Feb 212013
 

watching
Any annual event lasting ten years in Salem deserves a big party and today marks the kickoff of the 10th Mid-Valley Video Festival, a celebration of the local filmmakers. Tonight at f-stop Fitzgerald’s, CHEAP FUN starts at 9 pm upstairs in the screening room. Friday night, local auteur Tom Murphy provides a 10-yr retrospective of his films at Northern Lights Theatre Pub and Saturday features new work from Scott Hartmann, Joe Sherlock and a compendium of vintage films from the original festival in 2004.

All shows start around 9 pm. Admission is $3 at Northern Lights, free at f-stop. All shows 21+ only.

Here’s a nice article in the Statesman Journal. Thanks, Carlee Wright!

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013302210011

 Posted by at 11:46 am
Feb 172013
 

Salem’s oldest festival for local creatives celebrates 10 years of celebrating local filmmakers! This year we’re paying homage to directors that have stuck around town for the last decade to keep us entertained. A new feature, CHEAP FUN plays in the screening room at ƒ/stop Fitzgerald’s. Friday bring a retrospective of auteur Tom Murphy and Saturday features shorts form year one mixed with new entries form the same directors.
See you on the big screen!

The schedule for the 10TH ANNUAL MID-VALLEY VIDEO FESTIVAL is in!!!

* * * All screenings are for those 21 and older * * *

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Location: ƒ/Stop Fitzgerald’s Public House – 335 Grove St. NE Salem Oregon 97301
Time: 9pm
Cost: Free

“CHEAP FUN” a full-length film by Writer/Director Zach Sutherland.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Location: Northern Lights Theater
Time: 9:15pm
Cost: $3

SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL FILMMAKER TOM MURPHY
“The Exit” 2012 10 mins
“The Ass” 2005. 20 mins. “Some Guy Named Albert” 2007 20 mins “Holy Smokes!” 2010 10 mins”The Last Laugh” 2010 10 minsMiscellaneous Videos”Depression” 2006 2 mins PSA stlye comedy”No Class” 6 mins 2009 PSA stlye comedy”Fallesbios” 7 mins 2010 Mockumentary”Paranormal Plus” 30 sec 2010 Commercial”Noon @ Midnight” 4 mins 2007 Music Video

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23
Location: Northern Lights Theater
Time: 9:00pm
Cost: $3

A brief look back at some older short films of year one of the MVVF, and some new items of definite interest from a new crop of writer/directors:
“Evol” – Music Video – Mad Anthony
“Hollywood Action Film” – Alan Winstone and Adi Mishra
“Looking For X” – Bill Kelley, Arthouse Productions
“What A Muffin You Got” – Ron Turner, Justice Productions
“Troll Products” – Wayne and Phil Sturgill
“Robin in the Hood” – Thomas Murphy
“The Evil Clergymen” – Bill Kelley, Arthouse Productions
“Odious” – Alan Winstone
“Mime Control” – Adrian Finchley, Allaboutme Productions
“Assassin” – Nat Cohn
“Bodies” – Music Video – Kirk Kindle and Slow Children
“Whodunnit” – Thomas Murphy
“Mascots” – Scott Hartman
“Keep Going” – Darren Holmquist, Dardrex Productions & Atom Phly Media
“Superstar” – Joe Sherlock
“The Popcorn of Doom” – Alan Winston

 Posted by at 11:07 am
Oct 082012
 

Has it really been 10 years since local filmmakers got together and started this quirky event? It seems like yesterday when the idea of an annual festival celebrating the passion of local auteurs was launched onto the screen. Now, after judging and screening hundreds of films from around the world every year, we’re opening the Call for Entries for the 10th annual Mid-Valley Video Festival, scheduled for February 21-23, 2013 at Northern Lights Theatre Pub and ƒ/stop Fitzgerald’s.

We’ve witnessed the growth of the filmmaking community and discovered great talent throughout the mid-valley. What we lack in budget, we more than make up for in creativity. Join us as we celebrate 10 years together as the authentic annual film festival in Salem.

