LIVE Magazine Issue #265 December 2017

y Levvy Carriker
LIVEMAGAZINETV
THE
FILMMAKERS
GALLERY
WITH
STEVEN ROCHE
AND PAUL BELSITO
HOW THEY MET
We initially met in 2008 in Long Beach
where our Filmmakers Gallery is located.
We had this dream to create something
together and at first it was an art gallery
because I am an artist and Steven is a photographer
and filmmaker. We just wanted
a ‘little place’ where we could do our
‘hobby’. And that hobby has grown way
beyond our expectations and that is how
The Filmmakers Gallery began.
LC: I just love Lily Tomlin! I know she is a
close friend of Kats.
PB: Yes Kat and Lily are so devoted to the
program. The film ‘Teach Your Children Well’
is as important today as it was then with all
the bullying going on. I mean the film really
can stand the test of time. I believe it is an
important film for todays audience.
LC: Then you took it from there to something
Levvy: Tell me how you got invovled with
Kat Kramer’s ‘Teach Your Children Well’.
Steven: Actually we met Gary Takesian
who is the director of the documentary
and he invited us on board to help Produce
it with him, I Co-Wrote the documentary
Michael Vaccaro, creator of
‘Child of the 70’s’
and Paul was Associate Producer. Kat Kramer
and her Films that Change the World program
came on board to help us fund raise
monies. We had fundraisers in Long Beach
and Kat then made us official selections
for her ‘Kat Kramers Films that Change the
World’ at the World Premiere in Hollywood.
PAUL: Both of the events Lily Tomlin attended
as Lily was the film’s narrator. So I looked
at Steven at the fundraiser as Lily was on
our stage at The Filmmakers Gallery asking
everyone to open up their pocket books.
We were so excited!
First fundraiser screening for our film,
‘Teach Your Children Well’ by
Kat Kramer with Lily Tomlin narrating
completely different, Michael Vacarro’s ‘Child
of the 70’s’. Tell us how you became involved
with that series.
SR: We were approached and met with
Michael Vacarro who is the Creator of the
series. We had one lunch meeting and it went
so well that we decided to get involved. And
interestingly enough Kat Kramer was Associate
Producer of that series.
PB: If you look close enough you will see us in
the film as cameos or should I say ‘waiters’, so
look close and might see us!