Friday, June 28, 2013

The Greek Hollywood Reporter!

Neve Campbell & Malcolm McDowell


BrothersEvanlelos and George Giovanis  have scored two big names for their upcoming film, “Bereave.”
The Greek-American filmmakers have enlisted Hollywood legend Malcolm McDowell (“A Clockwork Orange,” “Halloween,” “ A Green Story")  , and actress Neve Campbell (“Party of Five,” “Scream,” “Wild Things”), for the project.

Giovanis Brothers

“Bereave,” which just had its crowd funding campaign launch on Indiegogo, revolves around Garvey, who is struggling with his own mortality and unable to reveal this secret to his family. He thinks he’s figured out how to die alone, but when his beloved wife Evelyn goes missing on their 40th anniversary, he must live to save her. During that short time, Garvey realizes what life still has to offer.

In addition to reaching out for support in producing the project, the crowd funding campaign, which McDowell is also taking part in, benefits CANCER STOMP! Twenty-five percent of proceeds raised will be donated to a cancer research charity (a vote on the organization will be taken at the close of the campaign). Those who contribute can choose from various reward options, including a free copy of the completed DVD, roles in the film, props, and even dinner with Malcolm McDowell, himself.


Brothers Evangelos and George Giovanis have scored two big names for their upcoming film, “Bereave.”
The Greek-American filmmakers have enlisted Hollywood legend Malcolm McDowell (“A Clockwork Orange,” “Halloween,” “A Green Story”), and actress Neve Campbell (“Party of Five,” “Scream,” “Wild Things”), for the project.
“Bereave,” which just had its crowd funding campaign launch on Indiegogo, revolves around Garvey, who is struggling with his own mortality and unable to reveal this secret to his family. He thinks he’s figured out how to die alone, but when his beloved wife Evelyn goes missing on their 40th anniversary, he must live to save her. During that short time, Garvey realizes what life still has to offer.
In addition to reaching out for support in producing the project, the crowd funding campaign, which McDowell is also taking part in, benefits CANCER STOMP! Twenty-five percent of proceeds raised will be donated to a cancer research charity (a vote on the organization will be taken at the close of the campaign). Those who contribute can choose from various reward options, including a free copy of the completed DVD, roles in the film, props, and even dinner with Malcolm McDowell, himself.
- See more at: http://hollywood.greekreporter.com/2013/06/28/giovanis-brothers-lock-in-key-talent-for-bereave/#sthash.iTKvuwsk.dpuf
Brothers Evangelos and George Giovanis have scored two big names for their upcoming film, “Bereave.”
The Greek-American filmmakers have enlisted Hollywood legend Malcolm McDowell (“A Clockwork Orange,” “Halloween,” “A Green Story”), and actress Neve Campbell (“Party of Five,” “Scream,” “Wild Things”), for the project.
“Bereave,” which just had its crowd funding campaign launch on Indiegogo, revolves around Garvey, who is struggling with his own mortality and unable to reveal this secret to his family. He thinks he’s figured out how to die alone, but when his beloved wife Evelyn goes missing on their 40th anniversary, he must live to save her. During that short time, Garvey realizes what life still has to offer.
In addition to reaching out for support in producing the project, the crowd funding campaign, which McDowell is also taking part in, benefits CANCER STOMP! Twenty-five percent of proceeds raised will be donated to a cancer research charity (a vote on the organization will be taken at the close of the campaign). Those who contribute can choose from various reward options, including a free copy of the completed DVD, roles in the film, props, and even dinner with Malcolm McDowell, himself.
- See more at: http://hollywood.greekreporter.com/2013/06/28/giovanis-brothers-lock-in-key-talent-for-bereave/#sthash.iTKvuwsk.dpuf

Giovanis Brothers Lock In Key Talent for ‘Bereave’

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Ribbet collageBrothers Evangelos and George Giovanis have scored two big names for their upcoming film, “Bereave.”
The Greek-American filmmakers have enlisted Hollywood legend Malcolm McDowell (“A Clockwork Orange,” “Halloween,” “A Green Story”), and actress Neve Campbell (“Party of Five,” “Scream,” “Wild Things”), for the project.
“Bereave,” which just had its crowd funding campaign launch on Indiegogo, revolves around Garvey, who is struggling with his own mortality and unable to reveal this secret to his family. He thinks he’s figured out how to die alone, but when his beloved wife Evelyn goes missing on their 40th anniversary, he must live to save her. During that short time, Garvey realizes what life still has to offer.
In addition to reaching out for support in producing the project, the crowd funding campaign, which McDowell is also taking part in, benefits CANCER STOMP! Twenty-five percent of proceeds raised will be donated to a cancer research charity (a vote on the organization will be taken at the close of the campaign). Those who contribute can choose from various reward options, including a free copy of the completed DVD, roles in the film, props, and even dinner with Malcolm McDowell, himself.
For more information on “Bereave”:
Facebook: facebook.com/Bereave.Malcolm.McDowell
Twitter: @BereaveFilm
Also check out a special featurette with the Giovanis brothers and McDowell on the Indiegogo page: BEREAVE

