Pyxis Films on Indiegogo

Ahoy there!

The Indiegogo campaign for "The Millennials has been officially launched tonight!

In the next 33 days from now (now being August 13, 2013), we plan to raise $2,200 to fund Pyxis Film's first feature length film The Millennials.

We have perks from the film ranging anywhere from $5.00 to $250.00, but you can donate as little as a single dollar to make this project become a reality.

Don't have the money to donate? Thats okay!


Simply share our campaign
http://igg.me/at/the-millennials/x/4327403

and facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/themillennialsmovie?ref=hl

and website
http://www.themillennialsfilm.com/index.html



Every little thing you can do to spread the word and help us raise funds is a giant, humungous help!
We love you so much and everything you have done to help us get this far already!!!!!
LETS DO THIS!

Behind the Name

Ever wondered how Pyxis Films got its name? Check this out!

Pyxis (/ˈpɪksɨs/; Greek: box) is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky. Its name is Latin for a mariner's compass (it should not be confused with Circinus, which represents a draftsman's compasses). Pyxis is completely visible from latitudes south of 53 degrees north, with its best evening-sky visibility in January through March. The brightest star is Alpha Pyxidis at magnitude 3.68.

Pyxis was introduced by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century; he called it Pyxis Nautica, but the name was shortened. The constellation is located close to those forming the old constellation of Argo Navis (the ship Argo), and in the 19th century astronomer John Herschel suggested renaming Pyxis to 'Malus, the mast', but the suggestion was not followed.

The logo of Pyxis Films is an eye with a compass embedded in the iris among a field of stars, inspired by the compass constellation!

Cast and Crew

Welcome to the ever growing cast and crew tab! Below you will learn a little bit about some of the cast and crew that have work on projects with Pyxis Films. Some of the cast and crew are new to company while others have been around since the beginning. To each and every one of you, I salute you! Its all of you who make these films possible!

Mariah Rosado

The woman in Black Hole.  

Mariah was born and raised in Marquette Michigan and is currently studying at Northern Michigan University majoring in Psychology. Other credits include Brook Trout Productions' The Ice Brigade as Brooke directed by Alice Mattila and Beau Chaput. Mariah has also appeared in numerous MACC productions. 

Black Hole

Harmoni Sargent-Copeland

Assist. Director Madison's List, Never Let You Go, How to Downtown Ferndale

Writer Fullkominn

Appearance in The Real High School Musical 

Currently residing in Oak Park Michigan, Harmoni has been apart of Pyxis Films since the very beginning. Harmoni is pursuing a degree from Eastern Michigan University as a double major in communications and education. Other credits include student directing numerous FHS theatre productions as well as appearing in them.

"My favorite memory is the real lightning happening during Madison's List. That and everyone having to speed eat the mac and cheese in Fullkominn."  

Samantha Berger
Waitress in Never Let You Go
Girl in Fullkominn
Production Assist. Madison's List

Samantha is an upcoming senior at Ferndale High School hoping to pursue event planning in college. Other credits include numerous productions with FHS theatre as well as participating with FHS dance team. 

Never Let You Go

Samantha Schurg 
Madison in Madison's List
Gloria in Never Let You Go

Samantha is vet in Pyxis Films, appearing as the leading lady  in the first two narrative films produced in the summers of 2011 and 2012. She currently lives in Ferndale Michigan and attends University of Detroit Mercy to study criminal justice.

Never Let You Go

She fondly remembers laughing and trying to be serious with Trevor Wilkie (Chris) while filming a scene in Madison's List in the pouring rain with everyone holding umbrellas over the equipment. "There were so many bloopers. It was so funny! That was my favorite time acting."

Madison's List

Avery Gaden
Sheila  Drive In Movie

Avery appeared in the 1950s inspired film produced for Ferndale High School's production of Grease during the drive in movie sequence, the hilariously exaggerated silent movie acting stealing from the scene! Avery currently attends Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo Michigan. Other credits include multiple productions with Ferndale High School's theatre department.

