KGB Productions

I find it a difficult thing to come to terms with. This thing we call the Internet. I mean first off it's a great way to meet people who you wouldn't ordinarily meet, but do we actually know the people we are communicating with? I mean the Internet is this BIG thing that seems to give us alternate identities which become sort of our alter-egos. Don't me wrong I've met some interesting artists here on the web, and I think it has it's use, but the majority of the web is filled with nonsense, and just plain self indulgences. I've always subscribed to the belief that Grocho Marx once said, and that was "any club that would have me as a member I wouldn't want to be in", and that's what I see in the Internet. Cliques, groups, and porn. Is the Internet a great marketplace, or just a corporate whorehouse. I mean we now can get things twenty four seven, and have it delivered to us in a day or two. Is this commerce or is it just plain corporat...

So no reviews, and no production news. Just some thoughts at the end of this year. I've been trying to make this blog a blog that deals with filmmaking, but real life always interrupts. I'm basically an AV geek who is fortunate to work in a field where I can use my skills, but I've been trying to get inspired, and do another film. A film that counts, and a film that if it winds up to be the last film I do I'll be happy and satisfied. So hence the schizophrenic blog entry. I guess we all sit down this time of year and count blessings, and for others it's a time of deep depression. There seems no in-between here, so we do what we can, and push on. Filmmaking has been something of a saving grace for me. It feed my dreams, and helped me focus in those wayward years called the teens. It's also inspired me in my adulthood, and I've seen some great films in the past that sometimes just come and go. You would think more people would see them, and be inspired by thes...

When I first heard that they were going to try do Richard Matheson's story "I am Legend" I thought sure why not. When I heard Arnold Schwarzenegger was considered for the lead role I just shook my head, and said "they still don't get it". That was before the Terminator became the Governor of California. It's been that long since I've heard rumors about this film, and now it's out starring Will Smith as our lead. My interest began to rise at hearing and seeing some of the clips from the film. I can say that by far Will Smith is one of the best actors of our era. It's been a long road for Mr. Smith. I mean seriously did you ever think that the "Fresh Prince" would become an Oscar worthy actor? Beat you didn't, but he has, and it is Will Smith who carries this film. That and his faithful German Shepard companion. The movie doesn't follow Mathesons classic, but it does have a lot of updating, and it sticks to the stories premi...

I bought a DVD awhile ago called Monster Road , and finally got to watch it, and after watching it I thought to myself why didn't I see this sooner. No matter. Director Brett Ingram has made a film that is thought provoking, and entertaining as well. " Monster Road " is a documentary about the animator Bruce Bickford . If the name sounds familiar Bickford was responsible for the animation in most of Frank Zappa's films. In the film we are introduced to Bickford's father George who is suffering from Alzheimers. The first time we meet him he says 'Do I have an honest face?" Throughout the film we are treated to how Bickford grew up. Bickford lives in Washington state near Seattle in a house his father built. George is a main character of the film also. In Ingrams web site he describes George like this: Bruce Bickford’s father George, a retired Boeing aerospace engineer of the Cold War era, is the other main character of the film. In his own career, George...

While I was at a new Boarders book store I made my way to the film section as I often do, and this book caught my eye. It's called " The Portable Film School ", and it is written by D.B Gilles. I began reading some of it, and he makes some good points in it. It seemed like a good book about writing the "good" screenplay, and how to achieve it. The one thing that struck me is the need for an outline of your story. Gilles refers to it as a "beat" track to your story. For example this happens in the beginning and then this happens midway through the first act, and then as a result of this, the character does this. You see what I mean by "beat" track. I've always known that one must write a outline of sorts, but just how detailed? If you just sit in front of the computer and hope that the muse will begin helping you write that story you're doomed to fail or worse yet never complete your story. I like what Gilles had to say, and I'm in...

