ALEXANDRA ESSOE’S “THE CARNAL SOUL” TO MAKE WORLD PREMIERE AT OSCAR QUALIFYING LA SHORT’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Mort wakes up with a purpose. Today is his day of atonement.
This interview was done by our Entertainment Today TV Show Host Jacqueline Murphy (Center), and filmed by our TV News Reporter, and Editor: Doug Nolan (Left), and was Produced by our Entertainment Today TV Producer: Steve Taylor (Right):
At the start and end of this show are some beautiful shots filmed from the sky, of Los Angeles and the Regal Cinema at LA Live, filmed by our Editor, Producer, Cameraman, and News Reporter: Doug Nolan who is also a licensed Pilot- to be able to be approved for a flight plan to film from the sky’s above Los Angeles! You will love his filming and interviews! So enjoy.
In addition to interviewing all of the cast, crew, Director, and Producer of this great movie: “THE CARNAL SOUL” Jacqueline Murphy interviewed the Creator and Founder of the LA SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: Robert Arentz who founded this amazing film festival in 1997, and it is one of the largest international short film festivals in the world with more than 300 films screening annually!
By an amazing coincidence our Entertainment Today TV Show Host Jacqueline Murphy was a very good friend for about 30 years with the Producer of this movie: Alexis Iacono, who at the opening night After-Party for this Film Festival came up to Jacqueline to say hello and really surprised her, as they have not seen each other in 10 years! Entertainment Today TV Producer: Steve Taylor was with Jacqueline, and had the pleasure of also meeting Alexis in this invite only VIP Party that was very fun, with so many other Producers, Directors, and Actors all networking and having a great time at The Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar at LA Live, only steps from the Regal Cinema! Jacqueline came up with Alexis as actresses in New York City in the 90’s and took a class with one of the legendary teachers Sande Shurin, and an interesting fact is that her husband was an agent: Bruce Levy– who Jacqueline worked with his most well-known client: Silvia Marx, who was a huge hit in the movie: Wall Street as the real estate agent. Fast-forward: they ran into each other several times as they both started spending more time in Los Angeles and Hollywood, and now Alexis is a big time Producer! The odds against that chance meeting again after 30 years- from the East Coast: New York all the way to the West Coast and Hollywood is phenomenal! Too bad we could not win a lot of money on betting a long shot like that! It really is a small world after all! So should we all go on the “It’s a Small World After All” ride at Disneyland together? More on Alexis below.
In order to qualify for a short film award at the annual Academy Awards (the Oscars) you must meet the Rules and Eligibility criteria, which includes qualification through awards at qualifying festivals. LA Shorts is the only film festival with 7 award categories recognized by the Academy Awards. Now in its 28th year, LA Shorts is the longest-running short film festival in Los Angeles. The festival screens over 350 films and attracts over 10,000 attendees each year including Hollywood industry professionals and emerging independent filmmakers. This festival runs now till July 29th at the Regal Cinema at LA LIVE, so go online to buy your tickets today.
“THE CARNAL SOUL” starring Bob Gunton, Danno Hanks, Alexandra Essoe (in the center of below photo) and Ryan Kibby had its World Premiere today at the Oscar qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival, at the Regal Cinema at LA Live. The riveting dark comedy/drama is the directorial debut of Essoe, who has starred in TV series MIDNIGHT MASS and THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR, and the feature THE POPE’S EXORCIST. Written and directed by Essoe, and produced by Alexis Iacono (on the right of above photo) and Essoe, THE CARNAL SOUL tells the story of Mort (Bob Gunton), who is in the winter of his life and can no longer live with the weight of his regrets. Every day is torture living with an old betrayal. Today he sets out to make amends with his long-time rival, David. Can he atone for his mistakes before it’s too late?
“I wish I had some sort of a producer dramatic war story…but truth be told. From cast to crew. From beginning to end. From pre-production, being on set, to post. It was organic magic, ” says Iacono
Bob Gunton is a renowned actor, primarily known for portraying strict and authoritarian characters in popular films. His better known roles include Chief George Earle in DEMOLITION MAN, Prison Warden Samuel Norton in THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, medical school dean Dr. Walcott in PATCH and politician Cyrus Vance in ARGO. Among Gunton’s stage roles was as President of Argentina Juan Dominga Peron in EVITA, for which he won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
Alexandra Essoe was born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The daughter of a stage actress, she grew up in the Dhahran community theatre and was an avid cinephile from an early age. Upon moving to Canada at the age of 12, Alex became involved in acting courses and making films with her friends. After graduating high school, Alex moved to Vancouver to study several different acting techniques at both the Lyric School of Acting and the Beaumont Stage. While studying, she joined an arts collective where she wrote and directed short plays and performance art pieces. Upon moving to Los Angeles, Alex has established herself as an actress in a slew of films and shows.
Alexis Iacone is a producer with a sleuth’s eye for content. Originally from Manhattan, her experience spans stage, video game, voiceover, film and television. Her ability to source, sign, and package content is quickly launching her into the realm of grade A entertainment, connecting and bringing along a host of award-winning colleagues and producing partners, including the John Cleese documentary about Hacking in the UK.
Below ALEXIS IACONO tells us the whole story in her own words:
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Alexis Iacono:Producer of the episodic docu-interviews with John CleeseTrailer: https://youtu.be/31bQweUygco
Producer of The Carnal Soul starring Bob Gunton and directed by Alex EssoeProducer of the Yellow Lens UK Productions book promo: https://youtu.be/TVPaXojkNEsCo-Director/Board Member of Scripts Gone Wild:Agent: Imperium-74100 W. Alameda Ave.Suite 300Burbank, CA 91505
C: 512. 970. 2583
REEL:
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