Month: July 2012

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These Are Those Things Truly Free Film

Who Is Making The Best Short Films Out There?

If you were going to give an award to the “Best Short Film Director”, what would be the criteria? I think the director would have to have made at least three shorts. Maybe over a five year period. If a director only has made two shorts, my sense is that they aren’t doing it for the love of the short, but more for their “career”. Three shows a commitment to the form. Making one great, or even two great short films does not detract from the strength of those shorts, but again it does not show the devotion to the form.

Now, as I believe that the dominance of the feature film form is on it’s last legs, and that ending it is TGHOTFOC, I think we will see even more great short directors in the years ahead. Presently though, I am a bit at a loss to nominate multiple directors who have made three or more excellent shorts. Nonetheless, that limitation does not reduce my enthusiasm for my nomination.

I had the good fortune of being asked to be a judge at TropFest NYC this year. It was an incredible program, and in the highlights of years passed, I was reminded of how great Nash Edgerton’s short work is (I also dig his feature The Square). Can you name a filmmaker who has made three shorts stronger than these:

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Truly Free Film

Why Filmmakers Must Use Social Media, aka Zodiac MF Loves Collaborator

People once hid in their office.  If you knew them from hanging out at the bar you had a unique relationship.  Still it was damn hard to make connections, no matter where you were on the totem pole.  But now those totem poles have been burned down to the ground.  The old ways are over and 1000 phoenixes rise from the ashes daily.

The fact is we’ve learned how to speak to each other.  We may not always speak the same language but we speak.  And that’s fucking awesome.

My case is point is how Zodiac Motherfucker shares his love for Collaborator  with writer/director Martin Donovan on Twitter:

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These Are Those Things

Todd Solondz Is In San Francisco To Talk To YOU!

Yes Dark Horse in galloping around the bay this weekend.  And I know you want to know where you can meet our jockey.  Put on your pink polo and bring your action figures.

TODD SOLONDZ IN PERSON: filmmaker Todd Solondz will speak at select opening weekend shows:

Q&A Friday (7/20) at the EMBARCADERO after the  7:35
And an intro prior to 9:40 pm

SATURDAY , 7/21 , at the CAMERA 3 in SAN JOSE ( Q&A AFTER the 3pm only )

SATURDAY , 7/21 , SHATTUCK in BERKELY Q&A after the 5:40pm show and
Intro to the 7:50pm 

SUNDAY , 7/22, the San Rafael Q&A After the 7pm only.      

PLEASE JOIN US!

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Let's Make Better Films Truly Free Film

Does The World Need Another Decent Movie?

By Julien Favre

With the world economy on the brink, the current environment has rarely been so tough for independent filmmakers. To get our films made and, even more so, to see them sold and/or distributed, is getting incredibly challenging. Foreign sales estimates for low budget independent films are a tenth of what they used to be pre-2008, and let’s not be fooled by the numbers. We will be happy if we sell at all, even for symbolic numbers. From a filmmaker’s perspective, we have entered a dichotomous world: a shrinking pool of independent films do well; most don’t make any significant business. It is now as if there is only room for one indie hit per year. If you are not that film that everybody wants, you barely exist and your business footprint will be close to zero.

Now, you can look at this situation in two different ways. One way is to

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Let's Make Better Films Truly Free Film

10+ Things To Think About If You Want To Make Better Films

(photo by Ted, art from the street)
(photo by Ted, art from the street)

I watch a lot of films. I think I watch about 250 a year. I also watch a lot of films that never come out, that most audiences never get access to.

I learn a great deal from the “noble failures”, the films that have ambition but just miss the mark fully in execution. I honestly like these films and find pleasure in watching them, but I also know that most people like their entertainment and culture to be in a more perfectly realized state — even if most of us don’t have the resources to bring our work to that state. I think most people’s taste is shaped by their training; we learn to like what we get — unfortunately.

Yet I also think there are some things that

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Truly Free Film

Film Society of Lincoln Center and Hope for Film presents : Indie Night Screening Series – KID-THING – TONIGHT, Tuesday July 17 @ 8:00 pm

Dear film friends,

This is sort of urgent.

Good films don’t get seen. Let’s face it, the system is not working. Every summer I experience that same sensation: “there just aren’t any movies that I really want to see”. My 80 year old mom just went to see MOONRISE KINGDOM for the second time because there was nothing else to see. She does not live in NYC… but you do. You have entertainment & culture economies relatively based on choice & super-abundance (versus scarcity & control).

You can vote for the culture you want with your dollars. Simple acts have surprising results. What would happen if we refused to keep supporting a bland corporate culture based on test-marketing, remakes, and pat emotional response engineering? What if we demanded a cinema that still surprised us, took risks, and aimed for something a little more complicated and complex? Well, I for one think it would make the world a better place.

So I write to you now, for that reason. Don’t let the heat get to you. Come out tonight (Tuesday) and see a good bit of bad behavior told with a desire to learn and not prove, with an empathy for people despite their faults, and a love for the absurdity that lingers in truth. Support indie film. Keep indie alive and help it thrive. We can build it better together.

I have been putting a lot of work in to my hopes that all I say above is true. I scour through DVDS and links searching for the best that indie has to offer. The Zellner Brothers’ KID-THING is just that. They are flying in to our town to speak to you about it. How often can one due their duty but have fun doing it? Well tonight you can.

Read about what I said about this film here.

Order tickets: www.filmlinc.com/films/on-sale/kid-thing
Like KID-THING on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/KID-THING/191535430930013
Check out the website: www.kid-thing.com
You can see another collaboration between the Zellners & Aguirre on this music video here: www.vimeo.com/7201463

See you Tonight, Tuesday July 17th at 8:00 PM at the Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

Q&A after the film with the filmmakers!

Tuesday, July 17
8:00 PM
Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center
144 W. 65TH St
New York, NY 10023

This night is made possible by the continued support of our sponsors: Royal Bank of Canada & Fandor. Thank you!

Please mark your calendars for upcoming Indie Night screenings:
Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 8 PM: FRANCINE
Wednesday, September 5, 2012, 8 PM
Wednesday, October 17, 2012, 8 PM
Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 8 PM
Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 8 PM

Most sincerely, and forever hopeful about film,
Ted

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Truly Free Film

Kickstarting for Theatrical Distribution: Pro’s & Con’s

by Sara Kiener

One day we’ll say “I remember the film industry before crowdfudning existed,” and newcomers will drop their jaws in disbelief. Kickstarter has made a quick and lasting impression on the industry, opening doors for filmmakers who have reached the end of their fundraising and grant writing ropes. Countless movies have been made that wouldn’t have been made without Kickstarter – many of which have left a significant mark in the festival circuit, in theaters and in our homes. One of the more recent trends that I’m intrigued by is the bevy of films Kickstarting to raise funds for theatrical distribution. Urbanized, My Reincarnation, Tchoupitoulas, Detropia and, more recently, Taiwan Oyster, Starlet and The Waiting Room (the latter 3 are currently active) have been green-lighting their own theatrical releases. With their success, I’m sure many more filmmakers will follow suit in the coming months.
Whether you’re raising funds for a portion of your budget or you’re trying to get your movie seen on the big screen following a robust festival reception, here are some factors to consider before you launch:

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