independent film

Seashells By Natalie Neal

C2O Editor Citizens body, independent film, natalie neal, seashells 0

Natalie Neal was born and raised with 5 sisters in rural Oregon, where she started photographing at the age of 14. Upon graduating from Brigham Young University with a degree in Photography, she wrote and directed her first short film “Rose and Sophia” that had its world premier at the 2012 Slamdance Film Festival.

Her music and fashion videos have premiered on Nylon Magazine, Material Girl Magazine, Ladygunn, been featured on Promo News, and received Vimeo Staff Pick. In 2014 publisher Number 04 released an artist book of Natalie’s film stills, screenplays, and selected photographs. Her most recent short film “Seashells” premiers this week at the Oaxaca International Film Festival. Natalie shares her thoughts on puberty and her new film with Citizens of Culture .

“Seashells” is a coming-of age story created for anyone who has ever had a rough time with puberty, but I especially made it for men and women who were young-ish in 1998, when the film takes place. In the film, fourth grader Valentina reluctantly takes her first steps into womanhood: she receives her first training bra. She is aided in her attempts to cope with her embarrassment by her mom, the Spice Girls, and her mermaid Barbie.

I first got the idea to make this project in 2012. In the years leading up to that, I had become really interested in how living an adult life , especially as a woman, is impacted constantly by the pressure to change your decisions based on how your body affects other people, or based on how you are treated because of your body. In my opinion that struggle it totally linked to the onset of puberty when you first need to make a real decision about how you feel about your physical state. When writing the script I got a lot of ideas from one of the earliest times I was uncomfortable with my body. I collected first-bra-stories from a bunch of women I know and pull all my favorite parts together for the script. I was excited to write something that explores how a physical growth mirrors emotional development, and also to address the uncomfortable fact that society is sending mixed messages about our body’s relationship to shame.

Official Website: http://seashellsfilm.com

Twitter and Instagram: @seashellsfilm

Facebook: http://facebook.com/seashellsfilm

IMDB: http://imdb.com/title/tt3121004/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Joan Scheckel: Sweat The Technique

C2O Editor Creative Professional cannes, film, independent film, joan scheckel, sundance 0

At 6608 Lexington Avenue, in the heart of Hollywood, sits the home of Joan Scheckel Filmmaking Labs, a 4,000 square foot gallery, and creative sanctuary. Joan approached the highly sought-after property, now called the Space, as a person who could not afford it. Joan explained to the landlord that what she lacked in financial assets, she made up for with her vision and work ethic. Thankfully, he believed in what Joan was trying to create: a space for the cultivation of creative expression. In 2013 Joan signed the lease, opening the doors to a space she has affectionately nicknamed, “The House of YES”. Since then, the Space has become home to many writers, directors and actors. Using what Joan calls ‘The Technique,’ she works with creators to cultivate their expression by pulling meaning from their lives that translates into their work.

Scheckel has a background in, dance, music, and avant-garde theater. After spending years in New York, and performing in over 200 plays, she was interested in something more. “There was no reason to continue to create work that I did not find meaningful…I’m interested in coherence, in meaning, and real connection. Passionate connection,” Joan explains. Now she collaborates with filmmakers to instill a sense of connection in their own work.

The Technique, as she calls it, has been cultivated for the past 15 years. Joan has contributed to the development of over 402 films including Little Miss Sunshine, Whale Rider, and One Hour Photo, with wins at the Academy Awards, Cannes, the Independent Spirit Awards and a host of others. It is not Joan’s accolades that make her special, but rather her commitment to impacting the individual creator, thus transforming the film industry and how we share stories at large.

With every film she consults on, Joan continues to create a shift in the culture of filmmaking. In an industry that is often criticized as superficial and cutthroat, she cultivates humanity and warmth. Doing so challenges the creators of the film to go deeper into themselves and create from their emotional and spiritual core. “What I am committed to teaching is self-as-source: who I really am and how that expresses itself in the things that I do.” To be able to create a connection with others you have to be connected to yourself. Joan’s workshops are both physically and psychologically intense. Exercises engage the participant’s voice and body, and also call for an immense amount of mental and emotional energy.

