AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER JD DISALVATORE DEDICATES THE REST OF HER LIFE TO SAVING DOGS

TERMINALLY ILL AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER JD DISALVATORE 

DEDICATES THE REST OF HER LIFE TO SAVING DOGS

Los Angeles, CA - Award winning  filmmaker JD Disalvatore was diagnosed with stage iv cancer four years ago, but that hasn't slowed down her activism or filmmaking.  Now combining both endeavors, she is dedicating her time and talents to the movement to make Los Angeles a no-kill city, and is making a documentary about the fight called “How To Save a Dog”.   

  

We save their lives, but these (rescued) dogs or cats change ours!
The indiegogo campaign was launched to raise money for the production of the documentary and can be viewed at:https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/how-to-save-a-dog#/

How to Save A Dog is a feature documentary project that provides a compelling inside look at what it takes to rescue animals in America.   

Cats and dogs are considered family members in America, yet millions are killed every year just because they are unwanted.

In Los Angeles, the rescue community has been working on a movement to make the city "no kill" - which means that no animals would be euthanized for space.  This seems like a monumental goal for any city,  yet currently we're close to the tipping point where this actually could be attainable.  

In addition to the feature documentary, 20-30 educational internet videos will be made for social media to educate and engage anyone interested in helping make our nation "no-kill".  These videos will be directed by an award winning documentary filmmakers and will cover various subject matters from "How To Become at Dog/Cat Foster" to "How to Introduce Your new Cat or Dog to your other Pets."

Now is the time for everyone who cares to get involved. This documentary will take you on that journey.   

And the short videos will engage more to join in the fight.

"When I started volunteering at my local animal shelter, I didn't know the first thing about animal rescue," says Disalvatore, who has won over fifty awards from film festivals around the world with her work,  " As in any revolution or triage situation, you have  hundreds of people in so many different capacities working together (and sometimes at odds) to rescue, foster, transport, groom, train, rehabilitate and find homes for the millions of unwanted dogs & cats in America.  I was not only captivated by the ingenuity, bravery and gumption of the rescuers, but also completely sucked into the world of the animals themselves.  I feel compelled to share that with everyone.  Especially people that are interested in helping." 

How to Save  a Dog will paint an intimate portrait of one city shelter and chronicle their efforts to save animals, along with the large rescue organizations and the small rescue people that fight for dogs and cats everyday. 

There is a lot of overlap between the LGBT community and the rescue world.  

“I think it’s not hard for us to imagine what it’s like to be lonely or unwanted,” adds Disalvatore.

With that in mind, the documentary will also feature two lesbian dog rescuers who run their own 503/c rescues out of their homes: Natalie Garcia of MaeDay Rescue and Kristen Rosiar from Pardon the Pups. 

There are things everyone can do... from as simple as donating old blankets to local shelters, to sharing a dog’s shelter photo, or not letting their cat have kittens!”.  People connect with what they see and what touches them emotionally, and a well produced video is a touchstone for getting new people in the community involved in the no-kill movement.

Having been diagnosed with terminal Stage IV cancer four years ago, Disalvatore never slowed down and even amped up her volunteer time at her local LA City Animal Shelter.  

Disalvatore is determined to see this done before she dies of cancer.

Squee...

MORE ABOUT JD DISALVATORE:

Disalvatore has been very active in LGBT film and advocacy. She has been a mentor for Point Foundation, and co-chaired the major donor lesbian committee for Outfest, as well as serving as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Frontiers Foundation.   In 2014, Disalvatore co-hosted the local NBC coverage of the West Hollywood CSW Gay Pride Parade, and has been a frequent co-host on The Frank DeCaro Show on Sirius/XM.  She has moderated panels on queer film for the Writers Guild of America, Power-Up, Outfest and The Butch Conference.  She has written on LGBT issues for Curve, Frontiers, Clout, Planet Out and Gay Wired.  Disalvatore received the LACE Award from the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, as well as the Tom Thom Award at Outfest in addition to a GLAAD Award for Shelter.  

More Photos Available at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fyb3kjkj7mvk71x/AAD5d5I92mlaGJ5oAz1O-4Ila?dl=0

Lesbian Filmmaker MARINA RICE BADER Helps To Fill the Gender Wage Gap

MARINA RICE BADER’S AVA’S IMPOSSIBLE THINGS ANNOUNCED AS VIMEO’S FIRST 2016 

“SHARE THE SCREEN” FILMMAKER INVESTMENT

“Share the Screen”, launched at Sundance, is Vimeo’s new initiative they hope will help close the gender gap that is so pervasive in the entertainment industry.  Vimeo intends to foster equality by investing in female-led programming, educational workshops, meet-ups, interviews, and more that spotlight and support female voices in the Vimeo community.

