Indie-Film Producers Raise Money for VH-1 Charity

Friday, Nov. 7, at the Hotel Roosevelt in L.A., the producers of the movie, "Hi My Name is Ryan," teamed up with Brushfire Records, Fender Guitars, Skull Candy Audio Accessories and the American Film Institute to raise money for the VH-1 Save the Music Foundation.

The event took place during AFI's annual film festival and was a collabortation of marketing, networking, charity and fun.

All of the events were in an effort to build awareness for the different projects that were involved and their separate capacities in the foundation.

A variety of services, art pieces and musical showcases were offered to help with the evenings charity auction and the event was filled with people from all walks of the film industry.

Musical guests included Money Mark from the Beastie Boys, Digital Unicorn and the ska band, Go Go 13.

Each band provided party-goers with performances that lasted about twenty minutes and also plugged the movie and the foundation.

Art work donated by Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo was sold in a silent auction, as well as works from Colt Bowdin and Ryan Avery.

Other items that were highlighted during the evening's auction were a Fender acoustic guitar signed by G-love and a Stratocaster signed by Jack Johnson.

Other sponsors included a Hawaiian style beach cruiser company owned by Langdon Taguiped and Function Drinks, who provided energy beverages for all the guests.

A few others included Jon Heder from Napolean Dynamite and Lance Robertson from Yo Gabba Gabba.

"Hi My Name is Ryan" music producer, Ben Schultz, was pleased with the event.

"The AFI film festival staff were happy with us. They said it was the most successful party they had ever hosted. We're super stoked on that." Shultz said.

Schultz also served as the evening's director of events and was the party's main promoter.

"The main thing is that we just want people to have a good time here and then hopefully we can help other filmmakers and artists get inspired and noticed in their respective fields," Schultz said.

The effort, for him, was to promote his movie while raising money for a good cause. Bowdin, an independant artist whose works have been showcased on television and all over the western United States, was also in attendance.

"This is a rad event all around. The people are cool and the vibe is nice.. I was asked to be here by Ben Schultz, and when he asked if I would like to donate some of my art pieces, I was honored," Bowdin said.

In contrast to the several screenings of the festival, and according to many of the evenings guests, the event afforded tired film watchers a chance to let loose, stop stressing about their movies and dance the night away with some of their favorite artists, good friends and spectacular musical guests.