Fantasy Costumes Open 24 Hours for 10 Days before Halloween!

Be sure to visit Fantasy Costumes, Chicago’s COSTUME SUPERSTORE, featuring the largest selection of Halloween costumes, Halloween masks, make-up, costume wigs and accessories for all ages. They also offer a large selection of rental costumes, mascot costumes, theater costumes, women’s human hair wigs and men’s hair pieces. One stop shopping for ALL your Halloween needs!!  Visit their website HERE

Fantasy will be open 24-hours a day

from Oct. 21st to Oct. 31st!  

Also, please vote for Fantasy Costumes to be named BEST COSTUME SHOP on Fox Chicago's Mojopages!!  If you write a review, you will receive 10% off your next purchase or rental on their page!!  Voting ends in 4 days from this post!!  So VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!!  Vote HERE

Kosart Effects Studios is proud to have Fantasy Costumes
as a sponsor of our FX Courses, . . .

so please patronize our generous sponsor!!

Logo © Fantasy Costumes HDQ: www.fantasycostumes.com

LEX TALIONIS Premieres at TEMECULA INT'L FILM FEST This Weekend!

Hey California friends.... Be sure to go to the 17th Annual Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival this weekend to see the premiere of my sister, Melissa Kosar's film LEX TALIONIS that she wrote and directed!!

Here are the showtimes:

Fri. Sept. 16th @ 9pm
Sat. Sept. 17th @ 5pm
At TEMECULA!

LEX TALIONIS is also the Officail Selection of the 2011 CENFLO Central Florida Film Festival and Officail Selection of the 2011 LA FEMME Film Festival in Los Angeles!!

I did some minor FX make-up for the short film as well as the poster and advertisements.

See the Teaser:

"Lex Talionis" Teaser and Poster © 2011 Melissa Kosar / Kos For Three Productions.
All Rights Reserved.

My Sister On Happily Divorced - Premieres Tonight 6-15-11 10:30/9:30c

Be sure to tune in to the premiere of the new TV Land sitcom Happily Divorced tonight, Wednesday, June 15th 10:30/9:30c. The show stars Fran Drescher (The Nanny) and is based off her life with her real ex-husband. My sister Melissa Kosar has been working on this show as a director-in-training since the pilot episode WHICH AIRS TONIGHT on TV Land!! Plus, she will be in front of the camera in tonight's pilot episode as a background actor at the concert scene sitting just two seats away from Fran!

Here is Melissa with Fran Drescher, and Melissa's mentor Lee Shallat Chemel who directs this sitcom, among many others:(picture taken by G. Lurssen)

Read more of Melissa's Experience on her blog HERE and check out some of Melissa's filmwork on her WEBSITE and BLOG

Happily Divorced Photo copyrighted to respective owners at Happily Divorced/TV Land.

Lex Talionis

Last summer, I flew out to California to work on a short film Lex Talionis written and directed by my sister Melissa Kosar. It is an intense psychological drama, and was just included in the official selection of the 2011 Central Florida Film Festival. I did some minor FX make-up for the project, and also designed the poster and title logo. You can find more information on Lex Talionis on its page HERE

Also, check out my sister's blog HERE for updates on her work, including working on films, music videos, and network television, most recently an NBC pilot with Christopher Lloyd.

Lex Talionis Synopsis:

"With every year that passes, the loss of Julia's father becomes more and more unbearable. It is a destructive cliche to say time heals all pain, and for years she has been fighting herself to get passed his death. Julia is finally ready to let her wound heal."

See the teaser here:

Soon, I'll have some pictures to post of my FX make-up work on the film once it has its first screenings. But for now, here are a couple behind-the-scenes shots from the film:

"Lex Talionis" Teaser and Poster © 2011 Melissa Kosar / Kos For Three Productions.
Photos by Melanie Augustyn and John MacDonald.
All Rights Reserved.

My Sister's TV debut --- be sure to tune in!

(Photo copyrighted to The Middle/abc)

Be sure to tune in to The Middle Wednesday, January 12th as my sister Melissa Kosar will be making her television debut as a background shopper in a GAP store!

The episode is called "The Big Chill" and airs tonight 8|7c on ABC.

Check out some of Melissa's filmwork on her WEBSITE and BLOG

Trip to NYC...

On Thursday morning, the 23rd, my father and I left for NYC for the AWS Awards Dinner that took place on the 24th. (more info in one of the following blogs).

As we were only in NYC until the 25th, we had little time to sight see, but managed to get in a few destinations. We saw the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Native American Museum, Central Park, and Times Square. It was a great trip! My father and I had tons of fun, and it certainly was a special time spent with my dad.

2009 Sedona International Film Festival...

From February 24 through March 1, 2009, my sister Melissa Kosar and I were at the Sedona International Film Festival in Sedona, Arizona. Her film The Doll Hospital was one of 140 films for the 2009 Official Selection. The film showed twice, once on Friday and once on Sunday, and it was very well recieved by all who viewed the film.

In 2008, The Doll Hospital won 2nd Place in Lifetime Movie Network's Every Woman's Film Competition, and received Fan Favorite in the same competition on MyLifetime.com thanks to all your votes and support!

Due to our schedule with the Film Festival, we were not able to go on any hikes or jeep excursions, however, we did make it to several of Sedona's renowned art galleries, and most importantly, we met some amazing filmmakers, talented actors, saw 28 wonderful films, and made many new friends. Overall it was a great time!!

Here are some pictures from the week...

(Above) Now Showing: The Doll Hospital by Melissa Kosar.

(Above) There was a question and answer following the films. Melissa's short film preceeded the feature Nothing Really Matters, an amazing film by Jean-Marc Piché (pictured above on the left).

