Nashville Film Festival Announces Screenwriting Competition Awards

         NASHVILLE – The Nashville Film Festival has announced the winners of the 2015 Screenwriting Competition. 

         The competition garnered more than 1,350 submissions from all over the world. Finalists and semi-finalists won all-festival passes to attend the festival, network with filmmakers and industry, and attend educational panels and presentations.

         “I was especially pleased to see that our panels were sold out,” said Debra Pinger, director of the competition.  “It shows how passionate writers are about developing their craft. With screenwriters from Ireland, Russia and China in attendance, as well as student and professional screenwriters, we are proud that Nashville is attracting quality scripts and talented writers.  The script, after all, is the foundation of every film.”

OVERALL WINNER

Brian MacEvilly

FEATURE

Drama

Winner: Oil and Water – Alfred Catalfo & Morgan Dudley

Runner-up: Independence Pass – Brian MacEvilly

Comedy

Winner: The Full Irish – Brian MacEvilly

Runner-up: My Bad Day in Hell – Eric Carlson

Music-Inspired

Winner: Blind Boone – Moss Hall & Max Morath

Runner-up: Chris Gaines Saves the World – Donald Driscoll

Sci-Fi

Winner: No Man’s Land – Michelle Davidson & Jeffrey Field

Runner-up: Eden – Jessica Chou

Inspirational

Winner: Heart Stringz – Barbara Ashdown

Runner-up: In-Between – Sandra Smith

Animated

Winner: My Monster Burrufu – Alberto Corral

Runner-up: The Mythfitz – Nicholas Julius

Historical

Winner: Kid Convict – Julie Umbreit

Runner-up: Samson – Shawn Hoffman

Family

Winner: Eleven Days – Jaginder Singh

Runner-up: Darby Petty and the Lost Treasure – DC Sayre

Action/Adventure

Winner: The Third Bomb – Phillip Parker

Runner-up: Guns and Grace – Odin Ozdil

Thriller/Horror

Winner: A Texas Story – David Martin-Porras & Julia Fontana

Runner-up: Bad Blood – Billie Bates

Tennessee

Winner: The Last Drop – A.D. Smith

Runner-up: Sink Swim – Elvis Wilson

TELEPLAY

Drama

Winner: Long Lost – Deanna Shumaker

Runner-up: Limbo – Jessica Chou

Comedy

Winner: Star Pupils – Tom Ruprecht

Runner-up: The Knot – Adam Rosenbaum

SHORTS

Drama

Winner: Illuminate – Robert Pawloski

Runner-up: Which Spoke of Freedom – Aria Marrogi & Chris Germiller

Comedy

Winner: U Got Tagged – Andrew Roxby

Runner-up: That Other Crazy Thing You Do – Michelle Leibel

Genre

Winner: Lumen 18 – Darren Tibbits

Runner-up:  Guest – Charles Dillon Ward

Family Friendly

Winner: Wiindigoo the Cannibal – Michael O’Rourke & Winona LaDuke

Runner-up: The Home of Rock – Brian MacEvilly

Tennessee

Winner: The Incident at Broadway and Grand – Francis Wolff

Runner-up: The Ice Road – Taylor Albertson

Young Screenwriter

Winner: The Pride Club – Kirill Dyshlovoy

Runner-up: The Favor – Jack Fossett

Hit Rock/Pop/Americana Artist Chakra Bleu Releases New Single 'All Of Me'

By Chuck Whiting

MCAU Editor

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 2015) – Chakra Bleu is building on her success as a chart-topping rock/pop/Americana artist by releasing "All of Me", the title track and second single from her most recent album.

            The "All of Me" single was distributed to radio on April 18. The Nashville, Tenn., artist co-produced the recording with legendary musician John Billings, a former bass player for the late Donna Summer. An accompanying video was produced by Ray Boone of Music City Video.

