EVA LONGORIA’S VERSUS !GO SEBASTION GO!

This past weekend, Tribeca Talks ESPN Sports Film Festival brought Eva Longoria and Retta to showcase their films and to share their passion towards supporting the cause of diversity. Both of these ladies are not just phenomenal actors but also great filmmakers as well. And they are also social activist supporting cause of diversity and social justice.

That’s the motivation behind Eva’s project “Go Sebastian Go” which she both executive produced and directed. The film is about 11 year old Sebastien de la Cruz whose rendition of the national anthem before Game three of the 2013 NBA Finals kindled a blaze of racist tweets. Many of them started branding him 'illegal' and ridiculed his outfit and asked him to “go back”. Sebastian - who was born and raised in San Antonio - was the subject of hate-fueled abuse on social media because he was dressed in his favorite mariachi costume, and for his proud display of his Mexican heritage. Following the national controversy on the night of his performance, he was invited the next day to perform again. However his reception this time was far more supportive and positive. And Eva was one of his biggest cheerleaders on that day. She immediately tweeted: 'As a Mexican-American, I am so proud of Sebastien De La Cruz, a great symbol of what America is today!'

Sebastien said of his critics: 'With the racist remarks, it was just people - how they were raised. My father and my mama told me you should never judge people by how they look.' And he said, “Only 3 things are important in my life, my parents, god and mariachi”. How many 11 year olds have their top priorities clear!"

Eva is well known for her philanthropy work, and her faith in supporting Hispanic community triggered her to make this film. She also talked about her passion towards supporting diversity in America. And the need of more woman in entertainment business, not just as actors, but producers, writers, directors and all kind of roles. To give the world women’s perspective on different subjects, which only women can do! Retta chorused the same thoughts and her strong feelings were also expressed by her upcoming documentary film about famous French-American Ice skater of 70s, Surya Bonaly.

ESPN is going to bring many more wonderful stories soon and we’ll keep you all posted.

https://tribecafilm.com/festival/events/tribeca-talks-espn-sports-film-festival-conversations-go-sebastien-go

@TRIBECAFILMFEST | 2015 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL® ANNOUNCES ATTENDANCE #TFF2015 #TFF

It was a real big year for Tribeca, as the Festival’s 14th edition welcomed over 138,000 movie-goers over 12 days of screenings and panels with a total attendance of over 467,000!!

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The 2015 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, and presented by AT&T, announced that during the Festival’s 14th edition more than 467,000 people attended screenings, panels, virtual reality experiences and free community events – including the Tribeca Drive-In series, Family Festival Street Fair, Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day, the Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards, and programming housed at TFF's inaugural downtown creative hub, Tribeca Film Festival at Spring Studios.

From April 15 through 26, the Festival hosted 492 screenings and panels. A total of 101 features, 60 short films and five immersive storytelling projects from 38 countries were screened for more than 138,000 movie-goers and panel attendees over the course of the 12-day Festival. For the second year, thanks to AT&T, an entire day of film screening tickets were free through “Film for All Friday,” where over 10,000 tickets were claimed for the screenings on Friday, April 24th.

“This year, thanks to our new Festival hub at Spring Studios, we have been able to connect more deeply than ever before with audiences seeing films, attending talks, and experiencing the cultural and technological innovations at the forefront of storytelling,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder, Tribeca Film Festival. “Bringing these audiences together with filmmakers and great stories is the reason we do what we do.”

The free community events returned with the Tribeca Drive-In® movie series on the waterfront plaza at Brookfield Place, co-sponsored by AT&T and hosted by Brookfield Place. The program featured a 30th anniversary screening of Clue, a 60th anniversary screening of the Disney classic Lady and the Tramp, and the world premiere of A Faster Horse, a documentary celebrating the 50thanniversary of the Ford Mustang. More than 7,500 visitors came out for the free, outdoor films and participated in games and activities, including a Murder Mansion photo booth, Italian love song sing-alongs, face painting, and interactive car-themes simulations. 

Festival organizers and Lieutenant C. Ficalora of the NYPD First Precinct estimated that a crowd of 300,000 enjoyed the signature Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair and Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day, sponsored by Mohegan Sun, on Saturday, April 25, which included Games for Change Public Arcade, interactive sports experiences with NY teams including The New York Knicks, New York Rangers and New York Liberty, live performances from The Rockettes and the casts of Broadway shows including Wicked, Kinky Boots, On The Town, and much more.

Tribeca Film Festival at Spring Studios, the new creative hub and gathering place for festivalgoers in the heart of Tribeca, welcomed nearly 20,000 people throughout the 12 day festival. The space hosted Storyscapes, a juried section showcasing groundbreaking exhibits in technology and interactive storytelling presented in collaboration with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin, DEF CON’s renowned hacking conference, Oculus™ Story Studio’s virtual reality experience, Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab, Sinatra at 100: Film & Music—a special evening of film and music with the Lincoln Motor Company in celebration of Frank Sinatra’s centennial, and talks with artists and industry leaders including A$AP Rocky, Google’s Astro Teller, Stanford’s Jeremy Bailenson, AOL’s Tim Armstrong and more.

