I interview Phil Koch and Shawn Monaghan the hosts and directors of the FIRESTARTER FILMS FESTIVAL. Two guys who are passionate about films and showing films.
FIRESTARTER FILMS FESTIVAL is a formula that is working. The Festival currently held every other month is an interactive event for promoting the filmmaker and the filmmaker’s work.
Shawn and Phil present and opportunity for movie-goers to engage filmmakers as to why they filmed what they did directly after watching the films. They take regular breaks in between films for people to discuss the films with the filmmakers at Alchemist Theater in Bayview.
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Rex Sikes’ Movie Beat chats with Firestarter Films Festival
Rex Sikes’ Movie Beat chats with Firestarter Films Festival Pt 2
It’s expensive for one filmmaker to rent a theater and show their work to an audience. They rent the Alchemist Theater and help filmmakers get exposure they might not be able to get on their own.
It’s an incredible networking event for anyone involved or interested in filmmaking in Milwaukee. Even if you aren’t a filmmaker, just to hang out with potentially the next big names in the film industry.
MEET FIRESTARTER FILMS:
Phil Koch
Graduated from UWM in 1986 with a BA in film. He is a photographer/videographer for 25 years. Phil’s first films were as a teenager on 8mm film strips that lasted 2 minutes at a time. He was 15 years old then and Star Wars had just been in the theaters.
He’s out filming all the time, especially since he has four kids to use as actors.
Shawn Monaghan
Is the author of the novel “Historic Third Ward.” He began making films at age 13 with a camcorder bought with newspaper route money. In 2006 Shawn filmed his entire military tour in Afghanistan. He just wanted to make a two minute parody of Will Smith’s “I Am Legend” film. Instead, he met Phil and now they host Firestarter Films. Shawn writes many of the short films made by the both of them.
Firestarter Films Official Website
Upcoming Firestarter Film Festivals, Past and Video Pages:
Firestarter Films Upcoming Nov 13 #6
Firestarter Films Upcoming Event
