Post Production of Wine Tasting

Post Production was January and February. During the post production, the film's official website was made. Scored music was added to te film, and all the needed film editing was done. During post production we began to discuss the film's official distribution plan, discuss our next projects, etc. We settled on Amazon Video and overall VOD distribution, while we would submit the film to various film festivals for screenings. During this time we worked on a trailer for the film as well, as well as the cover art and necessary associated photos. All fun. We also finalized the film's IMDb profile. The final film can be found here.

The Filming of Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting was filmed in Los Angeles just before the holidays. Josh Mitchell and his crew worked fast, and the film was shot in mid Dec and wrapped up before the holidays. The shoot went well and everyone had fun. I was not able to be present as I was finishing up my last semester at Columbia University, where I graduated with a MA in English Education. Still I got the daily photo updates on Wine Tasting's official Facebook. The film can be viewed here.

How Wine Tasting Became a Film

The first draft of Wine Tasting was written in 2013. The final draft of the spec script was written in 2015. In between I'd received feedback from BlackList readers and did my revisions. I entered Wine Tasting as a screenplay into some festivals, and it placed as finalist in Sunscreen Film Festival West, Beverly Hills Film Festival, and Evolution, Mallorca Film Festival. Wine Tasting placing as finalist got me some interviews. I was interviewed by La Libertad, Search My Trash, and by Cinemaddicts. Josh Mitchell of Wickid Pissa took notice. He proposed that he direct Wine Tasting. I agreed and worked on raising the budget till I got it. The film can be viewed here.

New Film Wine Tasting Available on Amazon Prime

My film Wine Tasting is now on Amazon and will soon be on other VOD platforms. Wine Tasting was accepted into several film festivals, including Finisterra Arrabida of Portugal, Premios Latinos, Evolution, Mallorca, and LA San Rafael of Spain, and Beverly Hills Film Festival and Sunscreen Film Festival West in the United States. Wine Tasting-written by Justin Samuels, directed by Josh Mitchell and produced by Anjanette Miller has been released on VOD. Wine Tasting follows the lives of four men who are professional wine tasters. They sacrifice considerable sums of money and time in order to pass the sommelier exam. Their relationship is tested when one out of the four guys doesn't pass - leading to a series of scandalous repercussions. The film is free for those on Amazon Prime.

Interview with Justin Lee, Asian American Film Lab's New Shootout Coordinator

Today's interview is with Justin Lee. Justin is Asian American Film Lab's new Shootout Coordinator. Justin joins AA Film Lab at an exciting time. AA Film Lab just had the Asians on Film Festival in Los Angeles, which is the first event that it's had in LA. Justin Samuels: What has interested you in working with AA Film Lab?

Justin Lee: I wanted to be around independent filmmakers. I wanted to be around more people like myself, people who are all making sacrifices to be around what they love. That was my initial interest. However, after talking to lovely Jennifer (board member); she made me realize the wider spectrum of the 72-hour shootout. For example, I get to come up with the theme! JS: Have you yourself dealt with the lack of diversity in the media?

JL:Yes. I work at a advertising production company- and the lack of diversity in the whole industry is astounding. Not that it’s on purpose or inherent- it just is. I think it’s backlash from not having more diversity when filmmaking was just coming out, but I’m sure a film historian could tell you more about that.

The lack of diversity isn’t just racial, it’s everything. Their promoting a certain shape: chiseled chin, dark brows, tall, skinny, ripped, big breasts...etc. If you don’t meet the criteria (I certainly don’t), people tend to pay more attention those who do. It makes who you are as an individual, what makes you interesting & good- irrelevant.

I think due to the lack of diversity, people lump minority groups together and stereotype them according to what they see. I deal with the lack of diversity in the media every time someone calls me Jeremy Lin, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Bruce Lee...etc. I want to be defined by me, not by some middle age white guy sitting in some Hollywood exec office saying “This Kung-fu movie is going to be great!”

JS: How do you think the film, tv, and commercial/advertising media can be diversified?

JL: I was attending a panel where Spike Lee mentioned how films got green-lit. He brought up the film Soul Plane, a movie considered hurtful to Black America. It’s a film that basically reinforces black stereotypes.

I remember Spike Lee reeling about how there was probably no black person in that conference room when they decided to make the film. No one in that position of power who can say “Hold on a second, this movie is about what?!”.

We need more diversity among positions of power and influence. We need someone in that conference room saying “You know what? That’s pretty racist. No.”

JS: What can you tell us about the 2014 72 Hour Shootout? Where are the films screened or shown?

JL: The screenings are usually run through Asian American International, and a theatre will be provided to the shootout as time gets closer.

I can tell you that I’m super excited for it! I’m a big advocate for individuality and visual expression. I can tell you that we’ll probably see some form of those two as the 10th annual theme for the shootout.

JS: What does the Shootout Coordinator do?

JL: I think the most exciting thing about being the shootout coordinator is how much of our personality/work can be put into each shootout. We get to come up with a theme, a promotional video, do interviews, and basically represent each years shootout.

Usually when I coordinate it’s to support the producer. A lot of bookings, budgets, and a logistics (Which I will also be doing for the shootout). It’s kind of refreshing to be able to put some of my personality into this job.

JS: Have you ever worked with a non profit film organization before?

JL: Yes! I volunteered for the Asian American Film Festival back in 2011- but I think that’s it.

JS: Do you have any additional work planned with AA Film Lab?

JL:I really hope so, but you should get back to me at the end of the shootout!

My New Author's Page on Amazon

I didn't realize until recently that Amazon even had an author's page. Amazon made it easier for book readers to find authors on Amazon by grouping all the books and readers comments they have together as a single page. This way of someone is fan of writer they can keep updated on all the books they've written. My own Amazon page can be found here. I also have three documentaries available on Amazon. The first is the Many Faces of Occupy Wall Street. That video covers the spectrum of people from Occupy Wall Street as it was happening in 2011, from a variety of activists. The second is Rockaway Gentrification, which chronicles the history and the current gentrification of Queens, NY's Rockaway peninsula. The third is Coney Island Restoration, which is about how the city of New York brought Coney Island back from being nearly demolished.

The Agent to star Holly T, Lovari Lovari

The Agent, my first feature film, is under development. Its inspired by real life con artist Melanie Mills, among other similar entertainment con artists who have made the news. The Agent stars fabulous actress/singer Holly T as outrageous con artist Alice Jones, and Lovari as police officer Ted. Justin Samuels wrote it and is directing. Keep viewing my blogs for updates. The Agent is both SAG and WGA.