The Beacon Theatre housed four of the Festival’s special events. Events included Opening Night, presented by AT&T, the world premiere of the documentary Live From New York!, celebrating the 40th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live” and followed by a performance by Chris “Ludacris” Bridges; an American Express Card Member exclusive screening of Mary J. Blige: The London Sessions, a documentary chronicling the artist as she writes, records, and curates one of her most experimental albums to date, followed by a performance by Blige; a reunion of the five surviving members of Monty Python followed by a  special screening of Monty Python and The Holy Grail; and the Festival’s Closing Night, co-sponsored by Infor and Roberto Coin, a remastered 25th anniversary screening  of Martin Scorsese’s GoodFellas with a discussion with cast members Robert De Niro, Lorraine Bracco, Ray Liotta and Paul Sorvino led by Jon Stewart.

 

2015 Tribeca Film Festival anecdotes:

  • Nearly 1000 industry delegates were in attendance from 40 countries including Argentina, Bulgaria, India, Israel, Kosovo, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates.
  • There were 34 Tribeca Talks conversations at the festival, 16 of which were turned into live podcasts from WNYC http://www.wnyc.org/shows/tribecafilm
  • Over 780 one-on-one meetings were scheduled at Tribeca Film Institute's Network Market, one-on-one industry meetings designed to allow filmmakers to network with film industry executives, potential investors, development executives, producers and agents. Additionally, over 125 industry/decision makers attended.
  • The Festival presented 20 virtual reality projects from Chris Milk, Oculus™ Story Studio, Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab, Penrose, Nonny de la Pena and two projects in Storyscapes: “The Enemy” and “Machine To Be Another”
  • The Festival celebrated the powerful connection between music and film, featuring a centennial tribute to the man who exemplified that pairing: Frank Sinatra. Tony Bennett, Ne-Yo and Alice Smith, Brandon Flowers, Lea Delaria, and Savion Glover honored his influence following a special screening of On the Town. In addition, multi-hyphenate rapper-actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges helped open TFF, Mary J. Blige brought down the house at The Beacon Theatre with her powerful set, and Sarah McLachlan gave an exclusive performance at IWC Schaffhausen’s “For the Love of Cinema” gala dinner.
  • Music continued throughout the 12 days when The Song of Lahore's Sachal Jazz Ensemble performed their innovative rendition of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" after each screening in front of rapturous audiences, receiving multiple standing ovations. Che "Rhymefest" Smith performed after screenings of his filmIn My Father's House, then answered questions standing side by side with his recovering dad, still on the upswing, while during the Shorts program NY Daily Grind – the subway performers "Showtime" from the short "We Live This" performed for the audience and singers from "Better to Live" sang a song about NYC acapella.
  • On an emotional and celebratory evening, the Maysles family attended the world premiere of Albert's last film, In Transit. Other friends there included Jerry Torre (the caretaker from Grey Gardens a.k.a. "the marble faun"). The documentary received a Special Jury Mention for its essentially American character and for being emblematic of the career of an "all-time master."
  • The Monty Python reunion with John Oliver at the Beacon Theatre was uproarious, as expected, with the Pythons paying homage to their famous coconut scene when they arrived for the red carpet with toy coconuts to give to media and fans. 
  • The subjects of The Wolfpack went to the closing night anniversary screening of GoodFellas dressed as GoodFellas.
  • Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis were TFF’s unofficial king and queen, with two projects each premiering at Tribeca, including Meadowland, Body Team 12,Tumbledown and Sleeping With Other People.
  • Hundreds of locks and seals were ethically picked and tampered with in the DEF CON villages at Tribeca Film Festival at Spring Studios, teaching attendees from age five to 73 to look at media and the world around them in a different way.
  • Audience Award winning director Patrick O'Brien of TransFatty Lives rapped Rapper's Delight at his Q&A through his voice machine.  Everyone was cracking up and his team had to stop him so the Q&A could continue.
  • At the premiere of A Ballerina’s Tale, sponsored by Under Armour, dancer Misty Copeland received a standing ovation and was overcome with emotion when discussing her TIME cover at the Q&A afterwards which featured questions from an admiring audience, including some young aspiring ballet dancers. 
  • DJ Z-Trip's performance of Speedy was called "the future of silent film" by many in attendance at the one-night-only event at Spring Studios.
  • At the Orion: The Man Who Would be King screening, the audience was full of Orion lookalikes wearing paper cutout masks passed out by the filmmakers. People were still wearing them at the karaoke party afterwards.
  • Wrestlers from Bodyslam: Revenge of the Banana arrived in costume, showed off their outrageous moves at the Q&A.
  • Twenty-eight Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award honorees received awards at a packed house at BMCC Tribeca PAC.
  • Approximately 1,350 public school students attended screening events at Tribeca Film Festival, through Tribeca Film Institute programs including Tribeca Teaches, Youth Screening Series and Our City, My Story.
  • And Festival Director Genna Terranova welcomed baby Gia Terranova Quintela, 7lbs 15 oz, on April 13, just in time for TFF!

About the Tribeca Film Festival

The Tribeca Film Festival helps filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enabling the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema. It is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors.

Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Center, to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture, the Festival brings the industry and community together around storytelling.

The Tribeca Film Festival has screened more than 1,600 films from more than 80 countries since its first edition in 2002. Since inception, it has attracted an international audience of more than 4.9 million attendees, and has generated an estimated $900 million in economic activity for New York City.