The following YouTube post is pretty informative. Sara Pollack describes an interesting way to use YouTube for filmmakers. The landscape has changed drastically, and instead of having a one way conversation with your audience you can now have a very interactive conversation with a prospective fan base. This would have helped me a lot when I was cutting my film. It's always a GOOD thing to get constructive criticism, and in a way it's how YOU become a better artist. Just thought I bring it to everyones attention.

First off "The Last War" was written, produced, and directed by a gentlemen by the name of Amodio Giordano. I met him at the advertising agency I worked. We both loved George Romero, and were a fan of the his work. My credits on this film were the cinematography, the editing, and sound mix, and I'm billed as associate producer. Amodio and I were a two man crew, and we acquired our equipment from Staten Island Community television. Amodio is a great graphic artist, and he even made a poster for it which hangs on my wall in my office at home. Another man who should be credited is also my friend Andy, also named maxruehl on YouTube. Andy helped in the mix, and I believe it is his moan that we hear in the Church sequence. We slowed it down, and filtered it. The sound mix is credited to Charlie Banner & Nick Devito which was in reality Amodio and I. We mixed the entire film in one Saturday at the agency. It took about 8 to 10 hours, and it came out really well for the ...

Check out the guys at 10 mph website . They wrote down their experiences for their film, and they have some interesting things to say about DIY distribution. Here's a section I really thought relevant. Especially where I'm right now. Keep on keepin' on. I notice a lot of filmmakers in the festival circuit that have spent an arm and a leg both in terms of time and money to make a film. They are reaching the point of burnout and don't have any idea how to make another film. So, they don't. Josh and I realized we had to keep making films, otherwise we would have probably faded away too. When we launched plans to make 10 Yards we were pretty burnt out, but it was refreshing to see how this film re-invigorated us and gave us a lot of new energy around developing this career. We were also amazed at how much easier it was to raise some of the money we needed to make the film. With the success 10 MPH was having on the festival circuit, people were more apt to support. Whate...

 Okay I said I wasn't going to do this, but while I write I sometimes draw inspiration from good films, and " Little Children " is one of those films. The film was released mid 2006, and had a limited release. It did open to some very good reviews, and for a week or two had a bigger opening, but it quickly faded from the theater screens after awhile. The movie stars Jennifer Connelly , Kate Winslet , and Patrick Wilson . It is about a womens affair with another married man and the events that transpire in small sleepy surburban town. I can't say enough about this film. From the cinematography by Antonio Calvache . To the directing of Todd Field . Everything rings true. Maybe it's because Fields shares screenwriting credit Tom Perrotta the author of the novel. The performances are all played well, and is an example of the power of silence. Throughout the film we have a feeling that we know where this is story is going to go, but in the end it doesn't. That sur...

Ben Afflek's new film "Gone Baby Gone" is a nice modern noir about a missing child, and the people who seemed to be involved in the plot. Affleck uses his brother Casey Afflek to portray Patrick Kenzine a private detective. His partner is played by Michelle Monaghan . The film depicts the underbelly of Boston. Affleck populates the cast with original actors from the area, and it gives the film a lot of credibility. John Toll does the cinematography, and it is the photography that makes the film seem very authentic. The film is from the novel by Denis Lehane , so the dialogue feels real. I liked the film, and felt it was a good debut for Affleck to do. I heard the budget was around $20 million, and it looks it. But what sells the film to me is the use of actual locals as actors. These parts aren't just for atmosphere, but the majority of the local players have actual lines. Along with the dialogue by Ben Affleck & Aaron Stockard who share screenplay credit the m...

I've been playing around with Premiere, and finally was able to post a short film I did while I was in school. My professor wanted us to do under and over exposed shots. I believe the exercises was called "daydreams". I shot this over two or three week-ends. We shot it with a Bolex, and the stock was plus-X reversal film . I learned that when you under-exposed reversal film it turned to mud. Over-exposing reversal was better, but still you couldn't over-expose too much. negative film has a much better latitude, and is very forgiving. I soon learned to love negative film, and my favorite at the time was Kodak's 7294. It was a color stock and it had a fast ISO, so you could shoot with few lights and get a really decent picture. I received my grade, and moved on. Later I transferred the film to videotape from the work print. I also put to video most of the footage from that shoot, so I could edit on video later. I added the still pictures when I work...

