Filmmaking

VIVA PEDRO!

If you missed it in theaters late last year (or if you just want to build up your home library) out on DVD is the Pedro Almodóvar Classics Collection. Released by Sony Pictures Classics, the eight films include Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988), All About My Mother (1999), Talk to Her (2002), Flower of My Secret (1995), Live Flesh (1996), Law of Desire (1987), Matador (1986) and Bad Education (2004). It is a must have for the Almodóvar fan. GreenCine has this story up by Michael Guillén on the films. Here’s an excerpt: Not only does […]

By Jason Guerrasio on Feb 2, 2007 Filmmaking
STUDIOS PASS ON SUPER BOWL

For those expecting to see teasers of summer tentpoles like Spider-Man 3 and Shrek the Third while munching on chips and wings this Super Bowl Sunday, Variety reports that’s unlikely to happen. In a game that’s watched by millions, most studios are passing on showing their ads during the game (one exception: Eddie Murphy’s latest Norbit, which you’ll see a lot of during the pregame show). Here’s how one consultant explains it in the story: “The problem is, if you’re not ready with your creative, you are left way too exposed,” noted one gun-shy marketing consultant. He cited the now-classic […]

By Jason Guerrasio on Jan 30, 2007 Filmmaking
WHITE PLASTIC FLOWER

If you only bookmark this blog, make sure to check out Jamie Stuart’s latest Filmmaker-sponsored podcast short from the Sundance Film Festival.

By Jason Guerrasio on Jan 29, 2007 Filmmaking
SUNDANCE WRAPS

Following a Saturday evening awards ceremony, Sundance wrapped its 10-day run today with a series of award-winner screenings on Sunday. At the Saturday event, the drama Padre Nuestro, directed by Christopher Zalla, was announced winner of the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize. The Documentary Grand Jury Prize went to Jason Kohn‘s Brazil-set corruption saga Manda Bala (Send a Bullet). Audience prizewinners included James C. Straus‘s John Cusack-starrer Grace Is Gone for the Dramatic Audience Award and Documentary Audience Award recipient Hear and Now from Irene Taylor Brodsky. The complete list of awards is available on the festival website. After the awards […]

By Jason Guerrasio on Jan 29, 2007 Filmmaking
DOGGED OUT

In the wake of the controversy involving Hounddog, the Sundance premiere which featured a brief scene in which the character played by young actress Dakota Fanning is raped, a North Carolina politician is proposing that the state Senate review and approve screenplays for films receiving the state filming tax incentive. From an article by Mark Schreiner in the Wilmington Star: Citing the controversy surrounding the Dakota Fanning film Hounddog, the leader of the state Senate Republicans says he wants the government to review scripts before cameras start rolling in North Carolina. That system, said state Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, would […]

By Scott Macaulay on Jan 27, 2007 Filmmaking
NO SUNSHINE FOR BONA FIDE

Over at her Risky Business blog, Ann Thompson writes about the Academy ruling that producers Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa of Bona Fide Films will not be eligible to accept the Oscar if their film Little Miss Sunshine wins Best Picture. This seems to deeply suck. They are the guys who developed the material early on, championed the directors and brought it to financiers Big Beach. But because of the Academy’s “rule of three,” they have been nixed from eligiblity in favor of Mark Turtletaub, David Friendly and Peter Saraf. I’m not saying that any of the other producers should […]

By Scott Macaulay on Jan 27, 2007 Filmmaking
STARING DOWN THE SNAKE

Over at the Sundance 2007 main page, Bob Fisher talks with d.p. Amy Vincent about Black Snake Moan.

By Scott Macaulay on Jan 25, 2007 Filmmaking
RUMSFELD’S FAVORITE IN DRAMATIC COMPETITION?

As you can tell from my post below, I didn’t like the Sundacnce Competition film Grace is Gone. At the time, I thought I was in the minority but in the last few days a number of reviews and criticisms have come out faulting the film for its disingenuously “even-handed” use of the Iraq war to kickstart what is ultimately a conventional indie film road movie. The weird thing about the movie is that star John Cusack has been a vocal opponent of the war, and my guess is that its makers are also sensitive anti-war folk. (I don’t know […]

By Scott Macaulay on Jan 25, 2007 Filmmaking
Snake Eyes

BLACK SNAKE MOAN. This article is part of Filmmaker’s Sundance 2007 Special Coverage. In Black Snake Moan Christina Ricci plays Rae, a nymphomaniac wracked by vivid memories and dreams of being sexually abused during her childhood. Also in Craig Brewer’s follow-up to his Sundance-hit Hustle and Flow is Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Lazarus, a God-fearing farmer who picks at his guitar, sings blues songs about sin, and, after a chance encounter, attempts to oversee Rae’s salvation. Some filmmakers might have taken the success they had with a film like Hustle and Flow and hightailed it straight to the world […]

By Jason Guerrasio on Jan 25, 2007 Festivals & Events
Christopher Zalla, Padre Nuestro

PADRE NUESTRO. This article is part of Filmmaker’s Sundance 2007 Special Coverage. Padre Nuestro exemplifies the modern, international face of American independent cinema: the first-time director, Christopher Zalla, was born in Kenya, raised overseas (and is fluent in Spanish), schooled at Columbia, and created a stylish thriller that begins in Mexico and winds up in New York City. A smart film that — one could argue — uses its border-hopping protagonist’s stolen identity as a metaphor for globalization, Padre Nuestro will certainly spark debate at Sundance. Padre Nuestro screens at Sundance in dramatic competition. Can you say a little bit […]

By Jason Guerrasio on Jan 25, 2007 Directors

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