About the 2015 Festival Sponsors

As Presenting Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, AT&T is committed to supporting the Festival and the art of filmmaking through access and innovation, aiming to make this the most interactive film festival in the country, where visitors experience the Festival in ways they never imagined.

The Tribeca Film Festival is pleased to announce its Signature Sponsors: Accenture, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, American Express, Bloomberg, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Brookfield Place, ESPN, IWC Schaffhausen, The Lincoln Motor Company, NBC 4 New York, NCM Media Networks, The New York Times, Santander, United Airlines, and VDKA® 6100. The Festival welcomes new Signature Sponsor: Spring Studiosand Thompson Hotels.

@TRIBECAFILMFEST | Screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Friday, April 24, 2015, Beacon Theatre, NYC.- The 5 Pythons John Cleese, 75, Eric Idle, 72, Terry Jones, 73, Terry Gilliam, 74, and Michael Palin, 71 are reunited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their comedy classics “Monty Python and The Holy Grail,” “Life of Brian” and their latest documentary “The Meaning of Life.”

• @TribecaFilmFest | @MontyPython: The Meaning of LIVE (4/4) #TFF2015

I for one have never been a HUGE fan of Monty Python, unlike many others. I have not seen lot of there work either. I watched the HOLY GRAIL last year, and wasn’t super impressed. It was funny, it was good, but I didn’t find it amazing. But how could I say NO to an opportunity to watch these legends LIVE at Tribeca Film Festival’s American Express Card Member exclusive world premiere of Monty Python: The Meaning of Live. And I have to say, it was amazing, it was awesome!

What makes Monty Python so great? What makes them a phenomenon? What makes them a legend? This is a documentary film, which does give you a feeling that you understand these questions better. You see them, like you may not have seen them ever before. And I don’t just mean older. I mean, as people with true passion for what they do, love for comedy and performing art and zeal to break barriers and do that has or was never done. And they did it like no one else probably ever could. There’s a moment in this film, when they show Mike Myers appearing on stage for there last show at O2. When asked who’s his best & most favorite ever in comedy, with tears he says, Monty Python, no one even comes closer. And you believe that for yourself. And for more, you’ll have to watch it for yourself.

This wonderful event was even made more special by their presence and Q&A at the end. I got to see that these people are not just funny and brilliant when it’s scripted; they are genuinely amazing in person as well. While watching the movie, I heard some huge laughter next to me. And I turned to see, that person sitting 2 seats from me was none other than John Cleese himself, truly enjoying watching this documentary for the first time. And there were the 2 other Pythons Eric Idle and Michael Palin. It was quite an honor to enjoy this wonderful film siting besides these true legends. Now it’s time for me to go back and watch all of Monty Python from beginning, till end… while hoping that these legends live on and it never ends!

While perhaps best known for its eminently quotable films, Monty Python has performed its signature, surreal humor in live shows since the group’s earliest days. Dive into the history of Python’s stage work and the genesis of some of its most well-known pieces as they prepare for their last-ever live show. Monty Python: the Meaning of Life is a hilarious and illuminating survey of the process behind the Python.

FILM INFORMATION

Year: 2014

Length: 94 minutes

Language: English

Country: U.K.

Premiere: International

CAST & CREDITS

Director: Roger Graef, James Rogan

Producer: Jim Beach, Holly Gilliam, Lindsey Jex

Editor: Simon Barker, David Atkinson

Executive Producer: Lucy Ansbro

Cast: Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, with Graham Chapman 

https://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/monty-python-the-meaning-of-live-2015

http://www.montypython.com/news_tff2015arrivals/141

@TribecaFilmFest | 2015 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES THE AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS #TFF2015 #TFF

SPONSORED BY AT&T, KING JACK AND TRANSFATTY LIVES

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The 2015 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) announced the winners of the two Audience Awards, sponsored by AT&T, tonight at its wrap party sponsored by Vice in New York City. Two awards – one for narrative and one for documentary – were given to the audience choices for the best films. King Jack, directed by Felix Thompson, was chosen to receive the Narrative award and TransFatty Lives, directed by Patrick O’Brien, was chosen for the Documentary award. Each award comes with a cash prize of $25,000. Additionally as part of the Tribeca Film Festival Artists Awards program, King Jack receives “Rockets Over the Delta” (Mass MoCA #218) courtesy of Stephen Hannock and TransFattyLives receives ”Taliban Relief Painting” courtesy of Piers Secunda.

“The awards go to two powerful and charming stories of young men facing their deepest fears and overcoming their own challenges,” said Genna Terranova, Festival Director, Tribeca Film Festival. “These fiction and non-fiction stories of triumph and resilience clearly resonated with audiences this year.”

The runners-up were Song of Lahore, directed by Andy Schocken and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, for the documentary audience award and Sleeping With Other People, directed by Leslye Headland, for the narrative audience award. Throughout the Festival, which kicked off on April 15, audiences were able to vote by completing nomination ballots upon exiting screenings of TFF films. Films in the World Narrative Competition, World Documentary Competition, Viewpoints, Spotlight, and Midnight sections were eligible.

Audience award winners and runners-up will screen, Sunday April 26 at Regal Battery Park Stadium 11, along with the winners selected by the TFF Jury.

