Saw "Midnight in Paris" :: Link to a story about the making of Woody Allen's first movie

Saw "Midnight in Paris" at the Angelika last night (if you're gonna watch a Woody Allen movie, doing it in Manhattan may be the best way to go - but, for this movie, Paris might be better), had a lot of fun at the show.  Best to go see the movie w/ out reading too much about it.  Highly recommended for fans of literature (at least of the big names from modern lit history) & the subject of time travel. 

Good read here about the start of Woody Allen's filmmaking career.

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"Machan" benefit screening for Kandy International Film Festival, Wed 5/26, Brooklyn

Here's the Facebook page for the event.

Basic Info (see Facebook page for more):

Time: Wednesday, May 26, 6 PM - 9 PM

Location: Rebar, 147 Front Street, Brooklyn.

Kandy International Film Festival website.

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Interview with 1970's breakthrough Sri Lankan alternative filmmaker Dharmasena Pathiraja

While doing research for another project, stumbled on this very interesting interview.  From the intro:

"He has been referred to as a "rebel with a cause," an "enfant terrible of the '70s, and is widely recognised as the pioneer of Sri Lankan cinema's "second revolution." However, from his speech and writings, one gathers Dharmasena Pathiraja is more interested in re-examining the values that underpin such popular labels than to let his work be framed by mere posturing. If Lester James Peries has been credited with the establishment of an indigenous Sinhala cinema coinciding with Sri Lanka's political, social and cultural revolution during the mid-1950s, and whose works were categorised as "art films" dissimilar to those of mainstream filmmaking, Dharmasena Pathiraja's arrival on the scene in the 1970s would redefine a socially conscious Other to Peries' gaze on "bourgeois idealism." For Pathiraja, critical engagement would be his "alternative.""

Read the rest of the interview at Kinema.

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Trailer for the under $1K feature LORD BYRON

The feature length movie "Lord Byron" played at Sundance 2011, has gotten some good reviews (including a begrudgingly positive one from Mike "Hammer to Nail" Tully, who is not a fan of real indie movies/movies w/ out Hollywood/Indiewood production values or aesthetic values - but probably 'cause the flick got the Sundance stamp of approval, & also see the much better New York Times review), & some screenings, and most importantly was made for $700 - a budget that most DIY filmmakers can no doubt love.  Here's the trailer:



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The Lokayata Series & update from NYC

Fairly restless day today, but a very good off day from day job work, got a lot of writing & organizing done for film projects.  Big news from life in NYC is the new day job is going pretty well - working for a DVD distribution company (believe it or not people still buy A LOT of DVDs in America) - still not able to make movies beyond the ultra-low budget level at best, but the job is making it possible to survive, deal with debt slowly, & get some film work done in NYC on off days - so not bad for now.

Alright, before the new film news, let's bring any new readers up to speed.  Here are the titles of the movies that I've completed so far: Fresh Coffee, Wild Diner, Capital Heartbreak & Sweetness: 17 DC Poets, Date Number One, Indie Film Blogger Road Trip.  And one more, Brooklyn Fantastic, is shot & is being edited, not yet complete.  And there are a dozen screenplays at various stages of completion at the moment.  Of the completed movies, Date Number One is available for rental from Dynamo Player, see link at top of blog.  And Indie Film Blogger Road Trip is available to view for free from Blip.TV, see link on this blog.  Brooklyn Fantastic will go out to festivals as soon as it is done, & then on DVD & VOD.  The other movies, mostly early "learning experience" movies, will be made available via some form or format in the near future (perhaps extras on VOD programs or DVDs).

But onto the next thing: The Lokayata Series.  I've planned out in great detail several movies - all ultra low/no budget, requiring no crew (maybe 1 other tech besides myself), & to be self-distributed - and all will be dealing with - in a mainstream accessible way - comedy basically - with important aspects of being alive at this moment in time & place - 2011 or so, USA, NYC.  So, I guess you can say the movies are philosophical comedies, or just comedies that deal in some significant & entertaining way with some large questions for us humans (or some persistent questions of ours, maybe mental background noise or chatter for most people) - one of which is why is the world the way it is (maybe, from one character's perspective mostly evil than good, or at least mostly dysfunctional as opposed to functional), & what, if anything, can I do about it, & if not being able to immediately make changes I want to make, how do I successfully deal with life until that time for desired change comes - stuff like that, pretty much.  Of course for each movie the questions dealt with will be very clearly defined, not vague as it may read here.  By the way the term lokayata is said to be from or refers to an ancient materialist school of philosophy from India, now largely lost, that predates Buddhism & modern Hinduism.  I also like the way the word sounds, reminds me of a word I heard in Sri Lanka as a kid - "lokaya" - or "the world".

