Ooh.com lists Ryan Balas' Carter world premiere on their "things to do" list. Check it out HERE.
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Saturday, November 7, 2009
TCW Interviews Ryan Andrew Balas
Here is an exclusive interview from TCWReviews with director Ryan Andrew Balas. Balas is preparing for the exciting World Premiere of Carter, here in NYC at the Anthology Film Archives as part of the NewFilmmakers Fall Series. The film premieres on November 24th, @ 8:45 pm. Mark your calendars! Here is some of the interview, after the jump:
"TCWreviews’s Administrator and Editor in chief Clifford Kiyabu sits down with Carter director for an exclusive interview. Ryan Andrew Balas is a Director, a Writer, and an Actor. He did this interview with me recently to talk about his new film ‘CARTER’ which will make it’s début later this month, as well as a little about himself and what is the driving force behind his style of filmmaking. But what makes him such a worthy person to have a sit down with yours truly is the fact he is a person with a impressively strong will who will not stop until his daydreams become a reality for all to see. Such ideals are that of a genius in the making.
CK: First off let me thank you for making time to do this interview, you must be very busy with the premiere of CARTER just around the corner.
RB: No problem at all, totally my pleasure. Thanks for taking the time to ask these questions, it's very appreciated. I'm busy promoting the screening for sure, and putting the final touches on my directors cut of the film. I also stay fairly preoccupied day dreaming about the other projects I’m working on. I'm a hyperactive guy.
CK: So before we get into talking about the film I think it would be great if my readers got to know a little bit about the man behind the camera first.
RB: The man behind the goofy glasses!
CK: So sell us a little about yourself
RB: I'm a Midwestern transplant. Born in Indiana and spent my teenage years in Michigan. I moved to NYC in 2004, to study acting, I did the first year with the Upper West side as my campus. In 2005, I hopped over to the west coast and completed my conservatory training in Los Angeles in 2006 and shortly thereafter, moved back to NYC. I've been happily living in Queens, with my girlfriend, two dwarf rabbits and two cats, ever since. I tend to get the most work done when I stay up all night, so I get very little sleep. I'm a huge day dreamer and try to go for a good brain storm walk, every day."
Read the full interview HERE:
www.carterthemovie.com
"TCWreviews’s Administrator and Editor in chief Clifford Kiyabu sits down with Carter director for an exclusive interview. Ryan Andrew Balas is a Director, a Writer, and an Actor. He did this interview with me recently to talk about his new film ‘CARTER’ which will make it’s début later this month, as well as a little about himself and what is the driving force behind his style of filmmaking. But what makes him such a worthy person to have a sit down with yours truly is the fact he is a person with a impressively strong will who will not stop until his daydreams become a reality for all to see. Such ideals are that of a genius in the making.
CK: First off let me thank you for making time to do this interview, you must be very busy with the premiere of CARTER just around the corner.
RB: No problem at all, totally my pleasure. Thanks for taking the time to ask these questions, it's very appreciated. I'm busy promoting the screening for sure, and putting the final touches on my directors cut of the film. I also stay fairly preoccupied day dreaming about the other projects I’m working on. I'm a hyperactive guy.
CK: So before we get into talking about the film I think it would be great if my readers got to know a little bit about the man behind the camera first.
RB: The man behind the goofy glasses!
CK: So sell us a little about yourself
RB: I'm a Midwestern transplant. Born in Indiana and spent my teenage years in Michigan. I moved to NYC in 2004, to study acting, I did the first year with the Upper West side as my campus. In 2005, I hopped over to the west coast and completed my conservatory training in Los Angeles in 2006 and shortly thereafter, moved back to NYC. I've been happily living in Queens, with my girlfriend, two dwarf rabbits and two cats, ever since. I tend to get the most work done when I stay up all night, so I get very little sleep. I'm a huge day dreamer and try to go for a good brain storm walk, every day."
Read the full interview HERE:
www.carterthemovie.com
Thursday, November 5, 2009
NYC Premiere of Drawing With Chalk
Our friends, the creators of Drawing With Chalk are having their NYC Premiere at Quad Cinema on November 14th! We highly recommend this heartwarming, and well-shot feature length debut, which we had the privilege to watch at the Idaho International Film Festival. More info after the jump:
DRAWING WITH CHALK
Directed by Todd Giglio.