  • King Jack at 3:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
  • TransFatty Lives at 3:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
  • Sleeping With Other People at 8:45 p.m.
  • Song of Lahore at 2:45 p.m.

ABOUT THE AUDIENCE AWARD WINNING FILMS AND RUNNERS-UP:

King Jack, directed and written by Felix Thompson. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Growing up in a rural town filled with violent delinquents, Jack has learned to do what it takes to survive, despite having an oblivious mother and no father. After his aunt falls ill and a younger cousin comes to stay with him, the hardened 15-year-old discovers the importance of friendship, family, and looking for happiness even in the most desolate of circumstances.

TransFatty Lives, directed by Patrick O’Brien, co-written by Patrick O'Brien, Scott Crowningshield, Lasse Jarvi, Doug Pray. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.Director Patrick O’Brien is TransFatty, the onetime NYC deejay and Internet meme-making superstar. In 2005, O’Brien began to document his life after being diagnosed with ALS and given only two to five years to live. TransFatty Lives is a brazen and illustrative account of what it's like to live when you find out you are going to die.

Song of Lahore, directed by Andy Schocken and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. (USA, Pakistan) – World Premiere, Documentary. Until the late 1970s, the Pakistani city of Lahore was world-renowned for its music. Following the Islamization of Pakistan, many artists struggled to continue their life's work. Song of Lahore turns the spotlight on a group of stalwart musicians that kept playing and ultimately attracted listeners from around the world. In English, Punjabi, and Urdu with subtitles.

Sleeping With Other People, directed and written by Leslye Headland. (USA) – New York Premiere, Narrative. Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie star as two romantic failures whose years of serial infidelity and self-sabotage have led them to swear that their relationship will remain strictly platonic.  But can love still bloom while you’re sleeping with other people? Writer/director Leslye Headland’s (Bachelorette) sexy romantic comedy co-stars Amanda Peet, Adam Scott, and Natasha Lyonne. An IFC Films Release

Connect with Tribeca: Follow us on Twitter @TribecaFilmFest and on Instagram @tribecaand join the conversation by using the hashtag #TribecaTogether or #TFF2015.

About the Tribeca Film Festival

The Tribeca Film Festival helps filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enabling the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema. It is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors.

Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Center, to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture, the Festival brings the industry and community together around storytelling. 

The Tribeca Film Festival has screened more than 1,600 films from more than 80 countries since its first edition in 2002. Since inception, it has attracted an international audience of more than 4.9 million attendees, and has generated an estimated $900 million in economic activity for New York City. 

About the 2015 Festival Sponsors

As Presenting Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, AT&T is committed to supporting the Festival and the art of filmmaking through access and innovation, aiming to make this the most interactive film festival in the country, where visitors experience the Festival in ways they never imagined.

The Tribeca Film Festival is pleased to announce its Signature Sponsors: Accenture, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, American Express, Bloomberg, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Brookfield Place, ESPN, IWC Schaffhausen, The Lincoln Motor Company, NBC 4 New York, NCM Media Networks, The New York Times, Santander, United Airlines, and VDKA® 6100. The Festival welcomes new Signature Sponsor: Spring Studios and Thompson Hotels.

@TribecaFilmFest | Ava DuVernay & Q-Tip – Tribeca Talks #TFF2015 #TFF

Ava was just as I predicted her to be. Her aura projected nothing but warm, sweet, yet sharp and confident, a strong and empowering woman.  I am so glad I attended this Q & A. Musician Q-Tip held the discussion and questions on Wednesday, April 22 in the SVA Theatre. First, Q-Tip touched on Ava’s accomplishments. One that sends chills down my spine and a slight proud tear to my eye: Ava is the first African American woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe award for her film Selma. Next, Ava spoke of her directing style on set, goals with her projects, and even touched on her writing style. I always love to hear about how industry deals with deadlines, pressures, and being under a network “umbrella.”  It still looks like Ava has her creative drive in full force. She touched on her passion for all mediums of expression and love for the camera AND the actor: whether that be a film, tv show, commercial, or even music video.  I am excited to watch where Ava’s journey continues, she’s unstoppable.

@TribecaFilmFest | Inside Amy Schumer – Tribeca Talks

Insides Amy Schumer? It really goes there? Yes! Amy Schumer and her team of her hit TV show on Comedy Central “Inside Amy Schumer” discussed the hard work put into the show on April 19th. The third season of the show premiered on April 21, and just two days before was renewed into it’s fourth season! What an exciting time for everyone involved in the show.  Amy, Director, producer, writer, and her sister were part of the panel at Tribeca Talks. First, it began with showing sneak-peak scenes from the show. The show touches on everything from pop-culture, to issues in society, of course with a comedic light with the goal to shine line and eliminate the issues.  After the screening, Amy and the panel held a Q & A, and answered questions from the audience.  The panel discussed everything from the learning process from season 1 to season 3 and getting into a rhythm, to the joys of collaboration among the numerous writers of the show.  The thing that struck me as impressive: they had such a “go for it”, “why not?” attitude with trying new sketches and scenes with the show. See for yourself on Comedy Central, Tuesdays at  10:30/9:30c. Oh, and if you haven’t already, check out her music video “Milk Milk Lemonade.” What? I know.

