A new vision for Kentucky filmmakers

By Ben Allen, co-producer of Reel Visions

Lexington’s creative community continues to grow and shine as new venues for music and visual art multiply and develop throughout the city. In recent months, the area’s filmmakers have also been given new opportunities to display their talents on a larger scale. Last month, the Lexington Film Society celebrated the culmination of its “Do-ers” Project with a packed public screening at Natasha’s restaurant. The Do-ers Project invited local filmmakers to explore the myriad activities of Lexingtonians, revealing our richly diverse culture and the different issues our citizens face everyday.

In attendance at the celebration was Sara O’Keefe, producer of the Reel Visions: A Spotlight on Kentucky’s Filmmakers series on KET, who gave a brief introduction of the program. The show, a half-hour collection of some of the best short-films from filmmakers native to or living in Kentucky, features everything from experimental art films to quirky short storylines to off-the-beaten path documentaries. Filmmakers have the opportunity to have their work viewed across the state—a level of exposure that may have previously been unattainable.

Reel Visions began its second season on Wednesday, March 10 and will remain on the air throughout April. Some highlights include a documentary about independent wrestling competitions in eastern Kentucky, Fire in the Mountains, directed by Steve Middleton; the story of a wayward and somewhat misinformed wannabe architect, City Center Design Competition, directed by Jeremy Midkiff; a “puppetry” film depicting the adventures of three factory workers, Backwards Compatible, directed by Kathryn Spivey; and several experimental films by students working in the new media department at NKU’s art school. The third season—in production—will feature more of the same, including several films from the Do-ers Project.

O’Keefe included in her remarks at the Do-ers celebration an invitation for filmmakers to submit any new work to the Reel Visions staff for review for the upcoming third season. To learn more about the show and how to submit your short-films for review, visit www.ket.org/arts/reelvisions. Reel Visions hopes to continue offering this new venue to Kentucky’s filmmaking community and welcomes any film lover to enjoy the collection of work assembled so far on the show.