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Showing posts from 2009

The Road (2009)

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What can I say that hasn't been said about this movie. It is a scary and upsetting film about the end of days. I had to catch this film before it vanished from theaters. With Avatar and all the new holiday films glutting up the theater screens I raced to the theater before the distributor pulls it. I understand why not many people have seen this film. It's a hard film to watch. There is no Mad Max action that usually is standard in films that deal with the Apocalypse of civilization. Maybe the film "2012" seems to have covered that territory and more audiences went to see that then " The Road ". I haven't seen "2012" and from the coming attractions I'll wait for the DVD. I know I'll miss the spectacle of the end of day shots that Roland Emmerich has compiled for the BIG screen, but I'll put my money on John Hillcoat 's version of the end of the world thank you very much. Why? You ask. Simple. It's a better film. The mood,

Bless you Tiny Tim!

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Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" has been played out on stage and screen for longer then Dickens was alive, and yet several adaptations of the story have become classics. On of my favorites is the one with George C. Scott. Maybe it's because of nostalgic reasons I like it a lot, but seeing it does make me well up, and get emotional. I was watching that very version the other night with my mom, and thought that that's what a film really needs to do. It needs to move me. It's kind of cathartic when one sees a good movie that hits the viewer with a variety of emotions which we all share. I've been silent because in this season of what has become a consumers nightmare of overload I've stepped back. Maybe it's because I'm older and I have kids, or maybe it's just getting back to basics for me. Where's the fun, and the excitement of it all. Personally I see a lot of ups and downs headed my way, and I'm sure many of you out there also see t

Corman gets an Oscar

Seems as though there was a bit of a dust up about Roger Corman getting his Oscar in the old blog-o-sphere. Here's a link to the ceremony itself. Both Ron Howard, and Jonathan Demme salute Corman, and it's a nice touch . The dust up happened at a web site called Cinematical . Neil Sarver over at Bleeding tree wrote a interesting piece about criticism, and Corman. In the piece there are links to other opinions. Head on over and take a look . When I heard about Corman getting an Oscar I said "about time". Call Corman the devil or the angel of independent film you still have to give him his due. He's created some interesting films throughout the years. I have an affection for the guy, and I did meet the man and he is a very courteous and soft spoken man. I have all the respect for Corman, and I like the tribute they gave him. I had thought that they would give him his Oscar in March of next year during the academy's broadcast, but instead they give it to him now.

Irene Glezos on Law & Order

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TV ALERT everyone! Irene is on Law & Order this Friday (Nov. 13th). The show starts at 8PM, and Irene plays a wife of a murdered victim I believe. She says it was a great role. SO set your Tivo, VCR's & DVR's to NBC at 8PM to 9PM, and cheer Irene on. I think this is her third appearance in the L&O series, not including her appearance on the series "Conviction" which was a L&O spin-off that was cancelled mid-season. Want MORE IRENE! I know I can't get enough so go on over to practice of artemisia.com . You can see her there too, along with a very talented bunch of other thespians. Go Irene!

The Windmill Movie

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I noticed that I had missed the premiere of Alexander Olch's documentary "The Windmill Movie". Lucky for me HBO has it on demand till the end of November. To say that I was captivated by this film is a pretty fair way of describing it. The film was made by combing through 200 hours worth of footage of Richard P. Rogers autobiography. Rogers died in 2001 and it was up to his protege Alexander Olch who was a student of Rogers to make any sense out of it. What unfolds is a beautiful honest piece about a man who feels compelled to say something, but has no idea what to say. It is only after his death and combing through his diaries, and recordings that Olch's makes sense of it all. The site to the movie is here . If you do get a chance do see the film. It has always been my belief that we all have a story to tell, and yet we don't know what that story really is. Here is an example of a filmmaker who pointed the camera at himself and revealed to us the depth of life,

Is this the Winter of our discontent?

