"Sorceress" In St. Petersburg, Russia

Filmmaker
Naama Kates

This just in from Entertain Me favorite and friend Naama Kates. The indie film she wrote, directed and starred in Sorceress is headed to a Film Festival in Russia, here is the 411 from Ms. Kates herself: 

"Wheeee! Just got word "Sorceress" is an Official Selection of the White Nights Film Festival in Russia's amazing city of St. Petersburg, from April 17th-20th, just a couple weeks away!"

http://whitenightsfestival.top/en/about 

You go Naama! Nobody does it better than  you! 

While your at it why don't you do yourself a favor and saunter over to Amazon and let Sorceress put a spell on  you. If you love indie film like I do, you'll be glad you did.

Hit the Amazon link at:

https://www.amazon.com/Sorceress-Naama-Kates/dp/B06XBDZBG9/ref=pd_ybh_a_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QXHAZNZXQWMY6VNQHY6F

Sorceress-Magic Or Madness?

Planets of the Universe
Naama Kates

Happy Post Oscar Monday, how about that Best Picture flub? Moving on you may recall a fairly recent interview I did with filmmaker Naama Kates about her indie Sorceress here is the link:

http://mshinafelt.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-sorcery-of-naama-kates.html

Well guess what peeps, it's been released! Here to tell you all about it is a note from Naama herself, read on minions...

Hey. Hey! What is up, hey?

Sooo... Nowadays, making movies is easy. NOT. Nowadays, making movies is frickin' hard. Writing them, shooting them, producing them-- it takes a village. Literally. A big, whopping, fat production, also literally, involving the creative and administrative skills and talents of many, many people. The most collaborative medium of all media. So there's that. To make movies...

And getting anyone to see them, once made, is frickin' hard. Hard, hard, hard!!! Because, well, because it's always been hard, because it's a competitive field, and cuz of democratization of resources, and technology, and various new media outlets, like SVOD platforms, and cuz who cares, cuz everyone has a story, and cuz there are so many good ones already being told, every moment of every day, not just at the cinema or on the telly or the radio, but on your social media feed, and over the phone, and at the neighborhood pub, and, lord knows in any newspaper, and, and, and.

So, not to make a short story longer, and because I have not won any awards* so a long-winded gushing acceptance speech is not in order, I'll refrain from thanking, in this email, all of the incredible people who made this all possible... Also, that's what the credits are for... But I would like to mention my awesome distributor, Global Genesis Group, and in particular Charles Morris Jr. of GGG for taking a chance with me and my film, Sorceress, because now it is available for y'all to see, on-demand on Amazon, for rent, and free if you have Amazon Prime (which I highly recommend as a longtime member for like 5 years now). So, YEAH!

And this is IT:
http://a.co/fzLrOq8

If you wanna know a bit more before you take the plunge, check out the images and synopsis on the Global Genesis site at: http://globalgenesisgroup.com/portfolio-view/sorceress/
Or the review by brilliant philosopher and author, Daniel Coffeen at:
http://hilariousbookbinder.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-beautiful-blur-of-being-on-10.html
And if you wanna, stop by and like the FB movie page (though I really got update that) at:
https://www.facebook.com/srcrssthemovie
And follow on Twitter (gotta get that together too):
https://twitter.com/SorceressMovie

So okay YEAH. Most importantly, drum roll please, just go watch it!!!!!!!! http://a.co/fzLrOq8

Now y'all take care. Be safe. Drink a lot of water and wear sunscreen and a hat. And a scarf and a coat, cuz it's cold.

Love and other indoor sports,
xoxoxo
N

The Sorcery of Naama Kates

Sorceress
Naama Kates 

My first introduction to Naama Kates was as a singer/songwriter, then I came to find out she was so much more. She is also an accomplished actress as well as a screenwriter. Now she can add full fledged filmmaker to her resume' with her directorial debut Sorceress, which recently got some much deserved attention at AFM (American Film Market.) To describe this movie would be unfair to the viewer. It is something one needs to experience on their own terms. 

