 of "Borgia", from executive producers Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson. The first season of the show (also edited by David) is currently available to view on Netflix.
David's other television credits as Editor include CBS' "NYC-22" and AMC's "Rubicon".
CEC's Michael Meador, 1st AD, and Amy L. Forsythe, Makeup Department Head, are currently in production on the feature film "Growing Up (and Other Lies)". The film, helmed by "Humboldt County" writing/directing duo Darren Grodsky and Danny Jacobs, is described as "a comedy of male arrested development, follow[ing] four friends who unite to walk the length of Manhattan in an ode to the good old days as one of them plans to leave the city."
"Growing Up" stars Adam Brody, Amber Tamblyn, Taran Killam and Chris Messina. Production is currently taking place in New York City.
CEC's Thomas Harting, Director of Photography, recently wrapped on the Lifetime telefilm "Abducted: The Carlina White Story", starring Keke Palmer and Sherri Shepherd. Next up, Tom will start production on Nickelodeon's "Swindle", which shoots this October in Vancouver.
Tom, a member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada.
CEC's Daniel Valverde, Editor, finishes his run on the USA Network hit series "Royal Pains" this week. The show, currently in its fourth season, is about a young E.R. doctor who moves to the Hamptons and becomes the reluctant "doctor for hire" to the rich and famous.
Dan's other television credits as Editor include Levinson/Fontana's "Borgia" and the FX series "Damages".
CEC's Arielle Toelke, Makeup Department Head, recently wrapped on the feature film "Plus One". Written and directed by Dennis Iliadis ("The Last House on the Left"), the thriller is about an evening that descends into chaos when a party is "disrupted by a mysterious phenomenon."
Production for "Plus One" took place in Atlanta, Georgia.
"Molly's Theory of Relativity" featuring CEC's Jendra Jarnagin, Director of Photography, was recently acquired by Adopt Films for distribution. The drama is described as a "sexy, funny, surreal, and devastating portrait of a beautiful twenty-eight-year-old astronomer who, having unexpectedly lost her job, is poised to make perhaps the first reckless decision of her life."
Helmed by Jeff Lipsky, he praised his production team stating "I could not be more proud of my new film...particularly with the exceptional crew I had at my disposal, all of whom were major artistic contributors to the cause."
Adopt Films plans to debut the film in March 2013.
The romantic comedy feature "Excuse Me for Living", featuring four of CEC's clients, has been picked up by indie film distributors Dada Films and Required Viewing for a theatrical release. The film features CEC's Donna McKenna (Casting Director/Producer), Chase Bowman (Director of Photography), Michael S. Chandler (1st Assistant Director), and Amy L. Forsythe (Makeup Department Head).
Written, directed and produced by Ric Klass, "EMFL" centers on a "young recovering drug addict who's required by his doctor to join a geriatric men's group." The ensemble cast stars Tom Pelphrey, Melissa Archer and Robert Vaughn, with Christopher Lloyd, Jerry Stiller, Wayne Knight and Dick Cavett also appearing.
CEC's Ken MacLeod, Production Designer, recently wrapped a commercial spot for Weight Watchers, featuring spokesperson Jennifer Hudson. The commercial was directed by Rick Lemoine and produced by Chelsea Pictures.
Ken is bi-coastal, working in both New York City and Los Angeles.
The feature film "Cloudburst", shot by CEC's Thomas Harting, recently received positive reviews in Variety. The film, directed by Thom Fitzgerald, stars Oscar-winners Brenda Fricker and Olympia Dukakis as a longtime lesbian couple forced to cross the border to Canada in order to make their 31-year relationship legal.
The article praises the film's sharp dialogue, appealing characters, and "stunning widescreen scenery", describing "Cloudburst" as a "feisty crowdpleaser [that] has deservedly collected audience, thesping and top-pic prizes at LGBT and mainstream fests alike".
CEC's Bettiann Fishman, 1st Assistant Director, is currently in production on the upcoming season of the hit CW drama "Gossip Girl". The series, currently filming in New York City, follows the lives of the Manhattan elite as they navigate adolescence on the Upper East Side.
The teen drama stars Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley and Chace Crawford.
The 15th annual Long Island International Film Expo kicks off this Thursday, July 12 through Thursday, July 19. This year's festival, which features short and feature-length films from all over the globe, will showcase the work of several CEC clients.
The action comedy "Broadway's Finest", featuring cinematography by CEC's Adrian Correia and Makeup by Arielle Toelke, premieres Friday, July 13 at 7pm. The film, written and directed by Stephen Marro, is about three guys impersonating undercover police officers [who are] determined to create their own police drama.
"Junction", also shot by Director of Photography Adrian Correia, premieres Saturday, July 14 at 9:30pm. The film also features work by CEC's Amy L. Forsythe, Makeup Department Head, and Phyllis Housen, Editor. The drama, written and directed by Tony Glazer and starring David Zayas, Michael O'Keefe and Anthony Rapp, focuses on the events following a decision made by four strangers and its impact on the residents of an upscale, idyllic suburban neighborhood.
Festival-goers can also catch the trailer for "Excuse Me for Living" on Wednesday, July 18th at 7:45 pm. The romantic comedy features CEC's Donna McKenna (Casting Director/Producer), Chase Bowman (Director of Photography), Michael Chandler (1st Assistant Director), and Amy L. Forsythe (Makeup Department Head). Written and directed by Ric Klass, the film stars Tom Pelphrey, Jerry Stiller, Christopher Lloyd and Wayne Knight.
The feature film "The Magic of Belle Isle", featuring Stacy Rowe, Script Supervisor, hit theaters on Friday, July 6 in New York, Beverly Hills and Encino, California. The film, directed by Rob Reiner and starring Morgan Freeman and Virginia Madsen, was released by Magnolia Pictures.
According to the New York Times, the film "lulls and strokes you with a sensuous appreciation of lazy summer days in an everyday paradise where the anxieties of modern life are kept at bay."
CEC's Adrian Correia, Director of Photography, recently took home the Julio Macat award for Best Cinematography at the 2012 Hills Film Festival in Torrington, Connecticut. The award was given to him for his work on "First Kiss", which screened on Saturday, June 30 at the festival.
"First Kiss", directed by Charles Hood, is about a guy and girl who "encounter all kinds of obstacles while trying for their first kiss". The film stars Brenda Song and Joseph Mazzella ("The Social Network").
CEC's Dan Katzman, 1st AD, recently wrapped on "Pawn Shop Chronicles", which filmed this summer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The dark comedy is helmed by Wayne Kramer and produced by Mimran Schur Pictures.
The ensemble cast features Elijah Wood, Brendan Fraser, Vincent D'Onofrio, Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Ashlee Simpson, DJ Qualls, Norman Reedus, Thomas Jane and Lukas Haas.