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With the weather changing here in the Northeast one wonders and ponders future events. I've been on Facebook a bit more then I'd like, but yet the site appeals to me because of its interaction with others. Social networking is something of a new thing. I mean it is to the vast majority of us. Of course back in the day there were bulletin boards and forums that one looked at for info and social networking of sorts. But now it's more mobile, and people are tweeting, and texting each other like it was going out of style. So what has this got to do with film making? Well everything of course, because these tools now put the power in YOUR hands to start a sort of grass roots distribution effort for your film. Don't get me wrong it's difficult to do. Nothing worth while is easy and why should marketing your film through social networks be easy. It's time consuming and tedious at best. I'll say it right now. I'm not that good at it, but I do like connecting t

Laundrea Thomas

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I just found out that Ms Laudrea Thomas died on August 9th of this year in Los Angeles California. It seems that she took her own life. She was 32 and she was way too young to leave this earth. I'm not going to say that I knew Ms Thomas very well. She was in my movie "Deadly Obsessions", and she was a pleasure to work with. I had hoped some how that someday we would work together again because it's so hard to find real good talent who have a passion for what they do. To say that I was taken a back by this news of Laundrea's death is an understatement. I can still remember Laundrea's first day of shooting Of "Deadly Obsessions" it seems that she had car problems and her car broke down on the PA Turnpike on the day she was suppose to check in to shoot her scenes. Her father managed to rescue her, and drive her to the hotel where I had some of the cast & crew staying. Laundrea still made it on time and even brought some props that she thought we cou

Content & Communications World Expo

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I happen to be lucky enough to be invited to the Content & communications World Expo here in NYC, and take in a few presentations about digital media. First off it was very interesting to meet and see the men & women who work in the digital realm. Coming from an educational background I don't get to see, or play with the newest pieces of technology due to budgetary constraints. Where I work we do keep up with technology, but technology is a strange mistress. As soon as you get to know her she changes, and what you've learned about her becomes obsolete fast. I was hoping to see more technology for the class room, but here at the CCW expo it was more and more about monetizing the digital arena. Since the technology is so quick to change there are companies trying to figure out how one can use digital technology and turn a profit doing it. I have no problem with this idea. Like all new techno logic breakthroughs there has always been people who want to profit from it, and

A New Beginning!

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It's been a while, and yet here I am. It's been a strange month, and now that were going into October that extra chill in the air kind of gives me a new spring in my step. Life has a way of running on by, and if you don't stop to look you just might miss it. So what's with the new Aggy philosophy? Since when is this a blog about feelings? Isn't it about film making? Yes. Yes it is, and it time this fellow got back up, and start doing what he likes doing. Fuck fame & fortune. I'm not here to be the next Rodriguez, or Tarintino I'm here for me. Now don't get me wrong it would be really cool to get the recognition for ones films, and even make a living doing it. But the real question is why do I like film making. Easy. Self expression. Before DV, and before the Internet I was just a dude with a camera who liked putting on shows, and telling stories. A lot of those stories were based on things I was watching, both on TV and at the movies. It was in colle

Law Abiding Citizen trailer

A shout out to a film shot here in Philly! Looks interesting!

The Struggle!

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Go over to Ballast Films and check out Bryan Wizemann video about a arguement he had with his wife about film. It got to me, and I can understand how Sabina (Wizemann's wife) feels. A film career is anything but stable, and having a family is a hard balance when both film & family compete with each other. Personally I could never do the balancing act, and I've always thought family first. Also if you get a chance head on over to wholphindvd.com I'd be curious to know how the filmmaker and his wife are now, and if they've resolved the career choices of each other.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

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Where do I start. I'm a Quentin Tarantino fan, and at the same time I have mixed feelings about this film. First off I have to say that my father served on the other side, and though he had nothing good to say about it I did hear some of his stories. They were all gruesome and none of them were happy stories. Tarantino's film makes every German a Nazi. This is just too simplistic for me. I know this is only a film, but films like "Saving Private Ryan", "Letters from Iwo Jima" and "Enemy at the Gates" truly depict the horrors of war. Tarantino's film does not. Sure he shows the gruesome details of the kill, but it's for shock effect, and no more. I like Tarantino's style, and have always thought of him as a skilled filmmaker, and a lover of cinema and I mean ALL cinema. The opening scene of the film is quite good and unnerving. His actors play over the top and it suits the film. How Tarantino weaves his story lines is also fascinating, b

GI-Joe (2009)

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Okay before you say another word yes I payed to see this. I have a seven year old boy who seems to like action flicks, so I was destined to see it. I loved GI-Joe when I was growing up, and a lot of the time those GI-Joe's with the kung fu grip became my actors in some pretty primitive stop motion action. But that was a different Joe. The GI-JOE I remember were adventurers and protectors. There was NO Cobra to fight against. I believe only in the 80's did that come about, and then the action figures went from 12 inches tall to mini-action hero's. No more kung fu grip or fuzzy type hair or beard. So Paramount pictures has me in their cross-hairs, and since I've got two boys it's all about the merchandising. I can only thank that my youngest isn't fazed by the JOE franchise. He'll stick to his dinosaurs thank you. But my oldest well he certainly is caught in the hype, and his favorite is of course Snake Eyes who is played by Ray Park . So did I loath this film

DIY Days - Esther Robinson: Building a Creative Foundation

Here's the lecture that Ms Robinson gave, which I found inspiring. The lifetime of work is so true, and I love this phrase: "Build your future, and not deny your existence ". Take a listen to it, and tell me if I'm not right. Listening to it again I'm inspired. Thanks Ms Robinson!

