Rex Sikes' Movie Beat

Twisted Dreams Film Festival, founded in 2011 by Christopher K House and Stephen Milek, two friends with a passion for the silver screen. Chris can thank his parent's for his obsession with horror and the macabre. Both being horror fans, Chris grew up watching old horror films, specifically the Universal Monsters collection of fright films. He was born into a family of magicians and was weaned on sideshows and carnivals bringing a unique perspective to the festival. He is a member of the Online Film and Television Critic Association. A lover of all movies, Steve will watch anything from classic silent films to modern big budget action films. After attending the Sundance Film Festival a few times he always wondered what it would be like to start his own film festival. Over time he became obsessed with the Oscars and for his first blog he watched every Oscar Best Picture winner in chronological order.  What started out as a simple blog about movies, it grew to have an emphasis on local films and filmmakers. 

WIlliam Lu, director, served as a development assistant for David Madden and Robert Cort at the Cort/Madden Company at Paramount. He received his MFA in film and TV production from FSU where he produced the 35mm thesis film “Two-Bit,” which was a 2003 Student Academy Award finalist. He was Hired at the SyFy Channel and then spent three years at Herzog & Company where he worked in TV, web and marketing producing content for Disney, Paramount, Dreamworks and Sony Pictures. In 2005, as a recipient of the LA Asian Pacific Armed with a Camera Fellowship; he received a grant which funded his short film Spy Moms.  He wrote and directed Asian Task Force, a half-hour mock pilot that was awarded "Best Action Short" at the 2007 LA Digital Video Film Festival and screened at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con. William worked as post production supervisor at Machinima on their Terminator: Salvation web series. Hired on at Maker Studios he produced content for their gaming vertical and created and hosted the show “Retro Hard

David Murphy, casting director and acting coach, is co-founder of the Chicago acting school, The Green Room. There are multiple areas of expertise to his teaching. He's worked for 20 years  in the field of acting. Since 2001 he has worked as a Commercial Casting Director at O'Connor Casting. He splits time between casting and teaching. Around the casting office, there are two "David's" (David O'Connor is the owner), and this David, known as "Murphy". He has conducted well over 50,000 individual actor's auditions. For 16 years Murphy taught for the Players' Workshop of the Second City. He's directed over a hundred shows ranging from improv reviews to children's shows. He has created several touring groups performing for such clients as GE and Novis. He has worked as an artistic director for Bedlam Productions, has worked in casting for Toast productions and has been a consultant to several fledgling theatre companies. Beyond his acting and voice over credit, he has been a casting director, theatre director and

Craig A. Knitt, award winning artist, filmmaker, teacher, performer, writer and creator is a founder of the Wildwood Film Festival, a festival dedicated to Wisconsin film talent. The past three years Craig has also been a volunteer for the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival. When Craig is not busy teaching visual art, he is busy creating film projects or performing Improvisational Comedy with ComedyCity - DePere and DinnerTime Comedy. Craig was the male lead in last year's "Secrets of the Dead" which was premiered at the Gerold Theater in Weyauwega. The Wildwood Film Festival's purpose is to promote Wisconsin film talent (actors, directors, writers, composers, editors, etc.). It strives to educate high school students and adults in film basics - script writing, story boarding, filming, lighting, sound, editing and marketing. The Wildwood Film Festival has been consistently dedicated to Wisconsin film talent. Now in it fifteenth year it will have showcased over 500 films that all have connecti

James Breckenridge, script consultant, has worked in the entertainment industry for over 25 years. In 1995, he founded of The PlayCrafters Group. As its Director, he specializes in helping writers from all over the country develop producible scripts for motion pictures, television and theatre. Through creative counseling and objective feedback, he encourages writers to focus on the essential elements of their stories.  His script development service has been rated in the Top Ten and recommended as the Best Of The Best Buys in Creative Screenwriting Magazine’s review of leading script consultants from all around the country In addition to private coachings and consultations, James has created a number of Courses and Workshops for the beginning as well as the advanced screenwriter. Some of the most popular include Screenwriting Essentials, First Steps: Dramatic Steps to a Dynamic Screenplay and Pitching: Five Minutes to Fame. He has taught for The Bryn Mawr Film Institute, the Bucks County Writer’s Room, The

