TV critic Aaron Barnhart has high praise for our new show…

If you were to happen across “CinemaKC” while channel-flipping — pretty unlikely given when it airs, but whatever — chances are you’d stop on it, because it looks like nothing else on television.

It’s not just the arresting, screen-filling close-ups of actress Erin McGrane as she sits knee-to-knee with local filmmakers on a couch and interviews them about their projects. It’s also the quality of the films that are screened on the show and the tightly edited, HD-showcase nature of the interviews.

Put simply, “CinemaKC” is more polished than most shows about film that air on national cable channels.

Have you seen the show yet? If not, it’s on every Saturday at 9:30PM on KSMO-TV. Check your local listing for more details!

Scene from Official Selection

This Saturday, June 25, CinemaKC Presents the Best of the TallGrass Film Festival Shorts and Kansas Filmmakers program.

That may sound like a mouthful, or be an eyeful – but it needs to be clarified that this long-respected Wichita-based festival has been showcasing regional filmmakers since its origins. It’s only natural that they should have collected an amazing array of short films.

All Kansas Citians might not always have the luxury of visiting Wichita for the festival, but Saturday provides a rare opportunity to see these exciting films as they are brought to our doorstep, showing for the first time ever as a package, at the Screenland Crown Center theater.

Scene from Candy

This brisk, funny and informative program is co-presented by the Kansas Film Commission. Representatives from the Tallgrass festival, film commission and filmmakers will be on hand.

Now entering its 9th year, the Tallgrass Film Festival showcases the best of independent cinema from around the globe, including foreign, documentary, short, GLBT, retrospective and premiering films. The festival strives to serve as a venue and a voice for independent films and filmmakers, spotlighting films that would otherwise not have a proper theatrical screening in the Wichita region. Most of the films in this program are from Kansas filmmakers, with the exception of some stellar shorts from around the world peppered throughout.

Of particular note in this program is the short film Elijah Returns. The film was co-created with Tyler Emerson by festival director Tim Gruver, who passed away in the summer of 2005. The event shocked the community and threw the film’s completion into uncertainty. It was the beginning of one of Emerson’s worst years. He left film school for ‘personal reasons’ and moved back home where he worked until about a year later doing random odd jobs – working for my parents, cleaning out meth labs (true story), and working on a feature film in Kansas City that never came to fruition.

“In the summer of 2006, I was getting antsy and decided that I really wanted to do something, even if it was just a small film,” says Emerson. “I ran across the script in some files that I was going through, read it again, and started to laugh to myself. At the time, I wasn’t really sure if I was laughing because it was actually funny or just out of nostalgia. But regardless, I put it on my desk for a couple of days.”

Behind the scenes of the set of Elijah Returns

From time to time since Gruver’s death, Emerson thought about going back to it. But it wasn’t until he went to go talk to Tom Mittlestadt, who was a friend of his and Tim’s, that things coalesced. “I stopped in and ran the idea by Tom (who would go on to be Production Designer on the film). Technically it would be Tim’s last film, since he was the screenwriter. Tom was excited about it and got me excited. I got in touch with most of the people who had worked on Tim’s last directed piece, “Ashes to Ashes.”

Emerson had been the First Assistant Director on “Ashes to Ashes,” so it was not hard to get most everyone to return to a passion project. Cinematographer Mark Oldham is not only an Emmy winner but a BAFTA-winner for cinematography. Tom Mittlestadt has been working in the industry forever, including work on “Twister” and “Heart of Dixie.” The music during the opening credits was adapted and performed by Catherine Consiglio from the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, with chimes performed by John Harrison – Concert Master for the Wichita Symphony Orchestra.

Behind the scenes of the set of Elijah Returns

“To have resources like that available for my first short film puts me in awe even to this day,” says Emerson. “I have the utmost respect for everybody who gave their time for the project. It was a one-day shoot, one location. I then handed the one hour of footage over to my editor, Adam Williamson, and left on vacation for two weeks! Coming back, he had a rough cut and then he and I spent over 50 hours editing one hour of footage into the film”

Behind the scenes of the set of Elijah Returns

Emerson is grateful for the contribution Gruver’s presence made in both the film and in his life. “I always felt like Tim was the bad cop to my good cop – in terms of style – at times, and it was difficult not having him there,” says Gruver. “I had to play both, and I’m not very good at bad cop. I’m much more laid back, and it probably got me into trouble at least once on the set of “Elijah.” It was my directorial debut and, while I had worked with everybody on the crew, it was different being “the guy” for the first time. This is going to sound corny, but it’s true. I like to think that at least a part of Tim stuck around on the shoot – both to help things go smoothly, and to throw a couple of wrenches into the plan just to push me.”

