Rex Sikes' Movie Beat

Christopher Lockhart PT 4 is a Hollywood executive, teacher and producer. For a dozen years, Chris has worked as the Story Editor at ICM, the William Morris Agency and, currently, the newly formed WME. During his tenure, Chris worked with legendary talent agent Ed Limato (who recently passed away) helping to find film projects for actors such as Denzel Washington, Mel Gibson, Steve Martin, Richard Gere, Michelle Pfeiffer, Liam Neeson, Claire Danes and many others. He has also consulted on hundreds of screenplays with studio executives, producers and writers from around the world. Chris estimates he has read over 30,000 screenplays. As a producer, Chris set up A RHINESTONE ALIBI at Paramount with Julie Richardson. He co-produced THE COLLECTOR, which was released nationwide in the summer of 2009 and is one of the producers on the sequel, which is currently in pre-production. Chris is the writer/producer of a feature length documentary called MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS, which ran in NYC and LA in the summer of 2010 a

Derrel Maury Actor, & Rex Sikes remember the making of the cult classic Massacre at Central High. Derrel Maury joined SAG and AFTRA over 40 years ago. He was so young when he started; his first roles were “crawl-on’s”. He has appeared as a series regular on Norman Lear’s “One Day at a Time” & “Apple Pie”, also Gary Marshal’s “Happy Days” & “Joanie Loves Chachi”. He played Jughead in James Komack’s “The Archie Show” and starred as the teen killer in the 70’s cult classic feature “Massacre at Central High”. Some other credits include guest starring roles in “Murder She Wrote”, WKRP in Cincinnati”, “Barney Miller”, “Highway to Heaven”, & “The Partridge Family”. He has just completed work on a number of features including, “Blood of the Cross”, “Mexican Hat”, “Wasteland” & the “Tramp”. He has won numerous awards for his stage and film work including his recent best actor award at the New York Short Film Festival for his lead role in the film “Wither”. An acting coach for over twenty years,

Douglas Day Stewart Pt 3 is best known for his original screenplay “An Officer and a Gentleman,” which was based on his own experiences as a Naval Officer Candidate undergoing rigorous training, while falling in love with a factory girl looking for a “ticket out of nowhere.” In addition to the many accolades and awards garnered by the film, “Officer” was recently listed by the American Film Institute as one of the ten highest grossing love stories in cinema history. Stewart’s other writing credits include the enduring first “Blue Lagoon” with Brooke Shields, the acclaimed “The Boy In the Plastic Bubble”, (the ABC television movie that launched John Travolta’s career), and “The Scarlet Letter,” Stewart’s much maligned take on Hawthorne’s classic novel, starring Demi Moore. Stewart wrote and directed the cult favorite “Thief of Hearts” (which boasts clubs of women around the country) and the controversial “Listen to Me.” Stewart has been nominated for an Academy Award, and for an Emmy, and for numerous Writers

Mitch Apley is the Executive Producer for Chicago-based Resolution Digital Studios. Resolution productions include a live broadcast of Top Chef Miami, sports programming produced by Intersport for Fox, ESPN & ABC to feature films such as The Strip & Osso Bucco, music videos for Snoop Dog & Janus, spot and web work for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes & more. Resolution is currently co-producing the comedy horror film, The Moleman of Belmont Avenue starring Mike Bradecich & John LaFlamboy. Mitch is in post-production for a short film he wrote & directed called Lighter Lightness, an effects-heavy love story about light, love & a snow globe. He enlisted the production help of many industry contemporaries in the process, & the film is slated for a spring finish. Mitch Apley began making films at Northwestern University in 1992. He shot an award winning stop motion film, Robert: Portrait of a Legend (1995), & produced an award winning live action film, NoWhere Town (1996). Mitch f

Jane Jenkins & Janet Hirshenson of The Casting Company have cast over 100 feature films, including the Academy Award winning "A Beautiful Mind" “Something’s Gotta Give” “The Da Vinci Code” “Angels & Demons” Oscar nominated “Frost/Nixon” "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" "Something's Gotta Give" " Airforce One" "Jurassic Park" "The American President""Apollo 13" " The Lost World" "A Few Good Men" "Backdraft" "Misery" "Ghost" "When Harry Met Sally" "Mystic Pizza" "Beetlejuice" "Stand By Me" "Home Alone" "The Outsiders" to name a few. Jane began her career in entertainment as an actress in New York City. She entered the casting profession while working in film production. Her first project was "On The Nickel" an independent film written, produced and starring her friend Ralph Waite. She soon began working with other casting directors, including Jennifer Shull, who would later connect her with Janet Hirshenson. Janet Hirshenson was introduced to casting while working as a temporary secretary for

