Phoenix Intern

Hollywood may be thousands of miles away on another coast, but that does not mean local filmmakers can't get in on the lights, camera, and action in the Phoenixville area. On Sunday, November 15 local music venue and cafée Chaplin's the Music Cafée, located in Spring City, was the set for the soon-to-be-released film Pisces, written and directed by Samantha Paradise.

"Two unsuited zodiac signs struggle with their differences in astrological perspective," the movie's description reads. "Idealistic Pisces and obstinate Capricorn fulfill an omen of tragic fortune when adoration for their respective arts violently conflicts with their relationship."

Production for the film went through November and December 2009. Postproduction stages begin this December through February 2010. The film's projected release date is March 2010.

Director Samantha Paradise describes the film as "surrealism" and compares its qualities to movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Requiem for a Dream.

This is not Samantha's first film, however. After working on various documentaries and other films and working for a film director in New York City, Samantha decided it was now her turn to do her own thing.

According to Samantha, the film focuses on "everything from the zodiac to the tarot to the music scene."

Because of this, Chaplin's the Music Cafée was the ideal location for a film site. "I love the way this venue looks!" she said.

Chaplin's co-owner Dennis Coleman, who agreed to the filming, felt supporting the arts, especially local talents, was very important. Calling the venue's abilities "diverse," Dennis called the cafée "a very cool place for local and regional musicians to perform" and his hoping this filming might bring some publicity to a hidden, but valuable local gem.

Once the film is completed this spring, Samantha has high hopes to promote the film on the festival circuit and is looking for "anything and everything," but mainly looks toward awards that focus on shorter films. Continued...

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Although some of the filming took place at Chaplin's, there were outdoor garden shots as well. Two gardens, an "alive" garden and a "dead" garden were constructed for the film.

As a graduate from Penn State University with a film/video degree, Samantha's favorite aspects of filming come from transforming the film into a final product. "I love editing and seeing things come together," she said.

Gathering a crew and cast for the film required many auditions and interviews. Some of her crew has worked with her on past projects; others were discovered on Craigslist and film.org. Auditions were held in Philadelphia and were open to anyone interested in pursuing a further acting career.

The cast is a total of five actors and actresses with 15-17 extras and the crew numbers generally hover around ten.

With a story focusing so intensely on the zodiac and astrology, it would only be appropriate if some good karma resulted from the cast's and crew's hard work—maybe several film awards will be written in the cards.

For more information regarding the production, visit www.piscesfilm.webs.com.

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Phoenix Intern

Hollywood may be thousands of miles away on another coast, but that does not mean local filmmakers can't get in on the lights, camera, and action in the Phoenixville area. On Sunday, November 15 local music venue and cafée Chaplin's the Music Cafée, located in Spring City, was the set for the soon-to-be-released film Pisces, written and directed by Samantha Paradise.

"Two unsuited zodiac signs struggle with their differences in astrological perspective," the movie's description reads. "Idealistic Pisces and obstinate Capricorn fulfill an omen of tragic fortune when adoration for their respective arts violently conflicts with their relationship."

Production for the film went through November and December 2009. Postproduction stages begin this December through February 2010. The film's projected release date is March 2010.

Director Samantha Paradise describes the film as "surrealism" and compares its qualities to movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Requiem for a Dream.

This is not Samantha's first film, however. After working on various documentaries and other films and working for a film director in New York City, Samantha decided it was now her turn to do her own thing.

According to Samantha, the film focuses on "everything from the zodiac to the tarot to the music scene."

Because of this, Chaplin's the Music Cafée was the ideal location for a film site. "I love the way this venue looks!" she said.

Chaplin's co-owner Dennis Coleman, who agreed to the filming, felt supporting the arts, especially local talents, was very important. Calling the venue's abilities "diverse," Dennis called the cafée "a very cool place for local and regional musicians to perform" and his hoping this filming might bring some publicity to a hidden, but valuable local gem.

Once the film is completed this spring, Samantha has high hopes to promote the film on the festival circuit and is looking for "anything and everything," but mainly looks toward awards that focus on shorter films.

Although some of the filming took place at Chaplin's, there were outdoor garden shots as well. Two gardens, an "alive" garden and a "dead" garden were constructed for the film.

As a graduate from Penn State University with a film/video degree, Samantha's favorite aspects of filming come from transforming the film into a final product. "I love editing and seeing things come together," she said.

Gathering a crew and cast for the film required many auditions and interviews. Some of her crew has worked with her on past projects; others were discovered on Craigslist and film.org. Auditions were held in Philadelphia and were open to anyone interested in pursuing a further acting career.

The cast is a total of five actors and actresses with 15-17 extras and the crew numbers generally hover around ten.

With a story focusing so intensely on the zodiac and astrology, it would only be appropriate if some good karma resulted from the cast's and crew's hard work—maybe several film awards will be written in the cards.

For more information regarding the production, visit www.piscesfilm.webs.com.

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