Filmmaking

A HARD 38

Ted Hope, who in the past has assembled lists of reasons to feel good about independent film, has posted the sobering opposite: a comprehensive list of “38 American Independent Film Problems/Concerns.” They include: Lack of access — outside of NYC & LA — to films when they are at their highest media awareness (encourages bootlegging, limits appeal by reducing timeliness). Distrib’s abandonment (and lack of development) of community-building marketing approaches for specialized releases (which reduces appeal for a group activity i.e. the theatrical experience). Emphasis on upfront compensation for star talent creates budgets that can’t reasonably recoup investment. HP&W fringe […]

By Scott Macaulay on May 16, 2009 Filmmaking
CANNES: ABOUT THAT RUSSIAN PRE-SALE…

A report in Screen Daily by Geoffrey McNab details problems independent producers and sales agents are having with Russian buyers as a result of the financial crisis. I’m not surprised to know that the below is happening, but it’s a little unusual to hear it discussed by the buyers themselves at a public panel. From the article: Russian distributors have issued a stark warning to U.S. sales agents – renegotiate deals on films acquired before the economic crisis or else they will stop buying altogether. Their fiercely worded remarks came during a panel discussion at the RussianPavilion in Cannes today […]

By Scott Macaulay on May 16, 2009 Filmmaking
CANNES 2009: THE YACHT, TRAFFIC AND LOBBY CHAIR INDICATORS

Producer Noah Harlan is in Cannes taking part in the Atelier with Jake Mahaffy’s new project, and he sent the following report on the business and marketplace vibe there (along with comments on two films). Cannes is slow. No question about it. Last year I heard how the pace of coffees in the market was slow. This year these are my unofficial barometers of how crowded it is here? 1) Everyone agrees there are about 1/3 as many yachts in the bay off of the Croisette. (Admittedly that’s probably fewer rich sightseers than actual participants but it’s noticeable) 2) Tonight, […]

By Scott Macaulay on May 16, 2009 Filmmaking
IN THE LOOP TRAILER HARKENS BACK TO ONE OF THE GREATS

Just launched earlier today on FunnyOrDie.com, the trailer for Armando Iannucci‘s biting satire and Sundance fav In The Loop (the film opens in the U.S. July 24) cleverly nods to A Clockwork Orange, which I feel is one of the greatest trailers ever created. As Kubrick’s trailer highlights the debauchery and horror of the film in one minute, the Loop trailer superbly captures the film’s wittiness as well as putting the spotlight on the debut of Peter Capaldi (pictured top right) in an unbelievably disgusting role that’s so vile you can’t help but enjoy every second he’s on screen. IN […]

By Jason Guerrasio on May 15, 2009 Filmmaking
SCORSESE’S WCF ADDS B-SIDE, THE AUTEURS & KENT JONES

In a release sent out today at Cannes, World Cinema Foundation’s founder and chairman Martin Scorsese announced that the organization, dedicated to the preservation and restoration of neglected films from around the world, has formed separate partnerships with B-Side Entertainment and virtual cinematheque The Auteurs to market, promote and distribute a slate of restored WCF titles (Criterion will also be involved). Former New York Film Society associate director of programming, Kent Jones, has come on as the WCF’s new executive director. From the release: The films that the WCF restores every year will now have their festival premiere in Cannes […]

By Jason Guerrasio on May 15, 2009 Filmmaking
BABELGUM RELEASES SALLY POTTER FILM

Babelgum and Cinetic Rights Management have negotiated a deal in which Sally Potter’s latest feature, Rage, will be released in multiple international territories on Babelgum’s online service in webisode form as it concurrently rolls out in theatrical venues. The deal is reported in today’s Screen International by Jeremy Kay. The film will be streamed episodically on the web as well as on mobile platforms in the U.S., U.K. and Italy. The interesting thing here is the restructuring of a feature film to web-friendly webisode form, with each screening experience cross-marketing the other. Indiewire quotes the producers in a statement: “We […]

By Scott Macaulay on May 13, 2009 Filmmaking
SPIKE JONZE LOVES YOU SO

Spike Jonze and the whole team who made Where the Wild Things Are have launched a group blog titled We Love You So. It’s already kind of amazing, with a post about Miranda July, some comments on films that influenced WTWTA, which include Ratcatcher and Paperhouse (!), and the following first focus group for the Wild Things mask. Where The Wild Things Are Focus Group #1 from Lance Bangs on Vimeo.

By Scott Macaulay on May 11, 2009 Filmmaking
THE REACTIVE VERSUS THE REFLECTIVE BRAIN

Laura Miller’s essay in Salon on Willifred Gallagher’s Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life is a must read for anyone pondering with alternating degrees of fascination and worry the effect of internet communication and online media on our attention spans as well as our psyches. This is stuff I think about myself as I wonder why, for example, I’ve never rewatched Berlin Alexanderplatz, the beautiful Criterion edition of which sits right in front of me, while I did just watch Justin Timberlake’s Mother’s Day SNL spoof. It’s easy for some of us to joke about being ADD and for others […]

By Scott Macaulay on May 10, 2009 Filmmaking
NELSON GEORGE CONTINUES HIS URBAN ROMANCE

Back in November I linked to A Barber’s Tale, the first of a series of web shorts by director, writer and producer Nelson George. George, who has been doing a series of readings and events in conjunction with the release of his City Kid: A Writer’s Memoir of Ghetto Life and Post-Soul Success, has posted the second of these pieces, A Survivor’s Tale, as well as several short videos created around his book tour. You can see them both as well as other work by George on his Vimeo page, or watch the two clips I’ve pulled below. A Survivor’s […]

By Scott Macaulay on May 10, 2009 Filmmaking
TREVOR GROTH APPOINTED SUNDANCE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING

I’m a couple days late catching up with news on the blog, but congratulations to Trevor Groth, who was appointed this week as the Sundance Film Festival’s Director of Programming. He’s taking over the position from John Cooper, who, following Geoff Gilmore’s move to Tribeca, was appointed the festival’s director. From the press release: A 16-year veteran of the Festival, Groth had been a Senior Programmer handling both narrative and documentary feature selection and leading the Festival’s Short Film Section. In his new role Groth will head up the six person programming team that is responsible for curating the Festival’s […]

By Scott Macaulay on May 10, 2009 Filmmaking

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