Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment’s Indie Director’s Spotlight left its debut footprint in the snow at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Sunday, January 26, 2020, at The Cabin on Main Street. Serving as an introduction to the festival circuit, the lounge served as a celebration of women, diversity, and evolution in film.
Invite-only industry members enjoyed an appreciation brunch and filmmaker panel moderated by Denver Robbins of the Brute Squad. Panelists included: Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment CEO, Ericka Nicole Malone (Screenwriter/Director/ Producer ‘Della,’ ‘Welcome to the Good Life,’ ‘In Love With Tyrone’), Powerful-U Creator/ Director James Purpura (‘Perception: Seeing is not Believing’), and Sundance alumni Matty Rich (‘Straight Out of Brooklyn’/’ The Inkwell’).
As host and head panelist, Ericka Nicole Malone shared her career catapulted as a playwright writing, directing and producing over nine stage plays including, her hit touring musical stage play ‘In Love With Tyrone;’ ascension into screenwriting was as Creator and Executive Producer of the television sitcom pilot, ‘Ward of the State,’ her newest work a one-hour TV Drama ‘Della;’ and upcoming film optioned by acclaimed Producer Tracey Edmonds’ production company, Edmonds Entertainment, ‘Pure and Meaningful Heart’ — The Mamie Till Story. Now emerging as a Screenwriter and Producer for both television and film, Ericka Nicole Malone is reintroducing her innate talent and writing ability to the world.
“I launched The Indie Directors Spotlight 2020 to introduce the Sundance community to a few of the talented directors, their independent short films, and to premier the Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment brand. The launch was spectacular and gave an insightful look at some of the talented, independent filmmaker projects set to screen this year. The room was filled with so much energy and anticipation of these new and innovative projects. And it gave the audience a chance to get to know me on a personal level and to share my vision as a Screenwriter, Producer, and Director. Counting the days until next year!” – Ericka Nicole Malone
Throughout the day, The Indie Director’s Spotlight showcased ‘Perception: Seeing is Not Believing‘ by Director James Purpura and ‘Cure’ by Director Matty Rich with Q&As to follow.
At its heart ‘Perception: Seeing Is Not Believing’ is a movie about our personal journeys. Viewers will be introduced gradually into its message, being how our lives turn out is determined by only a handful of key ideas — namely Perception, Emotion, and Evolution. But the ideas proposed are merely the backdrop to this heart wrenching and beautifully done modern-day’ survival against all the odds’ human epic. Guided by various teachers ranging from Neuroscientists to Therapists, even Influencers and Celebrities, real-life examples and data are exposed on how to harness the power of these concepts. All of us can transform our lives by evolving our perception.
‘Cure’ is a short about a top-secret U.S government task force sets out to capture and perform scientific studies on an African American boy who was born with miraculous healing powers. Still, the boys’ parents will stop at nothing to protect their sons’ biblical origins. Its tone is a cross between ‘The Sixth Sense’ and ‘The Green Mile.’
Outside of filmmaker fun, cocktails, mocktails, and networking, Timeless Skincare gifted VIPS with products that focus on high concentrations of active ingredients in clean formulas with proven results. Vital Neuro, a mobile neuroscience-based stress reduction company and leader of brain wellness technology addressing the global epidemic of stress and burnout, offered a live experience for guests to test its proprietary neuroscience-based platform providing real-time, data-driven Neuroguided™ meditation and focus training. Powerful-U, the world’s first personal evolution company, housed a pop-up shop with book, merchandise giveaways, and meet & greet with co-founders James and Steph Purpura. Annette Bibbyoliver of Dreamhouse Marketing and Branding spearheaded production.
Celebrities who graced the lounge included the likes of Jen Ponton (Orange Is the New Black), Shondrella Avery (Napoleon Dynamite), David Lipper (Full House/Fuller House), Naomi Grossman (American Horror Story), Erica Gimpel (Slyvie’s Love), Louis Lombardi (24/Doughboys) and more.