Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Curlett, Archie Crisanto, and Esteban Senzig .
Hi Chris, Archie, and Esteban, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Archie: IOAM! Fest began with Joseph and Vanessa Winter, who started the festival while at BYU. I met them when I directed my first play – a production of Woman In Black – where they were in the audience and we bonded over our mutual love of all things spooky.
They told me they had this small short horror festival, and invited me to submit to it. I never got around to it.
Vanessa and Joseph’s careers took off with the critically acclaimed Deadspace (which they invited me to work on) and a segment for V/H/S’99 (which they also invited me to work on) and they were no longer able
to keep the festival running.
While I was on set with them in southern utah working on our segment for VHS99 (to hell and back!) I was really bummed that they stopped the festival and kept telling them they should bring it back.
Probably because they were annoyed, they asked me “well why don’t you bring it back?”
and with their blessing, and in true classic horror fashion – we rebooted the Festival in 2022 – and IT’S ONLY A MOVIE! came back from the dead at a haunted theatre in Springville. (The Rivoli, which ironically – the winters had been wanting to host there, but were unable to because of renovations.).
Esteban: I became involved when Archie needed some help because of the festival coming back after so many years. And eventually, I just made myself onto the committee where now us three run this festival completely.
Chris: Similarly, I was involved once Archie took over and he wanted to have me on board after just performing in one of the plays he directed. We began talking about representation and how cool would it be to have a BIPOC ran festival and be inclusive. My wheels started spinning on the project management, content creation side and everything else fell in to place! Happy to be a part of the festival.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Archie: In 2023 we were ready to return from the grave once more, but due to a scheduling error (or maybe a curse?) we were unable to host the festival at the Theatre…
…until my friends at Enigma3 studios reached out to invite us (and save our butts) to host our festival at their massive sound stage.
it turns out, a lot of them had met in college and some
of their first projects together were for IOAM! back with Joseph and Vanessa.
Chris: The reschedule was definitely a major challenge along with swooping down in the final hours to put together programming for the festival (collecting the films, formatting, and creating the set-up of how they were going to play). Unfortunately, the tech we had was really old and did not want to cooperate thus while everyone was mingling– I was a stress case trying to get the festival to flow. That was a major challenge for me and the festival.
Esteban: It has not been a smooth ride, but we’ve had great success, even in trying to solidify a homebase where we can promote these local filmmakers. And I specialize in music and opera, but my deep love for horror films comes through its sound cues and soundtrack.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Archie: Archelaus (Archie) Crisanto is an actor/director/storyteller and boxing coach.
he is a proud Filipino immigrant American, who by way of Oregon, has made Utah home for the last 15 years.
Having worked his way from behind the scenes to the front of the camera and on stage – Archie loves storytelling in all its forms and loves the process of creating fantastic worlds and collaborating with cool people.
Archie loves boxing, soul music, and cooking and eating Filipino Food, and is an avid Haunted House attendee and absolutely in love with Horror movies.
Chris: Chris Curlett is a performer/budding playwright/musician/clinical therapist. Chris has been in films, commercials, and theatre plays in Utah, dancer in Los Angeles, and performed in Scotland. Since youth, Chris has been performing as an opener for traveling acts in areas and stadiums, living on the road from 18-23. Currently, Chris has music out on major streaming platforms under the name ‘Adean’ and plays that have been produced in Salt Lake City. When not on stage, writing, or on camera–Chris is a Clincial Therapist for Children and Families and engaging in community outreach.
Esteban: Esteban is a local opera singer and performer cast in several shows over the years. He runs his own business, Senzig Creations where he provides sound/tech for events. Esteban also has an incredible home that he has renovated himself to allow productions to come film or use the setting for whatever the creative needs are. When not singing or running his business, you may catch him at Renaissance Fairs dawning an epic knight’s armor!
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Esteban: I do take major risks in my life and they have backfired, but I have found it to be a very successful pathway for me. Especially within the film community taking risks in an idea that you have for a project can make a break you but once it is successful, it will keep flying for a very, very long time,
Chris: I have taken risks; however, I am more anxious when it comes to them, but I inevitably take the leap. For instance, for IOAM! Fest, I started as mostly meeting to organize and created the graphics and took a leap in to impromtu event planning/management, that was crazy! But it always pays off because I stretch my comfort zone and discover need abilities.
Pricing:
- Tickets to festival are $25
- Filmmaker submissions are $40
Contact Info:
- Website: Ioamfest.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsonlyamoviefest/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsonlyamoviefest
