News That Local Filmmakers Won Distribution Rights

Is Exciting, Particularly For Two Short Films Worldwide

by Glen Richardson

BS - Through The Lens 9-16 Getting a distribution deal for a film is the aspiration for almost all filmmakers. But it can be tough — thousands of films are produced every year, and very few make it to the next level. It is even harder to get distribution for a short film. So it is a true achievement for Denver’s BS Filmworks to have landed a Shorts.TV distribution deal for not just one, but two of their short films. Furthermore both films were created through the 48 Hour Film Project — a worldwide competition where films are written, shot, and edited in a 48 hour time period.

Filmmakers Brock Sherman (the B in BS Filmworks), Scott Takeda and Lori Kay Allred (Takeda’s wife) of BS Filmworks recently signed an agreement with Shorts.TV to get worldwide television distribution for their short film “If Not Now” — a film about a family dealing with an aging parent and dementia. The film began airing on Shorts.TV this July. Shorts.TV is the global home to the world’s highest quality short films. Headquartered in London with its U.S. office in Los Angeles, Shorts.TV has produced the Oscar Nominated Short Film theatrical release since 2006 and distributes other exceptional short films to 54 countries through various platforms including cable, satellite and iTunes. In Colorado, viewers can see Shorts.TV on DirecTV, AT&T, and CenturyLink.

“We’re obviously ecstatic about this,” admits filmmaker Takeda. “We know it’s rare to get distribution for films, especially short films. And Shorts.TV only accepts the top short films produced worldwide, so we’re honored that they chose us.”BS - Talented trio 9-16

Coming To Colorado

“We really responded to ‘If Not Now,’” adds Efren Rodriguez of Shorts.TV. “It’s a beautiful, character-driven story that is very well done. We’re also excited that the director Lori Kay Allred is female. Hollywood needs diverse voices, and we like that she took a personal story and brought it to life on camera.”

“Our goal is to produce feature filmsBS - Takeda 9-16 in Colorado and bring TV/Film work back into the state,” says producer Sherman. “This film is a great example of the kind of filmmaking we do because it’s a story that’s personal to us and full of complex characters.”

Shorts.TV has also purchased U.S. and foreign distribution rights to another BS Filmworks short film called “The Decision.” This film was shot last summer in Croatia and is about a young woman choosing between the wishes of her family and her desire to choose her own path. Allred also directed this film.

Decision Coming

“The Decision” was entered into the 2015 local 48 Hour Film Project competition, but has gone through multiple re-shoots. “We wanted to do something different with ‘The Decision,’” explains director Allred. “We shot a version for the competition, and then decided we wanted to tell a longer story with more depth. So we rewrote the script and shot new scenes in both Croatia, and later in Denver.

“The Decision” will appear on Shorts.TV later this year. BS Filmworks is currently working on two features — a story about Colorado’s internment camps and the other is a family drama set during the holidays.

The BS Filmworks trio of Allred, Sherman and Takeda are all Emmy award-winning storytellers. Lori Allred is a national Emmy winning writer for her work on the “Food Network.” Brock Sherman is a multiple regional Emmy winner and has won the national New York Festivals WorldMedal for his graphics animations. And Scott Takeda works both behind and in front of the camera as a director and TV/ Film actor.

Takeda’s Role

The Chronicle first featured Scott Takeda for his acting (March 2013). As an actor, his film roles have included parts in Everything Must Go, Dallas Buyers Club and Gone Girl. He worked as a photojournalist/ producer for the CBS-owned TV station KCNC from 1992 until 1994. From 1995 to 1997, he was a producer and director for the syBS - Lori Allred 9-16ndicated children’s show News-for-Kids. Takeda’s television acting debut came with a guest star role on Easy Money in 2009. He later played the character of Stella’s father, Mr. Yamada, in the 2011 Disney Channel TV movie Lemonade Mouth. In 2015, he guest starred on the television series American Crime, The Messengers, and Grimm among others.

Takeda’s wife Lori is a producer with High Noon Productions and works on several high-profile HGTV shows, such as Diners, Dives and Drive-ins. The couple has lived in the Cory Merrill neighborhood for more than 23 years.

Takeda also runs Takeda Entertainment, a production company that produces corporate films and documentaries, including the Emmy-nominated 1996 documentary The Holocaust: Colorado Remembers, which he wrote, directed and produced. The firBS - Film Poster 9-16m’s list of corporate clients touches nearly every category of corporate America. There’s telecommunication firms like BellSouth and Echostar and financial giants such as GE Capital and Morgan Stanley on the list. The equally diverse list of local clients includes the Arvada Center, the University of Colorado and Western Dairy Association. Hallmark Entertainment and FOX have been among their programming clients.

Corporate Clients

This August Takeda’s Entertainment crews hit the road for on-location shoots for Sub-Zero/Wolf/Asko — the high-end manufacturers of kitchen appliances. They were filming an installation program and showing how it is a key part of delivering a premium experience for their customers. “Two years ago, we produced a B-to-C film that showcased Sub-Zero’s industry-leading service program,” explains Takeda. “We focused our storytelling efforts around humanizing the service experiences. This time, we were showing how Sub-Zero’s installation program is building on those efforts and creating better customer service.”

The firm’s automotive projects have included work for Buick, Saab and General Motors (Detroit and Mexico). Earlier this year, Takeda’s creative team was busy putting the finishing touches on a corporate documentary film for Cadillac. The goal was to tell a story about a new sales program.BS - Croatia shoot 9-16

“We’re passionate about telling stories with emotional impact because it’s harder than ever to reach and affect an audience. Genuine people stories cut through the clutter,” he believes. “Whether we’re interpreting creative ideas and pairing them with global brands like Cadillac or directing a film, we know how to reveal powerful, honest moments. Every story. Every time,” Takeda concludes.

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