SHORT FILM to premiere at L.A. International Women's Film Festival

Blue Seraph Productions’ short film, Missed Conception, will screen in March at the Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival.

“We are so excited to get our very first public screening,” producer J.T. Tepnapa said, “and we hope our fans and friends come out to support actress Sharon Savene in her screenwriting debut.”

Savene called Missed Conception “an extremely intimate story for me. I’m honored by the opportunity to share this with my community.”

'MISSED CONCEPTION' Actor-Writer Sharon Savene

In the film, Savene’s character wrestles with her mental stability as a woman whose history of miscarriages endangers her new pregnancy. Missed Conception is Blue Seraph’s first female-centered production.

Missed Conception screens Sunday, March 25, at 1:45 p.m., in Shorts Program 2, along with the films Dancing with the Moon, Ceiling Skies, Amores Ciegas (Blind Loves), Conduit and The Face.

» BUY TICKETS for Shorts Program 2.

“We’re mostly known for last year’s festival hit, Judas Kiss,” said producer Carlos Pedraza, “but we wanted our production company to branch out to tell more stories about the human experience.”

Tepnapa, who directed Judas Kiss, added, “I loved Sharon’s personal journey in this short film. I really wanted to give her a voice on screen. This is truly her art imitating real-life struggles, and it totally spoke to me.”

Missed Conception also stars Daniel Betances, Steve Infield and multi-award winning actress Nicole Gerth.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL The Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival is produced by the Alliance of Women Filmmakers Inc., which was established by Diana Means to empower women filmmakers to create diverse roles for women.

Each year the festival showcases narratives, documentaries, animation and student short films. The festival’s programming reflects Means’ commitment to educate and inform audiences of social, political and health issues impacting women globally.

Blue Seraph Productions is a Los Angeles-based production company developing features, shorts, commercials and music videos.

Related Links

• Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival
• Missed Conception IMDb entry

Get a peek behind the scenes and meet the stars of 'Judas Kiss' in the 'making of' documentary by award-winning filmmaker Matt Bucy.

LOS ANGELES – Get a look behind the scenes at the genre-busting, time-bending 2011 film festival favorite, “Judas Kiss,” the best-selling movie critics cite as taking gay cinema in a bold direction.

Award-winning documentarian Matt Bucy spent weeks on the set shooting footage for “Judas Kiss: Behind the Scenes,” which chronicles the production of the acclaimed film, the first feature by director J.T. Tepnapa and writer-producer Carlos Pedraza via their production company, Blue Seraph Productions.

All four episodes of the series are available now on the Judas Kiss channel on YouTube. The film itself, distributed by Wolfe Video, is at the top of the sales charts in its category on Amazon in the United States and in Europe. Here’s the first episode:

WATCH THE ENTIRE ‘BEHIND THE SCENES’ SERIES

The first episode of the Web series introduces the film’s stars Charlie David (star of Logo TV’s “Bump,” the TV series “Dante’s Cove,” and the feature, “Mulligans”), Richard Harmon (of AMC’s “The Killing”), Sean Paul Lockhart (aka adult star Brent Corrigan) and Belgian TV and pop star Timo Descamps, as well as director Tepnapa and writer Pedraza.

Critics have lauded the film’s high production values, strong ensemble cast, and its ambitious effort to meld drama, science fiction and magical realism; the film has won multiple awards at film festivals for its screenplay and acting. “Judas Kiss” tells the story of a washed-up filmmaker (David) who returns to his alma mater, where he gets the chance to reshape his destiny.

The four episodes:

• Introduce the principal cast and crew, especially the hot young stars getting so much recent press around the United States.

• Document the creative tension at the heart of the partnership between director Tepnapa and writer-producer Pedraza.

• Explore actor Sean Paul Lockhart’s past as controversial adult film star Brent Corrigan, and what it means for his new career as a mainstream actor.

• Offer a sneak peek at the Bollywood-style end musical number, “If I Fall,” performed by the Judas Kiss cast and crew, joined by the song’s composer, American Idol alumnus Brian Lam.

