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Xylograph Films to screen 'Blue Diamond'

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Fri, Jul 9th 2021 12:20 pm

Xylograph Films, a film and video production company based in Western New York, announced the world premiere of its most recent project, “Blue Diamond.” The event be held at the North Park Theater, 1428 Hertel Ave., Buffalo, at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 17.

A 30-minute fantasy/drama short film, “Blue Diamond” tells the story of Brandon, played by Amherst native Louis Visone, a young man who goes to find his missing grandmother. While doing so, he discovers his past may actually be his future. The film tells in gripping detail how he and others are kept alive by the Blue Diamond “process” – but at what expense.

Daeil Kim, principal of Xylograph Films, who is also the writer and director of “Blue Diamond,” said, “Aging is inevitable, but how you treat your senior citizens varies. Growing up in South Korea you learned the importance of respect; especially for your elders.”

Kim went on to say, “When I made ‘Blue Diamond,’ I used my perspective of the differences between the Eastern culture and the Western culture to come up with a very twisted story. Though we don’t see the issue verbalized in the story, the message is clear: ‘How are we treating our seniors?’ ”

Daeil’s partner at Xylograph Films and wife, Melanie Sudyn, shared the production and casting process: “ ‘Blue Diamond’ was shot over five days at various locations around Buffalo. The actors, who are all from the area, were selected based on an improv-style audition. Each individual was given a scenario as they interacted with someone from our team in acting out that scenario.”

Sudyn noted, “For ‘Blue Diamond,’ we were not just looking for experienced actors, but those that already shared similar elements such as personality to the characters in the story.”

Case in point is Josephine, played by Lewiston resident Sarah Waechter. “As the facilitator of Blue Diamond, she has the unenviable task of not only recruiting clients to the process, but also subjects that make the process work.” Waechter’s performance captivates the audience by moving between a character that was nurturing and caring to one that was devious.

Daeil said, “I am proud of the emotional ride that this 30-minute short film provides to the audience. It has a little of everything: suspense, intrigue, science fiction and dark humor.”

When asked what’s next for “Blue Diamond,” Daeil said the July 17 premiere is the only scheduled viewing for the film. “After this event, the film will be submitted to various film festivals around the world. Once we are juried, we hope to turn ‘Blue Diamond’ into a series or a feature film. There are so many backstories within the concept of ‘Blue Diamond’ that the subject matter could live on forever much like the Blue Diamond process itself.”

Tickets for the premiere are $16 and available through https://www.northparktheatre.org/.../blue-diamond-local.../

View the movie trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v50Iny9tr9I.

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