Check out the web page The Mutiny Company . Jamie Stuart's take on the 45th Annual New York Film Festival is funny, and interesting. The videos are located here at the Filmmakers Magazine web site. Stuart is a very talented and interesting filmmaker. Check them out you'll be inspired.

Okay so I've been having trouble writing something about my dad. It needs to be about him, and not about our relationship, or am I wrong? How can I write something about someone without having my own feelings put in there. Isn't it about the relationship? Well no it isn't. It's about a mans decent into confusion & chaos. It about the man's feelings on loosing himself. I know, I know movies have been done about this. Most recently a film called " Away from her " by Sarah Polley has tackled this issue with great skill, and has been hailed by critics as a wonderful and powerful film. I have not seen the film since I was writing something that was similar, and I didn't not want to be dismayed by what I had written and what Ms Polley film had portrayed. In no way could I probably approach what Sarah Polley had done due to my budgetary restraints, but I am hoping to make it a true account of how my father felt as he was being taken from us ever so slowl...

That's right this week-end, and next Ms Glezos will be in a one women play at " the Studio ". It's called "Where Do You Put The 'Y", and it's directed by Brad Calcaterra . If that name is familiar brad's directing, writing and acting can be seen in the independent film " four eyed monsters ". The Studio is located 25 west 23rd street. On the second floor. Call the studio at: 212-463-7962 for more info.

I've been thinking for the past few days if a film is better off scripted or whether a story is best told by the technique of improving. Now I've been on many sets and I know the realities of filmmaking. We're always fighting the clock, and filmmaking becomes a financial race. I've never had or been on a set where the budget wasn't finite. People have to work, and bills need to be paid, but it seems more and more that better films are made if you work with your actors. The performances are enhanced, and the story does have a life of its own. Make no mistake films like " Nashville ", or " Short Cuts " were and had been scripted, but it was the director who knew when to let his actors go and service the story better then what the writer could write. The more and more I study film, or try and make a film that is realistic and engaging the more and more I draw on actors to flesh out the story. I'm currently writing, but what I put down on paper ...

I've been wanting to writes something here for sometime, but there's always something that prevents me from getting the old thoughts up here. First off it seems as though John Turturro 's film " Romance & Cigarettes " is doing well at the film Forum. The film is in it's second week and has boosted a nice week-end total. According to Indiewire the film earned $15,893 at New York's Film Forum, good enough for the number one spot on the iWBOT for two weeks in a row. Plus the film "In the Valley of Elah" earned $133,557 from nine venues, which is very respectable. Director Larry Fessenden's thriller "The Last Winter will be opening Wednesday, September 19 in limited release at the IFC. I've been a big admirer of Mr. Fessenden for some time, and after hearing him talk at a seminar here in Philly about his film " Habit " I was very inspired to do a film. Also I've been reading about one of my favorite filmmakers Jo...

I read about this last week, and was interested in why a film like " Romance & Cigarettes " hasn't been picked up by a distributor. I mean it has stars, great production value, a great soundtrack, and it's a musical of sorts. The filmmaker John Turturro decided to self distribute, and I think he's crazy. Crazy like a fox that is. Now comes this news from indiewire : "Weekend earnings of $18,445 shot actor-turned-filmmaker John Turturro's self-released musical "Romance & Cigarettes" to the front of the iWBOT, as well as the top, self-released debut by a director in recent memory." The movie is playing at the Film Forum in New York city, and it looks as though it'll be playing for awhile. Good films can and do get seen. It's just getting harder to get noticed and separate yourself from the rest of the pack. The executive producers are both Ehtan Coen & Joel Coen . John Turturro was there last Friday night for a Q&A. Y...

