I fully recognize that this post may just do nobody any good. I want to take just a moment and say a little something about the site Withoutabox.
Chances are if you have written a screenplay or made a movie that you already know about the site, but, in case you do not, I wanted to mention it.
I love this site because it addresses the biggest problem with the web: too much information and too few means to help sift through this information. Withoutabox is a dream come true for filmmakers looking to submit their work to film festivals (and I believe much more now) by streamlining the submission process and providing information about hundreds of film festivals all over the world. Think of it like one-stop shopping for those interested in finding new festivals, a place to learn the submission guidelines and costs for submitting to these festivals and a site that allows you to monitor all of the submissions you have made.
What they have done is made it so you can spend a lot more time doing the important work concerning your film and much less time jumping through the submission hoops. These people deserve our thanks and some hot oatmeal cookies.
https://www.withoutabox.com/
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Trailer Love
I love movies and I love trailers for movies. My love of trailers is strange because it extends even to movies that have already been released and even to films that I have seen.
Often when I watch a movie with my wife, especially when it is one that we own and we watch fairly often, I will try and watch all the trailers before the film. Sometimes she suffers through and sometimes she gives me that look that tells me tonight is not the night for this nonsense. In either case I nearly always want to sit through them and take the trailers in.
For those of you who enjoy a good trailer for a movie and are interested, in particular, in seeing trailers for new movies, I’d like to recommend the Apple website. I came across their trailer page a few years ago and I have had it bookmarked ever since. They have recently revamped their page so that it hides many of their older trailers but if you have the patience I suggest digging through the links. Not only to they get most new trailers but they also hang on to older ones for quite some time. It’s a treat to be able to view so many trailers in one location -- commercial free I might add. Not only that but you can watch them in various formats (they even have ones for your Ipod).
http://www.apple.com/trailers/
Often when I watch a movie with my wife, especially when it is one that we own and we watch fairly often, I will try and watch all the trailers before the film. Sometimes she suffers through and sometimes she gives me that look that tells me tonight is not the night for this nonsense. In either case I nearly always want to sit through them and take the trailers in.
For those of you who enjoy a good trailer for a movie and are interested, in particular, in seeing trailers for new movies, I’d like to recommend the Apple website. I came across their trailer page a few years ago and I have had it bookmarked ever since. They have recently revamped their page so that it hides many of their older trailers but if you have the patience I suggest digging through the links. Not only to they get most new trailers but they also hang on to older ones for quite some time. It’s a treat to be able to view so many trailers in one location -- commercial free I might add. Not only that but you can watch them in various formats (they even have ones for your Ipod).
http://www.apple.com/trailers/
Friday, January 23, 2009
P!nk - Stupid Girls
I am not really sure what to say about this. I am in %100 agreement with what Pink is putting forth in this video. Ready thy bomb shelter.
The Joys of Youtube
Let's be clear, by and large Youtube is a gigantic waste of time. Up until very recently I could count on one hand the number of things I witnessed on Youtube that I considered worthwhile. Why, oh why, am I writing about it then?
I came across two parodies today that I feel are too good to keep to myself. I find these parodies so wonderful because they are both making the same, wonderful point. The lyrics of hip-hop are stupid. That's it, I wrote it.
I generally don't like hip-hop for a variety of reasons, the largest one being that I didn't really grow up with it and every time I try and listen to any it feels forced, fake and disconnected from my life. I feel like anyone can listen to Frank Sinatra and connect to the things he is singing about, even if you feel that the way he is singing is very alien to you. I don't have any kind of connection generally to the message being put forth in most hip-hop.
What I enjoy about both of these parodies is that they deliberately focus on the lyrics of these two popular songs and how inane they are. Each video approaches this in it's own way and I felt that including both of them would benefit everyone.
I'll get off my soapbox now but I'd like to make one more point first. Most hip-hop artists do not play instruments and, I believe most are not even responsible for the creation of their new (or reworked) beats. So what, then, are they responsible for? They lyrics and the manner they are delivered in. One aspect of the song is what they are truly responsible for and what gems come of this?
I came across two parodies today that I feel are too good to keep to myself. I find these parodies so wonderful because they are both making the same, wonderful point. The lyrics of hip-hop are stupid. That's it, I wrote it.