Tapeless Terror

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I just read an article by Fred Olen Ray about his latest film which is directed by his son Christopher Douglas Olen Ray . It's an interesting article about what camera he used and what problems he first encountered in using a consumer-pro type of camera. If the name doesn't sound familiar Mr. Ray's film have played theaters, late night TV, and lately Syfy . He is also author of a book called " The New Poverty Row" from McFarland, which is pretty inspiring. Check out DV.com for the article, or just click on the link " Tapeless Terror ". I think you'll get some useful info about it. Check it out. Figured I pass it on.

DIY - Philadelphia (Part 1)

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So yesterday the heavens stayed clear, and we even got some sun out of the deal, and what do I do but spend it in a lecture hall. But all was good. TheDIY - Philadelphia conference went on at the University of the Arts downtown in Philly, and there was a good turn-out of people. Why did I go to a DIY - conference when I already did it myself? Well to put it simple one film is not enough, and as the DIY mantra is: Fund, Create, Distribute, Sustain. There were some interesting individuals who gave some interesting lectures. Esther Robinson of Arthome gave an interesting lecture on Clarity & fearlessness. In her lecture she told it like it is, and that credit can be a GOOD thing. An interesting statement she said was "build your future & don't deny your existence." I think it was something like that. Lance Weiler was there too talking about his experiences, and what he's doing. Mr. Weiler had some interesting thoughts, and he seemed to be running the show as w

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

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First off my oldest loves Transformers, and my youngest likes the smack downs that the robots seem to get into. That said you have to take this review with some biased. Going into the movie I was unsure whether to have my boys see the film. I heard a lot about it, but in the end my boys desire to see it with his buddy was overwhelming, and so we ALL went. To say that I was disappointed about all the swearing in the movie is an understatement, but then I'm not one to shelter my children. To say that my big boy loved is is an understatement. He did not get up once to use the restrooms. He was that engrossed into the film. My little one only liked the rock-em sock-em time when the robots battled. Hey what can you expect, and all the colorful language seemed to go right over his head. We had FUN when we went to see this film. It was loud, long, and did I say LOUD! But it seems that is what we pay our money to see. In the end it's all about the merchandising of the film, and mercha

DIY -Days

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I've been in a funk, and the only way I feel to get out of it is throw things in the air. Meet new people, hear creative people who may be in the same boat I'm in. Film making is not a solitary endeavor. It involves a lot of people, and so this seemed like a good forum to go to, and re-charge the batteries. Writing can only take you so far. What I need and want is creative input. I've been seriously thinking of just saying no more, but a little inner voice says no, and I'm listening to it. Even my wife wants me to continue. I've always said it takes energy to get a project off the ground, and maybe this conference may just do that. I've always been up front with people. If you tell them what you want to do maybe some others can figure out how to help you. You just need to get out there, so we'll see how it all works out. Trust me I've been silent, but only for a reason. If I had anything worth saying I'd say it, but right now I don't. Figured pos

Francois Truffaut marathon

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Quick set the VCR's or get the popcorn Turner Movie Classics is running a Truffaut marathon tonight . Go now. It's almost time!

Pathogen

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Came across this web site, and found out that the lady who made this was only 12 years old. I haven't seen this film, and hope to see it some day, but it does my heart good hearing about such individuals You can buy it for $8, and it has commentaries and a blooper reel. How cool is that. At least that's what the web site says. When you go and order the DVD it says the DVD is selling for $10. Whatever it's available. The story is about a pathogen in the water that turns people into zombies. It seems also that some other filmmakers made a film about our young filmmaker called " Zombie Girl ". Their film has been in Sundance '09, and AFI Dallas International film festival. Sounds interesting by all accounts. Just figured I mention it here under new cinema.

