Independent Film Analysis
Posted February 24, 2010 by
Introduction
The excitement is building as I prepare to head down to Austin, Texas just two weeks from Friday for the 2010 SXSW Film Festival. Looking over the screening schedule always gets my heart racing as the full picture of the experience begins to emerge. As I do every year, I'm spotlighting some best bets -- films on my must-see list. Many of these choices have been selected for my schedule due to the fact that they have actors or filmmakers with a good track record, films that have turned out to be among my Top Picks from previous festivals I've attended. Last week I previewed Brotherhood, Wake, and Cherry. Here are some more selections, including references to those festivals where these actors and filmmakers caught my attention.
View more information on 2010 SXSW Film Festival Choices: Elektra Luxx and The Loved Ones...
Shown are TITLE, director, cast, country of origin, section in festival, what type of premiere it is (if any), a brief synopsis, and the film's connection to my previous festival Top Picks, along with the screening schedule including date, time, and venue. Links will take you to the film's synopsis provided by the festival at the official site sxsw.com. My readers know I prefer not to post spoilers, although there are several films I've written about here on this blog over the past couple of years from casting through filming and post-production.
Here are a couple of my choices in the Spotlight Premieres and Midnighters sections:
Elektra Luxx
Directed by Sebastian Gutierrez
Starring Carla Gugino, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant, Malin Akerman, Adrianne Palicki, Marley Shelton, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and Justin Kirk
USA
Spotlight Premieres
World Premiere
Ex-porn actress Elektra Luxx (Carla Gugino) has moved on, or so she thinks, putting her unique experience to good use teaching sex ed to pleasure-challenged housewives. Happy to have left her seedy past behind, she's rear-ended by echoes of her sordid former life when a well-intentioned flight attendant opens a Pandora's Box of secrets and truths.
You've seen Joseph Gordon-Levitt mentioned many times on this blog. He starred in three Top Picks from festivals I've attended in recent years. Those films (and the festivals at which I first saw them) include The Lookout (2007 SXSW Film Festival -- see my press conference video), which also starred Carla Gugino, Uncertainty (2008 Toronto International Film Festival), and Hesher (2010 Sundance Film Festival -- see my review). His reputation, especially in the independent film community and among its fans, is unparalleled. Joe is one of those "indie darlings" whose selection of material is so spot on that his name has become synonymous with festival favorites. It almost goes without saying that if Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in it, it's a winner.
Writer/director/producer Sebastian Gutierrez returns to SXSW after last year's Women in Trouble, also with Carla Gugino. This is his third feature as a director. He's written more than twice that many, including Gothika, Snakes on a Plane, and The Eye. The combination of Gutierrez's track record combined with his talented cast explains why Elektra Luxx is one of the "buzz films" of SXSW 2010.
There will be one screening:
Sunday, March 14
9:30 PM
Paramount
=========================================
The Loved Ones
Directed by Sean Byrne
Starring Xavier Samuel, Robin McLeavy, Victoria Thaine, Jessica McNamee, Richard Wilson, and John Brumpton
Australia
Midnighters
Brent, a 17-year-old student grieving after the recent loss of his father, politely declines an invitation to the end of year school dance from Lola, the quietest girl in school. Devastated by the rejection, Lola and her overly protective father kidnap Brent and force him to endure a macabre prom night of their own creation.
This selection is an encore for me. The Loved Ones was one of my Top Picks from the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. In two words, the film is an instant classic. Sam Raimi step aside! This Australian Carrie-meets-Misery flick is perfectly executed in the hands of first-time feature director Sean Byrne. Star Xavier Samuel, as the sullen Brent, is simply mindboggling. He will eclipse many young actors in this awesome performance. He pulls off a stunning, agonizingly horrific portrayal of a teen forced to suffer at the hands of classmate Lola (Robin McLeavy), the jilted would-be prom queen. Xavier's performance gives new meaning to the term "tortured actor."
Although star Xavier Samuel became a household name after being cast in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, he was no stranger to me. He starred in two of my Top Picks from previous festivals. I met and interviewed him when I covered the premieres of two of his four previous feature films -- 2:37 (2007 Santa Barbara Film Festival -- see my review) and Newcastle (2008 Tribeca Film Festival -- see my review).
There will be three screenings:
Sunday, March 14
11:59 PM
Alamo Ritz 1
Tuesday, March 16
11:59 PM
Alamo Ritz 1
Thursday, March 18
11:59 PM
Alamo Ritz 1
View more information on 2010 SXSW Film Festival Choices: Elektra Luxx and The Loved Ones...
Here are a couple of my choices in the Spotlight Premieres and Midnighters sections:
Elektra Luxx
Directed by Sebastian Gutierrez
Starring Carla Gugino, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant, Malin Akerman, Adrianne Palicki, Marley Shelton, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and Justin Kirk
USA
Spotlight Premieres
World Premiere
Ex-porn actress Elektra Luxx (Carla Gugino) has moved on, or so she thinks, putting her unique experience to good use teaching sex ed to pleasure-challenged housewives. Happy to have left her seedy past behind, she's rear-ended by echoes of her sordid former life when a well-intentioned flight attendant opens a Pandora's Box of secrets and truths.
You've seen Joseph Gordon-Levitt mentioned many times on this blog. He starred in three Top Picks from festivals I've attended in recent years. Those films (and the festivals at which I first saw them) include The Lookout (2007 SXSW Film Festival -- see my press conference video), which also starred Carla Gugino, Uncertainty (2008 Toronto International Film Festival), and Hesher (2010 Sundance Film Festival -- see my review). His reputation, especially in the independent film community and among its fans, is unparalleled. Joe is one of those "indie darlings" whose selection of material is so spot on that his name has become synonymous with festival favorites. It almost goes without saying that if Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in it, it's a winner.
Writer/director/producer Sebastian Gutierrez returns to SXSW after last year's Women in Trouble, also with Carla Gugino. This is his third feature as a director. He's written more than twice that many, including Gothika, Snakes on a Plane, and The Eye. The combination of Gutierrez's track record combined with his talented cast explains why Elektra Luxx is one of the "buzz films" of SXSW 2010.
There will be one screening:
Sunday, March 14
9:30 PM
Paramount
=========================================
The Loved Ones
Directed by Sean Byrne
Starring Xavier Samuel, Robin McLeavy, Victoria Thaine, Jessica McNamee, Richard Wilson, and John Brumpton
Australia
Midnighters
Brent, a 17-year-old student grieving after the recent loss of his father, politely declines an invitation to the end of year school dance from Lola, the quietest girl in school. Devastated by the rejection, Lola and her overly protective father kidnap Brent and force him to endure a macabre prom night of their own creation.
This selection is an encore for me. The Loved Ones was one of my Top Picks from the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. In two words, the film is an instant classic. Sam Raimi step aside! This Australian Carrie-meets-Misery flick is perfectly executed in the hands of first-time feature director Sean Byrne. Star Xavier Samuel, as the sullen Brent, is simply mindboggling. He will eclipse many young actors in this awesome performance. He pulls off a stunning, agonizingly horrific portrayal of a teen forced to suffer at the hands of classmate Lola (Robin McLeavy), the jilted would-be prom queen. Xavier's performance gives new meaning to the term "tortured actor."
Although star Xavier Samuel became a household name after being cast in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, he was no stranger to me. He starred in two of my Top Picks from previous festivals. I met and interviewed him when I covered the premieres of two of his four previous feature films -- 2:37 (2007 Santa Barbara Film Festival -- see my review) and Newcastle (2008 Tribeca Film Festival -- see my review).
There will be three screenings:
Sunday, March 14
11:59 PM
Alamo Ritz 1
Tuesday, March 16
11:59 PM
Alamo Ritz 1
Thursday, March 18
11:59 PM
Alamo Ritz 1
View more information on 2010 SXSW Film Festival Choices: Elektra Luxx and The Loved Ones...
316 Views and 0 Comments
Posted February 23, 2010 by
Third of a four-part seriesLast week, in real tips for real people #1, I offered some advice on how to get to and around downtown Austin, Texas, the location of the SXSW Film Festival. In part two we went over some of the rules, etiquette, and secrets of what happens from the moment you enter the theater until you leave.
Now you're ready to move on to the next screening. Hopefully you've allowed enough time, and that's trickier than you may realize. There are three basic considerations when deciding how much time is needed from the moment one film ends until your next screening begins. The first I discussed previously -- the Q&A. Allow for anywhere from ten minutes to a half hour for that. Average is 15-20 minutes. The second consideration is travel time. I'll cover that in this entry.
View more information on SXSW Film Festival - real tips for real people #3...
Note that this is not intended as a comprehensive guide to transportation for every logistical possibility -- the SXSW Film Festival utilizes over a half dozen venues with about a dozen screens. But most will be attending events at just three locations -- the Alamo Ritz, Alamo Lamar, and Paramount -- so a decent map and knowledge of the shuttle route (both can be found in your registration materials) should suffice. But there are some generalizations which can be made regarding travel between these locations, based solely on my own experiences.
1) The post-screening excitement is over (assuming you stayed for the Q&A), you've hopefully met and chatted with the filmmakers and actors, and you've taken care of whatever urgent business you need to take care of before exiting the theater. Now it's time to get to your next screening. In the best case scenario, of course, you don't actually have to "go" anywhere. It is quite possible to stay in one location for an entire day of screenings. Heck, there are folks who do that for the whole festival. I've met many SXSW veterans who plan their week not around what films to see but around which venue to call home for the duration. Many choose the twin-screen Alamo Drafthouse Ritz Downtown (Alamo Ritz), which we discussed in real tips for real people #2. At 320 E. 6th St. the theater is located within walking distance of most of the downtown hotels. Others select the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (Alamo Lamar). It's south of the downtown area but the SXShuttle will get you there and back. With two screens at the Ritz and three at the Lamar hosting SXSW screenings it's easy to see four or five films a day. The festival lineup is so dang good that it's almost guaranteed you're going to have a grand old time regardless of what you see.
