I met with an online distributor a few months ago who told me about GMX, the Global Media Exchange, saying he thought it was going to revolutionize the film sales business. In short, he described it as an eBay for media content, where film buyers (broadcasters, distributors, etc.) can connect and transact with sellers (studios, production companies, independent producers) within a sophisticated interface set up to deal with the complicated terms of international film licensing agreements. GMX recently launched with over 4,000 titles from such companies as “NBC Universal Global Networks France, London-based ContentFilm’s Fireworks International, U.K.-based On Demand Group, […]
A couple of weeks ago I tweeted about a Brooklyn party I attended for the web production company Dinosaur Diorama and the launch of the latest episode of their hit web series, The Burg. The first new episode in two years, it’s titled “Change,” and is directed by Peter Sollett, of Raising Victor Vargas and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Here’s the teaser, and we’ll post the link when it premieres next week.
Gizmodo today reports on Canon’s new 1D Mark IV DSLR camera and links to an incredible nighttime ambient light video shot on it. First, the specs. From the video part of the Canon press release quoted at Gizmodo: The EOS-1D Mark IV, EOS HD Video PowerhouseOver the past year, Canon’s EOS HD Video technology has changed the way users capture 1080p HD video and opened new doors for multimedia journalists and Hollywood cinematographers alike with full manual exposure control, selectable frame rates, and interchangeable lenses on some of the largest and most sensitive image sensors on the market. Canon continues […]
If you missed the announcement of the nominees live on USTREAM, below are the list of nominees for the 19th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards. Best Feature AmreekaCherien Dabis, director; Christina Piovesan, Paul Barkin, producers (National Geographic Entertainment) Big FanRobert Siegel, director; Jean Kouremetis, Elan Bogarin, producers (First Independent Pictures) The Hurt LockerKathryn Bigelow, director; Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier, Greg Shapiro, producers (Summit Entertainment) The MaidSebastian Silva, director; Gregorio Gonzàles, producer (Elephant Eye Films) A Serious ManJoel Coen and Ethan Coen, directors/producers (Focus Features) Best Documentary Food, Inc.Robert Kenner, director; Robert Kenner, Elise Pearlstein, producers (Magnolia Pictures) Good […]
CATALINA SAAVEDRA IN DIRECTOR SEBASTIAN SILVA’S THE MAID. COURTESY ELEPHANT EYE FILMS. Sebastián Silva could seemingly make a career out of a variety of creative pursuits, however at the moment it is on filmmaking that he is focusing all his attention. Silva was born in Santiago, the capital of Chile, in 1979, and grew up attending a Catholic school in the city. Though from a young age it was clear that he had a talent for art, after finishing high school he went to study film at the Escuela de Cine in Santiago. After a year, however, he quit to […]
My posting of a strange letter from the future I received from an independent filmmaker has prompted a diverse group of reactions throughout the blogosphere. Ted Hope kindly called it “brilliant” over at his blog while an Anonymous poster here said he was “revolted” by it and hoped it was a Jon Reiss parody. One producer/distribution executive accused us of revealing his business plan. And at Film Utopia, filmmaker Clive Davies-Frayne called it “one of the most depressing articles” he’s ever read and posted a response not to the author (who, after all, is both redacted and from the future) […]
The following is our first report by Lance Weiler from Power to the Pixel. I’ve just arrived in London for the third annual digital innovation forum Power to the Pixel which consists of a conference, project pitch forum, day of workshops and a think thank. Tomorrow the conference phase of the event kicks off. I’ll be taking part in each of the phases of the event. Starting tomorrow with a presentation on Story Architecture — a look how storytelling is evolving in the age of connected devices and the real-time web. I look forward to Power to the Pixel each […]
As you may have read, Four-Eyed Monsters co-creator Arin Crumley has launched a new project, OpenIndie, that aims to create a new model for the distribution of independent film. I’ll let Crumley explain it: As Crumley notes, OpenIndie is using Kickstarter to fundraise towards its goal of $10,000. With 17 days to go, OpenIndie needs just over $7,000. If you’re intrigued after seeing the video, please consider heading over there and contributing. A $100 contribution gets you a one-hour consulting session with Crumley on the distribution of your own film. Also, check out this latest podcast from Lance Weiler and […]
Film Independent‘s Filmmaker Forum is underway this weekend, and we asked writer/director Zak Forsman to attend and report back. Here’s the first of his posts. I’ve just locked picture on my first feature-length motion picture and it seems I couldn’t be entering the world of distribution at a worse time. I strolled into the DGA in Los Angeles for day one of the Film Independent Filmmaker Forum optimistic and eager. I left it determined to batten down the hatches in preparation for stormy seas ahead. Veteran producer Jeremy Thomas (Creation, The Last Emperor, Crash) keynote opened with the concession that […]
I received the following note from a filmmaker who is witnessing the shrinking of what was once a reliable niche — the low-to-no budget gay film. Hey Scott– LOVE your editor’s note “from the future”. I follow your twitter already– just had to write you to react to this piece. Right now, I’m typing in an Atlanta hotel room and tonight my movie, PORNOGRAPHY, is closing the Atlanta LGBT film festival. I flew from the Portland LGBT a few days ago, and tomorrow I’m in Tampa at that fest. (I’m missing our closing night of Dallas OUTTAKES tonight.) I’ve been […]