SELECTED REVIEWS AND AWARDS

• “Brilliant production. Excellent cast.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• “Incredibly original and extraordinarily well-made. Transcends all genres, and features solid performances from really charismatic actors.” (Examiner.com)
• “A deep, insightful film that explores the shadows we run from as gay men and the toxic and self-destructive decisions that can change our lives.” (Edge Network)
• “A metaphysical rumination on lost opportunities, Judas Kiss uses magical realism to convey its message. To that end, the film is pure joy.” (Men of Color blog)
• Best Debut Feature (Q Cinema, Fort Worth, Texas)
• Best Screenplay (Q Films, Long Beach, Calif.)
• First Place, Alternative Spirit (Rhode Island International Film Festival)
• Best Screenwriting (FilmOut San Diego)
• Honorable Mention, Youth Jury for Best Picture (Rhode Island Film Festival)
• Rising Star Award, Sean Lockhart (Q Fest, Philadelphia)
• Official Selection, Frameline 35 (San Francisco)
• Official Selection, NewFest (New York City)
• Official Selection at dozens of other film festivals worldwide

WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION “Judas Kiss” is distributed in North America by Wolfe Video, in the United Kingdom by TLA Releasing, in German-speaking Europe by Pro-Fun Media, and in French-speaking Europe by BQHL.

Blue Seraph Productions is a Los Angeles company headed by Tepnapa and Seattle-based Pedraza. Their previous work on the Web’s longest-running series, Star Trek: New Voyages and Star Trek: Hidden Frontier has been featured in the New York Times, BBC, Variety, Rolling Stone, the Today Show, MSNBC, and other international news outlets.

Tepnapa’s short films include the multiple award-winning parody of 1950s teen health films, “Masturbation: Putting the Fun Into Self-Loving,” the comedy “Drag Queen Heist” and the drama about homeless youth, “Begging for Change.”

WATCH THE OFFICIAL Judas Kiss film festival trailer! The 01:30-minute long trailer introduces the magical campus of Keystone Summit University, as well as the film’s main characters:

• Washed-up filmmaker Zachary Wells (Charlie David)
• Hot young film student Danny Reyes (Richard Harmon)
• His best friend Abbey Park (Julia Morizawa)
• The two guys vying for Danny: fellow filmmaker Chris Wachowsky (Brent Corrigan) and the rich Shane Lyons (Timo Descamps)

Related Links

• Watch all our clips and trailers
• Order the DVD now at Wolfe Video
• ‘Like’ us on Facebook

BEHIND THE SCENES on the set of Judas Kiss with stars Richard Harmon (left) and Charlie David. Director of Photography David Berry sets a light in the background.

Watch this video featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the Judas Kiss shoot this past summer. The video introduces the film’s principal cast and shows off talents of the mostly Seattle-based crew.

The video was shot by the film’s videographer, Matt Bucy, who also edited it together in record time for its premiere at the fundraiser held at the end of August at The Lobby Bar in Seattle.

OTHER NEWS The film wrapped production on September 4, and is well into post-production. Judas Kiss is currently being edited, and preparations are well underway for sound design, visual effects, color correction, soundtrack, the score and other aspects of its completion.

The post-production timeline is scheduled for about six months, which means the film should be ready for exhibition at film festivals around the world starting in Spring 2011.

FIRST CONCEPT poster for Judas Kiss following principal photography.

After 20 days, 12 hours long each, from August 13 to September 4, principal photography for Judas Kiss is complete. Nearly 80 cast and crew in Seattle worked tirelessly to get the job done. Out of 20 days, only one day ran over schedule, and at that only by 30 minutes — unheard of on a film set.

A lot of real-time reactions, comments and photos posted by cast and crew are available on the Judas Kiss: The Movie Fan Page on Facebook (join by pressing the Like button at the top of the page!). We’ll be posting photo galleries and other art here on the official website pretty soon, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video. Subscribe to our RSS feed or join our Facebook page to learn when this content will be posted.

NEXT STEP Judas Kiss now enters post-production, scheduled from now until early 2011, with film festival screenings beginning in 2011. As festival appearances are scheduled, they’ll be posted here and on Facebook, so you can learn when the film will be coming to you.

CHECK OUT the eScape preview at www.eScapeTheSeries.com

LOS ANGELES — What if you woke up one day at summer camp to discover all the adults had disappeared? That’s how the kids’ adventure series, eScape, begins when it comes to the Web this summer, producers announced today.

