Housing is Healthcare Documentary

I recently produced a short documentary for an amazingly wonderful non-profit: Homeward Bound.  They work to permanently end homelessness.  Homeward Bound does such important work, especially now with the Covid-19 pandemic raging across our country.  How can you stay healthy and escape the crowds of people, if you don't have a home to go to?  If you do get sick, how can you recover, if you don't have a safe place to rest and heal?  You can watch this informative and hopeful look at a group of people dedicated to solving these problems.

PSA: Together WNC

 Being locked down has been tough, but the constant, low-grade dread looming feels even more imposing. At a time like this I like to look for the helpers as Mr. Rogers said.  And we have them in Western North Carolina.  I'm so proud of how our community has come together to help eachother.

https://vimeo.com/656253260

 

One Hell of an Angel at Sick Chicks Flicks Film Festival

One Hell of an Angel not only had a great screening at the Sick Chicks Flicks Film Festival in Cary, NC we also won best feature film!  They call the awards the blood ravens.  What an honor!  I could feel a genuine love for independent film from everyone involved.  I had such a blast at this festival!

 

Hope at the Charlotte Film Festival

Hope had a great screening at the Charlotte Film Festival!  The quality was professional level, Hope looked so crisp on the big screen. The food and drinks they provided filmmakers were plentiful and delicious. Sharon and Alison were able to join me for the screening.  I got to meet up with Trinity, my incredibly talented composer for my upcoming short "Saving Jake."  I hope to be back with my next film next year!

Hope Reviewed

Hope got a great review on Film Threat! 7 out of 10.

"It is powerful"

https://filmthreat.com/reviews/hope-2019

By Chris Salce | July 29, 2019

The suicide rates in America have been growing year by year. Suicide is currently the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. It is a growing epidemic that is hard to understand, and it is hard to control how often it happens. There are many hotlines and counseling services available if one feels the need to harm oneself, but it is not always easy to ask for help. Hope is a film that may help someone who has felt lost or needs help.

Based on a true story, Hope (Emily Tynan McDaniel) is a widowed single mother who is suffering from depression after losing her husband. Hope feels that her son would be better off without her. After an attempted suicide, Hope is taken to a mental facility where she will stay for some time. Once she gets out of the mental facility, she is homeless and has lost custody of her son. Hope struggles to get her life back on track but uses her son as motivation to pick herself up from rock bottom.

“After an attempted suicide, Hope is taken to a mental facility… Once she gets out, she is homeless and has lost custody of her son.”

The short film tells a very real story in a matter of roughly twelve and a half minutes. It does this by displaying quite real and sometimes graphic scenes and gets through the rest with montages. The montages are necessary to help the film move forward in a timely manner. Even though half of the film is done through montages, it is a film that has a lot of emotion.
McDaniel, who plays the lead, does a great job at making her character seem real. It is based on a real person, but that person wishes to remain anonymous (as it is later mentioned just before the credits). The name of the character is the title of the film–and it is quite clear why writer and director, Katie Damien, chose the name.
Hope is a very real film. It is powerful because the subject hits home for quite a few of us. Most of us have known someone that has either hit rock bottom or attempted–or died of– suicide. This film is meant to bring hope to those who feel lost. The short film does also feel almost like an ad or promotional video for Homeward Bound, which is a homeless shelter. In this way, not only does it tell a story about the fall and rise of a woman, but it also lets others know that there is a program that can help them if needed.

Saving Jake at RAD

Behind the scenes on the short "Saving Jake" in the River Arts District. I love this graffiti building! I feel so lucky to have been able to shoot a scene at this gem of a location.  When you're working with a great team, magic happens and these scenes were magic.

My Fantasy/Comedy Feature Film playing in downtown Asheville!

May 9th at 7pm 

at the

Fine Arts Theater, 36 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801

Get your tickets here (be sure to select the 13th) Order Tickets Online Now

more info at: www.fineartstheatre.com

A demon with an existential crisis and an angel with PTSD team up to save the career of a washed-up rocker.
Demon, Kyle, is a stabber on the third level of hell. He knows his business. But when he starts wondering about the nature of life and death, his superiors shut him up and send him to the "Angel in Training Program."
Angel, Mezudio, has been around a very long time-so long that he developed PTSD and goes catatonic at the sight of blood. Relegated to feeding parking meters and cleaning up dog poop, Mezudio is afraid to trying anything new, but his boss has other ideas. Mezudio is charged with training the stabber, Kyle to be a good angel and earn his wings...or at least stop stabbing everyone.

