Studio
Keith Gordon's Cheat Sheet
7/16/2009 at 12:29 PM by Amy Allen
Keith Gordon, an advisor to directing fellows at the Sundance Lab, has a deceptively simple post up on Filmmaker Blog. The Director's Cheat Sheet contains such gems as: "Remember the scene will NEVER be just like it is in your head. It may be better, it may be worse, it may just be different. But if you get stuck trying to make it "just the way you imagined it" you may well get stuck on the road to hell." and more. Read and print right away.
A Conversation with Jerin Crandell
6/3/2009 at 2:40 PM by Amy Allen
Massify Interview: Ventilo from Massify on Vimeo.
Texas-based director Jerin Crandell talks about the making of his dream-like short, Ventilo, a "drama about a young woman's journey through a fantasy world of feather fans and beauty."
Fish Out of Water: A Conversation With the Filmmakers
6/1/2009 at 3:30 PM by Amy Allen
Massify Interview: Fish Out of Water - The Nightmare from Massify on Vimeo.
Don't miss this super entertaining interview with the charming directors of Fish Out of Water: The Nightmare. Ben Barnes and Joel Huggins discuss their web series and the challenges that come with wearing multiple hats. Worth it for the tidbits about the puppet alone. Make sure to watch the entire short below!
Joel Huggins Actor, Writer, Producer
Using Technology Onscreen
6/1/2009 at 2:20 PM by Suraj Das
Imagine if Hitchcock's "Rear Window" took place in 2009; Grace Kelly would have left her phone on vibrate when she snuck into the apartment across the street, and James Stewart would've sent her a text message telling her to run away when Raymond Burr's car pulled up outside. What's more, the central mystery as to whether or not Burr's wife was dead probably wouldn't amount to much of a head-scratcher - her Facebook friends and Twitter followers would have likely pieced together the puzzle long before Stewart got around to it.
Writing a good script was hard enough before the advent of cellphones and the internet made things even harder. This insightful article in The Times explores one of the greatest challenges faced by screenwriters today - making internet activities appear dramatically interesting and exciting to watch. "If fighting now looks like making up now looks like booking travel, as it does when people conduct their affairs online," asks writer Virginia Heffernan, "how do film directors make human action both dramatic to viewers and roughly true to life?"
Heffernan provides some examples of films and television shows, including Fox's "24," that feature compelling scenes where drama unfolds over the internet. I'm sure you can think of many other examples. Let us know about your writing challenges involving technology at feedback@massify.com and we'll discuss them in a later article.
52 Reasons Why American Indie Film Will Flourish
5/26/2009 at 1:02 PM by Amy Allen
Ted Hope, always a master of the fact-packed list, just posted 52 Reasons Why American Indie Film Will Flourish. Since he asks others to add onto the (extremely comprehensive) list, I would add:
53. For those starting out, there are more networking opportunities outside of film school. While a formal program has never been a prerequisite for quality work, it's still important as a place to network. While important, film school is also expensive, and if you're only plucking those who can pay from the talent pool, the quality almost certainly diminishes. Tutorials and film theory distributed to the masses online can help everybody develop their skills. The best training is to go out and make something anyhow, which has never been easier.
54. Unions like SAG are embracing the importance of independent film. SAG Indie has an intuitive website and offers affordable contracts to movies with lower budgets, allowing everybody access to experienced talent.
55. Building on #42, while a lot of attention has been placed the falling prices of digital production equipment, projectors are just as important. As more studios pay for digital projectors to be installed in major theaters, those theaters will be better equipped to screen independent fare and indie filmmakers won't have to budget for that expensive 35mm print, allowing both small films and theatrical distribution to survive.
Ted's List is a must read. Check it out.
Unlimited: A Conversation with the Filmmakers
5/20/2009 at 2:26 PM by Amy Allen
Massify Interview: Unlimited from Massify on Vimeo.
Co-directors Andrew Luis and Katherine Nolfi chat about their experiences making Unlimited, a short narrative about a young Chinese immigrant who cobbles together an existence selling cast-off items on ebay. The film, which strives to create a sense of place, follows the protagonist as he travels around New York at night, finding items to sell.
