World Premier of "Worth the Weight" at Cinequest

There are many worthwhile films to check out at the Cinequest film festival--which officially started yesterday--but the one below is well worth highlighting for several reasons:

1.) It's a world premier. The first time the public will get to see the movie will be at Cinequest in San Jose.
2.) The producer was born and raised in San Jose and went to SJSU.
3.) The script was bought off of craigslist for $500 and the writer and director are meeting for the first time at Cinequest.
4.) The director, cast, and crew will be at each of the screenings for Q&A after the movie.

Sounds pretty interesting already without knowing anything about the movie itself! Now check out the trailer and press release below (or for the website click here).


Worth the Weight - Tease from Ryan Sage on Vimeo.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CRAIGSLIST BUY LANDS DIRECTOR AT CINEQUEST

FROM A SCRIPT BOUGHT OFF CRAIGSLIST FOR $500,
“WORTH THE WEIGHT” PREMIERES AT CINEQUEST MARCH 2

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – February 6, 2012 -Craigslist, the go-to website for finding jobs,
housing and deals, offered an unexpected opportunity for LA director Ryan Sage and
Chicago writer Dale Zawada to realize their dream of making a movie. “Worth the
Weight,” the story of one man’s quest to find love while on the challenging journey of
major weight loss, will have its World Premiere at San Jose’s Cinequest film festival
Friday, March 2nd, capping off a year long production that began with a short post on
Craigslist and culminating with the writer and director meeting in person for the first time
at the festival.

“I can’t say I was expecting to sell my first script on Craigslist,” said Zawada. “But my
goal was always to get my script into the hands of some talented and passionate
filmmakers and this just seemed like the right opportunity.”

Sage, a promo writer/producer for ABC’s hit show “Modern Family,” who has directed
many award-winning shorts, commercials and TV pilots, was looking to take on the
challenge of a feature length film. Unfortunately, he lacked the right script. Sifting
through dozens of responses from his Craigslist post, Sage discovered “Worth the
Weight” submitted by Chicago-based stand up comic Zawada and knew he had found
something special.

“What I loved was the story felt very real to me and it was peppered with these really
funny moments,” said Sage. “It really captured the ups and downs and realization by the
main characters that people are defined by more than just their size. Their hopes, their
outlook on life and the way they see themselves are just as important. It’s an inspiring
message that I think will resonate for people, with or without weight issues.”

“Worth the Weight” depicts the hard road of weight loss coupled with a journey to find
love – a story many can relate to. Steering clear of the standard transformation formula
seen on many current television shows such as “Biggest Loser,” the hero finds
acceptance – and love – in unexpected places.

Another reality for Sage was the need to make this film on a tight budget. Shooting on
weekends allowed cast and crew to keep their day jobs and also gave lead actors
Robbie Kaller and Jillian Leigh more time to delve into their characters. Zawada would
also use this time to hone the script from Chicago after getting notes on production from
the weekend’s prior shoot.

“I really think the extra work we put in paid off,” said Sage. “The actors give some truly
break out performances with amazing subtlety and nuance. I wouldn’t be surprised if
they were both household names within ten years.”

The festival will have additional special meaning for both Sage and producer, Kristina
Denton. Denton was born and raised in San Jose, and graduated from San Jose State
University in 2007. Sage spent five years studying film at the Academy of Art University
in San Francisco and spent every summer growing up at his grandparent’s house in
nearby Santa Rosa.

“This is really special for both Kristina and I and we can’t think of a better festival to
premiere at,” said Sage. “It’s basically a homecoming, only without the tiara. Although
I’m packing mine just in case.”

“Worth the Weight” Cinequest Screenings:
Friday, March 2nd -9:45pm (WORLD PREMIERE) | San Jose Repertory Theatre
Sunday, March 4th -4:00pm | Camera 12, San Jose, CA
Wednesday, March 7th -11:45am | Camera 12, San Jose, CA

# # #

Cinequest Begins Today!

