Sharpcuts Indy Film & Music Fest premier's M.Lougee's 'Ray's Big Day'!

[The Pit and the Pendulum short film]

This weekend, October 17-19 in beautiful Guelph, Ontario (Home of the University of Guelph) the folks at SHARPCUTS Indie film & Music festival light up the town with screenings, gala party and film production workshops! Whoo Hoo!
Check out Marc Lougee's Green Screen 101 Workshops Sunday @ 3:30!
It's gonna be a great time for anyone wanting to know how to make the most of the minimum with Green Screen and VFX techniques on a low budget, with video an real -world examples from shows and films Marc's worked on recently; A must see event!


Director Marc Lougee (The Pit and the Pendulum animated film) is presenting a world premiere of another Ray Harryhausen-related film directed and produced by Marc Lougee and Steve Jaworski, "Ray's Big Day"! This is a gem that was commissioned by the Visual Effects Society for Ray's 80th Birthday bash in Hollywood during Marc's stint as Director of Animation on Celebrity Deathmatch (MTV New York). This wonder of cinematic shortness will surely please any fan of Ray's, as it has it all; comedy, horror, sword-wielding skeletons and all set on the docks in 1800's London. Swing by and check this out in the 9:15 screening block, Friday Oct. 17th, sponsored by Anchor Bay Entertainment and Crypt Club Productions!

Here's more on the SHARPCUTS Indie film & Music festival shenanigans from the folks that run the show:
"Guelph’s SharpCuts Indie Film and Music Festival is a three-day celebration of the best and brightest in independent production. The 08 festival explodes on screen with over 17 hours of juried films, groundbreaking industry workshops, a special guest presentation by Canadian musical icon Jeff Bird (Cowboy Junkies), and an uber chic evening gala featuring a Music + Film = Integration documentary debut.

Friday Fright @ the Synnema Studio (6pm – 2:00 am)
A creepy evening marathon of horror and suspense courtesy of independent filmmakers and Anchor Bay Entertainment, one of the leading indie horror film buyers in North America and through Crypt Club Productions Inc., distributor of horror and dark fantasy short films.

Saturday Flix @ Ramada (9am- 6:30pm)
Independent short and feature length films by local and regional talent dominate Saturday @ SharpCuts. Drama, comedy, western, documentary and mocumentary are stacked in this powerhouse lineup, including the closing night feature, Six Reasons Why, starring Colm Feore. Seven films will make their world debut, and three shorts have been nominated for the SharpCuts best picture award (to be presented at the gala). Filmmakers will participate in question and answer sessions at the end of each programming block.

SharpCuts Special Music Guest: Jeff Bird @ Ramada, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
As a filmmaker and musical veteran, Jeff Bird knows a thing or two about the Canadian arts scene. He has released 11 CDs of his own work and collaborations, has appeared on over 100 recordings, and has toured and recorded with the cowboy junkies for the past 20 years. He’s coming to SharpCuts to share some of his experiences, his wisdom, and a short film. This is an event not to miss.

SharpCuts Gala @ Manhattans (10pm – 2am) ($10/ticket)
The gala is the pinnacle of celebration for SharpCuts, brining together filmmakers, cast, crew, and audience in a swank after-hours affair at Manhattans in Guelph. Film blends with the live music of band Kid Coma in the premier of “Rock to Rock”, an intimate and off-beat short doc on this unusual rock band.
Awards will be presented for best horror and short films, from the nominees screened on Friday and Saturday.

Sunday FX @ Ed Video and Synn Studios
The final day of the SharpCuts festival is devoted to professional development. From mastering green screen effects, to planning productions and editing, SharpCuts has the art of filmmaking covered. Workshop instructors include animation wizard Marc Lougee (The Pit and the Pendulum, Dinosapien) and editor Peter Light, of Due South, Dinosapien and Goosebumps fame. Great for hobbyist and experienced filmmakers alike.