Derek Johnston

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‘Jump Start a Life’ ~ Live – Streamed Telethon in San Diego to Support Derek Johnston on Saturday, March 16, 2019

‘Jump Start a Life’ ~ Live – Streamed Telethon in San Diego to Support Derek Johnston on Saturday, March 16, 2019


Sharing this press release for a very special upcoming event

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 15, 2019 – SAN DIEGO, CA: Heartland Films, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, in association with IntelleXual Entertainment, Grudio Pictures and Preposterous Films are partnering to produce a twelve-hour live-streamed telethon on March 16, 2019 entitled ‘Jump Start a Life’ to support Derek Johnston who is battling Stage-4 Non-Clear Cell Kidney Cancer. Mr. Johnston has been a leader in supporting the creative arts in San Diego since 2012 when he began managing The Horton Grand Theatre, a position he held until his cancer diagnosis in October 2016.

Since his diagnosis Mr. Johnston has been unable to work as he has fought this terrible disease. He had a kidney removed in December 2016 and by April 2018 his doctors told him he should expect to pass away within two weeks. He had dropped to 103 lbs on his 6’ frame. His family, his friends and Mr. Johnston collectively held their breath in anticipation of the end.

This is where the story takes a dramatic turn as Mr. Johnston did not expire.

Since that dark time in April he has regained over 40 lbs and has seen nearly 30% reduction in his cancer cell count. He has been participating in a clinical trial and his body’s response to the treatment has been nothing short of incredible. It is very clear that Mr. Johnston must be allowed to remain in San Diego to continue as an active participant in this life-saving clinical trial and to be a positive member of this group of patients that are helping lead the way in discovering a cure for this terrible disease.

Unfortunately, Mr. Johnston is still unable to work, has depleted his savings and is at serious risk of having to drop out of the trial. As the manager of The Horton Grand Theatre Mr. Johnston threw his support behind innumerable creatives in San Diego. He helped local creatives with agreements that allowed artists of all varieties and budgets to use the theater for dance programs, comedy, film screenings, filming on location, awards shows and plays. His assistance directly affected thousands of artists in our community. “Due to the generosity of Derek Johnston, who was the Executive Director of the Historic Horton Grand Theatre, I was able to film for an entire weekend with the first ever all female team during the 2015 48 Hour Film Challenge. His generosity is legendary,” states Sue Vicory, founder of Heartland Films. Because of his generosity a growing number of members of the creative arts community are stepping forward to help raise funds to allow Mr. Johnston to remain in San Diego and continue receiving the life-saving treatment he so desperately needs. “Without Derek’s generosity and support my dreams of hosting a live celebrity interview to celebrate the two-year anniversary of my podcast would not have come true. His enthusiasm for our show, and his belief in what we were building helped solidify my professional reputation in the community as a host and a filmmaker,” said David S. Dawson, host of The IntelleXual Podcast.

At noon on March 16th a twelve-hour telethon will live-stream on Facebook, YouTube and Twitch in support of Derek Johnston. Dubbed Jump Start A Life the program will be a variety show featuring local bands, comedians, improv and theater performances, cooking, interviews, and short films.

The show will be broadcasting from the studios at Voice and Video Sales, and at The Comedy Palace in Kearny Mesa. A LIVE audience will enjoy the performances at The Comedy Palace.

Jump Start A Life is a production Executive Produced by Heartland Films, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity and all donations made to the telethon are tax-deductible. Jump Start A Life is seeking corporate sponsorships in addition to individual donations. Parties interested in sponsoring can visit the Jump Start A Life website at https://jumpstartalife.org. For more information about the program contact Producer/Co-Director David S. Dawson: david@theintellexual.com

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All-Female “Team XX” Makes History at the 2015 San Diego 48 Hour Film Project

 

First things first!

Have you ever heard of the 48 Hour Film Project?

San Diego 48 Hour Film Project

If  your answer is YES, kudos to you!

If not, the best way to describe it is a whirlwind weekend of tight deadlines, a love of the craft of filmmaking, an appetite for team building and bonding and a love for creativity. What more could film aficionados ask for? Oh, there’s also a screening on the “big screen” for each team soon after the weekend of filming!

In 2015, over 130 cities will compete in the Worldwide 48 Hour Film Project from  Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas!

How does it work? A team is formed and over one weekend, a short film (under 8 minutes, including a minute of credits) is written, filmed, edited and submitted within 48 hours! You might be saying “Are you kidding me”? NO, this is really how it works!

What’s the procedure? On Friday evening, in an orderly fashion, each team randomly picks a “genre”, (in San Diego there was a giant “plinko board” that teams took turns at), after which all teams are assigned the same line, character and prop that MUST be included in their film. For this 48 Hour Film Project. We’ll get to Team XX ‘ challenge soon!

Read more about the San Diego 48 Hour Film Project, which took place July 24-26, 2015. The event is Produced by Duane Trammell and Robyn Sarvis, and the website includes information about the Project, the film “Premiere” Screenings August 10-13, the “Best Of” Screenings and the wrap party August 22nd.