CEC's Adrian Correia, Director of Photography, picked up the Abe Schrager Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for the feature "Broadway's Finest" at this year's Vision Fest Awards Ceremony. The award was sponsored by the American Society of Cinematographers.
"Broadway's Finest", the opening feature of the night's ceremony, tells the story of "three struggling men who impersonate New York City cops and chase down a notorious drug dealer in order to create their own cutting-edge police drama". The film picked up an award for writing as well, which went to Writer/Director Stephen Marro. The event was held at Tribeca Cinemas this past Sunday, June 24.
The feature film "Junction", directed by Tony Glazer, recently took away multiple awards at this year's Long Island International Film Expo. The thriller, which features CEC's Adrian Correia (Director of Photography), Amy L. Forsythe (Makeup Department Head), and Phyllis Housen (Editor), has already taken home several awards for its impressive cast. Additional awards (including Best Feature Film) will be announced at the Closing Night Awards Ceremony Party on July 19.
The film is an "is an edge-of-your-seat genre thriller full of twists and turns that follows four strung-out meth-addicts who discover a dark secret about a homeowner during a burglary, pitting them not only against the police, but against each other."
"Junction" will screen at the LIIFE on Saturday, July 14 at 9:30pm.
Agnes Grandits, Editor, recently wrapped a stint on the brand new Syfy series "School Spirits". The unscripted series, brought to you by the creators of "Celebrity Ghost Stories", takes viewers on a "spooky thrill ride through some of the most infamously haunted colleges and high schools nationwide."
The series premieres tonight, June 20, at 10/9 central on Syfy.
ABC's new series, "Final Witness", featuring CEC's Arielle Toelke, Make-Up Artist, and Emilee Fallo, Costume Designer, is set to premiere next Wednesday on ABC. The true-crime series is described as a "compelling hybrid of documentary and drama, featuring interviews with real-life witnesses, prosecutors, law enforcement, family and friends, along with riveting scripted scenes, which thrust viewers into the heart of each crime."
The series was shot in various locations around the world, with Arielle and Emilee's episode filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tune into ABC next Wednesday, June 27 at 10pm for the premiere.
Michael Meador, 1st AD, recently began production on the feature film "Lullaby", the directorial debut from fine-artist Andrew Levitas. The film features an impressive ensemble cast including Garrett Hedlund, Amy Adams, Jennifer Hudson, Terrance Howard and Richard Jenkins.
"Lullaby", currently filming in New York City, centers on a "broken family (that) is reunited for one last moment as they say goodbye to their dying father, husband and mentor."
Havi Elkaim, Costume Designer, recently began production on the feature film "Zarra's Law", from Scandinavian director Juha Wuolijoki. The film tells a story of "two brothers on opposite sides of the law. When one brother is murdered, the other, a retired police detective, finds himself pulled back into the criminal world he left behind to solve the mystery surrounding his younger brother's death. The film climbs to a violent conclusion, fueled by passion, family loyalty and revenge."
"Zarra's Law" stars Tony Sirico ("The Sopranos"), who is supported by an ensemble cast that includes Brendan Fehr, Erin Cummings, Renee Taylor, Michael Badalucco and Burt Young.
Rick Dennis, Art Director, wraps this week on the FX pilot "The Americans". The project, starring Keri Russell and Noah Emmerich, takes place at the height of the Cold War as a couple works undercover for the Soviets while maintaining a regular life with their children.
CEC's Arielle Toelke, Makeup Department Head, starts shoot tomorrow on the feature film "Plus One". The thriller, from director Dennis Iliadis ("Last House on the Left") shoots this month in Atlanta, Georgia.
CEC's Dan Katzman, 1st AD, is currently in Baton Rouge for Wayne Kramer's new film "Pawn Shop Chronicles". The dark comedy, produced by Mimran Schur Pictures, recently added Elijah Wood, Brendan Frasier, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Matt Dillon to the ensemble cast, which includes Paul Walker, Ashlee Simpson, DJ Qualls, Norman Reedus, Thomas Jane and Lukas Haas.
"Pawn Shop" is about a man searching for his abducted wife, a couple of white-supremacist meth heads and an Elvis impersonator, all linked through items in a small Southern town's local pawn shop.
Rob Reiner's new film, "The Magic of Belle Isle" featuring CEC's Stacy Rowe, Script Supervisor, will be distributed by Magnolia Pictures this summer. The film is about a wheelchair-bound author (Morgan Freeman), who moves to a rural town. He befriends a single mother and her three kids, who help reignite his passion for writing. "Belle Isle" also stars Virginia Madsen, Kenan Thompson and Fred Willard.
The film will be available on demand on June 1 and in theaters on July 6.
Currently, Directors of Photography Adrian Correia and Chase Bowman are in production on separate independent feature projects. In Connecticut, shooting is underway on the NBC / Universal horror film "Dead Souls", shot by Adrian Correia on the RED Epic and ALEXA. The film, directed by Colin Theys, is based on a novel about a teen who inherits his crazy preacher father's mysterious house.
Meanwhile, Chase Bowman in on location in Vancouver, British Columbia for the feature film "Maple Heart", a Bollywood/Hollywood drama based on Indian gangs in the late nineties. The film, which features a cast of 140 actors and numerous dance scenes, is being shot in both English and Punjabi on the RED Epic and RED MX.
CEC has the unique ability to package our experienced DP's with their camera equipment for various film, television and commercial projects.
CEC's Ken MacLeod, Production Designer, recently wrapped on a commercial spot for PayPal, directed by Jens Gehlaar. Production took place in Los Angeles. MacLeod, who has recently designed spots for Droid, Reebok and Garnier, is based in both New York and L.A.
CEC's Stacy Rowe, Script Supervisor, recently wrapped production on the new CBS pilot "Elementary". Directed by Michael Cuesta, the drama is a modern take on the cases of Sherlock Holmes, with the detective now living in New York City. The show stars Jonny Lee Miller ("Dexter", "Dark Shadows") as Holmes alongside Lucy Liu and Aidan Quinn.
Stacy has previously worked on pilots for Showtime's "House of Lies", CBS' "Blue Bloods", and the HBO series "How to Make it in America", as well as numerous feature films.
CEC's Nicole Wodowski, Makeup Department Head, recently wrapped on the feature "A.C.O.D" ("Adult Children of Divorce"). The film, directed by Stu Zicherman, is about a grown man (Adam Scott) who is "still caught in the crossfire of his parents' 15 year divorce."
The comedy also stars Jane Lynch, Jessica Alba, Richard Jenkins and Amy Poehler. Production wrapped last week in Atlanta, Georgia.
CEC's Rick Dennis wraps as Art Director on the first season of CBS' "Unforgettable" this week. The series stars Poppy Montgomery as Carrie Wells, "an enigmatic former police detective with a rate condition that makes her memory so flawless that every place, every conversation, every moment of joy and every heartbreak is forever embedded in her mind". Dylan Walsh, Michael Gaston, Kevin Rankin and Daya Vaidya co-star.
