There’s nothing like a great review!

From Bob Butler:

I’ve known John Shipp for more than 30 years, but it took this lighthearted, utterly charming documentary for me to truly appreciate the guy.

In recent years Shipp has been known as a film booker and as a moving force in Kansas City FilmFest, the Film Society of Greater Kansas City and CinemaKC.

But this film, made by his nephews, Devin and Shannon Kelley (their first effort, and it’s a keeper), opened my eyes to Shipp’s wildly colorful backstory.

You’ll definitely want to read the whole thing. And then you’re absolutely want to come to the screening playing at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 22, at the Screenland Crown Center. Click that link to get tickets!

CinemaKC, a not-for-profit organization connecting film related groups in Kansas and Missouri, is hosting a premiere of “The Film Peddler” on Friday, July 22nd at the Screenland Crown Center. The premiere is a benefit for the Women of the Motion Picture Industry of Kansas City (WOMPI). There will be a mixer starting at 6pm followed by the screening at 7:30 p.m.

The film is brought to you by Distant Thunder Filmwerks, LLC, and The Brothers Kelley. The star of the film, John Shipp and co-stars Butch Rigby, Jack Poessiger, Devin and Shannon Kelley will be available for a Q&A following the screening. “The Film Peddler” offers a humorous and revealing glimpse into the life of John Shipp, a man who at one time with his associates controlled over half of independent film distribution in the country. “I made around 22 million dollars distributing independent films in the 70s,” says John Shipp. “Unfortunately, I spent 23…”

When not hobnobbing with celebrities like Clint Eastwood and George Burns, or making sure that Paul Newman had enough beer in his hotel suite, John was amassing a fortune while at the same time producing, in his own words, “Some of the worst movies ever put to film,” says Shipp.

Enduring financial ruin and personal hardship, John later came out on top again in ways he never could have imagined. And he did it all with a chuckle from his heart and a smile on his face, embarking on a remarkable and inspiring journey that spanned up to 50 years in the film industry.

Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance from any WOMPI or CKC Board member or online at www.screenland.com. For more information about CinemaKC, visit us at Facebook.com/CinemaKC.

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.

KANSAS CITY, MO – CinemaKC, a not-for-profit organization connecting film related groups in Kansas and Missouri, will host the Kansas City Film Critics Circle on Thursday, December 2 at the Screenland Crown Center beginning at 7:30 p.m. and will be preceded by an informal mixer at 6:30 p.m. Kansas City Film Critics Circle members will be on hand to meet the public before and after the screening. The evening will include the screening of at least 17 film trailers for upcoming theatrical releases and Oscar predictions.

The Kansas City Film Critics Circle was founded in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser, and is the second oldest critics’ organization in the country, after the New York Film Critics Circle.  The KCFCC currently has 28 members, representing print, broadcast and online media. Learn more about this organization by visiting www.kcfcc.org.

John Shipp, founder of CinemaKC commented, “Our area is extremely fortunate to have such a strong base of nationally known and respected film critics, and this will be a great opportunity to meet many of them.” Loey Lockerby, president of Kansas City Film Critics Circle, and known from her reviews in The Kansas City Star and appearances on the Walt Bodine Show, will welcome the audience and introduce the evening’s entertainment. The critics will discuss the trailers throughout the screening period and have a Question and Answer session at the end.

Tickets for the event are $10, and are available at www.screenland.com or at the door.  Student tickets with ID are $5. CinemaKC is an initiative of the Film Society of Greater Kansas City, connecting with movie lovers since 1991.

For more information contact John Shipp at 816-718-4337 or john@filmrow.com.

10 Years of Films – The Kansas International Film Festival celebrates ten years of bringing the world of premier international and independent film to the Heartland.  KIFF opens this Friday, October 1^st at the Glenwood Arts Theater At 95th and Metcalf and runs through October 7^th.

CinemaKC suggests you add the following films to your schedule:

PLEASE REMOVE YOUR SHOES which is a revealing documentary about broken government process. It is also an empathetic story about a half dozen public servants who try to fix it. And it is a familiar topic to all of us who have flown in the last fifteen years: the security routine at the airport, first the FAA and now the TSA.

PLEASE REMOVE YOUR SHOES is playing Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 3:15pm.

MY RUN - The Terry Hitchcock Story Narrated By Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton premieres at KIFF on October 2^nd at 3 pm.

MY RUN: After tragically losing his wife to breast cancer and struggling to raise three young children on his own, Terry Hitchcock seized on an idea. He wanted to accomplish the impossible: run 75 consecutive marathons in 75 consecutive days to bring attention to the incredibly difficult lives of single-parent families. He ran in spite of freezing rain, unbearable heat, chest pains and bone fractures that wracked his 56-year-old body.  He just kept running – each day, every day – strengthening an unbreakable bond between father and son— not stopping until he arrived in time for the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta.

And, HARVEST starring Academy Award nominees Robert Loggia and Barbara Barrie (with performances that sit at the top of their long careers), newcomer Jack Carpenter, established character actor Arye Gross, and Tony Winner Victoria Clark, among others.  Grammy & Tony Winner Duncan Sheik composed the original music for the film.

HARVEST is a poignant story that is ultimately uplifting, with moments of humor anchoring this realistic portrait of a family hanging on to what was, what is, and to each other.  It screens Sunday, October 3rd.

Writer/Director Marc Meyers is attending the festival, and will be there after the screening for a Q&A.

Visit www.raisingHARVEST.com – the trailer is under the video tab.

For the full schedule and times for films at KIFF 2010, check out http://www.kansasfilm.com/festival/guide.php