The week-long 2006 CineVegas Film Festival begins Saturday at Brenden Theatres in the Palms. It features new independent films seeking distribution, movies by risk takers from the underground and homegrown Nevada film fare.
One of those homegrown risk takers is Summerlin resident Shane Valdez, 25, the director of a short titled "19 Miles To Vegas."
His short depicts its own risk takers. The plot of "19 Miles To Vegas" involves three friends who kiss their moms good-bye and move 19 miles to Las Vegas to begin their music careers. It's classified as a comedy and Valdez said it was "inspired by a vision that you don't have to have a big budget to create Hollywood-style films."
The statement takes on new meaning when you consider "19 Miles To Vegas" is probably the lowest of low-budget films, costing a mere $50 to make. The actors worked for free and most of the money went for food for the cast.
That $50 has taken Valdez a long way -- "19 Miles To Vegas" won Best Short at the Planet Hollywood Film Festival in L.A. Valdez also won the Best Director award at the UNLV 48-Hour Film Festival and took Audience Choice at that same event. The film also was included in the UCLA Film Festival, held May 25.
Valdez's previous efforts involved various snowboarding and skateboarding films. His actors have ranged from people with no experience to actors that have appeared in commercials and short films.
Asked how he would describe his directorial style, he said, "Subtle comedy, that the more you watch the film over and over the more little details you get to see."
Valdez spent the past nine years working on lighting design, with his most recent stint taking place at Electrical Engineering Film, a design firm specializing in electrical lighting for casino projects like those of the Aladdin, Palms, Suncoast and Treasure Island. He recently quit to study film full-time.
The short was shot in August with a crew that included director of photography Dave Christenson, editor Lee Diskin and associate producers Regan Zajac and Jen Creed.
Valdez's other films include "Period Paragraph," which had its premiere at the Brenden Theaters on May 5, and one titled "Hands." He also just shot a teaser for a film called "Lance and the Three Ninjas."
When it comes to a profession, Valdez said he knows exactly which path he desires.
"I want to do film for the rest of my life," he said.
CineVegas 2006 opens with the Paul Dinello comedy "Strangers With Candy," the prequel to the critically acclaimed Comedy Central series of the same name. The ensemble cast includes Stephen Colbert, Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker and recent Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman.
The festival closes with the U.S. premiere of "Lies and Alibis," a comedy-tinged romance from Matt Checkowski and Kurt Mattila. It stars Steve Coogan, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Selma Blair, James Brolin and Sam Elliott.
"Resounding with attitude and ambition, the slate of films this year displays a great deal of talent and passion for original storytelling," said Trevor Groth, director of programming for CineVegas. "Kicking off the festival with Amy Sedaris and Steven Colbert's inimitable humor in 'Strangers with Candy' and world premiering such films as 'Danika' with Academy Award-winning actress Marissa Tomei, the festival features some very recognizable talent this year.
"I am ecstatic about the lineup as we continue to present and celebrate the work of risk takers and innovators."
The Nevada Filmmaking Shorts program will be featured at 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Film passes for the program are $10.
Passes that include multiple films and parties range in price from $50, with valid student identification, to $500 depending on which days, films and parties participants plan to attend.
For more information on CineVegas, visit www.cinevegas.com or call 992-7979.
Archived Editions| Advertising | Contact The Staff
