KGB Productions

I know, I know.  Long time, but I'm back and the first movie I review is a kids film.  Having children of my own they have grown up with Alvin, Theodore and Simon, so when this film hit the theaters you know I had to go. This is the third.  Yes the third film in the series of the chipmunk movies.  Each one is cute and interesting, but they are defiantly geared to the children.  In this film Dave and the boys along with the chipettes go on cruise.   Yes you remember them from the second movie don't you?  Anyhow the chipmunks get shipwrecked on an island after disobeying Dave ( Jason Lee ).  Dave and Uncle Ian ( David Cross ) also get shipwrecked on an island, and need to find the chipmunks.  That is of course if this is the same island as where the chipmunks are, and if you're thinking it isn't then I have a bridge to sell to you in Brooklyn. The movie is a bit of slapstick, and moral lesson for the kids.  Sure we laugh when ...

I had a chance to go to the CCW conference this week again, and update myself and talk to others about content & communication.  I find the conference interesting and I learn a lot by talking to vendors, and other technicians and artists who are in the field of communication.  Many provide content to the web, and that content is spilling over to other traditional media such as cable, and network.  One of the seminars was titled: " So What Comes After File-Based Work Flows?  The Next Generation ".   I found it interesting what others are doing, and how they are doing it.  Media is getting faster and that ability to become immediate is changing the landscape of how people consume different types of media.  Maybe it's just the way human beings are.  We think that knowing something immediately will give us an edge or help us. What I was excited about is that the web has knocked down barriers between countries, people, and ...

The Exorcist was a film that showed me that horror could be filled with terror, and the unexpected.  I saw this film at a relatively late age.  I was way too young when it first came out, but I had heard stories about the film.  Whether these stories were true it didn't really matter.  It fed the myth of the film in my mind, and when I finally saw it I was amazed at the artistry of the film.  From the direction to the cinematography the film "The Exorcist" is a film that deserves mention here.  Based on the William Peter Blatty's 1971 best-selling theological-horror novel of the same name the movie remains pretty faithful to the book. Having seen the film later in life I did become obsessed about the cinematography of the film.  Owen Roizman was the cinematographer, and from the first shot to the last shot the film is a masterpiece in cinmatography.  I'm not going to say much more about the film because it's all been said before.  T...

I saw Evil Dead where it was meant to be seen. A drive-in. I had heard about this film from some of my classmate’s back in high school, and I read everything I could put my hands on about the film. Fangoria magazine was my pipeline to the fantastic, and for a teenager with an over active imagination, and a thirst for all things movies Fangoria was the magazine to read. That and " Cinemagic " magazine. A magazine devoted to filmmaking. The stories about how "Evil Dead" was made fascinated me. A bunch of guys going out into the country with some film equipment and their cast and crew and making a film. What they came back with was a film that hit a nerve with audiences, and it became a success. Sam Rami and his gang made cinematic low budget history when they made their film "the Evil Dead". A film with very few characters, and a simple plot. My film professor was right in a way. If you want to make an interesting film take some buddies and film some ...

If I had to name one film that blew my mind when I was a teenage it would have to be "Dawn of the Dead".  George Romero's " Dawn of the Dead " is a film that is on so many levels it boggles the mind.  A horror film, a satire on society, a statement on consumerism, and a sequel.  That's what "Dawn..." is and in lesser hands it would not have been effective, but because the filmmaker is George Romero this film hits the audience on all levels.  I was about 14 years old when this film came out, and it was one of the hardest films to see for me back then.  Released without a rating it only played in several theaters, and if you were not accompanied with an adult you didn't get in.  I saw it in Germany while visiting my aunt, and in Europe it was called "Zombie 2".  Argento had made a film called " Zombie " previously and called his cut of Dawn "Zombie 2".  Little did I know that there were two versions of this film.  ...

