ARTHOUSE FILM NEWS - Cosmic Disco Detective Rene at Facets, Chicago 11/29/23

a lot of people are saying good things about this movie :

Read about it here . Here's a segment of the article: "The organizers said that the march will continue until Tuesday when they intend to reach the UN office, Colombo. A petition to be handed over to the UN office requesting international action against the military junta by the monks, the sources added. " Read the rest here . - Sujewa

Go here to find out more about the Independent Film Festival Boston, 2008. Fest happens April 23 - 28. Also of possible interest, their Alumni DVDs page. - Sujewa

Obama campagin site

Micheal Sarti & Jason Sheinkopf, the Maryland based (as far as i know) makers of A Stupid Movie for Jerks , had the following to say recently about my 2/13 screening announcement (this was preceded by a long, obsessive rant about my blog): "footage of a diner, or a girl's rock collection, where nothing happens -- that's not a movie. nor is it art. it's just lowering the bar so you and lucas mcnelly and amir can step over it. stop giving REAL indie filmmakers who put in the REAL work a bad name." So I guess they believe that they are the "REAL" indie filmmakers, except no one pays attention to them or their movie because they are too real. Poor babies. Or it could be that Sarti & Sheinkopf are incredibly annoying & whiny, and because of that no one wants to have much to do with them. They leave hate-lite comments on my blogs a few times a month. A habit that started when I decided to not write about their masterpiece's premiere a fe

Latest on the old (over 20 years now) & ugly war in Sri Lanka. From Time : "The government declared in July that it has routed the rebels from the east. In recent months, the military has focused on crushing the rebels in their de facto state in the north, with near-daily battles raging along the front lines deep in the jungle." Read the rest here . - Sujewa

Check it out here . Looking forward to watching both of those movies. - Sujewa

How many movies do I watch in a year? In an effort to figure that out, this year I am going to try to make a quick note whenever I watch a movie that I have not seen before. Just the title, that's it (maybe a little bit more about the movie too if i feel like it). Saw The Heartbreak Kid tonight, the recent Ben Stiller version, directed by the Farrelly bros. Liked it. Some funny stuff. Great cinematography. There, my first movie of '08. Do TV shows, web stuff, cable shows count for this? Hmmm. Maybe I'll just stick to making a note of just the movies for this year, but they can be from any outlet (DVD, TV, cable, theaters, etc.). :: 1/8/08 Update: - Saw The Hoax (w/ Richard Gere) a couple of days ago, pretty good - TV & old/previously seen films watching note: Sopranos Season 2; several episodes, about 10 mins. of Flesh Gordon (yeah, i don't think i'll watch the rest of it :), about 30 mins of 28 Days Later (good movie, & shot on DV - excellent) :: - Sujewa

[3/10/08 update: will have exact screening date (& possible new venue) this month.] * Date Number One (2008) 90 mins, an updated (shorter & better/yummier) version of 2006's "witty" (GreenCine Daily), "funny" (The Chutry Experiment), "sexy" (Hollywood Is Talking) comedy about several first dates * Rock Collection 15 mins, 2007 kensington, md resident amanda haynes shows us her rock collection * Magnus & The Air Quotes Woman 3 mins, 2006 - 2007 a man threatens to break up with his girlfriend if she does not change an annoying habit Venue To Be Determined

Just heard (from Cinema Echo Chamber ) about a movie called "I Am Through with White Girls", sounds funny. Here's a description from IMDB : "Jay Brooks is that black guy who digs indie rock, graphic novels, and dates white chicks. After a slew of bad break-ups, Jay gives up white women, "cold turkey," and he goes on a mission: "Operation Brown Sugar". But because Jay doesn't fit the "brotha" stereotype, he fails miserably with the "sistahs." Then he meets the dynamic Catherine, a misunderstood "Half-rican Canadian", who's as righteously quirky as he is. To win her heart, Jay must confront his fears as he realizes commitment is a bigger issue than race. I'M THROUGH WITH WHITE GIRLS, written by Courtney Lilly (Arrested Development, Everybody Hates Chris, My Boys), is a quirky romantic-comedy addressing race, class, and cultural identity in America." More about the film at the IMDB page . I'll have

With John Sayles 's new film Honeydripper & Greg Araki 's new film Smiley Face , 2008 is already a better year for real indie film than 2007. Yes, both films have recognizable actors & their budgets are bigger than those of no-budget DV real indie films, but for indie authorship history, & distribution - in Honeydripper's case, & embracing of unusual/diverse topics - again in Honeydripper's case, these two movies are far more real independents than a whole lot of so called indies from Hollywood. Check these movies out if they play at a theater near you or on DVD, they look fun; let two veteran indie filmmakers entertain you. For Honeydripper theatrical screening dates, go here . Honeydripper trailer: :: Smiley Face screens at the IFC Center in NYC starting Jan 2, go here for info. Smiley Face trailer: - Sujewa

Here is the update on all my present & past film projects: 1. untitled '08 feature #1, status: script/being written 2. Date Number One (2008), status: in post, most likely will be available on DVD in January '08 (this month!) 3. Magnus & The Air Quotes Woman (2007), status: released, available on the web at Funny or DIE , MySpaceTV , & YouTube , will be an extra item in the upcoming Date Number One DVD 4. Rock Collection (2007), status: in post, most likely will be available on the web in January '08/later this month, & as a DVD extra at some point in '08 5. Dimensional Portal (2007), status: in post, will be available either on line or as an extra item on a DVD in 2008 6. Date Number One (2006), status: this version of DNO was significantly altered to produce DNO '08; the '06 version will most likely find its way to being a DVD extra item at some point in '08 7. Capital Heartbreak & Sweetness: 17 DC Poets (2002), status: complet

Here's para 1 of the review : " “Plan 9 from Syracuse” is the year’s best documentary, bar none. This astonishing film details the extraordinary lengths that a single dream-driven individual dared to travel in pursuit of what many people might consider to be a cockamamie dream. Not unlike the Ed Wood anti-classic that inspired its title, the film is fueled by a logic and energy that is distinctive unto itself. But unlike Ed Wood’s endeavor, this “Plan 9" is a thoroughly compelling work of art." Read the rest here . MySpace page for "Plan 9 from Syracuse" . - Sujewa

From a Time magazine cover story : "We can banish extreme poverty in our generation--yet 8 million people die each year because they are too poor to survive. The tragedy is that with a little help, they could even thrive. In a bold new book, Jeffrey D. Sachs shows how we can make it happen" Read the rest here . - Sujewa

From Withoutabox : "Taking its inspiration from other underground festivals, STIFF aims to be Seattle's Slamdance. Festival organizers strive to put on a first-rate, smoothly-run event and to provide opportunities to help STIFF filmmakers to attain their goals, get distribution, press, or a wider audience for their films. The Festival is rapidly emerging on the indie scene, and brings together a diverse offering of original new voices in independent film from the Northwest, and around the world. The STIFF schedule is made up of packed screenings, parties, a music and comedy festival, and press and promotion opportunities for participating filmmakers. The Festival is held at multiple venues throughout Seattle, including theaters such as the Jewel Box Theater and Central Cinema, both of which serve beer and meals during screenings. STIFF 2008 filmmakers compete to win career boosting opportunities; for instance, the Grand Jury Prize winner gets to take a meeting with an acquisi