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

The 10 DIY & Self-Distro Features In 5 Years Project I did the math late last week. Selling 2000 DVDs of " Date Number One " will allow me to continue to work on its distribution at a higher level (spend more time on the distro project & set up more screenings & promote them) and also will allow me to shoot my next ultra-low budget feature. Through my mailing lists, networking sites & blogs I am in touch with more than 1000 people, so, once the DVD comes out in July I should be on my way to reaching that 1st sales goal: 2000 DVDs. Maybe w/ in the next two months I will be able to reach that goal. 2000 "Date Number One" DVDs sold by September? We shall see. It may be possible for me to take an idea from script through production to distribution in 6 months. So I am going to set a 5 year production & distribution goal: 10 features. Under that goal I expect to make 2 new ultra-low budget features & get their DIY distribution started every year,

Saw the new Jared "Napoleon Dynamite" Hess directed Jack Black movie Nacho Libre tonight. It is pretty funny, even hilarious at some points. But about 15 minutes into the movie I said to my date that Mexico is not gonna like this movie. It's a cartoonish movie so taking a deeper view of its racial, ethnic, national politics & viewpoints are probably not warranted - or but are they? Simple, widely distributed movies can easily set up negative stereotypes & reinforce negative perceptions, so I think it's cool to question exactly what we are seeing. Beyond the initial layer of a goofy movie about a monk who moonlights as a wrestler, here is what I saw & cringed at: 1) all adult characters save 2 - Black's Nacho & the nun - the object of Nacho's desire - are corrupt & without heroic qualities (they are sometimes likeable, but not consistently heroic & charmingly human as Black's character). Nacho - since he is played by Black - even wit

Facets Multi-Media in Chicago has a blog. It looks pretty new, but promises good things. Check it out here.

DATE NUMBER ONE http://www.wilddiner.com/ a comedy about several first dates a movie by sujewa ekanayake "FIVE really entertaining, fully realized romantic interludes...a shamefully rare achievement" - Tom Kipp , Seattle audience member, former film reviewer for Seattle alternative weekly The Stranger Sat June 24 7 PM $5 Kensington Row Bookshop 3786 Howard Ave. Kensington, MD 20895 301.949.9416 Director & some of the stars will attend the screening. "Heartfelt...poignant...I loved it!" - Jon Moritsugu , award winning filmmaker "Date Number One is quite funny...also a subtle, thoughtful film...might be understood as the anti-Crash depiction of life in the city...depicts a comfortably multi-ethnic community...I'd happily recommend it." - Chuck Tryon , media professor & blogger, The Chutry Experiment blog

It's a non-competetive fest, which I like. Here's some info. about the fest from their website : " What keeps Cucalorus going? Over the years the festival has been directed by a small number of passionate and creative individuals. Founded by a small filmmaking collective known as Twinkle Doon, the festival has adhered to its noncompetitive roots. Why noncompetitive? Almost every other film festival in the world dangles prizes before its participants, creating an atmosphere of intense competition; by compare, the laid back atmosphere at Cucalorus offers a breath of fresh air on the hectic film festival circuit. The festival's driving force is to create an open and relaxed atmosphere for both filmmakers and filmgoers. Inspiration is found; friendships are forged. Ask any alumni filmmaker and you'll find that most feel that they've become part of a fierce family of like-minded spirits. " Submission deadline is July 15. The fest happens Nov 8 - 11. Here's

Some of the choices are indie only in spirit, not in production & distribution (The Player for example), but some of the choices are dead on/essential viewing for anyone interested in American independent film as a distinct creative field (Shadows, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, Stranger Than Paradise, Metropolitan). All in all a very good list for the moment. It will have to be upgraded in 5 years or less I think as the term "indie film" gets re-defined by relatively ultra-low budget, fully or partially self-distributed (I Am A Sex Addict, The Puffy Chair, Robot Stories, Four Eyed Monsters, LOL) or "largely seen in film festivals before appearing on very limited theatrical/DVD/VOD" digital video features replace the mostly 16 MM, relatively higher budgeted, Hollywood & indiewood distributed productions that were the norm in American indie 10-15 years ago. One of the few exception to this new reality is Andrew "Mutual Appreciation" Bujalski

GreenCine's Head of Acquisitions (if that's not his exact title, it's pretty damn close) Jonathan Marlow writes about several real indie films (independently produced, low budget as opposed to Indiewood/Hollywood produced) and their distribution paths in an entry posted today to the excellent film blog GreenCine Daily . All 3 Maryland New Wave films, including Date Number One , and Bujalski's Mutual Appreciation, The Puffy Chair & several other new indie movies are mentioned. Read it here. Thanks! - Sujewa

...see what's going on with the On The Road movie. Not much info. found so far on the web. But here is the IMDB page for the project: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337692/ It'll be interesting to see how Salles brings the book to life. Did I hear that it was going to be shot on B & W ? I would have gone with color. Rich 50's colors. But then again I haven't made a successful bio-epic yet, so perhaps Walter knows a thing or two about this kind of a project. I am a huge fan of On The Road the book. It saved me from a bleak Chicago Winter in the early 90's. Looking forward to seeing the movie. If you've got any cool On The Road movie links, post 'em in comments please. Thanks. - Sujewa

Check it out here. Thanks! - Sujewa

Went to see several bands at a performance venue/store called Sangha in Takoma Park, MD last night. Saw/heard the local Kensington, MD darlings The Parlor Scouts & discovered a new & excellent band called Nice Zombie . Bought the Nice Zombie CD "Zombie Tea Party" (only $5!), good stuff, rocked out to it on the drive home last night. Sangha has a screen so a Date Number One screening has been set up there for July 13 at 8 PM, $5. Will have all the details soon (like later today). I had to return my computer monitor to its owners on Fri (thanx jim & ellen!) so went shopping for a new one yesterday. Got a used 17" monitor from a place called PC Retro in Beltsville, MD for $30! Sound & music editing on Date Number One coming up this week (doing a bunch of it tonight!!!), & it'll be happening on my new monitor. Should be able to have a final version of the movie this coming week, will mail out screeners to reviewers & theaters & fests, &

I saw it for the first time yesterday. Greg's indieWIRE hosted blog is only a couple of days old I think. Read it here. - Sujewa