LA SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: WORLD MOVIE PREMIERE of “THE CARNAL SOUL” with Friends: Producer Alexis Iacono & Jacqueline Murphy

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:

Jacqueline (Murphy: our Entertainment Today TV Host) wanted me to discuss memories and moments we may have shared together while attending the Sande Shurin acting studio. Although Jacqueline and I never shared a scene together. There were many wonderful and treasured moments that we all shared in class together.  There was very little conversation before and after class. Once you enter the class…. you felt the focused concentration with everyone…you can smell the memorized lines going through their heads anticipating to be called next to do their scene. One student that would often jump up in front of the spotlight. Was an actor by the name of Anthony Rapp. Anthony would say “So… I am in a ‘works in progress’ for this show….” He would do scenes here and there.. a half of song…. some strong scenes… some, well …. ‘works in progress ‘ – While this was happening In the same class,  I had a 3 month trial, and Sande told me if she didn’t see any progress I was to take another class. For those who know me, “a challenge” and the word “no” fuel my creative fire.

The 3 month mark has approached its final hour. and it wasn’t until the very last class….Sande yelled at me in front of everyone. She embarrassed me, in the most professional constructive criticism way. “THREE MONTHS!!! NO PROGRESS! YOU HAVE WASTED MY TIME AND YOURS” I was so mad at myself. Because like most, all actors relate… “I was in my head” The spotlight was on me, while my scene partner was silent in the background.. As I looked out into the audience, there was Sande sitting in the director’s chair in the middle dividing the students from left to right. 15 from each side. And staring back at me was Anthony, Broadway stars (their names sadly escape me) students such as Barbara Kidd Calvano, Brian James Grace and…. Jacqueline Murphy. Although I forgot the scene I was doing.  I do remember I had a half dozen dishes in my hand…. that would change my creative life forever…  And the weirdest thing happened. I continued the scene, and trimmed the studio stairs going up into a walk-in closet. As I was delivering my line….. I tripped on the last step going head first. All the dishes broke… and rather than breaking character, I felt this outer body experience…. That fall. Those dishes breaking……… gave me a breakthrough. and I nailed my performance. Sande screamed with joy and said ” YESSSSS, Alexis !!! YESSSS” After class Sande pulled over to the side and said “Congratulations….you may stay in my class” As the students were all trickling out, one of them was Jaqueline… I smiled and said with an extra hop in my steam and a beaming smile, “thank you.” We all had a silent bond that we will hold for the rest of our lives…..It wasn’t until a few years ago, I ran into Jaquelineat a private event. Attending was Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson in Los Angeles. After that event.  Jaquelyn and I again lost touch until my short film I produced called The Carnal Soul directed by Alex Essoe, and starring Bob Gunton best known for playing the Warden in Shawshank Redemption:  And so here we are many years later never giving up our dream. Both Jacqueline and I on the red carpet. For those who are struggling. Never allow a bad audition, ruin your life. Live your best life. And be sure to do a scene with dishes in your hand 😉  PS – That “works in progress” that Anthony Rapp was working on…. was the Broadway hit…… RENT. – On April 13th 2024 Sande Shurin passed away…….This interview is for her.

Alex and I met on a Fangoria Magazine shoot 8 years ago reenacting ahorror movie called Slumber Party Massacre (photo below). At the time, Alex was recognized for her performance in Starry Eyes.  Her resume progressed soon after that movie. Alex best known for her spot on performance as Wendy Torrance in Mike Flanagan’ s Doctor Sleep starring Ewan McGregor.  Netflix hit series The Haunting of Bly Manor and Midnight Mass and The Pope’s Exorcist starring Russell Crowe. I was recognized for my films ‘Prescott Place’ (Cannes short film corner) and The Penny Dreadful Picture Show. I played Nancy, a Manson styled grindhouse character, who has fun torturing a cheerleader. Starring horror icons Sid Haig known for Rob Zombie’s ‘The Devils Rejects’ and House of a 1,000 Corpses and Jeffrey Combs known for Peter Jackson’s The Frightners and The-Re-Animator. Alex and I quickly bonded because we were supposed to be the next “scream queens” Both of us coming from strong theater backgrounds were like “Ice Cream Queens? Not to knock horror by any means, since those films put us on the map. Truth be told, Alex and I were clueless to the scream queen scene. The shoot was ridiculously fun. (photo below) After the shoot, Alex and I continued our friendship. It wasn’t until Alex was on the set of Francis Galluppi’s ‘The Last Stop To Yuma’ she called me and said she wrote a short film that she wanted to direct, and I to produce. I was so honored for her to reach out to me. I loved this quirky Neil Simon, Vaudevillian Larry David – esque style writing, and said yes to the project immediately.  And well here we are today.

Alexis Iacono:

Producer of the episodic docu-interviews with John Cleese

Trailer: https://youtu.be/31bQweUygco

 

Producer of The Carnal Soul starring Bob Gunton and directed by Alex Essoe

https://youtu.be/tV-TEKcp8nw?si=Zwk9q4zZ0mKEgP-X

 

Producer of the Yellow Lens UK Productions book promo: https://youtu.be/TVPaXojkNEs

Co-Director/Board Member of Scripts Gone Wild:

Scripts Gone Wild (squarespace.com)

Agent: Imperium-7

4100 W. Alameda Ave.

Suite 300 

Burbank, CA 91505

C:  512. 970. 2583

REEL:

https://vimeo.com/529844263

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