I find myself in an unusual position regarding the Pirate Bay ruling which has seen a bunch of Swedish Pirates (or Vikings as we used to call them) sent to prison. Normally I am boringly full of opinion about events but the surrounding buzz about the rights and wrongs of piracy and the entire future of creative capitalism leaves me confused. First of all I, naturally enough, agree with Lee’s sentiments about getting paid for making stuff up. However I…
We (Shooting People and DCTV) had a totally sold out screening of Miranda July short films at DCTV on Friday, people were sitting and standing EVERYWHERE. We’ve been experimenting with programming different kinds of events and this one was a definite success. Sweet Tooth of the Tiger provided delicious baked goodies and we completed assignment #63 from Learning to Love You More (Make an Encouraging Banner). I tell you there isn’t much I like more in life than watching films,…
Sean Farnel, Hot Docs programmer, posted this slide show from the festival’s annual press conference to his excellent Seafar blog. You get to hear about some of the films screening this year without even having to read anything. Magic! I love Hot Docs and will be there again this year so look forward to seeing some of you in Toronto! Hot Docs 2009 Press Conference Slideshow from seafar on Vimeo.
Scott Kirsner’s CinemaTech blog is always a great place to find out about technical innovations in the film world and now he was written a book, Fans, Friends and Followers: Building an Audience and a Creative Career in the Digital Age, that compiles interviews with artists doing great and interesting things with their work and includes lots of useful content for filmmakers in search of an audience (yes, that means you!). In the introduction Kirsner introduces us to the New…
I’ve spent the past six weeks locked in mortal combat with a screenplay that fought all the way. I’m proud, even if this is nowhere near as dramatic or impressive as the Kenyan farmer who recently survived three hours in the grip of a Python, a story where the distance of some four thousand miles enables me to feel strangely relieved that after being defeated, the snake in question evaded police capture and lives to squeeze another day. One of…
Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger, Poultrygeist, Tromeo and Juliet – to name just a few films from his prolific output) came to DCTV last night for a Shooting People/DCTV event to talk about his career, and his latest book Direct Your Own Damn Movie!. He talked about his experience working outside the system for many decades. Troma Entertainment is one of the longest running truly independent studios (founded in 1974), an incredible achievement. I wish I had written down some…
Jeremiah Zagar’s wonderful documentary In A Dream opens tomorrow at Cinema Village. Another great doc to see this weekend. I previously wrote about it here when it was shortlisted for an Academy Award. Here’s the trailer: IN A DREAM: Theatrical Trailer from Herzliya Films on Vimeo.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Sascha Gervasi’s Anvil!: The Story of Anvil in NYC this weekend. Watch the trailer here and then go out and celebrate the less glamorous side of rock and roll!
We’re entering the fourth month of our monthly competition to celebrate the very best of the films uploaded to Shooting People by our members. I’m endlessly impressed by the talent among our ranks and Film of the Month is a really great way to showcase just how awesome Shooters are! Have a look at this beautiful finalist from March: Cinematic Orchestra: To Build a Home by Andrew Griffin. Check out the Cinematic Orchestra website here!
