In this post, we briefly talk about our first release in the Collective Film Project series, Lost In Static.
This is the last in our Best Of 2018 series. This one is about the people who have contributed to our success this year.
This post is a continuation of a series of blogs highlighting our year’s events and storylines. Today, we talk about some of our favorite projects of the year.
In this Best Of 2018 entry, we talk about our experience participating in three 48 Hour Film Projects in four weeks.
This is the first in a series of post highlighting our 2018 projects and stories. In this particular story, it highlights non-profit MedWish International and their connection with one man during their medical brigade to Honduras this past summer.
With our country celebrating the adaptation of the Declaration of Independence today, we look back on one of our projects we filmed earlier this year. We were commissioned by the Northeast Ohio Foundation for Patriotism (NEOPAT) to produce two films shown at their annual gala in March. Our storytelling journey took us down I-71 on two separate occasions.
Near Columbus, we filmed the parents of Army SPC, Nicholaus E. Zimmer, who was the Charles Kirby Wilcox Honoree for the evening. We heard stories from his parents, Lisa and Gino, about his uniqueness, sense of humor, and willingness to join the Army at such a young age. Their son's memory still lives on through a non-profit, Ohio Flags of Honor, in memory of Nicholaus and others who have fallen in battle. Weeks later, we traveled to Mason, minutes from Kings Island, to film and interview Marine Ron Potter, who fought in the second Battle of Fallujah in 2004. Potter recited his journey from when he first enlisted to the moment he found out he was receiving a Purple Heart at the Gala. It was interesting to hear how reconnecting his military roots at a reunion led to him volunteering with Reunite The Fight, a non-profit that brings veterans together to create camaraderie through different experiences to fight PTSD and other common mental issues.
As we celebrate with pool parties, barbecues, and fireworks, we also should not forget why we are celebrating every July 4th. The people who fight for our country daily are one of the reasons why we can hold such activities. So as we hang out with family and friends with a beer in our hands, let's also raise a toast to those who serve.
Special thanks to the staff and board of NEOPAT for letting us embark on this journey, and to the Potter and Zimmer Families for letting us into their lives.
For more information about the organization and to read more about these stories, go to NEOPAT.org
There has to be some kind of crazy to wake up at 4 am on a Sunday just to make a short film with no budget. It is even more surprising to find enough people to come out. That’s what the Collective Film Project is all about.
Started as an idea of our own James Pizarro and Wilmington, Ohio-based filmmaker Grant Peelle, the Collective Film Project brings filmmakers and film crew alike to film over 12 short films in a span of one year. Switching between Cleveland and Wilmington every month, we bring in everyone from sound mixers and production assistants to different directors and writers, to create a film in one weekend.
Our challenge expands to more than finding a script to film every month. Many logistical plans must be made in advance, like scheduling when scenes are to be filmed and crafty, to make each project a successful one. Most importantly, finding crew members who fit our culture is critical to a great weekend. We have been blessed to work with some talented and awesome people just from three months filming, and everyone seemed to have the same idea of “leaving their egos at the door."
Keep in touch with us as we premiere our short films for the world to see quite soon!
We've updated our site with some new projects and a blog to keep you all in the know. Stay tuned for more updates from us!