2) If you're traveling from one location to another, especially the Alamo Lamar, I recommend taking the SXShuttle, a free bus system for attendees with badges. We mentioned it in real tips for real people #1. All venues are located at or close to shuttle stops, which are also near many of the major hotels. The festival bus system is free so just hop on.
3) For those with their own vehicles there is a large free lot at the Alamo Lamar. The downtown venues are surrounded by surface lots and garages, but these can fill up quickly and can be quite costly, especially if you're driving back and forth between the two Alamo theaters. Many outdoor lots operate on the "honor system." You won't necessarily see an attendant but are expected to place money in a numbered slot corresponding to the spot you parked in. Don't think nobody is watching. You may be able to beat it once but you're apt to find a notice on your windshield asking for payment. Trust me, I know. Keep in mind that some garages take cash only. You don't want to be in a hurry to get to a screening and have to search for an ATM. There are metered spots on the street in some areas but be sure to give yourself plenty of time to drive in circles, especially on weekend evenings. I know folks who've been stuck "driving" around for an hour or more before finding a place to park, when they might have been better off parking some distance away and walking. You don't always have to put money in the meter -- be sure to read the signs on the sidewalk indicating the days and times when payment is required.
4) Taxicabs are readily available on the major streets but those in the know will have a much better chance of hailing one in front of a hotel. They're also located on the map you'll get when you check in. The city does have has a bus system which will get you to and from the Alamo Lamar -- not free -- and I recommend stopping by the Austin Convention Center where the festival has an information desk with answers to every transportation question you can come up with.
5) Some venues are within walking distance of each other, the major downtown hotels, and the Austin Convention Center. The Paramount and Alamo Ritz are less than five blocks apart and it only takes 5-10 minutes at most. But a note about walking. Certain streets are on a steep incline, especially from the Alamo Ritz north to the Paramount, which can be taxing for even the healthiest among us. Austin can also be quite warm in mid-March. One year it was in the 80s and 90s all week. It's critical to drink a lot of water. Exhaustion is easy to recognize but dehydration creeps up slowly.
6) Bottom line: this is what I recommend. First, study your schedule for the day, taking particular note of the venues' locations. If you're driving select a lot or garage at or near the venues and shuttle route where you can leave your car until you're ready to call it a night. Make note of the facility's hours and location. It's easy to get lost trying to locate the garage you parked in, especially if you pulled in at 10:00 AM, saw four movies, went to two parties, and are looking for the garage at 1:00 AM. Many tend to look the same. Trust me, I know. When you do need to travel between the Alamos just take the shuttle there and back. Some people park at the Alamo Lamar and leave it there, as opposed to the other way around, although some retail establishments surrounding the theater don't allow it during business hours. Read the signs. Again, this isn't meant to cover every possibility. These are just some of my personal recommendations based on several years of SXSW experience.
The final aspect to consider in booking your screenings is what happens when you arrive at your next venue. It's a time-honored tradition, and one which may prove quite valuable as the festival goes on -- waiting in line. I'll cover that in my next post.
View more information on SXSW Film Festival - real tips for real people #3...
1) The post-screening excitement is over (assuming you stayed for the Q&A), you've hopefully met and chatted with the filmmakers and actors, and you've taken care of whatever urgent business you need to take care of before exiting the theater. Now it's time to get to your next screening. In the best case scenario, of course, you don't actually have to "go" anywhere. It is quite possible to stay in one location for an entire day of screenings. Heck, there are folks who do that for the whole festival. I've met many SXSW veterans who plan their week not around what films to see but around which venue to call home for the duration. Many choose the twin-screen Alamo Drafthouse Ritz Downtown (Alamo Ritz), which we discussed in real tips for real people #2. At 320 E. 6th St. the theater is located within walking distance of most of the downtown hotels. Others select the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (Alamo Lamar). It's south of the downtown area but the SXShuttle will get you there and back. With two screens at the Ritz and three at the Lamar hosting SXSW screenings it's easy to see four or five films a day. The festival lineup is so dang good that it's almost guaranteed you're going to have a grand old time regardless of what you see.
2) If you're traveling from one location to another, especially the Alamo Lamar, I recommend taking the SXShuttle, a free bus system for attendees with badges. We mentioned it in real tips for real people #1. All venues are located at or close to shuttle stops, which are also near many of the major hotels. The festival bus system is free so just hop on.
3) For those with their own vehicles there is a large free lot at the Alamo Lamar. The downtown venues are surrounded by surface lots and garages, but these can fill up quickly and can be quite costly, especially if you're driving back and forth between the two Alamo theaters. Many outdoor lots operate on the "honor system." You won't necessarily see an attendant but are expected to place money in a numbered slot corresponding to the spot you parked in. Don't think nobody is watching. You may be able to beat it once but you're apt to find a notice on your windshield asking for payment. Trust me, I know. Keep in mind that some garages take cash only. You don't want to be in a hurry to get to a screening and have to search for an ATM. There are metered spots on the street in some areas but be sure to give yourself plenty of time to drive in circles, especially on weekend evenings. I know folks who've been stuck "driving" around for an hour or more before finding a place to park, when they might have been better off parking some distance away and walking. You don't always have to put money in the meter -- be sure to read the signs on the sidewalk indicating the days and times when payment is required.
4) Taxicabs are readily available on the major streets but those in the know will have a much better chance of hailing one in front of a hotel. They're also located on the map you'll get when you check in. The city does have has a bus system which will get you to and from the Alamo Lamar -- not free -- and I recommend stopping by the Austin Convention Center where the festival has an information desk with answers to every transportation question you can come up with.
5) Some venues are within walking distance of each other, the major downtown hotels, and the Austin Convention Center. The Paramount and Alamo Ritz are less than five blocks apart and it only takes 5-10 minutes at most. But a note about walking. Certain streets are on a steep incline, especially from the Alamo Ritz north to the Paramount, which can be taxing for even the healthiest among us. Austin can also be quite warm in mid-March. One year it was in the 80s and 90s all week. It's critical to drink a lot of water. Exhaustion is easy to recognize but dehydration creeps up slowly.
6) Bottom line: this is what I recommend. First, study your schedule for the day, taking particular note of the venues' locations. If you're driving select a lot or garage at or near the venues and shuttle route where you can leave your car until you're ready to call it a night. Make note of the facility's hours and location. It's easy to get lost trying to locate the garage you parked in, especially if you pulled in at 10:00 AM, saw four movies, went to two parties, and are looking for the garage at 1:00 AM. Many tend to look the same. Trust me, I know. When you do need to travel between the Alamos just take the shuttle there and back. Some people park at the Alamo Lamar and leave it there, as opposed to the other way around, although some retail establishments surrounding the theater don't allow it during business hours. Read the signs. Again, this isn't meant to cover every possibility. These are just some of my personal recommendations based on several years of SXSW experience.
The final aspect to consider in booking your screenings is what happens when you arrive at your next venue. It's a time-honored tradition, and one which may prove quite valuable as the festival goes on -- waiting in line. I'll cover that in my next post.
View more information on SXSW Film Festival - real tips for real people #3...
356 Views and 0 Comments
Posted February 22, 2010 by
Nominees have just been announced for the 31st annual Young Artist Awards. They are sponsored by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides scholarships to financially and/or physically challenged young people seeking a future in the entertainment industry. Winners will be announced on Sunday, April 11 at the Beverly Garland Hotel in Studio City, California.
Here are the nominees in the feature film categories:
View more information on 2010 Young Artist Awards Nominations...
Leading Young Actor:
Jake T. Austin, Hotel For Dogs
Jimmy Bennett, Alabama Moon
Max Records, Where The Wild Things Are
Taylor Lautner, The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Devon Bostick, Adoration
Leading Young Actress:
Emma Roberts, Hotel For Dogs
Abigail Breslin, My Sister's Keeper
Jolie Vanier, Shorts
Yara Shahidi, Imagine That
Saoirse Ronan, The Lovely Bones
Supporting Young Actor:
Brennan Bailey, My Sister's Keeper
Alex Ferris, The Time Traveler's Wife
Brandon Soo Hoo, G.I Joe
William Cuddy, Amelia
Chandler Canterbury, Knowing
Jake Cherry, Night at the Museum 2
Jae Head, The Blind Side
Ty Wood, The Haunting in Connecticut
Chase Ellison, Fireflies in the Garden
Jason Spevack, Sunshine Cleaning
Supporting Young Actress:
Sofia Vassilieva, My Sister's Keeper
Chloe Moretz, (500) Days of Summer
Evana Lynch, Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince
Jessica Carlson, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Raini Rodriguez, Paul Blart - Mall Cop
Kiernan Shipka, Carriers
Young Ensemble Cast:
Shorts
Jimmy Bennett, Jake Short, Devon Gearhart, Leo Howard, Jolie Vanier, Trevor Gagnon
Aliens in the Attic
Megan Parker, Henri Young, Regan Young, Austin Robert Butler, Carter Jenkins
Leading Young Performers in Foreign Films:
Denis Sukhomlinov (Russia), Shenok (Puppy)
Nick Romeo Reimann (Germany), Die Vorstadtkrokodile (Suburban Crocodiles)
Tom Russell (Australia), Last Ride
Fouad Habash & Ibrahim Frege (Israel), Ajami
Leonard Proxauf & Leonie Benesch (Germany), Das weiße Band (The White Ribbon)
For nominees in the short film category, television, voiceover, straight to DVD, and theater see the Young Artist Awards site.
View more information on 2010 Young Artist Awards Nominations...