The season finale airs on Tuesday, May 8 at 10/9c.
Tom Fontana's period drama "Borgia", edited by CEC's David Ray and Dan Valverde, recently announced the start of shooting for its second season. David Ray rejoins the team this week to start cutting Season 2, while Dan Valverde keeps busy on CBS' "Blue Bloods".
"Borgia", currently filming in Prague and Italy, is centered on the infamous medieval Italian dynasty. U.S. viewers can currently catch Season 1 on Netflix.
CEC's Christopher Chomyn, Director of Photography, is currently in production on "The Boulder", a documentary about the 340-ton rock that was transported from a Riverside quarry through 4 counties, 22 cities and 105 miles of road to the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts. The boulder is part of artist Michael Heizer's large-scale sculpture "Levitated Mass", which finally reached the LACMA campus amid much media hype on March 10.
Produced by Jamie Patricof ("Blue Valentine") and directed by Doug Pray ("Art & Copy", "Surfwise"), the documentary is about "what LACMA and the artist are endeavoring to create, and how they're going about it. But it's also about how people are reacting to it - some people find it gorgeous, and others are annoyed."
The feature film "Cloudburst", shot by CEC's Tom Harting, Director of Photography, will screen as the Opening Night Film of the 26th Annual BFI London Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
The dramedy feature, directed by Thom Fitzgerald and starring Oscar winners Brenda Fricker and Olympia Dukakis, follows a lesbian couple of 31 years who must be on the run in order to stay together.
"Cloudburst" will screen twice on Friday, February 23 with an additional screening on Saturday, March 24.
CEC's Arielle Toelke (Makeup Department Head) and Satoko Ichinose (Hair Department Head) are currently in production on the feature film "Lucky Dog." The film, starring Paul Rudd, Paul Giamatti, Amy Landecker and Sally Hawkins is a comedy about a "pair of French-Canadian conmen pals in a get-rich-quick scheme to sell Christmas trees in NY."
"Lucky Dog", directed by Phil Morrison ("Junebug"), is produced by Dan Carey, Elizabeth Giamatti, Sidney Kimmel and John Penotti. Shooting is currently underway just outside of Manhattan.
The new cop drama series "NYC 22", featuring CEC's David Ray, Editor, will premiere next month on CBS. Created by Richard Price ("The Wire") and Executive Produced by Robert DeNiro, Jane Rosenthal and Ken Sanzel, the drama follows six rookie cops as they "balance learning on the job with how they relate to their boss, their colleagues and the people they swore to protect."
"NYC 22" will take over the time slot for "CSI: Miami" starting Sunday, April 15 at 10 p.m.
CEC's Chase Bowman, Director of Photography, recently wrapped two shoots for NASCAR and Sunoco during this year's Daytona 500 event. On location in Florida, Chase shot one commercial for NASCAR spotlighting the interaction between fans and the drivers, and a spot for Sunoco (the fuel of NASCAR). The commercials were shot with the Epic camera and Steadicam.
The Daytona 500 is regarded as "NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious motorsports event". It is held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
CEC's Ken MacLeod, Production Designer, recently wrapped on a commercial shoot for Kyocera. The spot, produced by LAIR, is directed by Thor Raxlen.
Ken's other recent production design work includes commercial spots for Schiff, Capital One, Pfizer and more. He works locally in both New York City and Los Angeles.
CEC's Amy L. Forsythe is back at it as Makeup Department Head on the dramatic feature "Bluebird". Developed in part by the Sundance Institute and produced by Killer Films, "Bluebird" is centered on a small town dealing with the aftermath of a tragedy. Directed by Lance Edmands, the film stars Amy Morton ("The Dilemma", "Up in the Air"), John Slattery ("The Adjustment Bureau", "Iron Man 2") and Louisa Krause ("Martha Marcy May Marlene").
"Bluebird" is Amy's latest endeavor following the recent features "Sunlight Jr." (Naomi Watts, Matt Dillon), "Light Years" (Jessica Szohr, Chris Lowell) and "Something in the Water" (Melissa Leo).
NBC premieres its new series "Smash" tonight, with two of CEC's editors, Bill Henry and Amanda Pollack, on board. The highly-anticipated series, from Executive Producer Steven Spielberg, stars Katharine McPhee, Debra Messing and Anjelica Huston. "Smash" tells the story of an ambitious team preparing for a Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe.
The premiere airs tonight, Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:00pm on NBC.
CEC's Dan Valverde, Editor, has been keeping busy in the New York television scene. Dan recently wrapped on the USA hit series "Royal Pains" and will start up on the new season of CBS' "Blue Bloods".
"Royal Pains" follows a "young emergency room doctor (Mark Feuerstein) who moves to the Hamptons and becomes a reluctant 'doctor for hire' to the rich and famous'". New episodes pick up on Wednesday, January 18 at 10/9c.
"Blue Bloods", starring Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan, follows the "Irish-American Reagan family of police officers with the New York City Police Department". The police procedural airs Friday nights at 10/9c.
"Cloudburst", shot by CEC's Thomas Harting, Director of Photography, will premiere this month at the 2012 Palm Springs International Film Festival.
The dramedy feature, directed by Thom Fitzgerald and starring Oscar winners Brenda Fricker and Olympia Dukakis, follows a lesbian couple of 31 years who must be on the run in order to stay together.
"Cloudburst" will screen on Wednesday, January 11 at 7:30pm and Saturday, January 14 at 10am.
Several of CEC's clients have been working on commercial shoots:
Ken MacLeod, Production Designer, recently wrapped on a shoot for Pfizer and a commercial shoot for LEGO Duplo; Manfred Reiff, Director of Photography, recently shot promos for Spike TV and collaborated with Pink Floyd's Roger Waters on a shoot for his upcoming tour; and Arielle Toelke, Makeup Artist, and Satoko Ichinose, Hair Stylist, joined forces on a commercial shoot for Snuggle fabric softener.
CEC prides itself on maintaining an excellent roster of below-the-line professionals for any commercial production.
The pilot for the comedy series "House of Lies", featuring CEC's Stacy Rowe (Script Supervisor), premieres on Showtime this weekend. The outrageous new series takes a "subversive, scathing look at a self-loathing management consultant from a top-tier firm."
Don Cheadle stars as Marty, a "highly successful, cutthroat consultant [who] is never above using any means (or anyone) necessary to get the information they want." The series co-stars Kristen Bell and Ben Schwartz.
Tune in to Showtime this Sunday, January 8 at 10pm to watch.
CEC's Jendra Jarnagin, DP, recently received an Indie Soap Award nomination for Best Cinematography for the web series "In Between Men". The sexy dramedy series follows four friends in NYC who feel "caught between two worlds, not truly knowing where they fit in".
