Being Lisa will screen at the following film festivals (check back here for updates!).
For the eighth year, Access Sacramento launches “A Place Called Sacramento” (PCS), a scriptwriting and short film production project for local writers and producers. PCS challenges local scriptwriters to write ten-minute scripts about the people, places, and events that make our community such a unique place to live (entry forms below and on-line at www.accesssacramento.org). The deadline for script submission is noon Wednesday April 18, 2007 in the Access Sacramento office.
All script entries are reviewed by a panel of local professionals and ten are selected. These ten scriptwriter/producers are then introduced to actors and production teams at our “Cast and Crew Call” Wednesday, May 16, 2007. Production teams are formed and the ten films are produced during the summer months. Finally, after weeks of hard work and great fun, friends gather at the World Premiere to a packed house at the CREST Theatre on October 7, 2007.
To view the thirty-one (31) films completed for the 2004, 2005, and 2006 PCS film festivals, go to the web site www.accesssacramento.org. In the seven years of PCS, 69 short films have been created. Access Sacramento is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using community media to build better communications between individuals and groups in Sacramento County. With our television studio, radio and television production equipment, media lab, mobile production truck, and other gear, we train and manage volunteers and share their work on cable radio and television channels 17 & 18.
2007 films will be shown at the Crest Theatre on October 7 at 1:00 p.m.
CONTACT: Ron Cooper, Executive Director Access Sacramento 4623 T Street, Suite A Sacramento, CA. 95819 (916) 456-8600 #112 Access Sacramento
Founded by Allen Cole, the Film Festival in Sacramento started in 1992, based on the student run gay and lesbian film festival at Fresno State. Organizers joined forces with the students from the California State University, Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Alliance and the brothers of the Delta Lambda Phi Fraternity and received grant funds from CSUS Associated Students Inc. to use as seed money and get the Festival started.
Each year brings growth and opportunities to show more films, give more money to beneficiaries, and support our newest program, providing completion grants to film makers.
Ten minutes. A budget of zero. Set in Sacramento.
These are the rules for the 10 short films playing at the Crest Theatre next weekend as part of the eighth annual A Place Called Sacramento Film Festival.
And the amateur filmmakers came through with shots of the American River, Old Sacramento, the Tower Bridge, Cesar Chavez Plaza, Oak Park ... the list goes on. But more than the background, the films display the spirit of Sacramento, says Ron Cooper, executive director of the nonprofit community TV channel Access Sacramento and creator of the event.
“It shows why people choose to live in Sacramento,” he says. “It’s not because it’s two hours from the ocean or skiing. ... They live here because it feels good; they live here because they like the people.”
The 10 films range from the magical properties of a cologne called “The Sac Effect” to a historical visit by Susan B. Anthony. They describe a transgender woman named Lisa and the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on a young local family.
Cooper started the festival to teach amateur filmmakers about digital cameras and editing equipment. What he’s discovered is a cross-section of Sacramento.
“It’s one thing to use the word ‘diversity,’ it’s another thing to demonstrate it and watch it in action and experience it,” he says.
The 10 short films will be shown next Sunday at the Crest Theatre at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $10. For more information, go to www.accesssacramento.org.
LIVE WIRE, Oct 3, 2007
Tune into LiveWire, Wednesday October 3, when our guests will be Filmmaker, Becca Louisell, Director, Gene Hoisington and Actor/Director, Amara Stefani.
http://www.livewiredirt.blogspot.com
Article from 451 Press
“The film that is being considered the highlight of the festival though is Amara Stefani’s 10-minute film Being Lisa. This seems a bit bizarre to me since there wasn’t really anything online about either her or her film. Maybe it’s because it stretches the limits a bit further than traditional gay and lesbian films? After all, the main character is transgender and I’ve only heard of one or two other movies which feature transgender characters. Anyway, it’d be worth checking out just because the critics seem to think it’s so worthwhile. It will be shown during the Saturday matinee which begins at 2:00PM.”
By Jennifer Springer
http://www.about-sacramentoca.com
The Sacramento Bee, October 11, 2007
Gay film festival plots move beyond coming out
By Rachel Leibrock - Bee Staff Writer
“Being Lisa,” starring Matt Mitchell and Amara Stefani, was shot and produced in Sacramento. It’s among the 23 films at this weekend’s 16th annual Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Besides perhaps the obvious, there really isn’t a theme to the 16th annual Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
The festival runs today through Sunday at the Crest Theatre. Twenty-three films from eight nations, including the United States, France, Finland and Iceland, will be featured.
“There’s no real common thread,” acknowledges Patti Barcena, SIGLFF program director. “The criteria is just that we have to like (the film), and that it has to be gay- and lesbian-related.”
