What’s New with the Guild
Our Blog
We’re excited to share our inaugural issue of the quarterly WVFG blog launching mid-June. Our goal is to share industry news and information, industry resources, and more with the help of our key editor and blogger, Ronda Suder, and guest bloggers from the Guild and industry. Paul Nandzik will be our first guest blogger (thank you Paul!).
The blog is scheduled to launch by mid-June before our next member meeting. If you would like to contribute news, blogs, or share industry events, please email [email protected].
Acting 101 Workshop
We’re excited to launch our acting workshop series with renowned industry actor Jw Myers next month. More details below.
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About the Instructor
Jw is a seasoned veteran of the independent film arena, with a broad depth of experience in nearly every production capacity. His skill set ranges from directing, producing, executive producing, writing, acting, teaching, editing, production coordination, office management, and production accounting.
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Next WVFG Member Meeting
The next WVFG member meeting will be held in Charleston, WV following our Acting 101 workshop with Jw Myers.
What: WV Filmmakers Guild Meeting
Time: 6:00PM
Where: WVSU EDU
Address:
1506 Kanawha Blvd. W.
Charleston, WV 25312
What:
We will be networking, sharing updates, and have a meet and great with the board.
We would love to see you there!
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Member Spotlight: Meet Paul Nandzik
Based out of Pittsburgh, PA, Paul Nandzik is best known for his stunt work, having performed, choreographed, and coordinated stunts on over 25 projects over the last six years, while winning Best Fight Choreography awards for his work on several projects.
Being a stunt professional requires him to mimic actors’ movements and mannerisms so that he can double them, use a multitude of weapons ranging from fully automatic machine guns to katanas to a rolled up newspaper, various forms of martial arts, falling down on the floor or down a flight of stairs or out a window, precision driving, working with fires and wires, and doing all of it safely.
Paul keeps his skills sharp by working and training regularly, and attending workshops and intensives such as the Society of American Fight Directors’ Virginia Beach Bash and the United Stuntmen’s Association’s International Stunt School. He even founded his own stunt team: Steel Legion Stunts.
Outside of the world of stunts, however, Paul’s also an accomplished writer, producer, and sometimes a director, which he does under the auspices of his own film production company, Dreaming Droids Productions.
Paul will be a guest speaker at the 3 Rivers Screenwriters Conference at Point Park University on Friday, May 19, where he and Steel Legion Stunts team members will perform a live stunt demo, then talk about what it takes to write, perform, shoot, and edit action sequences for film and television.
Some of Paul’s recent work includes writing and interviewing on the documentary, Attila’s Next Step, about a Pittsburgh paraplegic breaking the world record for hand cycling; choreographing, coordinating, and performing stunts for a trailer for the sci-fi action feature film Rogue by Cineworx, Dreaming Droids Productions, and Indieground Films. Paul is also pitching the pilot for his dramedy series, Forever Young, as well as a documentary-style reality series.
Coming up, Paul is set to produce one of the three stories on the creature feature compilation, Cryptids, by Nevermore Productions (who brought us the 1980s slasher horror throwback The Barn). He’ll also be making a cameo as a stunt double for one gag.
Being ambitious by nature, Paul has many other projects he’s working on, including several feature films, trailers or sizzle reels/proofs of concept (one of which will be animated), short films, a web series, and a really cool action/effects series of commercials.
Paul has collaborated with several WVFG members on several projects, and will be collaborating with Reckless Amnesiac Media for Pittsburgh’s 48-Hour Film Project this July.
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Grants Update
Current:
1. We are thrilled to share that in addition to the Charles Nailler Foundation Grant in the amount of $3000.
Pending:
1. A portion of the WVFG $10,000 for the NEA FY 2017 Art Works II Grant for an Appalachia in the Media Documentary is likely to be awarded, though nothing is confirmed at this time.
Closed Out:
1. Unfortunately, we were declined for the West Virginia Development Office Flex-e-Grant in the amount of $8500 with a match of $1500. However, information is now submitted, and they know who we are for the next time around!
2. The Hollywood Hillbilly Documentary project received $20,000 from the National Endowment of the Arts in 2015, of which the Guild received $2000.
Grant Opportunities:
We’ve also helped other projects receive grant funds, and we’d love to help you. If you have a grant of any sort that you believe you or your organization might qualify for, we are willing to help you complete and submit the grant. Contact [email protected] for more info.
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Board Update
We look forward to introducing you to the members of our board and what we’re up to each quarter!
STEVE KWIATKOWSKI, VICE PRESIDENT:
Stephen “Steve” John Kwiatkowski II (born August 12th, 1974) is an American actor, filmmaker, producer, and director. He has worked on large and small projects in West Virginia, Pittsburgh, PA, Las Vegas, NV and Nashville, TN. He has acted on TV shows such as Banshee (Cinemax) and, The Outsiders (WGN) and the film Concussion (Sony). He has directed cameras for the unveiling of the 2016 Olympic Summer Games Torch and Cauldron. Kwiatkowski is also the Red Ribbon winner for his work on the Documentary “For the Living” filmed in West Virginia. He has directed TV Shows, Movies, public theater and student films, as well as live national TV. Kwiatkowski is currently the only person in West Virginia to achieve a Tech I & II Certification from Lucasfilms THX and has worked with two living Presidents of the United States for National Television. Some of his work has been featured in New York City’s Fashion Week and on MTV, Spike TV, ESPN and VH1.
Kwiatkowski was born in Morgantown WV and attended Morgantown High School where he graduated in 1993. He also attended Fairmont State University to study Business Management. Kwiatkowski carries WV State Certifications in Production Coordination, Location Scouting and Grip and Electric. He is the owner of Maxxteck LLC. an audio visual rental and production company located in Morgantown, WV, and Vice President board position with the West Virginia Film Makers Guild, a 501-C 3 charity dedicated to the promotion of the film industry in the state of West Virginia.
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The Mile Ground
ABOUT:
The Mile Ground is scheduled to begin production in Morgantown, WV in late November 2017. The Mile Ground, inspired by real people and experiences, is an immersive visual story that sheds light on some of life’s complications from which we often run and hide.
Current Crew and Cast List
Producer: Jessica Shannon
Writer: Jessica Shannon
Director: Jim Aikman
First AD: Steve Kwiaktowski
Associate Producer: Ronda Suder
Cinematographer: Drew Ganyer
Composer: Kate Jaworski
Current Cast:
Jessica Shannon
Ronda Suder
To remain up-to-date on The Mile Ground Casting and Crew calls, refer to themilegroundmovie.com and
The Mile Ground Movie Facebook page.
To further support the project refer to The Mile Ground movieIndie Go Go campaign. The Mile Ground Teaser
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Coming Soon
▪ More Industry Workshops
▪ WVFG Blog Launch
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More Industry Workshops |
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Yours truly,
Your West Virginia Filmmaker’s Guild Board
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