Jake T. Austin, Hotel For Dogs
Jimmy Bennett, Alabama Moon
Max Records, Where The Wild Things Are
Taylor Lautner, The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Devon Bostick, Adoration
Leading Young Actress:
Emma Roberts, Hotel For Dogs
Abigail Breslin, My Sister's Keeper
Jolie Vanier, Shorts
Yara Shahidi, Imagine That
Saoirse Ronan, The Lovely Bones
Supporting Young Actor:
Brennan Bailey, My Sister's Keeper
Alex Ferris, The Time Traveler's Wife
Brandon Soo Hoo, G.I Joe
William Cuddy, Amelia
Chandler Canterbury, Knowing
Jake Cherry, Night at the Museum 2
Jae Head, The Blind Side
Ty Wood, The Haunting in Connecticut
Chase Ellison, Fireflies in the Garden
Jason Spevack, Sunshine Cleaning
Supporting Young Actress:
Sofia Vassilieva, My Sister's Keeper
Chloe Moretz, (500) Days of Summer
Evana Lynch, Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince
Jessica Carlson, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Raini Rodriguez, Paul Blart - Mall Cop
Kiernan Shipka, Carriers
Young Ensemble Cast:
Shorts
Jimmy Bennett, Jake Short, Devon Gearhart, Leo Howard, Jolie Vanier, Trevor Gagnon
Aliens in the Attic
Megan Parker, Henri Young, Regan Young, Austin Robert Butler, Carter Jenkins
Leading Young Performers in Foreign Films:
Denis Sukhomlinov (Russia), Shenok (Puppy)
Nick Romeo Reimann (Germany), Die Vorstadtkrokodile (Suburban Crocodiles)
Tom Russell (Australia), Last Ride
Fouad Habash & Ibrahim Frege (Israel), Ajami
Leonard Proxauf & Leonie Benesch (Germany), Das weiße Band (The White Ribbon)
For nominees in the short film category, television, voiceover, straight to DVD, and theater see the Young Artist Awards site.
View more information on 2010 Young Artist Awards Nominations...
478 Views and 0 Comments
Posted February 21, 2010 by
The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) were handed out today in a spectacular ceremony at London's Royal Opera House. The BAFTAs are considered the British counterpart to the Academy Awards here in the U.S., as well as an accurate bellwether. In fact, last year's awards correctly predicted many winners at the Oscars. NOTE: If you want to see the awards ONLINE they are being streamed on tape delay from BBC One NOW at THIS LINK. If you want to watch the awards on TV they will be broadcast on tape on BBC America at 8:00 PM Eastern/7:30 PM Pacific time in the US, but check your local listings because some providers vary.
View more information on 2010 BAFTA Awards Winners...
Here is the complete list of winners:
Best Film:
The Hurt Locker
Best Director:
Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker
Best Original Screenplay:
Mark Boal for The Hurt Locker
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner for Up In The Air
Best Film Not in the English Language:
A Prophet
Best Animated Film:
Pete Docter for Up
Best Leading Actor:
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Best Leading Actress:
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Best Supporting Actor:
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress:
Mo'nique, Precious (Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire)
Best Music:
Michael Giacchino for Up
Best Cinematography:
Barry Ackroyd for The Hurt Locker
Best Production Design:
Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg & Kim Sinclair for Avatar
Best Costume Design:
Sandy Powell for The Young Victoria
Best Editing:
The Hurt Locker
Best Sound:
The Hurt Locker
Best Special Visual Effects:
Avatar
Best Makeup and Hair:
Jenny Shircore for The Young Victoria
Outstanding British Film:
Fish Tank
Orange Rising Star Award:
Kristen Stewart
Best Animated Short:
Mother Of Many
Best Short Film:
I Do Air
Outstanding Debut:
Duncan Jones for Moon
Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema:
Joe Dunton
View more information on 2010 BAFTA Awards Winners...
Best Film:
The Hurt Locker
Best Director:
Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker
Best Original Screenplay:
Mark Boal for The Hurt Locker
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner for Up In The Air
Best Film Not in the English Language:
A Prophet
Best Animated Film:
Pete Docter for Up
Best Leading Actor:
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Best Leading Actress:
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Best Supporting Actor:
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress:
Mo'nique, Precious (Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire)
Best Music:
Michael Giacchino for Up
Best Cinematography:
Barry Ackroyd for The Hurt Locker
Best Production Design:
Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg & Kim Sinclair for Avatar
Best Costume Design:
Sandy Powell for The Young Victoria
Best Editing:
The Hurt Locker
Best Sound:
The Hurt Locker
Best Special Visual Effects:
Avatar
Best Makeup and Hair:
Jenny Shircore for The Young Victoria
Outstanding British Film:
Fish Tank
Orange Rising Star Award:
Kristen Stewart
Best Animated Short:
Mother Of Many
Best Short Film:
I Do Air
Outstanding Debut:
Duncan Jones for Moon
Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema:
Joe Dunton
View more information on 2010 BAFTA Awards Winners...
1245 Views and 0 Comments
Posted February 19, 2010 by
It's hard to believe that just three weeks from today I'll be arriving at the 2010 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival. As readers of this blog know, of the many I attend each year, few film festivals can beat SXSW for sheer enjoyment, both in the quality of the program as well as the kickass rock 'n roll setting in which it takes place. This will be my fifth year and I'm looking forward to heading back down to Austin, Texas, sitting in darkened theaters, and partying with true film lovers. Earlier I posted the complete list of of feature films, short films, conference panels, and schedule of film screenings.
View more information on 2010 SXSW Film Festival adds more features & shorts to lineup...
The excitement kicks off March 12 with nine days of the best that today's cutting-edge filmmakers have to offer. A handful of feature films and shorts have just been added to the already heartpounding lineup. These include the official Closing Night Film, Chris Morris' Four Lions. It's a provocative look into the lives of Muslim extremists living in the UK. The new additions also include three of my Top Picks from previous film festivals. Those titles, along with the festivals at which I saw and selected them as one of the best, include When You're Strange: A Film about The Doors (2009 Los Angeles Film Festival), Suck (2009 Toronto International Film Festival), and Skateland (2010 Sundance Film Festival).
Here is the complete list of additional features:
HEADLINERS
Four Lions (United Kingdom)
Director: Chris Morris. Screenwriters: Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, Simon Blackwell and Chris Morris
Four Lions tells the story of a group of British jihadists who push their abstract dreams of glory to the breaking point.
Cast: Riz Ahmed, Arsher Ali, Nigel Lindsay, Kayvan Novak, Adeel Akhtar
SPOTLIGHT PREMIERES
American Grindhouse
Director: Elijah Drenner. Screenwriters: Calum Wadell and Elijah Drenner
This feature documentary chronicles the history of the American Exploitation Film. It digs deep into this often overlooked category of U.S. cinema and unearths the shameless and occasionally shocking origins of this popular entertainment. (World Premiere)
Cargo (Switzerland)
Directors: Ivan Engler and Ralf Etter. Screenwriters: Johnny Hartmann, Thilo Röscheisen, Patrik Steinmann
Cargo is an intelligent science-fiction thriller that puts an electrifying, futuristic spin on present-day preoccupations like flight from reality, and destruction of the environment.
Cast: Anna Katharina Schwabroth, Martin Rapold, Claude-Oliver Rudolph, Pierre Semmler (U.S. Premiere)
Haynesville: The Hunt for an Energy Future
Director and Screenwriter: Gregory Kallenberg
Haynesville documents the discovery of the largest natural gas field in the nation, its momentous impact on three people’s lives, and the affect this historic find could have on our energy future. (North American Premiere)
EMERGING VISIONS
A NY Thing
Director & Screenwriter: Olivier Lecot
A French romantic follows his object of desire to New York where over the course of 3 crazed and ardent days he must convince her of the authenticity of his love in a comic and melancholy journey where love reveals its peculiar nature.
Cast: Jonathan Zaccai, Fanny Valette, Greta Gerwig, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Leo Fitzpatrick
(North American Premiere)
LONE STAR STATES
Skateland
Director: Anthony Burns. Screenwriters: Anthony Burns, Brandon Freeman, Heath Freeman
In the early 1980s, in small-town Texas, dramatic events force a 19-year-old skating rink manager to look at his life in a very new way. Cast: Shiloh Fernandez, Ashley Greene, Heath Freeman, Brett Cullen, Melinda McGraw, Taylor Handley, Haley Ramm, and A.J. Buckley
24 BEATS PER SECOND
Beyond Ipanema
Director: Guto Barra. Writer: Guto Barra and Béco Dranoff
From Carmen Miranda to Bebel Gilberto, from Tropicália to Favela Funk, Brazilian music has been influencing the world for 70 years. The global love affair with Brazil is revisited by the ones who lived it.
Strummerville (United Kingdom)
Director: Don Letts
Joe Strummer’s untimely death sent shockwaves around the music world and beyond. In this documentary, Grammy winner Don Letts shows how Joe’s spirit lives on through a charity set up in his memory, Strummerville. (World Premiere)
This Movie is Broken (Canada)
Director: Bruce McDonald. Screenwriter: Don McKellar
On a hot summer’s night in Toronto, a Broken Social Scene show tops all expectations and resonates deep into the morning, into the lives of two close friends & closer than they knew (World Premiere)
When You're Strange – a film about the Doors
Director: Tom DiCillo
Narrated by Johnny Depp, the first feature documentary about The Doors provides a previously unseen view of the legendary quartet, comprised entirely of historic archival footage shot between 1965 and 1971.
SX GLOBAL
The Sound of Insects – Record of a Mummy (Switzerland)
Director: Peter Liechti
A cinematic manifesto for life, challenged by the main character's radical renunciation of life itself.
FESTIVAL FAVORITES
Waking Sleeping Beauty
Director: Don Hahn
From 1984 to 1994, a perfect storm of people and circumstances changed the face of animation forever.
TONY (UK)
Director and Screenwriter: Gerard Johnson
A week in the life of Tony, an alienated psychopath with severe social problems, an obsession for action films and a horrible moustache. Cast: Peter Ferdinando, Ricky Grover, George Russo, Francis Pope, Neil Maskell, Lorenzo Camporese, Vicky Murdock
MIDNIGHTERS
SUCK (Canada)
Director and Screenwriter: Rob Sterfaniuk
Suck is a rock and roll vampire movie that follows "The Winners” on their final doomed tour down a highway to hell.
