Short films fare better in new distribution paradigm
December 6, 2007
Shorts have always gotten short shrift in distribution, with features pushing them aside, however, the web is changing the rules and paid downloads looks like a good way for shorts to have some life in distribution and earn a little cash for their makers. One evidence point for this trend is a recent story in Variety, “Sundance expands online plan” by Michael Jones reports that the 2008 Sundance Film Festival will be pay filmmakers in the shorts program for Internet downloads through iTunes, Xbox LIVE and Netflix. According to the festival, year some short films saw revenues in the “tens of thousands of dollars,” even after iTunes and the Sundance Institute took their fees.
A Conversation with Les Blank
October 3, 2007
While I was at the Woods Hole Film Festival this summer I had a chance to sit down and have a conversation with documentary filmmaker Les Blank. We spoke about his new film All In This Tea, his experiences with Werner Herzog, why he self distributes, and which of his films he considers his favorite. The interview, titled A Conversation with Les Blank, appears in the newly re-launched Independent (the publication formerly known as The Independent Film & Video Monthly, which ceased publication with the demise of the AIVF).
Shadow of the House is a rare and beautiful gem
October 1, 2007
This weekend at the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival I has the pleasure of seeing Shadow of the House, an intimate documentary by Allie Humenuk that presents a portrait of photographer Abelardo Morell. The film shows his process and daily life behind the work without interpreting it for you, presenting no experts telling you about the importance of Morell’s work, instead, you see that for yourself, as if you had walked into a beautifully mounted exhibition without placards or a program.
A soundtrack for the movie of your mind
August 30, 2007
Last year filmmaker Todd Verow asked Colin Owens to write a film score to run 84 minutes concurrent with an experimental film made from 10 second clips of mobile phone video. The result of this work is Hooks to the Left, Colin’s most emotional, complex, and provocative music to date.
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Les Blank comes to Boston to show two classics and a work-in-progress
August 5, 2007
If you live in the Boston area and love documentary, you will not want to miss An Evening with Les Blank on Wednesday, August 8, 2007 from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. in the Bartos Theater at the MIT Media Laboratory (directions). Les Blank is one of America’s most important documentary filmmakers and we’re very lucky that he’ll be in Boston to screen two of his classic films, “The Blues According to Lightnin’ Hopkins” and “Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe,” as well as a sneak-preview of his work in progress, “A Portrait of Richard Leacock,” in which Les Blank turns his lens onto a fellow documentary filmmaking legend. Blank will also discuss his years as a documentary filmmaker. You will not want to miss this rare opportunity to meet Les Blank. Advanced tickets are strongly recommended for this event.
Kevin Anderton knows: keep it short, make it funny, and get it online
July 7, 2007
There’s been a lot of talk lately about D.I.Y. distribution among filmmakers. The discussion is fueled by the realization that the Internet with social networking and video delivery tools presents new opportunities to connect with an audience. Which reminds me how much things have changed since I started out on my journey as a filmmaker. Back in 1991 I remember talking with underground filmmaker Jon Moritsugu outside of the Eye Gallery in San Francisco after a screening of his underground hit, Hippy Porn. In some ways, everything has changed since then, and in other ways, things remain the same. This is an excerpt from my article, “DIY Distribution” (New England Film, July, 2007)
Special Screening of Remembering John Marshall
June 29, 2007
The Plymouth Independent Film Festival (July 18-22, 2007) will present a special screening of “Remembering John Marshall” along with four short films by John Marshall (”Bitter Melons,” “A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding,” “After the Game,” and “Youth and the Man of Property“) followed by a Q&A session with filmmakers Alice Apley and yours truly on Friday, July 20th at 5:00 P.M. at Plimoth Plantation. Visit plyfilmfest.org for more information.
2007 Woods Hole Film Festival
June 27, 2007
This week the Woods Hole Film Festival posted their festival schedule. Now in its 16th year, the festival opens with a screening of the remastered 1971 Documentary Classic, Blue Water, White Death, about the search for the elusive Great White Shark. Woods Hole is a wonderful festival with a large percentage of attending filmmakers. In addiiton to screening many films of note, the festival hosts a range of Panels & Workshops you will not want to miss, including: Documentary Filmmaking Master Class with Les Blank (Thursday, August 2 at 2:00 PM) a panel on The future of long form documentary in the age of Internet video on Sunday, July 29th at 2:00 PM, and Delivering Video via the Internet: Challenges and Opportunities on Tuesday, July 31 at 2:00 PM. (yours truly will be moderating the future of long form doc and video via the internet panels). For more information on the festival, visit woodsholefilmfestival.org.
2007 Plymouth Independent Film Festival
June 27, 2007
The Plymouth Independent Film Festival announced today its film selection for the third annual film festival. Over forty films will be screened at the Plimoth Plantation beginning on Thursday July 19 at 4pm. Highlights include seventeen films as part of the Made in Mass screenings series:
One of the most interesting works in progress…
June 4, 2007
One of the most interesting works in progress right now among documentary filmmakers has got to be Les Blank’s film on documentary film pioneer Ricky Leacock, described in Blank’s own words as “having the time of his life in Normandy, France, where he is happily at work creating DVDs that will contain his memories, photos, tales, and if we’re lucky, some recipes of some of the finest meals I’ve ever had.” I’m really looking forward to seeing this film, I can only imagine how wonderful it will be to see Ricky through Les’ lens. I’m also looking forward to seeing Les Blank again this summer since he’s the filmmaker in residence at the Woods Hole Film Festival this year. I suggest making plans now to spend a few days or the whole week in Woods Hole for the films, panel discussions, filmmakers, and all the other wonderful things that makes Cape Cod so wonderful in the summer. Les Blank will be showing All In This Tea, his latest film, at the festival.
