Showing posts with label Raindance Film Festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Raindance Film Festival. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Bang vs Director Anthony Pedone Part Two

The second part to my interview with Director Anthony Pedone. I wanted to talk a little bit about this part of the interview with Anthony Pedone. Again I thank him for answering my questions and giving me a peek inside his life. I tell you that he is an amazing man to know and is an inspiration. Though he may think I am just piling it on, but I truly and honestly feel that he is inspirational. Listening to him speak and tell me about his life and challenges...well it takes guts and acceptance. We learn about a person's background and some people tend to run from what they fear. But to me, I think it takes a brave person to own up to the things they have done in their lives.
Wow, I just read this back to myself and it sounds like I'm about to spill some major shit. Well I'm not, but I feel that it may seem questionable in the nature on ones past compared to their present. That's where the human instinct of "judgement" comes into play. "Judgement" is illegal here on Bang Noir. I leave that part up to higher powers...which ever those powers be. After reading this second part of the interview, I hope that you too feel inspired and realize what you have always wanted to do was only at your finger tips. It is up to you to reach out with your hands and grasp it. We can only leave the bread crumbs for you to follow.

Bang vs Director Anthony Pedone Part One 


Anthony Pedone-Camp Casserole Interview Raindance Film Festival



BIO:
Anthony Pedone was born in Dallas, TX, but spent the formational years of his life on a ranch in Clayton, New Mexico. At 16 he moved back to Texas, studying Music at Southwest Texas University.
In 2005, Pedone received his Certificate in Writing Social Commentary from Penn State University and began experimenting with digital media and filmmaking. In 2008 he Co-founded, Robotic Indifference, and directed his first feature film, The Why. The Why, screened in 6 countries and received Best Avant Garde and Experimental Feature awards at The Great Lake Film Festival, Heart of England Film Festival and Manhattan Film Festival in 2010.
Since Robotic Indifference's conception Anthony has collaborated with an innovative and diverse group of artists-- fulfilling his need to always be creating. Anthony co-produced Steve Balderson's , The Casserole Club, and will join Balderson again to shoot, Culture Shock in the fall of 2011. While on the set of the The Casserole Club, Pedone shot a behind the scenes look at Balderson's streamlined approach to Indie Film making. The documentary is called, Camp Casserole.
Pedone co-produced and appeared in, Little Gods. A conceptual film by director Elizabeth Spear, Little Gods is the first feature film shot and edited on the iPhone4. Spear's has asked Pedone to produce her next feature film, Roundball in Victoria, TX. Shooting begins in July 2011.
Robotic Indifference plans on releasing The Pyrex Glitch for Christmas 2011. TPG is a science fiction comedy, written and directed by Jane Wiedlin.

The Interview (Part Two):

WB: Tell Bang Noir about the movie "Roundball"? Who were some of the actors in the movie? 

AP: Roundball, was a different kind of movie project for me. I was approached by Elizabeth Spear, the Director of the movie, to produce Roundball. I wasn't sure if the movie was for me, so I read the script. And man I have to say it was a very funny script. She [Elizabeth Spear] has a great sense of comedic timing and is able to bring out that humor in the people she directs. She is really a lot of fun. As for some of the actors in the movie...there is Starina Johnson, Shawn Kahone, Todd Sklar, Jane Wiedlin, John Merriman, Todd Spence, and Paul Goetz.

WB: That sounds awesome. So Elizabeth Spear approached you to work on Roundball. Did you work on anything else with her?

AP: I worked on a movie with her called "Little Gods". My contribution to "Little Gods" was considerably small. I had a small role and helped arrange some sfx makeup, but I really fell in love with the concept of shooting with the iphone and with her passion about it. She and I met in France in 2009, and found out we actually live in close proximity in Texas. So we began hanging out then.


WB: Awesome. Well I'm glad you two met. You would have never collaborated on Roundball. 

AP: I agree. She is also my partner in the creation of the film festivals we put together in Texas. 

WB: What is the synopsis of Roundball? 

AP: Roundball is a comedy about a man named Sam Jones who returns to his hometown to train for the NBA with his old 1A high school basketball coach, but things turn out to be a little more than what he expected. The road to the NBA is a tough one. 


WB:  What was the atmosphere like on the movie set?

AP: The thing about Roundball, was that we actually reached out to the community. Most of the time you would never get involved with the community to make a movie, but that is what we did. We recruited from the community also when making the film. When casting for the film we used the internet.

WB: The Internet?

AP: Yep. We used the internet via Skype to do most of our casting and used local kids from the area. 

WB: Tell Bang Noir a little about yourself?

AP: HaHa. I was a young pig farmer in NM. That's what my parents did, then. My parents split and I was passed between them. I got in trouble a few times when I would visit my mother in NM, but that is something I grew out of. Well eventually as I got older I went to College and started to learn about music. Since I was introduced to music in high school. I also discovered KISS in high school as well. Yea, those were the days. I saw myself as a rock star. I even started a band with some friends. We opened shows for Overkill. That ended and well in College I was a part of a few other groups, Cornpone was one of them. Then I went to prison and spent five years there. It has been a long trip to this point in my life.

WB: A trip you were meant to take. You wouldn't be who you are today if you never went that route. Who knows what you would be doing. I guess I believe in destiny. 

AP: Well, I had to find myself all over again. I knew I wanted to get back to what I loved. I wanted to make music, which turned into movies. It was a process to rebuild my life.

