Sundance 15: A Power Keg Of Diverse Talent

By: Monteque Pope-Le Beau   Storytellers broaden our minds: engaging, provoking, inspiring and ultimately connecting us.   Robert Redford, President and Founder There was  a deep chill in the air as people trickle into Park City. Some of them were local and some had traveled far and wide to attend the 2015 Sundance film Festival. There was an anticipation in the air which  everyone was captured by. … Continue reading Sundance 15: A Power Keg Of Diverse Talent

Bob and the Trees- A Winter Tale for Guys: In Conversation with Writer/Director Diego Ongaro

  By: Vernon Nickerson Edited By: Calleen Page   The Art of Monteque sat down this week with Diego Ongaro, Writer and Director of the 2015 Sundance NEXT feature film Bob and the Trees. We talked about the making of the film and becoming an artist.  Bob and the Trees seems to have a lot of complex undertones about the struggles of life, did you … Continue reading Bob and the Trees- A Winter Tale for Guys: In Conversation with Writer/Director Diego Ongaro

Water And Power Review: A Tale Of Brotherly Love

  By Vernon Nickerson Guns, Gangs, Politicians…and Brotherly Love in LA With the City of Angels as it’s backdrop this is a wonderful mystical tale of love, devotion, heroes,villains and the rise and fall from grace. The story is told with such a minimalist style that makes it is in itself a work of art. Monteque Pope -Le Beau Writer-Director Richard Montoya’s gritty urban fantasy, Water … Continue reading Water And Power Review: A Tale Of Brotherly Love

“Loitering with Intent” A journey of Self Discovery

By: Monteque Pope- Le beau “Loitering with Intent” masterfully shows that sometimes the decisions that we make are not always the best, but sometimes they are what makes us who we are. It is a wonderful chaotic comical statement in which sometimes no matter what we do to right the past; we just can’t go home again. Rafael and Dominic are best friends and actors … Continue reading “Loitering with Intent” A journey of Self Discovery

The Way of the Artist: In conversation with Richard Montoya, Writer/Director of the film, “Water and Power”

By: Vernon Nickerson Edited By: Colleen Page The Art of Monteque sat down this week with Richard Montoya, Writer and Director of the soon-to-be-released film Water and Power. We talked about the making of the film and his journey as an artist.  Water and Power is such a strong and meaningful work. What caused you to create it? RICHARD MONTOYA: I was inspired by the … Continue reading The Way of the Artist: In conversation with Richard Montoya, Writer/Director of the film, “Water and Power”

21st ANNUAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN FILM MARKETPLACE AND S.E. MANLY SHORT FILM SHOWCASE JANUARY 16-18, 2015

  A GREAT DAY IN BLACK HOLLYWOOD – AN EVENING WITH LEGENDARY MICHAEL SCHULTZ A conversation & presentation of 51 Short Films   (Hollywood, CA) – The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC) hosts its 21st Annual African American Film Marketplace and S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase January 16-18, 2015 at Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California 90038 presenting 51 short films, youth films and animated shorts, … Continue reading 21st ANNUAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN FILM MARKETPLACE AND S.E. MANLY SHORT FILM SHOWCASE JANUARY 16-18, 2015

“HITS” to be the first feature film released on BitTorrent Bundle

  DAVID CROSS’ DIRECTORIAL DEBUT “HITS” TO BE RELEASED IN THEATERS AND BITTORRENT AS PAY-WHAT-YOU-WANT FEATURE STARTING      FEBRUARY 13 Los Angeles, CA (January 7, 2014) – Honora announced today that it will release HITS in February 2015 as a pay-what-you-want film, in partnership with BitTorrent, Inc.  “HITS”, written and directed by David Cross, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2014. On February 13, it will … Continue reading “HITS” to be the first feature film released on BitTorrent Bundle

SUNDANCE INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES JURY MEMBERS FOR 2015 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

Comedian Tig Notaro will host the Festival’s feature film awards ceremony on January 31 in Park City, which will be live streamed at sundance.org. Included on Business Insider’s list of “50 Women Who Are Changing the World” and Rolling Stone‘s list of “50 Funniest People Now,” Notaro was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2014 for her sophomore release LIVE. Still a favorite on Conan and This American Life, and host of her weekly podcast, Professor … Continue reading SUNDANCE INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES JURY MEMBERS FOR 2015 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

Blake Robbins Interview: Creating Art With Film

By: Monteque Pope-Le Beau Edited By: Colleen Page Mr. Blake Robbins is an actor’s actor who believes in respecting the moment. The very element that brings the performance to life turning an average movie from being just a film into a art piece. The film “The Sublime and Beautiful” is directed and written by  Mr. Blake Edwards which he also stars in.  It is a … Continue reading Blake Robbins Interview: Creating Art With Film

2014 AFI Film Festival Review: “Selma”, Ava DuVernay’s Powerful Story

By Monteque Pope-Le Beau Director Ava DuVernay’s “Selma” is the hard reality in the life of revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King jr. (David Oyelowo) who was the lightning rod for change  in  the Civil Rights at a time when there was so little hope and forever altered history. “Selma” is not just a story of a movement, but also a story about … Continue reading 2014 AFI Film Festival Review: “Selma”, Ava DuVernay’s Powerful Story