I generally don't like hip-hop for a variety of reasons, the largest one being that I didn't really grow up with it and every time I try and listen to any it feels forced, fake and disconnected from my life. I feel like anyone can listen to Frank Sinatra and connect to the things he is singing about, even if you feel that the way he is singing is very alien to you. I don't have any kind of connection generally to the message being put forth in most hip-hop.
What I enjoy about both of these parodies is that they deliberately focus on the lyrics of these two popular songs and how inane they are. Each video approaches this in it's own way and I felt that including both of them would benefit everyone.
I'll get off my soapbox now but I'd like to make one more point first. Most hip-hop artists do not play instruments and, I believe most are not even responsible for the creation of their new (or reworked) beats. So what, then, are they responsible for? They lyrics and the manner they are delivered in. One aspect of the song is what they are truly responsible for and what gems come of this?
My Love for Netflix
I’d like to say a few words now about Netflix, my love for them and how my Mac and I found a way to work with the Netflix web site.
Let’s recap quickly. Up until about six years ago I rented all of my movies from stores. I moved from Austin, Texas (which had incredible stores that specialized in different kinds of videos to rent) to Washington, DC (which has terrible video stores that don’t seem to know what movies really are). Depression soon set in. I reached out for help (Read: complained to anyone who would listen) and someone mentioned this company called Netflix.
Flash forward to now. I have been with Netflix ever since (except for October of this year when I attempted to switch over to Blockbuster’s online rental service) and I have been very happy with them.
Why do I like Netflix? They offer a lot of movies and they are constantly adding new titles to their inventory. They do not exclude any particular genre and they offer a wide range of plan options that allow rabid and casual movie-watchers alike renting choices that make sense.
They also have a feature called instant viewing that allows you to....I think you know what it allows you to do.
Now, when my desktop died in November I found myself in a bit of a situation because that left the two laptops, one of which my wife lives on when she is home. That meant one computer for me, which admittedly should not be a problem. Oh, gentle reader, if only that were so. You see, this computer is a Mac.
While the clever commercials they commit to celluloid would have you believe otherwise, there are, in fact, quite a few things that Macs still do not do. For example, their internet browser is not compatible with Netflix’s instant viewing.
In the effort to save you all the pain I have felt I will tell you my recent discovery, the web browser Firefox does work with Netflix and it can be downloaded to your Mac (more on Firefox later, for we know each other quite well and have many stories to share).
So now, after months of being without my sweet, sweet instant viewing (in the evenings during the day we often snuggle) I am back.
I would like to add that the titles offered through instant viewing are greatly limited compared to the normal rentals but many wonderful surprises are to be found in this section for those willing to search.
Let’s recap quickly. Up until about six years ago I rented all of my movies from stores. I moved from Austin, Texas (which had incredible stores that specialized in different kinds of videos to rent) to Washington, DC (which has terrible video stores that don’t seem to know what movies really are). Depression soon set in. I reached out for help (Read: complained to anyone who would listen) and someone mentioned this company called Netflix.
Flash forward to now. I have been with Netflix ever since (except for October of this year when I attempted to switch over to Blockbuster’s online rental service) and I have been very happy with them.
Why do I like Netflix? They offer a lot of movies and they are constantly adding new titles to their inventory. They do not exclude any particular genre and they offer a wide range of plan options that allow rabid and casual movie-watchers alike renting choices that make sense.
They also have a feature called instant viewing that allows you to....I think you know what it allows you to do.
Now, when my desktop died in November I found myself in a bit of a situation because that left the two laptops, one of which my wife lives on when she is home. That meant one computer for me, which admittedly should not be a problem. Oh, gentle reader, if only that were so. You see, this computer is a Mac.
While the clever commercials they commit to celluloid would have you believe otherwise, there are, in fact, quite a few things that Macs still do not do. For example, their internet browser is not compatible with Netflix’s instant viewing.
In the effort to save you all the pain I have felt I will tell you my recent discovery, the web browser Firefox does work with Netflix and it can be downloaded to your Mac (more on Firefox later, for we know each other quite well and have many stories to share).
So now, after months of being without my sweet, sweet instant viewing (in the evenings during the day we often snuggle) I am back.
I would like to add that the titles offered through instant viewing are greatly limited compared to the normal rentals but many wonderful surprises are to be found in this section for those willing to search.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Steven Soderbergh
I haven't written much here about Mr. Soderbergh which is somewhat surprising. I tend to talk about him quite a bit and think about him even more, so this absence shows me just how wrongheaded I have been about posting here. I will lighten up and start posting more.
