The Dynamic Duo
Daniel Lir and Bayou Bennett have been Film Connection mentors for 10 years! They have worked with an unrivaled client list, including; Michelle Pfeiffer, Mark Ruffalo, and Juliette Lewis, as well as, brands and celebrities such as Bella Hadid, Chrome Hearts, Smashbox Cosmetics, Paris Hilton, Coldplay, Lindsey Stirling, and Norman Reedus– winning 75 film festival […]
The Unexpected Beauty of the Overlooked
Leonardo Martinelli is a quickly rising star in Brazilian cinema. At age 26, he has already premiered two short films: Neon Phantom and A Bird Called Memory. These two poignant, topical, and artfully shot shorts have swept film festivals internationally, as part of official selections in Toronto, San Sebastián, BFI London, Clermont-Ferrand, Palm Springs, Montreal, […]
A Taste of Victory
Film Connection graduate, Rinoj Varghese, recently chatted with us about the difficult process he faced completing his debut film, Beyond Your Consciousness: The Beginning. Since we spoke, the film has gone on to sweep film festivals, win awards, and be lauded by the likes of the LA Times. We sat down with this determined filmmaker […]
Against All Odds
Rinoj Varghese is a recent Film Connection grad who has just pulled off the seemingly impossible; single-handedly writing, directing, and producing a feature length film, Beyond Your Consciousness: The Beginning. This passion project has already won 4 awards at the GFFAs, including Best Feature Film! I sat down with this miracle worker to discuss the […]
A Long-Term Mentorship
Nick Durante graduated from Film Connection nearly eight years ago, and has since built an impressive career in film production, as well as, maintained his relationship with his mentor, Richard Brandes. I sat down with Nick to chat about his life, work, the industry, and the nature of the mentor/mentee relationship. How did you […]
Based on a True Story
Carole Rinn is a graduate of Film Connection, who recently completed her first feature length screenplay, Unfolding. The topical and hard hitting drama is based on her own experiences facing workplace harassment. I sat down with this up-and-comer to discuss life, writing, her script, and the program. How did you originally get interested in screenwriting? […]
Loucura em Lisboa
Fernanda Leme is a Brazilian screenwriter and translator, currently living in Lisbon, Portugal, whose work deals with loss, memory, and mental illness. I let Fernanda take me on a tour of the forgotten and abandoned spaces in Lisbon, as we discussed memory, film, art, life, and the concept of madness. “Goddamn it,” I said, gazing […]
Queen of Trash
Mantra Marie Bedross is a lifelong treasure hunter who, over the past four years, has channeled her obsession with stuff into a career in film as a prop master. Her work ethic, passion, and personal traumas have propelled her, at an astounding speed, into an insanely successful career— already having worked on several full budget […]
Don’t Kill The Screenwriter
Mariannjely Marval is a recent Film Connection graduate who sold her first screenplay ever to the LifeTime network. I interviewed her about this success back in March, and decided to sit down with her again, post-premier of her debut film, Don’t Kill the Babysitter, to discuss both the movie and her plans for the future. […]
Character Driven Drama
Malik Deanes is a recent Film Connection graduate, who is set to head off to California to pitch his first script, a crime drama entitled, Lonely. I sat down with Malik to discuss his script, film, and the program. How did you become interested in film? I love to write and to tell stories. I […]
The Champagne Break
Garrett Nelson is famous throughout Europe as a performance artist, installation artist, and poet. His work has been lauded by art critics and showcased by some of the most prestigious galleries and museums in the world, including: Kunsthalle Basel, Kunsthalle Zürich, Arsenic Lausanne, MAMCO Genève, SALT Galata Istanbul, and Centre Culturelle Suisse Paris. Getting to […]
A First Home Run
24-year old Film Connection graduate Gavin Checchi recently sent his premiere short, The Last Home Run, out into the film festival circuit. The poignant and emotionally vulnerable short has already made waves, garnering several awards, including The Award of Recognition in The Best Short Films Competition and The Audience Choice Award at YoFi. How did […]