Producer/Director Sue Vicory, of Heartland Films (www.suevicory.com, Sue Vicory, IMDB Link) formed, Executive Produced and Directed the first “all-female” 27 member “Team, XX” film titled “Down Stage” for the 2015 San Diego 48 Hour Film Project.

Executive Producer/Director of Team XX film “Down Stage”- Sue Vicory

“Down Stage”, a Holiday Film, will screen with 12 other film entries in Group A at 6:30 p.m.,  plus about 13 films in Group B at 9:00 p.m. at Reading Cinemas Gaslamp 15 on 701 5th Ave. in the Downtown Gaslamp District of San Diego (92101) on Monday, August 10, 2015. Tickets are $15 for the “Premiere” Screenings and $20 for the “Best Of” screenings. Tickets

Like Team XX on Facebook, Follow Team XX on Twitter (@teamxxsd) and Instagram (@teamxxsd)

 

Team XX Poster for “Down Stage” Design by Holly Rone

 

Team XX
Team XX at the Horton Grand Theatre. Photo by Nannette DeRobertis

 

Vicory had several “bonding” meetings  with most of the 27 members of the cast and crew (mostly from Southern California) a few weeks before the actual filming weekend. One such meeting had the 10 actresses, performing in a “mock talent show” audition which featured a variety of techniques, such as monologues, singing, dancing and improv.

With  Vicory and a few Team XX’ers present, Team XX Assistant Director Jen Allen drew the genre “Holiday Film” for Team XX  at the “kickoff” event at Liberty Station on Friday evening, August 24. The designated line for all teams was “Sometimes that’s (or that is) all you need”, the prop to be used was a “flashlight” and the character was to be either “Alan or Alice Downing, a Coach”.

Team XX writers included Sariann Monaco, Talia Pauletti and Holly Rone. The multigenerational writing team  cranked out the “Down Stage”  script about Mother’s Day within a few hours from Friday evening into Saturday early morning at Vicory’s seaside condo.

Down Stage WRiting Team Left to right: Talia, Holly Rone, Sariann MOnaco
Down Stage Writing Team Left to right: Talia Pauletti,, Holly Rone, Sariann Monaco Photo by SJF Communications

The script was sent digitally to the cast.

Actresses included:  Jess Antrobus, Isabel Canzoneri, Jody Catlin, Nancy DeMars,  Emmy Farese,  Susan Farese,  Cat Forrest, Lori  Jones,  Sariann Monaco, and Holly Rone. Feel free to click on each name and photo.

 

Jess Antrobus: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7446240/
Isabel Canzo: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm6553778/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Jody Catlin: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0146198/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Nancy DeMars: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4810368/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Emmy Farese: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2508261/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Susan Farese: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2653515/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Cat Forrest: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3192745/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Lori Jones: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm6097831/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Sariann Monaco: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5616823/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Holly Rone: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3420155/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

The crew included: Sue Vicory: Executive Producer/Director; Lori Jones: Producer, Jen McCleary: Assistant Director; Maidy Morhous: Production Assistant. Amanda Niles: Sound; Angela Wong: Director of Photography; Kymberrly Scott: 2nd A.D.;   Krystin Cline: 2nd Camera; Tamara Ilich: Gaffer;  Cara Myers: Editor; Natalie Lauer: Production Assistant; Danni Michele: Animation;  Nannette DeRobertis: Photographer; Sariann Monaco: Writer; Talia Pauletti: Writer;  Holly Rone: Writer; Corrinne Smith: Communications; Pamela Weigelt:  Massuese;  Miranda Muse:  Massuese;  Lisa Wintersdorff: Makeup; Crystle Orantez: Hair; Susan Farese: Public Relations.  Special Thanks to SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and Derek Johnston at the Horton Grand Theatre.

Team XX filmed Down Stage at the Horton Grand Theatre throughout Saturday, August 25th. In the meantime, editor Cara  Myers began the editing process from her hotel suite at the Horton Grand Hotel as soon as Saturday’s footage became available and into Sunday with only one “pickup” of a voiceover on Sunday morning.  Serendipitously, the “7 minute 29 second” completed film, “Down Stage” was turned in to the 48 Hour Film Project at 7:29 p.m.

Some members of Team XX at tour of the Horton Grand Hotel
Some members of Team XX at tour of the Horton Grand Hotel

 

"That's a Wrap"- Team XX after filming at the Horton Grand Theatre (with Derek Johnston)
“That’s a Wrap”- Team XX after filming at the Horton Grand Theatre (with Derek Johnston)

 

 

I asked Sue Vicory about her experience with Team XX and the 48 Hour Film Project.  Vicory  stated  “The passion within this group was palpable. We each brought our A Game to the production. Collaboration is a natural strength for women and it shows up clearly on the screen of our first film, “Down Stage”.

Down Stage will have a Premiere Screening with over 20 other films on Monday, August 10th at starting at 6:30 at the Reading Cinemas Gaslamp 15, 701 5th Ave. San Diego, 92121. Here is the Ticket Link. Note: You must purchase tickets online, there will be no ticket purchases at the theatre.

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