KGB Productions

I read a lot about production, and sometimes I come across some really good interviews with either a filmmaker or cinematographer or editor. In a recent interview in the magazine "Student Filmmakers" I came across an interview with Richard Crudo ASC. He is a director of photography and more recently a director of a film entitled " Last Night ". The interview is in the November 2007 edition, so if you want to read it you can go on over to Student filmmakers website and see how to acquire it. The part I thought of interest is where Crudo is asked about his opinion about digital technology today and his opinion on HD cameras. "Clearly digital technology is the future of what we do. There's no question about that. Unfortunately, the future isn't here yet. And the industry has been sold an enormous bill of goods with regard to what this technology's current capable of doing..." Crudo goes on say " Primarily digital needs to improve in these are...

I've always been a fan of this film and after coming across this review by Matt Zoller Seitz I had to post it here too. I agree with Matt that the film is a classic. The photography and the editing all point to a well crafted and interesting film. It's a film that should be viewed again, and appreciated. Matt does a fine piece of cinema appreciation, and I agree with him on the films merits. Sharky's Machine feels like a simple exploitation type film, but it has deeper roots then that. Maybe that's why I like it. I was surprised it did moderately at the box office, but then again the beauty of DVD is that people can re-discover hidden classics, and that's what Sharky's Machine is a hidden classic.   

This Sunday I read an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about Art houses being empty , and having a hard time surviving in today's economy. I do believe that the independent film distribution model is undergoing a change. There is more product and more specialized markets now. Meaning you can target the audience you want to see your movie. Instead of wasting money on advertising that won't draw in your audience you can now specifically target that audience you want to see your film. Of course this also means narrowing your film audience which isn't good if a film is going to be successful. After all you want your audience to be diverse and not narrow. I also came across this interview on indiewire called " Yes, the sky really is falling ". It's a cold hard look at distribution in today's digital market. It's not a fun read, but it has some eye opening stats that every producer should know about. I found it quite honest in it's portray...

So I stole away and finally saw "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", and I have to say I liked it, but not as much as I did the others. Maybe the franchise is just getting old, or maybe it's me. After all I'm older too, and the film does make a lot of references to age. But the film does stand on it's own, and I like the way they worked in the 50's and the McCarthy witch hunts. I'm sure the filmmakers are winking at us and at how the more things change the more they stay the same. The bid bad Soviets are the bad guys here, and Cate Blanchett plays an evil little foe for Indy to go up against. Shia LaBeouf plays Indy's long lost son, which is no surprise. I mean I saw that coming a mile away, but the filmmakers have some fun with it, and if Shia LaBeouf is going to be the heir apparent to the Indy mantle then I don't see a problem. After all the franchise needs to continue. My only complaint was that Shia LaBeouf is a better act...

The Cinemathèque Française in Paris is mounting a ambitious retrospective of Jess Franco tonight. The Franco retrospective (which consists of 68 films!) will run from today, June 18, through July 31. Franco & Lina will be in attendance. It's cool to see Franco get his due. Whether you like or dislike his films you have to give Franco his due on his perseverance in filmmaking. If you want to see what films they are showing head on over to Robert Monell at his website I'm In a Jess Franco State of Mind. That's pretty cool. I also hear most of the films will be shown in 35mm. It's probably the best venue to be seen in. Congrats Jess!

I went to see the "new" Hulk movie this week-end with my son. I was one of the few who liked the first Hulk directed by Ang Lee, so going into this movie I really didn't expect much. Surprisingly the filmmakers stuck to the TV series roots more then the comic roots. I didn't hate it, and I like the nods to the old series. In one scene they show Bill Bixby in a video clip on a television, and then there is the casting of Lou Ferrigno as a security guard. There is a lot of CGI work in the movie, and I've gotten used to it. The CGI work is okay, and done with some care, but in the back of my mind I'm wondering if filmmakers are relying too much on CGI. My little boy enjoyed it, and he did say that it was a bit scary for him (he's six), so I take that into consideration if you were taking a child to go see the movie. Again I'm amazed at how the studio markets the film to kids, but yet puts it out as a PG-13 movie. Of course this is all about parents discre...

I've been chomping at the bit to do another film. No surprise, but what? I've written several things and none seem viable, or even of interest, so I trudge along writing more material. I'm just basically just throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks. Some showed promise, and then fall apart. Other ideas never see the light of day. What also gnaws at me is how I'll be able to do this. Money is short, and resources are limited. I've always been an advocate of paying people for their services, but in filmmaking a lot goes unsaid. In my late twenties I got sick and tired of hearing people complain about their money woes. I just wanted to get paid for my time. Many times I got promises or very little in monetary compensation. It soured my view on the production process. I promised myself I wouldn't do the same. Many projects that I worked on never saw the light of day. They eventually fell apart during post production, or just were simple forgotten when th...