Join Ian Teal co-director of The Weyauwega International Film Festival will be returning November 11-14 to the Gerold Opera House in Weyauwega, WI for it’s fifth year of films from around the globe. This year the festival presented by Wega Arts will be screening forty-three films representing seventeen different countries. Many of the films were either made in Wisconsin or have Wisconsin connections. This year Friday at the festival happens to fall on the 13th of the month which of course invites an opportunity to screen horror films. The Weyauwega International Film Festival (WIFF) has seized this opportunity to satisfy the horror hounds in Central Wisconsin and will be screening horror films and thrillers all day on Friday the 13th in what they are calling a “Friday the 13th Fright Fest”.  Of course WIFF is not all about horror films. Some great feature films and documentaries as well as a wide variety of short films will be screened this year. Saturday starts with a filmmaker seminar with local filmma

Bill Rebane, Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Author started his assent from the mail room, at age 17, to Floor Manager, Asst. producer and assistant to the Executive producer, providing him the opportunity to partake in countless daily live television productions. His first independent production effort was “Twist Craze,” a ten minute musical theatrical short subject purchased by AIP became an international success theatrically and financially. “Dance Craze” surpassed the success of the earlier one and ultimately was purchased by Crown International Pictures for international release. At age 23, Rebane took the position as Executive in Charge of U.S. co-productions for Studio Bendestorf, Germany. Ultimately the films which found a partial or full home at his Bendestorf Studio facility  “Dollar” (Goldie Hawn/ Scott Brady,) “How I Won the War” (John Lennon) and “The Odessa File” (John Voight. Bill moved to Wisconsin where he established and built the one and only full time feature film studio in the Midwest,

Join Rick Vaicisu,The Flyway Film Festival Director and Rex Sikes discussing what's new at the upcoming 8th Fest in Pepin, Wisconsin. October 21-25, 2015. Flyway showcases top-notch emerging filmmakers from across the globe. Flyway has won accolades from industry pros, filmmakers, and audiences.Opening night film is The Driftless Area, starring John Hawkes, Zooey Deschanel, and Anton Yelchin. World premieres at the festival are Pictures of Lily, by British director Mark Banks; Remittance, by Patrick Daly and Joel Fendelman, and Second Honeymoon, by Dutch filmmaker Kristjan Knigge. There are workshops and mentor sessions with industry experts Seed&Spark's Erica Anderson, King is a Fink's Julie Keck and Jessica King, location manager Charlotte Ariss, and filmmakers Emily Ting (It's AlreadyTomorrow in Hong Kong) and Norah Shapiro (Miss Tibet: Beauty in Exile). Ted Hope and Brian Newman, will be around to chat with attendees. Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, and more at

Rocky Lang, Producer, director author, PT 2. Rocky's new book "Growing Up Hollywood" is available at Amazon! He has been involved in the motion picture and television business all his life. He Executive Produced, “Racing For Time” for Lifetime Television starring Charles Dutton, which received a Best Picture nomination for The Image Awards. He has had 8 books published. Growing up as the son of veteran producer and Universal Studios executive, Jennings Lang ("Earthquake" "Play Misty For Me" and others), Rocky knew early on that he wanted to write/produce and direct. Lang set himself on a track that has seen him produce and direct documentary films including the award-winning "The Making of Tootsie", and directing the long-running hit show "Remington Steele" and three features, “Nervous Ticks”, “Race For Glory”, “All’s Fair”. His produced "White Squall” starring Jeff Bridges and directed by Ridley Scott. He also produced the Emmy-Award winning “Titanic", a 4-hour mini-series for CBS. Besides his directing care

Peter Marshall, PT 30, The Director's Series - The nuts & bolts of directing film and television with Peter Marshall. Peter has had a 35-year career and has worked as a PA, dolly grip, electrician, assistant cameraman, commercial production manager, first assistant director, TV series creative consultant, television producer and director. He has worked on industrial films, documentaries; television commercials, music videos; Emmy Award nominated TV series and features. Peter has directed over 30 TV episodes and 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'Toole. Other credits inclurde scores of television seri