Cast: Rob Stefaniuk, Jessica Pare, Dave Foley, Moby, Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, Dimitri Coats, Alex Lifeson with Alice Cooper and Malcolm McDowell. (US. Premiere)
Additional Short Films include:
NARRATIVE SHORTS
I’m Here
Director: Spike Jonze
Successful Alcoholics
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Drake and Lindsay are successful alcoholics who may need to rethink their definition of "success."
Tough Crowd
Director: Anne Lewis
An over-scheduled, guilt-ridden and totally self-absorbed daughter comes to visit Mom at the retirement home and withers from the contempt that she’s certain the staff and other residents have for her. Plus, she “just knows” that they prefer her dashing, bachelor brother to her.
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Robin Hood Gardens
Director: Martin Ginestie
An investigation into the debate surrounding the fate of Robin Hood Gardens, controversial East London housing estate described as a dilapidated concrete eyesore by some and a masterpiece in Brutalist architecture by others.
Star Wars: Retold
Director: Joe Nicolosi
An animated retelling of the original Star Wars trilogy, according to a girl who's never actually watched Star Wars. Her rendition, pieced together from pop-culture references and Kevin Smith jokes, offers a fun glance at the cultural impact Star Wars has had on those who haven't watched the films.
View more information on 2010 SXSW Film Festival adds more features & shorts to lineup...
Here is the complete list of additional features:
HEADLINERS
Four Lions (United Kingdom)
Director: Chris Morris. Screenwriters: Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, Simon Blackwell and Chris Morris
Four Lions tells the story of a group of British jihadists who push their abstract dreams of glory to the breaking point.
Cast: Riz Ahmed, Arsher Ali, Nigel Lindsay, Kayvan Novak, Adeel Akhtar
SPOTLIGHT PREMIERES
American Grindhouse
Director: Elijah Drenner. Screenwriters: Calum Wadell and Elijah Drenner
This feature documentary chronicles the history of the American Exploitation Film. It digs deep into this often overlooked category of U.S. cinema and unearths the shameless and occasionally shocking origins of this popular entertainment. (World Premiere)
Cargo (Switzerland)
Directors: Ivan Engler and Ralf Etter. Screenwriters: Johnny Hartmann, Thilo Röscheisen, Patrik Steinmann
Cargo is an intelligent science-fiction thriller that puts an electrifying, futuristic spin on present-day preoccupations like flight from reality, and destruction of the environment.
Cast: Anna Katharina Schwabroth, Martin Rapold, Claude-Oliver Rudolph, Pierre Semmler (U.S. Premiere)
Haynesville: The Hunt for an Energy Future
Director and Screenwriter: Gregory Kallenberg
Haynesville documents the discovery of the largest natural gas field in the nation, its momentous impact on three people’s lives, and the affect this historic find could have on our energy future. (North American Premiere)
EMERGING VISIONS
A NY Thing
Director & Screenwriter: Olivier Lecot
A French romantic follows his object of desire to New York where over the course of 3 crazed and ardent days he must convince her of the authenticity of his love in a comic and melancholy journey where love reveals its peculiar nature.
Cast: Jonathan Zaccai, Fanny Valette, Greta Gerwig, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Leo Fitzpatrick
(North American Premiere)
LONE STAR STATES
Skateland
Director: Anthony Burns. Screenwriters: Anthony Burns, Brandon Freeman, Heath Freeman
In the early 1980s, in small-town Texas, dramatic events force a 19-year-old skating rink manager to look at his life in a very new way. Cast: Shiloh Fernandez, Ashley Greene, Heath Freeman, Brett Cullen, Melinda McGraw, Taylor Handley, Haley Ramm, and A.J. Buckley
24 BEATS PER SECOND
Beyond Ipanema
Director: Guto Barra. Writer: Guto Barra and Béco Dranoff
From Carmen Miranda to Bebel Gilberto, from Tropicália to Favela Funk, Brazilian music has been influencing the world for 70 years. The global love affair with Brazil is revisited by the ones who lived it.
Strummerville (United Kingdom)
Director: Don Letts
Joe Strummer’s untimely death sent shockwaves around the music world and beyond. In this documentary, Grammy winner Don Letts shows how Joe’s spirit lives on through a charity set up in his memory, Strummerville. (World Premiere)
This Movie is Broken (Canada)
Director: Bruce McDonald. Screenwriter: Don McKellar
On a hot summer’s night in Toronto, a Broken Social Scene show tops all expectations and resonates deep into the morning, into the lives of two close friends & closer than they knew (World Premiere)
When You're Strange – a film about the Doors
Director: Tom DiCillo
Narrated by Johnny Depp, the first feature documentary about The Doors provides a previously unseen view of the legendary quartet, comprised entirely of historic archival footage shot between 1965 and 1971.
SX GLOBAL
The Sound of Insects – Record of a Mummy (Switzerland)
Director: Peter Liechti
A cinematic manifesto for life, challenged by the main character's radical renunciation of life itself.
FESTIVAL FAVORITES
Waking Sleeping Beauty
Director: Don Hahn
From 1984 to 1994, a perfect storm of people and circumstances changed the face of animation forever.
TONY (UK)
Director and Screenwriter: Gerard Johnson
A week in the life of Tony, an alienated psychopath with severe social problems, an obsession for action films and a horrible moustache. Cast: Peter Ferdinando, Ricky Grover, George Russo, Francis Pope, Neil Maskell, Lorenzo Camporese, Vicky Murdock
MIDNIGHTERS
SUCK (Canada)
Director and Screenwriter: Rob Sterfaniuk
Suck is a rock and roll vampire movie that follows "The Winners” on their final doomed tour down a highway to hell.
Cast: Rob Stefaniuk, Jessica Pare, Dave Foley, Moby, Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, Dimitri Coats, Alex Lifeson with Alice Cooper and Malcolm McDowell. (US. Premiere)
Additional Short Films include:
NARRATIVE SHORTS
I’m Here
Director: Spike Jonze
Successful Alcoholics
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Drake and Lindsay are successful alcoholics who may need to rethink their definition of "success."
Tough Crowd
Director: Anne Lewis
An over-scheduled, guilt-ridden and totally self-absorbed daughter comes to visit Mom at the retirement home and withers from the contempt that she’s certain the staff and other residents have for her. Plus, she “just knows” that they prefer her dashing, bachelor brother to her.
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Robin Hood Gardens
Director: Martin Ginestie
An investigation into the debate surrounding the fate of Robin Hood Gardens, controversial East London housing estate described as a dilapidated concrete eyesore by some and a masterpiece in Brutalist architecture by others.
Star Wars: Retold
Director: Joe Nicolosi
An animated retelling of the original Star Wars trilogy, according to a girl who's never actually watched Star Wars. Her rendition, pieced together from pop-culture references and Kevin Smith jokes, offers a fun glance at the cultural impact Star Wars has had on those who haven't watched the films.
View more information on 2010 SXSW Film Festival adds more features & shorts to lineup...
476 Views and 2 Comments
Posted February 19, 2010 by
Every so often a film pops onto my radar long before it's released, or even before filming begins. Such was the case with Lost Dream, the first feature from writer/director/editor Asif Ahmed.It was shortly after I was blown away by All the Boys Love Mandy Lane at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival that I discovered Lost Dream while seeking out the latest work from Michael Welch (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse), who immediately struck me as a talent to watch for.
View more information on EXCLUSIVE: Lost Dream now on Netflix, stars Twilight’s Michael Welch...
As soon as I saw that this rising young star had been cast in Lost Dream I began to follow its progress. Shaun Sipos (Final Destination 2, Melrose Place), Jeremy London (Party of Five, 7th Heaven), Patricia Richardson (Home Improvement, Strong Medicine), and the legendary Joseph Campanella round out the cast.
Readers of this blog have been able to travel with Lost Dream throughout its various stages of production ever since. In the interim Welch wowed audiences as Mike Newton in both Twilight and The Twilight Saga: New Moon, two of the most successful motion pictures of all time, and will soon be seen in the third film The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Last spring I traveled to the Hollywood Premiere of Lost Dream at NewFilmmakers LA and posted an exclusive video interview I did with Welch that weekend as well as an audio interview and pictures from the event. Twilight castmates Justin Chon and Christian Serratos came out to celebrate and are also featured in the photographs. Next it was off to the Vampire Film Festival in October where Lost Dream was the Closing Night Film.
Earlier this year I was honored to be the first to announce that producer Reel Energy had signed a distribution deal with Osiris Entertainment to release Lost Dream on DVD March 23. It is not rated (NR) but includes some scenes of drug use, disturbing images, and sexual material for mature audiences only. Presented in 16:9 Widescreen format with 5.1 Surround sound, the package includes the following special features:
•Making of Lost Dream
•Behind the Scenes
•Cast & Crew Interviews
•Trailers
•Audio Commentary with:
Director Asif Ahmed and actors Michael Welch and Shaun Sipos
Today I'm pleased to announced that Lost Dream is NOW available from Netflix. Be sure to stop by and put it at the top of your queue.
Bookmark the official site at www.lostdreamfilm.com for information on how to purchase the DVD, and keep checking back for some surprises in the days to come.
View more information on EXCLUSIVE: Lost Dream now on Netflix, stars Twilight’s Michael Welch...
Readers of this blog have been able to travel with Lost Dream throughout its various stages of production ever since. In the interim Welch wowed audiences as Mike Newton in both Twilight and The Twilight Saga: New Moon, two of the most successful motion pictures of all time, and will soon be seen in the third film The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Last spring I traveled to the Hollywood Premiere of Lost Dream at NewFilmmakers LA and posted an exclusive video interview I did with Welch that weekend as well as an audio interview and pictures from the event. Twilight castmates Justin Chon and Christian Serratos came out to celebrate and are also featured in the photographs. Next it was off to the Vampire Film Festival in October where Lost Dream was the Closing Night Film.