Since 2009, the Indie Soap Awards have honored the best in original, serialized web series. Winners will be decided and announced on February 21, 2012.
CEC wishes everyone Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We look forward to working with you in 2012.
CEC's Adrian Correia (DP), Michael Meador (1st AD), Dave Barnes (Production Designer) and Michael S. Chandler (Stunts) are wrapping production this week on the independent feature "The Red Robin". Recently, The Hollywood Interview visited the set of the psychological drama, publishing several photos of the cast and crew on set.
The film, directed by Michael Wechsler, stars Judd Hirsch ("Taxi", "Damages", "The Muppets"), Ryan O'Nan ("The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best", "The Frozen Ground"), C.S. Lee ("Dexter"), Jaime Ray Newman ("Eureka", "Drop Dead Diva", "Eastwick"), Caroline Lagerfelt ("Gossip Girl"), and Joseph Lyle Taylor ("Seven Psychopaths").
The Huffington Post recently published an article on the best and the worst of the TV landscape in 2011. In terms of TV's best, two series edited by CEC's Amanda Pollack made the cut - FX's "Lights Out", praised as the "best new drama of 2011", and MTV's "Skins", described as a "sassy, gritty tour through teenage wasteland".
"Lights Out" is described as "more than just another boxing story. It was a splendid tale about a husband and father who was torn between devotion to his family and a last-ditch try at a comeback in the ring. It was a love story and a thrilling action saga."
"Skins" is hailed as a "sexy, no-apologies slice of contemporary teen life".
The feature film "Cost of a Soul", shot by CEC's Chase Bowman, DP, is now available for viewing on Netflix instant streaming. The directorial debut from Sean Kirkpatrick, "Cost" follows two soldiers returning from the devastation of Baghdad to that of North Philadelphia.
The gritty drama joins the film "Listen to Your Heart", also shot by Chase Bowman, on the popular digital on-demand site. Starring Cybill Shepherd, Kent Moran and Alexia Rasmussen, "Listen to Your Heart" is the story of a struggling musician (Kent Moran) who never dreamed he'd fall in love with a woman who couldn't hear his compositions. But when he meets Ariana (Alexia Rasmussen), a privileged girl who lost her hearing in childhood, he's willing to believe anything's possible.
Make sure to add both films to your Netflix Instant Queue!
CEC's Amy L. Forsythe, Makeup Department Head, recently finished up on the romantic drama "Light Years" and is now on location in Florida for the drama "Sunlight Jr."
"Light Years", directed by Maggie Kiley, stars Chris Lowell as a boy who is heartbroken over a girl (Rose McIver). He begins a relationship with a new girl (Jessica Szohr), though he can't move past the one with whom he believes he is meant to be with. When he goes to work at an observatory, he meets an astronomer (Allison Janney) who helps guide him back to the right path.
"Sunlight Jr." stars Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon as "a Florida couple dealing with an unexpected pregnancy while holding minimum wage jobs." The film, also starring Norman Reedus, is directed by Laurie Collyer, the director of the award-winning "SherryBaby". "Sunlight" is currently in production in Florida.
Production is halfway through on the independent feature "The Red Robin", currently filming in Philadelphia. The film, directed by Michael Wechsler, features CEC's Adrian Correia (DP), Michael Meador (1st AD), Dave Barnes (Production Designer), and Michael Chandler (Stunts). The intense psychological thriller, starring Judd Hirsch, Ryan O'Nan, C.S. Lee, Caroline Lagerfelt and Joseph Lyle Taylor, focuses on the dynamics of a family whose dying patriarch stands accused of a shadowy past by one of his children.
The shoot is currently being documented on the blog "Inside the Red Robin: The Making of the Feature Film". Make sure to check it out for a behind-the-scenes look at the film and info about the cast and crew.
Creative Entertainment Connections, New York 411 and Lisa Mastroianni in association with Doug LeClaire invite you to join us for the 25th Annual NY Production Holiday Party. The event will take place on Thursday, Dec. 22 from 7-10:30 PM at Marquee. Join us for drink special from 7-8 PM, a cash bar, and music all night.
This year's event will specially honor the lives of Tommy Hyde and Elizabeth Wong.
CEC is currently looking for Winter 2011/2012 interns to join our busy New York City office.
If you are an overachieving Type-A personality who is interested in film, television and talent management, we encourage you to apply directly to CEC. Interns must be organized, have excellent communication skills, phone etiquette, and the ability to prioritize, multi-task and work independently.
This is an UNPAID internship. To receive college credit, you are responsible for all paperwork.
Please direct all resumes and inquiries to alix@cec-entertainment.com.
CEC's Chris Chomyn, Director of Photography, was featured in Kodak's most recent issue of InCamera for the feature film "Hidden Moon". His second feature with director/writer/producer Jose "Pepe" Bojorque, "Hidden Moon" is a "modern-day romance about love, ambition and perception, which results unexpectedly when a young woman chases her lifelong dream."
The film, which stars Wes Bentley, Ana Serradilla, Johnathon Schaech and Osvaldo de Leon, was filmed on location in Mexico City, Guanajuato and Veracruz, Mexico, as well as Los Angeles, California.
"Our story is rich with emotion; it takes place in a world filled with color, contrast and texture," Chomyn says.
This year, CEC clients have been hard at work on television projects, with many clients returning to and working on series for all the major networks.
Dan Valverde, Editor, recently wrapped on USA's hit series "Royal Pains", having previously worked on FX's renowned drama series "Damages". David Ray, Editor, is currently working on CBS's freshman police drama "The 2-2", having also worked on Tom Fontana's "Borgia". Rick Dennis, Art Director, is currently working on CBS' new series "Unforgettable", which was recently given a full-season order. Stacy Rowe, Script Supervisor, recently wrapped on the upcoming HBO series "40" from "Entourage" creator Doug Ellin, having also worked on HBO's "How to Make it in America" and the pilot for Showtime's "House of Lies". Earlier this year, Dan Katzman, 1st AD, was on location in New Mexico working on USA's "In Plain Sight". Roger Bondelli, A.C.E. continues his stint as an editor on ABC's hit "Cougar Town", while Bill Henry and Amanda Pollack, Editors, work on the highly anticipated Steven Spielberg-produced series "Smash", set to premiere February 6 on NBC.
CEC prides itself in having an impressive roster of experienced TV crew in New York City and beyond, with clients who have worked for networks such as FX, USA, ABC, NBC, CBS, MTV, HBO, Showtime, The History Channel and National Geographic.
The trailer is out for "Junction", the new thriller featuring CEC's Adrian Correia (Director of Photography), Phyllis Housen (Editor) and Amy L. Forsythe (Hair & Makeup Department Head). The film, directed by Tony Glazer, follows four strung-out meth-addicts who discover a dark secret about a homeowner during a burglary, pitting them not only against the police but against each other. And as they spiral out of control toward the explosive climax the lines blur between right and wrong until the final unexpected twist is revealed.