- See more at: http://hollywood.greekreporter.com/2013/06/28/giovanis-brothers-lock-in-key-talent-for-bereave/#sthash.iTKvuwsk.dpuf

Giovanis Brothers Lock In Key Talent for ‘Bereave’

 1  7
 
 0  10
Ribbet collageBrothers Evangelos and George Giovanis have scored two big names for their upcoming film, “Bereave.”
The Greek-American filmmakers have enlisted Hollywood legend Malcolm McDowell (“A Clockwork Orange,” “Halloween,” “A Green Story”), and actress Neve Campbell (“Party of Five,” “Scream,” “Wild Things”), for the project.
“Bereave,” which just had its crowd funding campaign launch on Indiegogo, revolves around Garvey, who is struggling with his own mortality and unable to reveal this secret to his family. He thinks he’s figured out how to die alone, but when his beloved wife Evelyn goes missing on their 40th anniversary, he must live to save her. During that short time, Garvey realizes what life still has to offer.
In addition to reaching out for support in producing the project, the crowd funding campaign, which McDowell is also taking part in, benefits CANCER STOMP! Twenty-five percent of proceeds raised will be donated to a cancer research charity (a vote on the organization will be taken at the close of the campaign). Those who contribute can choose from various reward options, including a free copy of the completed DVD, roles in the film, props, and even dinner with Malcolm McDowell, himself.
For more information on “Bereave”:
Facebook: facebook.com/Bereave.Malcolm.McDowell
Twitter: @BereaveFilm
Also check out a special featurette with the Giovanis brothers and McDowell on the Indiegogo page: BEREAVE

- See more at: http://hollywood.greekreporter.com/2013/06/28/giovanis-brothers-lock-in-key-talent-for-bereave/#sthash.iTKvuwsk.dpuf
Brothers Evangelos and George Giovanis have scored two big names for their upcoming film, “Bereave.”
The Greek-American filmmakers have enlisted Hollywood legend Malcolm McDowell (“A Clockwork Orange,” “Halloween,” “A Green Story”), and actress Neve Campbell (“Party of Five,” “Scream,” “Wild Things”), for the project.
“Bereave,” which just had its crowd funding campaign launch on Indiegogo, revolves around Garvey, who is struggling with his own mortality and unable to reveal this secret to his family. He thinks he’s figured out how to die alone, but when his beloved wife Evelyn goes missing on their 40th anniversary, he must live to save her. During that short time, Garvey realizes what life still has to offer.
In addition to reaching out for support in producing the project, the crowd funding campaign, which McDowell is also taking part in, benefits CANCER STOMP! Twenty-five percent of proceeds raised will be donated to a cancer research charity (a vote on the organization will be taken at the close of the campaign). Those who contribute can choose from various reward options, including a free copy of the completed DVD, roles in the film, props, and even dinner with Malcolm McDowell, himself.
- See more at: http://hollywood.greekreporter.com/2013/06/28/giovanis-brothers-lock-in-key-talent-for-bereave/#sthash.iTKvuwsk.dpuf

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

A Great Love Story.....Bereave!


"Where is the Life we have lost in living?" -

T.S. Elliot
Mr. Elliot, it would be so great to answer: "Hidden inside the art we made."

brief history 

(bear with us please while we bare some):
The only silver spoon the Giovanis brothers were born with, was in the restaurant business. By 12 years old they were bussing tables. By 14 they were telling hooligan customers "the bathroom is out of order." And although they can still make a hell of a pizza; they realized a long time ago that their true passion is filmmaking.

Evangelos Giovanis was rejected by fancy-pants graduate film schools George Giovanis has a Master’s Degree in fun, so he did not bother to apply). In taking the road less traveled by, the Giovanis brothers held hands and plunged into the cold river of filmmaking - learning to swim on the job.


For growing pains and what felt like nasty kicks to the groins: they were conned out of money online for cameras that never arrived (the internet was new then) – but still, how could you "Blue Eyes?" They opened, closed and sold restaurants, worked second and third jobs (some including getting punched in the face!), went bald, lived in 6 different states, created a love/hate relationship with credit cards - all to proudly, self finance their films and their dream! Needless to say they almost bankrupted the family (sorry mom & dad).
Eventually however their socially conscious, award winning, feature films - that have screened at prestigious festivals around the world and racked up awards - reminded critics and audiences of early Scorsese, Tarantino and John Cassavetes.