 Posted by at 10:25 am
Feb 202012
 

Come cheer for your favorite local filmmaker and support local creativity!

HERE IT IS! THE 2012 MID VALLEY VIDEO FESTIVAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEKEND:

THURSDAY February 23@ ƒ/Stop Fitzgerald’s Public House

7:00PM – BREW INTERVIEW WITH DON DARST (21+, Free)
18min, Documentary. An interview with backyard brewmaster, Don Darst, as he gives us the lowdown on how and why he became a home brewer.

7:30PM – SULTAN OF SUDS WITH DON DARST (21+, Free)
59min, Documentary. Don shows us the step-by-step process of how he makes beer, right in his own garage.

9:30PM – STAR WARS UNCUT (21+, Free)
2hrs, Spoof. Imagine a classic film’s individual scenes each recreated by different groups of people,
and then mashing them together to form one big movie.

FRIDAY February 24@ Northern Lights Theatre Pub

6:30PM – SHORTS COLLECTION: PAST AND PRESENT (21+, $3)
We make room for some inspiring new short films, as well as honor some old favorites.

WE ARE BLOOD
15min, Martial Arts/Drama. CJ is constantly being bullied, and while his friend is more than willing to cover his back,
CJ knows that some fights he needs to fight for himself.

BLACK SANTA’S REVENGE
20min, Dark Comedy. When Santa finds out there are criminals trying to steal Christmas from the kids,
he puts them on the naughty list and drops the hammer on them… hard.

THE GIFT
6min, Suspense. A small girl receives a gift in the mail, but when eerie things start happening,
it’s up to her to put things right.

YOU’RE LATE
8min, Dark Comedy. Patience just isn’t a virtue with some people, as shown here when
this poor guy can’t get a call back from his buddy.

THE ADVENTURE
22min, Dry Comedy. A couple goes on a leisurely drive through the woods when they are interrupted by a mime doing his act… or is it an act at all?

CUBE DWELLERS
35min, Comedy. Oh, the rough life of being a new-hire at a big
company, where the cubicles are small and the supervisors loathed.

8:30PM – NORTHWEST FILMMAKER SPOTLIGHT: JOE SHERLOCK (21+, $3)

SCENT OF THE SASQUATCH
13min, Horror. When trying out a new animal pheromone based perfume, Kristi gets some unwanted
attention out in the middle of the forest.

TWISTED FATES
83min, Horror. A trio of suspenseful horror stories, each with a number of plot twists, and a heaping helping of blood. Q&A with Joe afterwards.

SATURDAY February 25@ Pop Up Art Gallery

2:00PM – CITIZEN JOURNALISM 101 – GETTING THE STORY (Free)
Learn how to write and film your story with a smartphone. Presented by
Ross Swartzendruber, Salem Creative Network

4:00PM SUPER HERO MASK MAKING (Free)
Local filmmaker Casey Ocupe demonstrates methods to create props inexpensively. (Free)

SATURDAY February 25@ Northern Lights Theatre Pub

4:30PM LOCAL FILMMAKER PANEL ($3)
Filmmaking instructor Rand presents “10 stupid mistakes by beginning filmmakers” followed by a panel discussion and a
kiteboarding film.

6:30PM – SPANISH SHORTS (21+, $3)
Our friends over at Promofest keep sending us some subtitled gems.

ULTIMO BESO EN ROMA (LAST KISS IN ROME)
19min, Criminal Drama. When dealing with organized crime, sooner or later you’ll find yourself at the
wrong end of a gun, whichever end that may be.

EL DESPEGUE DEL TRIMOTOR (THE LAUNCH OF THE TRIMOTOR)
18min, Drama. With the addition of a new bright red sofa in her living room, young Eleanor’s imagination
has a whole new subject to play with.

THE ASTRONAUT ON THE ROOF
12min, Comedy. Two scriptwriters write a movie about two scriptwriters who write a movie about a teenage
couple… oh, yeah, and there’s an astronaut.

RIO ARRIBA (UP RIVER)
20min, Animated Drama. A young man with recent memory loss is interrogated by who he thinks is a
police officer, but nothing is as it seems.