The NY Times has an interesting article about pirated movies . It's actually happening in the old neighborhood I grew up in. Pirating is another problem the filmmaker faces in distributing his or her movie. If you don't think it affects you you're wrong. Money made by pirating movies goes into the wrong hands, and never makes it back to the filmmaker. I remember working in NYC and seeing the vendors on the street selling their knock-offs. Independent filmmakers could possible learn a thing or two about how these pirates work. As one filmmaker says the pirates have better distribution then the studios. It would be great if we could use the pirates tactics in our own DIY way of distributing you're own film. That way we would ensure that the filmmakers who made the film would actually get the the money he or she is owed. Interesting concept isn't it! *photo by Todd Heisler/The New York Times

So I'm in a Target store looking at the DVD section, and what's newly released. There are some really interesting films that I made a mental note of to put on my list. But what is really noticeable is the prices of some DVD's. IFC films had several for $7.99. One of them was the movie " Factotum " starring Matt Dillon . They even had a double feature DVD of " Footloose " and " Flashdance " for $7.99. Now I'm not a rocket scientist, but how does the independent filmmaker survive in all this when major motion pictures can be owned for as little as $7.99? The films all have production values, star a famous actor or two, and are of interest to the regular guy on the street whose looking for a pleasant distraction from the mundane of life. It's not even just Target stores. Walmart is the same thing. Though I did see a statistic that Walmart has a 40% share in the market of selling DVD's to the consumer, so I would assume that Target a...

First read what Anthony Kaufman has to say about competition for indie-film distributors. It's a good article and it has some valid points. It's at the Village Voice's web site here . Then go to Reeler editor S.T. VanAirsdale's response . Both have great points, and I will be the first to agree that in the past two years it has become frustratingly difficult to get ones film seen. There is so much product out there. Good and bad, and that's the problem. It kind of reminds me of when porno went video or when B-movies were all the rage, during the VCR revolution in the 80's. Their was a glut of BAD films in both genres, and distributors flooded the market with inferior product. When distributors began selling their tapes for $5 and began running their films in EP mode instead of the preferred SP speed the quality of the product sank. All to save on the cost of a cassette. Good B-type thrillers & artful films that were created in the late 70's and ea...

So what happens when it's late and you're flipping through channels. You sometimes get hooked on a film that you can't stop watching, and before you know it the film is finished, and you're smiling because there is good content on them there channels after all. That's how I saw Pawel Pawlikowski's neat little film My Summer of Love . I was intrigued by the characters Mona played by Nathalie Press and Tamsin played beautifully by Emily Blunt . It is a simple tale of two young women spending the summer together and who happen to fall in love. Now before you say anything I like to point out the two great performances that Ms Press and Ms Blunt give. Pawlikowski doesn't go for the exploitable nuances of the story of two women falling in love. He instead shows how the two are drawn together by their similarities and differences in character. Mona is the village girl who lives with her brother who has become a born again Christian. She misses her old brother ...

 Okay I finally got to watch Hostel, and though I’ ve heard a lot about the film I wanted to see it for myself. I was curious, and wanted to see what all the hype was about. I saw it for free on Showtime on Demand while the kiddies were away. I like horror films, but lately my tastes have been a bit eclectic, and for me to like a horror movie it better deliver on several levels. Unfortunately Hostel did not for me. The movie started off like a typical horror film. It sure had its quota of T&A, but it did feel like a paint by numbers kind of film, and for a horror film to be effective it needs to get visceral and hold nothing back. Now I know what you’re thinking. Did he see the same film I saw? I mean the gore factor was heavy. Wasn't the gore visceral enough? The answer is no. I see that type of gore and it does not faze me. Now you’re asking have I become de -sensitized to the violence? I mean can a person become so de -sensitized to the violence that he or she isn ’t repul...