Scene from Elijah Returns

Scene from Elijah Returns

Elijah Returns debuted at the 2006 Tallgrass Film Festival where it got a fantastic reception. “The great thing about “Elijah” is that it’s a short short,” says Emerson, “only seven and a half minutes. And the comedy builds over time. So watching the first vignette and hearing giggles starting to come from the audience was a good sign. And listening to them laugh after the third vignette, that grew into roars all the way through the final scene and well into the end credits – it was just a fantastic sigh of relief.

Elijah Returns will play with these additional shorts Saturday, June 25, 7:30PM at the Screenland Crown Center Theater:

Kavi* (2009) Dir. Gregg Helvey ………………………. USA (KS)
Candy† (2010) Dir. Misti Boland ………………………. USA (KS)
Official Selection (2009) Dir. Vince Masciale ….. USA (KS)
Dried Up (2010) Dirs: I. Powers, J. Casper ………. USA (KS)
Electric Revolution‡ (2008) Dir. M. Moormann . USA (KS)
The Job (2007) Dir. Jonathan Browning …………………USA
Photograph of Jesus (2010) Dir. Laurie Hill ………………. UK
Spider (2007) Dir. Nash Edgerton …………………… Australia
Learn Self Defense‡ (2005) Dir. Chris Harding … USA (KS)

* Nominated for a 2010 Academy Award † Winner of Spotlight On Kansas Filmmakers Audience Award ‡ Winner of Tallgrass Audience Award, Short Film

For more information: www.tallgrassfilmfest.com

Join CinemaKC for a special evening when we join forces with Tallgrass Film Association to present a short film program of some of their favorite short films from past Tallgrass Film Festivals, including some of their top selections from Kansas filmmakers.

The screening will take place 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 25 at the Screenland Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., 3rd Fl., Kansas City, MO. Admission is $8 general admission/$6 students. Several filmmakers and Tallgrass Film Festival staff will attend for a Q&A immediately following the show. The evening is co-sponsored by the Kansas Film Commission.

Selections include:

• Kavi (2009/USA, KS) Director Gregg Helvey *nominated for 2010 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short
• Candy (2010/USA, KS) Director Misti Boland *winner of Spotlight on Kansas Filmmakers Audience Award
• Official Selection (2009/USA, KS) Director Vince Masciale
• Dried Up (2010/USA, KS) Directors I, Powers, J. Casper
• Electric Revolution (2008/USA, KS) Director M. Moormann, *winner of Tallgrass Audience Award, Short Film
• The Job (2007, USA) Director Jonathan Browning
• Photograph of Jesus (2010/UK) Director Laurie Hill
• Spider (2007/Australia) Director Nash Edgerton
• Learn Self Defense (2005/USA, KS) Director Chris Harding, *winner of Tallgrass Audience Award, Short Film
• Elijah Returns (2007/USA/KS) Director Tyler Emerson

For more information visit CinemaKC’s event page on Facebook.

This just in from the Tallgrass Film Festival in Wichita, KS!

The Tallgrass Filmmakers Lab will present its third workshop of the year, focusing on the essential business of film marketing. “Movie Trailers 101 & The Business of Film Marketing” will be taught by Erin Wyatt, award winning Trailer Editor and co-Owner of the Los Angeles film and television marketing company, Seismic Productions. The class will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, at Integrated Media Group, 143 N. Rock Island, third floor.

Go inside the multi-million dollar world of movie marketing, with Wyatt, an accomplished producer and editor whose work includes trailer and television campaigns for film studios including 20th Century Fox, New Line Cinema, Lions Gate Films, Roadside Attractions, Focus Features, Screen Gems, Warner Brothers, The Weinstein Company, Miramax and Universal. His work includes campaigns for BROTHERS, SUNSHINE CLEANING, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, SEX & THE CITY, PRECIOUS, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and TRANSAMERICA, among many others.

“Anyone who’s been to the movies, or even steps outside for the matter, can attest to the fact that marketing is an essential element of the movie business,” said Lela Meadow-Conner, Executive Director of the Tallgrass Film Association. “We’re excited that Erin is coming to Wichita to share some of this insider knowledge with our moviemaking community — information that is invaluable for filmmakers.”

The class will consist of two parts. First, Wyatt will provide an overview of movie marketing, topics to include working with studios and filmmakers, impact of the internet age and the differences between marketing major studio and independent pictures. During the second half of the class, Wyatt will dissect several movie trailers, providing insight into structure, length, music, copy, graphics and voice over techniques as well as discuss current industry trends.