Our second feature film LAND OF NOD won Best Picture and the Digital Alexander Award at the prestigious Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Our third feature RUN IT won the Gold Award for Best Feature at the Philafilm Festival, Honorable Mention at the Canada International Film Festival, Bronze Palm Award at the Mexico International Film Festival, AND Gold Kahuna at the Honolulu International Film Festival. Our only rule is every film must be better than the last.

That brings us to BEREAVE, a drama/romance script now starring MALCOLM MCDOWELL!!!

We have self-financed our films for 12 years now. This project is the next step. We have many people that believe we are extremely talented, but they will not or cannot finance us. So what do we do?
Quit? Cry? Roll over? I don't think so!

If you are wondering about our luxurious lifestyles, I drive a used car that is 16 years old and I share it with my brother. We share a cell phone. We share a one bedroom apartment. We share our clothes. We share our laptop - much the same way we share this resolve to make our film. The biggest reason is we love each other. The other reason is we have invested our life savings in our art. We certainly have sacrificed and lead by example. If you invest in us, you are investing in a real underdog. We don't have the studios backing us up behind the scenes; that's the bottom line.
We now need a hero (cue the music). But you don't need a costume to help. Just generosity and love of independent films.


Try telling a producer "we don't make movies to make money, we make money to make movies."
Every horror story (creative differences, loss of final cut, casting decisions etc.) you have heard; is true. Cue the violins, but that seems to be the nature of the business. But so what? We can change that together.
You think I'm kidding?

Here is a copy/paste of some of the latest email rejections & comments from credible producers (some names have been omitted):

"You should stop writing meaningful scripts and do a horror script or something commercial damn it. Just do one so we can get our foot in the door." - George Giovanis 

Here is another:
Evangelos -
"I took a look at BEREAVE. It was a well written character piece, but needed a bit more levity brought in. I feel this would cater to the MARIGOLD HOTEL crowd, but the end also felt a bit too downbeat to leave you with as good a feeling. I liked the writing, but felt this would be a bit of an uphill battle commercially speaking for us.
Thank you for sending this my way and please let me know if you have anything else that would fit our mandate."

crowd funding for BEREAVE
Here is another:
"I hope you guys are well. It's been a while since we last spoke. We have tried on this end to figure out what we can do to try to get BEREAVE made. There is potential opportunity to get funding for the film but that would mean that you would have to give up the position of Director."


So what kind of film do we want to make with BEREAVE you ask?

LOGLINE: Struggling with his own mortality and unable to reveal this secret to his family, Garvey thinks he has figured out how to die alone. But when his beloved wife Evelyn goes missing on their 40th anniversary, he must live to save her! In that short time, Garvey realizes what life still has to offer.

Here is a peak into the language, into the world of our film, into the mind of GARVEY who speaks to his muse:

"But if you are stubborn and take care of love constantly, sacrifice your life to it, time will make it so that people say, ‘he must have been so handsome long ago.’ And you will say it too. You will stand there like a tourist in the relics of your flesh; trying to feel love. It will be the strangest, saddest thing."
Sounds interesting? Sounds like something you would watch?
Why stop there?
If you said yes, nodded, or murmured even a small “hmmm,” - help us MAKE this screenplay come to life!
If enough people believe with us and support us; it will happen. We just need to believe it. More importantly you will help make a great independent film that producers refuse to finance because it is not "commercial enough" or it's "artsy."
You will prove to producers and distributors alike, that people still desire to see films about people; stories that blow up hearts, not cars. You will also be fighting cancer! Please look at our CANCER STOMP! perk. We intend to DONATE 25% of that perk to an organization for cancer research.

Malcolm McDowell


You may know Malcolm from A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, HALLOWEEN, THE ARTIST, O LUCKY MAN or another 120 films he starred in!
He has also made over 82 TV appearances in shows such as ENTOURAGE, FRANKLIN & BASH and THE MENTALIST.
Since signing on a few months ago, BEREAVE has become Malcolm's passion project. We all refuse to quit on this story. Malcolm loves our vision, our script and believes in it with all his might - so much so that he has become an Executive Producer and is invested heart and soul... and then some. He even wishes us to direct the thing! If you believe in us like he does, we can achieve everything.

Start and Finish


 
There are a lot of difficulties to overcome when shooting a film. It's impossible to guarantee everything will happen as smoothly as we wish it to, but in the end, we know we will make a beautiful film! See you at the movies! We LOVE YOU!





Monday, June 10, 2013

Home Of Champions!




XTC is proud to be the HOME of Erick Lopez, NAGA Champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Alexander Enriquez, So Cal State Champion in Boxing.  Here at XTC we make, build, mold and create Champions.  Stop by if you wish to be part of this amazing training facility.