On March 8, Vimeo announced the acquisition of Ava’s Impossible Things, from writer/director Marina Rice Bader as part of its “Share the Screen” investment in emerging female filmmakers.  “I love Vimeo’s ‘Everyone is welcome, come be part of our vibrant community, create your vision and share it with the world’ mentality”, says Bader, who’s Anatomy of a Love Seen was released on Vimeo the day after it’s world premiere at Outfest in 2014.

Bader is the CEO and Founder of Soul Kiss Films, an independent company dedicated to producing evocative, entertaining, and compelling movies by women, for women and about women.  Ava’s Impossible Things is the fifth project from SKF, following Elena Undone (2010), A Perfect Ending (2012), Anatomy of a Love Seen (2014) and Raven’s Touch (2015).

For More information go to: http://soulkissfilms.com/

WIN!: An Exclusive "ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN" Gift Bag

Marina Rice Bader 

Launches Special Giveaway Contest!

Saying THANK YOU to Fans 

For the Success Of “ Anatomy of A Love Seen” 

with 10 Exclusive Gift Bags

Los Angeles, CA - T’is the season to be giving back!

Out filmmaker Marina Rice Bader  has launched an exclusive online contest to celebrate the success of her directorial debut “Anatomy of A Love Seen”. The Filmmaker is personally saying "thank you” to her fans with 10 exclusive gift bags to be given out on December 27th, Bader’s Birthday. 

WATCH MARINA’S YOUTUBE MESSAGE HERE:

Femme F**K You!: "Lesbian Movies Suck (and we all know it!)"

^{by Lauren W}

^{There is one thing that has bothered me since the dawn of lesbian movies. That’s right, it’s lesbian movies.}

^{Don’t get me wrong, there are times when lesbian movies can be great. For instance, when you’re a young queer girl trying to “find yourself” and all of that other high school bullshit, lesbian movies can help in that you finally realise there are other people like you. You finally realise that romance is not always heterosexual, and that Romeo & Juliet could easily have been Rhonda & Juliet. You finally realise that those kids who picked on you in sophomore year did not truly know the real world, and that attractive, non-stereotypical lesbians really do exist.}

^{And that is probably where the positives end, to be honest.}

To read THE FULL ARTICLE on Pink Lobster Dating (don't worry - it's free!), click HERE!

MARINA RICE BADER RELEASES EXCLUSIVE MUSIC VIDEO FOR “ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN"

Los Angeles, CA - Out filmmaker Marina Rice Bader has released the exclusive music video for her hugely popular directorial debut “Anatomy of a Love Seen”. The title song “Runaway” written bySarah Smith, Pete Ash and Jenniffer Kae and performed by Sarah Smith, is the film’s catchy tune which fans can now watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t34zwvEekeA

With distribution powerhouse Gravitas Ventures acquiring the North American distribution rights to "Anatomy of a Love Seen”, the film will be available nation-wide on multiple VOD platforms starting November 4, 2014.  Bader’s film will be out in over 100 million homes with numerous cable, satellite and telco operators including iTunes, Direct TV, Dish Network, Time Warner, Comcast and Mediacom to name a few. 

Anatomy of a Love Seen stars Hollywood newcomers Sharon Hinnendael, Jill Evyn and Constance Brenneman.  This film within a film explores love in all its painful and messy glory.  Two women who shot a love scene for a film are in to re-shoot the scene, but without nudity, so the film can air on broadcast television. One hitch, and it’s a big one, Mal and Zoey, the stars of the film, had fallen in love during that scene. Mal inexplicably exits the relationship, leaving Zoey devastated. Now, they must re-shoot that magic moment … and action.

New Lesbian Short Film: "Clean Hands"

AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER 

CARYN K. HAYES 

RELEASES LESBIAN-THEMED SHORT FILM 

“CLEAN HANDS” ONLINE

LOS ANGELES, CA -  Award-winning writer/filmmaker, Caryn K. Hayes is joining a host of other indie directors taking a stab at online distribution.

