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

Get the insane but sadly true story (according to NPR) about a political assassination accusation & the fate of a person who Twittered (is that the word?) about it - at BoingBoing .

I am typing this blog entry on a less than $400 lap top that I bought from Best Buy - I've had it for a few months now (came in very handy when I was apartment hunting in Brooklyn in late '08 & shooting the first half of Brooklyn Fantastic in March), works great (less than $400! brand new laptop). So, since they made it possible for me to have a cheap lap top solution, am glad to help Best Buy out a little by spreading the word re: a filmmaking contest that they are running . Here's the intro: "Best Buy is asking consumers to create branded videos through MOFILM U12 – a user generated movie contest hosted by Spike Lee. They are looking for short, creative films showcasing how technology holds great promise, is entertaining, connecting and fuels life passions. Spike Lee himself will be viewing the top videos so channel your inner-creative genius and get to work. Up for grabs is a $10,000 Best Buy shopping spree, a trip to the Cannes Lions 2009 Advertising Festiva

For more info., go here . The highlights: - Peter Broderick, considered the leading authority on alternative distribution strategy, will give an empowering presentation on maximizing distribution with new, innovative techniques. Broderick has been one of low-budget filmmaking's leading experts since the early 90's. He wrote a series of articles for Filmmaker back then that helped drive the micro-budget filmmaking movement. In 1997 he founded Next Wave Films, which helped launch the careers of filmmakers like Christopher Nolan, Joe Carnahan and many others. Now, as the President of Paradigm Consulting, he is a sought-after consultant, speaker, and producers rep. He will be coming straight from Cannes, where is on the panel "New Platforms for Filmmakers: Are They Working Yet?" with other indie film notables like John Sloss. - Director Alex Holdridge will discuss the making of his award-winning feature "In Search Of A Midnight Kiss". Shot for $15,000 with

IMAX should hire Aziz Ansari as a spokesperson when they decide to re-brand their "IMAX for the small movie theater screens" products & services 'cause Ansari's comic rage at having to pay $5 extra for "fake IMAX" aka LIEMAX at an AMC theater is getting the company all kinds of attention (at present mostly the negative kind, but hey, couple of biz plan changes & some new hiring & maybe some firing later, it can all work in IMAX's favor). The latest on the ordinary people (assisted by a TV actor/comic) vs. IMAX struggle: Destroy Fake IMAX blog , where fake IMAX screens around the US are being identified. Also, Ansari challenges IMAX CEO to a televised debate on their respective positions - here . - Sujewa

I haven't seen the whole thing yet, but I did see a couple of scenes that may have to do with a physics mystery, and, I hear Reid shot & recorded sound for this film (using lavs) himself - which is a great way to go for DIY filmmakers who do not want to or can't (due to budgetary limitations, nature of scene, etc.) use another person for boom mic, etc. - so I was curious about the dialogue sound quality (excellent, from what I saw). Also I like the way the video looks (HD?) - kind of pastelly/soft/nice colors, & Reid did a selective focus thing in the trailer (see it here ) for this film (in post?). Looking forward to seeing the whole 35 mins. after work. So, here it is (& go here for more info. on Here. My Explosion... ):

While some people never bothered to figure out what the extra cost at IMAX branded theaters that don't have massive 70+ feet IMAX screens were getting them, Ansari has & he wants his money back . Catch all the oversized drama & plentiful comments here . Thanks Matt Dentler's blog for the link. (i am definitely sliding away from my "essential blogging only" rule with this post, but will be back on that wagon right after this) Related: VFX engineer on why Star Trek is not IMAX

You heard it here first indie film people - the new Wordpress powered service Blogs.mu can be an awesome tool for creating & promoting low budget movies & in creating that highly prized community feel that we want to attach to our products (communities = long term revenue streams, & plus, more fun). Basically, for free (if you are OK with their ads) or for a very small fee ($1 a blog per month I believe is the low end) you could create/host/edit a network of blogs that deal with either one project, several projects, a community, or whatever (for our use, I can see indie filmmakers or companies creating a Blogs.mu community for each of their films or even getting a blog for each of the key creatives, or, why not, all the people involved in the project). Here are some links to explore: The thing itself - Blogs.mu: http://blogs.mu/ Here's a quick intro to the concept: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/05/12/interview-with-blogsmu-founder-james-farmer/ Here's a c

Get all the fascinating info. on how one filmmaker is working on making a feature length movie using video captured through a still camera - at Filmmaker Slog .

Check out John Ott's A New Auteur Theory for the Age of Social Media . From the article: "Directing is no piece of cake, but in many ways the Hollywood director is less responsible for the existence of a film than his indie cousin. The Hollywood director is a replaceable cog in a big machine. Instead of praising these directors, new criticism should praise filmmakers, the people who can make a film happen out of nothing, the indie filmmaker who, against all laws of respectability and economics – especially economics – with steady work and fast talk, with devotion and determination, with rugged individualism and creative collaboration, is able to distill a story into cinema and place it before the eyes and minds of a receptive audience." Read the rest of the article here . - Sujewa

Several filmmakers are trying to make a feature each - from script to screen - in two weeks. Get all the info here . Sounds like a lot of work, but then again 48 Hour Film Projects are fun (although there you are trying to make a short), and I did once shoot a feature in two days (way back in the 16MM days, it did not turn out well), so, definitely doable. I am sure we'll hear more about those crazy 2 Week filmmakers very soon (the films are supposed to be completed this month). More here . :: The title for this post was inspired by a scene in There's Something About Mary - a fine movie, even though it's Hollywood. Here's the scene: - Sujewa

Check out "What happens to filmmakers who can't market themselves?" post at SpeedCine's blog. Aside from the film related stuff, the YouTube video re: Trent Reznor's marketing & self-distribution work is interesting.