A fun fact is Avery and Dalton (Hero) ad libbed the lines about "getting married and starting a family when this was all over" but the audience can't hear it because its a silent movie!

Drive In Movie

More coming soon! If you have appeared in a Pyxis Film project, please email headshots and bios to pyxisfilms@yahoo.com to appear on this page. 

production assistants/gaffers needed!

ATTENTION! we are in need of two Production Assistants/Gaffers for "The Millennials" this coming fall. Duties include setting up/tearing down filming sites; attending to the needs of the director, actors, and crew heads; and filling in wherever help is needed. Like all positions for this film, it will be unpaid. We need enthusiastic, hardworking people for this job! Please email a paragraph or two about yourself and why you are suited for the job to pyxisfilms@yahoo.com. Thank you!

crew call for "Millennials"

Millennials is a huge feature length film project to be filmed beginning September 2013 and a huge project with a huge cast is in need of a huge crew!

Currently, the following positions are available.

Production Assistants/Gaffers (2)
Original Song Composers (unlimited)
Assistant Film Editor (1)
Public Relations (1)

please e-mail resumes and a short paragraph about yourself and why you are right for the job to pyxisfilms@yahoo.com

Thank you!

Please note these positions are unpaid and are for portfolio/experience use.

Open casting call for "Millennials"

Hello everyone! I've got some exciting news! Pyxis Films will be teaming up with director Kristen Elizabeth Priest to produce our first ever feature length film, Millennials.

Millennials is a hilarious and heartwarming story about a group of college friends who spend their final  night together before parting ways the next day after graduation. Over the span of a single night, the eight friends experience love, loss, hilarity and discovery before being tossed into the daily grind of adulthood.

AUDITION INFORMATION
Auditions will be held in the Forest Roberts Theatre on the Northern Michigan University campus in Marquette Michigan on September 4th and 5th, 2013 with callbacks on the 6th and 7th.

For initial auditions, please prepare a short monologue and bring a headshot.
There will be cold readings of the script in pairs/groups and screen tests for callbacks.

We are also in need of a substantial crew with lots of experience for this production. Please see "crew call for Millennials"

CHARACTERS

Megan-22, is an introverted journalism major hesitant to graduate and potentially lose all her friends. 

Liz-22, is an extroverted theatre major hoping to make it big in the movies or on broadway one day. Liz becomes lost during the night, the friends beginning a search for the drunken party girl. 

Jessica-22, is a soft spoken, dancer in a long term relationship with Matt, harboring a secret that she wishes she could tell. Must be able to dance as there is a small feature in the film. 

Matt-21, has the same personality as Jessica. Being a year younger than the rest of the group, he is sad that they will be leaving him behind. Matt beings to question his sexuality as he discovers his feelings for Sam. 

Sam-21, is a flamboyant gay man with hope of becoming a famous drag queen in Vegas. He helps Matt with his sexuality. 

Evan-22, has a tough exterior--drinking and partying to the extreme. But little do we know, he is having trouble figuring out what to do with his life once he can no longer hold the title of college party king. 

Jules (JD)18, is Megan's younger brother preparing to enter the crazy college world. While something of a jerk, he is also a nerd in denial hoping he can be cool. 

Drew-18, is JDs’ best friend and Evan’s little brother. Drew is a super nerd who can speak fluent Elvish. 

Amy-19, is a beautiful mystery girl JD and Drew try to find all night who can also speak fluent elvish.  

Mystery Guy-22-25, is a guy Megan meets at a bar described as "the perfect man". 

Professor Rita-any age. Super cougar trying to get her claws into Evan. 

Bathroom girl-any age. 

Deskie-any age.  

Thank you for the interest! Keep checking back for the most up to date information. Cant wait to see all your shining faces come audition day! 

Please note these positions are unpaid and are for portfolio/experience use.

apparel

Pyxis Films apparel now available! 

special thanks to music artists DonavanAndSam for modeling. Music by Warpaint. 

