After much deliberation, here are the #Crazy8sFilms18 Top 12 who will advance to the script stage of the filmmaking competition.

Bob  – Director & Writer Graeme Achurch & Daniel Jeffery, Producer Geoff Manton

In a Twilight Zone-esque scenario, Bob awakes to discover his whole world is stuck operating backwards. But when the chronology of the film reverses, it’s revealed that Bob is the one who the world perceives as backwards

Bordered – Director & Writer Anaïsa Visser, Producers Darren Devlin & Marco Bossow

A US Border Patrol Officer apprehends two Syrian refugees fleeing the US into Canada and is forced to choose between his duty and his sense of compassion.

CC – Director & Writer Kailey Spear & Sam Spear, Producer Natasha Wehn

After an AI nanny attacks her employer, an investigative team must determine what caused the attack.

Defence – Director & Writer Hannah Drew, Producer Shiva Kashi

Alexa Wyatt is a good daughter, and an even better soccer player. But when her obligations to her family come into conflict with her duty to her team, and her best friend, Wyatt must decide where her loyalty and love truly lies.

Extra-Ordinary Amy – Director Christopher Graham, Writer Zlatina Pacheva, Producer Kris McRonney

A young girl who is unknowingly death incarnate must accept who she is in order to continue doing what she loves: dancing

Gemini – Director & Writer Mily Mumford, Producer Phil Planta

In a very near future two VR gamers coincidentally meet in real life and through their interactions expose the dark side of virtual reality and gaming.

How Did We Get Here? – Director & Writer Laura Adkin, Producers Lisa Durupt & Victoria Angell

In the wake of a young intern’s sexual assault and subsequent attempted suicide, the people around her must confront their own demons and realize the role that their inaction played in the tragedy.

Imperfect Harmony – Director Tricia Collins, Writer Jennifer Laporte

In a world where people turn into musical instruments instead of dying, a shy teenager discovers that she is turning into a cello, which might be her ticket to finally being accepted by her parents and peers.

The Jobs We Don’t Want – Director & Writer Larke Miller, Producer Justine Warrington

A reptilian shape-shifting alien, who’s lost everything after Pluto was stripped of planet status, winds up working on an organic walnut farm in Northern California.

My Blue Balloon – Director Trish Neufeld, Writer Steve Berry

In a palliative care unit with her mother, Sarah finds comfort in a shiny blue balloon floating on the ceiling. The balloon becomes a metaphor for healing when it unexpectedly comes back to Sarah in a different form.

Shuttlecock – Director & Writer Melanie Jones, Story by Melanie Jones & Rhona Rees

Washed-up badminton star Winnie will stop at nothing to reclaim her Olympic dreams by playing a match against her former rival while a video crew documents her desperate attempt to prove glory should have been hers.

Small Fish – Director & Writer Maxime Beauchamp, Producer Kent Donguines

In a world where only the biggest fish in the sea survive, Laurie, an amateur painter, struggles with success as she finds herself becoming more and more like the tiny fish she puts to canvas.

Congratulations again to all the Top 12! Top 6 Announced January 9, 2018.

The post Crazy8s 2018 Top 12 Announcement appeared first on Biz Books.

This year, Crazy8s hit a new record of 201 video pitches, and after reviewing them tirelessly over the past 2 weeks, the Pitch Jury unanimously decided to choose 42 film pitches to advance to the live-pitch stage!

The live pitches will be held November 25 & 26th, in front of a new jury of film and TV industry professionals. The Top 12 final pitches will then advance to the script stage, announced November 27th!

Here are the Crazy8s 2018 Top 42!

In alphabetical order by Film Title:

@Eloise – Director Jesse Boyko, Writers Jesse Boyko & Jenna Mae Diamante – SciFi

Black or Blue – Writer Murry Peeters – Drama

Bob – Directors Daniel Jeffery & Graeme Achurch, Writers Graeme Achurch & Daniel Jeffery, Producer Geoff Manton – SciFi / Comedy

Bordered – Director / Writer Anaïsa Visser – Drama

The Candy Bar War – Director / Writer David I. Strasser, Producer Jessica Randall and Graem Luis – Historical Drama

Cat in the Postman’s Bag – Director Kaio Kathriner, Writer Tom Malenica – Comedy

CC – Directors / Writers Kailey Spear & Sam Spear, Producer Natasha Wehn – SciFi / Drama