David Carradine 1936-2009

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It has been reported that David Carradine was found dead in Bangkok where he was to begin filming a movie. Carradine was 72, and had been in numerous movies. His most famous or I should say most memorable was that of Kwai Chang Caine of the series " Kung Fu" which aired in 1972 to 1975 . Over the many years, Carradine has appeared in over 200 motion pictures and television dramas, including numerous plays. He was also a producer, director, and writer, for the screen as well. My favorite film of Carradine is Bound for Glory (1976) where he played Woody Guthrie . Hal Ashby directed the film. Carradine will be missed.

Beginning Filmmaking (2009)

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I caught this little documentary Thursday, and I still haven't forgotten about it. It is on HBO this week, so if your interested check HBO's programming. I believe it is on at 3 PM Saturday the 30th on HBO family. That's EST. Why am I writing about this. In some way the documentary caught my interest. I had my oldest boy Kris with me, and we started to watch the film. He grew impatient, and at times lost interest in the program, but for me I was very interested in it. The film is about filmmaker Jay Rosenblatt's attempt to interest his young daughter in filmmaking. He starts when she is four, and it ends when she turns five. It was interesting to see how a small child plays with a video camera. I myself have tried to instill my love for movies in my boys, but it has been a futile attempt. I learned that one cannot dictate what a child likes or dislikes. They are their own masters. I tried to do that with trying to do a small little film called " the last Barbecue &

What's Wrong with Dialogue

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I saw this on in an article by Jane Ridley in the NY Daily News about Tarantino's next film "'Inglourious Basterds", which premiered at Cannes : "However Jones attacks its length, adding: "its director should certainly have trimmed more of its flab". Mike Goodridge of Screen International agrees. He says it "offers considerable challenges to the attention span of mainstream audiences" and "devotes much of the running time to dialogue" I'm tired of people thinking dialogue is a waste, or boring. For those with short attention spans please leave, and keep playing your video games. I guess I can go on, and on about this, but if you take a look at a lot of the films of the 40's and 50's there was nothing but dialogue, and it was GOOD dialogue at that. Maybe I'm an old fart, but damn just watch the movie for the story. If the dialogue is too pretentous you'll know. If you liked the movie good, but if you were bored b

Star Trek (2009)

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I've been a fan of the series for a long time, and hearing that they wanted to re-boot the series and show the original crew only younger I was a bit skeptical about the results. Well rest assured my doubts as well as millions of others have been put to rest. J.J. Abrams has rebooted the series and as I've said before this Trek is not your fathers Trek, and that's a good thing. Origin movies are hard to do, but here Abrams does it well by casting some top notch actors in the roles that will clearly define their careers. Giving it an alternate reality is an interesting plot device, and having Lenord Nimoy in it kind of ties a nice bow on the trajectory of the Trek storyline. I'm not sure about some plot holes in the movie that made me think WTF. It's only after I had viewed the film that I began thinking about the holes in the story, but then again Trek is meant to be a ride you don't forget or should I say an experience you bond not to forget. The core of the Tr

The State of Things

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Last night I was watching " Frozen River " the indie film starring Melissa Chessington Leo in a breath taking performance of a single women raising two boys. I was a bit saddened to see that she did not get the academy award for her performance in the film. I hope to see her someday again real soon in another film. But this is not really about the film "frozen River" or Melissa Chessington Leo performance. Instead it's about indie film in general. There are so many other people out there who have more experience in this train of thought then I do, but since I did make a film, and have tried to get it shown I figured I could add my voice to all those other voices. As many of you who know I'm not a fan of the " mumblecore " films. In fact I just don't see how these films make any money at all. I see films like Susan Buice's and Arin Crumley's film " Four Eyed Monsters " and admire the work they put into that particular film. I e

Dom Deluise 1933-2009

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I hate writing these. I enjoyed Mr. Deluise's performances, and I even watching him on the Dean Martin Variety show way back in my youth. So it's with a heavy heart that I write about his death. I could go on and on about his credits, and his biography, but I'll leave that to the pros. I just loved him as an entertainer. Mr. Deluise made me and my family laugh. In good times and in bad times. In a way that's what a true star does. He or she makes us forget our dismal little problems for a moment, and makes us laugh. Mr. Deluise had done so much that he brought joy and laughter to so many of us. It saddens me to hear about a loss of such talent, but the best thing is that he left a lifetime of work for us to watch, and laugh all over again. Good night sweet prince. You made us laugh with you, and you will be missed by many. God speed.

And the Frenzy stops!

