FILM DREAMS COME TRUE HOMEGROWN MOVIES TO GET SCREENINGS AT METHOD FEST.

While many people think of the Sundance Film Festival as the prime venue to catch independent films in their infancy - before they take that sometimes long march toward popular recognition - Valley residents have a showcase for great indie movies closer to home.

The Method Fest will be held March 31 through April 7 in Calabasas, featuring both feature length and short films.

Several Valley residents stood in front of and behind the camera in some of the movies.

Granada Hills resident Kavi Raz wrote, directed, produced and stars in the film ``The Gold Bracelet.'' The plot centers on a family from northern India, living in the United States, who practice the Sikh faith and how their lives change after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

He used a true incident to create the fictionalized script. The incident: Four days after the 9-11 attacks, a man who was a Sikh follower was shot and killed outside a gas station in Phoenix. The shooter mistakenly thought he was Arabic.

Complete story / Page 8

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(color) Kavi Raz, (right) of Granada Hills discusses a shot with Frank Conroy, director of photography, for the film ``The Gold Bracelet.'' Raz wrote, directed, produced and stars in the movie.