I would have to say that the one film that makes this month memorable is" Halloween ".  Not the re-make of course, but the original from John Carpenter , and Debra Hill .  It stars Jamie Lee Curtis , and Donald Pleasence , and it was originally called "The Babysitter Murders".  The movie was done on a low budget, and looks fantastic for it's budget range.  I'm always amazed at the camera work in the film, and how great the cinematography looks.  Dean Cundy is the man behind the cinematography and the look of the film.  Along with the art direction the film really feels like it was shot in October even though it was not.  The film was shot with a Panaglide, and Carpenter makes good use of it here.  The camera floats through each scene, and it gives us the audience this lurking sense of dread.  Where will Michael Myers (the killer) come from next?  Carpenter always has you guessing. I'm a strong believer of atmosphere in a movie, and H...

Okay it's that time in the year. The weather gets cooler, the leaves begin falling from the tree, and we all begin to dress up in silly little costumes. It's Halloween soon, and the countdown has begun. So why not celebrate the month of October with my very own countdown. A countdown of the best horror movies. Based on me. I'm sure opinions will vary widely, but I figured I give it a shot, and see just how many I can write about here. First up is a movie called " The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ". The original one that is. Not the remake or the prequel that they made not too long ago. I'm not a big fan of those, and remakes in general. I understand them from a studio's perspective since there is another younger audience out there who may want to see it, and when there's money to be made you can bank that a studio is going to make a remake. After all it's easy money, and the word franchise is a golden ticket for the studios. But this review is abo...

Okay it's been awhile, and someday I'll get to writing about it, but for now this caught my eye. I hope the filmmaker gets to do this.  I really enjoyed his web series " Westside ". Check it out. * PS: He did. Check it out on Netflix

It's summertime and the movie blockbusters are lining up at your local theaters.  To say that Captain America was a film I've been waiting for is an understatement.  In my youth their was Captain America (cappie for short), then spiderman , the Fantastic Four , Iron Man , and the Hulk .  I was a Marvel child (sorry DC).  I would devour all comic books as soon as I got them.  So when Captain America was announced about two years ago I began counting the days.  Even got my big boy to want to go see it since he loved Iron man. So can you predict where this review will go?  I was not disappointed seeing Cappie and I thought Joe Johnston  direction was well done.  A origin film is hard to do.  There is a lot of back story to cover, and sometimes it's hard to get it all in and be faithful to the comic.  Captain America has no problem there.  Johnston  does extremely well to cover the true origin of Captain America, and stays...

What can I say with two boys who are fans it was my duty to take them and get lost in the inexplicable plot that are the Transformers.   A movie based on a toy, which is based on an old animated series too.  I have to confess I was not a fan of Transformers when it was on Saturday morning cartoons , but through my boys I've learned to love the series.  The animated series did show some intelligence, and did have some interesting stories to tell.  Transformers: Dark of the Moon is an all out assault of imagery of robots battling, and for what small boy does this not make sense?  The series is about a blood feud between the Decepticons and the Autobots.  One loves freedom, and liberty, and the other is into tyranny and destruction.  It's as simple as that, and what director Michael Bay does is provide us with over two hours of mayhem and chaos.  The New York Times said it best in it's review " Mr Bays lax notions of coherence and plausi...

Okay first off I have to thank Steven Spielberg , and JJ Abrams for a trip down memory lane.  Super-8 brings back a time when things were a bit simpler, and life was a bit slower.  Now that I've dispensed with the nostalgia I have to say I really liked the film.  The ending seemed a bit corny to me, and yet it worked.  After all Super-8 is simply a B-movie picture that we all once watched on Saturday nights at the local drive-in.  Joe Dante did this in a film called " Matinee " way back in 1993.  What Spielberg and Abrams does in Super-8 is ratchet the action up a bit more then what Dante did.  Super-8 feels like a long lost Spielberg film when he started out.  It's a bit like " ET ", " Close Encounters of the third kind ", and " the Goonies " all rolled up in one.  Yet Spielberg is only the producer.  Super-8 was written and directed by JJ Abrams, and I have to confess I really liked the story, and best yet I loved the char...

Everyone talks about Columbo , and it's true Falks character as Columbo was perfect.  But he left a lot of great performances on film.  His accomplice or partner in crime was the director/actor John Cassavetes .  Below is a clip from a movie called " Nicky & Mickey ", which starred Cassavetes.  The movie was directed by Elaine May .  The scene alone shows both actors talents.  Mr. Falk thanks for the memories.

