The leaders of international creative company Cutters Studios join their fellow filmmakers in celebrating the World Premiere for indie narrative feature before/during/after as part of the ninth annual Greenpoint Film Festival.
To safely create new experiences uniting film lovers in controlled, VIP entertainment environments, this year’s Festival will be staged as a drive-in. Hosted by Broadway Stages and The Foundry LIC, festivities will take place at 211 Meserole Avenue, Brooklyn, with special guest speakers, socially distanced gatherings, and extraordinary attention to safety.
While the Festival is also set to unveil dozens of thoughtfully programmed shorts, before/during/after is one of eight features in competition. Written by and starring Orange is the New Black‘s Finnerty Steeves, it was directed by Stephen Kunken and Jack Lewars. A co-production of Marsha’s Daughter Productions, Indie City Films and Cutters Studios featuring an incredible ensemble cast on camera and behind the scenes, before/during/after is a smashing testament to a deep pool of passionate, dedicated NYC talents.
“We are so excited that we are able to share the film for the first time in a safe way that will still allow us the thrill of a traditional cinema premiere,” Steeves commented. “Most of our incredible cast and crew live in Brooklyn, so a Drive-In in Greenpoint with a gigantic screen, food trucks and the ability to share laughter between car windows… feels somehow perfect.”
Standing behind “before/during/after” is Producer Katie Hyde and Executive Producers Elena Berger, Jamie Zelermyer and Elizabeth Krajewski. “This beautiful film, with a strong heart and story, made by a fiercely courageous writer and actor, was over three years in the making,” said Krajewski, who is the EP for Cutters Studios in New York. “As a first-time filmmaker, Finnerty pulled many of us into experiences we’ve never had before. After reading the script and sensing her contagious drive, we were all-in.”
With Krajewski and Cutters onboard from the start, the studio’s talents were instrumental in the film’s post-production artistry. Among them, staff talents Scott Gibney and Peter Zachwieja teamed up as co-editors, with many other Cutters editors and assistants also contributing. Titles and visual effects are courtesy of Flavor, while credit for finishing and the digital intermediate go to Technicolor’s Postworks. Post-audio was led by Another Country’s Supervising Sound Editor and Re-Recording Mixer Erik Widmark.
“When it comes to indie filmmaking, the bond between collaborators is always incredibly strong,” explained Zachwieja, a New York University graduate whose editorial credits also include Vanessa Roth’s award-winning documentary, Liberation Heroes: The Last Eyewitnesses. “I think this film reflects the reality of many different people sharing a singular vision of creating a work of art. It stands as a testament to the power of a small, dedicated team, and what they can accomplish when they pour love, creativity, and effort into a project.”
On the filmmaking experience, co-editor Gibney added, “Seeing Finnerty’s smile and tears of joy roll down her face when we finally had a finished product is something I will never forget.”
The World Premiere for before/during/after is set for the evening of Friday, August 7. While that screening is reportedly sold-out, the Greenpoint Film Festival site provides updated program and ticket information HERE:
Next up, the West Coast Premiere is actively being discussed. To stay informed about all the new developments, please VISIT HERE.
Principal Cast
Finnerty Steeves: Jennie
Jeremy Davidson: David
John Pankow: Jim Lonergan
Kristine Sutherland: Pat Lonergan
Richard Masur: Stan
Susan Blackwell: Erin
John Ellison Conlee: Clark
Marin Hinkle: Marissa
Miriam Shor: Insecure Irene
Kate Burton: Therapist #1
Deirdre O’Connell: Nancy
Kathleen Chalfant: Olga
Austin Pendleton: Dr. Horowitz
Deborah Rush: Therapist #4
Dave Ahdoot: Nathan
Principal Crew
Production Companies: Marsha’s Daughter Productions, Indie City Films and Cutters Studios
Directors: Stephen Kunken, Jack Lewars
Producers: Katie Hyde, Finnerty Steeves
Executive Producers: Elena Berger, Elizabeth Krajewski, Jamie H. Zelermyer
Line Producer/UPM: Artisha Mann Cooper
Post Producer: Stephanie Rose
Associate Producers: Kelli Joan Bennett, Lisa Beyersdoerfer, Mike Beyersdoerfer, Daniel Charles Finnerty, James Daniel Finnerty, Marsha Bufanda Finnerty, Craig Duncan, Marcia DeBonis, Frank Tamayo Leyva, Luis E. Martinez, Mike McNamara, Mark Mignone, Tim O’Connor
Director of Photography: Mark Sparrough
Casting: Amy Christopher
Production Design: Kimberly Matela
Film Editors: Scott Gibney, Peter Zachwieja
Additional Editors, Cutters: Andrea Mendoza, Cameron Yergler
Assistant Editors, Cutters: Austin Rauterkus, Katie Traurig
Makeup Department Head: Justine Sierakowski
Key Makup Artist: Catrina Grieco
Makeup Artist: Marie Rose Cruz
Music Supervisor: Pete Olshansky
Sound Company: Another Country
Audio Executive Producer: Tim Konn
Sound Effects Editors: Patricia Ramos, Cathryn Stark, Logan Vines
Re-Recording Mixer / Supervising Sound Editor: Erik Widmark
Sound Mixer: Eric Perez
Visual Effects Company: Flavor
VFX Executive Producer: Neal Cohen
Creative Director: Brian McCauley
Visual Effects Artist: Sean Perry
Flame Artist: Moises Tavera
Digital Intermediate Company: Technicolor Postworks
Digital Intermediate Colorist: Allie Ames
Digital Intermediate Consultant: Jeff Cornell
Digital Intermediate Producer: Christina Delerme
Dailies Colorist: Ryan Duffy
Conform Editor: Brian Keefe
Supervising Colorist: Jack Lewars
