Website set up to find missing sister

*MISSING SISTER*

Sima Reablo

Sima Reablo, a resident of Queens, New York, has gone missing. Her sister believes a neighbor might be responsible.

Independent filmmaker Steven Arvanites is reportedly looking into this horror story.

Details are emerging that indicate that Miss Reablo was being watched, that someone was picking through her garbage for “treasures,” and, most disturbingly, that some some was creating a deadly fantasy life that had nothing to do with reality.

As with anything that happens outside of Manhattan, the compelling story of Miss Reablo, which is set in Queens, is yearning for attention.

Look for interest to develop among film festivals. If you hear anything about Miss Reablo's whereabouts, please keep us updated.

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Activist Filmmakers meet at Out Professionals Event

'After Stonewall' screening

Out Professionals recently organized a public screening of the landmark documentary, After Stonewall, which was followed by a presentation by documentary filmmaker, John Scagliotti.

Mr. Scagliotti is the award-winning gay filmmaker/journalist, who also created the PBS series In the Life. After Stonewall is narrated by Melissa Etheridge; the film is a fascinating look at women and men who helped shape what gay America looks like -- and how the world sees us.

Pictured below (left to right) are Mr. Scagliotti and the openly-gay filmmaker and activist Wolfgang Busch. The latter, who is also an Out Professionals member, is the film series coordinator for Out Professionals.

Out Professionals is the nation's leading gay and lesbian professional and social network. OP offers workshops, seminars, celebrity lectures, and informal socializing. For more information, please visit the official website for Out Professionals.

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'How Do I Look' wins award at 23rd Black International Cinema Film/Video Festival in Berlin

The 23rd Black International Cinema Film/Video Festival has recognized the documentary How Do I Look with an award in the category of "Best Film/Video on matters relating to the Black Experience/Marginalized People."

The Black International Cinema Film/Video Festival screens "cinema from Africa, the African Diaspora and other films from varied intercultural backgrounds or perspectives."

How Do I Look, directed by Wolfgang Busch, is about the creative and inspirational Ballroom community of New York City.

For more information about this film, please visit the offical site for www.HowDoILookNYC.org.

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Voguing at Anthology Film Archives

Live dance act opens screening of 'How Do I Look'

The NYC Gay Pride 2008 week screening of the documentary How Do I Look opened with a unique dance performance by the House of Ninja. The screening was held at the Anthology Film Archives, as part of its NewFilmmakers NY Screening Series.

The live mixed-media performance featured voguing and a special video tribute to the late Willi Ninja, choreographer, style coach, and founder of the House of Ninja.

The House of Ninja is a legendary house, which is part of the Harlem Ballroom community. The underground subculture of the house system promotes the use of dance, performance, fashion, and style to promote self achievement and accomplishment. Many pop culture trends found their beginnings at Harlem Balls. The documentary How Do I Look is about these balls.

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'How Do I Look' selected for NewFilmmakers NY Screening Series

Screening will coincide with NYC’s Gay Pride 2008

The award-winning documentary How Do I Look will be screened at the NewFilmmakers NY Screening Series at the Anthology Film Archives in New York on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 -- in the middle of New York City’s Gay Pride 2008. The evening is dedicated to gay and lesbian films.

How Do I Look, by the award-winning director Wolfgang Busch, continues to break new ground. The success of How Do I Look at gay and straight film festivals around the world is being recognized by the selection by the NewFilmmakers NY Film Festival. In making its selection, NewFilmmakers NY is also acknowledging the director and openly gay artistic and social activist Wolfgang Busch as one of the best new directors in the United States.

About the screening

On Wednesday, June 25, 2008, How Do I Look will be screened at 10:45 pm at the Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue (at 2nd Street), New York, NY 10003. Schedule hotline: (212) 505-5181. Prior to the screening, Busch has organized a special 6 minute live performance by the House of Ninja, a famous group of dancers and one of the notable families within the Harlem Ball community. The dance troupe will honor Willi Ninja, the group’s former leader and a legend and icon in the New York City Night Life and the Harlem Ball communities, who passed away in 2006 from complications due to AIDS. How Do I Look (2006, 80 Minutes, Video) will be preceded by Julie Casper Roth’s Tokens (2007, 18 Minutes, Video).

Tickets cost $5.

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Video Feedback: A Filmmaking Technique

The director Wolfgang Busch has created a short film using the technique of video feedback, and he has set his video to music by Traci Lords.

Someone on the Internet wrote about video feedback: "It is the repurposing of the most oppresivly used medium in the history of man for the purpose of triggering mass epiphany..." (See thread about video feedback art).

How do videographers create video feedback?

"Video feedback is created when a video camera is pointed at its own monitor, just like audio feedback is created when you put a microphone close to its own speaker" (See Dr. Tom's Video Feedback Gallery).

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Film Independent to present Spirit Awards tonight

Tune into the 23rd Annual Spirit Awards tonight on IFC at 5 pm or on AMC at 10 pm

Film Independent's Spirit Awards will be presenting its annual honors celebrating the best in independent films tonight. The awards recognize excellent in the independent film community.

"Film Independent is an open enrollment and non-profit membership organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds the audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry."

For more information about the nominees for tonight's Spirit Awards, please visit the official Film Independent website.

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