This was done several years ago when we were pushing the video equipment to the brink.  It was a team effort, and it was pretty successful.  All I can say is that rendering can be a bear.  If your an editor you know what I mean.

> The above video are highlights from one of the first shows I did in the series called "Bridging the Generations".  It was made for the humanities department where I used to work, and these assignments were always interesting to do.  The people I've met through these types of programs have been inspirational, and informative for me.  I learned a lot technically with these videos, and each one got better and better.  I just hope in a world of budget cuts, and dropped programs that these types of programs can continue.  The more we know about our past the better our future will be.   If you are interested in aquiring copies of the programs for your school or organization please go to the Lenape District TV , and order from there.

Blanc de Blanc is a small film with heart.  Originally made on a bet that the director could make a film in 2 weeks.  The film is quite professional for its limitations, and it works.  The story is bare bones, yet the plot is somewhat engaging.  A young women  meets a mysterious man, and they start a relationship.  It's as simple as that, and thats the films charm. How  Lucas McNelly (director) presents his film is at times slow and plotting, but it is the actors that make this a fascinating film.  Both Rachel Shaw and Jason Kirsch are brilliant in their performances.  Watching these actors is what riveted me to the film.  The film is shot beautifully by David Eger , and the music by Jerome Wincek is effective and does set the tone of the film. What I felt was weak was the stories structure.  There is a lot of dialogue that seems to be used as padding for the film.  I felt that a lot of the scenes could have been cut....

This is really interesting, and should be seen by others, so hence it's here.  Hope it inspires, and that you learn something.

Stella's Secret from Karl Bauer on Vimeo . This is my 400th entry here, and I wanted to post something I'm quite proud of. I've met many people throughout my life, and I've had the honor and the privilege to meet some extraordinary men and women. Though I seem to be going through a transition of sorts I still want to continue meeting these extraordinary men and women, and get their story out. Every one of us has a story to tell. I truly believe that. Those stories need to be shared. We all have commonalties together, and telling these stories helps us understand our fellow neighbors, and citizens. We have to stop building walls and start building bridges to each other. It frustrates me to see a house divided. When I was growing up I heard the stories of my father, mother, grandmother, and grandfather. I heard what they went through, and being young at the time I truly didn't understand all that they had to say. Now being older I get it, and I understand. More ...

I had wanted to see this film for sometime now, and heard good things about the film.  To say that I wasn't disappointed is an understatement.  Battlefield: Los Angeles is a film that brings chills to one soul.  It is a film that is quite relevant in today's world were we Americans find ourselves engaged in several different wars.  Maybe because of the current events this film hits home.    The plot is simple: "A Marine Staff Sergeant ( Aaron Eckhart ) ,who has just had his retirement approved goes back into the line of duty to assist a 2nd Lieutenant and his platoon as they fight to reclaim the city of Los Angeles from alien invaders". The movie starts with the invasion, and then flashes back to introduce us to our platoon.  We have the marine who is married and expecting, the one who is going to get married, the big strong marine who feels protective of his buddy who is marrying, and the marine of the dead brother who died under the le...

Finally completed the script.  Wanted to do something creative in a year where everything gets turned upside down.  I have to say that I thought at times why am I doing this, but it was a great creative endeavor, and it's fun to flex that creative muscle once in a while.  In a world where things are upside down it's good that I can concentrate on something creative and force myself to completion. Is the script any good?  It's got potential I think.  It needs some re-writes, but every GOOD script or movie is done with re-writes.  I enjoy creative criticism, and there aren't many people who do that.  It's usually "it sucks" or "its great".  No in-between.  Constructive criticism is what its all about, and if you have people who can do that you should defiantly take advantage of it.  If it's anything I've learned in my years on this earth it's that criticism can be helpful, and hurtful sometimes.  You yourse...

