We the Party - Movie Review

"We The Party" is a teen movie directed by Mario Van Peebles. The film is an interesting take on the life of teens growing up in today's society. Although the teens are influence by gangs, money, sex and school, there is a much deeper meaning to this movie. It reminded me of "Freedom Writers" or "Dangerous Minds" but this time, the similar plot line is told through the eyes of the students. Struggling students pressured by the effects of society are required to do a school project in which they must ask strangers what success means to them and document their responses. The underlying message that success doesn't necessarily mean driving the fancy car, owning the biggest house and havinging the tightest body will certainly get through to teens. Equally, it shows that staying in school and making responsible choices will help you succeed in the long run. This movie preaches a great message without making the audience feel lectured. The entertaining elements allow the movie to be comedic while teaching a moral. Keep in mind this is definitely a teen movie. The scenarios, acting and dialogue are defenitely geared toward a high school student. However, parents can definietly appreciate the moral which is being portrayed and therefore, although the movie is rated R, I think it's worth letting your underage kid see it.

The film features Snoop Dogg, YG, The New Boyz, Mario Van Peebles, Moises Arias, The Rej3ctz, The Pink Dollaz, Michael Jai, Orlando Bloom, Quincy Brown, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Tiny Lister, Melvin Van Peebles, Simone Battle and Mandela Van Peebles.

Check out We the Party on Facebook and check it out in theaters on April 6th!

Written By: Yahaira Flores - Artists On Demand

Interview with up-coming star Alexandra Sgambati of Kevin M. Slee's "Good Knight"

We are once again catching up with our friend Kevin M. Slee, director/producer from LA, California. Together with his film production Artistic Analogies Film Co., Slee had brought us short films such as "The Secret Life of Jonathan Sky" and "Franky, Frankly" directed by Matthew Anderson and stars Mikandrew Perdaris (Franky), Bella Dayne (Chantal,) and Allan Hyde (Madison.)

This time Slee is bringing to us another film titled "Good Knight" and we are fortunate enough to get to know one of the stars of the film, Alexandra Sgambati through a short interview by AOD.

Can you tell us a little about the film "Good Knight" that you worked on with Kevin Slee?

Sure! Good Knight is a romance-gone-awry between a raucous horse tamer and a rebellious farmer’s daughter set in 1940s Northern California.

What was the best part about working on this film? What were some challenges?

Without a doubt the crew and the creative team were the best part. Such a fantastic group of people to work with! Downside? The weather. Most of my costumes were made of really thin material, and we shot on a ranch in Thousand Oaks in the winter. It was freezing.

Have you worked with Mr. Slee in the past?

I haven’t, but enjoyed working with him immensely. Kevin is an actor’s director; that kind of passion is electric.

Can you share a bit about the projects you've done in the past?

The other day I was listening to a bunch of mix CDs I made in high school, and you know what, even though I try to forget, I’m a complete theatre nerd. However in the last couple years I’ve begun transitioning to film and television, my first job being with two of my comedy heroes, Matt Lucas and David Walliams of Little Britain. Needless to say, I had a minor seizure after receiving the call that I booked the job.

How long have you been acting?

Since about the age of seven after my parents pulled me out of dance classes for being too much of a clown… and highly uncoordinated.

How did you get the part in Mr. Slee's project?

A mutual friend suggested to Kevin that I audition for “Juliette”. I attended a casting call in LA and two weeks later we were shooting.

Plans in the future? Any future project you can tell us about?

Recently I was cast as a host of Fox’s Life After Film School, and in the coming months will have the opportunity to interview the creative minds behind Fox’s slate of upcoming films and TV series!

What was the actor-director relationship that you had with Mr. Slee? Any plans to collaborate again?

We've got a feature in the works, "Love Drug," and I can't tell you how excited I am for it. Won't say much at this point, but it's really original and stylized concept kind of in the vain of "500 Days of Summer" and "Garden State."

Any specific project you'd like to work on? Genre? Director? Actors?

Should I give you the abridged version? I can’t help but love everything written by Aaron Sorkin, he’s got such a mind for language and dramatic tension.