Earlier this year I was honored to be the first to announce that producer Reel Energy had signed a distribution deal with Osiris Entertainment to release Lost Dream on DVD March 23. It is not rated (NR) but includes some scenes of drug use, disturbing images, and sexual material for mature audiences only. Presented in 16:9 Widescreen format with 5.1 Surround sound, the package includes the following special features:
•Making of Lost Dream
•Behind the Scenes
•Cast & Crew Interviews
•Trailers
•Audio Commentary with:
Director Asif Ahmed and actors Michael Welch and Shaun Sipos
Today I'm pleased to announced that Lost Dream is NOW available from Netflix. Be sure to stop by and put it at the top of your queue.
Bookmark the official site at www.lostdreamfilm.com for information on how to purchase the DVD, and keep checking back for some surprises in the days to come.
View more information on EXCLUSIVE: Lost Dream now on Netflix, stars Twilight’s Michael Welch...
792 Views and 0 Comments
Posted February 18, 2010 by
Of all the organizations doling out awards over the past few months, one of the more prestigious groups is the London Film Critics' Circle (LFCC). They are the oldest critics' organization in the world. The Critics’ Circle is comprised of five sections: Dance, Art and Architecture, Drama, Film, and Music. The aims are to promote the art of criticism, to uphold its integrity in practice, to foster and safeguard members’ professional interests, to provide opportunities to meet, and to support the advancement of the arts. Currently there are some 430 members, mostly from the UK, the majority of whom write regularly for national and regional newspapers and magazines.
View more information on 2010 London Film Critics’ Circle Award Winners...
Three of the sections – Dance, Drama and Film – hold their own awards ceremonies at the beginning of each year. Critics vote for the winners and present the awards. The 30th Annual Film Awards were presented this evening at the Landmark Hotel, Marylebone.
The winners are:
FILM OF THE YEAR:
A Prophet
THE ATTENBOROUGH AWARD: BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR:
Fish Tank
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR:
Let the Right One In
DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR:
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
BRITISH DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR:
Andrea Arnold, Fish Tank
ACTOR OF THE YEAR:
Christoph Waltz,Inglourious Basterds
ACTRESS OF THE YEAR:
Mo’Nique, Precious
BRITISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR:
Colin Firth, A Single Man
BRITISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR:
Carey Mulligan, An Education
BRITISH ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Michael Fassbender, Fish Tank
BRITISH ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Anne-Marie Duff, Nowhere Boy
SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR:
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci & Tony Roche, In the Loop
THE NSPCC AWARD: YOUNG BRITISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR:
Katie Jarvis, Fish Tank
BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH FILM-MAKER:
Duncan Jones, Moon
DILYS POWELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CINEMA:
Quentin Tarantino
View more information on 2010 London Film Critics’ Circle Award Winners...
The winners are:
FILM OF THE YEAR:
A Prophet
THE ATTENBOROUGH AWARD: BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR:
Fish Tank
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR:
Let the Right One In
DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR:
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
BRITISH DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR:
Andrea Arnold, Fish Tank
ACTOR OF THE YEAR:
Christoph Waltz,Inglourious Basterds
ACTRESS OF THE YEAR:
Mo’Nique, Precious
BRITISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR:
Colin Firth, A Single Man
BRITISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR:
Carey Mulligan, An Education
BRITISH ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Michael Fassbender, Fish Tank
BRITISH ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Anne-Marie Duff, Nowhere Boy
SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR:
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci & Tony Roche, In the Loop
THE NSPCC AWARD: YOUNG BRITISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR:
Katie Jarvis, Fish Tank
BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH FILM-MAKER:
Duncan Jones, Moon
DILYS POWELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CINEMA:
Quentin Tarantino
View more information on 2010 London Film Critics’ Circle Award Winners...
160 Views and 0 Comments
Posted February 18, 2010 by
Second of a four-part seriesOn Wednesday, in real tips for real people #1, I offered some advice on how to get to and around downtown Austin, Texas, the location of the SXSW Film Festival.
Now it's time to go to the movies. After all, that's why we're all here (I hope). Let's walk through some tips in chronological order, beginning with the moment you enter the theater and sit down.
View more information on SXSW Film Festival - real tips for real people #2...
1) Once you've located your favorite seat (after awhile you will have one in every venue), the first thing to do is look for the nearest exit. No, not that you'll want to get up and walk out during the film (something I'm proud to say I've never done, by the way, although I have fallen asleep). This is for any emergencies which may occur, including those involving bodily functions. I won't go into that. Speaking of which...
2) The smartest thing to do is visit the rest room about ten minutes before the start of the film. Hopefully you won't need to use it again, unless you've taken in copious amounts of liquids which is, of course, a no-no for the festivalgoer. Coffee is particularly insidious although, if you time it right, a nice big cup in the morning and just enough time before your first film to...ahem...flush it out should suffice. You'll primarily find clean, well-stocked, and well-maintained facilities at all the venues. Experienced festivalgoers also use this time as an opportunity to share feedback on movies you've seen.
3) Most films start on time. SXSW is particularly good about this as screenings are usually booked one after another in the same venue. Staffers try hard to make things go like clockwork. All festivals have volunteers, but the ones at SXSW are a breed apart. Many are University of Texas students (Austin really is one big college town) on spring break. Most return year after year and work very hard for little (read: no) pay, so it's de rigeur to take some time and acknowledge their presence.
4) "On time" doesn't mean the lights go down. Almost all screenings are preceded by an introduction. This is usually done by a festival programmer, in many cases the person representing the particular section the film is in (e.g., Spotlight Premieres, Narrative Feature Competition, Lone Star States, etc.) and often the one who actually chose the film you're about to see. This increases their level of excitement in introducing it and enhances the overall experience for everyone. Occasionally the filmmaker(s) and/or cast members come up prior to the screening. But their remarks are usually brief. Most directors say something along the lines of, "let's just watch the film and let it speak for itself."
5) The festival rep will run through a series of announcements, including thanking the major sponsors. You'll probably have this memorized after a few screenings and be able to recite them along with the staffer. At this point, if you haven't already done so, it's time to turn off your cellphones, pagers, beepers, anything that makes noise, buzzes, has a light...I think I'm reciting the announcement. It's always fresh in my mind.
6) Once the lights go down you'll see a series of trailers. The primary one lists the various festival sponsors. It's usually well done with snazzy graphics and cool music. It has to be because you might see it 30 times. Believe it or not, most years I've attended, even after a week it still looks and sounds good. Kudos to the festival for always making sure of this. You'll be tapping along before you know it. You may be reminded to vote for the audience award and to thank the festival volunteers. It's customary to applaud at this point. That's always a lot of fun, especially if you're the one who starts it. Trailers at the Alamo Drafthouse locations (more on them later) also include instructions on ordering food, polite and occasionally scary reminders to keep quiet during the screening, and promotions for upcoming events. These can be as entertaining as the features which follow, so you'll want to soak up the experience.
7) Once the film begins the standard rules apply as for any movie. Watch it. Don't talk. One thing you'll notice is that, in most cases, festival audiences are extremely respectful of these rules and you'll be spoiled in no time at all. Even at the Alamo Theaters, where food and beverages are served throughout the films, patrons know enough to chew and imbibe so as not to distract. The next time you go to your local multiplex you'll wish you were back at a festival screening. There is nothing to compare to a festival audience when it comes to respect for the filmmakers.
8) The film ends. Here is where things become dicey. To leave during the credits or not to leave? Well, keep in mind that there will, in many cases, be a Q&A. Still, many can't resist the urge to get up and head out as soon as the names start to roll. So this is more of a personal thing. I always sit through the credits. Always. If only out of respect for those who made the film I feel it's de rigueur. Keep in mind that someone mentioned on screen might actually be in the next seat. Literally. I've had it happen many times at festival screenings. Nowhere else can this occur, so why not take advantage of that and show your appreciation? Of course, if you've scheduled your next film too close in time to and/or far away in distance from the current one then you may have no choice. But I'll get to that.
9) Many screenings have a Q&A after the lights go up. The audience will usually be informed of this before the film begins. Also, the likelihood of a Q&A decreases with successive showings of films later in the week depending on whether or not the folks connected with the film are still in town. l could write a thousand words on Q&As. In fact, I have. It's one of the main reasons to attend film festivals, I believe. Nowhere else do you have the opportunity to question the filmmakers, cast, and crew about the film you just saw. How anyone can get up and leave is beyond me, but you'll notice about half the audience doing so in most cases. Do not be alarmed. They aren't necessarily making any kind of statement about the film but I won't make excuses for them.
10) Usually the same person who introduced the screening will call up whoever is present to represent the film. In most cases these are the director and cast members but I've attended Q&As where 30 people got up in front of the audience including the assistant assistant to the assistant editor. Sometimes these are the people who worked the hardest to get the film to the festival on time so I believe they deserve all the respect that can be afforded. Or the cast and crew might have left town and only a producer stayed. In any case, the Q&As are more than anything, to me, what distinguishes a festival screening from one at your local theater and helps make the experience a memorable one.
11) A Q&A doesn't work without the Q. I'm constantly amazed at how quiet it can be when the floor is opened up to questions. Be ready and don't be intimidated. That's what they're there for. In most cases it is considered impolite to ask more than one, but I've attended many Q&As where audience members simply had nothing to ask. In these cases it is acceptable to raise your hand again. The session will go on as long as people have questions to ask, and/or until cut off by a festival staffer in order to clear the house for the next film.
12) Depending on how long the session goes and/or if another screening is coming in, there may be an opportunity to meet the filmmakers and actors. This happens more often than most people think and you don't have to be a VIP. There are two types of venues, though -- traditional large proscenium arch theaters with raised stages and ones where the Q&A is held in the pit or on a smaller stage. Q&As are held high above the seats at the legendary Paramount, an elegant 1200-seat venue which dates back to 1915. Q&As take place in the pit at the Austin Convention Center (ACC) and Alamo Lamar, and on a small stage at the Alamo Ritz.