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I've finished my script, and became a winner in the 2009 script Frenzy . I used new screenwriting software called Celtx , and it worked for me pretty good. I would thoroughly suggest using the software if you're starting out. It's free, and really it has some great features. The script turned out to be 107 pages, and though I know it's all in the re-write I think I can be proud of the script. It's from the heart, and I wrote on what I knew about. I'm sure I can write a better script, but right now I love this one, and I guess that happens with every writer. I have heard about doing a feature in two weeks on Twitter . I have to say I'm intrigued, but there is so much to think about, and there are a lot of limitations, but I do like a challenge. It reminds me about the time I read about Roger Corman's film " Little Shop of Horrors" . It was made on a bet that Corman could make a movie in 2 days using sets that were standing form other movies. I h

Jack Cardiff 1914-2009

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I just found out that Jack Cardiff died today. Wikipedia describes Cardiff's career as: "spanning the development of cinema, from silent film, through early experiments in Technicolor (and, less successfully, Smell-o-vision), to film making in the 21st century. He was best known for his influential cinematography for directors such as Powell, Huston and Hitchcock." I knew him as an innovator of Technicolor film, and for his film " Black Narcissus " (1947). A lot of his early work was shot in the studio, yet it didn't look it. It is a testimonial to his skill as a director of photography that his films still are admired and loved. Cardiff won his cinematography Oscar for the 1947 film "Black Narcissus", which was directed by the legendary duo of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Cardiff received two more nominations in the same category for "War and Peace " in 1956 and "Fanny " in 1961.* Jack Cardiff was a legend," sai

The Frenzy & the Documentary!

Dear Dad from Karl Bauer on Vimeo . It's been crazy, and exhilarating all at the same time. When I do something I seem to tax all my resources, and push everything too the limit. I'm on page 59 on my script about my dad. It's gotten a bit difficult as I get up there on pages, but I'm getting there. Since I'm basing some of this on things that have happened it sometimes gets a bit painful to write. But it's amazing how much I forgot too. In these past few days I've been talking to people, and letting them tell me about how they saw things. Sometimes it's like Rashômon and at other times it's amazing how certain memories trigger others. The above clip is part of the documentary about my dad. It has no music to it, and it's my voice that's narrating it, and I'm a bit uncomfortable hearing my voice, but it is a start. There is so much more to do, and I'd like to hear less of me and more of others, but that may be difficult since there

The Frenzy is on...

So I've been writing. Twenty pages in, and closing in on finishing the first act. I have to say I'm exceeding my goals here, but I have a feeling as I get more into it I'll have a bit more of a problem. I do know how I want to end the script, and I do have some ideas for the middle, but the hardest thing for me to write is the son's part. Funny isn't that. Now I'm not basing it the son's character on me, but I would be lying to you if I said the character wasn't a bit of me. They say write what you know. Isn't that the key? Well I am and it seems to be flowing. What frustrates me is that I'm not writing it to a particular budget. Right now it's pie in the sky for me. If I didn't do that I would have limited myself even more, and that would have hurt the story. So I'm writing for story sake. Not for budget. I doubt I could even put this into production, but the script is getting the creative juices flowing again, and I think I can do s

Write you bastard, Just Write!

Okay in for a penny, in for a pound. I've decided to go all in. Why not? Script Frenzy is happening in April. It's where you need to write a 100 page screenplay by the end of April. No prizes, no competition, just writing for writings sake. I was a bit dubious at first, but I like what these mad men & women propose. My screenwriting teacher back in the day told me it all happens in "your head". She was SO right there. We can be are worst enemies sometimes. This wouldn't be my first script, but it would be one for fun. For the sheer whim. I have two or three ideas, but I'm not sure of what I really want. So between my fathers little documentary, script frenzy , and real life my plate is full. Hope I haven't bitten off more then I can chew. But sometimes you just got to shut-up, and do. Let's see how it works out shall we.

Shadow World year two

Shadow Word: year 2 - 02. He's the Bad One from David S Kessler on Vimeo . I like to call attention to people I think are talented and doing great work. One of them is David Kessler . He's an artist here in Philly who is doing some great video work on the streets of Philly. Head on over to his sight. He's doing episodes now in HD, and their interesting. I like his stuff, and he has a very keen eye. If I had some extra money I'd throw some his way, so if you do have some extra cash he has a donation button on his site. It's called Shadow World 2, and he puts together great pieces of art and social commentary without hitting us over the head with commentary. Instead he lets his subjects do the talking. Above is one of his newest videos which I liked. Take a look you won't regret it.

