OSNS on OSNS

Steven Fischer, producer of Old School New School the movie, will be appearing on Old School New School the podcast on Thursday, July 7 2011 at 6.30pm PST. More details to come.

City Paper’s Feature Story on Old School New School

Released today and documents a recent shoot in New York with jazz great McCoy Tyner.

Click here and check it out!

Tomas Arana, Herman Leonard, and Allen Moore

The Next Old School New School subjects are…

Cinematographer Allen Moore. He’s one of Ken Burns’ trusted cameramen and has served as cinematographer on Burns’ classics The Civil War, Thomas Jefferson, The West, The National Parks. His own films are equally as amazing. The Shepherd of Berneray is an extraordinary documentary of a year in the life of a Gaelic-speaking island community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

Actor Tomas Arana is also on board to appear in Old School New School. He is probably best known for the role of Quintis in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, but his credits extend way beyond…. ER, Pearl Harbor, The Bodyguard, CSI, 24 … and a ton of work throughout Europe. The list goes on. His connection with fine artists such as Andy Warhol and the lessons he learned about creativity had me completely engaged in our chat.

Actor Tomas Arana.

And legendary photographer Herman Leonard has agreed to appear in the movie! Quincy Jones once wrote that any image a person has in mind of Jazz history is probably one of Herman Leonard’s photos. He’s photographed everyone from Louis Armstrong to Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and Marlon Brando not to mention Clark Gable, Harry Truman and Albert Einstein!

Legendary photographer Herman Leonard.

Old School, New School producers Diane Leigh Davison and Steven Fischer with Herman Leonard (far left) at a gallery opening in New York City. (2009, photo by Rick Edwards)

Having chatted with him, I’ve discovered Mr. Leonard to be a terrific storyteller. He told a fascinating story of a conversation he had with Albert Einstein and Einstein’s thoughts on the creative power of improvisation. I’m looking forward to this one. Details soon.

More details to follow. Many thanks to Diane Davison for making it happen!

OSNS on CineMaryland

Diane Leigh Davison and I taped an interview for CineMaryland today talking about Old School New School. The episode we appear in will air sometime in October.

Details to come. Many thanks to Karen Hinds Vadnais for the invite!

10 Great Mistakes Writers Make

“A writer writes, always.” A memorable line from Throw Momma from the Train.

Indeed, a writer is always writing, but what and how are they writing? John Truby, author of The Anatomy of Story, has a list of the 10 biggest mistakes that separate the amateur from the professional.

Check it out here! And when you do, watch the accompanying short, Omar, The Short … it’s great!

OSNS Photographer Wins Award

Stuart Dahne is has been shooting promotional photos for Old School New School. One shot of the movie’s director, Steven Fischer, just won Digital Image Cafe’s Photo of the Day. See it here.

Stuart’s work is fantastic! Check out stuartdahnephotography.com.

Congrats, Stuart!

CINE Announces Event for July 15

CINE announces What Makes a Winning Film seminar at Discovery Communications. Click here to learn more.

Only $15; 6-8pm, Wednesday, July 15. Panel guests: Donald Thoms, CINE President; Rita Mullin, Vice President of Development, TLC; Rick Allen, CEO, SnagFilms; Mary Frost, Managing Partner, Frank Frost Productions; and Steven Fischer, CINE Masters Series Award-winning Filmmaker.

OSNS on Film Cast Live

Film Cast Live posted a review of the OSNS screening in Hollywood, June 20th. The writer’s name is George Leon and he had some great words to share!

Click here to check it out!

Thanks for the kudos, George!

OSNS panel discussion, Los Angeles, CA, June 2009 (L-R) Brett Paesel, Mark Goffman, Steven Fischer, Steve Melendez, Mike Polcino

Steven Fischer on Real Talk Radio

So I’m driving along the highway yesterday afternoon preparing for Los Angeles, making my calls to “the coast” (or as Michael Dorsey would argue to his agent, “This is a coast too, George. New York is a coast.”), when I place a call to media mogulette Gigi Iam. Gigi is the producer and host of The Gigi Iam Show for Time Warner cable. I’ve appeared on her show about two or three times promoting various projects. She has always been a wonderful supporter.

She has a radio version of the show, and as we talked on the phone Gigi mentioned that I should come on sometime and chat about Old School, New School. Great! Then she said, “How about tonight?”

Well, what started out as, “just call in and we’ll just chat for a couple minutes” ended up going half an hour! Take a Listen.

Thanks, Gigi!

P.S.: The beautiful music that opens is a piece from Michael Zampi from his album The Appalachian Trail Reflections of Beauty.

Hollywood Screening

Did I mention that Kimberley Browning is one of planet Earth’s most beautiful people? She is the heart and soul behind Hollywood Shorts, and many months ago made the generous offer to coordinate and present a work-in-progress screening of Old School, New School, a study on the nature of creativity.

That day is nearly here. Mark your calendars!

Saturday, June 20, 2009
The Hotel Cafe
1623 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
4.30pm – 6.30pm
FREE

This work-in-progress screening is intended for a target audience focus group (art students and those interested in developing their creativity). Confirmed guests for the post screening discussion include 6-time Oscar nominee (and OSNS subject) William Fraker and Michael Polcino, director of The Simpsons and Family Guy animated series. The discussion continues the dialogue from the movie about taking risks, finding your own voice, defining success in the arts, and, in general, how to “make it” in the arts.

More panel guests to be announced. The best way to keep in formed is to join the OSNS Facebook page.

Many thanks to The Hotel Cafe and Kimberley Browning for making this screening a reality.