US, 2009, 87 min. US Premiere.
Jay and Matt are lifelong friends. They once played in a rock band but after years chasing "the big prize" in New York, they find themselves back in their hometown working at the union factory and dreaming of what might have been. As they hit 40, they decide to give it one more shot but the pressures build as Jay begins struggling between his childhood dreams of success and his adult responsibilities to his wife Jasmin and five-year-old son Bryan.Also with Pooja Kumar, Brennan Giglio, Kapil Bawa, Susham Bedi. Todd Giglio,Christopher Springer and Pooja Kumar in person.
Preceded by: FREE PARKING. The search for the ultimate parking spot takes a surreal turn.Directed by Vikas Bandhu. US, 2009, 18 min. World Premiere.
Screening Venue:The Quad Cinema - 34 West 13th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues. Saturday, November 14 at 9:00 PM Purchase tickets at Quad Cinema or MovieTickets.com
Help With WGTB Distribution!!
Help us out. Just watch the video below.
It's important that my friend, producer Andrea Ajemian and company gets thousands of hits to this video on YouTube. If they can create a viral video, the film will get the attention of the larger distributors! Check out the just released music video for the ballad "My Heart Hurts" from the boyband A New Condition in the upcoming teen comedy "We Got the Beat." They are in the final stages of post-production on the film, and will be screening for distributors in Los Angeles within the next few months.
From indie comedy film WE GOT THE BEAT Music video for "My Heart Hurts (From Holden Back)" a power pop teen ballad from the world's first ever boyband- A New Condition - featured in the upcoming comedy "We Got the Beat."
WE GOT THE BEAT is the story of Brad Roberts (Michael Copon) - a high school football star who quits the team to turn his heavy metal band, (SUCK IT) into the first ever boyband in 1982.
A New Condition is Brad (Michael Copon), Tommy (Ryan Hansen), Greg (Ryan Pinkston), Derf (E-Knock), and Joda (Lorenzo Hooker III). The band's manager/svengali is Garth (Robert Hoffman).
Written & Directed by Jon Artigo
Produced by Andrea Ajemian
Music by Kaz Gamble
www.wegotthebeatmovie.com
www.aafilms.com
Artigo Ajemian Films (c) 2010
It's important that my friend, producer Andrea Ajemian and company gets thousands of hits to this video on YouTube. If they can create a viral video, the film will get the attention of the larger distributors! Check out the just released music video for the ballad "My Heart Hurts" from the boyband A New Condition in the upcoming teen comedy "We Got the Beat." They are in the final stages of post-production on the film, and will be screening for distributors in Los Angeles within the next few months.
From indie comedy film WE GOT THE BEAT Music video for "My Heart Hurts (From Holden Back)" a power pop teen ballad from the world's first ever boyband- A New Condition - featured in the upcoming comedy "We Got the Beat."
WE GOT THE BEAT is the story of Brad Roberts (Michael Copon) - a high school football star who quits the team to turn his heavy metal band, (SUCK IT) into the first ever boyband in 1982.
A New Condition is Brad (Michael Copon), Tommy (Ryan Hansen), Greg (Ryan Pinkston), Derf (E-Knock), and Joda (Lorenzo Hooker III). The band's manager/svengali is Garth (Robert Hoffman).
Written & Directed by Jon Artigo
Produced by Andrea Ajemian
Music by Kaz Gamble
www.wegotthebeatmovie.com
www.aafilms.com
Artigo Ajemian Films (c) 2010
"OneWay November"
November 2009 is a very busy month for One Way or Another Productions! This month alone, the New York-based production company has 3 feature films in festivals across the country, 2 of them premieres.
Princeton Holt's debut feature Cookies & Cream, will be screening tomorrow night (November 6th) in Bryan, Texas, at the Red Wasp Film Festival starting @7:30pm.
Brian Ackley's debut feature Uptown will have its West Coast Premiere on November 14th at the Blue November MicroFilm Festival in Seattle @ 10am.
