Popular Maltese news outlet Lovin’ Malta did an extensive interview with co-director Sarah Jayne about our latest film In Corpore. The article focuses on love and sex and how our international, sex-positive relationship drama tackles these complex topics from the perspective of the female gaze. We are very grateful to Lovin’ Malta for the terrific write-up. Read the article here and choose a platform to watch In Corpore here.
SEX-POSTIVE, RELATIONSHIP DRAMA LANDS NEW PLATFORM
It is always wonderful news when you learn that your feature film has landed on a new platform. In Corpore, is now streaming through Uk Film Channel, not just in the UK, but in other regions too - US, the rest of Europe and Oceania. Enjoy and don’t forget to leave an IMDb review, plus some stars afterwards.
Pandemic Film Machination Film Poster Process Revealed
It was a welcomed surprise to receive an email from our Machination poster photographer Fran Stivala last week. Fran was writing an article for WHAM Malta detailing how she photographed and created our attention-grabbing poster, and it’s now live. The poster image, starring Maltese talent Steffi Thake is perfect, it oozes the tension we needed and pops with the coloured lights. You can read the article here and look at the poster.
The link to the article can also be found in our PRESS section.
New Art Department Masterclass Live Across Skillshare & Ribbon
How to Become An Art Department Dynamo, presented by Sarah Jayne is a masterclass that was in the works early this year as we travelled through Portugal. Finally, we can say that we have launched the class.
You can take part in the masterclass across the following educational sites - Skillshare, Ribbon Experiences, and really soon, Udemy.
Remember that we also run other masterclasses, and they can be found in our SHOP under Masterclasses. We hope you learn something new (we guarantee you will) and that you find these classes as enjoyable as we found them to create for you!
Air Dates Announced across America for Educational Film Tackling Violence Against Women starring Katherine Langford
An air date for Daughter in the US has just been announced by ShortsTV.
A little while back we announced that our educational short film Daughter was sold to ShortsTV in the US. Now we have a date for the first time it will air. If you are in the US you can watch Daughter on the 29th of April 2021, 20.00 ET. After its television premiere, Daughter will rotate through the program schedule throughout the year. ShortsTV is available in the US on the following services:
DirecTV – Channel 573
AT&T U-Verse – Channel 1789
Google Fiber – Channel 603
Frontier Communications – Ch 789
Hotwire – Channel 560
New Years Eve Friendship Drama now streaming on Tubi →
Our favourite New Year's Eve female-led friendship drama Friends, Foes & Fireworks is now streaming through TUBI TV in the US and Australia.
That’s huge news which we will happily drink too! Check it out on TubiTV here.
Gross out B grade comedy Dace Decklan: Private Eye Now Streaming on TubiTV
Another bit of news for our American readers. Ivan's 2011 gross-out comedy Dace Decklan: Private Eye is now freaking audiences out on AVOD platform Tubi. You have been warned. If you still dare to see what all the mayhem is about, watch on Tubi here or stream online worldwide though other platforms here.
Educational Short Film Tackling Violence Against Women Lands on TV Platform
Daughter, our 2016 educational film about violence against women and victim-blaming (starring Katherine Langford), was purchased by ShortsTV, a cable and satellite television channel dedicated to short film. Daughter will be soon screening across television screens in North America and Europe, and we couldn't be happier. So to our friends and readers who live in the States and Europe, look out for it and let us know when you spot it.
Latest YouTube Interview for In Corpore
Just before the end of 2020, Clara Francesca was again taking part in press interviews to discuss her role as an actor and producer on In Corpore, our sex-positive film that looks at the grey areas of relationships.
This time around Clara spoke with The Fan Carpet's Marc Jason Ali EXCLUSIVELY and the video is now up on YouTube. You can watch it here, or find it on our MEDIA section. with all the other In Corpore media bites.
New Masterclass Launched: The Art Of Improv Indie Filmmaking, by Indie Film Hustle Academy
New year, new course - or new courses in our case as we have a couple coming out this year.
Here is news of the first course we are so excited to share.
Our biggest achievement and news from the last couple of months is here - we have once again joined forces with Alex Ferrari, author and filmtrepreneur behind Indie Film Hustle to bring our fellow creatives a new masterclass - "The Art of Improv Indie Filmmaking".
The masterclass is presented by Indie Film Hustle Academy, which is Alex's boutique platform for specialised masterclasses with industry and independent professionals. To be selected by Alex to have our masterclass upon this niche platform, which is taking off around the United States, is a real honour.
