Fayetteville had to borrow the red carpet from Hollywood this week as the city held its first annual 540 Film Fest.
The festival features more than 30 independent films, some of which were made in Northwest Arkansas, using local producers, directors and actors.
"It's really film festivals, especially local film festivals, where you get it out to the public, get it seen, hopefully people like it and you get a deal on it later," said Marc Crandall, who produced The Living Dark, which was shot in Northwest Arkansas. It's about two brothers who discover a mysterious cave.
The festival was developed as a way to show off our local Arkansas talent and attract new film makers to the area. "We had a group drive up from Dallas, who normally would never come to Fayetteville, but they submitted their film and like the town," said Greg Parker, founding member of the 540 Film Fest.
The films range from comedy, to drama, to romance to documentaries. The budgets vary from $4 million to $8,000. Crandall said many of the people involved in his movie were volunteer, just hoping to get noticed.
Surprisingly, many notable actors say they prefer the smaller festivals over the glitz of Hollywood. Shane Taylor, of the HBO hit miniseries Band of Brothers, is staring in a European Indi, Bomber. He says he prefers smaller films, rather than Hollywood blockbusters.
"It feels more like a family, you get to watch the film grow, and take a much more intricate role," said Taylor.
The 540 Film Fest runs through Sunday. The films are being shown at the Center for Continuing Education on Fayetteville Square as well as the UARK Ballroom. Movie passes are $15 a day and $5 a film.
For more information call 479-935-8080.
The festival features more than 30 independent films, some of which were made in Northwest Arkansas, using local producers, directors and actors.
"It's really film festivals, especially local film festivals, where you get it out to the public, get it seen, hopefully people like it and you get a deal on it later," said Marc Crandall, who produced The Living Dark, which was shot in Northwest Arkansas. It's about two brothers who discover a mysterious cave.
The festival was developed as a way to show off our local Arkansas talent and attract new film makers to the area. "We had a group drive up from Dallas, who normally would never come to Fayetteville, but they submitted their film and like the town," said Greg Parker, founding member of the 540 Film Fest.
The films range from comedy, to drama, to romance to documentaries. The budgets vary from $4 million to $8,000. Crandall said many of the people involved in his movie were volunteer, just hoping to get noticed.
Surprisingly, many notable actors say they prefer the smaller festivals over the glitz of Hollywood. Shane Taylor, of the HBO hit miniseries Band of Brothers, is staring in a European Indi, Bomber. He says he prefers smaller films, rather than Hollywood blockbusters.
"It feels more like a family, you get to watch the film grow, and take a much more intricate role," said Taylor.
The 540 Film Fest runs through Sunday. The films are being shown at the Center for Continuing Education on Fayetteville Square as well as the UARK Ballroom. Movie passes are $15 a day and $5 a film.
For more information call 479-935-8080.
