FILM UPDATE. LISTEN TO SCOTT LEPP AND SANDI SOMERS TALK ABOUT THEIR UP COMING FILM & TV PROJECTS!
Sandi Somers Writer & Director by Katherine Calnan
Scott Lepp shared on his social media 5 days ago; Sandi Somers and I are so thankful and grateful to be selected by Telefilm for funding for Sandi's second feature, HAILEY ROSE!!!
We'll be going into production in 2021. We're only at funding stage and still there are so many people to thank for helping to get us this far. Thank you to the National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI) Features First Program, Shelly Quade and Al Magee, and the three other amazing teams that participated and contributed (Ryan, Karen, CD, Jared, Amelia, Matt). Thank you to the Whistler Film Festival Producers Lab and my mentor there and in many other aspects of producing, Avi Federgreen. Thank you to the YourAlberta (Government of Alberta) for additional development support, an absolutely essential part of Hailey Rose taking this next step. Thank you to Derek Heisler and Corey Lee for their work on the creative pitch elements. And, thank you to Matt Gillespie and Joe Media Group for your help in the most recent round of development. Not to mention the countless people who have read the script and given notes over the years.
There are so many to thank. This project is lead by an incredible script written by Sandi. Hailey Rose features a unique and empowering voice with characters that will draw you in before you turn the first page. It is incredibly difficult historically for female directors to get to their second feature and I want to congratulate Sandi on getting past that threshold. Thank you for bringing this script to me and I'm sorry for waiting 6 months before reading it the first time.
Telefilm Canada announces the funding of 20 English-language feature films
August 25, 2020 - Canada supports the production of 20 English-language feature films from across Canada with a total investment of over $7 million. Fifty per cent of the projects selected are directed and written by women.
This year, Telefilm received and processed 136 applications under the Production Program for English-language projects with budgets of $2.5 million and below. French-language feature films under this stream were previously announced in May 2020. The films selected are:
Bloodthirsty, Bystanders, Door Mouse , Hailey Rose, Indians in Cowtown , Inedia, Kipkemboi, Matt and Mara, Orah, Riceboy Sleeps , Skeet, So Much Tenderness, Sweetland, The Draft, The Incident Report, The Sun and His Daughter , The Wishing Tree, The Young Arsonists, Two Cuckolds Go Swimming and You Can Live Forever.
Credit: I'm Here With Mag and Photo by Katherine Calnan of Writer and Director Sandi Somers
As soon as we heard Sandi was working on her passion project with Scott Lepp, we had to call her and share her good news with you all.
August 2018
Independent award-winning filmmaker Sandi Somers is a native of Cape Breton Island who for over two decades has been residing in Alberta. She has worked in Canada and Europe for the past 25 years as a filmmaker, theatre artist, and educator. Sandi's work often revolves around challenges within human nature, discovery of truth, while addressing themes of connection.
Sandi's work has been featured across North America and in festivals worldwide such as The Lesbian International Film Festival in Paris, Los Angeles New Waves, The Melbourne International Film Festival, the St. John's Women's Festival, and The Calgary and Edmonton International Film Festivals. With over 70 films behind her and 40 nominations for her films, Sandi continues to create thought-provoking works in various genres. She creates dance films, music videos, dramas, comedies, video installations and has directed a documentary syndicated TV series. Upcoming projects include directing MUD, a CBC Digital Original series with Seven24 Films and designing the projection and video content for the live theatre production, Making Treaty 7.
Photo: Neil Zeller
Ice Blue movie was her first feature as director/co-producer. This psychological drama delves into themes of secrets and lies when a young 16-year old girl, living on an isolated farm with her father, asks to be reunited with her mother who mysteriously left ten years ago. Ice Blue opened to a sold out house at the Calgary International Film Festival and screened at the LA Femme Film Festival. There she won top honors with Best Feature Director, Ice Blue. Home (25 minutes, writer/director/producer) is a drama about a woman returning home to take care of her ailing and harshly strict parents in the 1950s. The Artistic Taxidermist (5 minutes) is a comedy about a taxidermist who, after discovering the Mona Lisa and fine art, becomes the DaVinci of the taxidermy world.
Photo by Katherine Calnan of Sandi Somers.