The largest film festival in Northern California is kicking off their 22nd season today in Downtown San Jose. Hundreds of independent movies from all around the world will be screened to an estimated total audience of 90,000 over a two week period. The screenings will be accompanies by soirees and parties with the film makers and actors, all sorts of interviews, and the Maverick spirit awards ceremony.

If you have never attended the festival, you have to check it out for at least a screening or two. If you have attended, then I'm sure you don't need much convincing to go again. My quick recommendation for newcomers is to try out the "Shorts." These are collections of 2min-15min micro-movies that let you experience multiple works in a limited amount of time. My favorites each year are usually the comedies.

For all of the Cinequest information you could ever imagine, just head on over here or download the brochure.

KALEID's Feature Artists for March 2012

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

KALEID Gallery is pleased to present two new solo exhibitions opening with artists' receptions on First Friday March 2nd.



Portraits of the Innerself new work by Valerie Runningwolf

The person we wake up with every morning or the stranger just passing on the street carries their truth safely hidden on the inside. Often it is a mask we put on every morning to face the world and take off each night in our dreams that is seen as reality.




Steam Punk Explorations new work by Dorothy Whitman

Steam punk is a sub genre that explores an alternate historical progression which is supportive of the environments and individuals. As with any genre in art it has its niches. I like exploring Victorian representations of technology and totems, as well as the inclusions of poetry and words as a way of looking deeper at the current expressions of the individual and what the meaningful components of their life truly are.

Artists' Reception: Friday, March 2nd, 7–11pm
featuring live music by Lance Canales and the Flood.
(part of the South FIRST FRIDAYS art walk)
Exhibition Dates: March 2–30, 2012


88 South Fourth Street (@ San Fernando)
San Jose, CA
info@KALEIDGallery.com
408-947-1785
Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, noon -7pm, free admission

Talari Networks Raises $4.5M

Last month Talari Networks--a San Jose company focused on wide area network virtualization--raised an additional $4.5M in what I am guessing is a Seires B round. It's nice to see another non-greentech company get some venture support in San Jose.

Source: SJBJ

Saturday Stats: San Jose Set for Real Estate Rebound

Forbes recently put out an article on the 10 areas where real estate prices will recover faster than the rest of the country. San Jose ranked #1 on the list. Here are some quotes from the article:

"San Jose is a veritable oasis of prosperity."
"Employment in the capital of Silicon Valley is expected to expand 3.3% this year."
"New home construction in the area was up a whopping 97% in 2011's third quarter"

For the full article just click the source link below!

Source: Forbes / MSNBC , Hat-tip to Dan

Sobrato House: A Green Solution for Teenage Homelessness in San Jose

Guest Post by Tim Eyre 

At the corner of Third and William Street downtown, there's an attractive yellow-and-green house with a wrap-around porch. In my travels to San Jose over the last two years, I've driven past this intersection several times but never given the building much thought beyond, 'That's a nice looking house.'

As it turns out, it's a life-changing house.

Recently in Oakland, someone sparked a conversation with me about Crossroads, (http://www.eocp.net/what-we-do/crossroads/) an $11 million emergency homeless shelter constructed to green-building standards. It seemed questionable to spend that kind of money on a population of people who may never return the investment, but I kept listening and was soon convinced of the merits. When we show the needy the same sort of care and comforts we would want ourselves, they respond with hope and motivation to reenter society.

Wondering if San Jose had anything similar, I discovered a website for the Sobrato House Youth Center. Of course, I immediately recognized the building.

(Source)

Relocated from where City Hall now sits in 2008 (and virtually rebuilt, to the tune of $12.8 million), the Sobrato House is an outreach of EHC LifeBuilders (www.ehclifebuilders.org). The 2,500 square foot historic home is flanked by an adjoining 13,000 square foot brand new facility, including nine apartment units, a community room, and a kitchen designed for homeless teenagers and young people.

