This are the picks of Vaildaily.com I will posting my review of the following films. I’ll be doing my best to hit up all these gems.

Article written by Charlie Owen

VAIL, Colorado — In seven short years the Vail Film Festival has come a long way. It’s attracted major stars every year and for the first time this year, has expanded to Beaver Creek. This year’s festival will include more than 90 films. That’s a big jump from last year when festival producers scaled back screenings to almost half that number.

Once again, the promoters of the Vail Film Festival have been kind enough to give us a sneak peek at many of the films being presented this year. The following is our top recommendations. Basically, they’re the must-see movies — from our point of view, of course. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

“Race Walkers”

If you’re a fan of films like “This Is Spinal Tap,” “A Mighty Wind” or “Best In Show” then “Race Walkers” should be right up your alley. It’s a mockumentary about brothers Jeb and Joel Callahan who strive to become the best in the sport of race walking. Never heard of it? Neither has the rest of the world. The brothers live with their mother in her trailer in Golden, Colo. where the film was almost entirely shot. Led by their wheelchair-bound coach Chuck Kuel, the trio tries to work their way to the Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore. to preserve the legend of their deceased father, an accomplished race walker himself. The brother’s on-screen dynamic keeps the movie moving along briskly and the supporting cast helps carry it over the finish line with no shortage of punch lines and dry humor.

See it: 2:45 p.m. Friday (with a Q&A) at Vail Plaza Hotel or 3:15 p.m. Sunday at Vail Plaza Hotel.

“The Hungry Ghosts”

Although Michael Imperioli is probably best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti on “The Sopranos,” his directorial debut comes with the feature film “The Hungry Ghosts.” The film follows five interlocking characters and the demons that keep clawing at their souls. In Tibetan Buddhism, a hungry ghost is a person who tries to satisfy their spiritual needs by physical means. Imperioli does a brilliant job presenting sympathetic characters who struggle to overcome their own flaws and find peace. The five characters story lines intersect on the dark streets of New York in this superbly acted look at what makes us all human, even if we’re not happy.

See it: 2 p.m. Sunday at the Vilar Center in Beaver Creek.

“Inventing Adam”

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they must decide which path to follow: the easy one that offers little personal reward or the hard one that’s full of obstacles but will lead to happiness and peace of mind. In the feature film “Inventing Adam” that is exactly the choice facing Adam, a patent lawyer living in California who’s about to turn 30 and get married to the wrong girl.

But before his birthday, Adam has a chance to get away to his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana to catch up with his old friends who he feels have all become nobodys. He soon realizes they might just have it all figured out. Adam finds out that sometimes it takes going home to realize what you’ve been missing your whole life. Featuring comedic elements similar to “Garden State,” “American Pie” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Inventing Adam” has something for everyone including solid humor, relationships, beautiful scenery and great acting.

See it: 1:30 p.m. Friday (with a Q&A) at Vail Plaza Hotel and 1:15 p.m. Sunday (with a Q&A) at Vail Plaza Hotel.

Finish the article here.

vondoogles 1st rough cut from Chris Peck on Vimeo.

clark 1st ruff cut … from Chris Peck on Vimeo.

The Film Group Show

Think of The Guild meets The Wonder Years

We’ve been getting a crazy-awesome response to the casting call:
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Low budget independent film collective is seeking actors for an upcoming web series involving group of (20-28 y.o.) film enthusiasts trying to get a project off the ground. More details to follow.

This project is slated to start production the first quarter of the new year.

Check out the characters. The Film Group Show includes:

Alfred – film student that’s been out of school for 2 years, unemployed, expected to have so much more potential, won some student awards, has chip on shoulder.He’s agitated that Hollywood hasn’t come knocking on his door. Huge Scorrceci, David Lynch, Christopher Nolan fan. He wears a pea coat and enjoys peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Brooke – a pseudo-Gothic chick infatuated with Troma Films and Lloyd Kaufman alike. always looking to evoke emotion. she’s rooted in old-tyme horror figures: Vincent Price, Bela Lugusi, Alfred Hitchcock, Boris Karlouf and Judy Garland

Wes – an over-animated Jeffery Goines from 12 monkeys meets Chandler from Friends. Quick witted. Graciously mean. A love-able Dane Cook. Steve Martin and Emo Phillis are his favorite comedians. He’s always sworn there’s a special connection between him and M. Culkins character in the Good Son.

