Filmmaking

Rising Voices

In Denzel Washington’s second directing effort, the Oprah Winfrey produced The Great Debaters, he takes what he learned from his debut, Antwone Fisher, and uses it to make the inspirational true story of one small all-black school’s rise to the top of the college debating ranks in the Jim Crow South. Washington also stars in the film as the rebellious Melvin B. Tolson. Known for his American Modernist poetry and a contemporary of the Harlem Renaissance, in the ‘30s Tolson was a professor at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. There he coached the debate team and in 1935 his team […]

By Jason Guerrasio on Dec 21, 2007 Directing
SALON RECAPS THE INDIE YEAR

Writing in Salon, Andrew O’Hehir captures what a lot of people are thinking: it wasn’t a bad year for movies, but when it comes to independents, the long-form theatrical experience may be on its way out. There are no grand conclusions here, but O’Hehir talks to the right people — IFC’s Jonathan Sehring, Killer Films’ Christine Vachon, Milos Stehlik of Facets — in his attempt to assess the healthiness of independents surviving on the other side of the mini-major divide. An excerpt: Milos Stehlik, director of the Chicago-based video distributor and art-house proprietor Facets Multi-Media (which occasionally dabbles in theatrical […]

By Scott Macaulay on Dec 20, 2007 Filmmaking
A WORKING WRITER LAUNCHES A WORKING WRITER

I received an email from writer/director Maria Maggenti (Puccini for Beginners) announcing the launch of A Working Writer, a website that she and writer Michael Seitzman have launched during the midst of this current WGA strike. The site will feature short video interviews of writers discussing their work and their thoughts about being working writers. First up: Eva Saks.

By Scott Macaulay on Dec 18, 2007 Filmmaking
FILM IN FOCUS LAUNCHES

I want to take a moment and tell you guys about a new website that Peter Bowen, Nick Dawson and I from Filmmaker are involved with. First, the history. In the late Spring of this year Peter and I had several conversations with Focus Features president James Schamus about film websites — what’s good out there, what’s not, and, most specifically, what’s missing from the film blogosphere. James talked to us about his vision of a site that would be dense with original content appealing to both cineastes as well as a more general audience enthusiastic about specialty film. Intrinsic […]

By Scott Macaulay on Dec 17, 2007 Filmmaking
BLUES LEGENDS

At the recent Monterey Jazz Festval, two film legends — Clint Eastwood and John Sayles — talked about about the blues in an onstage discussion. The clip is below. Eastwood’s love of jazz and blues music is well known and can be felt through his numerous film scores. Sayles’s take on the art form can be best seen in his forthcoming film, Honeydripper, which is one of his best and hits theaters this holiday season.

By Scott Macaulay on Dec 17, 2007 Filmmaking
ST. CLAIRE BOURNE, RIP

Sadly, this just in from Adrienne Jones, Treasurer and Membership Director of the Black Documentary Collective: We regret to inform everyone that St Clair Bourne, our founder, has passed away. Details of his passing will follow. Also, information about his memorial service will be sent as soon as we have it. Members have expressed interest in making donations to the family. We would like to contribute money through our BDC/St Clair Bourne fund. If you wish to make a donation, please forward payment to: BDCP.O. Box 610Hamilton Grange StationNew York, NY 10031. In the memo line please write BDC/St Clair […]

By Scott Macaulay on Dec 16, 2007 Filmmaking
THE SIGNS OF PROGRESS

Filmmaker‘s Managing Editor, Jason Guerrasio, returned from the film festival in Dubai this weekend and, like most visitors, he was knocked out by the pace of construction there. (See his photo-essays, below). In fact, a discussion of Dubai’s explosive growth — the political, social and design repercussions of such — is a hot topic at the moment, and two very different takes on the build-up of Dubai can be found online. The current issue of Metropolis contains three articles on Dubai, one of seven states belonging to the United Arab Emirates. (Thanks to Bergen Swanson for the link.) The first, […]

By Scott Macaulay on Dec 16, 2007 Filmmaking
DIFF: A WEEK IN PICTURES (PART 2)

This series of photos will show you Dubai outside the festival walls. A LOOK AT DOWNTOWN DUBAI’S TOWERING SKYSCRAPERS FROM POOLSIDE OF THE HABTOOR GRAND RESORT, WHERE MOST OF THE MEDIA WERE STAYING. THE SKYLINE OF THE FUTURE. FOR EVERY BUILDING THAT’S FINSHED, THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE AROUND IT THAT ARE STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. HOW MANY CRANES CAN YOU FIND IN THIS SHOT? ACCORDING TO A REPORT, 30% OF THE WORLD’S CRANES ARE BEING USED IN DUBAI. GIRDLOCK ON ONE OF DUBAI’S THREE MAIN ROADWAYS, AL SUFOUTH ROAD, CAUSED A LOT OF HEADACHES GETTING TO AND FROM EVENTS. THREE […]

By Jason Guerrasio on Dec 14, 2007 Filmmaking
DIFF: A WEEK IN PICTURES (PART 1)

The Dubai fest kicked into another gear Thursday night as the work week for Emiratis came to a close (their weekend is Friday and Saturday). With a performance by Gloria Estefan at Media City (her husband Emilio Estefan has his doc, 90 Millas, in the fest) and a gala reception highlighting their “Building Cultures” theme that went on until the wee hours, it was a fitting end to my week in Dubai. Though there were so many things that I wasn’t able to do and places I didn’t have time to visit, during my time here I met friendly people […]

By Jason Guerrasio on Dec 14, 2007 Filmmaking
DIFF: "insha’Allah"

There’s a very popular phrase used in the Arab world that usually ends every statement. And I’ve heard it a lot during my time here in Dubai. “The screening will begin at 7:00, insha’Allah.” “Your welcome pack will be in your room tonight, insha’Allah.” “The shuttle is on it’s way, insha’Allah.” (though, the constant gridlock on the three main roads in Dubai is a big proponent for the lack of shuttle service. Monorail service begins in 2009!) Translated in english insha’Allah means God willing and for most who work or live here the phrase is just part of everyday life. […]

By Jason Guerrasio on Dec 12, 2007 Filmmaking

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