"Finally, movies are art....the amount of attention paid to movies is directly related to pictures of quality.....my job is to care about and be responsible for every frame of every movie I make.  I know that all over the world there are young people borrowing from relatives and saving their allowances to buy their first cameras and put together their first student movies, some of them dreaming of becoming famous and making a fortune.  But few are dreaming of finding out what matters to them , of saying to themselves and to anyone who will listen. "I care".  A few of them want to make good movies." - Sidney Lumet    Making Movies

It seems that CLOSE-UP has been announced as an Official Selection of the SoHo International Film Festival 2011, which will run April 15th - 21st, 2011 I just came across this fellow Philadelphian, and I took a look at the trailer, and it really looks and sounds good. It has peaked my interest, and I'm very impressed to hear that it was shot on the Canon EOS 7D . How cool is that.  Charlie Anderson is the director of Photography, and it is produced in conjunction with Lucky Basturds Productions . A lot of who is in the film are local talent from here in Philadelphia. The budget for the film according to the director was $7,364, and it looks like a lot of blood sweat and tears went into the making of the film. I always want to praise a fellow filmmaker who gets his or her story out there, and so that's why it's here. The film has its premiere at the SoHo International film festival in NYC on April 19th at 1:00pm. It's to be held at the Quad Cinemas in NYC on 13t...

Documentarian Heather Quinlan is looking for finishing funds to complete her film about New York accents.  Check out the trailer down below, and if you know people, or if you have services like an editing bay, or a mixing facility I'm sure she would be greatful. The trailer is a good piece of work.  It would be awesome if someone could help her out.  For the record I don't know Ms Quinlan, but the trailer screams finish me, and being a "Nu Yorker" I'd love to see this film get a release somewhere.

After being in the SXSW festival last year this film got some notice, and some really good reviews.  After hearing about it I was interested and I finally got a chance to see it this week-end, and I have to say that the first third of the movie I really enjoyed, but after that for me the film falls apart.  The film is about Erica a young woman living in Austin who is promiscuous, she picks up men and dumps them immediately after having sex, never allowing herself to get too close to anyone. This changes when she gets better acquainted with her neighbor who has just moved in.  His name is Nate and he is a quiet man, slightly creepy, but he persists in being kind to her, and he wins her affection in a non-sexual way.  Now this happens all within the first twenty to thirty minutes of the movie, and then we are introduced to other characters who become the movies motivational piece for the violent ending. Like I said before the first thi...

Where do I start.  If your into comic book violence, bad character development, and just plain blood and gore this is your film.  For me it is not, and I can't recommend this film at all.  The film is suppose to be a send up on the 80's exploitation films, but it NEVER does it for me, and in truth I walked out on the film.  There are few films I walk out of and this was one of them.  No I did not get squeamish because of the blood, and violence.  I left because because it was not worth my time, and a total waste . Now I would like to just end this review here now, but I can't.  I like to write about why did or didn't I like a film, so in as brief possiable as I can be I will try and do so. Hobo with a shotgun stars Rutger Hauer  as the Hobo, and I really can't see why they used him.  I love Hauer in " LadyHawk ", The Hitcher , and even " Blade Runner ", so for the life of me I don't know why they use him the way they...

It's that time of year, and I'm kicking myself in the ass and writing once more.  With all that is going on I really don't know how, but somehow I'll manage.  If anything it will be an excuse to finish the screenplay I stopped working on last year.  need to keep the creative juices flowing, and it's self satisfaction for me. It's a real B-type film.  If you feel stagnant in the creative department give Script Frenzy a try.  You may just get out of it a screenplay.  It doesn't cost a thing. Also using the new and improved Celtx screenwritting program .  It's very good, and easy to learn.

I had to put this up here. Thinking that the guy who did this filmed it with a BIG old Arriflex 16mm camera while recording sound on a Walkman is so cool. I remember having to sneak shots of the subway when I was in film school. Taking an old filmo B&H DS70R camera was more my style. I even still have one. Never had the heart to get rid of it. If your unfamiliar with a DS70R camera their the cameras that are built like tanks and saw action as far back as World war 2. You had to wind them up, and you got a good 30 to 40 seconds till they stopped and then you would have to wind them again. That's of course if you shot at 24 frames per second. You could get more if you shot at a lower F.P.S, but if you did that you better be rock steady or you'll see every shake and shimmy. Those cameras also had parallax viewfinders so shooting with a 10mm lens and going hyper focal distance was the key to getting some good shots. You did that because you wanted to get everything in focus, ...