Cherry Blossoms in March – Director / Writer Riley Rheyan, Producer Thomas Emann – Art House / Drama

Cloaks and Daggers – Directors Kristina Hampton & Jordan Dueck, Writer Kristina Hampton, Producer Jonathan Chawla – Drama

The Companion – Director / Writer Michelle Brezinski – Comedy

Concrete – Director / Writer Milton Ng – Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Comedy

Dazzle Ships – Director Kristyn Stilling, Writer Jasmine Pullukatt & Kristyn Stilling, Producer Jasmine Pullukatt – Comedy

Defence – Director / Writer Hannah Drew – Drama

Extra-Ordinary Amy – Director Christopher Graham, Writer Zlatina Pacheva, Producer Kris McRonney – Dark Comedy / Horror

Film-Making The Musical – Director Ed Witzke, Writers Ed Witzke & Matt Ewart, Producer Ed Witzke & Matt Ewart – Musical

The Future of Me – Director Ray Raghavan, Writer Ray Raghavan, Producer Haydn Wazelle – SciFi / Drama

Gemini – Director / Writer Mily Mumford, Producer Phillip Planta – SciFi

Girl – Director Kathleen Mann, Writer Alison Brierley, Producer Alison Brierley, Producer Kathleen Mann – Drama

Girlship – Director Lucie Guest, Writer Lucie Guest, Producer Synnöve Godeseth – Comedy

The Hermit’s Couplet – Director Alex Miro, Writer Alex Miro, Producer Stefania Indelicato & Amanda Konkin – Comedy

Hero Singh – Director / Writer Jasleen Kaur – Comedy / Drama

How Did We Get Here? – Director / Writer Laura Adkin, Producers Lisa Durupt & Victoria Angell – Drama

Imperfect Harmony – Writer Jennifer Laporte – coming of age fantasy

The Jobs We Don’t Want – Director Larke Miller, Writer Larke Miller, Producer Justine Warrington – SciFi / RomCom

The Long Halloween – Director Akash Motwani, Writer Akash Motwani, Producer Satinder Dhillon – Drama

Long Way Down – Director/Writer Michael P. Vidler – Drama

My Blue Balloon – Director Trish Neufeld, Writer Steve Berry, Producers TBC – Drama

My Life with John Paul II – Director Ricardo Plaza, Writer Ricardo Plaza & Bobby Gorman, Producer Ryan Silva & Bobby Gorman – Comedy

Nut-Cracker – Director, Writer Jennifer Nicole Stang – Action / Comedy

OCD: Obsessive Christmas Disorder – Director Ellie Harvie, Writers Brenda Whitehall & Lynda Finch – Comedy

The OOO Block – Director Erik Horn, Writer Erik Horn, Producer Amanda Verhagen – Comedy

Power – Director / Writer Crystal Lowe, Producers Ashley Alexander & Phil Planta – Drama

(?) Questioning – Director Harrison Houde, Writer Kim Chinchilla, Producer Kimi Alexander – Dramedy

Shuttlecock – Director / Writer Melanie Jones, Lead Actor Rhona Rees – Comedy

Small Fish – Director / Writer Maxime Beauchamp, Producer Kent Donguines – Visual Drama

Sophie in the Mirror – Director Greg Melanson, Writer Ren Kennedy, Producer Nadia DiMofte – Drama

Sparks! – Director Hayley Gray, Writers Hayley Gray & David Chin, Producer David Chin & Tina Korki – Comedy

Suburban Desert – Director Shelby Wilson, Writers Shelby Wilson & Matt Seeley, Producer Justin MacGregor & Matt Seeley.- Action Thriller

Take Shelter – Director / Writer Jesse Pickett, Co-Producers Kathleen Mann & Brigitte Patenaude – Post-Apocalyptic

The Traveler – Director / Writer Kay Metchie, Producers Valerie Lopez & Hannah Kess – Action / Thriller

Vivid – Directors / Writers Athena Russell & Tiarra Sulyk, Producers Athena Russell & Tiarra Sulyk – Drama / Fantasy

Waiting for Ganesh – Director / Writer Jacques Lalonde, Producer Arun Fryer & Pat Bermel – Musical Comedy

Break a leg to all the filmmakers!

Meet the #Crazy8sFilms18 Top 12 in person at the Raindance Booze N’Schmooze – 7pm-10pm on Monday, November 27th at the Blarney Stone.

