I think it would be fair to say Rick Schmidt is the godfather of ultra-low budget real indie filmmaking because not only has he been engaged in the pursuit of that unique & often frustrating but sometimes awesomely rewarding art form since 1975 (!!!), but he has popularized the practice through his essential indie filmmaking how-to book Feature Filmmaking At Used Car Prices and the follow up book Extreme DV At Used Car Prices. Before I shoot a new film (and often during & after), I re-read one or both of his books.
I've seen several of the films produced by Rick & his Feature Workshops. One of the best, in my opinion, is the well written/conceived, well acted & well shot & edited Chetzemoka's Curse. It also has the honor of being the 10th film to receive the Dogme 95 certification. And the film tells an engaging story. Find out more about the film here and here.
Here is a little bit about the film:
"Only the second American Dogme 95 movie, Chetzemoka's Curse is about a young, twenty-something woman, Maya (Maya Berthoud), who is haunted by the memory of her first love and her subsequent betrayal. She still feels the pain, works to exorcise it as she wiles away her life as a maid in a small town hotel."
As far as I know this movie is not yet (!!!) available on DVD. It was released on VHS in '02, according to this page. You might have to contact Schmidt re: buying a copy (there is an e-mail link for Rick at the bottom of this page; lightvideo@aol.com ). Some bright company or individual needs to put this flick out on DVD ASAP - I think (& or get it on cable & theatrical also - IFC First Take maybe?). There is also a dozen or more other features by Rick & collaborator's that are not yet on DVD.
Here is a list of all of Rick's films (from his site):
"A MAN, A WOMAN, AND A KILLER (1975)
1988-THE REMAKE (1978)
EMERALD CITIES (1983) Available On DVD
MORGAN’S CAKE (1988) Available On DVD
AMERICAN ORPHEUS (1992)
BLUES FOR THE AVATAR (1995)
SOMEONE LIKE ME (1997)
WELCOME TO SERENDIPITY (1998)
LONELINESS IS SOUL (1998)
MAISY'S GARDEN (1998)
CRASH MY FUNERAL (1999)
SUN AND MOON (1999)
CHETZEMOKA'S CURSE (2000)
MY BOUNTYHUNTER (2001)
THE 5TH WALL (2001)
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE SHAWERMA (2002)
RELEASE THE HEAD (2004)
BEAR DANCE (2004)
THE HIGDEN MAN (2004)
MIRAGE (2005)
RICK'S CANOE (2006) "
That is an impressive body of real indie work.
- Sujewa
I've seen several of the films produced by Rick & his Feature Workshops. One of the best, in my opinion, is the well written/conceived, well acted & well shot & edited Chetzemoka's Curse. It also has the honor of being the 10th film to receive the Dogme 95 certification. And the film tells an engaging story. Find out more about the film here and here.
Here is a little bit about the film:
"Only the second American Dogme 95 movie, Chetzemoka's Curse is about a young, twenty-something woman, Maya (Maya Berthoud), who is haunted by the memory of her first love and her subsequent betrayal. She still feels the pain, works to exorcise it as she wiles away her life as a maid in a small town hotel."
As far as I know this movie is not yet (!!!) available on DVD. It was released on VHS in '02, according to this page. You might have to contact Schmidt re: buying a copy (there is an e-mail link for Rick at the bottom of this page; lightvideo@aol.com ). Some bright company or individual needs to put this flick out on DVD ASAP - I think (& or get it on cable & theatrical also - IFC First Take maybe?). There is also a dozen or more other features by Rick & collaborator's that are not yet on DVD.
Here is a list of all of Rick's films (from his site):
"A MAN, A WOMAN, AND A KILLER (1975)
1988-THE REMAKE (1978)
EMERALD CITIES (1983) Available On DVD
MORGAN’S CAKE (1988) Available On DVD
AMERICAN ORPHEUS (1992)
BLUES FOR THE AVATAR (1995)
SOMEONE LIKE ME (1997)
WELCOME TO SERENDIPITY (1998)
LONELINESS IS SOUL (1998)
MAISY'S GARDEN (1998)
CRASH MY FUNERAL (1999)
SUN AND MOON (1999)
CHETZEMOKA'S CURSE (2000)
MY BOUNTYHUNTER (2001)
THE 5TH WALL (2001)
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE SHAWERMA (2002)
RELEASE THE HEAD (2004)
BEAR DANCE (2004)
THE HIGDEN MAN (2004)
MIRAGE (2005)
RICK'S CANOE (2006) "
That is an impressive body of real indie work.
- Sujewa