   Okay I said I wasn't going to do this again, but after watching this film last night I had to comment. Why haven't I seen this film sooner. After all it was released in 2002, and is based on Claude Chabrol's 1969 film " La Femme infidèle" . I happen to be a Chabrol fan, and I just didn't think that the film about a women's affair that leads to murder would be any better, and I would be right too if it wasn't in the very capable hands of Adrian Lyne . In any other directors hands we would have been served up a bland tale that has been done to death, but what Lyne does is create a compelling drama about a women's obsession, and a husbands fury. Peter Biziou cinematography is stunning, yet that is nothing new in a Lyne movie. Lyne has a flair for the visual, and he uses that in the film. The only flaw is that maybe after all the build up the third act kind of falls flat, but I buy what Lyne is selling, and that is things can get away from us. T...

Who says you don't learn anything from old media. In the local news section of the Philadelphia Inquirer was a piece by Daniel Rubin about a blog called " Shadow World ". The title of the article is called " Beneath the El, dark video verité ". David Kessler is the creator of " Shadow Land ", and it's a fascinating look at the other side of life here in Philadelphia .Most of the vignettes are beautifully edited, and contain little dialogue. Others have the subject talking about his or her life. Each vignette is about two to three minutes. Each piece is well done. I'm told David uses a tiny Sony Handycam (A Sony trv22). I really like what David is doing, and I like how he treats his subjects. No bias at all. Mr Kessler also lives in the neighborhood he films in and that's probably why he gets the footage he does. Kessler edits some things that his subjects might get in trouble for. David says that he doesn't want to be seen as exploiti...

Came across Andrew Semans website, and after seeing his trailers and clips of his short films I was intrigued. The naturalness that his performers come across is what makes me interested in Andrew. I haven't seen any of his films whole, but from what I see I'm very much impressed. I'm always wondering how to make actors & actresses come across more naturally. I mean a film is scripted and I know with rehearsal actors can overcome that scripted feeling, but I also know it's all about chemistry too. You can rehearse till the cows come home, and sometimes you can't get that naturalness. I'd love to sit down with Mr. Semans and ask about his method, and how he works. I see he does his own writing and has also shared writing credits with two other people. Sometimes they say too many cooks spoil a stew, but sometimes in filmmaking that's not the rule. Sometimes it's better to have people to bounce ideas off of and contribute. I wonder how much the actors s...

It was shocking to hear about Bergman's death, but then to hear about Antonioni's death soon after kind of was a slap in the face. Both men were GREAT filmmakers, and though I have not seen all their films I had a profound respect for these gentlemen. They were thinking filmmakers. Their films were and still are thoughtful works of art. I like so many were exposed to these filmmakers in film school. I don't think I could have appreciated them sooner. Both Bergman & Antonioni were masters at the cinema, and both men made me realize movies could be works of art. With Laszlo Kovacs death earlier last week that makes three cinema giants that we've lost. I can only be consoled by watching the work they left behind.

I never seem to have a problem about stories. I read a newspaper and the stories all jump out at me, and since I've been trying to write a script that I like you may ask then "what's the problem bud?" The problem is how do I do films with meaning, and do justice by them knowing full well my resources are spare and limited. That's the frustrating part, and yet it isn't an excuse. I mean if I was this brilliant filmmaker which I imagine myself to be wouldn't I be able to overcome these hurtles. True artists overcome their hurtles, and roadblocks. What's my excuse? How can I do a story that not only I want to see and hear, but that will strike a familiar cord in others, and hopefully get them to see it? Isn't that the trick? So hear it is early Sunday mourning, and I'm paralyzed. Which road to go down, and which story is closest to my heart to expend a lot of my limited resources on? A writer writes. Pen to paper. It's that simple. A painter p...

