William Mapother

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Archive for the ‘Film Festival’ Category

And Heeeeeerrrrrrr’sss….Slated

Posted on: September 22nd, 2010 by wmapother 5 Comments

So I haven’t mentioned it before, but last year some friends and I started Slated, a company in the tech and film area.  Then, earlier this year, we bought B-Side, an Austin, Texas company.  Their product, Festival Genius, runs the online film guides for film festivals (200+ last year).

Most festivals’ sites are a bit of a mess, frankly.  The organizers rightly put their time and energy into finding the films and running the festival.  (And as a festival co-founder, I know just how demanding that can be.)  But it’s another huge task to tell attendees about the films, when/where they’re playing, how to buy tickets, etc.

So Festival Genius handles all that and more.  Among many other things, FG makes a festival’s films easy to find, read about and rate, and it even creates a conflict-free viewing schedule for you (just what every festival attendee has been hoping for).

Tomorrow until Sept 30, the Fantastic Fest is running in Austin, TX, and their site is using Festival Genius. The festival home page is here, and the Festival Genius part of their site is here.

Even better, Fantastic Fest hired us to create a free iPhone app for them.  No need to carry about the paper schedule–it can all be on your phone.  To the right is the app’s splash page, and below that is a sample screen, showing part of the festival’s schedule.  An intro to the app is here, and the iTunes link to download it is here.

It’s a terrific boon for festival goers, so if you know anyone near Austin, give them a shout about it.  They’ll thank you.  Maybe not with an expensive car, but they’ll thank you nonetheless.

Posted in Film, Film Festival, Slated, Tech

LA Film Festival

Posted on: June 10th, 2010 by wmapother 5 Comments

On Sat, June 26th, at this year’s LA Film Festival, I’ll be participating in and moderating this year’s Actors Coffee Talk.  The festival also holds them for screenwriters and directors, and they’re all very popular.  Past participants include Jodie Foster, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Roth, and Melissa Leo.  Yeah. : )

The other two participants with me this year are a pair of not-too-shabby actors, Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand and Fog, 24…) and James Cromwell (Babe, 6 Ft Under…).  It should be a blast as I ask them all sorts of inappropriate and irrelevant questions.

The Hollywood Reporter’s piece is here, Variety’s here, and the LAFF’s page and ticket link is here (then go down to ‘C’ for ‘Coffee Talk: Actors’ on June 26th at 1pm).

Posted in Film Festival, In Person (or, like, Live), Los Angeles, Press

First Flyover Film Festival

Posted on: May 31st, 2009 by wmapother 3 Comments

I’m very happy to announce that on June 12-14, Louisville will host its first-ever Flyover Film Festival, founded by several fabulous people (Sheila Berman, Ryan Daly, Gill Holland, Tracy Heightchew, Stu Pollard, George Parker) and myself.

For this inaugural festival we’ve focused mostly on films which include participation from a present or past Louisvillian.  Those connections are here, and the schedule is here.  Of course, I suggested (humbly, mind you!) one of my own films, and lo and behold, the festival will be showing ‘The Burrowers.’  Fortunate attendees will be able to see Phil Parmet’s terrific cinematography (and the awesomely gooey-mouthed creatures) on a wide screen, as well as lob some questions (easy one) to me and (difficult ones) to the nimble director, JT Petty, in a Q & A afterwards.
The festival offers a few other feature films, including one with William H. Macy, some powerful documentaries, and several wonderful short films.  A filmmaker’s reception, an afterparty at Gill’s Green Building, and an awards ceremony round out the festivities.  All screenings take place at downtown’s Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.
See y’all there!
Posted in Film Festival, In Person (or, like, Live), Louisville & KY, Recs

SXSW

Posted on: March 25th, 2009 by wmapother No Comments

Just returned from another raucous trip to Austin’s South by Southwest Festival. Two friends won the Special Jury Prize with the premiere of their documentary, The Way We Get By; I was able to watch a rehearsal of the theatre troupe Rude Mechs‘s upcoming show; and, not least in any way, shape, or form, I saw the Waco Brothers perform two terrific shows. If you haven’t treated yourself, listen to a few pieces of their rockin’ alt country here on iTunes. Go ahead, I’ll wait.. Really, I will. Go on. (Back in just a sec.) Right? See what I mean? If you have them on and aren’t moving, check yourself for a pulse. They’re all over my workout playlist, which is why I blame them for my reputation at the gym for being a spaz.

Posted in Film Festival, Music, Places, Random, Recs, Stage

"The Burrowers" returns to Toronto

Posted on: November 8th, 2008 by wmapother No Comments

Toronto fans take note: William’s film The Burrowers will be shown in a special screening on Thursday, November 20 as part of Rue Morgue CineMacabre Movie Nights! Director J.T. Petty will be in attendance at the 9:30pm screening, to be held at the historic Bloor Cinema. For additional information, check out the Rue Morgue CineMacabre website or contact Bloor Cinema.

Posted in Acting Projects, Film Festival