Christopher Lockhart PT 3 is a Hollywood executive, teacher and producer. For a dozen years, Chris has worked as the Story Editor at ICM, the William Morris Agency and, currently, the newly formed WME. During his tenure, Chris worked with legendary talent agent Ed Limato (who recently passed away) helping to find film projects for actors such as Denzel Washington, Mel Gibson, Steve Martin, Richard Gere, Michelle Pfeiffer, Liam Neeson, Claire Danes and many others. He has also consulted on hundreds of screenplays with studio executives, producers and writers from around the world. Chris estimates he has read over 30,000 screenplays. As a producer, Chris set up A RHINESTONE ALIBI at Paramount with Julie Richardson. He co-produced THE COLLECTOR, which was released nationwide in the summer of 2009 and is one of the producers on the sequel, which is currently in pre-production. Chris is the writer/producer of a feature length documentary called MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS, which ran in NYC and LA in the summer of 2010 a

Colin Ferguson, actor/director/producer, stars as Federal Marshal Jack Carter in the highly acclaimed SyFy-hit dramedy "Eureka," which has been called a cross between “Northern Exposure” and "Desperate Housewives."  The show debuted as the highest rated premiere in the channel’s history.  The New York Daily News raved about his performance, “Ferguson's approach is fluid and funny enough to make it all work. Ferguson enjoys working on the cable series because of the hybrid tone of drama mixed with quirky comedic elements.  The fourth season has premiered this July. Colin's feature-film credits also include "Because I Said So", "Rowing Through," and "The Opposite of Sex" among others.  He was a regular on the NBC remake of the hit British comedy series "Coupling" and the sitcom "Then Came You." ?His many guest-starring roles include "Line of Fire", "Malcolm in the Middle", "Crossing Jordan", "Becker” and "Titus."?Additionally, Colin has starred in other television movies such as "Mom at 16", "We Were the Mul

Peter Marshall The Director's Series PT 5 - We continue tip[s for being a better director & the nuts & bolts of directing film and television with Peter Marshall. Peter has had a 35-year career & has worked as a PA, dolly grip, electrician, assistant cameraman, commercial production manager, first assistant director, TV series creative consultant, television producer & director. He has worked on industrial films, documentaries; television commercials, music videos; Emmy Award nominated TV series & features. Peter has directed over 30 TV episodes& written, directed or produced over 50 hours of documentary/educational programs. His works have won, or been nominated for 14 International awards. He's worked for directors such as Zack Snyder, John Woo, Ed Wick, Phillip Noyce, John Balham, Roger Adam, Anne Wheeler, Bobby Roth & Kim Manners. He has worked with actors including Michelle Pfeiffer, Kevin Spacey, Morgan Freeman, John Travolta, Mel Gibson, Kathy Bates, Adam Sandler and Peter O

John Gaspard PT 2 has directed and/or produced six low-budget features, including the digital feature, Grown Men, which premiered at the Ashland International Film Festival and won the “Best of Fest/Best Screenplay” award at the Black Point Film Festival. He directed and co-wrote the award-winning feature film, Beyond Bob, and directed the science-fiction comedy feature film, Resident Alien. He has directed features on 16mm, digital video, analog video, and produced and directed the first feature film in Super 8mm single-system sound.His blog, “Fast, Cheap Movie Thoughts,” (http://fastcheapmoviethoughts.blogspot.com/) has been named "One of the 50 Best Blogs for Moviemakers" by Moviemaker Magazine and "One of The 100 Best Blogs For Film and Theater Students" by BestUniversity.com. John's books include Fast, Cheap and Under Control: Lessons Learned from the Greatest Low-Budget Movies of All Time, and Fast, Cheap and Written That Way: Top Screenwriters on Writing For Low-Budget Movies. He also co-authored, with

Christopher Lockhart PT 2 is a Hollywood executive, teacher and producer. For a dozen years, Chris has worked as the Story Editor at ICM, the William Morris Agency and, currently, the newly formed WME. During his tenure, Chris worked with legendary talent agent Ed Limato (who recently passed away) helping to find film projects for actors such as Denzel Washington, Mel Gibson, Steve Martin, Richard Gere, Michelle Pfeiffer, Liam Neeson, Claire Danes and many others. He has also consulted on hundreds of screenplays with studio executives, producers and writers from around the world. Chris estimates he has read over 30,000 screenplays. As a producer, Chris set up A RHINESTONE ALIBI at Paramount with Julie Richardson. He co-produced THE COLLECTOR, which was released nationwide in the summer of 2009 and is one of the producers on the sequel, which is currently in pre-production. Chris is the writer/producer of a feature length documentary called MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS, which ran in NYC and LA in the summer of 2010 a

