Meet the founder of Against the Grain and THE Pathological Optimist. Against the Grain is a way of doing business and living life that believes anything is possible, that there is no “right” way to attain success in business or to live the life you want, and that without creativity and just doing what everybody else is doing only guarantees conformity and mediocrity. Against the Grain helps it’s clients to ask tough, provocative questions, and then connects them with the Rock Star people, partners and causes needed to build the bridge, and cross the gap to attain their goals. It then also provides the solutions and services they need to execute and profit through that access, with best of breed specialties in business development, business strategy, Internet marketing and search engine optimization.

Referred to by many as “the lightning storm in human form”, Chad (or his company Against the Grain) is the co-owner of several companies in various industries, including health care (World Dental Club), author/speaker/publishing (BE); fashion (A.L. Gems Global); real estate investment (Cross Ocean International Finance Corp.). In addition to serving as a board member for V.I.P. Talent, Chad sits on the boards of Arts for Humanity Global; iDuplicate; SANG IV; Revolution Yes / Revolution 9; and a new independent film festival to be formally disclosed later in 2010.

His serial entrepreneurial exploits have made him an expert generalist with a mastery of the specifics and nuances comprising the areas of business development and strategic and operational planning. He has designed and project managed multiple client business development operations, that have included the design and implementation of organizational and departmental strategies, operational models, financial models, and marketing operations contributing to hundreds of millions in revenues for his clients in the energy sector, the real estate sector, the health and wellness sector, the technology sector, and at various levels of government.

Chad has worked with and motivated, inspired, and empowered business teams to achieve excellence, while providing them with the strategies and guidance to do so. Also a writer and business philosopher, Chad has co-developed and implemented several intellectual property business and marketing strategies, including the Non-Competitive Advantage, the D-N-A Matrix Marketing System, and the Metaphysics of Money.

Lisa Schneiderman began her publicity career in 1994 representing high profile authors, many of whom where NY Times best-seller status. She then founded Schneiderman Public Relations,an entertainment/cause-related boutique agency in 1998, managing social and humanitarian causes and large-scale celebrity events. Through the span of her career, evoking social change through positive messaging has always been a common theme.

In 2003, Schneiderman Public Relations merged with the legendary and late Hollywood publicist, Lee Solters of Solters & Digney (whose career spans 50 years building the careers of the most revered stars of our time, including Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Whoopi Goldberg).

As Executive Vice President, she expanded her “red carpet” and “VIP room” experience with celebrities such as Halle Barry, Oprah, Diana Ross, Faith Hill, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Pierce Brosnan and many more. Lisa’s clients have included Vanity Fair Pre-Golden Globe Party; Nike and the Clear Channel. She has publicized music stars such as Nick Lachey, Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore, Billy Idol, Tone Loc, L. L. Cool Jay, Young MC and Tyrese, as well as American Idol stars such as Kelly Clarkson and Justine Guarini. She has also placed many on the national media circuit including two client spots on Oprah.

As an entertainment/cause-related publicist and brand expert for 16 years, Lisa has built the careers and re-branded some of the world’s most prominent cultural creatives. She helps to bring the meaning of their work into focus so that others may benefit from the work they offer.

On a personal note, Lisa is best known for her activism and the equality of human justice. As a children’s advocate for over two decades, Lisa served on the board of “Global Partners for Youth” as the Marketing Chair and a mentor/coach volunteer “Committed Partners for Youth”, an international mentoring program servicing at-risk youth. She has produced and directed the promotional video, At-Risk Youth of America and currently has several children’s projects in development including a global peace project and she is producing/directing a documentary highlighting celebrity positive role models that will inspire youth about the importance of making a difference. She, along with her two sisters have three children’s CD’s on the market with the OyBaby series and That Baby project. Lisa is a sought after publicity consultant/coach, speaker and filmmaker.

3rd Renderyard One Minute Challenge Call for Entries

Welcome to the start of the 3rd fantastic Renderyard One Minute Challenge. This month we invite you to submit and watch your one minute films. The films with the highest votes at the end of each month win a place in the grand final held in December. Where there will be a chance for the best 12 films of the year to be voted by the film loving public and the Final Winner announced. You can also watch the best films so far on the One Minute Challenge web site at http://www.renderyard.com

To watch this months films and cast your vote go to http://renderyard.com/page.php?page=10

So come on and make your vote it only takes a minute!

Every speaker at every VIP Talent Connect event has emphasized making your own work and putting it on YouTube. This is yet another step in that direction for all TAG VIP members. A call for short films, deadline Jan. 18, 2010

Three
A THREE-MINUTE FILM FESTIVAL
A call for films of up to three minutes. Any genre.
Please submit films on data DVD/CD with name, phone and email by JANUARY
18th, 2010.
Screening on February 13.

Juried selection – audience awards for top films.
Submit by mail to
StudioArts
4609 Grape Road
Mishawaka, IN 46545
or
http://three-fest.blogspot.com/
FOR QUESTIONS CONTACT JESSICA CHALMERS/LYNN KING three.fest@yahoo.com

Project Proposals Now Being Accepted for the Toronto Documentary Forum

Hot Docs is accepting project proposals for the upcoming Toronto Documentary Forum (TDF), May 5 & 6, taking place during the 2010 Hot Docs Festival, April 29-May 9. Widely regarded as the most effective international documentary market in North America, the TDF is a dynamic pitching event that stimulates international co-production financing for projects at various levels of completion.

Selected documentary producers publicly pitch their projects to over 150 key international broadcasters and financiers from Europe, Australia, Japan, the USA and Canada and to a gallery of accredited observers. For complete submission guidelines visit http://www.hotdocs.ca. Deadline for submissions is January 15, 2010.