The cast for "Junction" includes Tom Pelphrey, Anthony Rapp, Michael O'Keefe and David Zayas. Stay tuned for more details about the film's release.
Scott Derrickson's new found-footage film, featuring CEC's Arielle Toelke (Makeup Department Head), Satoko Ichinose (Hair Department Head), and Stacy Rowe (Script Supervisor), is wrapping up production in New York.
Starring Ethan Hawke, the film "follows a journalist who moves his family into a house where another family was murdered. After moving in, he uncovers footage that leads to clues about the murders."
"Something in the Water," featuring CEC's Amy L. Forsythe as Makeup Department Head, has wrapped shooting in Beacon, New York. The film, which stars Academy Award Winner Melissa Leo, is about "a woman in her prime [who] puts her quirky passion for botany and her own life on hold to feed her adult daughter's ballooning pain pill addiction. When she has to rent out a room in their house for extra cash, a crusading, oddly sheltered environmentalist moves in and rekindles all of her desires."
Stay tuned for more updates on "Something in the Water".
At the end of the month, two CEC DPs will be traveling internationally for film work. Jendra Jarnagin heads to France this weekend to shoot a documentary, while Chase Bowman leaves for Ghana to shoot a short film and trailer about human trafficking.
We wish them both safe travels!
CEC's Manfred Reiff, Director of Photography, will be a guest speaker in a Phantom seminar presentation this Thursday at AbelCine. During the presentation, he will discuss the use of the Phantom camera as a creative tool and will provide an interactive demonstration of the Phantom Flex.
The seminar will take place on Thursday, October 20 from 6-9 PM at AbelCine in New York City.
Casting is underway for the feature film "This Shining Night", directed by Keith Oncale and Shawn Washburn. CEC's Donna McKenna, Casting Director, has locked in Eric Roberts and Kevin Brown to the film's cast list.
Oscar-nominee Roberts has been featured in films such as "The Dark Knight" and "The Expendables" and television shows such as "The Young and the Restless", "Heroes" and "Law & Order".
Brown is perhaps best known for his role as Dot Com on the hit NBC series "30 Rock", and can be seen in the indie rom-cam "Excuse Me for Living" (also cast by Donna McKenna) alongside Jerry Stiller, Wayne Knight and Christopher Lloyd.
CEC clients Manfred Reiff (Director/DP) and Ken MacLeod (Production Designer) have been busy working on several commercial shoots.
Manfred recently shot and directed a spot for Humana healthcare as well as a commercial for the American Association of Orthodontists. Other recent DP credits include spots for Pepto-Bismol and FedEx.
Ken MacLeod recently wrapped on a commercial shoot for Capital One Bank featuring Jimmy Fallon (airing now) as well as a spot for Schiff.
The documentary "Zombies: A Living History," featuring Amy L. Forsythe as Makeup Department Head, will premiere next month on the History Channel. The two hour special traces the history of zombie myths and legends from Europe's Black Plague to China's Terra Cotta Warriors to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
"Zombies" premieres Tuesday, October 25th at 8:00 PM on the History Channel.
The feature film "Cloudburst," featuring CEC's Thomas Harting as Director of Photography, will screen next month at the Vancouver International Film Festival. The film, from award winning director Thom Fitzgerald, tells the story of a lesbian couple who escape from their nursing home and head up to Canada to get married. Described as a "genuine cloud pleaser", the comedy/drama stars Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis, Brenda Fricker and Ryan Doucette.
"Cloudburst" will screen on Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd as part of the festival's opening weekend highlights.
CEC is excited to announce the addition of Michael Meador, 1st Assistant Director, to our roster. Michael's projects include the upcoming comedy "Revenge for Jolly", starring Kristen Wiig and Elijah Wood, and the Sundance hit "Higher Ground", starring and directed by Vera Farmiga. We are excited to welcome Michael on board.
The feature film "All's Faire in Love", featuring Dan Katzman as 1st AD, will be released in theaters this October. Regal Entertainment is partnering with Hanover House and Patriot Pictures to exclusively screen the comedy, which stars Christina Ricci.
"The film, set in the world of Renaissance fairs, centers on the fight for the fair's top Shakespearean stage between Ricci's acting troupe and a devious rival actor's gang".
Tickets go on sale on October 14 for a Friday, October 28 release.
The indie drama "Yelling to the Sky," featuring Bill Henry, Editor, has been acquired by MPI after making its rounds in the festival circuit. The film, which stars the talented young actresses Gabourey Sidibe and Zoe Kravitz, focuses on a girl who must "fend for herself in a tough neighborhood when her family falls apart."
MPI is planning a Spring 2012 theatrical release for the film, followed by DVD and video on demand releases.
TNT's "Ricochet", featuring CEC's Thomas Harting as Director of Photography, has wrapped filming in New Orleans. The second entry in TNT's budding Tuesday Night Mystery Movie franchise, "Ricochet" stars John Corbett and Julie Benz and is based on the best-selling book by Sandra Brown.
TNT's Tuesday Night Mystery movie franchise is slated to launch on the network this November.
Indie thriller/comedy "The Brass Teapot", featuring CEC's Arielle Toelke as Makeup Department Head and Satoko Ichinose as Hair Department Head, recently completed production in upstate New York.
The film, based on Tim Macy's short story of the same name, stars Juno Temple and Michael Angarano as "a broke young couple who steal a brass teapot that produces cash whenever someone feels pain."
The film "Young Adult", featuring Script Supervisor Stacy Rowe, is scheduled to hit theaters this winter. The film, starring Charlize Theron, centers on "an alcoholic writer of young adult novels who returns to her small hometown to pursue an old high school love interest."
"Young Adult" was directed by Jason Reitman ("Up in the Air", "Juno") and comes to theaters on December 9.
We're happy to announce the addition of two new members to the CEC roster, Jeremy Conway (Production Designer) and Molly Rogers (Costume Designer).
Jeremy and Molly have both worked on the HBO series "Sex and the City" as well as both feature films. Jeremy's additional credits include "Failure to Launch" and "School of Rock", while Molly's resume includes "The Devil Wears Prada", and "Confessions of a Shopaholic."
CEC is excited to welcome these award winning designers on board.
Whit Stillman's highly-anticipated fourth film "Damsels in Distress", featuring CEC's Satoko Ichinose as Hair Department Head, will close out the 68th Venice Film Festival on Saturday, September 10th. The film, which stars Greta Gerwig and Adam Brody, follows a "trio of beautiful girls as they set out to revolutionize life at a grungy American university."
"Damsels" will have its world premiere screening in the Sala Grande following the awards Ceremony and will be distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.