Sandi is the recent recipient of Alberta's prestigious Legacy Award from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts co-directing the auteur documentary on the pioneers of theatre in Calgary. She is a recipient of Alberta Media Arts Alliance's Spirit of Helen Award for her contributions to Alberta's media arts community and was invited to The Cannes Film Festival's Shorts Corner Program. Sandi is the creator of the revitalized initiative Herland, a workshop and mentorship program for women in film. She was also a finalist for Best Filmmaker in Calgary 2016 and recently received the Dave Kelly Live Force of Nature Award, and has served as current or past board member for the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers, Emmedia and Fairy Tales Presentation Society where she facilitates the Creative Workshop for the Queer Youth Media Project.
Credit: I'm Here With Mag and Photo by Katherine Calnan of Writer and Director Sandi Somers
Projects
- Gladiatrix: Crescent Moon (TV Mini-Series) (1 episode) (pre-production)
- The Arena (2021)
- 2019 Realization (TV Series)
- Lonely People (2019)
- Gaps (2019)
- 2019 Hudson (TV Series)
- Cash Grab (2019)
- Lady Killers (2019)
- Game On (2019)
- 2018/ All the World's a Stage (Documentary short)
- 2017 Ice Blue
SANDI GIVES BACK TO HER FILM COMMUNITY
WATCH SANDI
ICE BLUE FILM INTERVIEW WITH BREAKFAST TV CALGARY
LISTEN TO SANDI'S MOST RECENT INTERVIEW WITH I'M HERE WITH JUN 9, 2020.
LA Lemme Fest Awards Evening. Thank you Scott Lepp for being a great travel buddy, an amazing human and a kick-ass producer! -with Scott Lepp in Los Angeles, California. Sandi won Best Feature Director at the LA Femme 2017.
THE HEART OF ALBERTA FILM; SANDI SOMERS, SCOTT LEPP and COREY LEE- I'm Here With Mag
SANDI SOMERS ACCEPTING a stinger award 2019
Hudson on CBC takes Best Web Series - Photo: Hassan Abulhassa - with Scott Lepp at Festival Hall.
Ice Blue reunion @tiff_net with director @sandivva and producer @mslepp @icebluemovie #tiff #TIFF18 #TIFF2018 #canadianfilm #actor #actorslife #canadianactor — with Scott Lepp and Sandi Somers.
Scott Lepp, Sophia Hirt, Sandi Somers, Mikaela Cochrane, Billy MacLellan, Michelle Morgan, 2017.
Ice Blue Premiered last night at Calgary International Film Festival to a sold out theatre! I am so grateful to have gotten to be a part of this incredible team of skilled and passionate individuals. Special thanks to Sandi Somers for being such a kick ass lady paving the way for more woman to take this industry by storm
— with Nick Thomas and 5 others in Calgary, Alberta.
Calgary International Film Festival - CIFF , July 1, 2018 Director: Sandi Somer, Writer: Jason Long
Ice Blue- home-schooled Arielle's long-estranged mother mysteriously returns to their isolated family farm, it drives a wedge into her seemingly-perfect relationship with her father and reveals a chilling, dark past.
While left in charge of Maggie's Diner for the week, a driven Jade Virani butts heads with the new girl in town while they vie for the new manager position.
Madison Cheeatow stars as Jade, Sam Robert Muik stars as Trace, Bianca Caroca plays Sloane, Michelle Morgan stars as Lou, Alisha Newton plays Georgie, J.C. Charlton plays Kazoo Man, Amber Marshall plays Amy, Graham Wardle plays Ty, Owen Crow Shoe plays Kobe, and the Shop Keep is played by Jason Long. Directed by Sandi Somers and Michelle Morgan.
Hudson series was Produced by Ken Craw, Sandi Somers associate producer, Scott Lepp. Series Cinematography by Nick Thomas. Series Film Editing by Ken Filewych. Series Casting By Rhonda Fisekci.
Scott Lepp; Thank you very much to the teams for Hudson on CBC and #RealizationSeries! Both series' earned nominations in the Best Web Series category and Alec Harrison also earned a nomination for his incredible work on the score for Realization. So many people involved in making these shows happen and I look forward to celebrating the night (virtually) with all of you in October.
Hudson just finished its first broadcast on UPtv in the USA and is available on CBC Gem for free for Canadians.
Realization stars Lucie Guest, Nathan Witte, Andrea D'Amours, Rae Farrer, Anne Hawthorne, Charles Andrew Payne/. Production Co: EnriquePoe Moving Pictures, Iylond Entertainment. Series Directed by
Corey Lee (2 episodes, 2019), Sandi Somers (2 episodes, 2019). Series Writing Credits
Corey Lee and Sandi Somers.