Straw Weisman is a motion picture production, post production, marketing, distribution, and creative filmmaking veteran with over thirty years of hands-on experience. Straw’s latest achievements include producing the upcoming feature “The Big Valley”, starring Jessica Lange and Stephen Moyer, and directing the psychological thriller “Trunk”, starring Jennifer Day, now on DVD, and co-executive producing “Without Men”, starring Eva Longoria and Christian Slater, which is now in post production. As Vice President, Worldwide Production for distributor/producer New Films International, Straw is overseeing a slate of post production acquisitions and new titles, including “The Lightkeepers”, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Blythe Danner, “Camp Hell”, starring Bruce Davison and Dana Delany, “Chain Letter”, starring Nikki Reed, “Dark Moon Rising”, “Don’t Fade Away”, starring Mischa Barton and Ryan Kwanten, and the upcoming “Saving Grace B. Jones”, starring Tatum O’Neal and “Flying Lessons”, starring Maggie Grace and Ch

Roberta Marie Munroe PT 2 is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, entrepreneur, international short film festival programmer, consultant and now published author. Her book *How Not To Make A Short Film: Secrets From A Sundance Programmer *(Hyperion Books, January 2009) is a provocative and practical insider's guide to making a great short film described as the “bible” for short filmmakers. Roberta packed this “bible” with insider tips gleaned from 5 years programming short films at Sundance, interviewing successful short filmmakers worldwide and sharing the horrors and the brilliance of her own award winning short filmmaking career. From 2001-2006 Roberta Munroe programmed short films at The Sundance FilmFestival. During her tenure at Sundance, The Sundance Online Film Festival (2003-2006) was acknowledged with several highly acclaimed Webby Awards. After five very successful years at Sundance, Roberta served as their founding Artistic Director launching The Blackhouse Foundation, a live venue at Sundance, th

Michael Pare, actor, first appeared in a commercial for Pierre Cardin at 22. A little over a year later, super agent Joyce Selznick & her partner Jan McCormick came across Michael's photo, & decided to screen test him for a role in the ABC series THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO. Michael was off to L.A. several weeks later & landed a regular role in the series which led to a leading role with Ray Liotta & David Caruso in an ABC television movie CRAZY TIMES. Then came EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS, & Michael Paré became a cult superstar. Michael has made major theatrical motion pictures such as THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT, STREETS OF FIRE, BAD MOON, and INTO THE SUN, & films made for TV & video like SUNSET HEAT, WARRIORS, BLINK OF AN EYE, THE COLONY & THE CLOSER. In 1998, appeared in HOPE FLOATS with Sandra Bullock, Gena Rowlands, Kathy Najimy, Harry Connick, Jr., and Rossanna Arquette. 1998, ended in a high point, when Michael starred in the off-Broadway play, THE BLACK MARBLE SHOE SHIN

Christopher Lockhart is a Hollywood executive, teacher and producer. For a dozen years, Chris has worked as the Story Editor at ICM, the William Morris Agency and, currently, the newly formed WME. During his tenure, Chris worked with legendary talent agent Ed Limato (who recently passed away) helping to find film projects for actors such as Denzel Washington, Mel Gibson, Steve Martin, Richard Gere, Michelle Pfeiffer, Liam Neeson, Claire Danes and many others. He has also consulted on hundreds of screenplays with studio executives, producers and writers from around the world. Chris estimates he has read over 30,000 screenplays. As a producer, Chris set up A RHINESTONE ALIBI at Paramount with Julie Richardson. He co-produced THE COLLECTOR, which was released nationwide in the summer of 2009 and is one of the producers on the sequel, which is currently in pre-production. Chris is the writer/producer of a feature length documentary called MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS, which ran in NYC and LA in the summer of 2

Paul Battista, Entertainment Attorney, is a partner of MindFusion Law where he represents low budget independent filmmakers. He earned a J.D. from Seton Hall Law School, an LL.M. from Georgetown Law Center and an M.F.A. in Film Studies from the University of Utah. He has been a speaker at many film festivals and conferences, including Slamdance Film Festival and Film Independent’s Filmmaker Forum, in addition to teaching film classes and guest lecturing at colleges in the Los Angeles area. He also wrote, directed and produced the low budget independent feature film, Crooks, which has been released by Warner Home Video. His book, Independent Film Producing: The Outsider’s Guide To Producing A First Low Budget Film is available at www.paulbattista.biz. His video bio is available at http://www.mindfusionlaw.com/paulbattista.html Paul is a member of the California and New York state bars and is licensed to practice law in the federal and state courts of California and New York as well as the U.S. Tax Co