Ryan Andrew Balas' 2nd feature Carter will have its WORLD PREMIERE on November 24th, at the Anthology Film Archives as part of the NewFilmmakers Fall Series @ 8:45pm.
Feel free to check out more about the films @ their sites below, and to purchase the Naked Series festival version of the films on DVD.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Spread the Word, Seattle
Here is a personal note and call of support from the director of the Blue November MicroFilm Festival, where Brian Ackley's Uptown will be having its West Coast Premiere. Read it after the jump, and please spread the word!
"We have overcome tragedy this year, in a lesser degree and much easier than the true victims, but we have triumphed and found our projector. We have extended our venue at the Upper Crust. All of this shadowed by the loss of the Green Bean Coffeehouse and its neighbors.
This year's Festival will hopefully be one of the many beacons of hope and unity in the Greenwood Neighborhood. We will have two of my short films for purchase, and both were shot inside the Green Bean. All proceeds will go to the fire relief fund.
We have the (West Coast) Premiere of "Uptown", and the Director and Stars of the film will be flying in from New York to experience the Festival. We have three workshops for the beginning or experienced filmmaker. There is music coming in from all over the World! We have special performances, amazing art, vendors and so much more. We just need to get the word out there!Here is the link to the Event on Facebook:
Simply by clicking on "Invite People to Come", you have added so many other people that the result will cascade all over Seattle. We could amass a crowd of legendary proportion! Please use your e-mail lists, MySpace or whatever method suits you...so long as you spread the word! We have been doing this with very little for seven years. We do it ourselves with only a few hands.
You can print all posters and flyers from HERE.
Your help is greatly appreciated, and I thank you!"
Sincerely,
"Captain Chambers"
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
LALO Gets Press
Cinema Without Borders reviews our friend Daniel Maldonado's Lalo. Read some of Gary Miraz's piece after the jump:
"Imagine the pressure of being an illegal alien with a crappy job and countless other hurdles to overcome. Welcome to the life of Lalo, a New York City Mexican delivery worker who must prove to himself that he can overcome any obstacle. Daniel Maldonado’ excellent short film is presented as a keystone cop-comedy and touches upon many moments of madness that occur to many people around the world.
The film begins when Lalo (Neftali Jurec) is given an ultimatum to get his deliveries done on time. He races out only to have his bicycle demolished. He spies a little girl, Lucy (Abigail Stucker), on her pink bike and takes it. Unfortunately, he picked on the wrong girl, who grabs a kick scooter and gives chase. A Chinese deliveryman (Doua Moua) and a bike messenger (Billy Magnussen) who fancies himself as an Indy 500 God force him on a race to the death—or maybe just plain humiliation. I mean, a big guy on a girl’s pink bike is asking for it."
Read the full review HERE.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Young American Bodies
Season Four of Joe Swanberg's web series "Young American Bodies" is coming November 9th!
Tom's Corner
For this installment of Tom's Corner, Tom reviews another film about the twisted underbelly of high school called "Assassination of a High School President." You can tell Tom had some less than glamorous high school experiences, can't you? Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to turn them into an award winning screenplay or stand-up routine as of yet. Enjoy!
Assassination of a High School President (2008)
Brett Simon, Dir.
“No one's misunderstood. That's just something people say when they don't like themselves.”
This was the best film noir I've seen in ages, all due to the acting, and those wonderful people who cast said actors. Yes, it is about high school. The entire movie takes place in a catholic high school called St. Donovan's, which is lorded over by ex-military man principal Kirkpatrick (a role brought to humorous and somewhat frightening life by Bruce Willis). Yes, the students are the main focus. But this film lives and breathes noir from the over-narration provided by lead character Bobby Funke (Reece Thompson, who also starred in 2007's “Rocket Science”) to the clever turns of phrase provided by each character.
