Filmmaking

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS FOR FILMMAKERS

Black Friday — the shopping day after Thankgiving that is supposed to tip retailers’ balance sheets into the black — has been a staple of holiday consumerism for years, but I’m not sure I ever remember it quite like this. Not only did chain stores open in the dead of night this year, but every small, specialty and online dealer I buy from has flooded my in-box with discount offers. After this email deluge I feel a little silly that I didn’t move up Filmmaker‘s annual subscription deal a week to take advantage of all the shopping frenzy. Oh well, […]

By Scott Macaulay on Nov 26, 2010 Filmmaking
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

From all of us at Filmmaker, best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers. We hope everyone has a great and safe holiday, and we’ll be back tomorrow and into the weekend with news on the Gotham Awards as well as all of our regular content

By Scott Macaulay on Nov 25, 2010 Filmmaking
DEBATING CLIMATE CHANGE AT IDFA

Before IDFA’s Green Screen Climate Debate began at the Escape Club in Rembrandtplein Monday afternoon, our host noted that none other than Al Gore was due to arrive at Schiphol airport at any moment (no doubt in one of his private environmentally-damaging jets). Though he was in Holland to receive an award, the Nobel laureate, unfortunately, had declined the festival’s offer to stop by to debate. Too bad because we were left with the star of Cool It, Bjorn Lomborg — the John Cameron Mitchell-resembling “skeptical environmentalist” whose book the film was based on — instead facing down Jan Rotman, […]

By Lauren Wissot on Nov 24, 2010 Filmmaking
IS AMAZON STUDIOS A THREAT? JIM MCKAY AND I DISCUSS

After posting last week about the new Amazon Studios, director Jim McKay and I have had an email discussion about this new crowdsourced development entity. There’s been much criticism — from me but many others around the web — of the minimal protections given writers, who grant Amazon an 18-month free option and the right to have the tech giant’s online community give input to and even rewrite their original work. (Read my earlier post here.) Jim isn’t as alarmist as some about the new venture; his take is rather nuanced. Here’s our conversation, reprinted with permission. McKay: I liked […]

By Scott Macaulay on Nov 23, 2010 Filmmaking
PLAY PING PONG WITH SUSAN SARANDON FOR THE IFP

As the IFP’s annual Gotham Awards approach, the organization has launched a charity auction containing, I have to say, some pretty cool items to bid on. Visits to the sets of True Blood and Bored to Death, for example, including meetings with their creators, Alan Ball and Jonathan Ames. A Boardwalk Empire set visit with Steve Buscemi. Tickets to Spider-Man on Broadway and a backstage meet with Julie Taymor. Theater going with Philip Seymour Hoffman. Fishing with Ed Burns. And, yes, ping pong with Susan Sarandon. Of course, proceeds support the IFP and its mission of supporting independent filmmakers through […]

By Scott Macaulay on Nov 23, 2010 Filmmaking
VOTE FOR GOTHAMS’ AUDIENCE AWARD

Earlier in the month we told you about the Gotham Independent Film Awards doing their first-ever Audience Award. With the show around the corner on Nov. 29 here’s a look at the five nominees. Go here to cast your vote. Voting closes at 5pm EST on the 29th. 9000 Needles Brotherhood Waiting for “Superman” White Irish Drinkers Winter’s Bone

By Jason Guerrasio on Nov 23, 2010 Filmmaking
BILLY BOB THORNTON ON TODAY’S SCREENPLAYS

Billy Bob Thornton steps off the road and learns what’s been going on in Hollywood for the last few years….

By Scott Macaulay on Nov 23, 2010 Filmmaking
THANKS BE TO “MARLENE” AT STRANGER THAN FICTION

As inflatable stars arrive in Manhattan ready for their Macy’s close-up, one of the biggest stars in the history of film won’t be at the parade — she’ll be at the IFC Center. Tonight, Stranger Than Fiction will feature its penultimate screening, Marlene, a revival of the 1984 documentary about the reclusive film star Marlene Dietrich, directed by Maximilian Schell, an actor who appeared with Dietrich in Judgment at Nuremberg. Presented by John Walter, the director of How to Draw A Bunny and Theater of War, Marlene is partly the story of Dietrich and partly the story of Schell’s dogged […]

By Mary Anderson Casavant on Nov 23, 2010 Filmmaking
SPIKE JONZE ARCADE FIRE VIDEO, “THE SUBURBS”

Taken from the short film “Scenes from The Suburbs,” this is shot by Greg Fraser and edited by Jeff Buchanan with additional video editing by Patrick Colman. Produced by Vince Landay and Arcade Fire. Directed by Spike Jonze. Watch until the end.

By Scott Macaulay on Nov 22, 2010 Filmmaking
Thoughts On Amazon Studios

As most of you know, I write a weekly newsletter that contains a letter that’s not usually posted on this blog. Sometimes it consists of thoughts that coalesce into an article or blog post down the line, and sometimes it consists of of-the-moment reactions to events just hitting the news. Often the newsletter poses questions that I’d like our readers to comment on. Yesterday I wrote about the newly announced Amazon Studios and solicited feedback. I hope to, in the next few days, write about the provocative new venture, which has good elements (a new financing source for independent filmmakers […]

By Scott Macaulay on Nov 19, 2010 Filmmaking

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