Simple enough. Of course, interpretations of “gay- and lesbian-related” have changed significantly since the fest’s 1992 inception, Barcena concedes.
“(When the festival started), the films were totally centered around coming-out stories,” Barcena says.
Now, she says, the selections touch on everything from life in Nazi Germany (“The Red Front”) and commitment-phobes (“Serene Hunter”) to aging (“Signage”).
“They’re all a slice of something in our lives,” Barcena says. “It’s so fun to show these films from around the world (because) they offer different perspectives.”
There is one film in the festival that was shot and produced in Sacramento.
“Being Lisa,” which debuted earlier this month at the A Place Called Sacramento film festival, explores what happens when a business meeting between two business clients—one of whom is a transgender—turns romantic.
Becca Louisell, 33, one of the film’s four producers, directors and writers, says her team is thrilled to be included.
“I really love that (SIGLFF) is international, and I was impressed with all the selections,” Louisell says.
There are three feature-length films, including “Shelter,” a U.S.-produced film about a Southern California skater’s sexual awakening, and “Another Woman,” a French film about what happens when a transgender tries to reconnect with the family she left as a man.
The rest, however, are short films, and the festival will kick off with a program featuring 13 films under 20 minutes.
The reason?
“They’re short and sweet,” Barcena says, with a laugh. “And if someone doesn’t like what’s showing, well, there’s another one coming up.”
But maybe she’s just being modest. After all, Barcena knows that, given the success of such films as “Brokeback Mountain” and TV shows like Showtime’s “The L Word,” there’s been a positive shift in mainstream attitudes toward gay and lesbian issues.
Indeed, Barcena says that festival organizers were actually worried about the possibility of being too much of a good thing.
“Artistically, there is no shortage—there are just a lot of good gay and lesbian films out there,” she says.
Moreover, the festival is further proof of Sacramento’s growing film presence on the world map, Louisell says.
Louisell, who relocated to Sacramento from San Francisco two years ago, says the city easily holds its own.
“I wanted to start making films and I didn’t know there’d be such a great community of filmmakers (in Sacramento,)” Louisell says. “I’ve just been so surprised by all the support and the warm reception we’ve received.”
SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL
WHAT: Screening of 23 films from the United States and around the world
WHEN: Today through Sunday
WHERE: Crest Theatre, 1013 K St.
TICKETS: Individual tickets are $9; a festival pass is $30
INFORMATION: For a complete schedule of films and reception information: www.siglff.org. For ticket information: the Crest box office, (916) 442-7378 or tickets.com.
About the writer:
· The Bee’s Rachel Leibrock can be reached at (916) 321-1176 or rleibrock@sacbee.com. For more on local happenings, read her blog postings at 21Q (www.SacTicket.com/21q).
Outward Magazine
Vol. 20 • Issue 18 • No. 345 • September 27, 2007 • www.outwordmagazine.com
The Genesis of Lisa by Gene Hoisington
Amara Stefani as Lisa, and Matt Mitchell as Jason, in a scene from the
transgendered love story Being Lisa. Filmed in Sacramento, the short film will
premiere at the A Place Called Sacramento Film Festival and will also be
shown at the Sacramento International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
The following fictitious narrative is loosely based on actual events that occurred during the preproduction of the transgender love story Being Lisa, a ten-minute short film completed this past summer by Sacramento filmmakers Becca Louisell, Steven Bourasa, Amara Stefani and Gene Hoisington. Garvin Tieseler did sound and music.
Fade In: Int. Livingroom Of
Gene’s Townhouse – Day
A brainstorming meeting for filmconcepts is in progress. A man and two women sit engaged in
conversation. GENE enters, carrying a tray of beverages and snacks. BECCA, AMARA and STEVEN turn and smile at his approach. Gene places tray on a glass-topped table and sits.
GENE: So does anyone have ideas they would like to share?
STEVEN: How about an expose blowing the lid off the 9/11 cover-up and global oil cartel conspiracy?
BECCA: Well, that’s certainly controversial, but I think we ought to consider doing a hard-hitting
documentary on queer youth and the challenges they face in our gender-oppressive, right-wing,
totalitarian, white male-dominated, imperialistic society.
GENE: Or we could do another re-make of A Star Is Born. I love that film. Judy was breathtaking! So radiant…
AMARA: (rolling her lovely eyes)
That isn’t ‘radiance’ Dear, it’s the effects of shooting too much smack.
GENE: (outraged) Blasphemy!!
And such vicious lies! Poor Judy never had…
AMARA: (cutting him off with a wave of her hand) Personally, I’VE always wanted to see an elegantly simple transgender love story that reflects a common experience. I’m tired of seeing trans-gender stories of prostitution, destitution and exclusion. Why not make a film involving a normal and successful trans female character that experiences a happy ending? It would also be the story of a straight man’s journey in his attraction to a trans woman, thereby making it a crossover film suitable for a wider audience.