To sum up my feelings about Mr. Soderbergh briefly I will say this -- I like his attitude about making movies and his role as a director and whenever I read or see and interview with him or listen to a commentary on one of his movies I am always impressed. I have not heard much concerning Mr. Soderbergh of late and I had assumed this was because he had so many problems with his most recent film, the Che biopic. I can safely say my own distraction is the reason for this lack of news. After reading the following interview:
Steven Soderbergh Article
it is quite clear he is as busy as ever.
What I like best about this director is his attitude concerning commercial and critical success. As most everyone knows his career began with a film that heralded a resurgence in American independent film (as well as numerous awards and critical acclaim). Since that time many of his films has been both commercial failures and poorly received by the critics. Despite this fact I have yet to encounter an interview or a commentary that expressed bitterness, resentment or finger-pointing for these failures. Instead what any reader or watcher will encounter is Mr. Soderbergh assuming all responsibility for these failures and a very cool and calm attitude concerning them. What he has said numerous times, and what I find to be most admirable, is that if he is the director and something in the film is not good or if the film itself does not work -- then he is to blame. Not the actor, not the studio but him. It's a very rare kind of statement for a director to make and it endears him greatly to me.
The above linked article is largely about his most recent endeavor, the Che Biopic, which runs somewhere around four and a half hours long and is being shown as two separate films. I suggest anyone interested in how such a film comes to be made (by here I am referring mostly to the length) read this article. Mr. Soderbergh is detailed in explaining the process and logic behind the creation of this film and allows those of us on the outside of the film industry a peek into this mysterious world.
I cannot stress strongly enough how helpful I find the comments and responses Mr. Soderbergh offers to any questions regarding his work. Rather than offering general statements he is specific in how decisions are made and why. In the case of this film he explains why the story ballooned from one section of Che’s life in Boliva to begin incorporating other important moments and how this affected everything else. I feel most filmmakers tend to gloss over these stages of the process of making a film in order to keep the story simple and I wish they did not. Being told of the way this film morphed over the years, and why he made the decisions he did to change the film in a step-by-step fashion, Mr. Soderbergh offers practical insights I think any emerging filmmaker will find both helpful and interesting.
To sum up my feelings about Mr. Soderbergh briefly I will say this -- I like his attitude about making movies and his role as a director and whenever I read or see and interview with him or listen to a commentary on one of his movies I am always impressed. I have not heard much concerning Mr. Soderbergh of late and I had assumed this was because he had so many problems with his most recent film, the Che biopic. I can safely say my own distraction is the reason for this lack of news. After reading the following interview:
Steven Soderbergh Article
it is quite clear he is as busy as ever.
What I like best about this director is his attitude concerning commercial and critical success. As most everyone knows his career began with a film that heralded a resurgence in American independent film (as well as numerous awards and critical acclaim). Since that time many of his films has been both commercial failures and poorly received by the critics. Despite this fact I have yet to encounter an interview or a commentary that expressed bitterness, resentment or finger-pointing for these failures. Instead what any reader or watcher will encounter is Mr. Soderbergh assuming all responsibility for these failures and a very cool and calm attitude concerning them. What he has said numerous times, and what I find to be most admirable, is that if he is the director and something in the film is not good or if the film itself does not work -- then he is to blame. Not the actor, not the studio but him. It's a very rare kind of statement for a director to make and it endears him greatly to me.
The above linked article is largely about his most recent endeavor, the Che Biopic, which runs somewhere around four and a half hours long and is being shown as two separate films. I suggest anyone interested in how such a film comes to be made (by here I am referring mostly to the length) read this article. Mr. Soderbergh is detailed in explaining the process and logic behind the creation of this film and allows those of us on the outside of the film industry a peek into this mysterious world.
I cannot stress strongly enough how helpful I find the comments and responses Mr. Soderbergh offers to any questions regarding his work. Rather than offering general statements he is specific in how decisions are made and why. In the case of this film he explains why the story ballooned from one section of Che’s life in Boliva to begin incorporating other important moments and how this affected everything else. I feel most filmmakers tend to gloss over these stages of the process of making a film in order to keep the story simple and I wish they did not. Being told of the way this film morphed over the years, and why he made the decisions he did to change the film in a step-by-step fashion, Mr. Soderbergh offers practical insights I think any emerging filmmaker will find both helpful and interesting.
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