Katie Damien is an Asheville based award winning Writer, Director, Photographer, and Producer. Support local film making, get your tickets today!
Tickets $10 and are available at the Fine Arts Theatre box office, or online here

One Hell of an Angel Trailer

Need help deciding on a poster

Which shot do you like best?  Pocket watch or pocket watch in pieces?

Saving Jake

Shooting our flash back scenes were so challenging,  We had a multitude of actors, locations, hair and make up changes and props to keep track of!  Thankfully I have the dream team cast and crew who made it all happen.  This film production is comprised of the best quality I've ever worked with.  I'm so excited for everyone to see this movie!

Saving Jake Behind the Scenes

It was a cold, wet shoot for all our present day scenes.  The cast and crew were incredible!  Working in tough conditions and never complaining.  So excited to see this footage.

New short film: Saving Jake

Synopsis

Based on a true story, a hardworking orphan grows old on the streets as a homeless man until a friend convinces him to find housing and hope.

Hope is in so many film festivals!

Hope has had such great success on the film festival circuit and there's still more to come!  Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this film.

Winner - Social Justice Film - Holden Village Film Festival
Winner - Best Cinematography - Micropolitan Film Festival
Winner - Best Actress - Micropolitan Film Festival  
Winner - Best movie poster - Longleaf Film Festival
Winner - Best Audio and Music - Colorado International Activism Film Festival
Winner - Best Titles - Colorado International Activism Film Festival
Winner - Best Actress - Colorado International Activism Film Festival
Winner - Silver - Queen Palm Film Festival
Winner - Best movie poster - Alternative Film Festival
Official Selection - Colorado Activism Film Festival
Official Selection - Women Deliver Film Festival
Official Selection - Show Me Justice Film Festival
Official Selection - Carrboro Film Festival
Official Selection - Underexposed Film Festival
Official Selection - Cinema Soup Film Festival
Official Selection - CatFly Film Festival
Official Selection - Guacamole Short Film Festival
Official Selection - Northeast Mountain Film Festival
Official Selection - Charlotte Film Festival 
Official Selection - Women of the Wold Film Festival Tunisia

See my Indie, Comedy, Feature Film on the Big Screen!

September 13th at 7pm 

at the

Fine Arts Theater, 36 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801

Get your tickets here (be sure to select the 13th) Order Tickets Online Now

more info at: www.fineartstheatre.com

A demon with an existential crisis and an angel with PTSD team up to save the career of a washed-up rocker.
Demon, Kyle, is a stabber on the third level of hell. He knows his business. But when he starts wondering about the nature of life and death, his superiors shut him up and send him to the "Angel in Training Program."
Angel, Mezudio, has been around a very long time-so long that he developed PTSD and goes catatonic at the sight of blood. Relegated to feeding parking meters and cleaning up dog poop, Mezudio is afraid to trying anything new, but his boss has other ideas. Mezudio is charged with training the stabber, Kyle to be a good angel and earn his wings...or at least stop stabbing everyone.

Katie Damien is an Asheville based award winning Writer, Director, Photographer, and Producer. Support local film making, get your tickets today!
Tickets $10 and are available at the Fine Arts Theatre box office, or online here

Hope Trailer

homewardboundwnc.org

Trailer for the short film "Hope." Based on a true story. When a widow with mental illness attempts suicide, she survives only to find herself homeless and unable to reconnect with her son. After a year of living in a shelter with no hope of overcoming her situation, she has a chance encounter that changes her life.

Hope Poster

The one and only Robert Klein, local graphics guru, designed not only this awesome poster, but the opening titles for the movie.  I found him on Instagram, if you like graphic design, cool photos of Asheville and stop motion animation check out his feed: https://www.instagram.com/kleindigital/

Hope Production Stills

We just wrapped production on the short film "Hope" for Homeward Bound.  The cast and crew have been beyond amazing!  I can't believe how smoothly everything went, from the cat who stuck out her scenes like a champ and even turned to the camera like she had been trained to do that, to the volunteers who showed up to be extras, to the cast who gave me goosebumps more than once, to the crew who worked with speed and precision.  I loved this shoot!