On August 22, Hayes will be releasing her acclaimed narrative short entitled “Clean Hands” as a digital download & streaming rental making the film directly available to her fans and lesbian cinephiles alike at  https://www.reelhouse.org/hardlyworkingtv/clean-hands as well as on her official website: hardlyworkingent.com.

The New Orleans native (now Los Angeles resident) world premiered the short earlier this year at the 2014 Pan African Film Festival before taking it through the film festival circuit with screenings at The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and the Women’s International Film & Arts Festival.

“Clean Hands" follows Anna and Kirsten, a married couple who are caring for Anna's terminally ill father, Paul. Anna is a woman who is always stuck in the middle- between her homophobic father and her wife, her Christian beliefs and her sexuality - and she is constantly under pressure from all sides. After Paul dies, Anna goes through a tailspin of grief and pain, and Kirsten's attempts to help are rebuffed. When Anna emerges from her spiral, will her rock in the storm be washed away?

Written & Directed by Caryn Hayes and starring Grasie Mercedes, Dawn Noel, Kurt Sinclair, and Ava Gaudet (voice), “Clean Hands" is a story about grief, faith, and love - (Link to trailer:  http://youtu.be/AQIkFXR5jfI)

A graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, Caryn Hayes has been writing fiction since grade school and is a published author. 

The renaissance woman is also a two-time winner of the TV Pilot Award in the original script competition presented by the Organization of Black Screenwriters for “The Ridge” in 2007, and “Dirty Thirties” in 2009. 

In the spring of 2008, Hayes began producing her own work under her multimedia production company, Hardly Working Entertainment (http://HardlyWorkingEnt.com). Her first comedic digital series, “The World of Cory & Sid,” was nominated for Best Television or Web Series in 2009 by the Urban Mediamakers Film Festival.  

She received an Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series award for her second series, “Breaking Point,” from the 2011 Los Angeles Web Series Festival.  To date, "Breaking Point" has been nominated/awarded over 20 times - including nods for Best Drama and Best Directing from the 2012 International Television Festival.  Her most recent web series, a relationship dramedy dubbed “Entangled With You”, has already been the recipient of five awards.

Be it her signature of sorts, Hayes clearly has a natural propensity for drama - particularly the kind gravitating towards relationship.

Whatever hat she is wearing, the filmmaker, writer and producer has certainly carved for herself a successful career, cementing her status as a voice to be reckoned with in the lesbian film community.

“Clean Hands” will be available starting August 22 as a $2.49 streaming rental and/or a $9.99 download at https://www.reelhouse.org/hardlyworkingtv/clean-hands; and hardlyworkingent.com

Lesbian Film Gets WORLDWIDE RELEASE!

MARINA RICE BADER'S FILM “ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN” 

GETS WORLDWIDE RELEASE ONLINE FOLLOWING 

THE 2014 OUTFEST FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERE

Subtitled Versions For a Number of Foreign Languages To Be Made Available 

Including Spanish, Portuguese, French and German

LOS ANGELES, CA –Writer/director Marina Rice Bader (Executive Producer of Elena Undone, A Perfect Ending) is releasing her feature length directorial debut Anatomy of a Love Seen as a $5 digital rental on Vimeo via the film’s website http://www.anatomyofaloveseen.com 

Following the July 18th premiere of the lesbian-themed drama at the 32^nd Annual Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival, Bader will immediately give the film its worldwide release as a streaming rental, breaking outside of and bypassing the traditional Hollywood distribution channels.

In the age of YouTube and viral marketing campaigns, it’s becoming less uncommon for a feature to eschew theatrical platforms completely for a digital release; yet it’s quite unusual for a movie to be made available online immediately after a festival premiere. Typically films would travel the film festival circuit long enough for media and word-of-mouth to build.

But in keeping with the "do-it-her-way-ethos”, Bader was set on the idea of exploring alternative distribution options in order to engage and connect directly with her fans, and get the film out to as many people as possible.

Her new project Anatomy of a Love Seen is available easily and affordably for fans to view around the world on any Internet-capable device. In addition, subtitled versions for a number of foreign languages will also be made available including Spanish, Portuguese, French and German. 

Following in the footsteps of filmmakers the likes of Louis CK and Joss Whedon who have taken on distribution themselves, Bader isn’t the first filmmaker to the direct-distribution game; but she is one of the first ever out filmmakers to offer LGBT audiences around the world and cinephiles alike a lesbian themed feature film as a low-cost digital release immediately after its first festival premiere.

