Still very surprised that the Indie Film Blogger Road Trip clip has been viewed more than a couple of hundred times. So far the clip has been on YouTube for 3 weeks, and we just passed the 1500 views mark. If 25% of that number of people end up buying the DVD at any point in the future, the cost of production for that doc probably would be covered (haven't added up all the receipts yet, but the cash expenses were not very high for IFBRT - even by ultra-low budget DIY DV film standards, if I recall correctly). Anyway, very cool.
By the stream review - from Lincoln Center, NYC viewing - no spoilers The hype is real - By the Stream is very good by Hong movies standards and also normal comedy-drama standards. There were like 30-40 people at Lincoln Center for the 1PM Fri 8/8/25 (opening day) screening of By the Stream. People in that neighborhood are serious about their foreign films. Cinematography is very simple, from a canon XA small sensor HD cam, I could see familiar details, how those cams film the moon, scenes at night - it’s like a 1980s or 1990s early indie cinematography style that we do not see much these days - works well for Hong’s movies. No color grading, very simple video/cinematography. A more fleshed out movie than some recent Hong movies. In the movie a skit is prepped, and we actually get to see it performed. A couple of serious issues are discussed. Some unexpected, light things happen. It’s a comedy-drama chill hangout movie w/ creative South Korean people - good times. Probably o...
