MAC Projects > Montclair Professional Film & Video Network

This is the homepage fo the Montclair Broadcasting, Film and Video Professionals Network.  This page is devoted to it's activities.

THE MONTCLAIR ARTS COUNCIL TO PRESENT TOUCHING DOCUMENTARYMONTCLAIR, NJ, September 14, 2009—On September 30 at 6 p.m. The Montclair Arts Council’s (MAC) Broadcast Film and Video Network will host a screening of Finding Paddy, a touching documentary produced by filmmaker and Montclair resident Stephen McCarthy. The filmmaker will answer questions following the screening. The film program is at the Montclair Public Library Main Branch 50 S. Fullerton, Montclair. Admission is free.

Read Bob Braun's article in the Star Ledger to read more about Steve McCarthy and Paddy Brown. Click here for the whole article.

On September 11, 2001, Captain Paddy Brown and eleven men from Ladder 3 in New York responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center. Along with so many other rescue workers, the men of Ladder 3 participated in perhaps the most successful rescue effort in U.S. history. These rescue workers, at their own peril, managed to safely evacuate over 25,000 people from the burning towers. It is said that Paddy and his men were on the 40th floor of the North Tower with 30 or 40 severely burned people when that tower fell.

Paddy lived a tough and unapologetic life - an alcoholic home, sexual abuse, a traumatic Vietnam tour of duty, a string of lovers - and emerged as a classic hero...one profoundly flawed but driven to acts of bravery and redemption by motives sculpted by his emotional past.All filmmakers and film professionals are encouraged to attend the screening that will follow a networking session that will include an opportunity to discuss filmmaking with members of McCarthy Productions. McCarthy Productions is an independent family run video production company founded by Stephen McCarthy in 2001. Networking, with light refreshments will begin at 6pm. Finding Paddy will be shown at 7pm.
The Broadcast Film and Video network is one of MAC’s most active groups. Last year it hosted a sneak preview of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The group evolved from a workshop Adult School of Montclair called The Filmmaker Next Door.  The group found in arranging that panel discussion and several similar ones for the Montclair film festivals that Motnclair has an very large number of working film professionals. The network also hosted Make My House a TV Star that explained why so many commercials are shot in Montclair and introduced them to the process of having a commercial filmed in someone’s residence.Click here for Finding Paddy Poster.pdf

The Network will soon have an interactive group on Linked In.

The Montclair Film Network was created at the Montclair Emerging Filmmakers' Festival, during which many Montclair film professionals participated on panels. The stories told, ideas shared and connections made led to a desire to connect the entire Montclair film community. In March, 2007, producers, writers, directors, editors, engineers, publicists and others participated in the first Montclair Film Network meeting. The group, led by steering committee members Eric Brown, Matthew Frankel, Rob Morretti, Jeanne Reilly and Corinna Sager, will work with MAC to plan sneak previews of motion pictures, regular networking events, and other activities that serve the film community in Montclair. If you are interested in joining, email film@montclairarts.org. You can also download a registration form here.

Building on the 2005 Film Festival Showcase coordinated by the Montclair Economic Development Corporation, MAC worked with the Montclair Art Museum, Luna Stage, Adult School of Montclair and the Montclair Parking Authority to produce the Montclair Emerging Filmmakers' Festival in November, 2006. The Adult School of Montclair hosted a six-person panel of Montclair filmmakers two days before the festival. The festival itself consisted of an opening night sneak preview of  The TV Set, a new major motion picture directed by Jake Kasdan, starring David Duchovny, Sigourney Weaver, Ioan Gruffudd, Justine Bateman and Judy Greer, distributed by THINKFilm and scheduled for release in Spring, 2007. The following day, the festival presented 16 independent films, and hosted three film industry panels featuring Montclair film industry professionals. The festival was extremely well received by the public and Montclair film community, and is expected to become a regularly scheduled event.

These programs have taken place in2008. 

Summer Filmmaking Internship at Channel 34

These student internships provide students with hands-on opportunities in the area of film and communication and exposure to Montclair Film Professionals. Students learn the skills of film and video production including editing, videography, and sound and music editing, as well as a variety of production techniques. A mentoring program has been created using video and film professionals residing Montclair, including Conrad Fink, TV commercial director; Lisa Kalb Schaffer, freelance producer; and Jeanne Reilly, video producer for Kraft Foods. Participants in the summer internship have also been on field trips to New York City, where they were given a tour of CBS studios and met with Anthony Batson, producer of 48 Hours and toured NY-1 with Peter Landis, Managing Editor.

The students worked on public service announcements for Montclair Department of Environmental Affairs and the Montclair Health Department. These announcements will be aired on TV 34.

This program is sponsored by the Montclair Arts Council, Montclair Township TV 34, the Montclair Board of Education, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Montclair High School, and Montclair State College.

The 11th Montclair International Film Festival—June 11-15, 2008.

The Montclair International Film Festival is a “Fusion Festival” where high-tech collides with the historic American Township of Montclair, New Jersey, a multi-cultural community of families young and old long known for its famous artists of all disciplines to introduce films from around the world served-up in a true festival spirit with music, dance, and art.
A 22 minute train ride from Manhattan takes you back to the days of serene tree lined streets with granite block curbs, slate roofs, picturesque, romantic blocks of family owned cafes, delis, antique shops, coffee houses, bakeries, theaters and many other interesting shops. Perhaps the most charming feature of the community of Montclair is the friendly nature of the people who also have a unique perspective and sophistication by virtue of proximity to Manhattan, setting the stage for a great “Festival”.

Ferry Tales - Film Screening and meet cast member

Inside the Staten Island Ferry Saturday, June 14 at Luna Stage For hundreds of commuters, it is just another routine trip from the quiet of Staten Island into the frenzy of Manhattan. But not all. A few use up every precious minute of the ride preparing themselves in a very exclusive place: The Staten Island Ferry Powder Room. Ferry Tales is an inside view into a culture that only happens 30 minutes a day in the women's bathroom. As they put on their make-up, they are transformed from housewives to businesswomen, from mothers to lawyers, from sisters to socialites. This Academy-award nominated documentary short was produced by Montclair resident Corinna Sager.