Kathy Fehl lived in NY, writing plays, directing, and producing theater. She created a five hundred seat theater at 79th and Riverside, the heart of the Upper West Side; the first show she directed there was Waiting for Godot, starring David Morse. She studied with several brilliant teachers, including Lee Strasberg, Geraldine Page, Christine Lavren, and John Guare. In addition to the fourteen plays of Fehl's that were produced in NY, she has had shows produced on Martha's Vineyard and  in Wisconsin. She co-wrote 'Mint Julep', a feature film, with Ian Teal. Currently, she enjoys developing programs in various types of theater and film at Wega Arts, in Weyauwega, WI. Ian Teal is the Executive Director of Wega Arts and is glad to be back on the stage acting as well as directing. He studied improvisational theater in New York and was a founding member of the comedy group Afterwards, which wrote skits and presented comedy in clubs in NYC and on Martha’s Vineyard. He worked with theater companies in Manhattan, and

Jeff Gendelman, writer and producer, wrote and produced The Surface, an 18-year journey of perseverance from idea to production. The film stars Sean Astin, Chris Mulkey and Mimi Rogers and was directed by Gil Cates Jr. Jeff also produced and directed the award-winning short film, In Passing. He produced the Los Angeles world premiere of the play, The Letter Writer, and then developed it to be made into a film. He produced and directed two science documentaries, and a pilot for a syndicated TV series. As an actor, Jeff co-starred with Christopher Lambert in the feature film, Splitsville. He had a supporting role opposite Robert Forster and Donnie Wahlberg in the feature film, Diamond Men. His TV work includes guest-starring roles on NBC’s Law and Order and he was featured on Beverly Hills 90210. Jeff was also a series regular on the television dramas One Life to Live, Guiding Light and Loving (nominated for Outstanding Actor in a daytime TV series). He studied in film classes at the American Film Institute (Lo

Rick Vaicius is director and founder of Flyway Film Festival, Wisconsin's bluff premier destination for independent film as noted by Emmy award-winning blogger Scott W. Smith “ … a festival that should be on your radar”. Founded in 2008 Vaicius has created a standout, intimate and high-quality annual festival. Over the past four years, Flyway has brought over 80 filmmakers into the local community. In addition to screening remarkable films, it has become a unique venue for filmmakers to network and discuss projects and the "state of the industry" in the film world. Vaicius has already persuaded some top film industry talent to appear. The 7th Annual Flyway Film Festival begins Thursday October 23-26, 2014 in Pepin and Stockholm, Wisconsin. This year promises to be its most exciting to-date.   For festival line up and panels go to flywayfilmfestival.org and check it out! Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast and crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, and more at r

Peter Marshall, Pt 29, The Director's Series - The nuts & bolts of directing film and television with Peter Marshall. Peter has had a 35-year career and has worked as a PA, dolly grip, electrician, assistant cameraman, commercial production manager, first assistant director, TV series creative consultant, television producer and director. He has worked on industrial films, documentaries; television commercials, music videos; Emmy Award nominated TV series and features. Peter has directed over 30 TV episodes and 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'Toole. Other credits inclurde scores of television seri

Michael Frost Beckner "The Screewriter Series"  EP 7 Screenwriter on Rex Sikes' Movie Beat. Michael launched his writing career with three record-making “spec” script sales: Texas Lead & Gold, Cutthroat Island, Hunchback of Notre Dame. He's writtern dozens of screenplays, studio rewrites, twenty pilots for commercial and cable networks, numerous episodes for network television,  His first original film Sniper spawned three sequels. His big-screen success came with Universal's Spy Games, directed by Tony Scott starring Robert Redford and Brad Pitt. He created, Excutive Producered and wrote the CBS series, The Agency. He began his career as director, Barry Levinson’s Writing Assistant working with the director on Good Morning, Vietnam and Rain Man.  From 1997 to 2008, he worked extensively with director, Sydney Pollack, adapting John Le Carre’s The Night Manager and writing two more films and developing two television series. Recent writing credits include: CSI: Crime Scene Investigators, Discovery's Gold F

