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

I do not know what Borat would say about the new movie Dance Party, USA ( myspace ). But here is what some other people who are not fake journalists making movie films about America are saying about Dance Party, USA: "Challenging, gritty, and true."-The Austin Chronicle "Dance Party, USA is so emotionally resonant, so heartbreaking yet hopeful, so tender yet intense, so realistic yet ethereal that its mesmerizes the viewer and holds their attention rapt... [It] might very well be the best independent film that I will see all year."-filethirteen.com "Impressive. The actors are tremendous. I watched it and couldn't quite figure out how it came together. That elusive quality is something special."-Andrew Bujalski (Director, Funny Ha Ha & Mutual Appreciation) "Dance Party, USA snuck up on me, which is a testament to writer/director Katz... He captures the empty conversation of young people... It's funny, but then it's kind of sad."-A

Well, not really, but if their blog was one of their movies, I am sure that's what the Criterion blog would look like. Once, a few years ago, I was getting ready to break up with a girlfriend so that I can do some research for Date Number One , but the girl gave me Criterion's Down By Law for Christmas. It is difficult to break up with someone who gives you a Criterion movie as a gift. The above story is not entirely true. But Criterion's new blog is. Check it out . - Sujewa

According to Filmmaker Magazine's blog Adrienne Shelly, a star of Hal Hartley's The Unbelievable Truth (one of my favorite films of all time) has died. Very, very sad. Shelly had recently directed Waitress, a yet unreleased feature. To remember Shelly & celebrate her life & work, here is a link to a great 2002 indieWIRE interview, conducted by Anthony Kaufman, regarding the Shelly directed film "I'll Take You There": http://www.indiewire.com/people/int_Shelly_Adrienne_000413.html Here is an excerpt from the interview where Shelly recalls getting the "green light" from producer Jim Stark to make the movie: "...I had this experience where I was having this very tough period where I was trying to work as an actor a lot, and I nearly got my own series on television. And then I was hired and fired off of an episode of "Spin City," which was a particularly humiliating role, that I didn't really want to do anyway where I played this m

get more info. here screening # 12 !The Final Screening of 2006! SAT NOVEMBER 4 :: 8 PM :: $6 a benefit screening for We Are Family, a DC non-profit that assists the elderly WAREHOUSE Screening Room 1017-21 7th St., NW Washington, DC 20001 202-783 3933 directions *** UPDATE : 11/2, 4:50 AM: Thanks The Home Improvement Ninja blog in DC for mentioning the screening!

Whenever people are down about how difficult or impossible it is to build a filmmaking career through self-distribution, I point to Lance Weiler. Lance recently finished a healthy D.I.Y. theatrical run of his new feature Head Trauma , his self-distributed feature #2, & started selling the film's DVD. This article from a couple of days ago briefly mentions Lance's upcoming projects. - Sujewa

From one of Chris " The Proper Care & Feeding of an American Messiah " Hansen's recent blog entries from the Virginia Film Festival: " About 15 minutes before the show, I started counting people. 22. Okay, I was thinking, maybe three dozen will show, a decent audience (if you have low expectations from previous festival experiences. But people kept coming. And coming. And coming." Read the rest here: http://christopherhansen.blogspot.com/2006/10/blogging-virginia-film-festival.html And there's more after that, check it out, Day 2: http://christopherhansen.blogspot.com/2006/10/virginia-film-festival-day-2.html And some more, Day 3, where Chris encounters an unfamiliar kind of Christianity: http://christopherhansen.blogspot.com/2006/10/virginia-film-festival-day-3.html - Sujewa

The Texas indie film Jumping Off Bridges is coming to my 'hood, here's the intro to the event: "November 15th, NIH’s Office of Science Education (OSE) and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), in partnership with the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County and the AFI Silver Theatre, will host a special film screening and tribute to Dr. Wayne Fenton , recognizing his love of film and dedication to public awareness and education about mental illness. This Science in the Cinema Special Event will include the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area premiere of the film jumping off bridges. For more information ." I am gonna try to be there. Go here for more info. on the event. - Sujewa

check it out here. comes with a neat/kinda hot still of Parker Posey. - sujewa

In NYC this weekend (11/3 & 4). Read all about it at Indie Features 06 . - Sujewa

That's right, not one but TWO films, telling the story of two episodes of the rebel leader's life. Read all about it at Variety. - Sujewa