So, that's it for coming attractions for now.  Check out Date Number One, which went live on Dynamo Player on 5/4, if you haven't yet.  I hope to deliver/make available a couple more movies - at least - next month - in June.  And then hopefully new movies on a regular basis - every couple of months.

- Sujewa

Jay Duplass doc "Kevin" - Kickstarter project

Midnight in Paris trailer, Movieline review

Woody Allen's new movie Midnight in Paris gets a glowing review at Movieline - check it out.

Here's the trailer for the movie:



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right about now, 2 years ago - interview with reid gershbein

still amazed that reid manages to make no budget features, very no budget features, w/ a no crew/tiny crew & that the movies look interesting (visually) & that they are interesting content wise - read interview that i did with him back in '09 here.

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Richard Brody is excited about the Maryland Film Festival

Read all about it at this New Yorker blog post.

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3 min Preview of Date Number One

3 min Preview of Date Number One from Sujewa Ekanayake on Vimeo.

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Watch the rest of the movie here, at Dynamo Player ($1.99 for a 7 day rental, can use Pay Pal or Amazon, do not need to have a Pay Pal account - can use your credit card with it).

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Date Number One available through Dynamo Player

Pictured above - 4 characters from Date Number One, played by John Stabb Schroeder, Jewel Greenberg, Dele Butler, Jennifer Blakemore.  Photos Copyright 2006 Sujewa Ekanayake/Wild Diner Films.
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5 years after it premiered in DC, my feature comedy Date Number One is finally available to view through a widely accessible method - a 7 day rental through the web for $1.99 (pay through Pay Pal or Amazon) from Dynamo Player - look at the top of the blog or click here to check out the comedy about a ninja that goes on a blind date and other first date stories.

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NYT article about African American Film Festival Releasing Movement :: "I Will Follow" discussion at Hope for Film

 
Check out the New York Times article here.

And check out post by director of film "I Will Follow" at Hope for Film blog.

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Intro to Dynamo Player

The Case of the Missing Verizon Tech

The tale, based 100% on real life events, fresh in memory since it happened today:

1.  Verizon tech is scheduled to show up between 8 AM - 12 Noon at my apartment in Brooklyn to get us their "amazingly fast" (or some such promising/exciting thing) internet service

2.  Hours go by, no call from Verizon tech or anyone else from Verizon.  A call is placed by me to Verizon around 2 PM, literally 12,000 menus later, the automated system tells me that I am still scheduled to get internet service today & that even a live representative will have that information only (their passive aggressive way of trying to keep potential customers from even attempting to try to get a hold of a live representative).

3.  More hours go by, 6:45 PM, I call Verizon again to see what's going on.  After dealing with 12,000 menus I get a hold of a live representative.  She is not certain why the tech did not show up or call.  And she is not sure when the tech can try to come back out to my place.  She wants me to call Verizon in the morning & try & see if I can schedule another tech visit.  There is no direct number to call, I must go through 12,000 automated menus again the next day.

4.  Conclusion: Apparently Brooklyn, not unlike Bermuda Triangle for sailors of old, is a mysterious & difficult place for Verizon & their techs.  They just disappear here, time & appointments & the accepted norms in businesses - such as updating your client when major changes happen to plans - cannot be observed by Verizon in Brooklyn.  So I decide to look to other corporations for my internet needs.

Further Conclusions:

- perhaps Verizon is too big, not enough competition makes companies lazy & they start taking potential customers for granted, time for other folks to start up internet service companies for New Yorkers & everyone else for that matter

- all wise souls who reside in Brooklyn - & perhaps elsewhere for that matter - may want to think twice about ordering internet service from Verizon

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Movieline article on Tribeca fest closing night & "Newlyweds"

Pretty good, check it out.

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2 video clips from Behind Jim Jarmusch post-screening Q & A, 4/29/11, NYC

Featuring Lea Rinaldi (director of Behind Jim Jarmusch), & the world famous actor Isaach De Bankole (The Limits of Control, Night On Earth).

Clip 1

Clip 2

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