You'll probably be seeing most of your films at the two Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations, which are actual movie theaters when SXSW isn't in town -- a rarity, believe it or not, as many fests simply cannot utilize real theaters. The Alamo Drafthouse Ritz Downtown (Alamo Ritz) is located at 320 E. 6th St. right in the heart of the Austin nightlife action. Its two theaters, accommodating 75 and 175, are both devoted to the festival. The Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (Alamo Lamar) is located at 1120 S. Lamar in a small shopping center. It's a 6-screen multiplex that dedicates three screens to the festival. You're more likely to be able to walk up to an actor at the Alamo Theaters, so plan your screenings accordingly.
13) At times the filmmakers and cast members are moved out to the lobby or on the street and greet the public there. They will often take pictures, sign autographs, etc. You don't have to be a member of the press to rub elbows with the stars. But be respectful of what the festival staffers and film's reps desire. Most theaters don't have much room to maneuver in the lobby or outside and what little space there is will usually be taken up by lines waiting to get into the next screenings. If personnel are trying to move everyone quickly to another location it's best not to turn into a stalker. But in most cases it's the actors and filmmakers who decide whether or not they want to stick around regardless of what their "handlers" want them to do. This is a good thing.
In my next entry I'll pick up where we left off and discuss what to do from the time one screening ends until the next one begins. Assuming, of course, you went there to see more than one film.
View more information on SXSW Film Festival - real tips for real people #2...
2) The smartest thing to do is visit the rest room about ten minutes before the start of the film. Hopefully you won't need to use it again, unless you've taken in copious amounts of liquids which is, of course, a no-no for the festivalgoer. Coffee is particularly insidious although, if you time it right, a nice big cup in the morning and just enough time before your first film to...ahem...flush it out should suffice. You'll primarily find clean, well-stocked, and well-maintained facilities at all the venues. Experienced festivalgoers also use this time as an opportunity to share feedback on movies you've seen.
3) Most films start on time. SXSW is particularly good about this as screenings are usually booked one after another in the same venue. Staffers try hard to make things go like clockwork. All festivals have volunteers, but the ones at SXSW are a breed apart. Many are University of Texas students (Austin really is one big college town) on spring break. Most return year after year and work very hard for little (read: no) pay, so it's de rigeur to take some time and acknowledge their presence.
4) "On time" doesn't mean the lights go down. Almost all screenings are preceded by an introduction. This is usually done by a festival programmer, in many cases the person representing the particular section the film is in (e.g., Spotlight Premieres, Narrative Feature Competition, Lone Star States, etc.) and often the one who actually chose the film you're about to see. This increases their level of excitement in introducing it and enhances the overall experience for everyone. Occasionally the filmmaker(s) and/or cast members come up prior to the screening. But their remarks are usually brief. Most directors say something along the lines of, "let's just watch the film and let it speak for itself."
5) The festival rep will run through a series of announcements, including thanking the major sponsors. You'll probably have this memorized after a few screenings and be able to recite them along with the staffer. At this point, if you haven't already done so, it's time to turn off your cellphones, pagers, beepers, anything that makes noise, buzzes, has a light...I think I'm reciting the announcement. It's always fresh in my mind.
6) Once the lights go down you'll see a series of trailers. The primary one lists the various festival sponsors. It's usually well done with snazzy graphics and cool music. It has to be because you might see it 30 times. Believe it or not, most years I've attended, even after a week it still looks and sounds good. Kudos to the festival for always making sure of this. You'll be tapping along before you know it. You may be reminded to vote for the audience award and to thank the festival volunteers. It's customary to applaud at this point. That's always a lot of fun, especially if you're the one who starts it. Trailers at the Alamo Drafthouse locations (more on them later) also include instructions on ordering food, polite and occasionally scary reminders to keep quiet during the screening, and promotions for upcoming events. These can be as entertaining as the features which follow, so you'll want to soak up the experience.
7) Once the film begins the standard rules apply as for any movie. Watch it. Don't talk. One thing you'll notice is that, in most cases, festival audiences are extremely respectful of these rules and you'll be spoiled in no time at all. Even at the Alamo Theaters, where food and beverages are served throughout the films, patrons know enough to chew and imbibe so as not to distract. The next time you go to your local multiplex you'll wish you were back at a festival screening. There is nothing to compare to a festival audience when it comes to respect for the filmmakers.
8) The film ends. Here is where things become dicey. To leave during the credits or not to leave? Well, keep in mind that there will, in many cases, be a Q&A. Still, many can't resist the urge to get up and head out as soon as the names start to roll. So this is more of a personal thing. I always sit through the credits. Always. If only out of respect for those who made the film I feel it's de rigueur. Keep in mind that someone mentioned on screen might actually be in the next seat. Literally. I've had it happen many times at festival screenings. Nowhere else can this occur, so why not take advantage of that and show your appreciation? Of course, if you've scheduled your next film too close in time to and/or far away in distance from the current one then you may have no choice. But I'll get to that.
9) Many screenings have a Q&A after the lights go up. The audience will usually be informed of this before the film begins. Also, the likelihood of a Q&A decreases with successive showings of films later in the week depending on whether or not the folks connected with the film are still in town. l could write a thousand words on Q&As. In fact, I have. It's one of the main reasons to attend film festivals, I believe. Nowhere else do you have the opportunity to question the filmmakers, cast, and crew about the film you just saw. How anyone can get up and leave is beyond me, but you'll notice about half the audience doing so in most cases. Do not be alarmed. They aren't necessarily making any kind of statement about the film but I won't make excuses for them.
10) Usually the same person who introduced the screening will call up whoever is present to represent the film. In most cases these are the director and cast members but I've attended Q&As where 30 people got up in front of the audience including the assistant assistant to the assistant editor. Sometimes these are the people who worked the hardest to get the film to the festival on time so I believe they deserve all the respect that can be afforded. Or the cast and crew might have left town and only a producer stayed. In any case, the Q&As are more than anything, to me, what distinguishes a festival screening from one at your local theater and helps make the experience a memorable one.
11) A Q&A doesn't work without the Q. I'm constantly amazed at how quiet it can be when the floor is opened up to questions. Be ready and don't be intimidated. That's what they're there for. In most cases it is considered impolite to ask more than one, but I've attended many Q&As where audience members simply had nothing to ask. In these cases it is acceptable to raise your hand again. The session will go on as long as people have questions to ask, and/or until cut off by a festival staffer in order to clear the house for the next film.
12) Depending on how long the session goes and/or if another screening is coming in, there may be an opportunity to meet the filmmakers and actors. This happens more often than most people think and you don't have to be a VIP. There are two types of venues, though -- traditional large proscenium arch theaters with raised stages and ones where the Q&A is held in the pit or on a smaller stage. Q&As are held high above the seats at the legendary Paramount, an elegant 1200-seat venue which dates back to 1915. Q&As take place in the pit at the Austin Convention Center (ACC) and Alamo Lamar, and on a small stage at the Alamo Ritz.
You'll probably be seeing most of your films at the two Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations, which are actual movie theaters when SXSW isn't in town -- a rarity, believe it or not, as many fests simply cannot utilize real theaters. The Alamo Drafthouse Ritz Downtown (Alamo Ritz) is located at 320 E. 6th St. right in the heart of the Austin nightlife action. Its two theaters, accommodating 75 and 175, are both devoted to the festival. The Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (Alamo Lamar) is located at 1120 S. Lamar in a small shopping center. It's a 6-screen multiplex that dedicates three screens to the festival. You're more likely to be able to walk up to an actor at the Alamo Theaters, so plan your screenings accordingly.
13) At times the filmmakers and cast members are moved out to the lobby or on the street and greet the public there. They will often take pictures, sign autographs, etc. You don't have to be a member of the press to rub elbows with the stars. But be respectful of what the festival staffers and film's reps desire. Most theaters don't have much room to maneuver in the lobby or outside and what little space there is will usually be taken up by lines waiting to get into the next screenings. If personnel are trying to move everyone quickly to another location it's best not to turn into a stalker. But in most cases it's the actors and filmmakers who decide whether or not they want to stick around regardless of what their "handlers" want them to do. This is a good thing.
In my next entry I'll pick up where we left off and discuss what to do from the time one screening ends until the next one begins. Assuming, of course, you went there to see more than one film.
View more information on SXSW Film Festival - real tips for real people #2...
415 Views and 0 Comments
Posted February 17, 2010 by
First of a four-part seriesAll film festivals are the same. All film festivals are different. Conflicted, you say? Well, no, not really. The general experience is the same -- you just have to fill in the blanks. You arrive, get to the hotel, and plan your first day. You find the optimum route to the festival location, the best place to park (if you have a car), and the best way to get around from venue to venue.
You attend your first film, and learn the modus operandi for waiting in line, entering the theater, and finding the best seat to view both the Q&A as well as the film equally well (not always as easy as it sounds). This may vary from venue to venue, so with each successive film at each "new" venue the process is repeated.
View more information on SXSW Film Festival - real tips for real people #1...
Eventually you will, hopefully, get to know the staffers so well that they greet you by name when you arrive. Maybe they even have your seat saved. Maybe a warm scone. Well, that's never happened to me, but one can hope. This is assuming the same people work the same venue each day, which is usually the case. That's one of the best things about festivals. Of course, perhaps even more important, you need to know where to go for sustenance -- coffee, food (well, energy bars, usually), and other (ahem) personal needs. It only takes about a day or so to have your routine down to a science. Then you just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
SXSW is no exception. But there is one difference. What began as a Music Festival eventually turned into what is now known as the SXSW Film Conference & Festival, adding movies on the front end along with an omnibus event including a trade show, panels, and a multitude of activities related not just to movies and music but also to the Internet and emerging technologies. As the event has grown so has interest in it from the media, and the world's press descends on Austin, Texas every March to write as many words and take as many pictures as they are physically able.