Joan offers both labs and private consultations to get creatives to open up in their work and derive meaning from their own lives. The Space is a creative zone that allows people to move freely beyond circumstance, engage, and think. It is a place to connect to meaning and feeling, rather than escape or avoid emotion. Upcoming offerings include a 5-week Filmmaking 1 Lab, a 3-Day Filmmaking Lab in New York and Los Angeles, and a weekly Master Class.

The mission of the Joan Scheckel Filmmaking Labs is to bring together inspired creatives across platforms to create content in new forms for a global audience that craves meaning. It is accomplished through rigorous work and affects every person that experiences the product of that work. The connection of all of us through art creates culture and Joan is a big part of expressing this connection and affecting culture. Visit the Space at 6608 Lexington or Joan’s website to learn more about this exciting community.

www.joanscheckel.com

6608 Lexington Ave, Hollywood, CA

Jet, a short Film by Jordan Chesney

C2O Editor Citizens, Featured, Film creativity, independent film, jet, jordan chesney, kickstarter, los angeles, script, they roared, they roared films, tori chesney 0

As an independent artist it is rare that you will have everything you need to complete your project. You have to make things happen with all the resources at your disposal, help from friends, and loads of creativity. Jordan Chesney, is film maker that has a full understanding of this and has recently re-release a body of work that he was fortune enough to reshoot with a bit more of those resources. Citizens Of Culture sits down with Jordan and his wife, Tori, to discuss the film, the future, and how important it is to have a strong community of artists helping each other

The film is about a fellow named Jet, he’s got a problem. We don’t know what the problem is but he believes the solution is in the barrel of his revolver. Jet point the revolver to his head, and just before he pulls the trigger he sees a little girl. That’s where things get interesting. Enjoi….

It’s apparent that the guy has issues, but I wonder exactly why he is going to try and kill himself in the first place. I asked Jordan about the problem Jet has and why he would want to commit suicide, he let’s me know, ” I needed away to equip him. The film is about deception.” You must ask yourself, “Was this a guy who had a sudden moment of courage to do the right thing?” or ” Or is he just meddling in the affairs of a family and kills two innocent men?” The answer never presents itself which leaves the suspense created in the film lingering in your mind after.

It poses questions about nature as well, knowing that he has nothing to live for, it might seem that his attempt to save the girl is partly fueled by a desired to turn things around for himself as well. The feeling that someone needs you to save them can be incredibly validating but it is unclear if the girl is even in danger. Jordan is clever that way. He, along with Tori run They Roared Films their independent production company. Tori is a screenwriter and fell for Jordan’s drive and passion just after high school, they have been together ever since. The two are looking to fund and film more short films and eventually a feature. In order to do this they need support, but they aren’t afraid to give it also.

Jordan is a regular Kickstarter contributor and the Chesney’s have a revolving door when it comes to guests as Tori describes,”We were one of the firsts to move to L.A. from our area so we are always letting people stay with us while they get settled in LA.” Jordan knows what it means to have to scrape up resources to get a project completed. This is the second version of Jet. The first version was shot un scripted and with no budget, as time passed Jordan was able to gather some funds to reshoot. The Jet: Screenplay is the result, but if you would like to check out the first version here it is below. The difference in the films are about the nuances.

“Help people who need help instead of trying to get in with people who have money,” is Jordan’s advise for getting of on the right foot in LA. Tori explains how the city might have a bad reputation, ” We’ve been in LA for 5 years, and people have the wrong idea. People are more friendly in LA than we’ve experienced in Charlotte, we trade work and share resources. This is exactly what we wanted, to be a part of a community that was creative and cared about us.” It seems they were able to find that here and increasingly we hear this about Los Angeles. Perhaps a city is just what you make it, the energy you feel in a town can have a lot to do with the energy that you bring to it. Jordan and Tori Chesney have brought a great energy and are keeping us fulfilled with great work. They roar indeed.

TheyRoardedFilms.com

jordan@theyroared.com
tori@theyroared.com