I’m delighted to reports that Raya Films’ guerrilla-style feature film has won the ‘Best Experimental Film’ award at the Swedish International Film Festival
The film is also trending in the USA and is now available on major streaming platforms. Check out ‘Where to watch’ on the Official Website
#AgentKellyMovie #WomenInFilm #rayafilmslondon
About me: I am part of the Raya Films marketing team, which includes representatives in London and New York.
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After an intense shoot, Casting Kill has wrapped in just six days, an incredible achievement for all involved in this indie film project with a modest budget derived from crowdfunding.
The film is now in post-production and is set for completion and release in 2022. Track the progress here and at Raya Films
#CastingKillMovie #rayafilmslondon
About me: I am part of the Raya Films marketing team, which includes representatives in London and New York.
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After a lengthy pre-production period through the pandemic, Raya Films will shoot their feature film Casting Kill in October and November 2021.
With a cast and crew predominantly based in London, the small, professional team hope to deliver something very special for the international marketplace: a thriller with a horror element and splash of Hitchcock!
The story also takes a satirical look at the movie business and is set to be a point of discussion as well as an entertaining film.
The Indiegogo Crowdfunding Campaign runs until the 18th October 2021, and so there is still time to support the project and become part of the team!
#CastingKillMovie #rayafilmslondon
About me: I am part of the Raya Films marketing team, which includes representatives in London and New York.
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Raya Films’ experimental thriller premiered in Southend (UK) last week as part of one of the biggest film festivals in the south east of England. Actors Chris Sanders and Eddie Gallego attended, with Eddie flying in from Madrid for the event. Screenwriter-producer Caroline Spence also attended, who appears as the lead in the story of an assassin on the run. The film was shot ‘guerrilla style’ with just one crew member (James Smith) out in the streets of England and Spain.
#AgentKellyMovie #rayafilmslondon
About me: I am part of the Raya Films marketing team, which includes representatives in London and New York.
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TWO SHADES OF BLACK by Eugenie C Smith delves into the serious problems of racism rampant in America and Africa.
That’s the question posed in the historical novel Two Shades of Black. The novel depicts a teacher, Paul Johnson, who finds himself caught up in the bloody rioting in Detroit during the 1960s. Desperate for a solution and hoping to escape the bitter racial hatred, he travels to Nigeria, West Africa to return to the land of his forefathers. Instead of finding peace, contentment and the answers he had hoped to find, Johnson is plunged into the Nigerian Civil War.
Eugenie C Smith lived in America during the time of the Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Movement which gives Two Shades of Black a first-person authenticity and historical accuracy. She wrote the novel in light of America having elected its first black president, Barack Obama. She intended the book to be both insightful entertainment and an appeal to both black and white readers to assess their shortcomings in an endeavour to create a lasting peace and understanding between all the races on the planet.
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The ‘indie’ film Do Something, Jake was recently screened at the Southend Film Festival, receiving great response from an enthusiastic audience.
The festival is the biggest in Essex and I had the privilege to attend the great venue at the Park Inn and a number of screenings.
Next for Do Something, Jake is the New Forest Film Festival on 10th June 2019. The festival is a significant event, which features filmmakers from many areas of the industry showcasing their creative work. The festival is also screening Raya Films’ 2006 documentary Gentlemen of the Night, an award-winning work, which launched Raya Films on the path to full-length features in documentary and now film. Both screenings have live Q&As with director James Smith and screenwriter-producer Caroline Spence
DO SOMETHING, JAKE – FESTIVAL TICKETS
GENTLEMEN OF THE NIGHT – FESTIVAL TICKETS
Gentlemen of the Night – Historical Documentary Film. Left to right: Michael A. Hodges; Mike Andrews; Caroline Spence
About me: I am part of the Raya Films marketing team, which includes representatives in London and New York. For further details of projects, see the Raya Films slate
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At Raya Films, the momentum is building in 2019, with a number of films in development, pre-production, and post-production. This makes for some careful planning as I look ahead to assisting with the marketing push this year. As well as the ongoing success of Do Something, Jake, Agent Kelly is nearing completion and Cyberlante has just wrapped.
I am part of the Raya Films marketing team, which includes representatives in London and New York. For further details of projects, see the Raya Films slate
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Appearing on television in Columbus, Ohio in 1967 with fellow guest, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
I remember Arnold had just won the title of Mr Universe, 1967. We were both in our twenties and guests on the popular ‘Spook Beckman’ show, WLWC-TV Channel 4 Columbus Ohio. Since then, the channel has changed to WCMH-TV.
I was promoting my first book entitled Between Two Worlds and appearing on the show as part of the promotion. I remember Arnold and I were seated together waiting for Spook Beckman to call us into the studio, having been told to go on when a green light came on. As it was such a long time ago, and there was no VHS or DVDs in those days, I sadly have no visual memory of the occasion. I do, however, remember the shy young man with a strange accent and how friendly and courteous he was. I am so pleased that from then on, he went from success to success.
More details will be in my forthcoming memoirs following on from my Travel Trilogy
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I watched the film entitled Catch a Fire starring Tim Robbins and Derek Luke recently. Having lived in South Africa during the years of apartheid, I could appreciate how authentic the film was, with dramatic scenery as the background.
It was based on the true story of a black South African who fought for freedom for his fellow countrymen. Like Nelson Mandela, he spent many years on Robben Island, Cape Town before being released.
Prior to that he had been captured by the Afrikaaner police and was unmercifully tortured, as were many of his fellow countrymen. Despite his hatred for the one man who persevered in tracking him down, considering him to be a terrorist, and who was responsible for his torture, he buried his hatred, remarried and opened an orphanage for deprived South African children.
A hard hitting film produced in 2006 with excellent actors – to name some of them – Bonnie Henna, Mncedisi Shabangu, Tumisho K Masha, Sithembiso Khumalo, Tery Pheto, Michele Burgers.
My novel entitled Tears of Shame portrays some of the tragedies played out during the apartheid years in South Africa and will shortly be available on Kindle.
Eugenie C Smith
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I have recently been asked What Makes a Good Writer?
My assessment of a good writer is that he or she must have experience in the subject they are writing about. Qualifications can be important, as written English is essential. However, experience of life in general helps considerably.
Many people say I’ve got a book inside me and many think that their particular book is bound to be a best seller, but alas in order to reach publication, a lot of hard work and luck is needed.
A good writer, therefore, must be tenacious, imaginative and very patient if he is to find the publisher who likes his work.
Living and working in foreign countries as I have done over the years is a distinct advantage, but most of all good writers must love and be dedicated to their work so that it is a labour of love and not purely for monetary gain.
Good luck to all writers in 2011
Eugenie
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Eugenie C Smith - Writing & Film 