            "'All of Me', is a savory treat of pop-rock and R&B -- sweet and sultry with a shake of sass," said Bleu. "The album's first single, 'The Shadow', has done extremely well. I can't wait to see what happens."

            "The Shadow" recently hit number four on New Music Weekly's mainstream Top-40 chart. It reached number one on the NMW Indie Top-40 chart, where it remained for six consecutive weeks.

            The artist describes "All of Me" as an "electrifying song" that is about moving forward freely and confidently in love. The video shows the artist tearing up a love letter and covering it with daffodils on the floor. She eventually speeds away on a motorbike, leaving her love-lost past behind. A high-energy stage performance with full band shows off her gritty vocals and elaborate finger work on electric guitar.

            "All of Me", which is being released by 1746 Records, is available for 99 cents. The new single, as well as other songs on multiple albums, are available on her website at www.ChakraBleu.com, iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-of-me/id882273855?uo=4, and all major online stores, including CD Baby, Amazon, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Sony Music Unlimited. A free video download is available at https://youtu.be/OLvBUksVBKc.

            "All of Me" was recorded in Nashville at Funky Tymz Studio. It features Bleu on vocals and electric guitar with contributions from veteran session musicians John Billings on bass, Brice Foster on drums/percussion, Tom Britt on lead and slide guitar, Ronnie Godfrey on keyboards and organ, and Dana Robbins on saxophone. The single is being promoted to radio by music industry veteran Gary Lefkowith. Whiting Publicity and Promotions is handling publicity.

            "All of Me" rocks away the pain with soaring vocals, crying guitar, driving bass and soulful sax. "Nothing's binding me now... There's no baggage dragging me down," Bleu sings with emotion. "I'm open, light, and free as a breeze... It's just you and me."

            According to Dave Carew, a writer for the blog Underground Nashville, Bleu is "hands down one of the most original and distinctive pop/rock/Americana artists ever to grace the underground Nashville music scene. Inspired by everything from the styling of bands like Heart and the Cowboy Junkies, to transcendent New Age thought, she has forged, over the past decade, some of the most uplifting, eclectic, thought-provoking, and empowering music ever created in Music City USA."

            Born and raised in Spokane, Wash., Bleu grew up with a passion for music and the outdoors. She started writing songs in middle school and performing with jazz choirs and grunge bands in high school and college. On weekends, she headed to the mountains for hiking and camping. After college, she lugged her guitar and synthesizer to Paris, only to lose her green card a year later. She spent the next two years back home in Washington working in secondary education. But a trip to Nashville changed her life. Successful performances at the Bluebird Cafe and other venues convinced her to move to Music City to pursue a professional career as a singer-songwriter.

            Bleu's music accomplishments have been substantial since then. Her recent single, "The Shadow", quickly climbed various NMW charts, reaching number four on Top 40, number four on Hot 100 A/C, number five on Top 40 Internet, and number one on Indie Top 40 (where it remained for six consecutive weeks). Her sixth album, "Souvenir", generated five top-40 hit singles on various charts, with the song "Addicted to You" receiving "Spotlight" recognition in Cashbox Magazine. Other hit singles from previous albums include "When I Hold Your Hand" and "Hopelessly in Love".

             "I want to be as inclusive as possible, providing music that is inspiring, empowering and joyful," added Bleu, who returns home to Spokane every summer for songwriting, while enjoying the outdoors of the Great Northwest. "My songs speak to individuals from every walk of life."

            Bleu said there is nothing better than playing live in front of enthusiastic audiences. She has performed at a wide range of Nashville venues, even taking the honors of being the showcase artist for BMI and Bluebird Cafe shows. She is the recipient of the prestigious "Arena Award", an honor bestowed to legendary artists such as Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, and Jo Dee Messina. She hopes the recognition will eventually lead her to international stardom and a worldwide tour.

            For more information about Chakra Bleu or to hear her music, visit www.ChakraBleu.com. To book the artist for an upcoming event, send an e-mail message to 1746Records@chakrableu.com.