Writers Boot Camp Kicksbutt in a creative way Ihad met Jeffrey Gordon and Mitch Rubman at their NATPE LATV seminar and eventhough I knew that they have been around for 21 years and have an incredibletrack record for writers, I was even more impressed after listening to Jeff’spresentation on TV Spec scripts and pilots. I felt that it was very importantto share their knowledge. Jeff just plugs you right into the here and now andwants your script to be a winner. He just lays in the groundwork an...
On a warm cuddley night under the stars in Hollywood's John Anson Fordtheatre "Spork" brought cheers and applause for this teenage comedy dealingwith the trials and tribulations of a 14 year hermaphrodite who danced into our hearts.
The 28th year of Outfest brought out the best special programs ever andthe judges had so many difficult decisions in picking the winners from the poolof talent and the Marine motto Semper Fi is also fitting so the winners are:
Special Pr...
At the Orpheum theater in Downtown Los Angeles theopening night was a gay festival as theadjective was originally referred to as feelings of being "carefree", "happy", or "bright andshowy”In its 28th year it is thelongest running film festival in Los Angeles and has earned it place in Hollywood which is the Mecca of the film Industry.Jane Lynch was presented with the OutfestLifetime achievement award which she so rightly earned and left us laughing buther closing wor...
Alec Cartio is a talented director who shoots music videos and Sulo Williams is a gifted actor who hasn’t gotten his big break and is frustratedSo they decided to make a movie.Welcome to the Gollywood dreamAfter seeing their very charming film which is the collaboration of 2 good friends working together to produce their first feature with a great soundtrack, I met with Alec and I created this dialogue which may have occurred but the result is “Convincing Clooney” the filmExterior Day:...
Director David Michod rules in Animal Kingdom
I saw this Sundance 2010 Grand jury prize winner at the www.lafest.com and it rocked. The directorDavid Michod and I met there and last week we had an in depth conversation tobe posted in the next issue of www.independentfilmquarterly.net.
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Film Independent made a great move to the Regal Cinema’s Live forthis year's Los Angeles Film Festival. The opening film was director LisaCholodenko’s “Are the Kids All Right” with Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo andAnnette BeningFilm starsfrom Hollywood and overseas walked the red carpet along with many brightfirst feature directors like Adam Reid with narrative ensembleaward for "Hello Lonesome",Hossein Keshavarz ,director of "DogSweat" shot in Tehran and Brett Haley...
Welcome to the Rileys hassome excellent performance by actors James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo withKristin Stewart portraying a stripper /hooker who steals the film her realitybased character, Director Jake Scott uses theNew Orleans backdrop for most of the film and uses the city'scharacter to create an emotional link but Ken Hixon’s script falls short for meon a very personal level. I lost my son Adam a few years back and mydaughter Lea has a Kristin Stewart feel so the script mis...
Hello Lonesome is a film which makes you laugh at life even though the issues can be seriousLAFF added another screening Saturday June 26 at Regal Cinemas downtown Bring a friendwww.lafest.com ...
Barbara Romer explodes as an actress playing Alma Mahler in her first film roleFilm is a masterpiece on a budget of $2.5 million and looks like 10 times that Film plays again on Saturday June 26 at Regal Cinemas at 1:45 www.lafest.com ...
I added the link and will do more later but if you are in downtown Los Angeles drop by and see director David Michod's first feature He will be doing a Q & Awww.lafilmfest.com http://www.sonyclassics.com/animalkingdom/ I ...
Bitter Feast is aHappy MealThefilm “Bitter Feast” which premiered at Los Angeles Film Festival is acollaborative effort by Indie filmmakers who combined talent to make a filmwhich was shot in 14 days. The production values along with performances by actorsJames LeGros. Joshua Leonard , Amy Seimetz are outstanding and of course MarioBatali adds to the recipe Cinematographer ,Michael McDonough, creates images ontwo Canon 5 D Mark II SR cameras with most of the film shot on available lightin th...
DOGSWEAT turns up the heat Director/writer/producerHossein Keshavarz along with Maryam Azadi who is alsothe writer/producer of this film take us on journey into the lives ofyoung adults who are living in Tehran and are dealing with issues which are commonplacein our everyday lives in real life and on reality TV in America.Thefilm’s title is the Iranian term for moonshine. So this is not a doggie moviebut a presentation what a dog’s life can be if you follow the culture and itstraditional va...
Bitter Feast is aHappy MealThefilm “Bitter Feast” which premiered at Los Angeles Film Festival is acollaborative effort by Indie filmmakers who combined talent to make a filmwhich was shot in 14 days. The production values along with performances by actorsJames LeGros. Joshua Leonard , Amy Seimetz are outstanding and of course MarioBatali adds to the recipe Cinematographer ,Michael McDonough, creates images ontwo Canon 5 D Mark II SR cameras with most of the film shot on available lightin th...
Bitter Feast is aHappy MealThe film “Bitter Feast” which premiered at Los Angeles FilmFestival is a collaborative effort by Indie filmmakers who combined talent tomake a film which was shot in 14 days. The production values along withperformances by actors James LeGros. Joshua Leonard , Amy Seimetz areoutstanding and of course Mario Batali adds to the recipe.Cinematographer,Michael McDonough, creates images on two Canon 5 D Mark II SR cameras withmost of the film shot on available light in t...
