Authors — Scott Macaulay
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Filmmaker Announces 2015 40%-Off Holiday Sale
Filmmaker announces this week the 2015 edition of its annual subscription drive. Subscribe by the morning of December 23rd for yourself or a friend or loved one and receive a digital or print edition of the magazine for 40% off. Print subscriptions are $10 and digital subscriptions are only $6. Plus, be eligible to win one a great collection of film-related prizes. The full list will be up on the site tomorrow, but some include gifts from our contributors — the brand new edition of Alix Lambert’s documentary, Mark of Cain; columnist Nicholas Rombes’s debut novel, The Absolution of Roberto […]
by Scott Macaulay on Dec 16, 2015 -
Short Film Premiere: The Nutcracked (NSFW), by Alexandra Nicole Hulme & Celia Rowlson-Hall
Just in time for the holidays is a new realization of the classic Nutcracker — a NSFW, burlesque-themed version full of seasonal cheer, pasties, stripper poles, classical portraiture and surprisingly high production values — choreographed, directed and performed by Alexandra Nicole Hulme and 25 New Face Celia Rowlson-Hall. Rowlson-Hall’s MA is one of our favorite independent features of the year, so this new short is truly an early present. Here are the filmmakers describing the piece: We have dreamed for years now of creating a two-person Nutcracker in which we perform all the roles. We wanted to take this traditional […]
by Scott Macaulay on Dec 15, 2015 -
Dial it Down a Little: Disney Lets You Shape Actors’ Performances with New Face Director Software
The director Ruben Östlund shoots wide in 4K, composing the individual shots for films like Force Majeure by, in post-production, pushing in and moving from side to side. Now, Disney Research has developed a new tool, Face Director, that offers directors even greater possibilities; it crosses the final frontier in post-production manipulation: actors’ performances. Whereas, previously, directors would shape a performance by using multiple takes or, in post, skillful editing and music, with Face Director directors can alter performance by modulating them between two extremes. From Disney’s page: We present a method to continuously blend between multiple facial performances of […]
by Scott Macaulay on Dec 13, 2015 -
Atlanta Film Festival Announces First Six Features for its 2016 Edition
Two narrative films and four documentaries, hailing from Bangladesh, Canada, India, Pakistan, Palestine, South Africa, and the United States, were announced today by the Atlanta Film Festival, which unfolds April 1 – 10, 2016. Currently in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign to support filmmaker travel to the festival, the ’16 edition is also its first within the Atlanta Film Society, “a fortified organization title” birthed in October of this year. From the press release: The ATLFS name reflects a year-round mission to lead the community in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image. Connection with a filmmaker dramatically […]
by Scott Macaulay on Dec 9, 2015 -
Sundance Announces its 2016 Festival Short Film Selections
Sundance today announced the 72 short films that will play in its various short film sections at the 2016 festivals. Spanning narrative and documentary, animation and experimental, the films include plenty of 25 New Faces filmmakers (Darius Clark Monroe, Eva Vives, Calvin Lee Reeder, Terrence Nance, Eddie Alcazar, Kim Sherman, Sebastian Silva, Jack Dunphy, to name just a few) as well as the usual assortment of discoveries that will undoubtedly place on our list in the coming year. In a press release, Mike Plante, Senior Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, said, “Our longstanding showcase of short films has become […]
by Scott Macaulay on Dec 8, 2015 -
Short Film Premiere: Leah Shore’s Transgressive Cookie-Themed Animated Holiday Film
Who doesn’t love cookies? And who hasn’t eaten too many in one sitting — perhaps even recently? Filmmaker Leah Shore, who landed on our 25 New Faces list in 2013, set out to make a confectionary-themed holiday card when scatological impulses got in the way. Her typically outrageous and beautifully animated 40-second animation, she says, “morphed into a tiny film, a gross pooptastic one.” (Indeed, Shore’s animation features the most novel appearance of a Christmas tree I think I’ve ever seen.) So perhaps be careful who you send this to, and if you have a sensitive stomach, watch before eating, […]
by Scott Macaulay on Dec 8, 2015 -
Sundance Announces 2016 Festival Premieres, Spotlight, Kids and Special Events
The internet dreaming of itself via the images of Werner Herzog; Kenneth Lonergan’s follow-up to one of the best films of the decade, Margaret; the directorial debut of longtime independent producer, screenwriter, and former studio head, James Schamus — these are just three highlights unveiled today by the Sundance Film Festival as it announces the final selections of the 2016 edition. Among other films I took immediate note of: new pictures by Filmmaker favorites Ira Sachs, Joshua Marston, Kelly Reichardt, Jeremy Saulnier, Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady, and Todd Solondz — the latter a sequel to one of the most […]
by Scott Macaulay on Dec 7, 2015 -
Sundance Announces 45 Selections for Expanded 10th Anniversary New Frontier 2016 Edition
Sundance’s always vibrant New Frontier celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with an expanded program, announced today, of 30 virtual reality experiences, 11 installations, three feature films and one live performance. Expanding from last year’s Claim Jumper home base to include presentations at The Gateway, Swede Alley and the festival’s Homebase, New Frontiers will also offer viewers this year the opportunity to view VR work on mobile headsets throughout the festival. Says Sundance Film Festival Senior Programmer and Chief Curator, New Frontier, Shari Frilot, in a press release, “This year’s program provides a sensory experience that powerfully transports audiences to […]
by Scott Macaulay on Dec 3, 2015 -
Kickstarter Teaser: Nicole Riegel’s Holler
Currently up on Filmmaker‘s curated Kickstarter page is Nicole Riegel’s short film, Holler. Readers will remember Riegel from the ’14 25 New Faces list, where I wrote about the screenwriter-turned-director’s military background and its relationship to the tough, character-based scripts she’s made her mark with since. Riegel has assembled a great team, including It Follows DP Mike Gioulakis, and she’s currently just shy three grand or so of her goal. In this final fundraising stretch Riegel has released a toaster, which you can check out above. And consider supporting her film here at the link.
by Scott Macaulay on Dec 2, 2015 -
Slamdance Announces 2016 Narrative and Documentary Competition Films
Slamdance today announced the 20 films that comprise its 2016 Narrative and Documentary Competition selections. A total of 16 premieres — 12 World, three North American and one U.S. — will be presented January 22 – 28 at the festival’s usual digs atop mainstream at the Treasure Mountain Inn, Park City, Utah. Said co-founder and Slamdance President Peter Baxter in a statement, “The standard of DIY filmmaking around the world is the highest we’ve seen, and the diversity of storytelling is the most we’ve experienced. With a record breaking number of submissions to select from, the narrative and documentary feature […]
by Scott Macaulay on Nov 30, 2015