Music is another passion, so a film where the soundtrack is heavily integrated into the story’s style would be a blast. Essentially, I’d love to be directed by Cameron Crowe. Something along the lines of Penny Lane in Almost Famous would be a dream role.

Aside from "Good Knight," what other projects are you involved in at the moment?

Theatre is something that will never leave my blood, so right now I’m performing in one of my favorite plays, The Vagina Monologues. We’ve yet to have a boring rehearsal.

Where and when can we watch "Good Knight?"

We’re tentatively looking at an April 21^st release at Chapman University. Right now the post team is hard at work, and though I’ve yet to see any of the cuts, Kevin has been enthusiastically filling me in on every detail.

Here are a few shots from set:

*Big thanks to Kevin M. Slee for this interview. For more info on "Good Knight" please visit their Facebook page.

Final "Franky, Frankly" poster and interview with composer John W. Snyder

Artistic Analogies Film Co.'s "Frankly, Franky" wrapped up on Wednesday. Above is the final poster for the film, provided to us by Artistic Analogies' Kevin M. Slee. And as we wait for the final product, let us get to know another of the talents behind Matthew Anderson's short film, "Franky, Frankly"'s composer, John W. Snyder.

With the help of director/producer Kevin M. Slee, we are able to ask John Snyder a few questions relating to his previous and future work and his projects with Artistic Analogies including the short film "Franky, Frankly."

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Have you worked with Kevin M. Slee before?
Many times. And hopefully many more to come!

What is it like working with Slee and Artistic Analogies Film Co.?
Fantastic. He's a rare breed among young filmmakers and I have every confidence in his continued success. He is curious about everything, has very high standards, and understands the composer's predicament. So many productions are willing to settle for synthetic mockups and poorly written music. I feel the quality and originality of film music lessens as budgets shrink, sampled substitutions take over, and anyone with garageband and loops joins the competition. But no matter the progress of technology, true quality will always take a great deal of investment and experience. Kevin understands this. And he appreciates that getting the music right is just as important as getting a great shot or performance. He gives me a lot of freedom too. At least half of the projects I've worked on with him I've worked without a temp track, which implies a lot of trust. Matt is also fantastic to work with. He loves music, has a wicked good ear, and was responsible for securing our three lead singers.

What were your previous projects prior "Franky, Frankly"?
Oh, wow. Many projects. I'm always working on something - films, commercials, concert music, playing in bands, accompanying, assisting other composers - never seems to end. Which is good, because I have to pay rent! I guess the most recent success was a VW commercial I co-composed on.

What inspiration did you have while creating music for the film?
Matt pitched this idea: three songs in three different styles sung by three different singers. How often does a project like that come along? Matt was going for very specific styles on each cue, so those pre-determined genres of classical, jazz, and 60's pop were necessary influences. Ultimately, I always try to make the director and producers happy while infusing elements that are uniquely me. It's a tricky dance and backfires sometimes, but it's worth it.

What got you into composing?
My parents forcing me into piano lessons! My dad introduced me to the great scores of Goldsmith and others and my mom persisted in finding phenomenal teachers. They really really went out of the way to ensure I received a first rate music education. But it wasn't until I was twenty-one that I started taking composition seriously. I'm attracted to film music because it always presents new worlds, challenges, and relationships, which keeps life exciting and keeps me on my toes. And like texts in vocal music, film music can communicate with more clarity though the message of its film, which is also very appealing to me.

Where do you find inspiration? What composers and film compositions have inspired you?
Books. Keeps new ideas coming. Seeking out new experiences, musical or otherwise, is also important. If a composer's experiences stagnate, his palette will stagnate. I'm also deeply impressed by the attitude of early pre-baroque composers. They had an unequaled brilliance and theistic humility that contrasts with the current cults of hyper individualism. It's a beautiful aesthetic and I believe in it. Modern composers that inspire include Schnittke, Pärt, Golijov, Górecki, Ligeti, and many more. Influential film composers include Nyman, Goldsmith, Marianelli, Goldenthal, Corigiliano, Thomas Newman, Burwell, Shore, and others. Any film associated with them usually inspires me. There are so many great films and scores out there! But if there's one film that consistently makes it to the top of my list it's The Shawshank Redemption.