Rex Piano, director, PT 5Upon graduating NYU School of the Arts , Rex worked as a 1st A.D. on dozens of commercials and films until he took a full time position at a NY Commercial Production Company. In 1985 Rex as Head of Production for O’Quinn Productions. he produced numerous videos for Fangoria Magazine. In 1987 Rex became Head of Production for Associated Television International.  Rex wrote, produced and/or directed several TV specials and numerous travel videos. Rex also co-wrote and line produced the feature film “Chill Factor,” starring Paul Williams, Patrick Macnee and Andrew Prine. Rex line produced “Severed Ties” in 1991 for Fangoria Films. In 1995 he produced the syndicated TV show “High Tide,” starring Rick Springfield. Rex became one of the series’ rotating directors. Some of the episodic shows Rex has directed  “Mike Hammer, Private Eye”, “Silk Stalkings”, “Born Free”, “Air America” and “Nightman.” In 2000 Rex produced and directed the multi-award winning romantic comedy  feature film “The Mon

GIL CATES, JR. (Producer Director) has produced and directed many films and documentaries, including the 2013 feature film Jobs, which he co-produced, starring Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad, Dermot Mulroney, and Matthew Modine, and the 2011 feature film Lucky, which he directed, starring Colin Hanks, Ari Graynor, Ann-Margret and Jeffrey Tambor. In addition, Gil produced and directed the critically acclaimed Life After Tomorrow, featuring Sarah Jessica Parker, which won best documentary at the Phoenix Film Festival and later had it’s premiere Christmas Eve on Showtime. His other films include Deal, starring Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison, and Charles Durning, The Mesmerist, starring Neil Patrick Harris, and the critically acclaimed independent film Order of Chaos, which was released in the summer of 2010. Gil also made his TV directorial debut with an episode of the NBC comedy, Joey, starring Emmy winner Matt LeBlanc, and most recently completed the feature film The Surface, starring Sean Astin and Chris Mulkey, whic

Debra Granik, director, nominated for Academy Award, and co-writer of Winter’s Bone, which was nominated for four Oscars, including  Best Picture, and won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Granik’s first feature film, Down to the Bone, was awarded the Best Director prize at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. She is known for her amazing work with actors, essentially launching the careers of both Vera Farmiga and Jennifer Lawrence. Her work is known for an instinctive, collaborative style that Granik describes as “late-breaking global neorealism.” Granik’s most recent offering, the documentary Stray Dog, began with a chance encounter while scouting and casting Winter’s Bone. Granik met Ron “Stray Dog” Hall in the Biker Church of Branson and cast him as the film’s estranged father, Thump Milton. Of her work she says, “The question I’ve had for most of my life is, ‘How are you coping?’ Some people have these small, positive schemes for survival, a kind of strength that I am attracted to, may

Peter Sherayko, (PT 2) Actor, and owner of Caravan West a supplier of  horses, tack, artillery, costumes, props, Prod. Designer, Art Director, Prop Master, Wranglers, and Sets for movies, played 'Farley' in 'Yellow Rock'. Peter created his company to bring quality to the Hollywood Western and provide today’s demanding film audience with the most authentic product possible.  In the process, Sherayko has become recognized as historian and author, appearing in numerous Wild West Tech episodes for the History Channel and as technical consultant and supplier to both the History and Discovery Channels. His first book, Tombstone: The Guns and Gear is lauded in Flayderman’sGuide to Antique Weapons as one of the 100 books every collector should have on their bookshelf, the book grew out of his work on the Western film classic, Tombstone.  Peter researched the weaponry of every character as he designed the firearms he provided.  His company Caravan West Productions coordinated the saddles and the Buckaroos, and Peter p

Horror Equity Fund, LLC leads the industry in genre-specific funding solutions for horror-centric projects including films, ancillary rights exploitation and other horror-related projects. Unlike “pre-sale” or donation-based crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter, which solicit donations or contributions in return for a poster, download, or other consideration, Horror Projects presented through HEF offer real ownership and profit participation (an equitable interest) for its Investors. Horror projects include: Transmedia market projects; Feature Films; TV Episodic(s); Graphic Novels; Motion Comics and more. We talk with: CEO Marlon W. Schulman’s an entrepreneurial producer and attorney, his specialty is the creation of diverse profit-driven entertainment products and services through innovatively conceived integration of proven strategies with new technologies. Brian Herskowitz is a veteran Hollywood producer, writer, and director of feature films, TV series and digital series. He is the author of the best-s