I'm mainly there for the movies, of course, and try to see as many as possible in those first five days from Friday through Tuesday which are devoted primarily to the Film Festival portion of SXSW. Of course, there is a basic conflict between attending screenings and being a working journalist. In previous years, seeing films would not necessarily lend itself to posting reports online (unless you bring a large staff -- it's just me, yo). I had precious little time here to blog the way I would normally like to do. Fortunately, Twitter has changed all that. Beginning with the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival last September, I began live tweeting. Not only is it more immediate, obviously, than writing articles at the end of the day, but it also allows the reader to feel as though they're right there beside me. At least that's what many have said, so it's become my reporting medium of choice. But I still do try to find the time to take pictures and video, and write reviews for the films I attend, as time permits. I'll be doing the same at SXSW on my Twitter and this blog.
That said, I'll fill in some blanks. You'll probably be flying into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, ranked best in North America in the Airport Service Quality Awards. Renting a car is always an option but isn't really necessary to get from venue to venue -- many are within walking distance of each other as well as the hotels and Convention Center. In addition, a major improvement in festival navigation occurred recently with the launch of SXShuttle, a free bus system for attendees with badges. You'll want to get to know Eric Young, SXShuttle Volunteer Crew Chief and local beer enthusiast. It will kick your festival experience up a notch.
If you'd rather drive there is a dedicated terminal on the airport grounds where all the rental car counters are located and a bus will take you there from the gates. I've tried negotiating the festival both with and without a car in previous years and have decided that it's simply not necessary, or worth the added expense. My advice is to take a shuttle or taxi from the airport. You don't need a reservation although you can make one online or by phone. Chances are you'll be staying in one of the many downtown Austin hotels which set aside blocks of rooms for SXSW. The festival offers reduced rates and I urge attendees to take advantage of this as many are already sold out. There is also lodging in outlying areas and the festival offers shuttle buses to and from the festival location for a small fee.
The trip is fairly quick to the downtown hotels, lending itself to an affordable rate. For example, a Yellow Cab from the airport to the festival headquarters and official hotel -- the Austin Convention Center and the Hilton Austin across the street -- is approximately 10.78 miles and costs about $26.65 (according to Yellow Cab). It's actually 7.7 miles and takes 16 minutes if the driver takes Bastrop Highway to Cesar Chavez. Four can ride for the price of one. The national chain SuperShuttle is only $13 in a shared ride van. It may take a bit longer as it stops at other hotels along the route but is certainly a less expensive way to go. You'll be safe and sound in your room in no time at all and ready to register and hit the cinemas.
In my next post...time to go to the movies.
View more information on SXSW Film Festival - real tips for real people #1...
SXSW is no exception. But there is one difference. What began as a Music Festival eventually turned into what is now known as the SXSW Film Conference & Festival, adding movies on the front end along with an omnibus event including a trade show, panels, and a multitude of activities related not just to movies and music but also to the Internet and emerging technologies. As the event has grown so has interest in it from the media, and the world's press descends on Austin, Texas every March to write as many words and take as many pictures as they are physically able.
I'm mainly there for the movies, of course, and try to see as many as possible in those first five days from Friday through Tuesday which are devoted primarily to the Film Festival portion of SXSW. Of course, there is a basic conflict between attending screenings and being a working journalist. In previous years, seeing films would not necessarily lend itself to posting reports online (unless you bring a large staff -- it's just me, yo). I had precious little time here to blog the way I would normally like to do. Fortunately, Twitter has changed all that. Beginning with the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival last September, I began live tweeting. Not only is it more immediate, obviously, than writing articles at the end of the day, but it also allows the reader to feel as though they're right there beside me. At least that's what many have said, so it's become my reporting medium of choice. But I still do try to find the time to take pictures and video, and write reviews for the films I attend, as time permits. I'll be doing the same at SXSW on my Twitter and this blog.
That said, I'll fill in some blanks. You'll probably be flying into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, ranked best in North America in the Airport Service Quality Awards. Renting a car is always an option but isn't really necessary to get from venue to venue -- many are within walking distance of each other as well as the hotels and Convention Center. In addition, a major improvement in festival navigation occurred recently with the launch of SXShuttle, a free bus system for attendees with badges. You'll want to get to know Eric Young, SXShuttle Volunteer Crew Chief and local beer enthusiast. It will kick your festival experience up a notch.
If you'd rather drive there is a dedicated terminal on the airport grounds where all the rental car counters are located and a bus will take you there from the gates. I've tried negotiating the festival both with and without a car in previous years and have decided that it's simply not necessary, or worth the added expense. My advice is to take a shuttle or taxi from the airport. You don't need a reservation although you can make one online or by phone. Chances are you'll be staying in one of the many downtown Austin hotels which set aside blocks of rooms for SXSW. The festival offers reduced rates and I urge attendees to take advantage of this as many are already sold out. There is also lodging in outlying areas and the festival offers shuttle buses to and from the festival location for a small fee.
The trip is fairly quick to the downtown hotels, lending itself to an affordable rate. For example, a Yellow Cab from the airport to the festival headquarters and official hotel -- the Austin Convention Center and the Hilton Austin across the street -- is approximately 10.78 miles and costs about $26.65 (according to Yellow Cab). It's actually 7.7 miles and takes 16 minutes if the driver takes Bastrop Highway to Cesar Chavez. Four can ride for the price of one. The national chain SuperShuttle is only $13 in a shared ride van. It may take a bit longer as it stops at other hotels along the route but is certainly a less expensive way to go. You'll be safe and sound in your room in no time at all and ready to register and hit the cinemas.
In my next post...time to go to the movies.
View more information on SXSW Film Festival - real tips for real people #1...
581 Views and 0 Comments
Posted February 16, 2010 by
The 2010 SXSW Film Festival officially kicks off March 12, three weeks from Friday in Austin, Texas. As usual, the excitement level could not possible be amped up any more than it is, as this is the event at which many films are shown for the first time and are talked about for years afterward. The festival also features many high profile movies with A-list stars.As readers of this blog know, my interest is almost exclusively in independent and foreign films and, while I always see a few of the "big name" movies in Austin, I try to fill my schedule with those little gems from outside Hollywood that might emerge from the pack.
View more information on 2010 SXSW Film Festival Choices: Brotherhood, Wake, and Cherry...
This will be my fifth year covering what I consider to be the best festival for real film fans. I've already chosen a number of must-sees from this year's lineup. Many of these choices have been selected for my schedule due to the fact that they have actors or filmmakers with a good track record, films that have turned out to be among my Top Picks from previous festivals I've attended. Here are some of those selections, including references to those festivals where these actors and filmmakers caught my attention.
Shown are TITLE, director, cast, country of origin, section in festival, what type of premiere it is (if any), a brief synopsis, and the film's connection to my previous festival Top Picks, along with the screening schedule including date, time, and venue. Links will take you to the film's synopsis provided by the festival at the official site sxsw.com. My readers know I prefer not to post spoilers, although there are several films I've written about here on this blog over the past couple of years from casting through filming and post-production.
Here are a few of my choices in the Narrative Competition, Lone Star States, and Emerging Visions sections:
Brotherhood
Directed by Will Canon
Starring Jon Foster, Trevor Morgan, Arlen Escarpeta, and Lou Taylor Pucci
USA
Narrative Competition
World Premiere
Adam Buckley (Trevor Morgan) finds himself having to rob a convenience store on the last night of pledging a college fraternity. But when the initiation ritual goes horribly wrong, and every subsequent move proves disastrous, Adam must find it within himself to take a stand to save a friend's life.
Trevor Morgan's name should be well known to readers of this blog. He starred in three Top Picks from festivals I've attended over the years. Those films (and the festivals at which I first saw them) include Local Color (2006 Tribeca Film Festival - see my review), Off the Black (2006 Woodstock Film Festival -- see my review), and Chasing 3000 (2007 Tribeca Film Festival -- see my report and my review). I also joined Trevor at the Chicago premiere of Off the Black as well as its screening at the 2007 Sedona Film Festival, where Local Color was featured as well. Lou Taylor Pucci also has the distinction of having starred in three of my Top Picks from the last several years -- Fifty Pills (2006 Tribeca Film Festival), The Go-Getter (2007 Sundance Film Festival), and Explicit Ills (see my review), which had its World Premiere at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival. With six of my previous festival Top Picks to its credit, the cast of Brotherhood may hold the record for the film with the best track record.
Brotherhood is the debut feature for director Will Canon and his co-writer Douglas Simon. I first wrote about this film in the summer of 2008. Trevor and Lou, along with Jon Foster, all real-life friends who had collaborated on projects in the past, were headed to Arlington, Texas to shoot what was known at the time as the Untitled Roslyn Project. About a month after the film wrapped I ran into Lou at an event in Los Angeles and he couldn't stop talking about what a fantastic experience it was to work on this film. I've been anxiously awaiting this premiere for quite some time and couldn't be more thrilled to see it at SXSW.
There will be 3 screenings:
Saturday, March 13
9:30 PM
Alamo Ritz 1
Sunday, March 14
2:00 PM
Alamo Lamar 2
Friday, March 19
9:45 PM
Alamo Ritz 1
=====================================================
Wake
Directed by Chad Feehan
Starring Josh Stewart, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Chris Browning, Angela Featherstone, Afemo Omilami, and Trevor Morgan
USA
Lone Star States
World Premiere
Paul (Josh Stewart) is driving his girlfriend Adrienne (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) cross-country to attend a wedding in LA. After flirtatious game-play causes them to swerve off the road, Adrienne wants to stop for the night - lonely Roy's Motel appears to be the ideal choice. As they attempt to unwind in their room, Paul and Adrienne are instead led down a path of tense, surreal and ultimately, horrifying experiences. (MORE)
Wake is the directorial debut for Chad Feehan, who also wrote and produced. His name may not be that familiar to my readers but his previous production credit certainly is -- Feehan backed All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, which was one of my Top Picks from the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival (see my review). I attended another screening hosted by director Jonathan Levine and co-producer Brian Udovich at the Alamo South Lamar at the 2007 SXSW Film Festival. It's likely that more words have been written on this blog about that one film than any other, as its long roller coaster ride of release date and ownership changes has progressed over the past several years. The film remains one of my Top Picks of the 2000s. Also see under Brotherhood above for cast member Trevor Morgan's festival track record.