@TribecaFilmFest | Imagination goes wild with Tribeca Talks Imagination #TFF2015 #TFF

April 22, 2014 was day of Silicon Alley, in our own New York City in Spring Studios. Forget TED, forget tech expos, and forget Silicon Valley. This truly amazing day, which will blow your mind away, was Tribeca Talks Imagination Day, powered by The Hatchery. Some of the most influential, provocative and creative minds came together for an all-day summit that asks: what happens when our wildest dreams become reality and what will that reality will be in our not-so-distant future? We got to experience the wonder and inspiration of new technologies, as tech’s thought leaders revealed what is just beyond the horizon through multisensory storytelling.

Here is the list of geniuses who adorned the stage and a peek in to what they talked about.

  • You can change your face, right in front of many eyes. It’s supposed to be possible, although we didn’t get to see that. Reason was disctance, says Natasha Tsakos, who was the host and presenter of the evening. She is known for pioneering ways of integrating technology with live performance. She is the President of NTiD: a creative powerhouse dedicated to inspiring and activating imagination through theatrical experiences with work for Cirque du Soleil, Super Bowl, Pharrell Williams, Miami Heat, Coachella Festival, Nickelodeon, MTV, BBC, and 900 TV shows and feature films with 2 books. TED speaker and Finalist for the World Technology Awards presented by CNN, Time, Fortune, and Kurzweil Ai.
  • Wanna ride a car without needing to drive it? And be safe secure and more efficient too. It’s not too far, told Astro Teller, Captain of Moonshots, who oversees Google[x] moonshot factory for building magical, audaciously impactful ideas that can be brought to reality through science and technology. He shared the wonderful work his group at Google, Google[x] is doing in the field of emerging technologies, with the goal of solving problems, innovatively and making things at least 10 times better. Like spreading internet to the remotest parts of this world through balloons and connecting this world together even better. Making quick deliveries throughAnd the Driverless Cars, which have become a reality and probably will be in our hands (without steering wheel!) very soon.
  • You can get out of your house, get in your car, take it to a nearby “heli-pad” kinda flying terminal, and just fly away. And still pay same for gas as your car, and be 4-5 times faster. Yes, I’m talking of a FLYING CAR! And he can make it happen in less than a decade, says Carl Dietrich, CEO of Terrefugia. He is an expert in liquid bi-propellant rocket propulsion, aircraft design & fabrication, as well as plasma physics & fusion energy. As an aerospace industry entrepreneur, Dietrich raised over $12 million of private capital, grew Terrafugia through the successful development of airworthy prototype vehicles, and built a $30 million order backlog for Terrafugia’s launch product, the Transition®.
  •  Robots of future may not REALLY kill us all. They could be neurotic and may not follow our commands all the time.  But they will be more empathetic and nice. Doing baby sitting, taking care of elderly. And they will be able to feel. This was shared by Anthony Lewis who is Senior Director, Technology at Qualcomm leading biologically-inspired computing and robotics. Dr. Lewis is an expert in robotics and neuromorphic engineering with more than 80 publications and patents in these fields. Dr. Lewis directed a multi-faculty robotics lab focused on cooperative robotics at UCLA, and developed high-performance control systems for robotic hands and force feedback exoskeletons as a member of the technical staff for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He also founded Iguana Robotics, a private research company, where he spearheaded the development of biologically inspired robots.
  •  Let’ stalk of some reality now. Robots talking to kids, listening to kids and responding intelligently. Answering there questions, playing games. Playing jeopardy, analyzing millions of data points in few seconds. Learning engineering, medicine and working on field with other engineers & doctors in remotest part of worlds. IBM’s Watson, is already doing that and possibilities are endless. And you may not believe, but IBM is sharing this technology for free, with innovators to find more innovative uses for this. Lauri Saft, shared some amazing information about the Watson project. She is Director of the IBM Watson Ecosystem program. In her current role she is responsible for developing  a network of partnerships consisting of entrepreneurs & established companies who will build their applications on a foundation of cognitive computing.  These companies will take advantage of the natural language processing and deep QA capabilities of Watson in order to serve their customers in new ways.
  •  One of the oldest Tech giants and pioneers of the world and one of the earliest startups, General Electric, is not any behind when it comes to imagination and innovation. There robots are talking with people, interacting, learning on the spot (like, how to poke!) and doing things like sorting & cleaning rooms, to working on assembly lines in production, to hazardous environments as well. GE’s goal is to make robotics and innovative technology, work side by side with humans to compliment things they do and save time & improve quality. This was shared by Alex Tapper who is Managing Director in GE’s Ventures group, where he focuses on growth strategy and venture investments in Robotics and other disruptive technologies. Prior to that role, Alex was GE’s Global Director of Innovation where he worked across all the GE businesses and the Global Research Center to design and bring to market breakthrough products and new business models. He is also the co-founder of the GE Open Innovation (crowd-sourcing) Center of Excellence.
  • You can become Superman, fly over cities and save a child’s life. And you can make you more helpful towards other. Or you can embody a woman’s body, or body of a person of different race, and experience the prejudice and bias. And that can make you more empathetic towards there realities. How? Through Virtual Reality! And that’s just couple of the many amazing things VR can do. We listened to Jeremy Bailenson, who is founding director of Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab. Bailenson’s main area of interest is the phenomenon of digital human representation, especially in the context of immersive virtual reality. He explores the manner in which people are able to represent themselves when the physical constraints of body and virtually-rendered behaviors are removed. He designs and studies virtual reality systems that allow physically remote individuals to meet in virtual space, and explores the manner in which these systems change the nature of verbal and nonverbal interaction.
  •  Any of you who thing AOL is dead or a thing of past, may need to rethink. They are not just around, but they are still BIG, they are still GREAT and they are doing amazing things, like no one else. Adapting and defining how media is consumed today via internet and handheld devices; shows for mobile, shot on mobile, presenting relevant advertising content, which is dynamic and adjustable to individual; ability to reach out and read millions of household in USA; that’ sjust few things AOL is capable of and doing it like no one else. AOL is redefining new media content, shared Tim Armstrong, the Chairman and CEO of AOL which serves nearly 250M global consumers and is a leader in the digital content, video, and advertising industries. Armstrong served as an executive of multiple internet and media companies, including President of Google's Americas Operations, Snowball, Disney's ABC/ESPN Internet Ventures, and Paul Allen's Starwave Corporation.
  • Did you ever imagine you could just print pancakes for your mother or child or loved ones, remotely, without being with there. Yes, you can print a delicious meal, without needing to cook it. Just print it! Sounds crazy? Well, not as per Ping Fu, the Chief Entrepreneur Officer of 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) works on the cutting edge of 3D printing at scale. Honored as Inc. magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Fu co-founded Geomagic, a 3D imaging software company, which was acquired by 3D Systems. The 3D technologies they developed were created to fundamentally change the way products are designed and manufactured around the world. She serves on the NACIE (National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship) at the Department of Commerce.
  • To talk about future of medical technology was Efi Cohen-Arazi is CEO of Rainbow Medical which is at the forefront of implant technologies to restore and heal. Cohen-Arazi has over 25 years of experience in the medical and biotech industry. Cohen-Arazi served as CEO of IntecPharma Israel, General Manager & VP at biotech giant Amgen, Senior VP at Immunex and General Manager, and VP at the Merck-Serono.
  • How many of you saw landing of NASA’s Curiosity on Mars? Are you aware of amazing findings and research that they are able to do to explore this universe? And not just that, are you aware of the technology that made this happen and its wonderful uses that we may be able to see in our daily lives? Are you aware of how NASA has changed the world we live in and is still changing it? We heard about some of that from Ashwin Vasavada, Project Scientist for NASA, who is a planetary scientist leading work on Mars. He has participated in several NASA spacecraft missions including the Galileo mission to Jupiter and the Cassini mission to Saturn.

