Sweet as a Peach - Doc Joins OscarÂ® Shortlist

Now in its fourth decade, the Atlanta Film Festival—one of only two-dozen Academy Award® qualifying festivals in the U.S.—is the area’s preeminent celebration of cinema. One of the largest and longest-running film festivals in the country, Atlanta welcomes an audience of over 25,000 to discover hundreds of new independent films, selected from 3000+ submissions from all over the world.

The Murder Ballad of James Jones tells the story of a rising feud between two Southside Chicago bluesmen. In 1993, James "Tail Dragger" Jones, a protégé of Howlin' Wolf, murdered fellow musician Bennie "Boston Blackie" Houston during an on-stage performance. Twenty years later, James engraved his confession onto a spinning acetate record. The film premiered at the Camden International Film Festival in September 2015. Upcoming screenings include the Sarasota Film Festival, Indie Grits, and the Collinsville Film Festival.

I'm thrilled to announce that my latest film Black Canaries has been selected to participate in Berklee College of Music’s Film Scoring Department's program. This extraordinary opportunity pairs filmmakers and composers from Berklee, named the #2 music school in the entertainment industry by The Hollywood Reporter.

Under departmental supervision, scores for more than 200 student films have been produced within the film scoring facilities. Many of these films have won major festival awards, playing to national and international audiences. I'd like to welcome Composer Jose Parody and Sound Supervisor Austin DeVries to the team.

JOSE PARODY is a versatile composer based in Boston, MA. Captivated at an early age by the power of music and picture, Parody is currently finishing his studies at Berklee College of Music with a dual-major in Film Scoring and Music Business / Management. In 2014, he was a Semi-Finalist at the Marvin Hamlisch Film Scoring Contest for Emerging Composers, collaborated with USC’s School of Cinematic arts to create the music and sound for the puzzle/adventure game Interspeller, and wrote the original score for the short film VAL.

AUSTIN DEVRIES is a Boston-based sound designer, mixer, and musician focusing on post production audio for film and games. Currently finishing up his final semester in Electronic Production and Design at Berklee College of Music, DeVries has worked on many different mediums. More recent projects include sound design for a documentary soon the premier at the Aspen Film Festival entitled Nefertiti's Daughters and sound design/ interactive music for BAFTA award winning indie stealth fighter game Chambara.

To date, over 270 individuals and businesses helped make Black Canaries, many of which were based in the state of Iowa. On Thursday, April 9, I will host Sin & Salvation: An Evening of Liquor & Hymns featuring gospel and sacred harp musical performances and an exclusive first look at Black Canaries.

Brian Vogel, a former Hollywood production designer and current proprietor of The Clinton Street Social Club, will host Sin & Salvation. ”After eleven years in the film studios, Jesse Kreitzer is one of the most driven and passionate grassroots filmmakers I've met. Twenty years from now the community of Iowa City will want to be able to look back and say 'we helped that guy get the ball rolling.' Here's our chance,” said Brian Vogel.

The evening’s musical talent Prairie Harmony and Gospel Explosion Ministries have both been on-screen collaborators on Kreitzer’s films. Pastor Sylvia Boyer of Gospel Explosion Ministries and members of her congregation joined Kreitzer during the 2013 production of his short film Lomax. “I consider Kreitzer’s film work a blessing to the Iowa City community and those around the world who will have the opportunity to view it,” said Pastor Boyer. Gospel Explosion will share a selection of songs often performed during their Sunday service. “Gospel music should not be restricted to ministry only, but inclusion for those needing inspiration and or edification during times of trials or testing.”

The evening's proceeds will go to support Black Canaries' post-production and distribution expenses. If you're unable to attend, but would like to support the film, click here.

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