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The Red Bank Film Factory: Lights, Cameras, Action
By Uncle Mike
RED BANK- What started out as a casual conversation between two film fanatics less than a year ago will come to fruition on August 3 when the Red Bank Film Factory officially opens its doors to serious filmmakers and novices alike. George McMorrow and William DeVizia are experienced, dedicated craftsmen in the fields of film and video production who share a deep and abiding sense of trust and respect for each other as professionals. They are extremely passionate about their work. And while McMorrow is the founder and driving force behind Red Bank's own Cinecall Soundtracks and Productions and DeVizia heads up his own successful New York City based production company, Develop Media, together they are the Red Bank Film Factory. Located in the heart of downtown Red Bank at 12 Broad Street, The Film Factory will be the first professional film production company in Monmouth County to serve both as a working film and video production house, Red Bank Film Factory Productions, and an educational institute, the Red Bank Film Factory Institute.
When you sit down to talk with McMorrow and DeVizia you immediately realize that both men have an overwhelming love and respect for their craft, as well as a shared vision of what their company should and will be. McMorrow readily admits that he was one of those kids who watched too much television. As he puts it, "How could you not like stories?" And perhaps if there had been a place like the Red Bank Film Factory around 20 years ago he would have gotten involved with film and video production a lot sooner and wouldn't have wound up managing a night club and producing rock concerts - a lifestyle that McMorrow says didn't suit him very well. However, it was this experience and his connections on the local music scene, along with his fascination of video production, that led to his establishing Cinecall Soundtracks and Productions, a company that provides local musicians' music for film soundtracks and produces music, industrial and corporate videos.
DeVizia recalls going to the movies as a young boy and being transformed by what he saw up on the big screen. And while he spent some time as a musician, actor, and developing a strong interest in communications and the English language, it was his love of storytelling and the visual arts that became his passion. William cut his filmmaker's teeth in New York City and has gone on to direct feature length films including Lesser Prophets starring John Turturro, Jimmy Smits and Elizabeth Perkins, documentaries like Naomi Conquers Africa with Naomi Campbell and Nelson Mandela, network and Web productions, as well as music videos with the likes of Norah Jones, Al Green and Willie Nelson. And to this day he still believes the best thing a filmmaker can do is to learn how to tell a story. According to DeVizia, being a storyteller should be priority number one for any aspiring filmmaker.
With over 20 years of production experience between them, DeVizia and McMorrow plan to offer their clients a wide array of production services from conception to scripting and pre-production right on through post-production and delivery while using the latest technologies available in the industry. Actually, the production end of the business has been in full swing since May as the dynamic duo have been working on a number of local video projects including BobFest '09 held at The Two River Theatre, local musician Bob Bandiera's latest in-store appearance at Jack's Music in Red Bank and they will be shooting a number of performances at 90.5 The NIGHT's "Songwriters In The Park" concert series held in Red Bank's Riverside Gardens Park.
As for their educational institution, it is the hope of the co-founders to develop and cultivate a community of local talent by offering hands-on professional experience to their students through courses, workshops and seminars that will feature instructors who are experts in their field and currently working in the film and video industry. The Film Factory Institute's initial foray in the educational field will be an intensive one-week digital filmmakers workshop. Set to run in two sessions, August 3 - 8 and August 10 - 15, this crash course will see each student write, produce and direct his or her own film on digital video. The curriculum will cover a concentrated overview and study of Story Fundamentals, Breakdown and Scheduling, Directing, Camera and Lighting Essentials and Final Cut Pro Editing.
Beforewarned this workshop is for the serious filmmaker. Students should be prepared for a minimum of eight-hour sessions every day that will include four hours of class time and four hours of supervised workshop production.
It is the hopes and dreams of McMorrow and DeVizia that through their experience, hard work and dedication the Film Factory will become a top-notch production house and premier educational facility.
A place where filmmakers and students alike could come to develop and work on their projects, whether it is a feature film or a family video. A safe haven for those who want to come and be creative. The long-range goal is for The Red Bank Film Factory to become a cultural hub for the arts in Red Bank, the state of New Jersey and beyond. Big dreams for sure, but for William DeVizia and George McMorrow, well within reach.
For more information on the Red Bank Film Factory you can call (732) 450-8883.