Documenting Dad Part 1

Wow it seems like I've been lax and not done much here, but instead review movies I've seen. I have seen some interesting and inspiring films of late, but that's for another time. I wanted this to be about my film making exploits, and of late it hasn't. Maybe that's because of the day job and the grind, but I have to say that it's me too. It's my fault for not being inspired, and not taking the time to do what I truly love to do. The thing is I just don't want to waste MY time. Finite resources, and finite budget, or should I say no-budget can only mean that I need to be creative in what I do. They say when you do a documentary you start off with an idea on what you want to do. Eventually it is what you shoot that dictates what you create. Ken Burns does a lot with archival footage and mixes it with interviews, and readings of letters and excerpts of books. I like what he does with that, but it does feel a bit anylitical. Movies like "Grey

Taking Chance (2009)

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HBO premiered a film last week called "Taking Chance". It stars Kevin Bacon as a soldier who escorts a fallen comrade back home to be buried. The film is short, and long in emotion. The film is directed by Ross Katz who was a producer on "lost in Translation" & "In the Bedroom". The film is written by Katz, and Michael Strobl, and it is a credit to them on how well they get it. PFC Chance Phelps was a real soldier who died in Iraq. Lt. Col. Michael Strobl was the soldier who escorted him back home, and he wrote the story about his experience taking PFC Phelps back home. It is due to this that it feels so real. There is no statements about the war, or agenda in the film. All it shows is how we honor the men that have fallen, and how they touch our lives. Gone are the days where people spat on our soldiers and called them monsters, yet it still remains in our collective consciousness. After all it wasn't too long ago that this happened. Maybe and pos

WatchMen (2009)

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I really didn't want to start my 300th post here with another review, but after seeing the movie "Watchmen" today I had to. Seems that there is interest, so let the debate begin. First of all is this one that I recommend. I'd have to say that with an "enthusiastic" YES! Watchmen is yesterdays " Blade Runner ". What do I mean by that? Well I remember seeing Ridley Scott's masterpiece way back when it came out in 1982. Even back then I knew I was seeing something special. I think even when the studio saw it they didn't understand it, and they screwed up the directors vision. Luckily with DVD we can now see Scott's film the way he wanted it. They even re-released the film in some theaters, which was great to see. Watchmen on the other hand doesn't suffer from what "Blade Runner" did. Here the creators and the studios involved got it. Watchmen was something different. It was revolutionary when it came out in comic book form, w

Blood, Boobs and Beast (2007)

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John Paul Kinhart's documentary "Blood, Boobs, and Beast" is a loving tribute to the filmmaker Don Dohler . Don who you say? Well Dohler was a filmmaker who gained some prominence back in the early 70's and 80's for his B-films. He is most known for such films as "The Alien Factor", "Fiend", and "Night Beast". All productions that were lovingly created in Dohler's backyard of Baltimore. For the record I have to say that I was exposed to Dohler with his publication Cinemagic which I read voraciously in my youth. I am such a fan that I pre-ordered my DVD back in November of last year. I was one of Dohler's kids I guess. I carried my cinemagic's around with me and learned from the articles on how to create some cool special effects with my Super-8 camera. From scratching laser blasts into the celluloid, to creating forced perspective shots I did it all. Getting the magazine in the mail was exciting, and it revealed a world of

Regional filmmaking going global

I've always thought that regional filmmaking was the future. This tells us abuot "Nollywood." The filmmaking community in Nigeria. We sort of have this in the United States. Take a look at some studios and distributors such as "Tempe Video" . Nothing new, and I'm sure as time goes by there will be more "Nollywoods".

The Auditions

I held auditions 4 months before we started shooting Deadly Obsessions. I had originally wanted to shoot sometime in July, but August wound up as a better month for all of us. Before that I looked through hundreds of head shots that were mailed to me after putting a casting notice in Backstage. I found a rehearsal hall in Manhattan near 23rd street, and that's where I held it. My wife, and my father-in-law Sal went with me, and that day we saw a couple of actors. Phyllis set-up a small spread of bagels, and coffee and we began casting early after 9 AM. I had emailed, and/or sent the actors sides of the script. The sides were of two scenes and I was casting for the four main characters. This scene is of Karen Stanion , and Irene Glezos reading. Karen is playing the part of Rebecca, but in the film she plays Lisa. Michelle Verhoeven eventually played Rebecca, and I'll put that audition up next. Since the scene is long I figured I break it up here. I think through this clip you