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Goodbye Jonas Mekas (1922 - 2019)

Joans Mekas has died.  He lived a long time - 96 years - and made a lot of movies (he once said that he shot video on a daily basis) - and championed underground and avant-garde cinema, and inspired several generations of filmmakers and other artists.  Among other achievements he was one of the founders of Anthology Film Archives . Mekas is a great source of inspiration for indie filmmakers.  He was often a one person crew, shooting video in available light, using things and people around him as his subjects - and he delivered moving, poetic movies. Here is an example of Mekas's work: * One about World Trade Center: * And another one - a long walk in NYC: * Here is a Q & A session with Mekas: * From the New York Times : "A Lithuanian immigrant who, with a younger brother, Adolfas, arrived in New York City in 1949 speaking little English, he became within a handful of years an effective spokesman for avant-garde film. (Adolfas, who die

WEREWOLF NINJA PHILOSOPHER review by filmmaker Rick Schmidt

Pardon me for being hysterically positive about Sujewa Ekanayake's latest indie comedy creation, Werewolf Ninja Philosopher , but when a no-budget flick like this shows up with everything in place – great casting, great B&W images, clever scriptwriting, perfect music, gutsy editing and scene-building, both meaningful and funny too – it's time to cheer for the entire (thought-of-as-dead) real indie scene.   An original 'breakthrough' feature like this, helmed by an artist who did the whole job himself, of scripting, directing, shooting, cutting & producing, should be enough to add Ekanayake's name to the list of Brooklyn film notables who dare to risk all for their cinematic art.   – Rick Schmidt * Werewolf Ninja Philosopher from Sujewa Ekanayake on Vimeo .

Werewolf Ninja Philosopher now available from Vimeo VOD

Werewolf Ninja Philosopher from Sujewa Ekanayake on Vimeo . * In WEREWOLF NINJA PHILOSOPHER someone is killing art filmmakers in NYC. The City calls on Werewolf Ninja Philosopher - a werewolf who is a ninja, a philosopher, and a private detective - to help stop the killings. A deadpan, slow cinema, minimalist, black & white, NYC art/indie/DIY/underground werewolf noir comedy by Sujewa Ekanayake. Starring Art Shrian Tiwari as Werewolf. Also featuring Kirsten Dwyer, Alia Lorae, Rachel Dixon and others. Music by Kevin MacLoed (full music details coming soon). Copyright 2018 Sujewa Ekanayake. "...The cinematography was seamless and controlled with a style that's personally Sujewa Ekanayake's...It had an intelligence to it with long scenes that held your attention much in the way of film noir, and the acting was consistent. The Werewolf himself was marvelous." - Edgar Grana, School of Visual Arts Instructor, Musician "“Werewolf” never takes itself serious

An Audience Review of Werewolf Ninja Philosopher

School of Visual Arts instructor and musician Edgar Grana saw Werewolf Ninja Philosopher on 10/25/18.  Here is his response to the movie - in video, and in text below. * * I was invited to the opening of Werewolf Ninja Philosopher. and I must say it was a delightful surprise. The cinematography was seamless and controlled with a style that's personally Sujewa Ekanayake's. It had an intelligence to it with long scenes that held your attention much in the way of film noir, and the acting was consistent. The Werewolf himself was marvelous.  I was amazed that I was willing to watch a Ninja walk down the streets of New York and Brooklyn. There were marvelous moments of philosophical asides when Werewolf was speaking into his cell phone. There were moments of cutaways to a strange and mysterious woman sitting in the park, a great foil. I will say that it was well worth the evening. The music cutting was controlled and crafted, never overdone.  There were moment

Werewolf Ninja Philosopher full trailer - 10/26/18 release - Maysles Cinema screenings links

*  Werewolf Ninja Philosopher screening at Maysles Cinema 10/25 - 31 -  https://www.maysles.org/calendar/werewolf Buy tickets here -  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/werewolf-ninja-philosopher-film-screenings-tickets-50954489249

Full Movie - SNEAK PREVIEW - Cosmic Disco Detective Rene And The Mystery Of Immortal Time Travelers

NEW - COSMIC DISCO DETECTIVE RENE (2023) - TRAILER!

The Secret Society For Slow Romance (2022) - available to rent as a new release starting January 1

Werewolf Ninja Philosopher at Vimeo VOD

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Indie Film Blogger Road Trip