Bobby Funke writes for the Donovan Daily, the school paper. Well, he likes to say he does, but he's never actually finished an article. This is an impediment to his getting into a Northwestern Summer writing program. Assigned to write a puff piece on the high school president, Paul Moore (Patrick Taylor, doing his best seemingly oblivious popular jock), Bobby finds very little depth. The next day, he's rounded up with the “usual suspects” (John Magaro, Joseph Perrino, Vincent Piazza, and Tanya Fischer, the four of whom steal the movie at times) and accused of stealing SAT tests out of the principal's office. After being asked by Paul's smoldering hot girlfriend Francesca (brilliantly played by Mischa Barton) to solve the case, Bobby seemingly finds evidence that president Paul is to blame. Bobby's the most popular kid in school...but evidence surfaces that he may have the wrong man.
From here, the movie takes a bunch of very memorable twists and turns as Bobby tries to find out who did take the tests and uncovers a conspiracy that will rock the school. But will Bobby survive to report it?
This was the best film noir I've seen in ages, all due to the acting, and those wonderful people who cast said actors. Yes, it is about high school. The entire movie takes place in a catholic high school called St. Donovan's, which is lorded over by ex-military man principal Kirkpatrick (a role brought to humorous and somewhat frightening life by Bruce Willis). Yes, the students are the main focus. But this film lives and breathes noir from the over-narration provided by lead character Bobby Funke (Reece Thompson, who also starred in 2007's “Rocket Science”) to the clever turns of phrase provided by each character.
Bobby Funke writes for the Donovan Daily, the school paper. Well, he likes to say he does, but he's never actually finished an article. This is an impediment to his getting into a Northwestern Summer writing program. Assigned to write a puff piece on the high school president, Paul Moore (Patrick Taylor, doing his best seemingly oblivious popular jock), Bobby finds very little depth. The next day, he's rounded up with the “usual suspects” (John Magaro, Joseph Perrino, Vincent Piazza, and Tanya Fischer, the four of whom steal the movie at times) and accused of stealing SAT tests out of the principal's office. After being asked by Paul's smoldering hot girlfriend Francesca (brilliantly played by Mischa Barton) to solve the case, Bobby seemingly finds evidence that president Paul is to blame. Bobby's the most popular kid in school...but evidence surfaces that he may have the wrong man.
From here, the movie takes a bunch of very memorable twists and turns as Bobby tries to find out who did take the tests and uncovers a conspiracy that will rock the school. But will Bobby survive to report it?
- Tom Trombley
Heres the trailer:
For more about the film check out the official site.
De Lutrede
This week, Throwback Sundays reflects on and recommends a fascinating 2002 documentary film called De Lutrede (The Purified).
In 1995, speaking at a conference held to celebrate the 100th birthday of the cinema, Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier gave a speech in which he decried the increased technical sophistication of filmmaking, which he believed had come at the expense of the art of storytelling. Von Trier declared that the cinema needed to be "purified," and in collaboration with fellow directors Thomas Vinterberg, Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, and Kristian Levring, announced the birth of the Dogme 95 movement, a stylistic "vow of chastity" in which filmmakers would refrain from using sets, special effects, music that does not originate onscreen, and special lighting beyond what is normally available, and shoot all films with handheld cameras, using the original 1.33:1 Academy ratio. While the Dogme 95 filmmakers and their works gained international attention, they also found themselves struggling with the ascetic stylistic approach they had embraced, and some found themselves violating the rules they helped to create, while others wondered how their fellow filmmakers were to enforce their regulations. Jesper Jargil takes a witty look at the Dogme 95 filmmakers and their credo in The Purified, which examines the excesses which helped inspire the movement, how the Dogme theorists hoped to challenge them, and how the world reacted to them (and they to the world). ~ (Mark Deming, All Movie Guide)
Director: Jesper Jargil
Genre: Film, TV & Radio
Movie Type: Media Studies, Film & Television History
Themes: Filmmaking
Main Cast: Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, Kristian Levring, Mogens Rukov
Release Year: 2002
Country: DE
Run Time: 68 minutes
Genre: Film, TV & Radio
Movie Type: Media Studies, Film & Television History
Themes: Filmmaking
Main Cast: Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, Kristian Levring, Mogens Rukov
Release Year: 2002
Country: DE
Run Time: 68 minutes
Saturday, October 31, 2009
DIY Film Becomes Most Profitable Movie Ever
Today, Access Hollywood announced that the self-financed, DIY horror film Paranormal Activity has officially made history.