Film Submission Deadlines Approaching

Hot Docs accepts Canadian and international documentaries of all lengths and subject matter. All Hot Docs screening programs are curated and all submissions will be fully considered by Hot Docs’ programming team. The early film submission deadline for the 2010 Hot Docs Festival is December 18, 2009. The final deadline is January 15, 2010. For complete submission guidelines visit http://www.hotdocs.ca

Casting Call “A Christmas Snow” – independent film – You’re It!

A Christmas Snow Description
In the feature length independent film A Christmas Snow, the storm of the century brings the gift of a lifetime.
Produced by Chad Gundersen (Like Dandelion Dust, The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry) and to be directed by Tracy Trost (Find Me), A Christmas Snow will be filmed in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the first three weeks of February 2010.

A Christmas Snow is a modified, low budget SAG film. Online auditions are open now through December 5.

A Christmas Snow Characters
Kathleen
Type: Starring
Gender: Female
Age Range: 35-45
Description: Kathleen is a very organized person who has little time for other people. When she was ten years old, her father left the family. Kathleen still blames her mother for his departure and has had little contact with her mother since leaving home.
Kathleen runs a successful restaurant. She is a great cook and has built a reputation of providing the best food in the county. She has found her identity in the success of the business. The Maitre d’ and Chef are the closest thing she has to a family.
Kathleen has been dating Andrew for about six months. This is the first real relationship that she has ever had. She feels that Andrew is getting serious and is going to ask her to marry him, and that this is the reason that Andrew continues to try to get Kathleen and his daughter Lucy to spend more time together. This scares Kathleen and she resists Andrew’s efforts.
Please click here for information on how you can audition for the part of Kathleen! http://tinyurl.com/y8p7a54

Sam
Type: Starring
Gender: Male
Age Range: Upper 60’s
Description: Sam is the source of wisdom and peace in this film. He is slow to answer, but when he does it is with chunks of wisdom. He has a place in his heart for Kathleen and Lucy and is instantly drawn to the girls when he meets them. He sincerely wants to help in any way he can and is very appreciative of Kathleen for allowing him to stay at her house.
When we see Sam, we need to see a man of experience – someone who has been around the block a few times and is not surprised by anything that happens. He is a thinker and does not jump to judgment quickly.
Please click here for information on how you can audition for the part of Sam! http://tinyurl.com/yek6elg

Lucy
Type: Supporting
Gender: Female
Age Range: Must be able to play 10
Description: Lucy is a very mature 10 year old. Since her mother’s death, she has seen a therapist to help her deal with her sense of abandonment. Lucy resists her father’s affection for Kathleen. It is not that she doesn’t like Kathleen; it is the idea of anyone replacing her mother. Lucy has turned Kathleen’s attempts to reach out against her. She has also made up stories about Kathleen and has tried to convince her father that Kathleen is bad.
Please click here for information on how you can audition for the part of Lucy! http://tinyurl.com/y8mq27q

Andrew
Type: Day Player
Gender: Male
Age Range: 40-45
Description: Andrew is a successful businessman who is a widower of 3 years. His wife died of cancer when his daughter Lucy was 7 years old. He and Kathleen met when he had dinner at her restaurant. He longs for a deeper relationship with Kathleen, but gets frustrated with the walls she keeps putting up.
Please click here for information on how you can audition for the part of Andrew! http://tinyurl.com/yd3mqm5

Martin
Type: Day Player
Gender: Male
Age Range: 50-60
Description: Martin is a jolly fellow. He loves his work and really loves Kathleen. Though he picks on her, he would do anything to help her. In some ways, he has tried to be a surrogate father to Kathleen.
Please click here for information on how you can audition for the part of Martin! http://tinyurl.com/yb3ry4d

Claud
Type: Day Player
Gender: Male
Age Range: Late 40’s
Description: Claud is a top rate chef who got burned out by the “Big City” life and has taken a job at Kathleen’s place to escape it all.
He and Kathleen have worked together to build the menu at the restaurant. If you ask him, all of the recipes are his. He has a rough exterior and acts like he doesn’t care about anyone, but he has a soft place in his heart for Kathleen and the restaurant.
Please click here for information on how you can audition for the part of Claud! http://tinyurl.com/yb74eup

Mother
Type: Day Player
Gender: Female
Age Range: Upper 60’s
Description: Kathleen’s Mother is your typical 60ish lady. She has kept up with trends in fashion and style, but has not changed much in her house over the years.
She has wanted to reconcile with her daughter Kathleen ever since Kathleen left home. Kathleen’s Mother reaches out to her daughter several times throughout the years with phone calls, but is mostly ignored. Seeing Kathleen at her door is both an answer to prayer and a big surprise. In that brief moment Kathleen’s Mother goes through a whole mixture of emotions.
Please click here for information on how you can audition for the part of Mother! http://tinyurl.com/y9aferg

Indie Filmmakers, and Aspiring Filmmakers!

Take part in this incredible event taking place in NYC where you can interact directly with established producers & investors who will share with you the steps you can take to get your project funded! The focus will be on equity investment, and how you can package your project to attract investor interest!

Workshops will be available which will you guide you through the process of what steps you will need to take to put together a viable Film Package, and how to go about presenting it to get your project noticed!

We will also be holding networking and pitch sessions where you will be able to get your ideas heard in front of an audience of your peers, and our Producers and Investors. One lucky filmmaker will be offered a Packaging Deal by our Film Company, Riwayat Films.

Visit our website at http://nycindiefilmfinancingconference.weebly.com

to view the growing list of Speakers, Presenters, and Events that are added to on a weekly basis! Don’t miss out on this one of a kind event!! This could be exactly what you need to get your project green lighted!

B.K. Coposky
Riwayat Films
O: 732-387-0481