Pascal Leister, Director/Editor of Lodestar Films, was recently invited to “IdeaJam,” a series of collaborative projects in association with Ashton Kutcher’s Katalyst and Intel. nnIdeaJam is a series of brainstorm sessions, held over a weekend in early April in Hollywood, that brought together 48 digital content filmmakers in an array of creative fields, including video, music, comedy, and animation. nnThe select group of filmmakers was divided into six teams to develop, shoot and edit a 2-3 minute project within 48 hours. A $20,000 grant was given to the final winning idea.nnLeister brings over a decade of experience in creating original web and viral content. In 2000, he developed a 20-episode interactive Internet sitcom called “The Fritzfiles,” which won several awards including one on ZDNet. Since then, he has been involved in directing videos for The Second City Seven Day Shorts series and other projects, which have accumulated more than 160,000 views. In addition, Leister’s viral film, “iPhone vs. EVO,” is currently at 11,000 views and counting. He is currently working on several new web projects.nnThe entire IdeaJam event was recorded and edited for primary distribution on the nYouTube.com/ideajam channel on May 14th with millions of views expected from a coordinated publicity campaign. The behind-the-scenes documentation will focus on showing the creative aspects of the development and production process.nn
nnLeister collaborated with a team of notable online personalities including:nn• Annie Lukowski and Leyna Weber of Working Bug Media, writers/directors/producers of web seriesn• Natalie Duran, a popular YouTube vlogger with millions of viewsn• Frank Bell, a musician & artist whose YouTube videos have brought international attentionn• Cindy Fang and Peter Podgursky of Grumpy Panda Films, dedicated to creating comedic Internet videosnnTheir project, Match My Friend, is an online portal where friends can match their single friends through a dedicated Facebook page, and then follow them on their first date via video stream and Twitter. So instead of going on match.com and being matched by an algorithm with complete strangers, this Facebook-like community allows friend to help their single friends find someone.nn”IdeaJam was a great experience,” concludes Leister. “Working with so many talented people at the cutting edge of social media culture was amazing. Ashton [Kutcher] was very hands-on and working with him was absolutely inspiring.”nnAbout Pascal LeisternPascal Leister is Founder / Director of Lodestar Films, a Hollywood-based production company, driven by great storytelling and creative problem solving for its clients.nnAs a director/editor double threat, Pascal adeptly and efficiently navigates the production and postproduction processes. As an editor, he has worked on commercials for clients such as Honda, Mercedes, Acura, Aveeno, Armani, Aveda, and Cotton, as well as the documentaries, “Flock of Dodos,” “Not Broken,” and “A Family Underground.” His directorial debut, the award-winning webisodical, “The Fritzfiles,” was picked up by FX Channel as “Todd TV”; his shorts, “Great Expectations” and “La Torcedura,” the latter of which was executive-produced by legendary filmmaker Wim Wenders and featured Wilmer Valderrama (“That 70s Show”), have shown at numerous film festivals around the world. nnPascal has been featured at the Berlinale Talent Campus as one of its up-and-coming directors. At the IFP Emerging Narrative Program, his script for his feature directorial debut, “Gringo Bay,” landed him the Panasonic Digital Filmmaker Award. www.lodestarfilms.comMichele Lu Kumar Priya PR 310.922.0464 Contact Michele via email
Pioneering The Visual Narrative: Bobola Oniwura’s Impact on Nollywood’s Cinematic Evolution
Nollywood is in the middle of a visual revolution, and at its core is Bobola Oniwura, the mastermind behind some of the industry’s most striking cinematic transformations. Oniwura is a pioneering colorist whose unique approach to film aesthetics has set new standards for how Nigerian stories are told on screen. From the gritty realism of King of Boys: The Return of the King to the vibrant energy of A Tribe Called Judah, Oniwura’s work has become synonymous with a new era of cinematic excellence, one where color grading is no longer an afterthought but a defining narrative tool. The film industry in Nigeria known as Nollywood has grown into one of the most prolific cinematic powerhouses in the world. Producing thousands of films annually, it ranks alongside Hollywood and Bollywood in terms of output. Once characterized by rapid, low-budget productions, Nollywood has undergone a remarkable transformation, embracing higher production values, diverse storytelling, and international recognition. The industry’s films now command global audiences, made possible by platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, and receiving acclaim at major festivals. This evolution has been fueled by creatives like Oniwura, who are redefining the post-production technical standards of Nigerian films. His impact extends beyond the color suite. Drawing on his background in Architecture and user experience research, Oniwura approaches color grading with an acute understanding of audience perception, crafting visual experiences that enhance storytelling, evoke emotion, and immerse viewers in the rich textures of Nigerian culture. His ability to merge technical precision with artistic intuition has positioned him as one of the most sought-after colorists in Nollywood... Read More