Created by Mike Feurstein of New York-based MovieQuest Productions and co-produced by Blue Seraph’s partner company, Runic Films, eScape tells the story of a group of campers seemingly abandoned by their counselors. They soon discover they are trapped in a video game that grants them amazing abilities. But in the real world, this game is the object of a power struggle between powerful corporations and mysterious military interests.

The first three seasons of eScape will premiere on the Web this summer on its Web site, www.eScapeTheSeries.com. A trailer and a preview of the show are available on the site now.

“The show tells a great story in the same vein as Lost,” said Feurstein. “Young and older viewers alike connect with its characters’ struggles to make the right life choices in the face of adventure, danger and unimaginable odds.”

eScape’s third season is currently in production in and around Albany, N.Y., starring local actors and school children. The students also worked behind the scenes to help produce the series.

“Wide release of eScape this summer will introduce viewers to the space- and time-bending world of the show,” said Runic Films producer Ben Alpi.  “It’s a world we plan to continue to explore.”

eScape is the latest project from Runic Films, which comprises the creative team behind the Web series Star Trek: Phase II, winner of TV Guide’s Online Video Award for Science Fiction, and nominee for the Hugo and Nebula awards — science fiction’s highest honors.

Alpi, who had contributed visual effects to the first two seasons of eScape, introduced series creator Feurstein to his Runic partners — writer-producer Carlos Pedraza, cinematographer David Berry, and visual effects artists Joël Bellucci and Matt Jolly — after their recent departure from the Trek series.

Watch the Trailer

Feurstein and his young filmmakers have produced movies that have won gold medals in New York state competitions and top prizes in regional film contests. Feurstein himself earned Best Local Filmmaker kudos in readers’ polls from the Albany, N.Y., Times Union, and the Metroland newsweekly. He has also produced an international educational DVD series on autism, contributed to the blockbuster award-winning Guitar Hero video game and owns Cucumber Alley, a film lighting rental company.

“Ben, Carlos and the rest of the Runic guys came aboard to help make the third season of eScape the best yet,” Feurstein said, “and its release on the Web is an exceptional showcase for the cast and crew.”

Runic Films is a production and entertainment company developing original properties for Web, film and television. Now located in Los Angeles, Runic was founded by two brothers in New York, and has grown to a staff of award-winning writers, directors, artists and technicians. Dedicated to upholding the rich traditions of storytelling, Runic Films harnesses cutting-edge technology and visual effects to create amazing worlds for dramatic tales grounded in humanity.

Based in historic Schenectady, N.Y., MovieQuest Productions is a motion picture production company dedicated to offering young people educational opportunities to create quality films.

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Links

• eScape Web site http://www.eScapeTheSeries.com
• Runic Films http://www.runicfilms.com

UNDER FIRE Capt. Kirk (James Cawley, center) narrowly avoids enemy fire while rushing to aid crewmen in Star Trek: Phase II's next episode, ‘Enemy: Starfleet.’

On the heels of the “Blood and Fire, Part 2” release, Star Trek: Phase II has posted the teaser and part of Act 1 of the next episode, “Enemy: Starfleet.”

The episode marks Blue Seraph director J.T. Tepnapa’s debut as Lt. Cmdr. Sulu, and Carlos Pedraza’s turn as First Assistant Director. Blue Seraph cinematographer Dave Berry served as Director of Photography for this episode as well.

Watch preview of ‘Enemy: Starfleet’

STARFLEET SCIENTIST Jenna Yar (Denise Crosby) exposes herself to danger.

Star Trek: Phase II released the second part of “Blood and Fire,” directed by David Gerrold and co-written by Blue Seraph’s Carlos Pedraza.

The episode also features J.T. Tepnapa’s first appearance as Mr. Sulu, Dave Berry’s turn as cinematographer and Joël Bellucci’s amazing visual effects.

Look for a cameo appearance by J.T. Tepnapa as Mr. Sulu in the cafeteria scene.

