Film Festival Alumna Stephanie T. Keefer Finds Success with her Directorial Debut Through SilverArrow Productions

Acting, producing and now directing go hand in hand for film festival alumna Stephanie T. Keefer. Her second production and directorial debut MOVING ON screens on October 17th at the LA Femme Film Festival at LA LIVE. End Quote

Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (1888PressRelease) October 13, 2013 - SilverArrow Productions' new film MOVING ON is screening at 2 film festivals this fall: in September at the SoCal Independent Film Festival in Huntington Beach, and in October at the LA Femme International Film Festival in Los Angeles. These are the same festivals that SilverArrow Productions' film ONE DANCE screened at 3 years ago. Stephanie T. Keefer produced and worked as lead actress in ONE DANCE. This time, Keefer returns, adding the credits writer and director.

Keefer trained as an actor, but the writer's strike in 2008 made it clear: if an actor wants to make specific kinds of work, she needs to create it. So she produced her first film, ONE DANCE. "I not only cast myself in the lead, but I cast myself in a way that I hadn't worked yet in film. Creatively, it was a really fulfilling project," Keefer stated. ONE DANCE screened at three festivals, won Keefer an award for her performance, and was broadcast nationally over CBS and FOX through Badami Productions' television program "African American Shorts."

After reading about the shifting business model for filmmaking in producer Lynda Obst's book "Sleepless in Hollywood," Keefer understands that the melding of the role of actor and producer has become necessary. However, Keefer admits that she was nervous about her first time directing in film. Keefer said, "because of this, I surrounded myself with an excellent cast and crew. I am really honored to have worked with these people." Most of the roles in MOVING ON were specifically written for the actors playing them.

"Audience response has been gratifying," said Keefer. "There doesn't seem to be an age or gender split on the film, and that surprises me, because it really centers on something of a mid-life crisis. But the film has received overwhelmingly positive feedback." The film is a conscious response to the plight of many in the United States who have been hit hard by the Great Recession. The plot centers on a woman who loses her house to the bank, loses her boyfriend, and ends up having to move in with her younger brother in order to get back on her feet. Stephanie T. Keefer plays the central character, Gwen; Darren Mangler plays her brother. Retta Putignano plays the brother's girlfriend, impatient with the living situation. The rest of the ensemble are the wonderful actors Alex Boling (known for his work on the television show Suburgatory), Wil Bowers and Tippi Thomas.

MOVING ON screens at the LA Femme International Film Festival
Thursday, October 17th at 10 a.m. in Venue 1 at Regal Theatre Stadium 14 LA LIVE
1000 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Tickets available at http://www.lafemme.org
Film trailer and more information about Keefer's work can be found at www.stephanietkeefer.me
Keefer is represented by Sheila Legette and LyNea Bell of Media Artists Group 310.658.5050

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