(Above) Melissa and I had the priveledge of meeting Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond) who was there with a film she acted in Play The Game.

Melissa and I with Jim Colletti (Chair, Board of Directors for Sedona International Film Festival) at one of the afterparties for filmmakers.

(Above) Melissa and I with Actor/Director Giancarlo Esposito (Gospel Hill).

(Above) Melissa and I with Director Marc Kess (Mildred Richards).
(click image to enlarge)

(Above) Melissa and I with Filmmaker Dan Merchant (Lord Save Us From Your Followers).

(Above) Melissa and I withe the same Orson Welles' camera he used for Citizen Kane. (click image to enlarge)

* * * * * *

Here are a couple panaramic photos I took of the scenery, . . . what a backdrop!
(click images to enlarge)


* * * * * *

Also, if you get the chance, watch the following films...

The Doll Hospital, Sebastian's Voodoo, Nothing Really Matters, The Great Buck Howard, The Baker, Play the Game, An Unlikely Weapon, Gospel Hill, Mildred Richards, Lord Save Us From Your Followers, Daniel Finds his Walking Stick, Sunshine Cleaning, Bending Space: Georges Rousse and The Durham Project, and The Suicide Tourist.

These films (listed in no special order) are a great mix from light hearted and funny to dark and depressing. There were so many others we wanted to see but were unable to.

The Doll Hospital image @ Melissa Kosar

A Day in Disney...

While on my short trip to visit my sister Melissa Kosar in California, we spent a day at Disneyland. Really, there is no place like Disney; nowhere more magical! We had a great time, riding all the major rides.

Here we are that night in front of the Palace:

This was on the Thunder Mountain:

I got run over in Toon Town:

One of the coolest things is how they transform the Haunted Mansion into a Nightmare Before Christmas ride for Halloween and Christmas:

While we were there, it was pretty sad because the rest of California was burning. Here is the foreboding sky filled with the smoke of the wild fires:
Here is the sun through the thickness of the smoke. The picture really doesn't do it justice. It was a scary sight:

The rest of the trip, I hung out with my sister and her friends, I helped her on a couple filming projects she had, went to a cross town rival hockey game of the Anaheim Ducks against the LA Kings (and the Ducks won 2 nothing), had some relaxing creative time to think and draw, ate Pinkberry Yogurt everyday, and met up with some of the FX guys I worked with during my summer 2007 internship at Stan Winston Studio. All in all, my sister and I had a great couple of weeks!

My Sister's Film Won!!!

I just wanted to let you all know that, thanks to your help and support, my sister's film The Doll Hospital won the Fan Favorite! Thank you for voting, forwarding the information on, and listening to my emails, text messages, and/or phone calls. Below is a message from my sister:

---

To everyone who voted for The Doll Hospital as Fan Favorite:

THE DOLL HOSPITAL WON!!!

Words cannot express how much I appreciate your help and support over this last month. It was a close race until the end, and it was because of your support and votes that pushed The Doll Hospital to the top! I cannot thank you enough for voting and for passing the word along to family and friends. The Doll Hospital was a personal tribute to two very special people that were important influences in my life…my two Grandfathers Peter and Joseph. I have received many touching e-mails and phone calls about my film and it such a rewarding feeling to hear how well the film was received.

The Doll Hospital could not have been completed without the wonderful group of people who worked with me on this film; a huge thank you to the cast and crew for their time and effort. Everyone's contribution and cooperation added to the success of this short film and I could not have done it without any of them.

I am forever grateful, and could not be more thankful to each and every one of you! I wish you all the best always, and have a wonderful holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

All My Best,
Melissa Kosar
www.kosforthreeproductions.com

http://www.mylifetime.com/fun-games/sweeps/vote-your-favorite#video

---

Again, thank you so much!!!

Look for The Doll Hosptital on Lifetime!

Top image © MyLifetime.com
Bottom image © 2008 Melissa Kosar

Please Vote... How Can You Resist this Face?

Hi Guys, sorry I haven't updated my blog since before Halloween. I have been in California, but when I get back, I have lots of news and work to share. Right now, I just want to keep everyone updated on my sister's short film “The Doll Hospital” that is in the running for Fan Favorite in the Lifetime Movie Network’s “Every Woman’s Film Competition.”

Thank you to everyone who has been voting or has forwarded the information on, . . . but she still needs your votes! She has been in the lead, but recently has been going neck to neck with the film that has been in 2nd place, which has just overtaken Melissa's film by just a few votes. Voting ends on November 20th which is less than a week away. So please, pass this onto all your freinds and family and continue voting through and on the 20th (I think it is once per computer per day). Please go to the following website address and vote for “The Doll Hospital” by Melissa Kosar:

http://www.mylifetime.com/fun-games/sweeps/vote-your-favorite#video

Thank you again to everyone for their support on this!! It is really appreciated!

Image © 2008 Melissa Kosar

My Sister's Film Needs Your Votes...

Please pass this on to your family and friends...

As some of you may already know, my sister Melissa Kosar won 2nd place with her short film “The Doll Hospital” in the Lifetime Movie Network’s “Every Woman’s Film Competition” and was flown out to the Hamptons International Film Festival in New York where the film was presented this past weekend.

Now, it is time to vote for the Fan Favorite, and she needs your votes! Please go to the following website address and vote for “The Doll Hospital” by Melissa Kosar:

http://www.mylifetime.com/fun-games/sweeps/vote-your-favorite#video

I think you can only vote once per day per computer, so if you have several computers, please use them to vote the same day, and try voting again each day until November 20th when the voting ends.

You can see more of Melissa’s work on her website: www.kosforthreeproductions.com

Thanks for your help! It is really appreciated!

Image © 2008 Melissa Kosar