Saturday, March 13
4:00 PM
Paramount
Click thumbnails to enlarge
All photos Thomas Young / The Fort
_medium.jpg)
_medium.jpg)
_medium.jpg)
_medium.jpg)
_medium.jpg)
(L) Josh Stewart as Paul (background) and Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Adrienne
(LC) Josh Stewart
(C) WAKE writer-director Chad Feehan on location in Amboy, California
(RC) Frank, played by Chris Browning, sits behind the front desk of Roy's Motel and Cafe
(R) Josh Stewart and Jamie-Lynn Sigler
_medium.jpg)
_medium.jpg)
(L) Angela Featherstone as Sandy
(R) Jamie-Lynn Sigler
_medium.jpg)
Josh Stewart and Jamie-Lynn Sigler
=====================================================
Cherry
Directed by Jeffrey Fine
Starring Kyle Gallner, Laura Allen, and Brittany Robertson
USA
Emerging Visions
World Premiere
Sheltered Ivy League freshman Aaron Milton (Kyle Gallner) is delivered to college by his hapless father and controlling mother who has decided her son's academic future will be in an elite engineering program run by the geeky Professor Van Auken (Matt Walsh). When Aaron suggests he might add in an art class the idea is rejected out of hand. His new dorm mate "Wild" Bill (D.C. Pierson) quickly decides his Aaron is a social liability. And when Aaron does get a chance with a quirky coed, Darcy (Zosia Mamet), he turns from lucky to loser as he runs afoul of her feminist code. (MORE)
Kyle Gallner appeared in one of my Top Picks from the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. His supporting role in Jennifer's Body was brief but powerful (see my review). But he was most impressive, and was brought to the attention of a much larger audience, as Matt Campbell in The Haunting in Connecticut. I actually saw the film at last year's SXSW Film Festival, which hosted a screening at the Alamo South Lamar just prior to its wide release by Lionsgate in March 2009. So it seems both ironic and appropriate that Cherry is having its World Premiere at SXSW 2010.
Writer/director Jeffrey Fine has an impressive track record directing and producing for television. This is his third feature film. Cherry was shot on location in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the fall of 2008. The film promises to be a provocative coming-of-age film that tackles some modern-day taboos.
There will be 3 screenings:
Friday, March 12
6:15 PM
Alamo Ritz 2
Monday, March 15
9:45 PM
Alamo Lamar 3
Wednesday, March 17
5:15 PM
Alamo Ritz 1
View more information on 2010 SXSW Film Festival Choices: Brotherhood, Wake, and Cherry...
Shown are TITLE, director, cast, country of origin, section in festival, what type of premiere it is (if any), a brief synopsis, and the film's connection to my previous festival Top Picks, along with the screening schedule including date, time, and venue. Links will take you to the film's synopsis provided by the festival at the official site sxsw.com. My readers know I prefer not to post spoilers, although there are several films I've written about here on this blog over the past couple of years from casting through filming and post-production.
Here are a few of my choices in the Narrative Competition, Lone Star States, and Emerging Visions sections:
Brotherhood
Directed by Will Canon
Starring Jon Foster, Trevor Morgan, Arlen Escarpeta, and Lou Taylor Pucci
USA
Narrative Competition
World Premiere
Adam Buckley (Trevor Morgan) finds himself having to rob a convenience store on the last night of pledging a college fraternity. But when the initiation ritual goes horribly wrong, and every subsequent move proves disastrous, Adam must find it within himself to take a stand to save a friend's life.
Trevor Morgan's name should be well known to readers of this blog. He starred in three Top Picks from festivals I've attended over the years. Those films (and the festivals at which I first saw them) include Local Color (2006 Tribeca Film Festival - see my review), Off the Black (2006 Woodstock Film Festival -- see my review), and Chasing 3000 (2007 Tribeca Film Festival -- see my report and my review). I also joined Trevor at the Chicago premiere of Off the Black as well as its screening at the 2007 Sedona Film Festival, where Local Color was featured as well. Lou Taylor Pucci also has the distinction of having starred in three of my Top Picks from the last several years -- Fifty Pills (2006 Tribeca Film Festival), The Go-Getter (2007 Sundance Film Festival), and Explicit Ills (see my review), which had its World Premiere at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival. With six of my previous festival Top Picks to its credit, the cast of Brotherhood may hold the record for the film with the best track record.
Brotherhood is the debut feature for director Will Canon and his co-writer Douglas Simon. I first wrote about this film in the summer of 2008. Trevor and Lou, along with Jon Foster, all real-life friends who had collaborated on projects in the past, were headed to Arlington, Texas to shoot what was known at the time as the Untitled Roslyn Project. About a month after the film wrapped I ran into Lou at an event in Los Angeles and he couldn't stop talking about what a fantastic experience it was to work on this film. I've been anxiously awaiting this premiere for quite some time and couldn't be more thrilled to see it at SXSW.
There will be 3 screenings:
Saturday, March 13
9:30 PM
Alamo Ritz 1
Sunday, March 14
2:00 PM
Alamo Lamar 2
Friday, March 19
9:45 PM
Alamo Ritz 1
=====================================================
Wake
Directed by Chad Feehan
Starring Josh Stewart, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Chris Browning, Angela Featherstone, Afemo Omilami, and Trevor Morgan
USA
Lone Star States
World Premiere
Paul (Josh Stewart) is driving his girlfriend Adrienne (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) cross-country to attend a wedding in LA. After flirtatious game-play causes them to swerve off the road, Adrienne wants to stop for the night - lonely Roy's Motel appears to be the ideal choice. As they attempt to unwind in their room, Paul and Adrienne are instead led down a path of tense, surreal and ultimately, horrifying experiences. (MORE)
Wake is the directorial debut for Chad Feehan, who also wrote and produced. His name may not be that familiar to my readers but his previous production credit certainly is -- Feehan backed All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, which was one of my Top Picks from the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival (see my review). I attended another screening hosted by director Jonathan Levine and co-producer Brian Udovich at the Alamo South Lamar at the 2007 SXSW Film Festival. It's likely that more words have been written on this blog about that one film than any other, as its long roller coaster ride of release date and ownership changes has progressed over the past several years. The film remains one of my Top Picks of the 2000s. Also see under Brotherhood above for cast member Trevor Morgan's festival track record.
Saturday, March 13
4:00 PM
Paramount
Click thumbnails to enlarge
All photos Thomas Young / The Fort
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(L) Josh Stewart as Paul (background) and Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Adrienne
(LC) Josh Stewart
(C) WAKE writer-director Chad Feehan on location in Amboy, California
(RC) Frank, played by Chris Browning, sits behind the front desk of Roy's Motel and Cafe
(R) Josh Stewart and Jamie-Lynn Sigler
.jpg)
.jpg)
(L) Angela Featherstone as Sandy
(R) Jamie-Lynn Sigler
.jpg)
Josh Stewart and Jamie-Lynn Sigler
=====================================================
Cherry
Directed by Jeffrey Fine
Starring Kyle Gallner, Laura Allen, and Brittany Robertson
USA
Emerging Visions
World Premiere
Sheltered Ivy League freshman Aaron Milton (Kyle Gallner) is delivered to college by his hapless father and controlling mother who has decided her son's academic future will be in an elite engineering program run by the geeky Professor Van Auken (Matt Walsh). When Aaron suggests he might add in an art class the idea is rejected out of hand. His new dorm mate "Wild" Bill (D.C. Pierson) quickly decides his Aaron is a social liability. And when Aaron does get a chance with a quirky coed, Darcy (Zosia Mamet), he turns from lucky to loser as he runs afoul of her feminist code. (MORE)
Kyle Gallner appeared in one of my Top Picks from the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. His supporting role in Jennifer's Body was brief but powerful (see my review). But he was most impressive, and was brought to the attention of a much larger audience, as Matt Campbell in The Haunting in Connecticut. I actually saw the film at last year's SXSW Film Festival, which hosted a screening at the Alamo South Lamar just prior to its wide release by Lionsgate in March 2009. So it seems both ironic and appropriate that Cherry is having its World Premiere at SXSW 2010.
Writer/director Jeffrey Fine has an impressive track record directing and producing for television. This is his third feature film. Cherry was shot on location in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the fall of 2008. The film promises to be a provocative coming-of-age film that tackles some modern-day taboos.
There will be 3 screenings:
Friday, March 12
6:15 PM
Alamo Ritz 2
Monday, March 15
9:45 PM
Alamo Lamar 3
Wednesday, March 17
5:15 PM
Alamo Ritz 1
View more information on 2010 SXSW Film Festival Choices: Brotherhood, Wake, and Cherry...
1075 Views and 2 Comments
Recent Entries
Most Popular-
March 21, 2010Viewed 64 time with 0 comments
-
March 21, 2010Viewed 75 time with 0 comments
-
March 20, 2010Viewed 92 time with 1 comments
-
March 20, 2010Viewed 112 time with 0 comments
-
March 20, 2010Viewed 110 time with 0 comments
© 2001-2010 PROnetworks [Tradewind Creations LLC]
- Homepage
- News & Headlines
- Forums
- Forum Resources
- New Topics
- User Control Panel
- Private Messages
- Memberlist
- Support Forums
- PRO Software
- Windows Boot Support
- Windows Support
- Guides
DualBootPRO
- Film Analysis
- Get Involved
- Social Networking
- PRO 'Tweets' at Twitter
- Facebook: PROnetworks Group
- PROnetworks at MySpace
- PROnetworks Teams
- Folding @ Home Team
- Support PROnetworks
- Amazon.com Associate Program
- BootPRO Affiliate Program
- Make a Donation Online