This was truly an awesome day of imagination, innovation and inspiration. To see what technology of future can do, not just for techies, but for all of us is amazing. How it can and it will impact our daily lives and the way we do things, is inspiring. Tribeca Film Festival has crossed a new mark by bringing this amazing event to New York City.

@TribecaFilmFest | Misery Loves Comedy (3/4) #TFF2015 #TFF

Does it? Or does it not? Well, Kevin Pollak’s documentary may not have the answer, but it does give you some insight into the comedian’s psyche. Jimmy Fallon, Tom Hanks, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, Judd Apatow, Lisa Kudrow, Larry David, and Jon Favreau are among over 60 famous funny people featured in this hilarious twist on the age-old truth: misery loves company. In-depth, candid interviews with some of the most revered comedy greats who each share their unique path and a life devoted to making strangers laugh.

With interesting anecdotes and insights from the comedy underbelly that reveal a performer’s deep desire to connect with audiences, Kevin Pollak’s MISERY LOVES COMEDY is shares with audience the art of humor that details a comedian’s rare ability to help us understand life as only they can. The comedians talk about influence in their lives of not only other comedy greats, but also their community. How they got inspired to be a comedian, how they became a comedian. And they talk about if they are actually miserable or how misery contributes in their ability to make others laugh. And the answer is… Not clear!

Well, I hope you’re not expecting an answer!!

Now Available on iTunes and On Demand.

IN THEATRES

OPENING APRIL 24
New York, NY (IFC Center)
Friday Q&A with Kevin Pollak after the 7:45pm show, intro to the 10pm
Saturday Q&As with Kevin Pollak and Jim Norton after the 5:30pm, 7:45pm shows with intro to the 10pm

OPENING MAY 1
Los Angeles, CA (Sundance Sunset)
Santa Ana, CA (South Coast Village)
San Francisco, CA (Roxie)
Pittsburgh, PA (Row House Cinema)
Houston, TX (Sundance Cinemas)
Park City, UT (Park City Film Series)
Seattle, WA (Sundance Cinemas)
Madison, WI (Sundance Cinemas)

OPENING MAY 8
Phoenix, AZ (FilmBar Phoenix)
Palm Springs, CA (Camelot Theatres)
San Diego, CA (Digital Gym Cinema)
Columbus, OH (Gateway Film Center)

OPENING MAY 15
Greensboro, NC (Geeksboro Cinema)
Sedona, AZ (Mary Fisher Theatre)

OPENING MAY 22
Lambertville, NJ (ACME Screening Room)

OPENING MAY 27
Boulder, CO (Boedecker Theatre)

FILM INFORMATION

Year: 2014
Length: 94 minutes
Language: English
Country: USA 

CAST & CREDITS

Director: Kevin Pollak
Written By: Kevin Pollak & John Vorhaus
Producers: Becky Newhall and Burton Ritchie
Cast: Tom Hanks, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Schumer, Judd Apatow, Jon Favreau, Lisa Kudrow, Larry David, Steve Coogan, Jim Gaffigan, and Whoopi Goldberg

Tribeca Film Festival New York Premiere Of Misery Loves Comedy, An American Express Card Member Only Event At The SVA Theater on April 22, 2015 in New York City.

