Open letter from Jim Haggerty: Well, it is done. The First Annual Yellow Ape Film Festival is history. I cannot be more pleased by the amazing turnout to this first-time event and the wonderful response it has received – and still continues to receive! This was an amazing success and yes, we WILL be doing this again! The purpose of this festival was two-fold – I wanted to first provide a forum for talented people to gain attention to their work and talents, to give them an audience to watch their films or their live acts that might not have seen them otherwise that would get turned on to what they do, increasing their fan-base and hopefully allow them to meet the right people and make the right connections to help further their careers. Mission accomplished – we had an auditorium of well over a hundred people who set in rapt attention watching every film and every act. There are not many festivals where every film screened gets that kind of audience. And not to mention any names, but I’ve been told that one of our participants was offered a voice-over gig with a very prestigious network, one actress was offered a role in a feature film based on her performance in the film shown that night, and one of our live acts has gotten a new gig. And these are just the ones I’ve heard about. My other aim was to create an evening of great entertainment. Not just to run film after film to the point that the audience goes numb and starts milling around or leaving after the first hour or so, but an evening that stays fresh and exciting, that keeps coming up with not only an array of quirky and original films in different genres, but also thrilling live acts that keep things fresh and provide a fun mix. I wanted a vaudevillian experience, and we got it. Where else can you see a horror movie, an absurdist comedy, a barbershop quartet, a burlesque act – and more – on a Wednesday night? And I’m so thrilled that this idea worked and the audience, by all accounts, got it. We are already hard at work planning The Second Annual Yellow Ape Film Festival which will be an even bigger show. Details are forthcoming. If you are a filmmaker who feels you have something that’s a little different, that other festivals might not ‘get’ or if you have some act or talent you would like to show off, please reach out to us. We will put you in front of a great audience and help you to connect with the right people. And if you missed our show this year, mark your calendars for next year and join the party. From the minute I got home late Wednesday night to this Saturday morning I’m sitting here writing this my Facebook has been blowing up with posts and photos praising our event and press is still continuing to come in. To those who did attend I want to thank you all for coming and making this first time event such a success. I know many of you came to support a specific filmmaker or performer, but I love that everyone showed up on time and stuck it out to the end to watch all the great entertainment and were completely respectful and supportive of everyone there. You were a dynamite audience; I’m thrilled so many of you have been so vocal in your appreciation of our festival. In closing, I want to thank our wonderful filmmakers – Brian DeCicco, Jeff Freeman, Chester Indiviglio, Dave Campfield, Robert Youngren, and our winners Mark Abramowitz, Ben Fiore, and the Snyder Brothers (Phil Snyder and Robert M. Snyder) - all of your work was inspirational, exciting, and best of all entertaining. I’d also like to thank our amazing live performers – Bodyguard, Codi Phoenix, Baron Misuraca, Tami Kelly, Dick Jones, Stimulus, and Rosy Roullette – you all brought the house down in grand style. I must also express my gratitude to the amazing celebrity judge panel – Suzi Lorraine, Keith Crocker, Glenn Andreiev, and Beverly Bonner – thank you for your belief in this when it was just a crazy idea many months ago. It inspired me to keep moving forward knowing that people I respected so much believed enough in what I was doing to lend your names and your time to this. Thank you to the Cinema Arts Centre – Dylan Skolnick, Susan Tromans, Susan Finkelstein, and thanks to Brett Sherris – this could not have been possible without you all. It is always an honor to do anything at this great venue, and you all helped things run incredibly smooth. Thank you to Rafer Guzman, Bob Smith, Stephen Bodi, Steve Strangio, Brian Matus, Anastasia Bosakowski, Adam Ginsberg, Chelsea Goodwin, Mike Fass, and all those who helped get the word out about our show and/or document it. I really appreciate all of your efforts. On a personal note, I would like to thank my family and friends, especially my wife Susan, without whom none of this would have been possible. It is great to have such support. And finally, thanks to Jojo (‘Lady MacDeath’) – you were awesome and were such a help, on and off the stage, thank you so much! I can’t wait to shoot VAULTED with you and to do next year’s show together! I look forward to next year – let’s do it again, even better than the first time! Good luck in all things, Jim Haggerty YELLOW APE PRODUCTIONS ‘Movies for the Midnight Hour’ yellowape.net
Posted on: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 19:52:09 +0000