Cynematik on IndieWIRE

BY CYNDI GREENING, ARIZONA, USA — I am really happy to report that almost everyone on the crew is doing GREAT. I am so happy and proud of them. They really took their experience in Zambia and turned into great opportunities for themselves. Let's play catch-up with the crew ...

SHAWN DOWNS went straight from being the Gaffer in Zambia to attending the LA Film School. He's been working on tons of films and is highly-regarded by his classmates and professional actors whom he directs. He recently shot his thesis film and I am really excited to see how it all comes together. I'll be blogging about his film in the next couple of days. I've got stills (no footage yet) that have me enthused. With Shawn, I have no doubt that it will be excellent. It was easy to see that the guy was going places.

JARED MOSCHCAU surprised me all to heck. Jared was the Unit Photographer for the doc and one of the youngest crew members. Since he's been back, he has DIRECTED TWO SHORT FILMS and is in pre-production on his third. His newest project is based on a song by the son of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN's Larry McMurtry. With twin brother, JUSTIN, (who is a sound editor and composer), Jared is actively continuing to hone his filmmaking skills. I'll be blogging about his earlier films this week.

Cinematographer CARLOS ESPINOSA and Line Producer M.K. RACINE have continued in their Film Zambia roles by assisting Jared with his projects. The triumvirate have an excellent working relationship that serves them with these projects. Film Zambia storyboarder ERIC AGUIRRE is also on the team of the newest project.

Last month, I blogged about our two New Yorkers. ALEC HART and JACOB FELIX went from members of the documentary crew to full-time positions in the Big Apple. Alec is editing at Subvoyant (a post-production house that often assists with Sundance features). Jacob is the personal assistant to SILENCE OF THE LAMBS director, Jonathan Demme. The guys say that life in NYC is expensive but worth the extra effort for the experience they're gaining.

JENIECE TORANZO had been assisting on the editing of the Film Zambia project but recently accepted a position with MORR FILMS as a post-production editor. She's adding AVID editing to her skill set and really likes her new position. The owner of the company told Jeniece that he was pleasantly surprised how skilled she was and how much she knew as an editor. He said that graduates of other community college programs had been a disappointment. Thus far, Jeniece is doing well and making us proud.

Producer/Writer PAMELA BOWMAN is completing a screenplay that is set on the Reservation that she plans to shoot in late November. She has also been editing the Film Zambia project. Pamela recently went to LA to meet with producers about other projects and took a meeting in New York with HBO.

ROBBY BROWN was doing production work in the Valley. He fell in love and moved to Oklahoma. Robby does freelance editing and shooting. He tells us that there isn't a lot of produciton in OK but he looks for as much work as he can to keep his skills up.

HEATH McKINNEY recently moved to Utah where he works with troubled teens. He ended up rooming with a couple of guys who own their own editing firm. They do a lot of commercial work. Heath is now doing a lot more editing.

MICHAEL MONTESA has been traveling the globe. He's been to San Francisco and NYC. Soon, he'll be going to Europe for five weeks. He recently interviewed to be a crew member on a film project in Ecuador. Looks like Mike's next film project will also be in the southern hemisphere. The film is shooting early next year. We'll keep you informed.

NICK MARSHALL is working on a horror screenplay.

EDGAR RIDER graduated from ASU with a degree in Theater Arts / Acting upon his return to the U.S. He produced the Potato Confrontation.

JABBES MVULA reports that he is talking with European producers in the hopes of raising funds to shoot another film in Zambia within the next year. I'm anxious to see what he's able to put together.

Finally, there are often questions about the status of the films. A rough cut was complete for Sundance but it was just toooooo rough. So, they're being re-cut and should be done soon. As soon as they're ready, you'all will be the first to know!