Los Angeles Film Festivalreally sparks LA LiveUsing many of the film titles you can really appreciate theLAFF choicesLisa Cholodenko’s TheKids are All Right has made sure that they are really enjoying it all.Aaron Katz’s ColdWeather has gotten much warmerJoe Maggio’s BitterFeast has made the festival a tasty onePhillip G.Flores’s TheWheelers Boys are doing wheeliesWe are fortunate and excited to have Lisa Leeman’s One Lucky Elephant for all of us luckyanimal loversThe Zone loungereally...
Los Angeles Film Festival Lights up HollywoodDowntown A crystal clear night set inthe backdrop of the Staples Center where the LA Lakers came out on top in the NBAFinalsLAFF brought out the starsboth in the sky and on the red carpet on the opening night screening of “TheKids are All Right” at the Regal Cinemas. Director Lisa Cholodenko hascreated a comedy which deals with parenthood in this day and age which hastaken on a whole new twist and both gay and heterosexual audiences will havesom...
Los Angeles Greek Festival ends on High NoteOrpheus’s spirit was abound at the Awards Ceremony presentation at the 4th annual Los Angeles Greek Film festivalwith the fabulous , Alexia Vassiliou enchanting us with lyrics from classic films such as ,” Boy on a Dolphin”, “Never on Sunday”, “Phaedra”, andothers with film stars Melina Mercouri,Alan Ladd and Anthony Perkins.The beautiful Patricia Kara, of the TVshow Deal or No Deal hosted the award ceremony which included Academ...
Los Angeles Greek Festival ends on High NoteOrpheus’s spirit was abound at the Awards Ceremony presentation at the 4th annual Los Angeles Greek Film festivalwith the fabulous , Alexia Vassiliou enchanting us with lyrics from classic films such as ,” Boy on a Dolphin”, “Never on Sunday”, “Phaedra”, andothers with film stars Melina Mercouri,Alan Ladd and Anthony Perkins.The beautiful Patricia Kara, of the TVshow Deal or No Deal hosted the award ceremony which included Academ...
Dancing with theStars of Greecein Hollywood I have come to the conclusion that the hit TV show “Dancingwith the Stars” was inspired by the Greeks. On the 2nd day of theLos Angeles Greek Festival I was dancing through the films in my head. Matt Bolish,the main programmer has projected a personal passion in his choice of films.You feel that you are in Greeceand are surprised not to be when you leave the Egyptian theatre and view HollywoodBlvd...You discover that many Greek filmmakers like Per...
Los AngelesGreek Film Festival The opening night was one of the most emotional andstrongest selections of shorts and a feature that I have ever experienced. Startingwith the short animated film, “The Boy and the Tree(“Ena Dentro Mia Fora”)which is an Oscar worthy nomination and the DVD should be placed in everychild’s Christmas Stocking. “Cats keep falling on my Head” (Gata Ex Ouranu) isanother short narrative film about a woman who takes in a stray cat whichbecomes her priority. ...
Ralph Ziman’s directs hisSouth African Robin Hood movie “Jerusalema” Move over big budget action films costing $ 100-$200million and take a look at Jerusalema, a film that cost $2million with unknown actors, Studio heads should check out director/writer Ralph Ziman’s film ,which is a wakeup callof how much a really great actionfilm can give you a big bang for your buck .The story revolves these young wannabe gangsters, Lucky Kunene ( younger Jafta Mamabolo , older Rapulana Seiph...
I saw this film at Fox Studios and director Timothy A. Chey who is a born again Christian discussed his film but when you deal with the devil , you can be fooled . The script was a great idea but in all honesty the lead actor needs some direction and training .Malcolm McDowell is the devil incarnate and is on trial for just doing his bidding. Tom Sizemore appears as a guest on a interview show with host ,Corbin Bernsen.Tom has dealt with demons before and he relates very well as he a...
As a sports and health writer in addition to my film industry involvement ,I attended the Annual Memorial day Muscle Beach Venice body builder contest which has now added a bikini contest. I was there to support my buddy , body builder Bill Howard ,who kept the tradition alive in Muscle Beach Venice .during the lean years and was there back in the day, at the original Santa Monica Muscle Beach which closed in 1959,along with Steve Reeves,Jack LaLanne and other well known muscle men,He was ...
Dennis Hopper , who was a fellow member of the famed Actors Studio, has left us for another stage in his famous and turbulent career, but he was and will always be held close to us all . I remember seeing him at Golds Gym in Venice in the 1990's after he had appeared on Inside the Actors Studio in NY with James Lipton ,where I was an audience member. So since we had known each other , I walked over to him and told him that he was so inspirational and his clarity was awesome and he ...
I was checking through Facebook and I saw a review of Bobby Moresco's newest film which was shown at Newport Beach Film Festival. I had gone to the festival but did not know his film "The Kings of Appletown" was even there and his is a friend. What I realized ,as a festival organizer and attendee, is that many films do not get their film reviewed.So all that time put into making it and no press. So I decided today to contact some of the fests and find some very cool films which fell ...