Jon Keeyes Pt 7 distributor continues to discuss the state of the industry & distribution. How does one get their feature to an audience? We will talk more on foreign & domestic release, deliverable & myths of distribution PLUS more. With six feature films, Jon Keeyes is one of the hardest working directors in the southwest. Jon made his writing/directorial debut in 2001 with “American Nightmare.” This critically-acclaimed horror film followed serial killer Jane Toppan on Halloween night as she brings to life the fears of a group of friends. “American Nightmare” was released to North America by Monarch Home Video/Ingram Entertainment. Internationally, Horizon Motion Pictures has sold “American Nightmare” to nearly all major countries around the world. Following the success of “American Nightmare,” Jon was hired by producer Michael Raso to write and direct “Suburban Nightmare.” A satire on the disintegration of marriage, “Suburban Nightmare” spends the night with The Rosenblads as their relationshi

Arye Gross actor PT 2 His Films include Grey Gardens for HBO Films, Harvest (Ibid Films), Minority Report, Big Eden, Gone in 60 Seconds, A Midnight Clear, Mother Night, The Opposite Sex, For the Boys, Coupe De Ville, Tequila Sunrise, The Couch Trip, The Experts, and Soul Man. Notable TV Guest appearances include reappearing on "Castle". He has appeared on "Dollhouse", “Law & Order” (SVU & C.I.) “Friends,” “ER,” “The West Wing,” “CSI” (Vegas & NY), “Grey’s Anatomy” and “The X Files,” among others. Arye appeared as a series regular (Adam) on the ABC sitcom “Ellen” and CBS’s “Citizen Baines,” Mr. Gross has had recurring roles on “The Riches”, “Judging Amy,” “The Practice” and “Six Feet Under”. Stay tuned to Rex Sikes' Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast and crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, and more at http://www.rexsikes.com

David Spies & Phil Seneker are working together to produce a short film “A Musing”. They are using Kickstarter to fund their project. We explore how that is going, & what they have learned. David Spies has completed several screenplays that are each quite different in genre. He wrote the first draft of “A Musing” recently & registered with the WGA nine days later. David felt he had a screenplay definitely worthy of being produced so began to seek out a cinematographer to partner with. After a local search for cinematographers in the Seattle area, David connected with Phil Seneker & from that day on there was no turning back. This will be David's first professional short film production as a writer & director. Phil Seneker is a filmmaker, producer, screenwriter & director of photography.  Phil began his career in the film & video industry after studying acting. Phil started his production company in 1993 to create videos for corporate clients Phil spent most of the ‘90’s &am

Rick Overton PT 2 has been doing standup comedy since before there were lockable steering columns on cars. Seriously. Rick believes that Comedy shares it's roots with Country Western and The Blues because they're all just complaining to a rhythm. Rick can currently be seen in the comedy film DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS with Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd, recently in Stephen Soderberg's THE INFORMANT starring Matt Damon. He's also Pam's Dad on THE OFFICE in the Wedding Episodes. Yay for On Demand! Someone got something right somewhere. And he recurs on TNT's LEVERAGE as an FBI agent, along with Gerry Downey. He’s been a creative consultant on a sci fi series in 1999 called The Secret Adventures Of Jules Verne, designing all the steam punk technology for the series. Rick had the honor of sharing a couch with Jonathan Winters and Robert Klein on Showtime's THE GREEN ROOM WITH PAUL PROVENZA! When not doing standup comedy, Rick can be seen on local dog park paths getting to visit all the dogs he wants without having to actu

Joe Wilson PT 3 is an award-winning filmmaker & comedy screenwriter, stand up comedian & private investigator. Wilson's short film "The Swear Police" won best shortie-short at the 2009 LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival, which can be seen at http://www.SwearPolice.com. "Vampire Mob" is a new web series created, written, directed, produced & edited by Wilson, starring John Colella ("Swear Police'), Reamy Hall (Criminal Minds), Marcia Wallace ("The Simpsons"), Chris Mulkey (Twin Peaks, Boardwalk Empire), Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds), Jim Roof ("Swear Police"), Andrea Cansler (Groundlings Sunday Company), Cris D’Annunzio ("Digging Up Dad") and Elizabeth Beckwith ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"). The series will premiere early this summer and a trailer is available at http://www.VampireMob.com. Wilson has worked on web series through three net booms, including writing for Mondo Media's "Like, News," created by Don Asmussen, directing the web series, "Lake Charles Lake," created & written by Martha Kelly