The post Crazy8s 2018 Top 42 Announcement appeared first on Biz Books.

Tell us a little bit about The Oblivion Series: A (Not So) Girlie Show.

You mean my ‘magnum opus’? Haha! My show is a collection of characters and stories that I’ve been developing over the past few years. It was born out of me wanting to perform material as an actor that I felt really jazzed about. I am a longtime Cold Reading Series participant and one year Lori Triolo dared me to join in on the “Actor’s Challenge” – where actors write their own stuff and have it read at the event. Terrified, I took her advice. Much to my surprise it was quite well received, and from there the show slowly started developing a life.

What can audiences expect from The Oblivion Series: A (Not So) Girlie Show that will make for a unique stage experience?

I’d say that audiences can expect first and foremost to be entertained and to laugh. Also perhaps to be inspired, moved and turned on in a new way. I don’t mean that in a naughty way, but in an “ideas” kind of way. A lot of the ideas in the show seem to resonate with people. I imagine it makes for a unique stage experience because it’s written by an actor – not a professional playwright – so maybe that’s a different sort of thing right out of the gate. Also it’s not structured as a traditional “play” but really as a fun wild romp of a live “show”.

Recommended Reading The Perfect Stage Crew
2nd Edition Click a cover for more details Empire of the Son Ignite: Illuminating Theatre
For Young People

Can you briefly walk us through your creative process of this incarnation of the show – from the early stages all the way to opening night?

That’s a funny story. Basically my co-producer and co-star Lori Watt (who had seen the show in LA) called me up one day and said “hey I have a friend starting a Fringe Festival on the island and how would you feel about doing your show there in June?”

I said yes and we got together to read the monologues, deciding it would be fun to do it just the two of us. We thought originally that we would self-direct (which is hilarious in retrospect) and so began rehearsing at Lori’s place. After a bit we thought: maybe a director friend could look at this just to give another p.o.v., so we contacted Linda Darlow, who agreed to “take a peek”. From there it kind of snowballed into the Zone Festival with Jay Brazeau adjudicating, which was a very fun and encouraging experience. That was actually the moment I thought we were onto something with this new version. The audience feedback was clear.

Now, since joining forces with Alison Araya – who has really amped it up with what she’s bringing to the table – it really feels like it’s up and running with a clear vision and in a great place as a production. The creative process in a nutshell I suppose has been aligning with like-minded people who love this wacky material and are really bringing themselves to it and are showing up in a big way. Oh and HAVING FUN. I should have said that at the beginning. The creative process has mainly been about having fun with this.

The Oblivion Series: A (Not So) Girlie Show has played in a few different cities now. How has it evolved over time and where do you see it changing in the future?

It has evolved a lot. What a journey! Primarily I’d say the show is now finding it’s correct rhythm, and has become a lot funnier. I credit Linda Darlow for this immensely with her direction. Somehow she has elevated it to a wonderfully absurd yet honest and hard-hitting place, if that’s possible to imagine. The earlier iteration in LA was treated a lot more seriously. That’s the interesting thing about creative collaborations: so many possibilities to explore. Also there are a few new pieces in this show that weren’t in LA, and I’ve dropped a couple of old pieces. That’s the beauty of having titled it a “series” – it can always evolve and change as I write new bits. Probably that’s how it will continue to go in future.

What has been the biggest highlight for you with The Oblivion Series: A (Not So) Girlie Show so far?

Two things: #1: Debuting my show in L.A. at the Stella Adler Theatre. That blew my mind and was one of those ‘pinch me’ moments. Huge gratitude to the L.A. Women’s Theater Project for hooking that up. I read Stella Alder’s book on acting back when I was training and her words resonated with me more strongly than most teachers. She is one of the greats – and an original. I never thought I’d be in her theater with my original work. I still get goose bumps thinking of walking around her hallways and hanging out in her speakeasy. I’m pretty sure I could feel her presence in there. I think that’s what they call “walking on your dream”.

#2 biggest highlight has been working with Linda Darlow and the ladies of WaWaYa Productions. It’s simply a joy.

What were the biggest challenges for you in developing this production and how did you deal with them?

The challenges have really only been #1: getting out of my own way and just getting out there with my work, taking the risk, and #2: aligning with the right people to collaborate with. How I dealt with that is by #1: saying yes when there was interest in my show and basically throwing caution to the wind, despite my fear or doubts, and #2: trial and error, and getting clearer on my own vision over time. I sometimes joke that I’ve been work-shopping this show in public, and now it’s finally hitting its stride after all the live experiments.