Please email order to pyxisfilms@yahoo.com or contact me personally.
Copy and paste the following order form.

Name: 

*Pick up or Delivery: 

 T-shirt size and color ($10/each): 

Sweatshirt size and color ($25/each): 

Quarter sleeve size and color ($20/each): 

Second T-shirt size and color ($10/each): 

 Second Sweatshirt size and color ($25/each): 

Second quarter sleeve size and color ($20/each): 

(leave blank if not applicable. add more if needed.) 

Total: 

(*please note only local deliveries are available
at this time unless special arrangements are made.
 Please see area of operation.)

Pyxis Films joins Miss Upper Peninsula Pageant!

Hello everyone! I have some super exciting news today.

 Pyxis Films was chosen to be the OFFICIAL videographer for the spring 2014 Miss Upper Peninsula and Miss Teen Upper Peninsula Pageant! You can check out their website here

Pyxis Films will be an Official Sponsor of the event which means a lot of exposure for us which is a ginormous huge deal. 

new logo

Ahoy ahoy! Check out this totally gnarly new logo the ah-mazing Mark Berger made for Pyxis Films today.....

share pyxis films with friends!

Pyxis Films is a small business out of home and depends on clients to spread the word!

-share website on Facebook and Twitter
-subscribe for email updates
-download printable business cards

Reviews for Pyxis Films and Natalie Berger

Read what people have said about Pyxis Films and Natalie Berger!

NMU dance recital

This month I had the wonderful opportunity of filming the NMU dance minors annual end of the year recital, capturing each performers hard work and dedication put into the dances.

graphic design and digital art

In addition to film projects, Pyxis Films also does a variety of digital art and commissioned graphic design including
-cards
-announcements
-posters
-album covers
...and more!

Check out some of my work!

Do Dead Men Speak?

The final project for my film class Freshman year of college. Featuring Kelly McCommons as the Pathologist and Jordayn Fisher as the victim. 

view film here

I also want to let everyone know, I'll be moving back to the Detroit area after this week and will be returning back to Marquette towards the end of August. So until then, I will be only available for work in the metro Detroit area. 

a big surprise and some casting opportunities

happy Monday everyone!

Just wanted to say that I have been cooking up something AH-mazing for the fall with one Kristy Priest! I can't wait to tell everyone about it once we get all the details ironed out. More to come soon! 

On a different note, I am working on my final project for my film class and would love some help. With the idea thats in my brain right now I'll be needing:

***CLOSED***

-male or female 

-looks between 25-35 but I'm flexible with any real age

-professional look

-clean, clear voice (needed for voice over work) 

-male or female

-any age

-non speaking 

-physically fit for lots of movement (running, rolling, falling, ect) 

-trashy look 

staged theatrical productions

Hey everyone!

Did you know that I also film staged theatrical productions too? 

Some shows include 

Grease main stage musical  Ferndale High School

Kennedy Elementary school musical 

1776 main stage musical Forest Roberts Theatre

Fallujah main stage play Forest Roberts Theatre

Avenue Q musical Panowski Black Box Theatre

And lots more including Forest Roberts Theatre's upcoming production of

LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL! April 17-20

Here is a link to a little behind the scene rehearsal sneak peak promo I made...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=665431797613  

For staged productions, I will often film 2-3 performances, giving the piece some more intimate dynamics rather than just a wide view of the whole stage with smooth cuts in between closer shots of the action. 

I also record the sound live with an external microphone mounted on the camera, giving the audio a tone that is balanced and realistic for the space including audience reaction. I've found this method to work in both large auditoriums as well as intimate black box style theatres. 

Reminder: filmed stage productions are for personal and archival use only! Unless given permission from the rights holder, recording shows is illegal and can result in a hefty fine if posted publicly. (That means no youtube! sorry!)  

Casting Call!

***CLOSED***

Hello everyone!
I'm on the look out for an actor for a short 1-2 minute piece in the Marquette area!

