Resume
Demo Reel
Event will highlight works of 20 local filmmakers and raise funds to hire local cast & crew members for first-ever film adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Monkey” to be filmed in the Capital Region.
ALBANY, N.Y. (Mar. 31, 2022) — In partnership with the Madison Theatre and the 518 Film Network, the creative forces behind the first-ever film adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Monkey” will present “Monkey Business,” a networking fundraiser at Albany’s Madison Theatre on Friday, April 8, 2022. 20 Capital Region filmmakers will showcase works at the event, which will raise funds to hire local cast and crew members for the production of The Monkey Short Film by Capital Region based filmmaker Spencer Sherry.
The showcase will include excerpts from shorts and feature-length films from Capital Region filmmakers including Meetcute on Danceworld (2020) by Micah Khan; Devour (2021) by Victoria Diana; The Climb (2021) by Michael Kennedy of Creative Action Unlimited; A Void (2021) by Joe Gietl;Lucid (2022) by Cameron Gallagher; Ourselves (2022) by Tara Rule; Earworm (2022) by Kyle Kleege and Charity Buckbee, as well as over a dozen produced and unproduced works by others including Matthew Ryan Lowery, Majestic Tillman, Rahn Duhk, Michelle Polacinski, Corey Dempsey, Joyce Hills, Stephen Rock, John Yost, Jack Colin Dickenson, Elisheva Novella, Casey Dunn, and Cameron S. Mitchell.
At 9 p.m. guests will hear a keynote address by Christopher Gaunt, an accomplished producer, director, writer, and actor who will share his experiences working on a multitude of film projects based in the Capital Region and beyond. Gaunt will act in and be an executive producer for “The Monkey” short film, which will be filmed in and around the Capital Region this year.
“I am thrilled to support ‘The Monkey’ project for many reasons! I am a huge fan of all things Stephen King, so when I learned that a Capital Region filmmaker was adapting “The Monkey,” that immediately piqued my interest,” said Gaunt. “Upon meeting with Spencer, I immediately saw his unbridled enthusiasm for the project, which is absolutely contagious. His willingness to find creative ways to raise funds and go above and beyond to unite the film community here in the Capital Region speaks volumes to his dedication to excellence not only for this project, but in contributing to the growth of the film community here as a whole. Spencer is the kind of filmmaker that I love to work with. He has tapped into the best talent in the area, assembling an excellent crew and he will be casting outstanding actors. This will be a fantastic film! I am honored to be a part of this film as a producer and an actor.”
Sherry hopes this event will be an opportunity to use the positive attention for his project to bring together local filmmakers and connect them with better resources, art-focused organizations, patrons, and potential investors.
“The response I’ve received for my adaptation of ‘The Monkey’ has been overwhelmingly supportive, both from the general public as well as the filmmaking network.” said Sherry. “The positive attention a production like this generates energizes everyone, which helps bridge gaps for locals trying to gain a footing, and hopefully will help make the art of filmmaking as engaging and accessible as other mediums in the region. The creatives in the area are skilled and versatile; they can produce compelling and meaningful work with relatively little funding, and I think this event could help make art patrons more aware of how manageable some of those hurdles can actually be. The more aware the public becomes of what is being accomplished now and what is possible, the more opportunities we can create for growth and investment.”
The Monkey Short Film team also thanks Film Albany for offering support for the initiative and for helping call attention to the opportunities the Capital Region presents for filmmakers looking to produce their works locally.
“I commend Sherry’s work in providing this opportunity for Capital Region filmmakers to showcase a diverse collection of locally-based films in a unified effort to engage with the community and potential investors,” said Albany Film Commissioner, Deborah Goedeke. “With our region’s historic architecture, landscape, and proximity to other major film destinations, there is great potential for continued growth and investment, and I look forward to seeing new opportunities continue to grow and evolve for filmmakers to realize their visions right here in the Albany area.”
General admission to the event is $50 and includes full access to the film showcase and speaking segment, along with hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast, live musical entertainment by alt-funk band HANZOLO, cider and beer tastings from Nine Pin Ciderworks and Wolf Hollow Brewing Company. A silent auction will also be held featuring a variety of donated works from 8 locally based visual artists. Sponsorship opportunities are available for local companies and organizations who wish to be featured at the event. Sponsorship inquiries, or any other requests can be sent to themonkeyshortfilm@gmail.com.
Tickets are available by request by emailing themonkeyshortfilm@gmail.com. A limited number of tickets will be made available to the public beginning Sunday, April 3, via Eventbrite. To purchase tickets and learn more about the event, find Monkey Business: A Local Arts Gala on Eventbrite.com, or contact The Monkey Short Film team at the email address above.