Tony Sawicki, correspondent and producer of “Under the Pink Carpet” posted this video on youtube.com. Please keep watching through the promo of Dish Miss, for footage interviews which aired on the show “Under the Pink Carpet.” that cover our VIP cast and crew screening party of Its Me, Matthew! Check it out and stay posted for more to follow.

Under the Pink Carpet, the television news series that reports on who’s who and what’s hot, just announced a new episode. The episode begins at our VIP screening party of It’s Me, Matthew! Correspondent Tony Sawicki speaks with Eric Wilke, who play’s young Matthew about the challenges faced and lessons learned from a child actor. Also featured in the interviews are Eric’s mom, Peggy Bonapace and Michael Musto.

Check out the show airing on UPC-TV# 410 which will broadcast in Manhattan on Time Warner Cable channel 34 on Thursday, October 16th at 10:30 PM. Check listings for WYBE-PBS-TV Philadelphia, KDBI-PBS-TV Denver and OUT-TV Cable Network in Canada and Europe (Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium).

Stay tuned for more to follow.

It was great to have It’s Me, Matthew! screened at the New York City Anthology Film Archives, which has been around since the 1970’s. Our film screened with three other short films to a packed house which seats 187 people. In attendance were fellow team members: Michael Musto, Eric Wilke, Melissa Russo, Michael LaVoie, Stephaun St. Paul, and Louise Devery. I am extremely grateful and thankful to have shared this moment with many friends and colleagues, and proud to have debuted in my home town. I was very pleased with the turn out at the film festival and was happy to celebrate with cast, crew, friends, and fans at the after party across the street at DTOX where the film was screened once again. Please check back for further news.

I just want to remind everyone about our NYC screening Wednesday, September 17^th at New Filmmakers, Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Ave. (at 2^nd Street), New York, NY 10003, Time 7pm Tickets: $5.00. Also, following the screening there will be an after party at DTOX Lounge from 8-10pm. No cover- cash bar. Hope to see you all there!

Check back Sept. 22nd

On Friday, August 15^th I was unable to attend The Third Annual International Think Short Film Festival, due to being at The North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Antonia Kasper, our Associate Producer represented It’s Me, Matthew! She reported back that the festival was at Think Coffee Shop, catering to the Greenwich Village and New York University community. The festival programmer Sarah Riley, introduced each film and has been hosting this event for the past three years. The festival showed a series of short films from 5 to 20 minutes in length, mostly from a variety of foreign filmmakers. Thank you to Sarah Riley and Think Film Festival for showing It’s Me, Matthew! as a work in progress, in the various presentations on film.

Have a great Labor Day weekend and check back Sept. 8th for our next BLOG posting.

I just got back from the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, in Durham, North Carolina, where It’s Me, Matthew! made it’s North Carolina premier. I have to say I had a great time, for we were well received. Four out of five screenings were sold out.

The North Carolina community was very united and many came out to support the festival. The festival included notable political, business, and community leaders; who have been supportive of the festival from its inception. A special guest of the festival was North Carolina’s own, Randy Jones, of the “Village People” who I had the pleasure of reminiscing about our previous award presentation experience in New York City. The festival has been around for thirteen years and from what I have heard, each year it grows stronger. I highly recommend this festival to anyone, for my experience was positive. Everyone enjoyed the diverse filmmakers and the various presentations on film. Its obvious that the festival organizers provide something that the community enjoys attending, royally attending! They’ve put a lot of effort over the years and it shows. For a non metropolitan area as we understand it, the attendees relished and appreciated the variety of films and situations that were presented for their enrichment and enjoyment.

It was great to see It’s Me, Matthew! on the big screen in an actual theater. The film was included in a series of short films called, ”Queen with The Teetering Tiara” mostly comedies, which built up people’s emotions from comedy to drama in a way of bringing about an emotional roller coaster, which just captured everyone’s complete attention. After every screening the other filmmakers and I did a Q&A. The filmmakers in my panel were Jerry Blackburn, producer of Cooking with Kay ,and Jeffery Moore, actor and director of What the Frock; they provided their experience of the making of each of their films and background as a filmmaker. The audience was fantastic and the festival representatives made me feel extremely welcome and accommodated. The people were very sharp and inquisitive and wanted to learn more. In light of the comments passed, people embraced the massage as their own.

Great News! We have been officially accepted into The New Filmmakers Film Festival at the Anthology Film Center, at 32 Second Ave, NYC, NY 10009, on Wednesday, September 17^th screening time: 7pm

Due to a conflict in schedule, I was unable to attend The West Hollywood International Film Festival screening. It’s Me, Matthew! Was represented by Mel England, (starring in the upcoming feature film Little Big Top, premiering nationwide in theaters and DVD October 31, 2008) He attended the screening with Here TV and Air America Radio Reporter and Correspondent, Harrison. On Monday, Martin De Luca, the director of the West Hollywood Film Festival let me know It’s Me, Matthew! Won WHIFF 2008 SPECIAL JUROR AWARD, BEST SHORT DRAMA. Thank you so much to the West Hollywood International Film Festival; moreover, this is what Mel reported about the screening.

LOS ANGELES, August 1, 2008 – “IT’S ME, MATTHEW!” had its LA screening at the WEST HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL! Celebrity judges included Directors ARMAND MASTOIANNI (THE CELESTINE PROPHECY), PAUL LYNCH (THE KEEPER starring DENNIS HOPPER).

It was awesome to see it on the big screen in Hollywood… of course it’s every filmmaker’s wet dream… so we were bummed Michael Ferreira couldn’t make it, but he had to shoot a feature film in New York, written by Raymond Pettibon … It would have been great if he were here! He would have been so proud, and I could tell the audience was moved — they were like literally spellbound… They were glued to the screen and you could here a pin drop during the film’s screening.