Any future projects? Projects with Artistic Analogies?
There's always irons in the fire. Gotta hustle to survive! Currently working on a short, a web-series, commercials, some art songs, and a few other very promising possibilities. I think Matt is a uniquely talented director and I can't wait for his next film. And I certainly hope to work on more projects with Artistic Analogies. I know Kevin has a lot of projects in the works and if he doesn't bring me on…well, let's just say I know where he lives!

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Much appreciation to Kevin M. Slee, Artistic Analogies Film Co., and John W. Snyder for making this article possible.

Please check out the preview of "Franky, Frankly"'s soundtrack by John W. Snyder right HERE.

For more information on "Franky, Frankly" check out their Facebook page.

For more updates on Artistic Analogies Film Co.'s on-going and future projects, check out their Facebook and Twitter pages. Director/producer Kevin M. Slee is on Twitter as well.

On Twitter- Matthew Anderson, Mikandrew Perdaris, and Allan Hyde.

SOURCES: Artistic Analogies Film Co.; AllanHydeNews.com

Artistic Analogies Film Co.'s "Franky, Frankly" to be screened in New York

Artistic Analogies Film Co. is planning to screen Matthew Anderson’s short “Franky, Frankly” in New York this summer.

The short film which stars Mikandrew Perdaris, Bella Dayne and Allan Hyde will hopefully be shown in the Saratoga, Albany and New York City area. Details regarding screen dates are still in discussion.

However, campaign to send the cast, including director Matthew Anderson and producer Kevin M. Slee started earlier this week. The campaign aims to raise funds to fulfill the team's goal of sharing the film across the nation. For more information on the campaign, and/or to donate, please visit "Franky, Frankly" on Indiegogo.com.

For more on "Franky, Frankly," visit the film's Facebook page. For updates, follow Artistic Analogies Film Co., producer/director Kevin M. Slee, actor Mikandrew Perdaris, director Matthew Anderson and Allan Hyde on Twitter.

SOURCES: Artistic Analogies Film Co.; AllanHydeNews.com

Artistic Analogies Film Co. Raising Extra Funds to Finish Film

Independent film studio Artistic Analogies Film Co. has created amazing short films including My Friend John Keller, Grey Matter, Eli and The Golden Fish, and The King of Jews to name a few.

Recently, Artistic Analogies Film Co. embarked on another vision this time working on Matthew Anderson's Franky, Frankly, a short film which stars Mikandrew Perdaris, Bella Dayne and Allan Hyde. Another later project from Artistic Analogies Film Co. is Chapman University Film Production student Kevin M. Slee's The Secret Life of Jonathan Sky. In AOD's recent interviews with Slee and Jonathan Sky stars Lexi Sakowitz and Amir Malaklou, we learned more about the films beginning and production process.

Artistic Analogies Film Co. is in the process of finishing this interesting film about Jonathan Sky who "decides it's finally time to get what he deserves, and confronts the long lost love of his life one more time..."

The studio is also currently campaigning to raise funds to help finish the film's color, sound design, and score. To know more about Artistic Analogies Film Co. and its projects and current campaign, check out their FaceBook page or go to this site.

SOURCE: Artistic Analogies Film Co.

Director/Producer Kevin M. Slee Talks About New Project "Jonathan Sky"

Laguna Niguel indie director Kevin M. Slee is a very productive man.

Slee, in behalf of film production company Artistic Analogies Film Co. (which Slee co-founded) has been busy promoting Matthew Anderson's "Franky, Frankly" a short film starring Mikandrew Perdaris, Bella Dayne and Allan Hyde. Slee recently wrapped up filming his new short "The Secret Life of Jonathan Sky" and yours truly was fortunate enough to caught up with this hardworking writer/director/producer.