ERASE UNA VEZ… EL WESTERN (ONCE UPON A TIME… THE WESTERN)
14min, Western. Two cowboys meet to finish a pact they made with each other long ago, much
to the dispute of the wife of one of the men.

NO
10min, Dark Drama. A professional hand model develops a grotesque growth on his hand that
drives him down a path of self destruction.

8:30PM – HOW TO KILL YOUR BOSS (preceded by ASTRONAUT ON THE ROOF) (21+, $3)
100min, Comedy. Like most twenty-something, would-be writers, James’ retail day job is a complete nightmare, and adding to his
misery is his overbearing jerk of a boss, Sprague. One day James reveals to his friend that he vented his frustrations by drawing
out a detailed plan to kill Sprague, but with no intention of ever carrying it out. The next day when James finds his plans are missing,
he fears that any murderous action against Sprague will be pinned on him.

THE ASTRONAUT ON THE ROOF
12min, Comedy. Two scriptwriters write a movie about two scriptwriters who write a movie about a teenage
couple… oh, yeah, and there’s an astronaut.

 Posted by at 5:09 pm
Dec 042011
 

Do you want to see your film on the big screen? Salem’s oldest film festival is accepting submissions for the 9th annual Mid-Valley Video Festival on February 23-25, 2012. More than 500 independent films have been exhibited in the festival and we’re looking forward to screening your film.
You can enter online here: http://mvvfest.org/entry-form/

 Posted by at 12:33 pm
Feb 202011
 

Thursday, February 24

f-stop Fitzgerald’s
6:00 Filmmakers Dinner Join directors for dinner and a show.
8:00 The Orenco Project K. Shawn Edgar Four years of conflict between a city government, their plans for growth, and the continuity and integrity of the historic neighborhood known as Orenco.
9:30 Hope for a Change John Wilson Featured in this timely documentary are Dr. David Suzuki, Chris Turner and Dr. Hermann Scheer, the architect of the German Renewable Energy Act.

Friday, February 25

Northern Light Theatre Pub
Spanish language shorts (w/subtitles)
6:00 Peter Pan’s Yard Jesus Urda Pedro has a fixation on sword-fighting and adventure movies that he reenacts in his yard with his companions. Time passes and yet Pedro seems to be trapped in the fantasy world of his childhood.
6:24 Thunderbolt and the Mermaid Diego Sanchadrian It is said that dreams are unreachable, for they are far away, hiding behind the stars.BUt in order to make them come true you do not have to know where they hide; you just have to be bold enough to chase them in the deepest sea and dare to faster than mermaids…
6:35 The Cortege Marina Seresky Capi is the oldest gravedigger in the cemetery.Every month he waits for Marta to take flowers to the grave of her husband. She is his last hope.
6:49 A Story without Words Pepe Carrasco Poli is deaf and he needs to know what happened in the Spanish Civil War. His grandfather could help him but he is in the hospital and he can only move his arm. A chess set will be the only way to show Poli the truth of that war.
7:07 Salvation Pedro Jean R. A woman walks enjoying the freedom of nature, but after this dream, your reality is being locked in a strange cell under control of a doctor.
7:15 From the Beginning Jezabel Martinez Luisa, an old woman who failed at her attempt of becoming a violinist, is frustrated with her granddaughter’s refusal to learn the instrument. She begins playing again to help her granddaughter learn and ends up in a competition.
7:29 The Red Curtain Alain Deymier An Oedipus without a complex, two boys, flee the city and are condemned to drift. Jose, will journey to solve the mystery of his identity, providing a contemporary vision of an ancestral myth.
8:05 End

8:30 Friday Night Feature
8:30 F/NIGHT Chuck Magee Cinema verite at F-Stop-Fitzgerald’s
9:01 The Corners Jon Meyer A dark Portland drama about intersecting lives and the consequences of their decisions.

f-stop Fitzgerald’s
10:00 If It Ain’t Cheap, It Ain’t Punk Joe Biel See how the DIY punk movement has positively impacted their communities.
11:00 Birth of a Music Festival Kate Carlson and Michelle Kowalewski A documentary about the first Midwest Music Fest in Winona, Minnesota

Saturday, February 26

CCTV Studio 2

11:00 Acting with Bob Olin Film actor Bob Olin shares tips and tricks to help filmmakers with independent production.

