Female Director and Filmmaker, Arlene Bogna, brings a powerful new voice to indie filmmaking, through The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam, on a Global film festival tour! The independent film continues its journey to cinema screens at Madrid International Film Festival and then to the Fifth Annual, New Hope Film Festival, in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Riverside Art Colony, New Hope. Vista Point Pictures in association with Jowharah Films is honored to have The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam as an Official Selection at New Hope Film Festival. It is a cutting edge global film festival known as the “Emerging Sundance East” that discovers and supports new filmmakers and writing talent from many different countries. The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam film screening is part of the Actors’ Union Showcase, set to take place on Friday, July 25th, 2014 at 8:45pm at the New Hope Arts Center, PA. The U.S. Premiere of this Arlene Bogna Film, The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam, took place on May 31st, 2014 at Dances With Films Festival in the Chinese Theater, Hollywood, California. The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam made its debut screening on May 16th, 2014 to an enthusiastic reception at the Cannes Film Festival, Short Film Corner in Cannes, France. The filmmakers experience in France, provided them with a coveted filmmakers’ accreditation to the Cannes Film Festival; they were able to network at the Marché du Film, as well as the International Village with global financiers and distributors. Watch The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam movie trailer at http://vimeo.com/90733830 and like our facebook page at http://www.theballadofsnakeoilsam.com ### For media inquiries and interview opportunities, Contact: Nicolette Fontaine, Publicist/Social Media Manager at Discovery Media & Marketing Twitter @DiscoveryMM ~ visit www.VistaPointPictures.com and www.ArleneBogna.com Email: nicolettefontaine@comcast.net

1. Contact: Nicolette Fontaine, Publicist/Social Media Manager / Tel. 561.302.7782
Email: nicolettefontaine@comcast.net , Twitter @DiscoveryMM
MEDIA ALERTMEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TTHEHE BBALLAD OFALLAD OF SSNAKENAKE OOILIL SSAAMM INDIE FILM CONTINUES ITS JOURNEY FROM
MADRID INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO NEW HOPE FILM FESTIVAL
A desert traveler embarks on a mystical journey in pursuit of redemption.
NEW HOPE, Pennsylvania (July 25, 2014) – The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam continues its journey to cinema screens at
Madrid International Film Festival and then to the Fifth Annual, New Hope Film Festival, in the heart of
Pennsylvania’s Riverside Art Colony, New Hope. Vista Point Pictures in association with Jowharah Films is honored
to have The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam as an Official Selection at New Hope Film Festival. It is a cutting edge global
film festival known as the “Emerging Sundance East” that discovers and supports new filmmakers and writing talent
from many different countries. The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam film screening is part of the Actors’ Union Showcase,
set to take place on Friday, July 25th
, 2014 at 8:45pm at the New Hope Arts Center, PA.
The U.S. Premiere of this Arlene Bogna Film, The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam, took place on May 31st
, 2014 at Dances
With Films Festival in the Chinese Theater, Hollywood, California. The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam made its debut
screening on May 16th
, 2014 to an enthusiastic reception at the Cannes Film Festival, Short Film Corner in Cannes,
France. The filmmakers experience in France, provided them with a coveted filmmakers’ accreditation to the Cannes
Film Festival; they were able to network at the Marché du Film, as well as the International Village with global
financiers and distributors.
The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam captivates an audience of young and old alike, transporting you into the Wild Wild
West with the inspiring mystical story of a desert traveler, inventor, alchemist and magical elixir salesman in pursuit
of redemption. Emerging Filmmaker and Director, Arlene Bogna, had a unique vision for her undeniably daring,
artistic and harmonious cast of actors to portray many emotional states of mind without words and to explore the
meaning of trust, divine inspiration and the belief of redemption, relying solely on subtext and visuals.
