Rio Film MixUp Launches Wednesday, March 23rd in Leblon

By Jay Forte, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Rio Times, in partnership with the Latin American Training Center, Viva Films and XperienceRio will be hosting the Rio Film MixUp, a chance for filmmakers in Rio de Janeiro to come together, connect and talk about the art and industry. The event will run from 7PM to Midnight on Wednesday, March 23rd, in Leblon at the La Calaca gourmet Mexican restaurant.

Special guests include Steve Solot from the Rio Film Commission, Christina Daniels from Viva Films, and other screenwriters, cinematographers, directors, actors and editors. The event is open to anyone interested in filmmaking, or those who just look forward to an evening out in Leblon meeting new people.

Stone Korshak, editor and publisher of The Rio Times explains, “In the past we held several of these ‘MixUp’ events, for music, and writing – for novels, journalism and blogs, and it was a lot of fun. We are bringing it back this year with the filmmaking theme, which was the one I was always personally most excited about.”

Steve Solot, who has been the president of the Rio Film Commission, and also president of the LATC – Latin American Training Center, is excited about the event as well. “The new partnership with The Rio Times is exciting! In addition to great networking opportunities, I hope to spread the good work about the thriving film and TV industry in Brazil and Latin America.”

Mr. Solot has also recently released a new bilingual eBook aimed at informing the foreign investor about new trends in the Brazilian visual content industry. The book title is “The Expanding Brazilian Film, Television and Digital Industry/Cinema, televisão e mídia digital no Brasil: uma indústria em expansão” which was launched just in time for the 2016 RioContentMarket last week.

Other partners include Christina Daniels from Viva Filmes, a Rio-based production company that fuses together British and Brazilian cultures into international television productions and films. The team at Viva Filmes works with both Brazilian and British broadcasters creating original content and are currently developing both documentaries and dramatic projects across both continents.

Another co-promoter and partner for the event is Roshni Thakker of XperienceRio, a professional tour company and fixer specialized in travel planning in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Ms. Thakker shared just one of their recent connections with film and video happening in Rio.

“We assisted in the production of a pilot for a travel show in the U.S. with Tara Hitchcock, a popular news personality. […] We filmed various services such as luxury: helicopter and yacht tours, and VIP bottle service, to low budget: street food, hikes, and lunch at a local home in the favela, and had to obtain special permits for certain locations,” explained Thakker.

The event will be hosted at La Calaca, a gourmet Mexican eatery in Leblon, with a drink promotion of 2-for-1 glasses of sangria and bottles of Sol and Budweiser, from 7-8PM and 10PM to Midnight. Music will be by DJ Slim the Boogieman, who has recently been playing at Caesar Park’s rooftop and the new Bar 48 among others.

Make sure to RSVP on the Facebook page so the venue can plan accordingly. Also, all are welcome to post their short film video projects there, or teasers for longer format films, look-books for actors and shooter and editor reels.

What: Rio Film MixUp @ La Calaca
When: 7PM-Midnight, Wednesday, March 23rd
Where: La Calaca, Avenida Ataulfo de Paiva, 1240, Loja B, Leblon, RJ
Entrance: FREE