   Internationally acclaimed cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs , who lensed the landmark cinematic achievement "Easy Rider" and compiled more than 70 credits . Kovacs , who died Sunday, was 74. Mr. Kovacs was one of Hollywood's most influential and respected directors of photography, Kovacs lensed "Five Easy Pieces," "Shampoo," "Paper Moon," "New York, New York," "What's Up, Doc?" "Ghost Busters," "My Best Friend's Wedding" and "Miss Congeniality." " Kovacs was one of the great cinematographers in the 1970s who basically changed the way movies had looked up until that time," said Richard Crudo , past president of the American Society of Cinematographers. "His roots were in the low-budget independent world, and he took a lot of that ethic to another level. Years later, he became a master of the high-gloss studio look. But no matter what he did, there was always a trem...

I always laugh when I read those lines. I think anyone who writes knows the in-joke on the above phrase. Writing is hard enough and it can be especially difficult when you set limits on what your writing about. Those limits can be location, characters, or both, and it's not fun living with these limits. It almost feels pointless to do this, and handicap yourself at the beginning, but how about looking at it in another light? I've always thought great art comes from artists pushed to the limits. Mozart was after all almost deaf, and it never crippled is ability to make some fantastic music. I don't want to put myself in the pantheon of such artists as Mozart, but ALL artists go through it. How does one create with the limitations one is given. Whether it's financial, time related or geographic the successful artist usually over comes these limitations, and sometimes he or she flourishes. I have to be creative. It's what I do. Whether I do it at home, or where I work...

So I just came across this site and thought I mention it here because it's very well done. It's things like this that get me excited and kind of make me want to do something new. The idea of putting something out there in serialized form is a good way of getting noticed. I came across this through Josh Oakhurst's website. Josh is a very talented & innovative young artist, and I like what he says. The web site is called the Westside , and it's interesting. Simple, and yet very effective. You see they didn't get just anybody even though they were a no-budget film. The actors are really good, and the camera work is top notch. All shot digitally, with a small crew. Now I know they say on their website that the creators will take there time on the episodes, and that's a good thing, but maybe to get the film in the can they should have the whole thing planned out, and shoot ALL of it. The hardest thing I've come to believe is shooting and then stopping. Momen...

I've been doing a lot of reflection, and a lot of thinking about movie endeavors in general. The phrase "watch what you wish for, you might just get it" comes to mind. I could go on and on about movie making, but in our pop culture mentality WE think WE have the answer, and that OUR idea is the one that gets heard. I'm here to tell you it doesn't, and so hence this post. It's been awhile since posting in this blog. My bad, but I said to myself long ago that if I didn't have anything to say why say anything at all. Sometimes silence is a lot louder then yelling. A book I've read several times called " The Unkindest Cut " is a book worth reading for anyone interested in filmmaking. It's written by Joe Queenan who is a contemporary humorist, critic and author . Here's a rough summary of what the book is about: When Queenan saw Robert Rodriguez's award-winning film El Mariachi, which was reputedly made for only $7000, he thought he...

Another really neat web site is Film Noir of the week . It's created by Steve-O, and if you're a fan of film noir films then this is a good place to start. I'm always amazed at the depth and how Steve puts it all together. I'm a big fan of noir films, and I guess Deadly Obsessions is my little tribute to it. When people tell me about the dialogue in the film and just how much there is of it I just refer them to such film classics as " Detour ", Double Indemnity , and " DOA ". A lot of noirs were dialogue driven, so I didn't see a problem with it. I'm not comparing myself to any of these classics it's just my argument in using dialogue. I do notice especially among the young that their attention span is quite limited. I see this in the students where I work. Maybe it's an age thing I really don't know, but as the French say "c'est la vie".

Okay it's Father's Day and so I'm taking a small break and enjoying the day, but here are two great links I think you should check out if you already don't know them. One is Badazzmofo .com which is run by a cool dude by the name of David Walker . I actually bought a couple issues of Badazzmofo back in the day. I've rediscovered that he's on the web, and still kicking ass and taking names. Check it out if you have some time. His love for spaghetti Westerns is unparalleled. Then go on over to Sunset Gun , and take a look at Kim Morgan's web site. Her love of the cinema, and her knowledge leaves mine in the dust. Her credits are numerous, so head on over there and begin to be amazed. She's awesome! Still writing. As they say about writing it's all in the rewrite. ~sigh!