STEVEN: (excited) Hey! I think Amara is on to something!
BECCA: (animated) Wow! I agree with Steven. I like it! How about you Gene?
GENE: (pouting) First make her apologize for her libelous attack on poor little Judy. SOME people are obviously far too jaded to appreciate the greatest entertainment legend of our time.
AMARA: (feigning a yawn) Someone fetch me a martini pronto! I’ve suddenly got the mother of all migraines.
Fade Out. Int. Becca’s House –Night
Main room of a quaint 1940’s bungalow in East Sacramento, one of many script-writing sessions over the past weeks is in progress. Steven is seated at a computer, typing furiously. Becca, Amara and Gene slouch listlessly nearby, jaws slack and bodies limp with exhaustion.
STEVEN: (energetic, impatient) Look lively people! We need two more pages of snappy repartee for the Sports Bar sequence! Sorry Mr. Gene, but all your dialogue for that scene is horse poo-poo.
Cut to close-up of Gene, who lies prone on couch, an open notebook covering his face. He doesn’t bother to remove it as he speaks.
GENE: Oh yeah? Who the hell died and made you Queen? Becca! Tell Steven my dialogue stays!
Becca emits another low moan, sinking even deeper into the cushions.
GENE CONT.: Becca? Becca!! Are you listening to me??
AMARA: Can you turn it down a few notches? Your voice is so shrill it hurts my teeth.
GENE: (Sitting up) No one was addressing you! And aren’t you missing some fabulous bargain on the Home Shopping Network?
BECCA: (wearily) Oh for Pete’s sake!
STEVEN: You’re not giving me any clever dialogue people.
GENE: I’ve got it! Lisa and Alex could swap quiche recipes while they arm wrestle each other for shots.
AMARA: Hey! Is that supposed to be some kind of crack?
STEVEN: Let’s focus here gang! We have more work to do.
GENE: I WAS focused. Four weeks and 16 re-writes ago! Fade Out. Ext. The Blue Cue – Afternoon. Amara, Gene, Becca and Steven exit and gather on the sidewalk. They are all smiles.
AMARA: This place will be perfect for the sports bar sequence. It’s beautiful!
GENE: And you’ll be a beautiful leading lady. I can’t believe we got it. Great work Becca!
The group exchanges hugs.
BECCA: Thanks! Michelangelo’s says we can film the restaurant scenes there. So many folks have volunteered their time and talent! We’ve got Jeff on lighting, Jason for sound, Angela and Alison as crew. Garvin will do sound and partial score, not to mention the fine actors, extras and local musicians. Things are really taking shape!
STEVEN: Yes, it’s magical. The planets are all in alignment on this one.
AMARA: Look at all the progress and we’ve even managed not to kill each other.
STEVEN: We’ll start shooting tomorrow.
GENE: (turning pale) SHOOTING? I thought we weren’t going to kill each other!
Everyone bursts into laughter.
AMARA: (stifling a giggle) He means shooting the film, but don’t give me any ideas.
Fade To Black.
Being Lisa will premiere at the Crest Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. as part of the 2007 A Place Called Sacramento Film Festival. As an official selection of the 2007 Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, it will be shown again at the Crest Theatre on
Saturday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m.
Top Notch Films and Parties Highlight this Year’s SIGLFF
October 25, 2007 - November 8, 2007
The Sacramento International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival played at the Crest Theatre, Oct. 11 though the 13. Marking its Sweet Sixteenth year, the festival premiered in Sacramento three full length features and 20 short films, offering something for everyone.
The lineup of films covered the globe including a short film, Being Lisa, made right here in Sacramento. Thank-you to everyone who attended the festival. Besidespresenting excellent film viewing, the festival was a fund-raiser, benefiting Breaking Barriers and the LGBTIQQA Pride Center at Sacramento State. The votes are in and the Audience Favorite for the short film selection was a tie for first place with Groucho and Family Reunion, followed closely by Members Onlyin second place. For the feature films, Shelter was the Audience Favorite. The Festival also had some pretty festive parties, with a kickoff party at Zocalo on September 27, an Opening Night reception at Chops on October 11, an After-Party at Badlands on October 12 and a Champagne Closing Party on October 13 hosted by Barefoot Cellars at the Crest. Here are some pictures from the parties held at Zocalo and Chops. “Special thanks to all our sponsors, we could not do the festival without you,” said the Festival’s Michael Dennis. “And thank-you to everyone who attended the festival. Spread the word, come again next year andbring your friends. Next year’s Festival is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 9 – 11, 2008 at the historic Crest Theater.
www.outwordmagazine.com