Month: February 2009

Where The Paths May Lead You

Post author By Ted Hope
Post date February 28, 2009

I watched graphic artist & writer Dean Haspiel on the Artist To Artist series that BRIC has this morning. In a lot of ways Dean is responsible for my making American Splendor. Back before he was the recognized great artist he is today, he was our receptionist on The Ice Storm. As we both shared a love for underground comics, it was only a matter of time that Harvey Pekar came up. The years went by and Dean did some drawing for Harvey and told him and Joyce of my dream of making an American Splendor movie. One night, late as it was, my phone rang. Joyce was on the other end and my journey began.

Dean’s just done me another pleasure, by introducing me to the work of photographer Seth Kushner, the other artist on the Artist To Artist show, and the man behind this great portrait of Harvey, shot just last week.

Seth has done a lot of great portraits and whole bunch of the indie film scene. You should check them all out but here’s a nice taste to get you started.

You check out Seth’s book The Brooklynites here. He’s working now on a book of photos of NYC Graphic Novel scene, Graphic NYC (and hence his connection with Dean).

Tags American Splendor, Dean Haspiel, Harvey Pekar, Seth Kushner

Bowl Of Noses

Build Your Own Squid

Post author By Ted Hope
Post date February 28, 2009

If you were in New Zealand you could go to the exhibit they have on the giant squid. If you are not, you can use the internet to build your own.

(Hat tip: Richard Ellis)

Tags squids

Truly Free Film

Twitter Do or Twitter Don’t

Post author By Ted Hope
Post date February 28, 2009
98 Comments on Twitter Do or Twitter Don’t

I have been playing with my Twitter, not obsessively mind you. I don’t want to go blind or get hair on my palms. Mostly I use it to link to interesting articles that I don’t have much to say on, things I wish others would read too. You know, the stuff I would like to have a conversation about. Follow me and see where it goes…

I do find my mind changing due to the Twitter-phenom. Maybe it is the combo of everything. It feels like Social Network discourse and Twitter are for the distribution of raw ideas or promotion of the fuller meal. Blogs are for the half-baked dish. I still lean towards traditional media for the fully cooked offering. Nonetheless, being only in month four or so of this experiment in communication, I feel like my brain is re-wiring itself for the sound-bite-esque concept, for whatever is needed to fit on the Twitter page. It’s a bit discouraging. I like the deep thoughts of days gone by.

Movie Marketing Madness touched in on the Twitter evolution and assorted symptoms. It’s a nice collection of links and worth reading.

And HuffPost had this Completely Unscientific Pie Chart On Who Uses Twitter And Why.

This article on Why You Should UnFollow Those Who Don’t Follow You is getting a lot of notice. It’s written from the perspective of business first, and not surprisingly I don’t agree. One thing I enjoy about Twitter is the unique information it brings me, working as a filter of news on my select interest. I am not interested in what people had for breakfast or how their sick cat is doing. It seems like Twitters might want to split themselves in two if they need to provide the personal details in an effort to gain followers of those who don’t want so much information. We shall see shall we not?

And the WSJ has decided also to tell you How To Twitter. They sum it up as a broadcast tool to promote yourself.

Tags Movie Marketing Madness, Twitter

Bowl Of Noses

Blatant Lies, Lies, Lies!

Post author By Ted Hope
Post date February 27, 2009

Lies can be useful tools in seeing the truth. And parodies may be easy humor but there’s always room for them in our bowls. In fact, we make extra room for them around here.

The big business suit wearing adults historically have had a habit (that’s a 4 point alliteration!) of trying to sell the public something that just isn’t possible. Here some smarties poke some fun at the concept of clean coal:

Special Note For The Grown-Ups: This “commercial” was done by The Coen Brothers. I had no idea when I first posted it!

Tags coal, environment, lies, parodies

Truly Free Film

This Is How I Would Like It

Post author By Ted Hope
Post date February 27, 2009
2 Comments on This Is How I Would Like It

But alas, I think I have to move to Brazil to get it. I was reading in Variety, how a distributor (Rain) there has gotten all their art cinemas to go digital and use the same software management system, enabling them to get their films via satellite. They then allow the audiences to organize themselves via a social network platform and select what films they want to see where and when.

Rain’s COD will allow moviegoers, grouped in online MovieMobz.com film clubs, to recommend what films play when and where over Rain’s digital cinema network.

Once exhibitors slot a film, virtual cinema club members can buy tickets, refer further wishlists to friends and, exploiting MovieMobz’s social networking system, let other people know what films they’re attending.

“For the first time in the market, we are offering new opportunities for the entire cinema chain: Consumers can choose their content; exhibitors can more efficiently program their screens; and content licensors can more easily find their audience,” Lima said.

MovieMobz will book film screenings of new and old features as well as niche content.

Ahh….. one day soon, maybe America will catch up.

Tags exhibition, New Models

Truly Free Film

The History Of NYC Film Production

Post author By Ted Hope
Post date February 27, 2009
1 Comment on The History Of NYC Film Production

I got a nice, and very well researched, reply to the piece I wrote for Tribeca on the NY State TV & Film Tax Stall-Out from Alex Brook Lynn. She gives a great overview of how we got in this jam. Check it out over on The Arch.