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

Here's the intro to the interview : "Sarah Rodgers is an Austin performer known by most as Miss Conduct of the TXRD – Lonestar Rollergirls. As Miss Conduct, Sarah Rodgers has graced the pages of The RollingStone, and was featured in a 2006 A&E television series “ Rollergirls .” Most recently Sarah Rodgers can be found on the big screen sharing her experience on the track in the fast paced documentary, Hell on Wheels , produced by Austin filmmakers Bob Ray and Werner Campbell. “Sarah was the first actor we cast for The Spider Babies,” said director Christopher Sharpe. “I knew she had a great look, but once I met with her in person, she was so in sync with the character and the project that there was never really a “plan B” for Greta. Sarah was it.”" Read the interview at The Spider Babies site . - Sujewa

Let's get all David Hudson -y here & link to a couple of reviews of the new feature " Here. My Explosion... " (released on the web yesterday, go here to watch it). From Filmmaker Slog : "Being a true indie production puts it into some context but that doesn't mean I'll cut it any slack. There are things to dislike about the movie (mainly technical) but the performances shot in a cinema verite style are very natural and, I found, quite absorbing (despite many shots looking at the backs of people's heads). I forget who said it, but "movies are about people" and in that respect HME holds its own. Just the fact that people talk over each other freely is a small revelation when you're conditioned to standard Hollywood blockbusters where crashing each other's lines is just not the done thing (or if it is done, it is done in post dialogue editing). Visually the tilt-shift and grading give the whole production an almost surreal feel - whi

Go to this page to see Here. My Explosion... in its entirety (& if you wish, donate some $s to the project). My weekend movie watching plans include relaxing with the lap top & a glass of lemonade in Brooklyn & watching Here. My Explosion... , the latest in real indie (& hopefully excellent). - Sujewa

Video & translation from BoingBoing : Translation: "If you are reading this message, it means that I, Rodrigo Rosenberg Marzano, was murdered by the President's Private Secretary Gustavo Alejos and his associate Gregorio Valdez, with the approval of mister Alvaro Colom and Sandra de Colom. The reason for which Gustavo Alejos and Gregorio Valdez have ordered my death, and for which the President of the Republic Alvaro Colom has approved it, is because until the day I was killed, I was the lawyer for two incredible Guatemalans, Mister Khalil Musa and his daughter Marjorie Musa, and knew exactly how Alvaro Colom, Sandra de Colom, Gustavo Alejos and Gregorio Valdez were responsible for this cowardly assassination, which I made known to them and to anyone who could and would hear me. I was a 47 year old Guatemalan, with 4 beautiful children, with the best brother one could ask in life, with wonderful friends, and with an overwhelming desire to live in my country, but I could no

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