"Paranormal Activity" has just surpassed "The Blair Witch Project" to become the most profitable movie ever.
The box office hit was made for less than $15,000 and as of Wednesday has grossed a whopping $65.1 million, TheWrap.com reported.
The movie's box office success has reaped a staggering 414,233 percent return on its initial investment.
"Paranormal" has gradually expanded from 12 to 33 to 160 to 760 to this weekend's 1,945 theaters - a move that some criticized - but one that Executive VP of Distribution for Paramount, Don Harris, credits as a key to the horror film's success.
"Everybody else thought we should be going faster than we were," he told TheWrap. "But I thought we were doing a pretty good job of seeding the ground as we went. I don't know that we would have done a lot more last weekend if we would have added a bunch of runs then."
The studio has reportedly spent less than $10 million to market the movie."
Keep in mind that this is a direct result of two different elements. One, its a horror film. And for now, the only genre even remotely capable of reaching this wide an audience. The second factor is, that a film can be DIY all it wants. Its in the film festival circuit stage that this kind of buzz is created, and distribution of the film from outside sources other than a website or blog takes over, thus, making deals with the "evil" system becomes the single most effective tool for maximizing any film's - DIY, Indiewood, Hollywood, etc - overall profit margin. Congrats to a true genius, and on of my personal heroes, director/producer Oren Peli.
"Paranormal Activity" has just surpassed "The Blair Witch Project" to become the most profitable movie ever.
The box office hit was made for less than $15,000 and as of Wednesday has grossed a whopping $65.1 million, TheWrap.com reported.
The movie's box office success has reaped a staggering 414,233 percent return on its initial investment.
"Paranormal" has gradually expanded from 12 to 33 to 160 to 760 to this weekend's 1,945 theaters - a move that some criticized - but one that Executive VP of Distribution for Paramount, Don Harris, credits as a key to the horror film's success.
"Everybody else thought we should be going faster than we were," he told TheWrap. "But I thought we were doing a pretty good job of seeding the ground as we went. I don't know that we would have done a lot more last weekend if we would have added a bunch of runs then."
The studio has reportedly spent less than $10 million to market the movie."
Keep in mind that this is a direct result of two different elements. One, its a horror film. And for now, the only genre even remotely capable of reaching this wide an audience. The second factor is, that a film can be DIY all it wants. Its in the film festival circuit stage that this kind of buzz is created, and distribution of the film from outside sources other than a website or blog takes over, thus, making deals with the "evil" system becomes the single most effective tool for maximizing any film's - DIY, Indiewood, Hollywood, etc - overall profit margin. Congrats to a true genius, and on of my personal heroes, director/producer Oren Peli.
Happy Halloween
In honor of Halloween, here is the complete 5 episode web series DEAD or LONELY from IFC.com, and directed by horror auteur Ti West.
But first...Check out the creepy trailer to West's new film (currently in select theaters and on cable VOD) "The House of the Devil".
DATE OR DIE
MAKING CONTACT
SECOND THOUGHTS
THE DATE part one.
THE DATE part two.
But first...Check out the creepy trailer to West's new film (currently in select theaters and on cable VOD) "The House of the Devil".
DATE OR DIE
MAKING CONTACT
SECOND THOUGHTS
THE DATE part one.
THE DATE part two.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
50 Greatest First Features
First time filmmakers, in my experience, tend to catch some grief. No one knows you (unless you have a lengthy track record for award winning shorts), and you are trying to convince people to believe in you, to invest in you (the answer most of the time is "No"), to work for you for free, to hold your camera. It's tough out there for first timers.
Which is strange because some of the best films of all time have been first time features. Could you imagine if Jean Luc Godard never got a chance to make Breathless? Well, don't try to. I don't even want to imagine living in a world without Breathless.