One-on-one with Kevin M. Slee:

"The Secret Life of Jonathan Sky" is the newest project of Artistic Analogies Film Co. What is it about?
"The Secret Life of Jonathan Sky" is about a man, Mr. Jonathan Sky (Amir Malaklou), who has been obsessing over the rejection he felt in high school when the girl of his dreams, Natalie Jacobson (Lexi Sakowitz), lied to him about going to the prom together. Four years later, Jonathan has thought of nothing else, and decides he wants to see Natalie one last time. The story is about those final moments and about how such immense hurt and rejection can change someone – forever.


You wrote the screenplay and you will be directing it. Who else is going to be part of this film?
Yes, I wrote the script a while back and decided I would like to direct it as my next film to come from Artistic Analogies Film Co. We had an amazing crew and cast involved, including many people from past Artistic Analogies productions. I have wonderful producers, all of whom worked very hard to get this film made. We have Courtney Renee, David Johnson, and James Cox (My Friend Johnny Keller). My Sound Designer is Eric Hoehn (Election Day, The King of the Jews) and we are back with Composer John W. Snyder (Grey Matter).

As far as the cast goes, I was very lucky to secure Lexi Sakowitz as “Natalie Jacobson” early on in the process. Lexi is a wonderfully talented actor, very diverse, honest, and specific. She had to put up with a lot in both rehearsals and during production, emotionally and physically, and I couldn’t have done it with anyone else. I was thrilled to have her for The Secret Life of Jonathan Sky and the fact that I had worked with her as a producer on Artistic Analogies Film Co.’s Election Day (Dir. Zach Wechter) made it even better. I very much look forward to seeing the finished product, and hope to work with her again very soon in whatever capacity I can. I really do expect to see great things from her in the future.

“Jonathan Sky” was much harder to cast. In fact, at a few different times during the pre-production and casting stages I thought I had my “Jonathan”, but then decided that it wasn’t quite right… Luckily, when meeting with Lexi one afternoon she suggested Amir Malaklou and I called him right away. He and Lexi read for me and I was sold – had to have him. Amir is a very intense and intuitive actor, always very specific but always giving something new and exciting. It was a thrill to work with him, and I hope he will come back to Artistic Analogies Film Co. in the future.


How far along in the production is "The Secret Life of Jonathan Sky"?
We wrapped production this past Sunday and are now into the post-production stages. Our Editor, Andrew Hellesen, now has all the footage and we will begin a 1st cut as well as the early scoring stages.



Can you tell us something that sets "The Secret Life of Jonathan Sky" apart from the previous films Artistic Analogies Film Co. has produced and released?
While The Secret Life of Jonathan Sky may be similar to some Artistic Analogies Film Co. productions, I think the issue presented makes it unique. We took an emotion and an event that everyone can relate to in one capacity or another and applied it to a very specific genre. As far as what sets it apart, I am not sure. My goal is to make whatever films I am passionate about and driven to produce or direct so considering differences with past productions doesn’t factor in too much…


One similarity the past Artistic Analogies Film Co.'s productions have is the brilliant music/soundtrack used in each film. Can we expect new compositions for this film as well?
We have John Snyder on board to compose with featured musician Vijay Venkatesh. Snyder has composed many Artistic Analogies Film Co. productions, including Election Day, Franky, Frankly, and Grey Matter (in association with). John is magically diverse in his choices, and always elevates the film in a very delicate way. He never detracts and always finds a way to add just enough. I believe much of this skill comes in his humble, honest, and giving personality. He loves film, music, and working with filmmakers – when you make it about that and not yourself, that’s where it all comes together.


Anything else you would like to add?
I hope you are all able to see the film, and if you would like to keep updates on the production and other Artistic Analogies Film Co. production you can follow us, and the film, on Facebook and Twitter.

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Thank you very much to Kevin for this wonderful opportunity and insight on his new film.

Be sure to tune in tonight, 9:00 PST, on BlogTalkRadio to catch Kevin M. Slee live as he talk about the short "Franky, Frankly." Later on, ArtistsOnDemand will have a chance to speak with "Franky, Frankly" writer/director Matthew Anderson and star Mikandrew Perdaris.

SOURCE: Artistic Analogies Film Co.