More Ink for Inspiration and IS Films

The Angels Behind a Student Project
Industry largesse plays a vital role in 'Inspiration'

Martin Zaharinov majors in directing narrative fiction at Emerson College, but don't underestimate the importance of his minor in leadership and management. Lately he's demonstrating plenty of that important filmmaking skill known as getting it made.

Zaharinov is founder and president of IS Films Inc., a nonprofit intended to help fund student films beyond the normal thesis projects. And he and the IS (Independent Student) team, which includes treasurer Elizabeth Daly and non-student board members Paul Turano and Glen Livolsi, have reeled in some serious bounty for their first production.

Inspiration, filming in and around the city this month, is a roughly 25-minute film with a cast of four, written by Michael Gray Beckett (Emerson '84) and directed by Jackie Carr (an Emerson senior). It's the kind of indie often shot on the most threadbare of shoestrings.

But Zaharinov and company have scored a ton of film-industry largesse to get Inspiration done right: the loan of a complete 35mm camera and equipment package from Panavision (worth low six figures to rent for a few weeks), a film stock grant from Kodak (worth perhaps $3,500), and processing from the FotoKem post-production company that Zaharinov said will probably be worth $30,000 or more.

All this is just the beginning, says Zaharinov, who is credited as executive producer and assistant director. He hopes IS Films will become a producing umbrella that will help many more students realize their filmmaking dreams.

Click here for complete story.

First Weekend Shoot... In the Can

The tireless Inspiration cast and crew wrapped up the first weekend of shooting this past Sunday. As usual, the film gods were watching over us and managed to limit the rain to Saturday night... so both outdoor shoot days were classic autumn in New England. (Whew!)

Thanks to Grace, Abi, Jonathan and Jessica for their patience, professionalism and high spirits doing take after take. And to the crew for an epic amount of work. And to Julie Haberstick for the photos.

And it all happens again next week! The magic of Inspiration continues...

Eat, Drink... and Support Inspiration!

On Wednesday, October 22, the California Pizza Kitchen in Boston's Theater District will donate 20% of sales to Inspiration! All you need to do is print the flyer below and show it to your server or cashier when you place your order. It's a deliciously easy way to help raise funds for an exciting film project.

If you've never tried CPK's outstanding pizzas, salads and sandwiches, October 22 is the perfect time. And if you already know how good CPK's food is, we know you'll be there with a fork in one hand and the Inspiration flyer in the other!

So print the flyer above and take it to the CPK in the CityPlace building at 127 Stuart Street this Wednesday for lunch, dinner, or take-out. Your taste buds will thank you... and we will too!

And a big thanks to California Pizza Kitchen for supporting Inspiration and independent film!!

Inspiration Highlighted in Emerson Magazine

The October issue of Emerson College Today includes a feature article on Inspiration, IS Films and the student and alumni working to bring the film to life.



Students find 'Inspiration' in film and win major grants
by Christopher Hennessy

A film produced and directed by current Emerson students, with a screenplay penned by an alumnus, has won three major grants, including an equipment grant from Panavision's New Filmmaker Program with an estimated value of $500,000. The filmmakers have also fundraised more than $17,000 to support the production of the film.

The 35mm film, entitled Inspiration, is scheduled to begin shooting late this month and into November. The other grants the film has secured include a Kodak 35mm film stock grant and a Fotokem grant for post-production processing, dailies printing and answer printing.

Click for full article...

Inspiration Draws a Line in the Sand

...Well, actually, in the South End asphalt.

Inspiration Executive Producer Martin Zaharinov and Director of Photography Jess Dunlap proudly display the permits that will mark the location for our outdoor shoot later this month. Kudos and fist bumps to Martin for successfully navigating the Byzantine channels of city hall to acquire these sacred placards!

Panavision Comes Through!!

We received the exciting news last week that Inspiration has been granted a Panavision 35mm GOLD Film Equipment Grant! The package includes 10 prime-lenses, 6 super-speed lenses, 20 Filters and Flex Fills... and a $325,000 custom-made Panaflex Film Camera!!! That's a grand total of $500,000 of professional equipment to help make a beautiful film.

The Panavision grant program is extremely competitive. Kudos and stratospheric high-fives to our Executive Producer Martin for putting the grant application together and having the faith and fortitude to go for it. He truly is... Captain Inspiration!!!


We do need to pay shipping costs from LA to Boston for the equipment, so be sure to make a donation to IndieGoGo this week. We still have a long road ahead to the $5000 finish line on Friday. But luck and karma are on our side. Help make Inspiration a success and donate today!

Roaring Out of the Gate

As Memorial Day fast approaches, the Inspiration team is geared up for a whirlwind summer to put a thousand pieces in place and begin shooting the film in late September. But wait.... we're getting ahead of ourselves.

Inspiration is a 23-minute, 35 mm film that follows precocious young Claire's journey of self-discovery through a portrait she is secretly painting. The film is the cornerstone project of IS Films Inc., a Boston-area nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for college and high school students to create, work on and learn about film and media productions.

Inspiration is directed by the vivacious Emerson College BFA candidate Jackie Carr and written by Emerson alum Michael Gray Beckett, based on his short story. The miraculous Martin Zaharinov is Executive Producer and chief bulldog for the ambitious endeavor. A talented posse of creative and producing talent round out the team... and will be introduced over the coming weeks.

Since Martin and Michael first connected at Christmastime, a tremendous amount of work and planning has been underway to get to where we are now... looking forward to weeks of fundraising, location scouting, casting, production design, schmoozing, arm-twisting, negotiating, begging, cajoling, nail biting, caffeine stoking, beer-and-pizza scarfing -- and surely a lot of laughs. And when the dust clears... a beautiful film.

Inspiration was a successful published story that was adapted into a script and now will be transformed into a film. The determination of Claire to learn who she is and what she's capable of is a real-life metaphor for the team as we work to bring this project to fruition. The plan is for a gala premiere in Boston in December and to rock the festival circuit next year. Between now and then, we'll keep you posted on our adventures in independent filmmaking... and our own journeys of Inspiration.