28 May 2009
This brief article in The Economist summarizes the benefits of VOD for independent film distributors, such as IFC.
VOD is a cheap, easy way for distributors to put films out into the world, but unfortunately it still leaves filmmakers in the unenviable position of giving up the rights to their work for several years for [...]
25 May 2009
The opening photo montage in Mr. Sadman.
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With the late Al No'mani. Music by übertalented composer, Austin Wintory.
23 May 2009
Layoffs at the new William Morris Endeavor Entertainment giant is symptomatic of the overall contraction going on in the industry and traditional media in general. Some may smirk, some may wince, but what will the trickle down effect be (directly or indirectly) for everyone else?
Link to the article in Variety.
13 May 2009
This past week's episode of KCRW's "The Business" lets you know that you are not alone. Listening to the show just might make you feel better. Then again, it might make you feel worse.
The first half is about NBC's upcoming slate, but around the 16:45 mark, screenwriter-turned psychoanalyst, Dennis Palumbo, starts dropping some [...]
11 May 2009
Another scene from Mr. Sadman in which Mounir meets his new Los Angeles neighbor, Stevie, played by Scoot McNairy.
Scoot's a crazy talented guy who produced and played the lead in the film, In Search of a Midnight Kiss, which won the John Cassavetes Award at this year's Film Independent Spirt Awards.
5 May 2009
If you live in one of the five boroughs and qualify for IFP's new "Made in NY" Mentorship Program, you should apply. Deadlines for their emerging and mid-career categories are coming up on May 22 and June 19 respectively.
I love IFP. Swear by 'em. They're like guardian angels.
4 May 2009
Don't ask why. Make of it what you will…
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Shot with an old single-chip dv camera and its crappy onboard mic.
3 May 2009
I went to a panel with the above title at the VC Film Fest today hosted by my man Tad Nakamura and old school Asian American doc maker, Spencer Nakasako.
It was a colorful, informal chat, but in the end two issues seemed to bubble up to the surface:
1) the fact that it's difficult to [...]
2 May 2009
While skimming through Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott's "Memos to Hollywood" on nytimes.com, I noticed this bit:
To: Heads of production, Sony, Universal, Paramount, Fox, Disney
Cc: Joe Swanberg, Andrew Bujalski, Greta Gerwig, Aaron Katz and all their Facebook Friends
From: A.O.S.
You all keep trying to make Rock Hudson-Doris Day-style romantic comedies with the golden guys and gals [...]