This concludes the second part of my interview with Director Anthony Pedone. The Third and Final part of the interview will be available soon. Please leave any questions or comments on this interview and I will make sure Anthony gets them...It would be great to have him answer them here on Bang Noir. Thank you. XOXO





Friday, September 30, 2011

Bang vs Director Anthony Pedone Part One

I wanted to tell you a little about this interview before I go into the questions. This was an amazing experience to talk with Mr. Pedone about his experience with working on a movie set and well just making movies. The people he has met. And he has met some pretty amazing people. Anthony Pedone has worked on a Steve Balderson film, you may remember this film The Casserole Club. If you don't know what i am talking about, then shame on you! Its a great film. I will post links to past posts I have written about Steve Balderson's The Casserole Club along with the amazing documentary Anthony Pedone did, "Camp Casserole", on the behind the scenes look at the film.  Both of which are being shown in London today, at the Raindance film festival. Okay I blabbered enough. On with the interview...

The Casserole Club movie Trailer

A Review of Anthony Pedone's Documentary "Camp Casserole"

XOXO




BIO:
Anthony Pedone was born in Dallas, TX, but spent the formational years of his life on a ranch in Clayton, New Mexico. At 16 he moved back to Texas, studying Music at Southwest Texas University.
In 2005, Pedone received his Certificate in Writing Social Commentary from Penn State University and began experimenting with digital media and filmmaking. In 2008 he Co-founded, Robotic Indifference, and directed his first feature film, The Why. The Why, screened in 6 countries and received Best Avant Garde and Experimental Feature awards at The Great Lake Film Festival, Heart of England Film Festival and Manhattan Film Festival in 2010.
Since Robotic Indifference's conception Anthony has collaborated with an innovative and diverse group of artists-- fulfilling his need to always be creating. Anthony co-produced Steve Balderson's , The Casserole Club, and will join Balderson again to shoot, Culture Shock in the fall of 2011. While on the set of the The Casserole Club, Pedone shot a behind the scenes look at Balderson's streamlined approach to Indie Filmmaking. The documentary is called, Camp Casserole.
Pedone co-produced and appeared in, Little Gods. A conceptual film by director Elizabeth Spear, Little Gods is the first feature film shot and edited on the iPhone4. Spear's has asked Pedone to produce her next feature film, Roundball in Victoria, TX. Shooting begins in July 2011.
Robotic Indifference plans on releasing The Pyrex Glitch for Christmas 2011. TPG is a science fiction comedy, written and directed by Jane Wiedlin.


THE TRAILER:

CAMP CASSEROLE



THE INTERVIEW (PART ONE):


Welcome Anthony to Bang Noir!

WB: First of all Congrats on getting "Camp Casserole" into Raindance Film Festival! Tell us about Raindance and what it's significance is? Where is Raindance held?

AP: Thank you, William. Raindance is held in London, UK and is one of the larger independent film festivals in Europe. Personally it represents a mile stone for me. It's a point on the map. I was released from prison almost five years ago to this date. So I had to come home and rebuild. Being apart of Raindance is an achievement for me in that respect. I worked hard to get to this point and I met some pretty awesome people along the way. I'm grateful for meeting Steve [Balderson] and giving me the opportunity to work on his film The Casserole Club. So being at Raindance is very important to me because it is one step toward a common goal I share with so many others. It represents where I am now in my life.

WB: Very cool. I can understand where you are coming from and I'm sure my readers can too. You seem to be doing a great thing with being apart of Raindance. Where do you see that going?

AP: Wow, immediately when I found out I was thinking about that. I thought about how it is making a movie and when it's all done, the realization that you're the only one who knows about your movie. No one knows it exists. Just you and your network. So you learn to get the word out about your movie or project. You have to become your own press agent so to speak. So I not only have to work on the edits of my film, but promote it too. Which is rewarding when it's all said and done.

WB: Are there any other film festivals you are working on?

AP: I've been working on a film festival in Austen, TX for a few years now. We get people together, get an alcohol sponsor, set up a bar tab and put up a screening room. This year we are going to partner with a magazine a do a pretty big launch. Also we are starting a film festival in Victoria, TX, where we are planning to shoot movies as well.

WB: Wow, you are a busy man.

AP: I am. I have to say this about the whole experience and being apart of Raindance. Raindance is like Kinetic energy. Where it kicks the next phase in. It's all too surreal to me right now. So it's hard to actually put into words. But it's a good feeling.

WB: I bet. It's a recognition and you deserve it. Congrats again to you on this exciting day! I know you worked with Steve Balderson on his movie "The Casserole Club", which spawned your documentary "Camp Casserole". I have to add that it was a great documentary. I really enjoyed it.

AP: Thank you.

WB: Are you working on anything else with Steve Balderson?

AP: Yes, I am actually. Steve is filming his next movie in London, while we are participating in the  Raindance Film Festival. The movie is called "Culture Shock". There is a website called Culture Shock. I can't wait to start filming. It's going to be insane. It's truly going to be run and gun the whole time. Steve has it mapped out down to the minute, so it's going to be incredible.

WB: What's it like working with Steve Balderson?

AP: Wow, Steve is great to work with. He is always thinking about the next picture. He's always thinking about what its going to be. He has impeccable organisation. All in all, Steve's a machine. You have to admire that.

***This concludes the first part of my interview with Anthony Pedone*** Check back for Part Two very soon. and please feel free to leave any comments or questions on this blog. I will see to it that they get answered.

Anthony Pedone Website