  Making movies in Shanghai Created: 2010-1-20 Author:Nancy Zhang THE Shanghai Independent Film Association brings together expat and Chinese film makers, actors, writers and creative types to make new movies. Nancy Zhang interviews founder Richard Trombly. After a hiatus of half a year, the Shanghai Independent Film Association is back in the swing for 2010, and the first event is the screening of a martial arts film by local Shanghainese film makers in early February.  Richard Trombly (left), founder of the Shanghai Independent Film Association, is on a shooting site with Chinese film makers. The club, founded two years ago, aims to bring professional and amateur film makers, actors and creative types together to build ideas for new films. Shanghai Daily talks to founder Richard Trombly, a former journalist, about local film making, and the stories Shanghai inspires. Q: How did the club start? A: I studied film and theater in college but then went into journalism as it seemed a more realistic career. By the time I came to Shanghai two years ago, I had been in journalism for 20 years and felt I'd had enough. I got involved with a local expat group making short films, and just met more people doing film. The great thing about any expat community is that it's charged with energy, with people who had the drive to leave home. You get to meet the most interesting minds. I love people who have the energy to just go and do something, so I wanted to support local film makers. Q: What's its mission? A: To get people together and talk about what they're doing, find people who can maybe work together, and encourage the cross-pollination of ideas. The film community is very integrated, so we have a range of members, not just directors but also actors, cameramen and others. Our events include screenings of films by members or local independent film makers, film shootings, and also drinks and other social get-togethers. Each time up to 50 people will come, and each time it's different people. Q: What kind of film ideas have emerged? A: We're currently working on a script called "Father John," which I co-wrote with another member. He was working for the US Embassy when he came up with the idea and he found people at the club who could help him realize the idea. It's a spy story set in Shanghai and it's about the complex web of relationships and intrigues here that lie underneath the bright skyline, taking the main character through the labyrinth of Shanghai longtang (alleyway). We are now seeking funding. I also shot several films in the past about the immense social changes taking place here. For example, my film "Waiting" was about a single-dad family from western China and how this juxtaposed with the very conservative idea of family in China. Modern forces are causing a breakdown in the family, so it was sociologically very interesting. Another film, "Noah's Harvest," was about how cripplingly shy young Chinese adults, even well into their 20s, can be when it comes to relationships. Q: Does Shanghai inspire film makers? A: I'm so inspired by the stories here. It's a city of dreams. I think it's the only city name that has been made into a verb! Some independent film makers are drawn here by the stories they think can be found here, others come for other purposes and are later inspired by the stories here to make films. In terms of the local film scene, there are also genuinely new things being done here and new ideas coming out from Asia. Local film makers can benefit from the contact with a variety of ideas and international people. When I first came, Shanghai was such a business city, but art is becoming more and more important. Q: What are your hopes for this year? A: We want to support more local Shanghainese film makers and get them more involved to exchange ideas. At the moment the club is 60 percent expat. The next event, for example, is screening of a martial arts film made by local film makers. It's not really smooth or professional and not high budget at all, but we just want to help them meet more people who may come to the screening, and make some useful connections. Film screening Date: February 6, 6-9pm Venue: Shanghai Loft, 739 Dingxi Rd Tickets: 70 yuan (includes dinner and drinks) Call 1381-8837-641 or e-mail to richard.trombly@gmail.com for more information about the film association. Copyright © 2001-2009 Shanghai Daily Publishing House |
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Organization supports indie film in Shanghai
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2010/201001/20100120/article_426247.htm
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Voting begins for People's Choice Awards film script pitch contest
07 January, 2010 Shanghai -- Please vote at the American Film Market / People's Choice for Father John / David Minnihan (the 5th one) and make it the most-want-to-see movie in 2010.
If you are tired of run of the mill Hollywood rehash, then vote for Father John. A spy film based in Shanghai with the thrill of Asia's most exciting city as a backdrop to espionage and plot twists which will keep you on the edge of your seat.
It is really simple, all you need to do is just a click on the link below to open the page. Then vote for the best film. We sincerely believe it is Father John. Winning this contest would help greatly in developing this project and we greatly appreciate your help.
Father John was written by Steven G. Long and Richard Trombly.
Happy new year everyone, and happy VOTING!!!
--
Best Regards,
Richard Trombly
"Father John" goes from Zhapu Road to Tinseltown
see the Zhapu Road video by my friend and fellow Shanghai expat Jakob Montrasio of MK Media.
Zhapu Road video shows a raw and rough side of Shanghai north of the Bund. This is a look and feel that is a reference for the shadowy feel we want in the upcoming international spy feature film Father John www.fatherjohnthemovie.net
Father John, written by Steve Long and Richard Trombly, is one of five film projects in the AFM/People's Choice Award. See the press release:
International Spy Film goes from Shanghai to Tinseltown
SHANGHAI SPY DRAMA FATHER JOHN NAMED FINALIST IN PEOPLE’S CHOICE
AWARDS FAVORITE FILM PITCH CONTEST
Father John Will Compete with Four Other Film Pitches for Audience Support;
Award to be Chosen in January at peopleschoice.com
Shanghai, China, Dec. 22, 2009 – For the first time, people all over the world will have
a chance this January to let their voices be heard in Tinseltown. A high-profile film pitch
contest, co-sponsored by the People’s Choice Awards and the American Film Market,
will give people an unprecedented choice in the films they want to see made. The
contest has included at least one bold choice among its five finalsts: a Shanghai-based
contemporary spy drama was selected from hundreds of candidates as one of five films
most likely to be made in 2010.