The Beauty And Tragedy Of “The Sublime and Beautiful”

  By Monteque Pope-Le Beau Tragedy can strike on the most ordinary day and sometimes love is not enough to soothe the pain after a devastating loss. Director Blake Robbins masterfully paints a interweaving story dealing with family, relationships, and loss with a eye of a great artist. He skillfully takes one on a journey in this surreal moment which exist in the life of … Continue reading The Beauty And Tragedy Of “The Sublime and Beautiful”

SUNDANCE INSTITUTE ADDS MORE TO THE 2015 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

Sundance Institute today announced the addition of 10 films, events and New Frontier installations to the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, January 22 to February 1 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. The Festival is is the centerpiece of the year-round public programs for the Institute, which also hosts 24 residency labs and grants more than $2.5 million to independent artists each … Continue reading SUNDANCE INSTITUTE ADDS MORE TO THE 2015 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

2014 AFI Film Festival Wrap Up

 By Monteque Pope-Le Beau and Austin Winter-Chase As The Art Of Monteque says goodbye to the 2014 AFI Film Festival, we would like to touch on a few festival highlights. Yes, there were a few hiccups, misunderstandings, a few people getting a bit too rowdy, and the long lines to see the films were way too long, but the festival volunteers were always there being helpful … Continue reading 2014 AFI Film Festival Wrap Up

SUNDANCE INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES SPOTLIGHT, PARK CITY AT MIDNIGHT, NEW FRONTIER FOR 2015 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

  Park City, UT — Sundance Institute announced the films selected to screen in the 2015 Sundance Film Festival out-of-competition sections Spotlight and Park City at Midnight, as well as the films and installations to be featured in the New Frontier program. The Festival, which takes place January 22 to February 1 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah, is the centerpiece of … Continue reading SUNDANCE INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES SPOTLIGHT, PARK CITY AT MIDNIGHT, NEW FRONTIER FOR 2015 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

SLAMDANCE 2015 ANNOUNCES DIVERSE SPECIAL SCREENINGS AND BEYOND

  FROM “BASTARDS” TO “FEMALE PERVERT” PROGRAM LINE UP AND SHORT FILM COMPETITIONS   Slamdance brings powerful films from Israel, Iceland, China, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, South Korea and Greece, with San Francisco’s Batkid, Olympic veteran Stella Walsh and acclaimed German architect Gottfried Böhm; casts include Zach McGowan, Sophie Thompson, Fran Kranz, Joel Murray, Pedro Pascal, Yvette Yates and Joey Kern   (LOS ANGELES – December 8, 2014) – Slamdance today … Continue reading SLAMDANCE 2015 ANNOUNCES DIVERSE SPECIAL SCREENINGS AND BEYOND

2015 Sundance film Festival Line Up Announced

  Park City, UT — Sundance Institute announced the films selected to screen in the out-of-competition Premieres and Documentary Premieres sections, as well as the selections for a new Special Events section and participants for two panels, at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, January 22 to February 1 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. The Festival is the centerpiece of the … Continue reading 2015 Sundance film Festival Line Up Announced

SLAMDANCE 2015 ANNOUNCES FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

PACKED WITH WORLD PREMIERES AND INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE FROM EMERGING FILMMAKERS   Lineup highlights first-time directors from around the globe including Turkey, Brazil, Austria, Italy and Ireland; distinguished casts include: Ashley Benson, Alex Karpovsky, Larry Fessenden, Brian Gleeson, Pras Michel, and WWE Veterans – Jake “the Snake” Roberts, Chris Jericho, and Steve Austin     LOS ANGELES, CA  The Slamdance Film Festival today announced their Narrative and … Continue reading SLAMDANCE 2015 ANNOUNCES FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

A celebration Of The Films Of Robert Downey Sr.

  In a time when freedom of expression was thunderous cry of a generation wanting to change society and the world as they saw it, Robert Downey Sr. became the striking image of the independent underground filmmaker. With his creative genius and artistic eye he took beat cinema to a new level of creative expression. The Friends of Cinefamily Weekend will present TRUTH AND SOUL … Continue reading A celebration Of The Films Of Robert Downey Sr.

2014 AFI Film Festival Review: “A Most Violent Year”

By Austin Winter-Chase A tale of doing what’s right or either doing what’s easy. Sometimes the risk is not in trying to make your dreams come true, but in trying to be true to yourself. In “A Most Violent Year” we follow a young married couple; Abel and Anna Morales (Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastin) as  they try to achieve the American dream  in the most … Continue reading 2014 AFI Film Festival Review: “A Most Violent Year”

Six Projects Selected for 10th Anniversary Rawi Screenwriters Lab in Jordan

  Led by The Royal Film Commission-Jordan in Consultation with Sundance Institute, Lab Supports Emerging Filmmakers from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine Anniversary Activities Include Public Panel with Award-Winning Lab Filmmaker Haifaa Al Mansour (Wadjda)    Los Angeles, CA —Sundance Institute and The Royal Film Commission – Jordan announced the six projects selected for the 10th anniversary of the Rawi Screenwriters Lab, which took place … Continue reading Six Projects Selected for 10th Anniversary Rawi Screenwriters Lab in Jordan