Massify Studio

Fun With Indie Film Cliches

Suraj Das — 2009-06-29T17:02:55Z

This hilarious short video from the Rotten Tomatoes movie show highlights just a few of the cheesy cliches that find their way into "quirky" and "fresh" independent films. Worth a watch for the laughs.

Making Movies That Matter

Amy Allen — 2009-06-04T15:44:28Z

In honor of the White House announcing that they'll sponsor a round of TED talks, here's a talk by Producer Jeff Skoll. His body of work, which includes movies like Good Night and Good Luck, Syriana and An Inconvenient Truth, is meant to inspire social change. In the above lecture, he touches on how some of his films have achieved this, why he believes in Humanity 2.0, and why controversy is a good thing.

Fish Out of Water: A Conversation With the Filmmakers

Amy Allen — 2009-06-01T19:30:13Z

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!

The Big Media Picture

Amy Allen — 2009-05-29T18:32:36Z

Henry Jenkins on Transmedia - November 2009 from niko on Vimeo.

Sometimes it helps to think about the big picture, and this video, by MIT professor Henry Jenkins (by way of Scott Kirsner's blog) will force you to do just that. It perfectly encapsulates the flux that our media culture is in right now, and it's inspiring to anybody who is trying to get their message out there. The question remains, though, as to which messages will rise about the noise: will it be those that are most compelling, or those messages pushed by people who are most adept at getting their voices heard?

Mid-Week Resource Links

Amy Allen — 2009-05-13T19:44:42Z

Filmmaker Magazine cites an article in Salon that asks if the distracting nature of the internet is rewiring our brain. For those who are worried, a program called Freedom can force you off twitter and your email for a specified period of time.

And while having a robo-assistant sounds exciting, is anybody else underwhelmed by this small and awkward office robot? Is it so hard to fetch your pill bottle yourself?

Also, in good news for crew members not located in LA, the sour economy is helping Canada, the deep South, and other incentive-rich locations see more production action.

Boob: A Conversation with the Filmmakers

Amy Allen — 2009-05-08T18:24:35Z

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.

Art of the First Impression

Amy Allen — 2009-04-29T13:59:14Z

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

Amy Allen — 2009-04-28T10:36:03Z

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.

Green Movies for Earth Day

Sasha Nelson — 2009-04-22T14:25:31Z

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.

Newteevee >> Zerks Log Boldly Goes On a Limited Budget

Amy Allen — 2009-04-20T12:03:09Z

Liz at NewTeeVee inadvertently gives some really good advice to content creators in her Review of Zerks Log:

"Here’s the secret to creating high-quality, low-budget science fiction: The simpler the set-up, the more money and effort you can put towards executing it well. Zerks Log is a perfect example."

Zerks Log Boldly Goes On a Limited Budget.

J.J. Abrams Says Anybody Can Make Movies

Amy Allen — 2009-04-17T18:42:24Z

This was posted back in January of 2008. It's not recent, but definitely relevant. J.J. Abrams (creator of Lost, Cloverfield, many more) talks about his love of mystery and making things. Best quotes: "What are stories but mystery boxes?" and "No community is best served when only the elite have control." Check out the entire series of talks from TED.