Congratulations to Dmitry Povolotsky, who was presented the Roger Smith Shorts ‘09 (Festival Workshop) Bronze Sculpted Creativity Award for his film “Clean the Room” on Saturday, August 22nd. The Judges Panel, which included James Knowles (President, Roger Smith Hotel), Ben Famiglietti (The Weinstein Company), Neil Alumkal (5WPR), Adam Neuhaus (Original Media) and Tommy Popps (Independent Producer) based their decision on 3 criteria: vision, craft and execution.

After deliberation, the judges decided on “Clean the Room” for it’s simple but concise execution; as with all the films, this modern day Cinderella story takes place all within the hotel, in which a dream comes true while a maid cleans the room, all under 6 minutes.

About the Director

Dmitry Povolotsky is a writer, director, and choreographer living in Brooklyn. At the age of ten, he was selected to attend the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow to study classical ballet. After graduating from the academy nine years later, Dmitry was awarded a full scholarship to Juilliard in New York City where he received a BFA in modern dance and choreography.

Dmitry remained in New York City to perform with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet for eight seasons and to teach ballet and choreograph for inner city youth at the Harlem School of the Arts.

After making his first short film in 2003, Dmitry left the dance world to study film at Columbia University Film Division. PAL/SECAM, his thesis film, has played at 40 film festivals all over the world, has won several prestigious film awards and was sold to 6 territories so far.

“Clean the Room”
Written and Directed by Dmitry Povolotsky
Story Idea by Bilge Ebiri

Executive Producers
Brendan Crane
John Knowles

Cast
Maid – Susan Brady
Bobby – Michael Mason
Superstar – Sarah Lilley

Crew
Director of Photography – Christina Voros
Art Direction – Julia Cairo
Assistant Director – Rebecca Conroy
Sound – Marin Conroy
Editor – Julia Kots

Wardrobe Provided by CMarchuska and The Green Room NYC
Special Thanks to the Roger Smith Hotel

Premiers Handout

Special Thanks

For more information on the film, the director or the program, please email: rogersmithshorts@gmail.com

Eclectic Method performed in the Starlight Ballroom at the Roger Smith Hotel on August 21, 2009. 4 projectors, 1 green screen and 6 filmmakers in house to celebrate the final evening of the Roger Smith Shorts film festival. This Eclectic Method Panman Remix marks the beginning of a new collaboration of visual artistry.  

Our first interaction with Eclectic Method was part of the Charity Water event on February 12 2009 as part of the Twestival festivities. 

Stay tuned for more developments.

With the Roger Smith Shorts Festival Workshop coming in mid August,  I am would like to present to you my top 6 actors picks taken from the casting call that took place on June 30th, 2009. The 6 most viewed actors from our casting call on youtube will be automatically entered into the festival. 

Stay tuned for details of the actors draft where the 6 filmmakers will bid for their desired actors from the 58 available.  

Here are my top 6! What are your top 6?

#1. Wanda Ferreiras

 

Wanda was the only one who used all of the space available. She did one in English but her Spanish monologue was very dynamic. A very animated personality. 

 

#2. Matt Semler

 

I have to have Matt in my top three. Matt is a classic Roger Smith personality! 

 

#3. Christina L. Williams

I really like her personality. I also really like her adaptation from Cold Mountain. 

 

#4. Izzy Raskin

 

Great story!

 

#5. Mark Ellmore

 

He has good camera presence. I think he will do well. 

 

#6. Maria Wilson

She draws out the emotions. 

RS Shorts posters!

The Roger Smith Shorts Film Festival poster by Ben Owens is complete! The custom design is indicative of the nature of the Roger Smith Shorts Festival Workshop. The guerilla style filmmaking that will be seen at the Roger Smith Hotel is an anticipated event.

 

What – Roger Smith Shorts Film Festival Workshop

Where – The Roger Smith Hotel, 501 Lexington Ave.

When – August 17-22. 

Visit http://rogersmithshorts.wordpress.com/

The original sketch

Other sketches created for the shorts film festival designed by Ben Owens.  

http://www.phineartdesigns.com/

http://rogersmithlife.com/

Rate, Comment and Share your favorite actors submissions. 

Over 6,000 people tuned in on our USTREAM to watch the 58 monologues of the actors who arrived.

Beginning August 17th, 2009, 6 emerging filmmakers will each create a short film within the confines of the Roger Smith Hotel in 1 week. The top 6 actors with the most YouTube views will automatically advance and be a part of the festival. The top 6 most viewed actors will be announced on August 10th, 2009.

As saturday July 18th, the top 3 most viewed actors submissions on youtube are;

Joe Cummings

Danainan Vin Kridakorn

Katherine Scott

The 3 most discussed videos are;

David Green

Halleluyah Walcott

and Joe Cummings (see above). 

Make sure that you keep on voting, commenting and sharing as the top viewed videos on August 10th, 2009 will automatically submitted into the Roger Smith Shorts film festival. The rest of the actors will be chosen by the filmmakers through a bidding process closer to the start of the film festival. Good Luck and thanks for participating. 

Check out all 58 submissions.

On Tuesday June 30th, 2009 we hosted an actors casting call for the Roger Smith Shorts(Festival Workshop).
Time: 11:00am-5:00pm
Location: Roger Smith Hotel Penthouse, 501 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY 10017

Project: 6 Short Films will be shot at the Roger Smith Hotel by emerging filmmakers in the middle of August. This is all part of the interactive film festival. Social engagement is will be our mission for the next two months. Stay tuned for more information regarding the Roger Smith Shorts.

With a social media strategy we were able to engage 6000 viewers on ustream and cast 58 actors. Of the 58 actors we will be accepting 15 to participate in the Festival Workshop. The filmmakers involved will choose from the catalog of actors that came on Tuesday. It was a competitive acting crowd. Several actors average 4-6 calls a week while others had no acting experience.

Izzy Raskin is a guest of the Roger Smith Hotel and was recomended to audition by the from front desk. He was a highlight performance of the day.

Videos from the casting call will be uploaded to youtube in the upcoming days. The five top viewed videos of the 58 actors will be featured and submitted into the festival automatically. Share the videos with your friends, rate them and post comments on your favorite actor. The top five actors will be picked by popular demand and to participate in the festival.

Thank you to all the actors who participated. It was a great turn out. A very talented crowd.

Check out the Live Recording of the Roger Smith Shorts casting call.

Stay tuned for upcoming events surround the Roger Smith Shorts (Festival Workshop). Visit http://rogersmithshorts.wordpress.com/ for more information.

NYC Open Casting Call – Union and Non Union Short Film

Roger Smith Shorts (Festival Workshop)

Date: June 30th, 2009

Time: 11:00am-5:00pm

Location:  Roger Smith Hotel Penthouse, 501 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY 10017

Project: 6 Short Films by emerging filmmakers

Description:

Casting open to all.  Actors MUST have availability from August 17th – 21st, 2009 for filming.

6 short films will be developed and shot as part of Roger Smith Shorts ‘09 (Festival Workshop).  Additionally, auditions will be streamed live and the recorded auditions will be individually profiled on the Roger Smith Shorts website for casting.

Website:   http://rogersmithshorts.wordpress.com
Contact:   rogersmithshorts@gmail.com