The new episode is available for both download and streaming here:

Streaming

• Playlist on YouTube
• Online streaming at startrekphase2media.com

Downloads

• startrekphase2.de
• phase2trek.com
• trekwebmaster.com/ (read page and follow links to downloads)
• http://trekminal.no-ip.org

Torrent

• phase2.us

BLUEFIN TUNA and sea turtles are among the sea creatures being counted in the Census of Marine Life. Animation by Lindsay Digital.

Blue Serif, the writing consulting division of Blue Seraph Productions, has been signed to write story concepts and treatments for a video series showcasing the findings of the Census of Marine Life, a decade-long marine research project.

The video production, helmed by Pacific Grove, Calif.-based Lindsay Digital, is being overseen by the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University on the Monterey Bay in California, and funded by a grant from the Sloan Foundation.

Blue Serif’s Carlos Pedraza is writing a four-episode series of short videos that combine HD marine footage, new live-action scenes, still photos, CGI visual effects and 3-D animation in stories that illuminate the key discoveries of the international Census.

The Census of Marine Life is a global network of researchers in more than 80 nations engaged in a 10-year scientific initiative to assess and explain the diversity, distribution, and abundance of life in the oceans. The world’s first comprehensive Census of Marine Life – past, present, and future – will be released in 2010.

More Information

• Los Angeles Times article on the Census of Marine Life
• Census of Marine Life Web site
• Lindsay Digital Web site
• Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Web page about the Census.

ON THEIR OWN Campers in eScape have to fend for themselves when the adults suddenly disappear.

LOS ANGELES — The creative teams behind eScape and the award-winning Web series Star Trek: Phase II, including Blue Seraph writer-producer Carlos Pedraza, have joined forces to produce a new science fiction-adventure series aimed at tweens and teens.

eScape, a reimagining of a series created by MovieQuest Productions, will tell the story of a group of kids who wake up to find all the adults at their summer camp have disappeared. They soon discover they are trapped in a video game that grants them amazing abilities. But in the real world, this game is the object of a power struggle between powerful corporations and mysterious military interests.

The original series, now in its third and final season, was created and produced by Mike Feurstein of MovieQuest Productions. The series was shot in and around Albany, N.Y., and starred local schoolchildren and actors.

Runic Films plans to re-imagine the original series, casting professional actors and scaling up its production values.

DEEPENING MYSTERY The campers of eScape strike out on their own only to find their parents' abandoned cars.

“The original series tells a great story in the same vein as Lost,” said writer-producer Pedraza. “Young and older viewers alike connect with its characters’ struggles to make the right life choices in the face of danger and unimaginable odds.”

Pedraza and his Runic partners — producer-director Ben Alpi, cinematographer David Berry and visual effects supervisor Joël Bellucci — had been shopping for a new project after their recent departure from the Hugo- and Nebula-nominated Web series, Star Trek: Phase II. Alpi had contributed visual effects to the first two seasons of eScape and introduced the Runic staff to series creator Feurstein.

“The premise of the original series really struck us with its originality,” Alpi said. “Mike was able to tell an excellent story, something with great scope, on a very limited budget. We want to take that story to a broader stage.”

Runic’s other lead visual effects artist, Matt Jolly, is also joining the eScape co-production.

Meanwhile, Feurstein and his child actors have produced movies that have won gold medals in New York state competitions and regional contest top prizes. Feurstein himself earned Best Local Filmmaker kudos in readers’ polls from the Albany, N.Y., Times Union, and the Metroland newsweekly. He has also produced an international educational DVD series on autism, contributed to the blockbuster award-winning Guitar Hero video game and owns Cucumber Alley, a film lighting rental company.

“Ben, Carlos and the rest of the Runic guys have been helping with the third season of eScape,” Feurstein said, “and I’m looking forward to working with them on the re-imagining.”

Feurstein’s MovieQuest Productions is currently shooting the final season of eScape on location in the Albany region.

Runic Films is a full-service HD, film and visual effects studio offering cutting-edge development, production and post-production services. Founded in 2001 by two brothers in upstate New York, it has grown to a full staff of award-winning writers, directors, artists and technicians with presence on both coasts. Runic Films also specializes in rich media content for Web and next-generation devices.

MovieQuest Productions, based in Schenectady, N.Y., was created by Mike Feurstein to produce eScape.

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Links

Runic Films http://www.runicfilms.com
MovieQuest Productions http://www.moviequestproductions.com