Filmmaking
Filmmaking
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DECLARING WAR ON INDIE FILM CLICHES!
Ted Hope tweeted this Current TV indie film parody short this morning and it’s been getting a lot of comments. Yes, it’s silly, but too often accurate in parts. So, whaddaya say, let’s all vow to banish these indie cliches!
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KEITH GORDON’S SUNDANCE DIRECTORS’ CHEAT SHEET
I was working with a young director who was very talented, but who was also prone to panic — causing her to lose her perspective and clarity (an issue I’ve had to deal with myself at times). So I wrote this ‘”cheat sheet” for the fellows to carry with them for when they felt lost. To be honest, I created it just as much for myself… The Unofficial Sundance Shooting Cheat Sheet You may never need this, but if you’re feeling a little lost, or out of control, or not sure, remember… 1. Breathe. Calm down. Fear and anxiety are […]
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KEITH GORDON, AFTER THE SUNDANCE DIRECTORS’ LAB: GOING HOME IS SUCH A RIDE
Leaving the Sundance Lab is always a melancholy feeling. I’m happy and excited about seeing my wife, but not about re-entering the “real world” of Los Angeles, where the deal is the thing, and where projects are judged on potential economic return, not artistic merit. The week is full of great memories, watching young filmmakers take steps — sometimes leaps — towards defining their voice and material. Some bravely challenged their whole script, re-writing as they worked, and adding whole new scenes to their pieces that gave them more depth. Others found ways to integrate their desire to create a […]
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REVISITING HANGOVER DIRECTOR TODD PHILLIPS’ DEBUT FILM
The trajectory of careers can be pretty fascinating. I remember when G.G. Allin was a Lower East Side punk rock performance freakshow, cutting himself on stage, fighting with audience members and threatening/promising to kill himself during one of his performances. Todd Phillips was attending NYU Film School at the time and while a junior there made his debut feature, a documentary portrait of the performer entitled Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies (1994). He also, with Andrew Gurland, founded the New York Underground Film Festival, would go on to make with Gurland the controversial college hazing doc Frat House […]
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Keith Gordon, During The Sundance Directors’ Lab
Here’s actor, writer and director Keith Gordon’s (pictured) second post from the Sundance Directors’ Lab. For his first post, click here. OK, so the weather isn’t great so far (lots of rain), and the food is, well, it’s kinda like being at summer camp. (That’s why I always bring some cereal and cans of soup from home). And that’s all I can come up with to complain about. This place is magic, and I’m thrilled to be back in it’s grip. I unpacked in my cozy little condo, and headed down to the Sunday reception for us “new folk.” I […]
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CLAY SHIRKY ON OPEN SOURCE AND CREATIVE PRACTICE
I’ve been slow on the blog and behind on posting my notes on day two of the Open Video Conference because we’re trying to finish the Summer issue and get it off to the printers before the July 4th holiday. It’s our annual “25 New Faces” issue, so it’s a tougher one to pull together than usual. Anyway, one person I won’t be writing about when I get that OVC Day Two post up is keynote speaker Clay Shirky — because he wasn’t there. Travel difficulties derailed his presentation but for those who want to hear him anyway, here’s his […]
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THE FIND FILM FINANCING CONFERENCE
At last year’s FIND Film Financing Conference in Los Angeles, Mark Gill told us the sky is falling. This year’s keynote speaker, Endgame Entertainment CEO James H. Stern, had a more optimistic message. Referencing Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers, Stern reminded the crowd, “We are lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time for great opportunities.” Stern encouraged the crowd of filmmakers to not just make better movies, but smarter ones that keep a film’s audience — and how to reach it — in mind well before the cameras roll, not just after the film is complete. […]
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AUGMENTED CONTENT IN THE NEW FIREFOX BROWSER
I’m still typing up my thoughts on day two of the Open Video Conference, but in the meantime, here is an example of open video in action. At his Mind Flip blog, Jay Cousins writes about “augmented content” as being a potential driver for video monetization on the web. He gives an example of the technology at play by embedding the below video which demonstrates some of the functions of Firefox’s new version 3.5, which supports Ogg video. Check it out.
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BIGELOW TALKS ABOUT HURT LOCKER @ APPLE STORE
Tonight our first Filmmaker/Apple “Meet The Filmmaker” event takes place at the Apple Store in SoHo at 8pm (103 Prince St.). Nick Dawson will be interviewing our Spring cover director Kathryn Bigelow about her new film, The Hurt Locker, which opens this weekend. The event is open to the public. Following the first 38 days of army bomb expert Sgt. Will James (Jeremy Renner) in Iraq, The Hurt Locker (pictured) is a trademark Kathryn Bigelow film. Like Near Dark, Point Break or Strange Days the action is non-stop and includes a breakout performance by Renner. Check out what we mean […]
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PETER SUNDE ON THE PLIGHT OF INDIE CONTENT CREATORS AT THE OVC
The surprise guest at the conclusion of this weekend’s Open Video Conference was Peter Sunde of The Pirate Bay, which bills itself as the “world’s largest BitTorrent tracker.” As many of you know Sunde and three of his colleagues were recently convicted in a Swedish court and were sentenced to a year in jail and a $3.6 million fine. They have accused the judge of bias and are now battling the verdict on appeal. The Open Video Conference organizer introducing Sunde, who appeared via Skype from Sweden, acknowledged the controversial nature of his activities, particularly for the content creators in […]