@TribecaFilmFest | Karen, therapist by app, at the Tribeca Film Festival #TFF2015 #TFF

If you’re a New Yorker who loves film then you are likely attending parts of the Tribeca Film Festival, which started April 15 and runs through April 26. And if you don’t live here, take heart knowing that many of these outstanding films will be hitting a cinema near you, or Netflix.

I caught up on Sunday with journalist Lapacazo Sandoval, who is covering the film festival for myNewYorkeye and interviewing filmmakers. As Lapacazo went off to interview a film producer, I decided to hit the Storyscapes Exhibit and Lounge on 50 Varick Street.

A collaboration between the film festival and Bombay Sapphire Gin, Storyscapes showcases five distinctive interactive projects vying for a festival award in groundbreaking approaches in storytelling and technology. For 2015, Storyscapes is all about “full spectrum storytelling” from virtual reality to immersive audio, apps and personalized web series, according to the festival flier.

Life coaching over tea. Does Karen need you or do you need Karen?

Karen

One such project is Karen, an app that mixes gaming, storytelling and psychological profiling. Created by British art group Blast Theory, the app engages you in a dialogue with Karen Elliott, a fictional life coach played by British actress Claire Cage.

Yesterday, I joined a group of five people who stood in line to play the game, listen to Karen’s life story,  and answer questions ranging from attitudes toward relationships to what top she should wear on a date. I chose the boring peach blouse because it was better than the tacky white sweater with sequins, and now wonder what she would think of my judgment call.

Is therapy telling Karen what top to wear?

“I love the idea of a life coach that goes wrong,” said Ingrid Kopp,  director of interactive at the Tribeca Film Institute and curator of the competition, in an interview with Frank Rose of The New York Times. “And I thought it would particularly appeal to New Yorkers.”

The conversation with Karen is murky, and weird. At certain points, I felt that she asked certain questions not so much to learn about me or another player but because she wanted to know our opinion of her.

Several of us remarked that Karen resembles the storyline of Her, the 2013 movie about Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) who falls in love with an operating system named Samantha (Scarlett Johansson.) Rose in his article observed the similarity, too, noting that the app “develops boundary issues and leaves its users feeling distinctly uncomfortable.”

Calling Karen

The video below captures an early moment in the relationship. Karen is walking home,  out of breath and rushed like most urbanites after a long day.  “Great!” she exclaims, finding you on her doorstep. “I’ve been expecting you.”

Tribeca Film Festival: The "Calling Karen" scene from the life-coach app Karen, which incorporates gaming and storytelling.

In this short clip, she whispers to you from bed although she appears alone. How would you answer her question?

From a storytelling perspective, I think the idea is brilliant. It’s immersive and interactive, and that is where all forms of story are headed. It left me wanting to know more about her and myself. But playing the game for 20 minutes is certainly not enough to arrive at profound answers.

You have to stick it out because as Karen says early on, “If you share with me, I can help you find out things about yourself you might not even realize.” The Times’ Rose pointed out that you won’t know what Karen thinks about you until the end of the game, at which point you will be asked to pay $3.99 for an “extensive–not to say invasive–psychological provide compiled by the app itself.”

I think I will fork over the cash. Just out of curiosity, of course.

–Sally O’Dowd is founder and CEO of Sally On Media, a strategy, branding and communications company serving media and tech companies. Sally On Media is sponsoring My New York Eye’s promotional efforts during the festival; we have sponsored post cards to increase brand awareness and website traffic. We do this because we believe in the site’s creative mission and love to see media sally on  with entrepreneurial vigor.

@TribecaFilmFest | TFI Interactive & Interactive Playground #TFF2015 #TFF

TFII (Tribeca Film Institute Interactive) assembled the brightest thinkers and innovators for an all-day forum that explores storytelling in the digital age. Returning for a second year was the “Interactive Playground” which connected participants with a selection of groundbreaking projects – including That Dragon, Cancer, Confinement, and One Dark Night.

TFIi kicked off with a  keynote from artist, director, and “body architect,” Lucy McRae. Trained as a classical ballerina and architect, Lucy shared how she views the intersection of biology and technology in our physical bodies. The day closed with “Seven Digital Deadly Sins, Live” an interactive experience presented by IDFA DocLab and hosted by Ophira Eisenberg of NPR’s, Ask me Another. 

List of Interactive Playground Projects :

• Interactive Haiku - Interactive haiku is a collection of a collection of 12 very, very, short interactive explorations. To discover quickly, without rushing. Dive in, crawl, kick back and play!

• One Dark Night -This immersive journalism virtual reality piece tells the story of the day teenager Travyon Martin was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

• That Dragon, Cancer -An adventure game about hope in the face of death. A story about raising a son. A parable of grace.