Scott Lepp; Realization is doing the festival rounds and is garnering selections and nominations all over the world. It is available on all Telus platforms and was recently picked up for distribution in SE Asia.
Realization - A driven and inventive entrepreneur blurs ethical boundaries with his new venture, Realization Inc., a company in the business of providing "purely fictional" made-to-order relationships.
Producer Scott Lepp Photo by Derek Heisler
Film & Television Producer
Executive Producer, Iylond Entertainment
Producer, @TribalTVSeries
ICE BLUE available on VOD now!
WE CHATTED WITH SCOTT LEPP, THE FAMOUS CALGARY PRODUCER ABOUT HIS NEW POSITION WITH THE OKOTOKS FILM FESTIVAL AND THE SUCCESS OF HUDSON. HUDSON IS BEING PICKED UP BY AN AMERICAN CHANNEL!
We have been following Mr. Lepp since before our last interview with him about Tribal, Realiztion, Ice Blue and the Heartland. Scott Lepp worked on Heartland for 11 years and is now the Executive Producer for Hudson on CBC, He is so charming and talented! You can really see his work in Hudson from how strong and how well it flows. As well how much the cast and producers love him on social media. @mslepp. Scott is working on his next project with Director Sandie Somers (Ice Blue movie Award Winner). The new CBC series Hudson is based in the world of CBC’s long-running drama Heartland, with new characters alongside familiar faces and locations
August 2020. The team at Prairie Dog Film + Television would like to congratulate Scott Lepp on being our newly appointed Producer for TRIBAL Season 2. TRIBAL Season 2 coming to APTN in 2021.
The controversial new Chief of Tribal Police is forced to partner with a big-city cop amid allegations of corruption from the federal government.
Creator: Ron E. Scott Stars: Jessica Matten, Brian Markinson, Adam MacDonald, Julian Black Antelope, Jaren Brandt Bartlett, Ryan Northcott, Daniel Crowchild, Garry Chalk, Justin Rain and Michelle Thrush.
TRIBAL RED CARPET IN CALGARY. Laura Grace Photography and APTN at Contemporary Calgary.
COREY LEE AND SANDI SOMERS DIRECTORS AND WRITERS OF REALIZATION
After briefly attending the Alberta College of Art and Design, Corey Lee graduated from film school in 1993, during which time he wrote, directed, produced and edited the short, Peace & Love (1993). That same year he began work as a technician in the Grip department where his credits include: Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years (1995), The Edge (1997), The War Bride (2001) and Michael Winterbottom's , The Claim (2000). Most of his free time spent writing, Lee formed enriquePoe Moving Pictures in 2001 to produce his own films. He wrote several scripts before making his debut low-budget feature Defining Edward (2003), a story of one man's fight to unlock the truth about his own troubled past, staring `Joel McNichol' and `Joely Collins', which premiered in Toronto at the ReelWorld Film Festival in 2003. In 2004, he made the experimental short, Re/Birth and produced and directed the music video, Gun Metal Grey for singer/songwriter Lorrie Matheson.
COREY LEE AND SANDI SOMERS DIRECTORS AND WRITERS OF REALIZATION
Lee has several projects in development, including "Of Winds and Dragons", a martial arts/crime drama and the technological horror "The Link".
Corey Lee formed 'EnriquePoe Moving Pictures' in 2001 to produce his own films, the first being his debut dramatic feature Defining Edward (2003), which premiered in Toronto at the ReelWorld Film Festival. Corey has also crafted music videos and short films, including his award-winning Kilter Trilogy, adapted from the 2003 Giller prize short-listed collection Kilter: 55 Fictions, by John Gould. His writing and directing credits range from feature length dramatic to animated, experimental and dramatic short format, to long format documentary and documentary television series. His 2012 feature documentary, Legend of a Warrior (2012), co-produced with the National Film Board of Canada, premiered at Hot Docs and was released theatrically across Canada. The majority of his films are archived in the National Collection at Library and Archives Canada.
Posted @withregram • @mnwebfest In REALIZATION, a driven and inventive entrepreneur blurs ethical boundaries with his new venture, Realization Inc., a company in the business of providing “purely fictional” made-to-order relationships.
REALIZATION creates a whole new world, opening up interesting and concerning questions, with potentially serious ramifications. This Minnesota WebFest 2020 Official Selection is available on @YouTube, link in our bio!
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AND COREY LEE