Here is Time Out London's list of 50 Greatest Directorial Debuts of All Time after the jump:
(HUGE DISCLAIMER: COOL LIST, BUT I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THESE ARE NOT IN ORDER)
50. Easy Rider (1969) Directed by Dennis Hopper
49: Throw Mama From the Train (1987) Directed by Danny DeVito
48: Kids (1995) Directed by Larry Clark
47: Jour de Féte (1949) Directed by Jacques Tati
46: Say Anything (1989) Directed by Cameron Crowe
45: Violent Cop (1989) Directed by Takeshi Kitano
44. Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) Directed by Paul Mazursky
43. Celia (1989) Directed by Ann Turner
42. George Washington (2000) Directed by David Gordon Green
41. The Hired Hand (1971) Directed by Peter Fonda
40. Seul Contre Tous (1998) Directed by Gaspar Noe
39. Repo Man (1984) Directed by Alex Cox
38. Pepi, Luci, Bom... (1980) Directed by Pedro Almodóvar
37. Man Bites Dog (1992) Directed by Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel, Benoît Poelvoorde
36. This is Spinal Tap (1982) Directed by Rob Reiner
35. Diner (1982) Directed by Barry Levinson
34. A Bout De Souffle (Breathless) (1959) Directed by Jean-Luc Godard
33. On The Town (1949) Directed by Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly
32. Bottle Rocket (1996) Directed by Wes Anderson
31. Targets (1968) Directed by Peter Bogdanovich
30. Pather Panchali (1955) Directed by Satyajit Ray
29. Alice (1988) Directed by Jan Svankmajer
28. Killer of Sheep (1977) Directed by Charles Burnett
27. The Evil Dead (1980) Directed by Sam Raimi
26. Mad Max (1979) Directed by George Miller
25. Knife in the Water (1962) Directed by Roman Polanski
24. L'Age D’Or (1930) Directed by Luis Buñuel
23. Shadows (1959) Directed by John Cassavetes
22. The Great McGinty (1940) Directed by Preston Sturges
21. Reservoir Dogs (1992) Directed by Quentin Tarantino
20. Primer (2004) Directed by Shane Carruth
19. Gates of Heaven (1978) Directed by Errol Morris
18. Eraserhead (1976) Directed by David Lynch
17. Buffalo ’66 (1997) Directed by Vincent Gallo
16. Bleak Moments (1971) Directed by Mike Leigh
15. Blue Collar (1978) Directed by Paul Schrader
14. Airplane! (1980) Directed by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker
13. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) Directed by Tobe Hooper
12. Play Misty For Me (1971) Directed by Clint Eastwood
11. Accattone (1961) Directed by Pier Paolo Passolini
10. Performance (1970) Directed by Nicolas Roeg & Donald Cammel
9. The Maltese Falcon (1941) Directed by John Huston
8. Night of the Living Dead (1968) Directed by George A Romero
7. The 400 Blows (1960) Directed by François Truffaut
6. They Live By Night (1948) Directed by Nicholas Ray
5. Blood Simple (1984) Directed by Ethan & Joel Coen
4. L’Atalante (1934) Directed by Jean Vigo
3. Badlands (1973) Directed by Terrence Malick
2. Citizen Kane (1941) Directed by Orson Welles
1. The Night of the Hunter (1955) Directed by Charles Laughton
To read the full explanations for these choices, drop by and check it out HERE.
Is VOD the New Theatrical Release?
Well yes, in the same way as your festival run should be.
Filmmaker Magazine has a cool piece on the growing VOD market and the ability for filmmakers to turn it into a profitable distribution tool. Our friend Joe Swanberg is also mentioned. Seems like audiences are still going to flock to genre films as well as star driven vehicles, but overall, looks like an interesting avenue nevertheless. It would be even cooler, if this avenue of cable VOD options for filmmakers was opened up to more films than just those that were lucky enough to premiere at a top tier film festival, since films without theatrical releases tend to benefit the filmmaker the most. What are your thoughts? Read about it after the jump:
If you're a filmmaker looking for an edge in today's new digital distribution universe, it can't hurt to come up with a title for your movie that begins with the letter "A" or "B."
It may sound facile or crass, but with Video-On-Demand an increasingly important segment of the business, recent indie movies like The Answer Man, A Quiet Little Marriage or Bart Got a Room will advantageously sit atop the catalogue of cable operator's On-Demand listings, while movies like World's Greatest Dad and What Goes Up will sit at the bottom.
