NEW YORK, NEW YORK, July 16, 2010 – Big Vision Empty Wallet (BigVisionEmptyWallet.com), the only one-stop online destination for the independent film and arts community in New York City, along with sister company Industry Power Play, announced the winner of its Viral Comedy Video Competition last night at Fontana’s Rock & Roll Bar. The winning video, selected by audience and guest judge votes, was At The Porno Shop, about an unsuspecting customer getting a musical tour of his local adult video store, directed by Michael Rehfield. The prize was accepted on Rehfield’s behalf by his wife, Kori Rehfield.

Viral Comedy Video Competition organizers, Dani Faith Leonard & Alex Cirillo, initially selected 20 finalists for online viewing on June 15 from hundreds of comedy videos submitted by Big Vision Empty Wallet readers. Viewers then watched all of the videos on BigVisionEmptyWallet.com and voted for their favorites. BVEW then revealed the Top 10 finalists on July 1, as voted on by viewers. The final competition was held last night at Fontana’s, where At the Porno Shop received the most votes.

The esteemed panel of guest judges at the competition included comedian Jim Florentine (Comedy Central’s Crank Yankers & VH1 Classics’ The Metal Show), Emmy-Winner Robert Levi (Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life), Tina Santomauro, Manager of Development/Acquisitions at Atom.com & Executive Producer of Atom TV, and screenwriter Jim Yoakum (Twisted Fortune).

At the Porno Shop will receive an array of prizes including an upcoming feature story on Big Vision Empty Wallet, a mention on Atom.com, a $50 gift card to B&H, another $50 gift card to Production Junction, and an opportunity to present the video at Moving Pictures Collective of NYC’s next meeting as part of its MoPictive Shorts Series at the prestigious Helen Mills Screening Room.

Big Vision Empty Wallet is the one-stop destination to promote films, discover local artists and explore the indie film community in NYC. BVEW offers a complete, ever-expanding resource guide including a directory of local vendors, union guidelines, guidelines for shooting in New York City, sample production forms, and job listings. The site boasts articles, including features on local news and artists and independent film reviews, as well as original videos and web series. In addition, the site hosts a section where filmmakers can create a visually interesting and clever project profile for their completed films, which gives filmmakers the ability to communicate specific opportunities they are seeking and why people should check out their film.

Founded in 2008, Industry Power Play produces a series of monthly film screenings and events for the independent film community of New York City. Industry Power Play provides a comfortable environment in which artists can come together over innovative indie films, sparking collaborations among like-minded artists at their weekly screenings.

Dani Faith Leonard is an actress and screenwriter based in New York City. She is a founding member of Broads & Wenches (BroadsAndWenches.com), the sexy girl group of NYC sketch comedy, and she also writes and performs with the sketch comedy troupe, Really Sketchy (ReallySketchy.com). Since graduating from Loyola College in Maryland, Alex Cirillo has balanced making her own short films and working as the Office Manager at Washington Square Arts and Films, where she works on feature films, television programming and commercials. Both women are active in the independent film community in NYC and work to create ventures that enhance the community and encourage people to make films in the city that they love.