Me? I loved it! Here to answer five questions about it is none other than the woman behind the madness Ms. Naama Kates! 

MS:  What was the inspiration for the film?

NK: Well to me all of life is an inspiration-- whatever happens, for better or worse, if it ends up as material, I can feel like it was worthwhile... I think that's especially important to remember now, during the hard times.  Film, music, literature, comedy, art in general, reminds us that we're not alone in any of it.

That being said, I started writing what became the film in short pieces of dialogue, impressions, usually from conversations I'd had or heard that felt interesting.  And then the location- Finland- where I did my artist residency, was a huge inspiration.  Other elements of the story, of course, came from my life, and from historical figures I found interesting- like Giordano Bruno, a 16th-century alchemist, and the obsession of the film's protagonist.  I wasn't even sure I wanted to make a film, until I had to write a proposal for the residency program.  Like with most of the bigger decisions in life, I act first, and figure it out later.  

MS:  How did it feel being a first time Director?

NK: I was all over the place!  We shot it over a really short period of time, with what felt like relatively little preparation.  On the other hand, I've worked on films before with even less preparation and planning... I hardly feel like I directed anything; I had great actors and crew and a great cinematographer, and I think those ingredients, paired with a good script, are most vital.  Since I also wrote it, I wasn't so sure about that last part- the good script- haha.  It was my first time doing anything like it.  At times it was sort of incredible-- all these great people were making my ideas happen!  But then I'd think, wait, are they all just doing this because it's the job?  Does anyone actually think this is a good idea?  Checks and balances are important! 

And I couldn't have had a better experience than I did in Finland.  Everyone was so professional, intelligent, humble and straightforward. And so talented!  It's an incredibly progressive society; there is virtually no sexism there and probably never has been, really.  I am extremely grateful for that. 

MS: The Cinematography was amazing, and played a role in the story. Where did you find the cinematographer?

NK: Thank you-- and, indeed!  The cinematographer, Jarkko T. Laine, is a member of the Finnish Society of Cinematographers, like our ASC, which is an invitation-only, very prestigious organization.  In the US, I think it would have been nearly impossible for a first-time filmmaker on my budget to get a member to shoot my movie, without pulling some serious strings.  Because Finland is a much smaller country (only 5 million people) and isn't so crazy when it comes to the movie business, the artists are more accessible; I went to the FSC website and emailed Jarkko directly, and then he brought on the A.D, Ville Gronroos, and A.C., Jenni Riutta, as well as the sound recorder, Akseli Soini.  That was our crew!  And they really brought it to another level. 

MS:  Now, I don't want you to give away the ending, but while I didn't see it coming in hindsight I should have.

NK: Hehe... well, so far I haven't heard from anyone that they saw it coming.  I wanted to leave it somewhat open to interpretation.  I think that, for people who resonate with the movie, it will probably be a somewhat familiar question: am I crazy? Is this real? Is it just a coincidence? Will anyone believe me?... I think most people have those moments, and I think that the answer is never clear.  It was easy to do in the script, but I questioned it during editing-- whether it was too ambiguous.  I didn't have any guidance while I was writing, but had quite a lot of invaluable input during post-production.  I was so connected to it by then, it was impossible to be objective.

MS: To me the film is ultimately about the creative process, what would you  like the audience to take away from their experience? 

NK: I like that.  I think it doesn't have to be about the creative process in the way we usually intend-- like, it doesn't have to literally be about art.  Just about thinking differently, feeling differently, than people around you.  Wanting to be understood, and then maybe feeling that connection with someone, and then losing it.  It's also largely about dealing with loss/grief.  I think those themes are rather universal, and really I just want an audience, period!  Haha!  And ideally, I hope they take that away-- a feeling of being understood, by the film itself... 

Naama on the WWW:

https://twitter.com/naamakates?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/NaamaKates/
https://www.reverbnation.com/naamakates
https://www.youtube.com/user/delilah11
www.imdb.com/name/nm0441809/