Space City Con Filmmaking Panel

Posted by judithbshields on January 13, 2014
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One of my favorite things about the convention circuit is participating in panels. I enjoy speaking about filmmaking, steampunk, literature, and screenwriting. SpaceCityCon’s panel is up there on my list. It was my pleasure to join Matt Risoldi (monster), Christopher Lowe (tech. dir, props), J’Nean Henderson (costumes), and Peter Kovic (co-editor, documentarist) to talk about the challenges of microbudget filmmaking. One of the things I love about our larger panels is that we share our tools and tricks we used for making a film. -Judith B. Shields

From Land of Nerds:

“Christopher recommends that to build props for a low-budget film you need to find someone who can take a look at random bits of things found in a hardware store. Just a little imagination and a few bits of scrap can go a long way to building some amazing props.”

To read the rest of the article, please go to their great page:

http://landofnerds.com/2014/01/10/frankensteins-monster-space-city-con/

 

Film Review From Land of Nerds

Posted by judithbshields on December 29, 2013
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Land of the Nerds

Moon Sedai wrote a wonderful review of Frankenstein’s Monster. In praise of the film she wrote:

“The focus of this film is, at the heart, the story, not the blood, gore, and tech. The film is beautifully done despite the low budget.”

Strong words of praise were also given to Matt Risoldi (Monster) and  the cinematography(Slava Vlad). But we won’t spoil that here.

If you’d like to read the whole article, please check it out HERE. Also be sure to look at the rest of their great website which covers everything science fiction and fun!

http://landofnerds.com/2013/12/28/steampunkfrankensteinsmonster/

frankensteins-fb-spacecitycon-banner-c.jpg

Posted by judithbshields on December 19, 2013
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At SpaceCityCon in Moody Hotel and Convention Center in Galveston, Texas First Step Cinematics will be hosting two events. The first is a microbudget filmmaking panel in which we will also discuss some of the historical locations we shot at.The second event is a free for SpaceCityCon ticketed attendees: a screening of our film, Frankenstein’s Monster.

Frankenstein’s Monster at Weird West Fest

Posted by judithbshields on December 16, 2013
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Frankenstein’s Monster at Weird West Fest

I want to give a big thank you to those who braved the cold and got your gears to Giddings! Weird West Fest welcomed Frankenstein’s Monster and we were proud to be there. Mike McDermott (Captain), Travis Wayne Hamilton (Krempe) and Judith B. Shields (me–the screenwriter/filmmaker) were able to meet many folks there. A big shout out for Mike and Travis for making it from Houston. Preacher’s Powderworks and Projectiles who made our amazing steampunk lab goggles is one of the co-founders for the event. 

About Weird West Fest–it is a Western and Steampunk 1 day festival. This was their first year and they made a difficult decision–to postpone the festival by a week. The original date had that icy conditions and made it unsafe to drive in the Texas Hill Country. While the new date was still chilly, at least it was safe for folks to travel.

I also had a wonderful paneling experience. I’ve been on many panels, from ApolloCon (Screenwriting) to Comicpalooza (Microbudget Filmmaking) to WorldCon (Steampunk), but I never had had a panel where we laughed so much. I was honored to both moderate and participate in the Art of Screenwriting panel with (from left to right) @Gary Clark (actor and screenwriter), and Ed Erdelac (screenwriter and author). That panel covered comparisons of book to screenplay writing tips, character vs. action based plots, personal stories with screenwriting, and how to get your work out there. The audience asked good questions as well.

Thank you everyone who made it out to Giddings!

Posted by judithbshields on December 5, 2013
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We just got word from Weird West Fest (Giddings, TX) that due to expected weather conditions, the western and steampunk festival will be postponed until next Saturday, Dec. 14th. Frankenstein’s Monster will still be screened at 4pm.  However, the screenwriting panel Judith B. Shields will moderate may have its time shifted. Updates on that will be on their official website and on this post when news arrives.

Posted by judithbshields on November 21, 2013
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Sci-Fi Crows Nest reviews Frankenstein’s Monster (2013)

“The filmmakers have attempted an adaptation of Frankenstein accurate to the novel, a feat rarely ever attempted. “

To read the rest of this review please click the link below:

http://sfcrowsnest.org.uk/frankensteins-monster-2013-a-film-review-by-mark-r-leeper/

Indie Buzz: Frankenstein’s Monster (2013) review

Posted by judithbshields on November 19, 2013
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Quote from wonderful Indie Buzz review. Thank you Simon Ball for the kind words:

“What is the movie like? Pretty good, as it happens. As in the novel, the film opens with Victor Frankenstein (Dustin Sturgull) being rescued by Captain Walton’s expedition and Frankenstein relates the sorry tale of building the creature (Matt Risoldi), his subsequent rejection of his creation and the creature’s revenge on the Frankenstein family to the assembled crew.”

We will be screening in the UK during December 2nd. Please read the rest of this great article at Indie Buzz. Be sure to check out their other articles for indie goodness:

Indie Buzz: Frankenstein\’s Monster (2013) review.

via Indie Buzz: Frankenstein’s Monster (2013) review.

Pictures from the cast and crew screening of steampunk drama Frankenstein’s Monster

Posted by judithbshields on November 14, 2013
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This is how you screen a film in Texas!

We are very blessed to be able to have a private cast and crew screening to celebrate Frankenstein’s Monster’s completion and its starting run on the independent film circuit. Even was held at Butler’s Longhorn Museum (thank you).

Git Your Gears to Giddings, Y’all!

Posted by judithbshields on November 14, 2013
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Frankenstein's Monster at Weird West Fest

Weird West Fest will hold their preliminary event in Giddings, Texas. (Saturday, December 7th, 2013)

update: event will be postponed for Saturday, December 14th, 2013.

What is Weird West Fest? Why, it’s the largest Westren and Steampunk  hootenanny out yonder between Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. The historic downtown of Giddings is prepared to have a one-day shindig with music, a film festival (which we are part), traders, panels, food, and horses. Expect to see folks dressed up in western and/or Steampunk attire for the costume contest. 

What’s best about Weird West Fest is that a portion of movie ticket sales go to the restoration of the 1918 Sterling Silent Movie Theatre. 

Frankenstein’s Monster will screened at 4:30pm and there will be an actors-focused panel after the film. 

Judith B. Shields will also moderate a separate panel on screenwriting with Keith Lansdale, Joe Lansdale (author of 30+ books, including Buba  Ho-Tep, Zeppelins West, and several Jonah Hex graphic novels), Eric Red and Michael Flores (Western X). Time for that will be tba.