One of our 25 New Faces in 2011, Kirby Ferguson has, with his Everything is a Remix Project, created a web series that artfully blends cultural criticism with legal and copyright commentary. In the latest edition, Ferguson considers J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens and wonders if blockbuster artistic sampling has run its course. “Is remixing a weak point in The Force Awakens? Is the remix method growing stale? Have we reached the limits of remixing?” For his conclusions, watch the video above.
by Scott Macaulay on May 21, 2016When confirming RSVPs for the one and only Episode VII press screening in NYC, Disney’s email included some more-severe-than-usual boilerplate about spoilers and embargoes: “In order to give audiences around the world the opportunity to enjoy Star Wars: The Force Awakens to its fullest and allow them to discover its surprises and plot twists in the cinema, we respectfully ask that you as press continue to be our partners on this journey, and we ask that you refrain from revealing spoilers and detailed story points in your coverage, including on social media.” This is a little corporate-slimy (I’m a partner now? Do […]
by Vadim Rizov on Dec 16, 2015It’s here, it’s unavoidable, and it won’t tell you much unless you want to see how Harrison Ford and Chewbacca are looking these days. It’s the second trailer for J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, which will open December 18, and it’s just fine.
by Vadim Rizov on Apr 16, 20151. WarpFilms10 The cinematic arm of ubercool British record label Warp has hit its first decade and is celebrating by issuing a 200-page coffee table book containing some of its greatest movies. The DVDs tucked inside include no less than three by Shane Meadows (Dead Man’s Shoes was the first ever Warp Films title), plus other excellent and diverse works such as Chris Morris’ Four Lions, Richard Ayoade’s Submarine, Paddy Considine’s Tyrannosaur, Ben Wheatley’s Kill List and Justin Kurzel’s The Snowtown Murders. 2. Milq The brainchild of Hear Music founder Don MacKinnon, Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… creator Jordan Jacobs, and Tomi Poutanen […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 17, 2014In Super 8, writer/director J.J. Abrams (pictured) tells the story of a group of adolescent filmmakers in a small Ohio town whose big dream is to get their film into the fictional Cleveland International Super 8 Film Festival. The film never shows us if their movie makes it — the kids are sidetracked by an alien invasion, after all — but in real life Abrams was part of a real life band of teen filmmakers showcased at a festival titled “The Best Teen Super 8mm Films of ’81.” Held at L.A.’s Nuart Theater in March 1982, it helped launch the […]
by Todd Longwell on Nov 22, 2011