The independent comedy/drama "A Little Help", featuring cinematography by CEC's Thomas Harting, was released in theaters last Friday and has since been the subject of many positive reviews. The film, which stars The Office's Jenna Fischer and Chris O'Donnell, recently received a 3.5/4 star rating from Roger Ebert.
Ebert describes the movie as a "clever and persuasive" film about a woman (Fischer) who is "very far from perfect, and that's why it's appealing".
"A Little Help", directed by Michael J. Weithorn and co-starring Kim Coates and Ann Warren, is in theaters now.
The feature film "Lucky" will open this Friday, July 15th in limited release in Los Angeles and New York. CEC's Steve Cubine served as Co-Producer, Line Producer and UPM for the film, which stars Colin Hanks, Jeffrey Tambor and Ann-Margret.
"Lucky" is a comedy about a wannabe serial killer who wins the lottery and subsequently marries the woman of his dreams. As women start disappearing, a detective is assigned to investigate. When his wife discovers his secret, they must work to keep it from being discovered.
"Lucky" will be showing in New York at the East Village Cinema.
CEC's Arielle Toelke (Makeup/SFX) and Emilee Fallo (Costume) recently completed an episode of the upcoming ABC series "Final Witness", shot on location in New Orleans, Louisiana.
"Final Witness" is described as a "show about crime, but it's not about forensics or how police catch the bad guys. It is about relationships and the human heart. It is about how and why the crime happened. It relies on the voices of real people - eyewitnesses, friends, and close relations - to fill out the details of what happened."
The series premiere will air Tuesday, September 14th at 10 P.M. on ABC.
Principle photography on the independent roamantic comedy "Excuse Me for Living" began today in New York City. CEC teamed up with Writer/Director/Producer Ric Klass to provide 5 crew members for the production: Donna McKenna (Casting Director), Chase Bowman (Director of Photography), Amy L. Forsythe (Makeup Department Head), David Tabbert (Costume Designer), and Jill Barnes (Script Supervisor).
The film follows a "charming, suicidal druggie who must obey his rehab-clinic's demand to lead a seniors men's group or face incarceration and lost the love of his psychiatrist's daughter." The all-star cast includes Tom Pelphrey, Christopher Lloyd, Wayne Knight, Jerry Stiller, Robert Vaughn, Melissa Archer, and Ewa da Cruz.
CEC wishes the best of luck to the "EMFL" cast and crew!
Production Designer Dave Barnes recently worked on the feature film "Lebanon, PA", starring Josh Hopkins and Samantha Mathis. It was recently announced that the film will be getting a limited release in New York City and Philadelphia theaters.
Keep on the lookout for more information on the release of "Lebanon, PA".
Christopher Chomyn, Cinematographer, recently completed principal photography on the feature film "Hidden Moon". The film was shot on location in Mexico, with an international cast headed up by Wes Bentley, Ana Seradilla, Linda Gray and Jonathan Schaech.
Make sure to check back for more updates on "Hidden Moon".
The feature film "Cost of a Soul", featuring cinematography by Chase Bowman, was the winner of Rogue's Big Break Movie Contest. The film is described as a "gritty tale of two veterans who return home from Iraq to the war-zone of their own slum neighborhood. Their lives collide as their own families become entangled in a web of crime and corruption."
We'd like to welcome the following clients to the CEC family...
Lorraine Altamura, Hair/Makeup Artist
Roger Bondelli, A.C.E., Editor
Brinton Bryan, First Assistant Director
Steve Cubine, Line Producer
Payton Dunham, Line Producer/UPM
Amy L. Forsythe, Hair/Makeup Artist
Satoko Ichinose, Hair/Makeup Artist
Scott Maguire, Director of Photography
David Ray, Editor
Amanda Riley, Costume Designer
Michael Schwarz, Line Producer
David Tabbert, Costume Designer
CEC clients Adrian Correia (DP) and Amy L. Forsythe (Hair & Makeup Artist) recently wrapped on the feature film "Junction". The film, currently finishing up post-production, is being edited by CEC's Phyllis Housen.
"Junction", directed by Tony Glazer, "follows four strung-out meth-addicts who discover a dark secret about a homeowner during a burglary, pitting them not only against the police but against each other." The film stars David Zayas ("Dexter"), Tom Pelphrey ("Guiding Light"), and Anthony Rapp ("Rent").
DP Chase Bowman recently worked on a shoot with Kelly Osbourne for Madonna and her daughter Lola's Material Girl Collection. Fashion icon Osbourne is the new celebrity muse for Material Girl's Spring 2011 collection.
Adrian Correia, Director of Photography, recently received an Africa Movie Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography for the feature film "Sinking Sands".
The films is a "psychological drama that tells the story of a couple in a loving marriage that turns into one of violence and abuse when Jimah becomes disfigured in a domestic accident. The project is intended to create awareness on the continuous existence of abuse among today's households. It is an effort to show a side of defence that is proactive." Including Best Cinematography, "Sinking Sands" received nine Africa Movie Academy Awards for 2011.
The AMAA's are the Oscars-equivalent for the continent of Africa. The awards show will take place on March 27 at Glorland Cultural Centre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa in Nigeria. Congratulations to Adrian on his nomination!
If you caught this year's Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 13, you most likely didn't miss Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" performance. CEC's Arielle Toelke, Makeup / SFX Artist, contributed to the performance by designing the mannequin heads that decorated Gaga's organ.
From Ace Showbiz: "Half-way through the song, she played the organ surrounded by gleaming mannequin heads, switching the club-anthem to a powerful ballad."
The custom-made heads also appear in Gaga's recently released music video for "Born This Way", her latest chart-topping single in over 10 countries.
The feature film "Yelling to the Sky", edited by CEC & MMA's Bill Henry, was recently confirmed as one of the first eight titles for the Competition program of the 61st Berlin International Film Festival. The film, directed by Victoria Mahoney and starring Zoe Kravitz, Gabouray Sidibe, and Tim Blake Nelson, will have its World Premiere at the festival.
The elite Competition program showcases approximately 20 films that "set the course for the future and highlight new trends. The Competition presents big names, stars and masters of the film trade. But time and again the Competition also discovers films made by new talents who are not yet internationally well-known."
The Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 10-20, 2011. CEC congratulates Bill Henry, Editor, on his hard work and accomplishment.
Antoine Douaihy, 2nd Unit Director and recent addition to our roster, recently completed Oliver Stone's "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" with Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Josh Brolin, and Carey Mulligan. Antoine has since jumped on Stephen Daldry's "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close", which will star Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. "Extremely Loud", an adaptation of the September 11-themed novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, is currently in pre-production.
Antoine is co-repped by CEC and The Michael Moore Agency. His other credits include "Charlie Wilson's War" and "The Manchurian Candidate".
