Tuesday, March 5, 2019

C&C Teen Film Festival - Dana Koops & Samuel Parker Interview


Photo Credit: JBN Media

Dana Koops was born in Los Angeles, CA. Growing up with a music professor father and English teacher mother, Dana quickly developed into an avid reader, writer, musician, and all around adventure seeker. The acting bug bit Dana when she stepped onto the stage as a toddler in an Azusa Pacific University opera production of "Suor Angelica" (Puccini). Later, she attended Gary Spatz's - The Playground: A Young Actor's Conservatory, Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop, and the Groundlings School. She was given her first film role as the principal character Kid in the short "Corporate Lemonade" (2014) soon after her acting studies began, and has been enjoying every role thereafter. Interested in other aspects of filmmaking, Dana wrote, acted in, and produced her first short film "Stuck" (2017), which won Best in Show at the American Youth Film Festival. Her next short film "Danielle's Boat" received numerous awards and screened across the globe. "Driver's Ed" is Dana's directorial debut. Dana's love of story and sense of adventure encourages her desire to develop into not only a versatile actress, but an engaging filmmaker. In her element when on set, both in front of and behind the camera, Dana also enjoys reading, rock climbing, viola, tennis, and swing dancing.

Samuel Parker plays Eli on the BRAT series Total Eclipse (2018). He can be seen in the Paramount movie Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), and in the features Nosferatu, and Vermin Town. He's shared the small screen with Conan O'Brien (Conan) and Elizabeth Banks (realtor.com). Additional TV work includes NCIS: Los Angeles (2009), Me, Myself and I (2017), Love (2016), and numerous commercials.

Sam is featured with Kurt Hugo Schneider in the Awesomeness series Invisalign: Made to Move. He acted as lead host of the popular YouTube series LEGO: The Build Zone, and can be heard in the upcoming video game From Beneath.

He recently directed Danielle's Boat (2018) which won Best Short Film in the American Youth Film Festival, where his directorial debut, Stuck (2017), garnered the Best in Show award.

Sam is a SoCal native and an avid skateboarder, video gamer, and writer.

Lonely and missing friends after she moves, fourteen year old Danielle builds a boat and takes on the neighbor bully who seeks to thwart her plans.


CC Teen Hollywood Film Festival’s purpose is to give young entrepreneurs an opportunity to hone their skills as aspiring business men and women, while pursuing their passion. There are many platforms for teens filmmakers to showcase their work; writing, producing, directing and editing. Our festival is run by teens for teens.

The arts are an important part of our learning process. It’s useful in many fields including but not limited to; architecture, engineering, physics, chemistry and mathematics. The writer has to research script information to create an authentic script. Or the set designer that needs to know set dimensions.  Students who have a background in the arts are more likely to be more creative and open to new ideas.

Even though some of us may not continue the path of filmmaking as we head into adulthood, or any art for that matter. I believe the skills “I’ve” learned, the discipline to see an idea to fruition, and the entrepreneurial spirit I have gained, will be something I know I can use no matter what career path I decide to take – Carrington Bennett.



Dana Koops and Samuel with the JBN Journalist, Allan Forte.

THE JBN TEAM INTERVIEW WITH DANA KOOPS AND SAMUEL PARKER
JOURNALIST: ALLAN FORTE
LOCATION: RALEIGH STUDIOS' CHAPLIN THEATER, HOLLYWOOD, CA
INTERVIEW: NOVEMBER 10, 2018

 
Dana Koops and Samuel on the Red Carpet at C&C Teen Hollywood Film Festival.


Video/Audio/Edit: James Vallesteros (@jamesvallesteros)

ABOUT C&C TEEN HOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL
C&C Teen Hollywood Film Festival was founded by Carson and Carrington Bennett and is run by teens for teens. CCTHFF’s purpose is to give young entrepreneurs an opportunity to hone their skills as aspiring business men and women, while pursuing their passion. The arts are an important part of a youth’s learning process and useful in many fields outside of entertainment. There are many platforms for teens filmmakers to showcase their work at the festival such as: writing, producing, directing and editing.
For more information visit: http://ccteenfestival.com/

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