Last weekend the family saw Rango, and I have to say I liked the film a lot. The animation is much better then in other animated films out there now. The film is simple. A lizard whose name we don't know has an accident and is stranded in the desert alone. Our protagonist seems to be a thespian of sorts though he has little interaction with individuals. After all he is a lizard in a glass cage, so his people skills, if I can call them that, are limited. But wait if you examine the film "Rango" there are deeper meanings. Don't some of us live in a glass bubbles? Are we not all living our own reality? And when the bubble breaks such as in Rango's case we must confront the harsh reality of the outside world? What am I talking about? Isn't this a cartoon geared for children? On some level it is, and that's its main purpose. To entertain and sell Rango merchandise . Oh! sorry was that a bit of cynicism on my part? Well in essence Rango is an animated film t...

Not only was she an icon, but she was a good human being.  Her work for and on behalf of AIDS charities will never be forgotten.  She was a class act, and a great performer.  She will be missed.

Okay so I hear that the studio MGM is re-vamping it's film "Red Dawn" to have North Korean invaders instead of Chinese invaders.  First off MGM shot this way back in 2009 and shelved the film because of money issues with the company.  Now the studio is spending money to change Chinese insignias with Korean insignias, and replacing dialogue to fit the re-vamp. First off I don't know why re-making a movie like "Red Dawn" was done, but since that ship has sailed I figured maybe its one more way to sell a so-so film to a more youthful market.  Then I heard that John Milus the man behind the original "Red Dawn" was co-writing a novel with New York Times bestselling author Raymond Benson called "Homefront".  This is to coincide with Core Games releasing a video game called "Home Front". "Homefront represents a fascinating vision of the near future,” added John Milius. “After completing my work on the game, it became clear...

Let's hear it for moms! This film celebrates those moms who work tirelessly at home raising us, and getting no respect from their offspring. It was a quiet weekend and the boys wanted to see "Mars Needs Moms ", so since I'm not one to say no to a movie we all went. It was time well spent, and we all laughed. The film is about Martians needing moms because you see they’re incapable of raising their own offspring, which every so often emerge from the ground. Yeah I know, I know from the ground? What are the people at Walt Disney studios smoking? I mean really Martian babies from Mars itself? But remember it’s a film for the kids, and my two boys didn't blink. So what the heck. Suspension of belief is the name of the game, and funny thing is it works. The film gets to the point, and the action starts soon after, and that's all that matters. My boys seemed enraptured by the Martian world, and they said they looked cool. My boys especially liked the boy Martians w...

Local filmmaker Sean Kirkpatrick is getting his film ( Cost of a Soul ) released in 50 AMC theaters nationwide on April 15th.  It's good to hear about a local guy getting his due.  Take a look at the trailer below, and on April 15th support Philly film making.  Kirkpatrick’s film was shot in Philadelphia and it stars Chris Kerson and Will Blagrove .  The story is about two Iraq war veterans who struggle upon returning to Philadelphia after their discharge, and who cross paths in a very dramatic way.

    Last weekend I went to the DIY conference at the New School in New York. This was my second time at a DIY conference. The first was here in Philadelphia, and both times I was very inspired by the crowd, and the guest lecturers. For those who are not familiar with the DIY conferences it is a roving conference that happens across the United States. "The workbook Project is for those who want to be creative in the digital age. An open creative network that provides insight into the process of funding, creating, distributing and sustaining from one's creative efforts". Lance Weiler is the founder of the Workbook Project and also a story architect of film, TV and games. Lance is the one who started it and it has become a very impressive forum to voice ideas, and to network with other digital artists. Frank Rose gave the keynote lecture about " The Art of Immersion " which was fascinating. Mr. Rose discussed examples on how the audience became involved with ...