TheCinemaSource.com Presents:
The Second Annual
Emerging Filmmakers Screening Series

Article By: Benjamin Lee
BenjaminLee@TheCinemaSource.com

These days it appears as if everyone has a film career in their sights.

Even that friendly guy at your local Chinese takeout has a script under the counter that he’s just dying to make. It’s tough though, not just for him but even for the film school graduates who’ve spent all their parent’s money making that risky short movie in their uncle’s basement. So it’s down to those who already have some reputation in the industry to help those that are in need of a lift.

For the second year running, TheCinemaSource have reached out to the masses and launched a worldwide search to find the best untapped talent out there. Through the magic of the internet, hundreds of applicants have sent in their short films to be judged by a crack team of film experts; some more judgmental than others.

The search was tough. The competition was strong. But for every engaging ten minutes, there were another that became nigh-on unbearable to sit through. For every believable performance there were five that wouldn’t have been out of place in a porn film. The hours of searching finally revealed two films that stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Once the films had been effortlessly picked, a night of celebration was in order.

It all took place on Thursday 22nd March 2007 in the Newest of Yorks at the AMC Empire on 42nd street, in the heart of Manhattan. The two films were to be shown before an exclusive preview screening of the new comedy Blades of Glory, starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. A 400-strong audience of eager New Yorkers were milling around, press were in attendance along with the two winning filmmakers, surely a little nervous at what was about to take place. Once everyone was seated, the fun could begin.

The king of the Source himself, Dan Deevy called everyone to a quiet as he started the night by giving something special to the audience members themselves. A few lucky raffle winners found themselves with a $10 Blockbuster gift card. Then it was time to announce the winners.

The First Prize winner was Michael Pacheco, who directed The Extra, a comic tale of a deluded extra who finds himself unable to follow the simplest of instructions on-set. It starred Ryan Stiles (The Drew Carey Show, Whose Line Is It Anyway?) as the unstable actor and Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Home Improvement, The Lion King) as the beleaguered director. The film started up on the big screen and immediately caught the reception it deserved. The theater found the nervous humor to be infectious and it went down a storm.

The director traveled all the way from Los Angeles to accept his award, along with a $1000 contribution to his next movie, a $100 Blockbuster gist card plus some goodies from TheCinemaSource.

The Grand Prize Winner was Marshall Cook, who directed Division III, a satirical comedy that sees a journalist find ...