Adrian Correia, Director of Photography, recently wrapped on the feature "Art Machine". The film, from critically acclaimed Sundance writer/director Doug Karr, features an all-star cast including Joseph Cross ("Milk", "Running with Scissors"), Jessica Szohr ("Gossip Girl", "Piranha 3D"), and Joey Lauren Adams ("Chasing Amy", "Big Daddy"). Casting for the film was done by CEC and MMA's Barden/Schnee Casting.
"I am so thrilled to be making Art Machine with such a fantastic cast and crew. From the unbelievable performances to the killer visual aesthetic, each day we're exceeding my goals and achieving the next to impossible on this project. And the response to what we're capturing on set has been truly fantastic", said Karr in a recent interview.
Following "Art Machine", Adrian began production on the feature "Junction", which is currently shooting. CEC's Phyllis Housen, Editor, is also a part of the "Junction" team. Keep on the lookout for further updates on "Art Machine" and "Junction".
Barden/Schnee Casting was recognized at last week's Gotham Independent Film Awards with the prize for Best Ensemble Cast for "Winter's Bone", which also walked away with the award for Best Feature. The critically acclaimed feature film also leads this year's upcoming Spirit Awards with seven nominations, including nods for Best Feature, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor. "Winter's Bone" additionally won Best Picture in January at the Sundance Film Festival.
The Emmy-nominated team of Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee have fully-staffed, permanent offices in Los Angeles and New York.
Some recently completed films now in post-production or awaiting release include "The Help" (Dreamworks), "Dolphin Tale" (Alcon Entertainment), "Machine Gun Preacher" (Relativity), "The Moth Diaries" (Pressman Films), and the soon-to-be-released "Conan 3D" (Nu Image/Millenium Films).
Look for Barden/Schnee Casting's upcoming films at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival: Thomas McCarthy's "Win Win", Dito Montiel's "The Son of No One", and Vera Farmiga's directorial debut, "Higher Ground".
CEC's Amanda Pollack has been cutting footage for the upcoming MTV series "Skins", based on the hit British series of the same name. Don't miss the premiere on January 17, 2011 at 10/9 c.
Creative Entertainment Connections and New York 411 in association with Doug LeClaire invite you to join us for the 2010 New York Holiday Production Gathering. The event will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 22 from 7-11 PM at Legends NYC. The event will feature free appetizers for the first hour sponsored by CEC and NY 411, a cash bar, and music all night.
Donna McKenna, Casting Director, was recently interviewed for an article on NYCastings.com. Check out the full article for Donna's networking advice and for information on her monthly Filmmaker's Connection event.
Manfred Reiff, Director of Photography, was recently featured in a press release for Panasonic after using their new AG-3DA1 Full HD 3D camcorder on a recent project. Manfred used the 3D camera to shoot a piece of video art entitled "Time Suite III", which "depicts moving, animated type, projected on the human form, and shot in 3D."
The video, which was shot at night on a Manhattan rooftop, will be featured at the upcoming Art Basel Miami Artfairs Week in early December. This event is considered by many as the most important art show in the country.
CEC recently teamed up with on a commercial shoot in Connecticut. Chase Bowman, Director of Photography, and Mary Frederickson, Production Designer, both contributed their talents to the shoot. Check out CEC's new Facebook fan page to view a photo of Chase on set with the technodolly.
CEC clients Eric Robbins (Director of Photography) and Emilee Fallo (Costume Designer) recently wrapped on a spot for Rock Band 3, shot at night on a New York City rooftop. Eric Robbins captured stunning shots of the bridges and skyline of the city, while Emilee Fallo's fashion styling made the entire cast look truly rock star worthy. The commercial for this highly popular, award-winning music video game features the music of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". Check out the video below, and keep an eye out for the spot on the air!
Mary Frederickson (Production Designer) and the creative team behind The Molecule (Visual Effects) recently wrapped on the upcoming feature film "Theo", starring Mira Sorvino. The Molecule completed animation and visual effects for the film, while Mary designed the sets for the production. View the teaser trailer by following the link below, and keep on the lookout for upcoming news on "Theo".
Jendra Jarnagin's cinematography on the short film "The Pond" will be showcased at the 10th annual New Hampshire Film Festival in Portsmouth, NH. The film is a "moving and surprising story about a young woman distraught over the death of her husband, who sets about scattering his ashes in a place they had both loved and in doing so makes a discovery for which no one could ever be prepared. The richly cinematic film was shot entirely in the picturesque state of New Hampshire."
"The Pond" made its world premiere at the Palm Springs International ShortFest, followed by screenings at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival and the Rhode Island International Film Festival, where it won the 2010 Directorial Discovery Grand Prize Award. The film will screen first during the festival's "New Hampshire Night" on Thursday, October 14, then again throughout the festival weekend.
Cinematographer Jendra Jarnagin recently completed production on "In Between Men", a "sexy new dramedy about All-American guys who feel caught between two worlds, not truly knowing where they fit in." Jendra recently discussed her work at Createasphere's HD Expo on September 22nd in New York City. The panel she contributed to, "An Epic Conversation with Ted Schilowitz: A RED Camera Case Study", presented the newest developments of the RED camera, which Jendra used during her shoot for the upcoming series.
Writer / Creator Quincy Morris had nothing but rave reviews when it came to Ms. Jarnagin's work:
"To watch Jendra work is a marvel. I liken it to observing an old-world watchmaker craft an elegant timepiece - intricate, detailed, savvy, possessing a knowledge of the inner workings of all the moving parts, resulting in harmonious motion that can last a lifetime. In filmmaking, Jendra brings harmony to all of the moving parts of the medium- tone, color, lighting, emotion, all of the storytelling that happens between the words on the page. Jendra brought a vision and feel to 'In Between Men' beyond my wildest dreams. Her balance of risk-taking with customary approaches delivered more than I could have hoped for. 'In Between Men' looks phenomenal!"
The web series was recently featured in Dave Hollander's Huffington Post article, "So What Exactly is a Golf Lesbian?" From the article: "In Between Men is a new web series, supported by Marc Jacobs, that, according to its publicist 'is about masculine, gay men who feel caught between two worlds. Obviously, they are not straight, nor do they identify with the behaviors of mainstream gay social scene for the most part, so they live somewhere in between.' The series will have seven 10 minutes episodes beginning in November (premiere episode TBA)."
Steadicam Operator Ari Robbins is featured in the September issue of American Cinematographer magazine, produced by the American Society of Cinematographers. The article discusses the ALEXA camera system, used on a shoot for the short film "World Cup". Read the full article on the ASC's website, complete with photos from the shoot.
Steadicam Operator Ari Robbins used the ground-breaking ALEXA digital camera on the short film "World Cup". "World Cup", commissioned for an event at the Director's Guild of America in Hollywood, was the first U.S. production to use the revolutionary new ALEXA camera system.