Suitable for aspiring filmmakers or more experienced artists looking for a new approach to film, this course will inspire you through the creative freedom improvisation fosters, and how putting away the script can lead to new discoveries, making your own work, behind and in front of the camera, fresh and exciting.
This masterclass "The Art of Improv Indie Filmmaking" will go deep into the following areas:
Directing Improvisation - Learn how to direct actors and stage the camera in improvisational scenes.
The Scriptment - Learn how to develop your story idea into an outline scriptment you can shoot from.
Working with Actors - Learn how to build your characters with your actors in a collaborative environment.
You can check out the masterclass "The Art of Improv Indie Filmmaking" right here through this link: https://www.ifhacademy.com/course-Improv-indie-filmmaking
If you have any questions, please get in touch via email.
New Year's Eve Improvised Friendship Drama Secures AVOD Platform.
Our first improvised feature, Friends, Foes and Fireworks, which was filmed in a single night on New Year's Eve, has just been released on TubiTV. Could the timing be any better? Tubi is one of the most popular ad-supported streaming platforms in the world where you can watch free movies and TV shows online in HD on any device. With many of our American friends still in lockdown, you can safely stay in this New Year's Eve with Friends, Foes & Fireworks. Watch here (US only). For worldwide options, click here.
Watch worldwide now, including TubiTV.
New York based Producer Represents Contemporary Relationship Film during Release Week
With In Corpore being released worldwide this week, on Boxing Day no less (yay, happy holidays!) our New York based producer Clara Francesca has been snowed under with an influx of reviews, both written and through Zoom.
Back in Malta, it has been a task in itself for us to create a list of all the interviews Clara has and will take on leading up to Christmas and well into 2021 in order to market them all through all the social media sites for the relationship drama film.
It’s a super way to celebrate the film, which is about looking inwards towards one’s goals, desires of the body and soul and personal aspirations. This makes it very much a film for the holidays as we reflect back on a hard year and the fresh one ahead, while also trying to cultivate self-love and also keeping communications in a relationship open when we are doing so during a pandemic.
We thank our PR company October Coast for the hard work in spreading the word and Clara for taking this task on like a true creative champion.
All the reviews and press interviews will be posted on our Media section so check back regularly.
Happy holidays
Press for one of Clara’s Interviews in the US. on the 30th of December 2020
Global Love: Interview with Sarah Jayne & Ivan Malekin
Aussie underground indie website Pure Shit: Australian Cinema interviewed us about filming In Corpore in four countries / cities and our feelings and perspectives as filmmakers now that we live and breathe film in Europe. They were great questions from Bill Mousoulis and we really enjoyed answering them. Check out the interview here.
Sensual, Sex-Positive, Contemporary Relationship Drama on Pre-Sale !
The time has come - the In Corpore World Premiere screening through Lido at Home is now open for pre-sale. The release date is next week - the 26th of November.
For now this is an Australia wide premiere, but we are working hard on securing a worldwide release before the end of the year. As you can imagine, it has been difficult to release a feature film in 2020 due to the current world situation, but we are not giving up!
Take advantage of the pre-sale window now, and purchase your tickets for the world premiere through LIDO AT HOME to see a film that does not shy away from presenting sex-positivity, while exploring relationships around the world and delving into the grey areas of relationships.
Check out the In Corpore IMDB, where you can leave a review and some shiny stars from the 26th of November.
World Premiere Date Set for Sensual Drama Feature Film
In Corpore is the second ambitious feature film to be co-produced and co-directed by Ivan Malekin and Sarah Jayne Portelli and will be available throughout Australia on the Lido At Home streaming service from November 26th, with pre-sales opening on November 19th.
Entirely improvised, sensual, contemporary, and anchored by powerful performances by new talent from Berlin, Malta, Australia and New York In Corpore tells the stories of four separate relationships, each varied in their labels, each unfolding in different parts of the world.
In Melbourne the polyamorous Julia strays from her monogamous marriage; in Malta Anna hides a secret from her husband Manny; in Berlin sugar baby Milana alienates her real life lover Rosalie, and in New York Julia faces the consequences of her affair.
The film explores the nature of commitment and the idea of sacrificing personal desires at the altar of love – is it selfish to follow the desires of the body and the soul or is this the only path to fulfilment?