*18-25 years old
*male
*"good looking"
*Small commitment
*No spoken lines
*non paying role

Let me know if you're interested!

Dear Will

Another project for my digital cinema class. The assignment was to do a montage piece. The footage from this is all leftover from the "Never Let You Go" project from this past summer.

view video here

Black Hole

At this point in time, I've finally caught up to the present date! Huzzah! Black Hole is another short narrative piece for my film class here at NMU centered around the use of cross-cuts and by far the most challenging and highly successful piece I've done. Currently, this film is being featured in the Student Art Gallery in the Student Union at NMU (if you're in the area, be sure to go check it out in person!) Black Hole tells the story of an actor at the end of his rope after his career fizzled out following his divorce.

CAST
Man--Ross Baughn
Woman--Mariah Rosado
Reporter #1--Meghan Marquardt
Reporter #2--Coop Bicknell
Reporter #3--Amanda Harrington

Mondays Make Me Sad

This semester at NMU I finally get to dive into my major with my first ever college film class. The first project of the class was to create a single action and I chose the action of getting ready for a long day of classes on Monday morning. And also for the first time in Pyxis Films history, I decide to use myself in a film!

Michigan 20/20 scholarship contest

My senior year of high school I entered the Michigan 20/20 video scholarship contest. Submitting a commercial style video about free college education for Michigan students. Out of hundreds of submissions, my video came in 3rd place earning me the $1,000 scholarship presented to me by Senator Vincent Gregory

Official Press release:

Senator Vincent Gregory (D–Southfield) announced today that high school senior Natalie Berger from Ferndale has won Third Place in the #mi2020 Scholarship Competition good for $1,000 towards her college education next year.

“Natalie's video was full of passion and creativity and perfectly captured the excitement of preparing to go to college and the worries students have about how they are going to pay for it,” said Senator Gregory. “Natalie is a prime example of the talent and promise our young people in Michigan and Oakland County have, and I hope her video helps get the attention of my colleagues in Lansing to pass the Michigan 2020 Plan and make a higher education accessible for all Michigan students.”

In the #mi2020 Scholarship Competition, students were asked to submit a short web video that explains the importance of investing in higher education and how the Michigan 2020 Plan to offer free college tuition to all students is the right investment for our state to make. More than 75,000 votes were cast by people across Michigan, and the public's vote in the finals was combined with the votes of a judging panel to determine the winners.

I can't even begin to explain how thankful I am for each and every vote my friends and family and even people who don't know me personally gave to me every day. This scholarship has helped me out so much! 

And the best part is they're doing it again this year and how awesome would it be if one of YOU readers got it? Pretty awesome. 

Go check out http://www.michigan2020.com/how-to-enter to look at all the rules and submission guidelines and even look at the three winning videos from last year including mine! 

Let me know if you enter because I will be sure to promote you and vote for you every day!

Never Let You Go

Never Let You Go marks the third major collaboration of Pyxis Films and Harmonious Productions in July of 2012 and the second narrative piece for Pyxis Films after Madison's List. And a huge, HUGE thanks to Nello's Restaurant in Royal Oak, Michigan for helping us out!

CAST
William--Michael Partyka
Gloria--Samantha Schurg
Beverly--Katie Ackers
Waitress--Samantha Berger

CREW
Director, editor, screenplay, camera--Natalie Berger
Assist. Director, screenplay, makeup--Harmoni Sargent-Copeland
Original Score--Samantha Berger
Makeup--Dianne Schurg
Properties--Mark Berger and Michael Partyka

view full video here.

teaser trailer

The Real Detroit

In April of 2012, I was taking a film class at my high school when we were assigned a documentary project. Together, Marie Perrault, Mia Morey, and I traveled through Detroit camera in hand to see what might happen there, documenting what Detroit was, is, and will be and produced this four part film...

view part one here

view part two here

part three

part four

Ferndale Musical 2012

Ferndale High School put on the musical "Grease" in March of 2012, giving me the task of creating a drive in movie sequence in the stylings of a cheesy 1950s horror film. The dialogue was already given within the show script but the shots and actions were determined by myself and the actors.