Director of Photography Chase Bowman's work on the award-winning feature film "Listen to Your Heart" will be showcased in a free public screening in Times Square. Brought to you by the New York City International Film Festival, a variety of shorts and features will be shown publicly in Times Square for the first time ever. "Listen to Your Heart", the story of a struggling NYC musician who falls in love with a wealthy, hearing-impaired girl from Connecticut, will be screened at 8:15 PM on August 27, 2010.
Director of Photography Jendra Jarnagin recently showcased her talents on a shoot for the band The Jim Jones Revue. Jendra shot the music video in 3D, using a special 3D camera.
Christopher Chomyn was recently featured on the USC School of Cinematic Arts' website for his cinematography on the feature "Wild About Harry". Director and co-writer Gwen Wynne says, "Chris is a wonderful DP to work with, especially for those directors that cherish the beauty of film and its glory found in shadow and light."
WILD ABOUT HARRY, starring Josh Peck, Tate Donovan, and Danielle Savre took home
two awards at the 2010 CineGear Expo. Christopher Chomyn accepted
the award for Best Cinematographer, while Director Gwen Wynne won the award for Best Feature.
HARVEST won the Best American Independent Feature Film award at the 34th
Cleveland Int'l Film Festival, which ended on March 28, 2010.
Sirad Balducci line produced the film which played to sold-out screenings, and audience response was truly
incredible. HARVEST played in a
category with a dozen films highlighted at very nice festivals already,
including Handsome Harry, Dear Lemon Lima, The Joneses, The Taqwacores,
Timer, Toe to Toe, Paper Man, and others.
Check out the Cinequest review of CEC Director of Photography Chase Bowman's latest project, "Cost of a Soul", which is premiering at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose.
"...Most films, even the great ones, fade away like mist once you've left the theater. Not this one. Director of Photography Chase Bowman's haunting imagery combined with unforgettable performances by leads Christopher Kerson and Will Blagrove and a powerful writing/directing debut by Sean Kirkpatrick make for a startling tale where the demons we fight at home may be worse than those we face on foreign soil."
CEC Production Designer Travis Zariwny's directorial debut, "Scavengers," find it's leads. Louise Linton and Sean Patrick Flanery have been cast in the upcoming film.
CEC's Chris Martini wrote, directed, produced,
edited and starred in the film TROOPER, which screens December 6th at The Cell in NYC. TROOPER is a story of a father and son, two veterans from two very different Wars, helping each other to get through each day, and heal the wounds of War. Check out the trailer below and visit the
National Lampoon's SNATCHED, edited by CEC's Chris Martini, premiers at The Slamdance Film Festival on Saturday January 23rd at 8:00PM. Slamdance is held in Park City, Utah.
This marks the second consecutive year that a film produced by Flim Flam Films will be screened for Slamdance audiences. Last year, DIRTY MOVIE amused and shocked attendees and this year, Flim Flam softens things up just a bit with this great little movie. Joining Ernie are Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Silverman and Jay Thomas.
Watch the behind-the-scenes video for MOTHER'S DAY, directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and featuring steadicam work by CEC's Ari Robbins.
Check out the trailer for CEC Screenwriter Eddie Nickerson and Cinematographer Chris Lavasseur's feature "Wrong Turn At Tahoe." A group of tough talking gangsters go to war with another group of gangsters when a collector inadvertently kills a made man.
Congratulations to CEC Stunt Coordinator Brian Schuley (of GZ Entertainment) and his lovely bride Monica on their recent nuptials!
Jeffrey Cunningham's "Another Harvest Moon" premiered at the Rhode Island International Film Festival. Below is a picture from the press conference for "Moon" (Seated left to right, Jerry Stiller, director Greg Swartz, Anne Meara, Ernest Borgnine and Doris Roberts).
Tate Steinsiek in the History Channel series "Clash of the Gods." The series debuted August 3rd and will run for 10 episodes. The first episode, Clash of the Gods: Zeus, will re-air Friday, August 7th at 11:00pm.
CEC'S UPM Jason Pinardo volunteers with "Follow Me and Lead," a youth organization that teaches students the process of film-making from start to finish. From various schools in the South Jersey area, students join together explore screenwriting, preproduction, filming and post-production.
Check out Jendra Jarnagin's interview up now on Massify.
Check out the interview here...
CEC is proud to announce that DP Jeffery Cunningham's feature "Another Harvest Moon" will be premiering at this year’s Rhode Island International Film Festival on August 7th. Actor Ernest Borgnine, who stars in "Moon", will be receiving a Lifetime Achievement award before the screening.
Congratulations to DP Jendra Jarnagin who is featured in July's American Cinematographer magazine. This month's Short Takes column features the web series "Puppy Love."
Director of Photography Matthew MacCarthy's most recent music video for the strong "Booty Dew" by GS Boyz has been featured on BET's 106 & Park recently, as well as on many hip-hop websites.
CEC is currently shopping a reality show starring former Olympic champion figure skater Oksana Baiul to major networks. The show is produced by production company client Burner Media and Oksana Baiul.
Writer Mike Dilliberti has signed on to rewrite the remake of the 1985 comedy Brewster’s Millions for Warner Brothers. The original was directed by Walter Hill and starred Richard Pryor.
Writer Eddie Nickerson’s High Moon has been optioned by Allentown Films at Universal. The script is a horror western about an outlaw who must save a small town from ferocious werewolves.
Lovely by Surprise which features costume designs by Eden Miller is slated for a June 30 DVD release. The film has been an Official Selection at many major film festivals and the winner of Winner of the Special Jury Prize at Seattle International Film Festival, and the New Filmmakers Forum Award at St. Louis International Film Festival. Prior to the DVD release, there will be screenings throughout the nation and special online teasers available.
Split Ends was awarded the Home Grown Award for Best New Jersey Film at the Garden State Film Festival. The film featured the work of Director of Photography Jendra Jarnagin, Editor Anisha Tomlinson, and Steadicam Operator Afton Grant. Congratulations!
Cinematographer Austin Schmidt , casting director Jodi Collins , and Steadicam operator Afton Grant's work on "The Mystery Team" will be screened in the non-competitive Park City at Midnight line-up which offers films that are likely to amuse, surprise or shock the bleary-eyed viewer and offer a lively last stop on the nightly filmgoing circuit!
Make-up artist April Chatman-Royce, Line Producer Marco Henry, and Steadicam Operator Afton Grant's project "Dare" will compete in the Dramatic Competition!
Production Designer Deana Sidney's work on "Once More With Feeling", Steadicam Operator Ari Robbins' work on "Against The Current", and Eden Miller's work as the costume designer on "The Missing Person" will all be screened in the non-competitive Spectrum line-up which tributes the voices of some of the world's most promising new filmmakers! Get the schedules below!
Steadicam Operator Afton Grant recently worked on the Saturday Night Live smash hit digital short J***** in My Pants, starring Andy Samberg, for the new single from The Lonely Island's debut album "INCREDIBAD".