The road from Buffalo to Hollywood

By Darrian Dowdy The producers, screenwriters, and special effects artists of Hollywood had to start somewhere. For some people, their road began in Buffalo. Adam Steigert, Buffalo filmmaker and CEO of Deftone Pictures Studios Inc. (deftonepicturesstudios.com), started working on films in his early teens, when he began writing scripts. “I was always told to write what you know,” Steigert said. “That’s the best way to tell a story.” Tyler...

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A behind the scenes look at editing

By Darrian Dowdy Movie stars spend weeks, possibly months, perfecting their roles. But the real magic takes place behind the scenes in the editing room. Mary Hughes, a senior at SUNY Buffalo State, has been interested media production for 10 years. “I’ve been interested in photography since I was old enough to work a camera,” Hughes said. “My brother and I both got computers, and with the computers came these really [low-quality] digital...

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Ten years of film at the BNFF

By Darrian Dowdy Hollywood came to Buffalo this week at the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival. Filmmakers, writers and audiences came to the Tonawanda Castle to watch the premiere of nearly 40 independently produced films over the span of five days. Buffalo filmmaker Rob Imbs entered his feature length film, “Game Changers” into the festival this year. It is his second time showing a feature length film at the event. “The first time I entered...

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The art of acting

By Darrian Dowdy From forest fairies to Shakespearean princes, Monica Morrisey has a diverse portfolio of other personas she has embodied as an actress. Morrisey, a theater major at Niagara County Community College, has been acting since she was 12 years old. “I’ve wanted to do something performative since I was little, and middle school musicals were what initially introduced me to acting,” Morrisey said. Last spring, she played a fairy...

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Buffalo as a backdrop

By Darrian Dowdy Buffalo has been invaded by zombies, pigmen, and aliens in recent years.  Tyler Cheman, a local filmmaker, has been witness to this since the fall of 2012, when he began his work in the film business. “ALIVE: An Undead Survival Series,” Volumes 1 and 2, were written and directed by Cheman. The series follows a small camp of apocalypse survivors just outside of Buffalo who must travel deep into the city for more supplies. “Sci-fi...

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The Horrors Of Holland Road

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From Los Angeles to Buffalo: A night at the Oscars

By Darrian Dowdy Michael Devine spent Oscar night in a suit and tie, walking the red carpet, and posing for photos. He even took home the award for Best Actor. Devine, a theater major at SUNY Buffalo State, wasn’t in Hollywood. He was on campus at the 9th Annual Television and Film Arts Night at the Oscars, a multimedia gala celebrating the Academy Awards as well as Buffalo State student films. “It was very classy, right from the start,” said...

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