So how do I start my story. I've already based it on someone I know and that is my dad. He was a complex guy who said little, but still waters ran deep. The one event that transformed him into the person I know as daddy was the war. My dad was a soldier in World War II, and he was in the German army. He was a radio operator, and he had some stories, but they are few and he rarely talked about his experiences. Once in a while I caught a glimpse into the nightmare when he would talk about people he knew. He would go silent when too much of the memory came back, and the wall went back up. So it's hard to write about someone who didn't share. Even if I would known how important those memories were back then I still wouldn't have gotten much out of my dad. Here where I work we've been video taping World war 2 veterans and their experiences. We've also been chronicling other soldiers experience from the various wars American has fought in. I directed a series of these...

Okay so I have to comment about the last show of one of my favorite series on television. It seems that the creator of the series David Chase has pissed off a segment of our population, and it's making news. It goes to show you that in our media savvy culture hype is everything, and yet here it lead to disappointment or that's what their saying. I don't buy it. The Sopranos was a series about a mobster and his everyday life. All the characters in it were reprehensible goons who you would never associate with or friend for fear of being eaten. In real life the mob is worse. Being born & raised in Brooklyn & Queens NY I know. I've seen the real thing in real life. I've never seen someone get " whacked ", but I remember the stories and the people. For Chase to make these characters even worth our time watching is an amazing feat. It's like a car accident. We don't want to look, but we can't keep our eyes off the accident its...

I noticed that I haven't posted here in a while, and its not because I haven't anything to say it's because I have too much to say. To make a long story short I've been hashing around ideas and thoughts for a new project. I've also been keeping busy at work with various events needing my assistance. But the main thought is what to do as a next project. I want to do so much but before I go down that path I need to make sure that the story and the project is worth doing. Because I have a feeling I'll be living with this one for sometime. Short or feature? I really don't know. I've come to the conclusion what ever better fits the story I'll do, but first I need to write it. I can tell you that it has a lot of personal stuff in it. About mortality, the relationship between fathers and sons, and just plain generational stuff that makes us who we are. If that sounds vague its not on purpose it's just that I don't have a handle on it all yet. Like I...

Okay there's an article about this supposed movement called mumblecore in the Guardian . Can I say please STOP! I've actually seen " Mutual Appreciation , " Dance Party USA ", and even " Four Eyed Monster ". I enjoyed " Four Eyed Monster " and was impressed how the filmmakers collaborated with others to create a unique urban tale about love in our media infested culture. It also helped that the filmmakers knew their stuff. But to compare these films or genre of films to John Cassavetes films seems just wrong. I mean sure Cassavetes used his friends mainly in his films, but his friends were such artists as Peter Falk , and Gena Rowlands who were professional actors. These artists brought a quality to Cassavetes films that cannot be duplicated and actually made the films much more interesting. Filmmaking is filmmaking, and how you get it done is all that matters as long as you get it done, but please don't compare a great filmmaker like Ca...

I was sitting watching the series " Entourage " on HBO, and a piece of dialogue stuck with me. It was when a producer tells the main character on how he got into the business. He explains to the character that he lacked the passion others had for the craft. Earlier in the show the main character tells his manager that Hollywood is all about power and not making films. People buy scripts that they have no intention of making. I've heard of such things, and I've never really worked on a high budget film, but I've talked to a lot of directors and producers, and they do say that it's a frustrating business. And there's the rub. I've been a crew member on several low-budget films, and a multitude of commercials. Long hours, and low pay were the norm. Some commercials payed okay, but I was part of the agency who made it, so you could say I was an agency employee on several commercials. Passion. I know you hear about it, and talk about it when we're talki...