• Confinement - 4 cement walls, 8 x 10 feet for 23 hours a day. That’s what 81,000 prisoners of America’s criminal justice system call home, many thousands of whom are children. Here, for three minutes, you experience a taste, firsthand.

• Priya’s Shakti - Priya, a mortal woman and rape survivor, and the Goddess Parvati fight against gender-based sexual violence in India and around the world in this layered storytelling project and augmented reality comic book.

• Sparse - Sparse is an interactive music performance—using the crowds smartphones as a collective speaker-system.  The idea is to split a musical piece into a variety of parts, and evenly distribute them across smartphones in order to create a spatial performance of the piece.

• Play Space - Play Space is both an installation and an instrument: a space that responds musically as people move within and through it.

• Slapstream - Slapstream is a Kinect-powered retro-style videogame controlled by slapping yourself in the face.

• Paperdude VR - PaperDude VR is an homage to 80's classic video game Paperboy with a full technology reboot.

Photo Credit: Tribeca Film Institute

Link To the Full Schedule of Speakers

https://tribecafilminstitute.org/events/detail/tfi_interactive_2015

@TribecaFilmfest | Paul Weitz brings Lily Tomlin as GRANDMA (3/4) #TFF #TFF2015

What would you call a film, if it can culminate various topics of LGBT, freedom of choice, parenting, artist past their peak, old-age, wide age gap relations, romance & love, amongst many others, and club it all into an emotional comedy? I'll call it Paul Weitz's "GRANDMA".

Yes, it's a very funny movie, sharing a day in life of grandma (Lily Tomlin), who has to spend the day trying to help her granddaughter (Julia Garner) arrange $630 for an abortion. Temporarily broke, Grandma Elle and Sage spend the day trying to get their hands on the cash as their unannounced visits to old friends and flames end up rattling skeletons and digging up secrets.

The topic does not sound funny, and it's not been treated as a joke either. But the characters and their situations bring genuine humor, uplifted by some amazing performances by the entire cast. The scenes are very tightly written, and movie has been very well edited to keep the entire drama tightly wrapped in only good 78 mins. The movie has some amazing parts and cameos by likes of Judy Greer, Marcia Gay Harden, Sam Elliott, John Cho, amongst many others.

If you are not into sensitive topics as suggested above or strictly pro-life, you MAY skip the film. If you are a fan of light hearted bUT heartfelt comedy, which is also socially relevant, you would like the film.

@TribecaFilmFest | Shorts Program Tightrope BIG BOY

Directed by Bryan Campbell. The story is based on a young boys experience his first without his parents in a deserted highway rest stop.

“Children these days are constantly under parental control, the helicopter parents, so many children do not mature naturally for fear that dangerous occurrences may eventuate.” The story evolves, as Big Boy remains unattended in a graffiti ridden bathroom.

@TribecaFilmFest | Last night at #TFF #TFF2015

NYC is rocking with storytellers at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. New digs housing innovative ideas keep the balls rolling!

The opening night gala still has people buzzing, and not because of the flowing Moet. The 3rd annual “For the Love of Cinema” at Spring Studios was hosted by IWC Schaffhausen and the entertainment,  for the evening, was led by funny man, comedian Joel McHale, known for his hit show Community.

IWC CEO Georges Kern co-hosted the evening with Tribeca Film Festival® founders Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, and Craig Hatkoff. Additional influential attendees included Dakota Fanning, guest of honor Christoph Waltz, Michael Cera, Alison Brie, Jennifer Morrison, director Paul Haggis, Diego Klatenhoff, Michael Rapaport, Rachel Harris and Princess Eugenie, professional soccer player Raul Gonzalez Blanco and models Aymeline Valade, Alexandra Agoston, Elyse Taylor.

It’s almost impossible to hear much in a room that was buzzing with such high energy but since these happy film-makers were there to “work it” a few gems did drop into audible range.

To wit, Joel McHale dared to poke fun at his old friend Robert De Niro, “Wow. I can’t believe it. Once again I’m in a room with Mr. Robert De Niro.  It’s ok- he told me I can call him “Mr. Robert De Niro.” It’s an honor that he bestows upon only his closest friends, and most cherished clip show hosts.”

The funny thing about the joke is that’s it half true. The Mr. Robert De Niro that I familiar with makes time to answer questions poised by developing talent. The Mr. Robert De Niro that I am familiar with enjoys young talent and makes effort to help them maneuver thorough the murky and dark waters of the industry. That’s one reason that he started this terrific festival, he’s a man of action not hallow words.

In the room, actress Dakota Fanning was overheard discussing her role in “Franny," which premieres at Tribeca Film Festival. In the film, Dakota wears an “uncomfortable” prosthetic bump, something she’s “never experienced real or fake.”

The very talented actor Christoph Waltz and Robert De Niro discussed possible upcoming projects saying, “It’s time we get something in the books!” and work together. I wonder if Quentin Tarantino felt a vibration from afar?

Finally songstress Sarah McLachlan received a standing ovation after belting out her most notable song, “I will remember you.” Many people know the touching ballad very well, since it’s used to underscore a commercial for animal abuse— yes, that one!

Moet was flowing and DJ Mick had the after-party letting loose, which is always bonus entertainment, watching the “suits” from Hollywood and Wall Street mingle with fluid artists. Only in New York Kids, only in New York.