Authors — Nick Dawson
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Five Questions with The Inbetweeners Writer Iain Morris
After working as a producer for British stand ups Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Carr and as a script editor for the envelope-pushing Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, Iain Morris teamed up with fellow Carr collaborator Damon Beesley to create The Inbetweeners, a small-screen comedy series about a quartet of high-school boys who occupy the awkward middle territory between in-crowders and nerds. Starting in 2008, the show ran three seasons and gained not only a fanatical following but also a string of awards, including the Audience Award at the BAFTAs and Best Sitcom at the British Comedy Awards, both in 2010. […]
by Nick Dawson on Sep 7, 2012 -
Five Questions with Beauty is Embarrassing Director Neil Berkeley
Wayne White is a fascinating figure whose work has permeated popular culture in multiple meaningful ways, without his name ever becoming well-known. Starting out as an underground comic book artist, White progressed to being a designer, puppeteer and performer on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, then to directing music videos for such acts as Peter Gabriel and the Smashing Pumpkins, while he’s also a talented an prolific painter, sculptor and musician. Graphic designer and commercial director Neil Berkeley, who first met White in the early 2000s, determined to make a film about this underappreciated figure and has created Beauty is Embarrassing, a unique and […]
by Nick Dawson on Sep 6, 2012 -
“25 NEW FACES” SCREENING SERIES TO TOUR U.S. IN SEPTEMBER
A few weeks ago on the newsletter, I pondered the evolution of the “25 New Faces,” and posited the idea that it’s more than just a list that is published annually. I wrote that the list takes on a life of its own, that “it does not stop after the Filmmaker Summer issue hits newsstands. When Scott and I spend nights and weekends watching screeners and reading scripts through all of April, May and June, we’re looking for exciting creative voices that we think are the future of independent film. Once the list is done, that excitement has not dissipated; […]
by Nick Dawson on Aug 31, 2012 -
TRAILER WATCH: RICK ALVERSON’S “THE COMEDY”
I’m not usually a fan of films using negative quotes in their promotional materials, but in the case of this teaser for Rick Alverson’s The Comedy, it feels totally appropriate and is in tune with the general vibe of the film. This spot is so minimal but, I think, highly effective. It goes against the grain by selling the film as actually what it is, rather than making it seem more palatable and crowdpleasing. The film is coming out in November through Tribeca Film, and you’ll be seeing more Filmmaker coverage of the film in the buildup to its release.
by Nick Dawson on Aug 30, 2012 -
TRAILER WATCH: BEN WHEATLEY’S “SIGHTSEERS”
Over the past few years, Ben Wheatley has emerged as a distinctive and deliciously dark voice in British cinema, with his first two features, Down Terrace and Kill List, rightly getting excellent reviews. His third film, Sightseers, premiered at Cannes in May, where it was picked up for U.S. distribution by IFC Films, and I’m really looking forward to checking it out. I’m sadly not attending Toronto next month, where Sightseers will play, but look forward to hear the word on it from those attending. For now, this NSFW-ish trailer — via The Guardian‘s website — will have to sate my […]
by Nick Dawson on Aug 28, 2012 -
“25 NEW FACE” IAN HARNARINE PROFILED BY NEW YORK TIMES
Last week, the New York Times published a profile on writer/director (and also nuclear physicist) Ian Harnarine, who is a member of our 2012 “25 New Faces of Independent Film.” The article details Harnarine’s interesting backstory — he is a Trinidadian Canadian, an NYU professor who teaches both film and nuclear physics, a Spike Lee acolyte — but is maybe most interesting in its description of the difficulties the director of the award-winning short Doubles with Slight Pepper had in connecting with an audience and the Indo-Carribbean community in his adopted home city. [F]or all the accolades the film has […]
by Nick Dawson on Aug 27, 2012 -
WATCH (AND VOTE FOR) FOUR “25 NEW FACES” SHORTS ONLINE
In case you’re behind in catching up with the work of this year’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film,” you should head to The ShortList, The Wrap’s online shorts competition. Three of the 12 shorts taking part in the competition are from 2012 “25 New Faces” alums, namely Jonas Carpignano‘s A Chjana, Ornana‘s (notes on) biology, and Cutter Hodierne‘s Fishing Without Nets. Also contention is Love Competition, directed by 2011 “25 New Face” Brent Hoff. You can visit the site to watch the films, and vote for your favorite(s). (The jury prize is $60,000 worth of camera equipment.) As a […]
by Nick Dawson on Aug 24, 2012 -
REVISIT IRA GLASS’ HILARIOUS RANT ABOUT PRODUCING “SLEEPWALK WITH ME”
Mike Birbiglia’s feature debut, Sleepwalk With Me, is released tomorrow, so there’s no better time to revisit the wonderful interview This American Life‘s Ira Glass gave to Filmmaker about producing Birbiglia’s movie. And, for good measure, here’s Birbiglia talking to the magazine about his film too.
by Nick Dawson on Aug 23, 2012 -
NOW ONLINE: TODD ROHAL’S “GUATEMALAN HANDSHAKE,” SHORTS AND MORE
I was excited to find out yesterday that Todd Rohal has put his unique feature debut The Guatemalan Handshake (2006) up on Vimeo, in addition to a lot more of his work. Also now online for viewers to enjoy are a bunch of extras (deleted scenes, trailers, etc.) plus Rohal’s equally idiosyncratic shorts, such as Knuckleface Jones (1999) and Hillbilly Robot (2001). When browsing the selection of recently uploaded videos on Rohal’s Vimeo page, I came across this personal favorite, a series of out-takes from Rohal’s second film, The Catechism Cataclysm, featuring Steve Little’s Father Billy screaming and running away […]
by Nick Dawson on Aug 22, 2012 -
TRAILER WATCH: “BROOKLYN BROTHERS BEAT THE BEST”
On September 21, almost exactly a year after its premiere at Toronto, writer/director/star Ryan O’Nan’s IFP Lab project Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best will be released by Oscilloscope Pictures. The quirky, crowdpleasing musical comedy — which has a strong supporting cast featuring Michael Weston, Arielle Kebbel, Andrew McCarthy, Jason Ritter, Wilmer Valderrama, Christopher McDonald and Melissa Leo — now has a trailer, which you can check out below.
by Nick Dawson on Aug 21, 2012