Starring
Sheila--Avery Gaden
Scientist--Ross Langley
Hero--Dalton Hann
Beast--Donavan Williams

Directed, edited, and filmed by Natalie Berger

view whole video here


Then, beginning a week or so after casting around January, I started filming the two part documentary "The Real High School Musical", showing how much work really goes into a production from casting all the way until opening night in March.

view part one here.

view part two here.

Fullkominn

Originally filmed in July of 2011, Fullkominn (translating into "Perfect" in Icelandic) features women suffering because of their "imperfections" inspired by Demi Lovato's campaign, "Love is lounder than the pressure to be perfect". Fullkominn is the second collaboration between Pyxis Films and Harmonious Productions. 

Starring

Victoria Mayberry

Kat Diehl

Samantha Berger

Mariah Lieckfelt

Sharie Branch

Crew

concept by Harmoni Sargent-Copeland

filmed and edited by Natalie Berger

watch full video here. 

Madison's List

Summer of 2011 Pyxis Films joined forces with Harmonious Productions to create our first ever short film "Madison's List"

The queen bee of the school (Sarah McElroy) and her boyfriend (Trevor Wilkie) are in for more than they bargained for when bullying an innocent misfit girl (Samantha Schurg) when she decides to seek revenge after meeting a mysterious stranger (Brandon Rosenblatt) in an alley one night...

CAST
Madison---Samantha Schurg
Andrea---Sarah McElroy
Chris---Trevor Wilkie
Alley Man---Brandon Rosenblatt

Clique
Ali Schurg
Jessi Schurg
Mariah Lieckfelt
Stephanie Schurg

Extras
Sierra Onickel
Lydia Salogar
Dianne Schurg


CREW
Directed by Natalie Berger and Harmoni Sargent Copeland
Editor, camera, blood effects---Natalie Berger
Costuming, makeup, casting---Harmoni Sargent Copeland
blood effects--Stephanie Schurg
general crew--Samantha Berger

Check out the full movie! 

promo #1

promo #2

And of course, I can't forget this marvelous blooper reel...

The first videos

Well these couple of videos are certainly a blast from the past! These four are some of the first videos I uploaded to Pyxis Film's current youtube page when it was made in 2011...Check out these oldie but goodies!

This one originally uploaded in March of 2011 documented the final performance of Ferndale High Schools musical "Oklahoma!"

Also uploaded in March of 2011, I started messing around with some of the effects in post production using footage from a CASA dance recital.

In October of 2011, my camera took a field trip with me to Ferndale High School's homecoming dance, the video being featured in The Ferndale 115 online news website

About Pyxis Films

Well ahoy there! Welcome to Pyxis Films!

Choose Pyxis Films for:
-events (parties, weddings, day camps, ect.)
-documentaries and narrative art pieces
-Live stage performances
and much more!

As of right now, Pyxis Films is solely owned and operated by myself since 2009.
Ever since then I've been growing and expanding to bigger and better things, the projects becoming more advanced and well executed every time including periodic upgrades in equipment.

Education
Starting fall 2012, I began working towards my BFA in digital cinema with a double minor in theatre and creative writing and am currently a Sophomore at Northern Michigan University.

Equipment Used
Currently I am editing primarily with imovie '11 but I do try to get my hands Final Cut Pro X from time to time and last year I switched over to using a 2010 HD middle-grade prosumer camera and shotgun microphone for all of my projects. As for graphic design projects, I use Adobe Photoshop CS6.

Rates
Every hour dedicated to filming and editing is roughly $30.00 but prices are negotiable.
I can give an estimate at the beginning of a project to give an idea of how much it will cost.
Rate increases for rush projects. Graphic design projects also run $30.00/hour

Contact
email at pyxisfilms@yahoo.com
or visit my facebook page

Area of Operation
September-April: Marquette, Michigan
May-August: Ferndale, Michigan