4:00 The Grade Hollie Olson Nicole is just your average college student trying to make her father proud of her……but at what cost?
4:07 Coast Guard SPAR Marilyn Johnston Documents the initial Coast Guard SPAR program that allowed women to serve during World War II.
4:14 The Sheriff Christopher B The Sheriff comes to town with some live music.
4:21 Stormin Norman Bruce Arrington Nerdy teenager must pass 3 tests to join cool basketball group.
4:31 Freelance: Episode 1 Kelsey A. Lukens Friedrick attends his first job interview in years and finds he may be under qualified… to the extreme.
4:48 Help for Haiti Paul Fourdier A personal account of two volunteers on their first medical mission.
5:00 The Clarke Liz Hall An evil teacher tries to take over the school.
5:31 The Corners Jon Meyer A dark Portland drama about intersecting lives and the consequences of their decisions.
5:48 End

6:30 Saturday Night Feature

6:30 The Darkest Corner of Paradise Henry Weintraub When college graduate, Peter Landsman, moves to the city to pursue a career in professional accounting, he finds himself in a situation far less predictable. With the disappearance of a mysterious woman, Landsman is lured into an underworld of black market traders and killers.

8:30 Down and Dirty Shorts

8:30 Doom Tube Rev. Christoff Molesworth A satrical animated short cautionary tale warning of the dangers lurking within American television.
8:35 Lost in Heaven Scott Hartmann James and Henry go into the community to preach the word, where they meet Michael, who truly believes he is Lost In Heaven.
8:45 Beach People Rev. Christoff Molesworth A brief film noir, inspired by The Holy Bible, that allows the audience to interpret their own message.
8:51 Sunday on the Set with George Mike Justice "Love Never Dies — Not Even When Snuff Filmmakers Rip Your Boyfriend’s Arms Off"
8:54 James vs Reality Chris Wilson James, an escaped mental patient, believes he has super powers and is the only one who can save the planet!
9:10 No Request Bob Olin Sometimes appearances can be deceiving, and sometimes they can enlightening.
9:18 Zebra a music video for Last Prick Standing Karl Lind Director/producer Music video for Last Prick Standing’s song, Zebra.
9:21 Welcome Sister Robert J. Olin Sorority sisters go jogging in the woods. What could go wrong?
9:33 122 Random Seconds Karl Lind "A tiny slice of life perfectly captured" – Kenneth Turan, LA Times Film Critic and Judge for the 33rd NW Film Festival
9:36 Charles Bronson Says Karl Lind Director/producer A tough guy dance to the death starring America’s favorite vigilante.
9:50 Bum Voyage John Allen Your trash is these fellas treasures
10:30 End

f-stop Fitzgerald’s
2:00 The Notorious Newman Brothers Jason Butler The film the Mafia wish never got made.
4:00 HOLD Frank Mosley A young couple’s relationship after the wife has been raped by a home intruder.
11:00 How to Kill Your Boss J. Brooks James hates his boss and has to stop him from being killed by his premeditated plan.

 Posted by at 11:56 pm
Nov 072010
 

Salem’s original film festival returns for the 8th year and the call for entries is officially open. Join the fun and get your film seen on the big screen. In addition to screenings, we’ll have a filmmakers dinner at ƒ/stop Fitzgerald’s, more workshops and fun with new and returning filmmakers. Get in on the action by entering today!

Online entry form

 Posted by at 4:39 pm
Jan 142010
 

The countdown is on!  The 7th Annual Mid-Valley Video Festival arrives February 26th & 27th!  Look for movie listings coming soon!

We’ve got a small truckload of local short films, videos, and other surprises.  Come see what all the fuzz is all about!  (fuzz not fuss)

Want to be a part of the Mid-Valley Video Fest team?  Come down to ƒ/stop Fitzgerald’s and talk to Kirk or Darren.

 Posted by at 2:18 pm