Advanced RSVP is required. The enrollment fee is $20 General Admission/$15 for students and teachers/seniors/TFA Members for those who register/RSVP before July 1. After July 1, enrollment fee is $25 General Admission/$20 for students and teachers/seniors/TFA Members. Registrants may prepay by using the form below, or clicking here, or may pay with cash or check at the door.

About Erin Wyatt:

A Colorado Springs native, and CU Boulder graduate, Erin moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams of acting…or so he thought. In 2001, he landed a gig at Seismic Productions as an assistant/messenger, with no interest in movie trailers or marketing. During his free time, Erin taught himself how to do motion graphics and was soon working on graphics jobs at the company. On the weekends, he experimented with editing, taking Final Cut Pro classes and playing around on his first generation iMac (while all of the other editors were still using Avid.) One day, the owner of the company noticed a spot Erin had cut for the Mark Wahlberg film ROCK STAR and said, “Wow, that’s really good!” The spot was delivered to the client at Warner Brothers who said, “I want everything on this campaign to like THAT.” And so, an editor was born.

Before long Erin became the main editor at Seismic, garnering Key Art and Golden trailer nominations for films like Roman Polanski’s THE PIANIST. He soon carved out a niche for himself as a go-to editor for films of all genres, from romantic comedy, to drama to independent. Some of his work includes 27 DRESSES, BRIDE WARS, SEX & THE CITY, BLADES OF GLORY, INCEPTION, GREEN LANTERN, SUNSHINE CLEANING, LOST IN TRANSLATION, HAIRSPRAY, PRECIOUS, SAW, and THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT.
He has received 22 award nominations and 4 wins at the Key Art and Golden Trailer Awards for work like the BROTHERS trailer, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN trailer, BLADES OF GLORY trailer, TRANSAMERICA trailer, and PRECIOUS.

In 2010, after seven years as Senior Editor, Erin became a co-partner/owner of Seismic Productions, where he continues to be in demand as an editor, but has added producing and managing a staff of thirty employees to his resume.

The CinemaKC television program broadcasts every Saturday night at 9:30pm on KSMO-TV 62 and this week Justin Gardner’s films “Paul,” “Tender,” “We Will Make You Whole Again,” and the trailer for “Dead Wait” are featured in the June 11th episode. Gardner co-directed “We Will Make You Whole Again” with Trevor Hawkins of Mammoth Media. For “Paul” he co-wrote the film with Paul Burns and co-directed with Brandon Cummins. He produced Jerry Rapp’s film “Tender” and is currently co-writing, co-producing and co-directing the second season of “Dead Wait.”

Gardner lives in Kansas City, MO and works as a Social Media Manager for AMC Theatres, one of the largest motion picture exhibitors in the world. He is a Board Member of the Film Commission of Greater Kansas City where he has developed, with the blessing of the Altman family, The Robert Altman Emerging Filmmakers Fund, a grant program designed to help filmmakers in the greater Kansas City area better realize their visions. He is also a Board Member of CinemaKC, which seeks to unify all of the various filmmaking organizations in Kansas and Missouri to better serve the movie going public.

CinemaKC is the first TV show in Kansas City to spotlight local filmmakers, producers, directors and actors. A team of volunteers produced the show. For more information about CinemaKC, visit online at cinemakc.com or Facebook.com/CinemaKC.

CinemaKC’s Strategic Partners include ArtsKC, Film Commission of Greater Kansas City, Blackberry Castle Productions, Film Society of Greater Kansas City, Independent Filmmaker’s Coalition, Kansas City Film Critics Circle, Kansas City FilmFest, Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee, Kansas City Fringe Festival, Kansas City Screenwriters, Kansas City Urban Film Festival, Kansas City Women in Film and TV, Kansas Film Commission, Kansas International Film Festival, Missouri Film Commission, Missouri Motion Media Association, Reel Spirit, Thank You Walt Disney, UMKC Film Department, United Motion Picture Association, University of Kansas Film and Media Studies, Variety the Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City, and Women of the Motion Picture Industry.

CinemaKC’s Business Alliances include Allied Integrated Marketing, Allied Theatre Craft, American Heartland Theatre, Haywood Marketing Communications, Kansas City Area Development Council, KC Stage Magazine, KC Studio, Prizm Productions, Screenland Armour, Screenland Crossroads, Screenland Crown Center, StagePort KC, Substream Music and Sound Design and T2.