Even if it means hurting the one you love?
View the trailer for In Corpore go to the films official page.
If you would like to review the film, or to interview the cast and crew, contact Ivan Malekin and Sarah Jayne directly though this website.
Documentary on Stray Cats of Malta enjoys National Airtime
It was a pleasure to have been invited to talk and present our documentary feature film Cats of Malta on Animal Diaries. The lifestyle show, hosted by Moira Delia airs live every Saturday night on the Maltese National Television Station (TVM Malta) and aims to “raise community awareness of the vulnerability of animals and the importance of conserving Maltese species and other endangered species through educational experiences”.
A short clip edited together by the film’s editor and cinematographer Ivan Malekin was played at the beginning of the interview, giving audiences a small sneak peek into this feature-length documentary and this was followed up by a chat with director Sarah Jayne.
The episode, aired October 24th, is now online and you can watch the full interview with Sarah Jayne below.
Free Live Improvisation Course
On Sunday 27th September, at 3pm CEST, we team up with the Malta Film Foundation to teach our course How Improvisation can Improve Your Filmmaking live on Facebook. It is completely free and open to everyone in the world.
From the filmmakers using improv today, to the speed and efficiency of the development and production process, the surprise factor and how it leads to authentic performance, plus many more topics, we'll take you through the advantages of improvisation and how you can use it in your next project.
We think that is pretty cool.
To go to the event page and find out how you can join us for this free live course click here.
Daughter Deluxe Edition
We are excited to share that we are taking control of our film products and are now selling directly through the new Vimeo associated site, Vimeo OTT.
There are now two new Daughter products launched with rent or buy options through our Vimeo OTT catalogue, so you can now purchase or rent the short educational film though the platform.
What this means is that the audience purchases directly from us, no middle person - it’s a win-win situation really and each purchase supports us, the indie filmmakers.
We have released the film in the regular format as well as an exclusive Daughter Deluxe Edition, which includes the film, director's commentary, never before seen deleted scenes, behind the scenes videos, audition videos, 14 film posters and more. The choice is yours.
To be directed to our VIMEO OTT page so you can view and buy this new product please click here.
Choir Girl Released on iTunes
Choir Girl is finally out on iTunes in the US and Australia. Filmed in Melbourne in 2017, this bold black and white feature has been a long time coming.
A photographer has found his muse. A 15 year old prostitute. How far will a nobody go to be a somebody?
A confronting film that tackles loneliness and obsession, the struggle for recognition, and the blurred line between art and morality, Choir Girl is the debut film from John Fraser and produced by Ivan Malekin of Nexus Production Group, and is led by a veteran Australian cast, including Peter D Flaherty (Bikie Wars), Jack Campbell (Underbelly), Krista Vendy (Neighbours), Kym Valentine (Neighbours), Andy McPhee (Wolf Creek), and Roger Ward (Mad Max). Plus introducing newcomer Sarah Timm, who stars in our very own In Corpore, also coming soon.
Pre-sales begin today on iTunes right here. And check out the Choir Girl website here to learn more about the film.
Psychological Drama Wraps after Second Week of Production
If week one of filming Machination was a whirlwind, then week two was a hurricane with over 2kgs of worms, blood, moody neon lights, night shoots, early mornings finales and some wicked acting. But damn straight we had the best sleep deprived time of our lives in the process and came out the other end with a treasured film experience to add to our already unforgettable 2020.
Machination took four months of our lives to get from the outline writing to the wrap and we did it all with a minimal crew of no more than six on larger days and just a key cast of four people and had Maltese actor Steffi Thake featuring in 99% of the full-length feature. For those interested in our filmmaking process read how Ivan’s article From Writing to Wrap: Making a Feature in Four Months here.
After 10 days of filming Machination, we wrapped at Selmun Bay around 7am! Picture: Creative Creep Brand
Steffi may have had most of the screen time since the film is about her character Maria and her downward spiral as she deals with mental illness and her past demons during a global pandemic, but Steffi handled it like a champion. The lead actors performance was moving and sad to watch, at times her situation and reaction to what was happening around her was relatable, other times the absurdity of the situation bordered on dark humour.
So now Machination is now in the ‘to edit’ bucket, a task that Ivan Malekin will start taking on in the coming week, while also editing our documentary Cats of Malta simultaneously.
If you want to know more about Machination go to the films official page here and join our Creatively Connected Newsletter for news about the film exclusively here.