>> Read more
Andrew Luis Writer, Director
A Conversation with Erik Gernand
5/18/2009 at 3:23 PM by Amy Allen
Massify Interview: Non-Love-Song from Massify on Vimeo.
Playwright turned filmmaker Erik Gernand talks about his beautifully shot short film, Non-Love-Song. He talks about why he decided to shoot on in black and white 16mm, and how crafting a dramatic film differs from his earlier comedic efforts.
A Conversation with Ry Russo-Young
5/14/2009 at 1:03 PM by Amy Allen
Massify Interview: You Won't Miss Me from Massify on Vimeo.
Director Ry Russo-Young talks about her latest film, You Won't Miss Me. The film, shot on multiple formats and co-written by its star Stella Schnabel, premiered last January at Sundance.
Boob: A Conversation with the Filmmakers
5/8/2009 at 2:24 PM by Amy Allen
Massify Interview: Boob from Massify on Vimeo.
The filmmakers known as Honest - Cary Murnion and Jon Milott - with the help of their producer Sabrina Tubio-Cid, talk about their short film Boob. The comedy, about a deranged breast that comes alive and terrorizes a hospital, features awesome special effects, not to mention a catchy title.
Jonathan Milott Director
A Conversation with James Gannon
5/6/2009 at 4:32 PM by Amy Allen
Massify Interview: Cochran from Massify on Vimeo.
Brooklyn-based short film director James Gannon talked with us a few weeks ago at SXSW about his short film, Cochran. Determined to shoot on film, James shot the character study on Super 8 after finding a bunch of cameras at a thrift store for about $5. (Note to self: ask James where he shops.) He points out that during his screening, audience members were intrigued by the delightfully grainy and totally unique quality of this forgotten format.
James Gannon Editor, Photographer, Writer, Director
A Conversation with Emily Carmichael
5/4/2009 at 4:41 AM by Amy Allen
Massify Interview: That's My Majesty from Massify on Vimeo.
NYC based filmmaker/author/illustrator/all-around-creative-individual Emily Carmichael discusses her short film, That's My Majesty.
Emily Carmichael Director, Art Director, Animator, Writer, Editor
A Conversation with the Deagol Brothers
4/30/2009 at 2:27 PM by Amy Allen
Make-Out with Violence: A Conversation with the Deagol Brothers from Massify on Vimeo.
Make-Out with Violence, the genre-bending first feature by The Deagol Brothers, has received warm praise on the festival circuit since premiering at SXSW this year. The filmmaking collective known as the Deagol Brothers, consisting of - from left to right - Cody Devos (co-writer/actor), Chris Doyle (co-director/co-producer), Andy Duensing (co-director/co-producer), Eric Lehning (co-writer, actor), and Leah High (actress) talk to Massify about how the zombie-infused coming of age story came about. Their making-of documentary below is pretty great, too. >> Read more
Art of the First Impression
4/29/2009 at 9:59 AM by Amy Allen
Title sequences are the first thing audiences see when they sit down to watch your film, and for TV shows, they're entrusted with setting up much of the plot and theme so new viewers are not confused. A fabulous blog, Art of the Title Sequence, pays this art form its due. Using interviews, DVD commentary and more, the blog breaks down title sequences to show why they are effective. Lots of creative inspiration here!
Big Pussy: A Conversation with the Filmmakers
4/28/2009 at 6:36 AM by Amy Allen
Massify Interview: Big Pussy from Massify on Vimeo.
Director Todd Strauss-Schulson is quick to point out that his short film, Big Pussy, is "Classy, I swear. My mom likes it!" He and his producer, Ken Franchi, talk about their filmmaking process and the importance of standing out in the crowd. In case you didn't catch the film at SXSW or the NYC Downtown Short Film Fest, it's here for your viewing, ahem, pleasure.
Todd Strauss-Schulson Writer, Director, Editor
Green Movies for Earth Day
4/22/2009 at 10:25 AM by Sasha Nelson
In the mood for some eco-friendly entertainment? This Huffington Post article by Matt Dentler of Cinetic Rights Management includes some great recommendations, all of which can be found online. Now you can honor Earth Day by watching environmentally-conscious films on a carbon-friendly medium! Try to contain your excitement.
