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

Photo Copyright 2008 Sujewa Ekanayake * Bowery subway station, NYC - looking like a place out of a sci-fi movie.

Since I am brand new to living in NYC everything (well, lots of things at least) looks exciting, so I am taking a lot of photos & also shot some still camera videos while I was out & about the last couple of days, so here are a couple of items (even on lo-res such a photogenic city!): - Sujewa

Here's the trailer for it:

Go here to read about Cookies & Cream, Uptown, & Carter - the 3 ultra-low budget, D.I.Y., DV features completed this year by One Way or Another Productions .

iW's Eugene Hernandez posted this clip of one of the more interesting moments during the post-show Q & A on Fri 12/12 in NYC.

A photo from National Arin Crumley Day event in Brooklyn on Sat 12/13 night. For more photos, check out this Facebook album .

That's Steven Soderbergh on the right, signing my Che road show booklet. Saw Che earlier tonight - will have more about the movie after I get some sleep - but I think people who are fans of Guevara will enjoy Soderbergh's bio epic - there wasn't a scene (that I can recall) in the movie where Guevara was depicted as being unusually evil, cruel, unreasonable, etc. However, regardless of Soderbergh's judgement of Guevara, Che is a well made & exciting movie (the Red camera footage from Part 1 of the film - The Argentine - is very sweet) - the four hours plus did not feel long. But more about the film later, this post is about the post-screening hang out session. A big thanks to Steven Soderbergh for doing the very lengthy Q & A (1 hour? 45 mins?) and then sticking around to sign the programs of everyone - at least 100 people- who wanted them signed (audiences at today's 7 PM show received booklets with info. about the film). I got mine signed, got a photo take

:: Fri 12/12, 6 PM Sisters In Cinema panel (moderated by Indie Film Blogger Road Trip star KJ Mohr!): "Time and Place Date: Friday, December 12, 2008 Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm Location: Teachers College, Columbia University Street: 525 West 120th Street (take the 1 train to 116th Street) City/Town: New York, NY View Map Google MapQuest Microsoft Yahoo Contact Info Phone: 212-864-1760 Email: info@nyadff.org " * "A conversation with independent African-American filmmakers whose films enjoyed a theatrical release in the US. Cheryl Dunye, Director -The Watermelon Woman, Leslie Harris, Director -Just another girl on the IRT, Bridget Davis, Director - Naked Acts. Moderated by KJ Mohr, Film & Media Arts Programmer, NATIONAL MUSEUM of WOMEN in the ARTS, Washington DC." More info. here (scroll down to the bottom of the page). Event's page on Facebook . :: Fri 12/12, 7 PM Che + Q & A Clearview's Ziegfeld 141 West 54th Street between 6th & 7th Aves "Q&a

ITVS is the Independent Television Service, which, according to Independent Magazine is "one of the most prestigious sources for film funding in the United States." From the Independent article : " If the professionalism and dedication of the ITVS production staff is universally praised, the reputation of ITVS’s legal team is another story. Much of the ill will that exists between the organization and filmmakers begins during the actual contract negotiations. Many of the sources who agreed to speak with The Independent demanded anonymity; they said they feared they would be sued by ITVS for speaking publicly, or that they were loath to offend a potential source of future funding. Much of their criticism concerned the way deals are put together. ITVS, they say, often plays hardball during funding negotiations, pushing inexperienced filmmakers to sign a lengthy and complex contract without the benefit of time to review it or to run it by a lawyer. One person who was will