What advice do you have for other performers who want to develop or act in their own show?

DO IT! Stop thinking about it and actually do it! If you are remotely inspired and have some ideas: write them down, try them out, read them aloud to people, get up on a stage and give it a whirl! I was so scared when I first started with this material and now I can honestly say it is one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences of my life.

The Oblivion Series: A (Not So) Girlie Show is very adult-oriented and draws from your own life. What was the process like of writing from your own experiences? How close does the final version match up with the original life experiences that they were drawn from?

I love how you say “very adult-oriented” – sounds so racy and dangerous! The process of writing from my own experiences is very liberating and empowering. I say in the synopsis that the characters are coming to terms with their lives, but secretly I think I am. There’s something about owning things out loud in front of people. Making them “characters” and putting them on a stage gives the freedom to poke fun at myself and to be creative about how I tell the stories. Hopefully I’m offering a somewhat universal take on the themes I’m exploring, and that the characterizations allow for that detachment that can then resonate more deeply somehow. I like to leave it up to the audience to guess how closely the final version matches up to reality. A girl’s gotta have some privacy. Things are certainly embellished and altered for dramatic (and comedic) effect.

What are the advantages of writing roles for yourself and acting in something that you’ve written? Are there any challenges?

The advantage is that I already know the characters because I wrote them. I already feel a sense of freedom and confidence because it’s from me. It feels natural right out of the gate to speak the words. There’s not that same searching and discovery process that comes from taking on a role written by someone else. There is still discovery, it just starts from a totally different place. The challenge has mainly been in marrying the p.o.v. of my director about the characters with my own, and allowing space in my writer brain for that much needed director p.o.v. Also it’s sometimes hard to separate my writing and acting brains, when they are both going on at once. But that’s a challenge I am thoroughly enjoying.

What were your reasons for getting involved with acting and writing to begin with?

Reasons? Ha! I’m not sure reason had anything to do with it! I have been making things up and getting people to watch me since the age of four. It’s just something I’ve always done. That’s from the acting side of things anyway. I guess there is a reason I got more involved as a writer these past years, and that’s because I wasn’t feeling entirely satisfied as an actor. I love performing but I only ever sometimes felt like the material was rocking my world. I needed more, and writing has certainly filled that hole.

Again I go back to what Lori Triolo preaches at the CRS: “…if you’re not satisfied with the work you’re getting, create your own!”

Ba-da-boom.

Who are the performers, writers, or directors that have been influential to you?

Along with those already mentioned… Eve Ensler, Meryl Streep (it’s not cliché, she’s a genius!), Robin Williams, Sandra Bernhard, Sacha Baron Cohen, Stephen Colbert, Marilyn Monroe, Ani DiFranco, Bob Marley and ummm, Madonna. To bring a local flavor I’m gonna go with Kate Twa, Andrew McIlroy, Lynne Stopkewich, Rob Stewart, Kris Elgstrand, Dylan Akio Smith, and Tony Pantages.

Are there any books or specific authors that have been influential to you so far in your creative journey?

Oh goodness there are so many! Off the top of my head, in acting school my favorite reads from a training point of view were Stella Adler and Uta Hagen. Also Michael Caine’s Acting in Film. Tina Fey’s Bossypants is SUCH a great read. I read a lot of non-fiction, quantum physics and healing stuff. At the moment I’m going between Joanna Macy’s Active Hope: How To Face The Mess We’re In Without Going Crazy, and Russell Brand’s My Booky Wook. Also I hear Linda Darlow has a new book coming out. That’s gonna be a must-have for every actor.

What can you share about any future projects that are in development?

I’m playing with ideas on how to translate some of this existing work into short film format. On the live performance front I’ve recently developed some 5 minute comedy sets that I’ve been performing at local comedy venues. I plan to elaborate on this, and am slowly but surely developing new material for an hour long show.

The Oblivion Series: A (Not So) Girlie Show is now on at Studio 1398 (Playwrights Theatre) Granville Island. For tickets, please visit: Oblivion.BrownPaperTickets.com

The post The Biz Interview: Justine Warrington of The Oblivion Series: A (Not So) Girlie Show appeared first on Biz Books.