As the driving force behind Soul Kiss Films, her independent film company, Bader’s artistic direction is focused on one goal:  to create evocative, entertaining, and compelling movies by women, for women and about women. She’s successfully planting the seeds to do just that with Anatomy of a Love Seen, the forthcoming Raven’s Touch, and a new film set to shoot in December.

Anatomy of a Love Seen stars Hollywood newcomers Sharon Hinnendael, Jill Evyn and Constance Brenneman.  This film within a film explores love in all its painful and messy glory.  Six months ago, Zoe and Mal fell for each other while filming a love scene, which led to an intense, whirlwind affair, followed by a devastating breakup. Soon after their split, things get complicated when the two have to meet on set once more to re-shoot that fateful sequence.

Filmed in five days, this improvised movie based on Bader’s story, characters and outline fulfilled her desire to create a very organic and visceral experience.  Anatomy of a Love Seen was made on a micro-budget, but that hasn't stopped a huge online buzz. Released just a few weeks ago, the trailer for the film is making a lot of noise having already garnered 350,000 views: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWqQregDD_A

For more information:

www.http://anatomyofaloveseen.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/anatomyofaloveseen

Twitter:  @SoulKissFilms

New LESBIAN FILM To Premiere at OUTFEST 2014 - SEE THE TRAILER!

MARINA RICE BADER’S FEATURE-LENGTH DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

“ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN”

WORLD PREMIERES AT OUTFEST 2014

LOS ANGELES, CA – Writer/director Marina Rice Bader (Exec. Producer of Elena Undone, A Perfect Ending) will make her directorial debut at the 32^nd Annual Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival with the world premiere of her feature film entitled “Anatomy of a Love Seen”. 

Outfest – the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that promotes equality by creating, sharing, and protecting LGBT stories on the screen – officially announced on June 4^th the complete programming lineup for its 32nd Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival. The nation’s leading LGBT festival will be held July 10 through July 20, 2014.

Bader’s lesbian-themed feature film will be screening Friday July 18th, 2014 at 7:00PM at THE DGA 1, located in The Directors Guild of America in West Hollywood, CA.  The premiere will be followed by an exclusive cocktail reception after-party with the entire cast and crew.

As the driving force behind Soul Kiss Films, her own independent film company, Bader’s mind and artistic direction is only focused on one goal:  to create evocative, entertaining, and compelling movies by women, for women and about women. And she’s already successfully planting the seeds to do just that with “Anatomy of a Love Seen” and the upcoming “Raven’s Touch”.

“Anatomy of a Love Seen” stars Hollywood newcomers Sharon Hinnendael, Jill Evyn and Constance Brenneman.  This film within a film explores love in all its painful and messy glory.  The story takes us back six months, when actresses Zoe  (Sharon Hinnendael) and Mal (Jill Evyn) fell for each other at exactly the same moment in time while filming a love scene. After five blissful months together Zoe was decimated when Mal walked away. Three miserable weeks later a very lucrative network broadcast deal was in the works. They only had one request...re-shoot the love scene. Welcome to the set. 

Shot in five days, this improvised film based on Bader’s story, characters and outline fulfilled her desire to create a very organic and visceral experience.  “Anatomy of a Love Seen” was made on a small budget, but that hasn't stopped a huge online buzz. Released just a few weeks ago, the trailer for the film is making a lot of noise having already garnered well over 125,000 views: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWqQregDD_A

Bringing a unique passion to her craft and desire to make her mark, Marina Rice Bader is one talented filmmaker to keep an eye on.

### 

Tickets go on sale to members on June 10 and to the general public on June 13: www.outfest.org

For more information about “Anatomy of a Love Seen” go to:

www.http://anatomyofaloveseen.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/anatomyofaloveseen

Twitter:  @SoulKissFilms

Hashtags: #outfestla #outfest and #undermyumbrella

FINAL "Lover's Game" Trailer

Don't know much about Lover's Game?

Click HERE for our past posts on this awesome new film, including interviews with the cast and director, Danielle Earle!

And lucky for you, the film has recently been completed!

Here is the official trailer to get you prepared!

SNEAK PEEK: An Exclusive look at Lover's Game

You know we've been telling you so much about the awesome new up and coming web series, Lover's Game? We even interviewed the cast so you could get inside their heads. (Click THIS link if you missed it!)

Well the time has come for you to finally see an exclusive clip of the web series in question!

It's full of angst, adorableness, drama and love, so hold onto your panties!

What did you think? Want more? Let us know in the comments!