The film, Father John, is set in the film-noir atmosphere of nighttime Shanghai. It tells the
story of John, a London-based spy who is sent to Shanghai after his cover is blown.
There he encounters new kinds of danger and international intrigue.
One of the film’s producers, David Minnihan, says he was thrilled by the response.
“Going into the contest, I didn’t have any expectations. I just gave my pitch and tried to
show our project in its best light. I’m pretty excited that we got to this level, especially for
the recognition it will bring to our film. I think our international story and gripping drama
will appeal to people all over the world.”
The contest was a collaboration between the People’s Choice Awards (PCA) and the
American Film Market (AFM), held last November. Industry professionals attending the
market were given the opportunity to pitch their films on video during the eight-day
market.
Afterward, the AFM assembled a group of industry leaders to select five finalists. Their
pitches will be posted on www.peopleschoice.com — the official PCA Website —
following CBS’ broadcast of THE 2010 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS in early January,
allowing fans to choose the ultimate winner: the film they would most like to see get
made.
“Now, for the first time, fans will also have an influential voice in deciding what films get
produced.” Says PCA President Fred Nelson. “This is a very exciting development that
takes our brand, pop culture, and user-generated video to an entirely new level.”
The voting commences on January 6th and closes at 11:59 pm EST on January 20th, with
the winner scheduled to be announced the next day. This gives people ample time to
vote, be heard in Hollywood, and encourage the kind of filmmaking they want to see in
the future.
---
Father John’s website at www.FatherJohnTheMovie.net gives more information about
the upcoming production, including synopsis, character descriptions, storyboard images,
production blog, and bios of the Shanghai-based crew.
The People’s Choice website at www.peopleschoice.com serves as a year-round
destination for entertainment enthusiasts to voice their opinions on pop culture. Now in
its 36th year, The People’s Choice Awards is voted on entirely by the public for fan
favorites in music, movies and television. Fred Nelson is the President of People’s
Choice, and the website and awards show are produced by Procter & Gamble
Productions.
The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), the trade
association representing the world’s producers and distributors of independent motion
pictures and television programs. For more information, visit
www.AmericanFilmMarket.com.
Contact:
Steve Long/David Minnihan
Father John Productions, LLC
China: +86 1500-172-6242
US: +1 314-397-3456
Stevenglong@gmail.com
David.Minnihan@gmail.com
AWARDS FAVORITE FILM PITCH CONTEST
Father John Will Compete with Four Other Film Pitches for Audience Support;
Award to be Chosen in January at peopleschoice.com
Shanghai, China, Dec. 22, 2009 – For the first time, people all over the world will have
a chance this January to let their voices be heard in Tinseltown. A high-profile film pitch
contest, co-sponsored by the People’s Choice Awards and the American Film Market,
will give people an unprecedented choice in the films they want to see made. The
contest has included at least one bold choice among its five finalsts: a Shanghai-based
contemporary spy drama was selected from hundreds of candidates as one of five films
most likely to be made in 2010.
The film, Father John, is set in the film-noir atmosphere of nighttime Shanghai. It tells the
story of John, a London-based spy who is sent to Shanghai after his cover is blown.
There he encounters new kinds of danger and international intrigue.
One of the film’s producers, David Minnihan, says he was thrilled by the response.
“Going into the contest, I didn’t have any expectations. I just gave my pitch and tried to
show our project in its best light. I’m pretty excited that we got to this level, especially for
the recognition it will bring to our film. I think our international story and gripping drama
will appeal to people all over the world.”
The contest was a collaboration between the People’s Choice Awards (PCA) and the
American Film Market (AFM), held last November. Industry professionals attending the
market were given the opportunity to pitch their films on video during the eight-day
market.
Afterward, the AFM assembled a group of industry leaders to select five finalists. Their
pitches will be posted on www.peopleschoice.com — the official PCA Website —
following CBS’ broadcast of THE 2010 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS in early January,
allowing fans to choose the ultimate winner: the film they would most like to see get
made.
“Now, for the first time, fans will also have an influential voice in deciding what films get
produced.” Says PCA President Fred Nelson. “This is a very exciting development that
takes our brand, pop culture, and user-generated video to an entirely new level.”
The voting commences on January 6th and closes at 11:59 pm EST on January 20th, with
the winner scheduled to be announced the next day. This gives people ample time to
vote, be heard in Hollywood, and encourage the kind of filmmaking they want to see in
the future.
---
Father John’s website at www.FatherJohnTheMovie.net gives more information about
the upcoming production, including synopsis, character descriptions, storyboard images,
production blog, and bios of the Shanghai-based crew.
The People’s Choice website at www.peopleschoice.com serves as a year-round
destination for entertainment enthusiasts to voice their opinions on pop culture. Now in
its 36th year, The People’s Choice Awards is voted on entirely by the public for fan
favorites in music, movies and television. Fred Nelson is the President of People’s
Choice, and the website and awards show are produced by Procter & Gamble
Productions.
The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), the trade
association representing the world’s producers and distributors of independent motion
pictures and television programs. For more information, visit
www.AmericanFilmMarket.com.
Contact:
Steve Long/David Minnihan
Father John Productions, LLC
China: +86 1500-172-6242
US: +1 314-397-3456
Stevenglong@gmail.com
David.Minnihan@gmail.com
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