"It always helps," admits Nolan Gallagher, CEO of Gravitas Ventures, a new independent company which licenses VOD content to cable operators. "We've seen examples where films have benefited from the fact that cable guides are alphabetical in nature," he says, noting the success of a recent documentary called American Meth. "We definitely think the titling had an effect on its buys."
VOD is certainly here to stay and growing at 20 percent annually, according to recent industry estimates, which has prompted more and more distribution companies, from the biggest studios to the smallest indies, to stake their future on it. But how much can individual filmmakers actually gain from the new distribution platforms, both monetarily and in exposure?
Read the full piece HERE.
Filmmaker Magazine has a cool piece on the growing VOD market and the ability for filmmakers to turn it into a profitable distribution tool. Our friend Joe Swanberg is also mentioned. Seems like audiences are still going to flock to genre films as well as star driven vehicles, but overall, looks like an interesting avenue nevertheless. It would be even cooler, if this avenue of cable VOD options for filmmakers was opened up to more films than just those that were lucky enough to premiere at a top tier film festival, since films without theatrical releases tend to benefit the filmmaker the most. What are your thoughts? Read about it after the jump:
If you're a filmmaker looking for an edge in today's new digital distribution universe, it can't hurt to come up with a title for your movie that begins with the letter "A" or "B."
It may sound facile or crass, but with Video-On-Demand an increasingly important segment of the business, recent indie movies like The Answer Man, A Quiet Little Marriage or Bart Got a Room will advantageously sit atop the catalogue of cable operator's On-Demand listings, while movies like World's Greatest Dad and What Goes Up will sit at the bottom.
"It always helps," admits Nolan Gallagher, CEO of Gravitas Ventures, a new independent company which licenses VOD content to cable operators. "We've seen examples where films have benefited from the fact that cable guides are alphabetical in nature," he says, noting the success of a recent documentary called American Meth. "We definitely think the titling had an effect on its buys."
VOD is certainly here to stay and growing at 20 percent annually, according to recent industry estimates, which has prompted more and more distribution companies, from the biggest studios to the smallest indies, to stake their future on it. But how much can individual filmmakers actually gain from the new distribution platforms, both monetarily and in exposure?
Read the full piece HERE.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
West Coast Premiere of Uptown
Uptown, the debut feature film from director Brian Ackley, has been selected as the only feature film to screen at the Blue November MicroFilm Fest in Seattle, Wa. The film will screen on Saturday, November 14th, 2009, @ 10:15 am.
THE BLUE NOVEMBER MICROFILMFEST RETURNS FOR YEAR SEVEN
The Blue November MicroFilmFest moves forward with financial backing of the City of Seattle!
SEATTLE – The Seventh Annual Blue November MicroFilmFest is a totally free film and arts festival that supports the artist first and foremost, with a dedication to vision and artistic integrity in cinema, music and the arts. Designed for the true filmmaker and the art of film, this festival focuses on the people behind the creation. It is free to those who attend, and it is always free for the artists.
The Opening Night Gala will begin at the Green Bean Coffeehouse (210 N 85th St). It is here that they will unveil the film shot live at last year’s Festival, The Marriage of Luna and Sol. In addition to a performance from Essence Dance Company and a collection of work from Reel Grrls (www.reelgrrls.org), the sounds of local music will welcome the official beginning of their seventh year. Official festivities will begin at the Upper Crust on Friday, November 13th.
FILM – the centerpiece of any film festival is the gift and art of the visual artist. They have received films from all over the World and from all walks of life offering a multitude of viewpoints. They have chosen the best of these, the most diverse and the most passionate, with selections from the local community. They are continuing the annual awards competition and Filmmaker Q&A, and they are adding their first workshops to inspire and inform Seattle’s next filmmakers.
As a Festival they may be small, but they are focused. The Blue November MicroFilmFest offers a unique experience not to be found elsewhere in the City of Seattle. They keep taking steps forward to insure a positive road for the future of film and art, and those who will create it.
For more information and the film's listing, visit HERE.
For more about Uptown visit HERE.
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