I’m thrilled just to be representing Michael’s amazing work at the festival. We’ve known each other personally and professionally in NY for about 10 years… we worked in a play together… So for me, the chance to help Michael with this project is personal. His courage and talent is really inspiring… Just to tell this story helps to break down walls of prejudice — and that creates space for the next generation to be a better place, we hope.

————————————————————————————————————

Mentioned

It’s Me, Matthew! (Part of the shorts program “Queen with the Teetering Tiara”) ”Filmmaker Michael Ferreira plays the title role of Matthew in this short based on a true story. Matthew’s discussion with a therapist (played by Michael Musto) reveals the life experiences that motivate Matthew and make him who he is. Ferreira makes skillful use of the flashback technique.” By Cliff Bellam, The Herald Sun- Aug. 8, 2008.

Check out our screenings next week at The North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival “Queen with the Teetering Tiara” August 14-17th. http://festivals.carolinatheatre.org/ncglff/films/

&

Friday, Aug. 15th

Think Coffee, 248 Mercer Street, NYC NY 10012

It’s Me, Matthew! was mentioned and reviewed Wednesday, July 30^th by Cinema Without Borders BLOGS, and this is what they had to say!

Behold…The Power of Short Films

Ah, the blockbusters. We commonly flock to multiplex theaters to watch the films of the summer which seem dazzle the senses. In the interim, we sometimes forget the films which can be equally as evocative, dazzling and able to conjure up a multitude of emotions.

These are the short film subjects which can be anywhere from one minute to thirty minutes or so. These films can move you just as much as the mainstream ones, sometimes even better.

Over the weekend, I came across a moving film about a man who must dig deep within himself to resolve his past childhood issues. He must muster all the inner strength within to overcome some frightening odds.

The best films I feel, are the ones where the antagonist is oneself, the inner demon that must be conquered or controlled before a change can be brought about. External forces or foes keeping the main character from their initial goal are great, but what puts more meat on the story is the inner struggle and how they triumph in the end (hopefully).

The short film I speak about is called, “It’s Me, Matthew”, a film by Michael Ferreira. Based on a true story, the film covers the life (and romantic life) of the lead character, Matthew in present day but eventually spirals back to where problems first were conceived and remained attached. Nicely shot, the film (running time is only 15 min); touches on many aspects of the human psyche and follows through to tie up all loose ends.

Though it may seem it’s a lot to take in a mere 15 min, but it works. That’s the key to short films; show us compelling storytelling in a short period of time. It should move us, it should make us want to care, and it should give us what we ask for when we first enter the viewer experience. Performances were moving as well, “It’s Me, Matthew”, is another reason to hail short films as equals in emotional content, along side its sometimes heavy hitting visual effects cousins. Link: http://cinemawithoutborders.com/userblogs/

Great news! Last week I found out we were officially accepted into The West Hollywood Film Festival. Our screening date will be Friday, August 1^st @ 4:30pm at, Regency Theater, 7907 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. Tickets cost $10.00

Also, do not forget to check out our screening at The Third Annual International Think Short Film Festival, Friday, August 15^th @ 9pm at Think Coffee, 248 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012

—————————————————–————–

The other day someone said, “Producing is an easy job and all they deal with is money.”

Many people hear the role “Producer” and automatically think finance. The fact is they have many more responsibilities then people realize such as: recruiting, team management, contracts and legalities, business ethics, overseeing every aspect of production, marketing, packaging, promotions, and finally, various channels of distribution. They make bottom-line decisions and act in the best interest of the project. Their work is never done! This week I asked Antonia Kasper, our associate producer to talk about her experience on It’s Me, Matthew!

Shoot For The Stars And Land Among The Moon!

I’ve known Michael professionally and personally for about eight years. After reading the script, I was touched by the story and realized others will be affected as well….a sign of a good script! I knew I wanted to be part of this project, for these true to life stories can be the most riveting ones to tell. Plus his writing skills and vision were cohesive and more polished than most other writers I had encountered. Michael sensed I could be a good asset to the production, for I knew what it was like producing, writing and even directing your own story. I had done the same in an Off-Broadway show but not yet in film.

Film producing and theatre producing are very similar in many ways. You have cast, crew, venue (or locations) schedules, promotions and packaging. Producing isn’t an easy job. It’s not about just finding the money for the project (which by the way is usually considered the most difficult task when starting a project) but it’s also about orchestrating the production. In my experience, it’s about making decisions, sometimes split second decisions about hiring, firing, scheduling, marketing, packaging and promoting a project, and staying within a budget. It’s also about trust. Trusting that everyone you hired is completely capable of doing their job and learning how to step back and let them create, for brilliant minds work to their best ability for the project as a whole.

The most rewarding thing for me as a producer is seeing how all the team players, in their very different positions, come together to accomplish one product, one outcome, one goal…it’s like watching an exciting sports game and seeing everyone contribute to gaining a touchdown or a grand slam!

Thanks Michael for letting me be a part of It’s Me, Matthew!

Antonia Kasper

The majority of short films tend to be used as a calling card to showcase a filmmakers work. It’s Me, Matthew! was produced for these two reasons: to showcase my work for feature film consideration, and to gauge the audiences response to better improve the feature. I recently called and met up with Julia Cameron, who is an inspiration to me. She gave me great advice on how to move forward in promoting It’s Me, Matthew! and in bringing the next project to fruition.

All a filmmaker can do is take the action of putting the film out there, and let go of the end result and see where it lands. “The universe will reward you for taking risks on its behalf.” -Shakti Gawain… Stay posted for It’s Me, Matthew’s! journey on the festival circuit.