Francis – has a community college education and is schooled in the tender arts of ballet dancing and jujitsu. He’s looking to get that rush of performing. Loves UFC fights and Seth Rogan.

Lynn- Met Alfred senior year of college. Met on location of a film shoot – he cast her as a female lead in one of his films. She fully believes in his talent and wants him to pursue his film dreams. She is very supportive but has her own agenda.

Martin- Sheldon-esque(Big Bang theory). His mother urged him to get out of the house and make some friends. He always talks about “the Experience” he had when he was child. loves Richard Dreyfus in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Idolizes William Shatner and Nikola Tesla.

We are just starting to collect head shots and resumes at this time and hope to start casting the end of January. When selected to audition please have one minute piece (monologue, interpretive dance, speaking in tongues, etc) to perform.

Pay to be discussed.

Send inquiries here:

filmgroupshow@gmail.com
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We will be holding the audition at my house in St Louis Park Saturday January 16th and Sunday the 17th 10am – 4pm

Drop me a tasty bit’o mail if you’re interested

I’ve very pleased to announce a few guest contributors to Minneapolisactor.com

Stay tuned + logged in to the intertubes.

Delicious sandwiches for you all!

Trevor

clark 1st ruff cut … from Chris Peck on Vimeo.

Director Christopher Peck. Shot in St Louis Park. Perhaps this short film will become a feature.

Paul Cram played the role of our killer. He was very gracious to lend his skills as a crazed maniac. We were crazy-excited to get Mr Cram signed on to this project. For such a popular local actor he’s such a humble guy. What a pleasure to work with.

Tiffany Seymour was the wife of the killer. Tiffany’s one of the nicest people is the entire world. Seriously, if you’ve met here, you might even say it’s an understatement. She involved in cabaret acts, opera, classical dance, etc, etc within the Minneapolis scene.

Lawrence Levesque graced us with the role on Ringo. The Reformed Man’s cell mate. There’s not much to be said about Ringo – except that ‘he seemed to understand’. But Lawrence is a prolific actor around the cities. Whether hes lending his talents to voice overs or if he’s scaring the crap out of patrons on the Trail of Terror, his talents are robust.

Michael Irei directed this short. His talents have been sharpened at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design acquiring a BFA in Filmmaking and specialize in creative editing. Michael has 7 years of experience with FCP and also knows AVID.

Erik Lundin The Writer and Producer of the project. Erik has BA in Video Production and BS in video communication from Liberty University in Virginia. Check out his Youtube page

And lets not forget the real star of The Reformed Man: The Van Duesen mansion. This location was recently used in the Coen Brothers film A Serious Man.

Many special thanks to my boy Adam Edenborg.

First let me say that, even though I do work there, Wakame is the one of the greatest new sushi joints in Minneapolis. Right on the Northwest end of Lake Calhoun (3070 Excelsior Blvd) its location is top notch. I love plugging awesome new restaurants. You must experience to appreciate!

Crazy awesome Happy Hour Menu

Super extensive  Menu

Come in and visit!

“…one of the most surreal of days of my life…”

Have been really good. Oh work. Customer service is not for everyone. At least not the people that aren’t keen on the basics of human interaction. I find myself connecting with a lot of characters these days. These encounters are something to hold close. Something to recall. Some kind of gonzo. Just weird. I’ve been keeping busy with film stuff. Finished up Michael Irei’s ‘Mark’. Drop by MCAD Thursday May 14th @ 7pm and Sunday May 16th @ 5.30pm Went on to meet up with more MCAD cats, to complete: Disdain Part I / Disdain Part II (b.Bouley),  Stanhope (c.Peck),  The Projectionist Part I / The Projectionist Part II (c.Jopp) Auditioning is going well. Looking forward to VHS and Oh Mai Sunshine!