Santa Clara County is estimated to have over 5,000 people under 18 who experience homelessness at some point during the year, many of whom leave home due to physical or sexual abuse. Leaving young people to fend for themselves on the street after a troubling childhood only asks for more problems, be it drugs or criminal activity. With the Sobrato House, San Jose has found a solution.

In Santa Clara, the Sobrato Family Living Center on Agnew Road offers the same sort of respite. Its' 50 private apartments offer families that would otherwise be on the street a transitional bridge to self-sustenance through stability and a comfortable roof over their head.

Like Crossroads in Oakland, both Sobrato facilities embrace green building principles typically reserved for city government buildings and private businesses.

"All of the lighting is energy efficient, with water-saving laundry facilities and a new HVAC system," explains Anna Bagirov, the Communications Manager for EHC LifeBuilders, adding that they've reduced energy costs by 40 percent since the upgrades in 2008.

Both sites use reclaimed rainwater in their landscaping and feature double-paned window insulation. Most importantly to the residents, they're attractive dwellings that are worth taking pride in, a crucial element to gaining a new start in life.

"The Sobrato House, in particular, is beautiful," says Bagirov. "There's a lot of pride and happiness within these shelters."

In most cities around the country, homeless shelters are dreary, dim places. In that type of environment, it can be almost impossible for a person to find the hope required to make real life changes.

It's refreshing to find an organization like the Sobrato House and EHC Lifebuilders right here in San Jose. When we build shelters for the homeless that those of us more well off would find worthy of our own families, we're on the path to ending homelessness. That's something San Jose can take pride in, and a unique model that will hopefully be replicated elsewhere.

***

Tim Eyre works in the self storage industry, regularly traveling to see locations like San Jose storage facility. In many locations, like the storage units yard in San Diego, Tim helps his customers store seasonal equipment when it is not being used for outdoor activities or home improvement projects.

Nanosolar Adds $20M in Funding

Nanosolar is the latest of many San Jose greentech companies to get additional funding. This also means VC confidence is still strong in the greentech sector, where San Jose dominates.

Nanosolar has developed technology that let's you "print" thin-film solar cells to produce much more cost-effective solar panels. This latest infusion of $20M will bring them up to a total of $420M of capital raised to date.

Source: SJBJ

SJ Metblogs: Content Launches Print Era

Content Magazine has officially launched their print edition, and it looks fantastic. Matt from SJ Metblogs has already done a blog post about their launch event (below). I would highly encourage anyone reading this blog to subscribe to the magazine, and make sure to flip to page 18 for an interview featuring Metblogs and The San Jose Blog!


*******************************************************
from San Jose Metblogs by Matt Bruensteiner

Content Magazine "Cultivator" Daniel Garcia at the print launch party.

After a successful Kickstarter campaign we reported on previously, San Jose’s local personality and fashion magazine Content has now printed its first issue. A launch party last night was attended by numerous recognizable local figures.

The printed magazine is dominated by interviews of local personalities somehow connected to the “Tech” theme of the issue, including politicians, artists, inventors, and even a blogger or two. I thought the most interesting story was an interview with Joel Slayton, director of the Zer01 art biennial. The interview covers Slayton’s history in art, starting at MIT, and future plans for Zer01. An interview with Slave Labor Graphics publisher Dan Vado brings together insights on the downtown San Jose business culture and the broader publishing business. Beyond those two interviews, there are 10 other stories filling out the issue.

The final few pages of the magazine switch over from interviews and profiles to fashion, with two multi-page photo spreads featuring dresses from The Usuals and men’s shirts from So What Industries. The photography is stylish, but some of the spreads don’t account for the fact that the binding of the magazine doesn’t let the pages lie open flat.


Content Magazine is attempting to finance their operations mainly through reader support rather than advertising. This keeps the “content” at the forefront and avoids the reader having to wade through ads to find the stories. A 6-issue annual subscription is now available for $42.