The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam pays tribute to Sergio Leone’s “Spaghetti Western” genre through the film’s moments-
in-between-moments with the actors and frontier cinematography. The film, shot entirely on location outside of
Joshua Tree, California, also is an ode to famous director, Michelangelo Antonioni, with its remote scenery of the
desert wilderness reflecting Snake Oil Sam’s inner struggles. The director Bogna says, “Our film crew went on a
desert camping adventure, braving all the elements together as a strong tribe, in order to make it all happen!” It
features the music of Los Angeles psychedelic rock band, West Indian Girl, from their latest album Shangri-La. The
film’s original score is by Acclaimed film composer, Vivek Maddala. The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam stars Zane Byrdy,
Gladys Nyoth, Gabriel Voss, Cristina Balmores, and Eva Zeva.
-more-

2. Arlene Bogna brings this film to life by uncovering the influence of snake oil and shamanic medicine that promises
transformation and new beginnings, to the pivotal moment in Sam’s stirring realization of redemption, which can
only be gained through the trust and acceptance of his tribe. The story told is a love letter to music subculture and the
dance community, depicted with steampunk costuming and Native American jewelry and artifacts. Local designer,
Evelyn Hanna from Funky Desert Apparel in Yucca Valley worked on the costume design.
Bogna challenges herself as a film director to tell the story without depending on words and experiments with
creating metonymy for her characters in the middle of a desert. She crosses over from being a successful commercial
director into narrative, and also breaks the mold of what time period this film is supposed to take place in. She makes
her movie feel anachronistic and timeless with imaginative sequences, dreamlike visuals and costumes. She believes
in the Hero’s journey as a timeless structure of mythmaking and cinema. Arlene Bogna wants to make her
contribution to film in an “Ars Longa, Vita Brevis” way and figure out whether Art imitates life or not.
While soaking up picturesque desert scenery, fantasy characters and frontier-dream images with a hippy like vibe is a
story told mostly with no dialogue but only distinct emotional events. Truly a work of art, this Arlene Bogna Film
will make your creative imagination soar and open it up to your own interpretation. The themes in the film keep you
thinking about big life questions of trust; redemption and what will Snake Oil Sam do next? Hungry for more? The
filmmaker purposely did this to bring in the character of Snake Oil Sam as a cameo in her next feature western,
Amaryllis Bang! Bang! The director envisions her upcoming film productions to convey sweeping epic vistas, mind-
blowing moments, and colorful dynamic shots. Arlene Bogna is ready to take this show on the road, and she already
is.
To purchase tickets for the U.S. screening at New Hope Film festival, visit their event ticket website at
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/profile/63422 or email inquiries@newhopefilmfestival.com
“With its cool score, far-out set design, hip style and striking cinematography, The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam struck
our judges as an upbeat and offbeat wallop of fun. We're honored to screen it in our lineup.
Best of luck for you continued success!” New Hope Film Festival Chairman, Doug Whipple.
The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam is an official selection and nominated for 4 Awards at the 2014 Madrid International
Film Festival for: Best Short Film, Best Director of a Short Film, Best Music in Film and Best Costume. Bogna is
planning to get international distribution of this film, on cable and digitally. View all film updates at
http://www.TheBalladofSnakeOilSam.com Watch the trailer on Vimeo at http://arlenebogna.com/The-Ballad-of-
Snake-Oil-Sam
About Arlene Bogna and Vista Point Pictures
Arlene Bogna is an award-winning writer/director with a passion for character-driven storytelling and
compelling visuals. Visit her website at http://www.arlenebogna.com Vista Point Pictures is an award-winning
production boutique committed to narrative films, visually compelling commercials, new media, promos and
viral campaigns. For more information, visit http://www.vistapointpictures.com Jowharah Films is an award-
winning production company of which Romell Foster-Owens is President. For more information, visit
http://www.jowharahfilms.com The Ballad of Snake Oil Sam is directed by Arlene Bogna and Produced by
Romell Foster-Owens and Anthony Ferranti; the Cast stars: Actors, Zane Byrdy, Gladys Nyoth, Gabriel Voss,
Cristina Balmores, and Eva Zeva.
#####
For media inquiries and interview opportunities, Contact:
Nicolette J. Fontaine, Publicist/Social Media Manager at Discovery Media & Marketing
Office tel. 561.302.7782 ~ Twitter @DiscoveryMM ~ Email: nicolettefontaine@comcast.net