Aug 31, 2009: Newark Freeze Featured at Film Festival

Newark Film Festival

The Newark Freeze - an event where approximately 200 people "froze" in place on Main Street in Newark for 5 minutes while a confused and amused public walked by - will be a feature video shown before every film at the Delaware Art Museum this weekend.

The Newark Freeze was coordinated by individuals involved with the Newark Film Festival, the Delaware Film Company, and the Fun Department - they were inspired by similar activities put together by Improv Everywhere in New York.

During the Newark Freeze, a cinematographer from the Delaware Film Company was joined by several people with their own video cameras to document the event - the Delaware Film Company and the Newark Film Festival are putting the finishing touches on a film that combines the footage shot into the most entertaining film possible.

"The Newark Freeze was an incredible, spontaneous community event, and I am pleased that the Newark Film Festival was able to play a part in coordinating it and now gets to be the venue through which so many can see how much fun it was," said Barry Schlecker, executive producer of the Newark Film Festival.

The film of the Newark Freeze will be posted online next week.

"This has been a great experience for all of us in the Delaware Film Company," said Brian Sowards, Vice-President of DFC. "I am excited about the fact that everyone coming to enjoy great films at the Delaware Art Museum this weekend will have the opportunity to enjoy seeing the Newark Freeze Film on the big screen."

The DAM Best of the Fest schedule is available at www.newarkfilm.com, where you can purchase tickets. Showings start at 10am Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and run into the evening.

Films include the locally produced documentary, "Liberation," which profiles Delaware residents who freed German concentration camp prisoners at the end of World War II. Michael Berg, the subject of "Keeping the Peace," will introduce his movie on Friday at 7:45pm. Last week, Berg spoke to a sold out audience. On Saturday at 8pm, WDEL morning host, Al Mascitti, will introduce "In The Loop," a political satire.

Schlecker and the Newark Film Festival have gotten rave reviews on the blogosphere.

From Saturday's deartsinfo.blogspot.com:

"Barry Schlecker deserves so much credit for the panoply of film choices, the invitation of local celebrities to introduce films, the contest for filmmakers to create 30-second commercials of the Film Fest sponsors, the organized activities in Newark, the contacts with film companies, and film initiatives."

Click Here for the complete schedule and to order tickets online.