Stephen Ong’s video combines many of my favorite things: Rube Goldbergian machines, obsessive drawing, political commentary, toilet humor — and gets them to work together exceedingly well. It’s one part Terry Gilliam, one part The Story Of Stuff, one part How I Met The Walrus, and every bit it’s own thing too. Maybe there’s nothing I like more (today) than its “shape up or ship out” message delivered with ample humor.
When Humans Ruled the Earth from Stephen Ong on Vimeo.
Today’s guest post is from the star of 2009 SXSW Grand Jury Prize Winning film MADE IN CHINA, Jackson Kuehn. I had the good fortune of being on the jury (with Scott Foundas and Anne Thompson) that year and was delighted how ambitious, inventive, funny and moving the film was. As great all of those qualities were, the film also was centered by Jackson’s comic and committed star turn. Jackson and Judi (Krant — the director) are both the real deal. I will make a point of watching whatever they do. And lucky for you: MADE IN CHINA is now up on IFC VOD. If you love Indie Film, if you believe in ambitious film, if you want a diverse & unique film culture, if you want some good laughs, or just want to see how much can be created with very limited means, PLEASE make sure to watch MADE IN CHINA this month (and tell all your friends likewise).
‘One Hundred Year Old Egg’
by Jackson Kuehn
I was suffering from gastric pain, malnutrition, hot weather conditions, incoherence of thought, so three Lomotil pills later, I decided to stand up for myself and address the situation to Judi Krant during the casting process of our beloved Dorothy. I let Judi know that agitation had gotten the better of me and I felt that at any moment I was going to die in Shanghai, China; commonly known as the Paris of the East. At that precise moment, Judi’s highly concentrated eyes shifted my way like a famished, bloodthirsty wolf who had one last shot to feed her babies and to get it through my head that she’s the leader of the pack. She said, “Jackson, now is the time to fight through it all. I don’t want to hear any more excuses. You need to toughen up now.” I nodded my head and agreed. Then she said, “For the next three weeks, you’ll be sharing the queen sized bed with Mr. James Choi.”
Today’s guest post is from Yancey Strickler, one of the founders of Kickstarter, the crowd funding site. Kickstarter, along with other crowdfunding sites, has brought some real change to the indie film landscape, bringing more power to the creator class to fund their work. But getting your work made, is just part of what it means to be an artist these days; you need to get your work seen (and that’s not all). Luckily for us, Kickstarter is just getting started.
This Friday night on a Brooklyn rooftop, Kickstarter will host the first-ever Kickstarter Film Festival in conjunction with Rooftop Films. The night will feature 90-plus minutes of footage from a dozen filmmakers who successfully raised money on Kickstarter, among them documentaries, features, and shorts, as well as dance and experimental film. There will be music, plus delicious treats provided by Kickstarter food projects. If you’d like to join us, tickets are just $10.
Since Kickstarter launched 14 months ago, filmmakers have used the site to raise funds for post-production, shoots, crews, equipment, music licensing, locations, film festival prep, DVD production, color correction, and just about every other cost associated with making and distributing a film. They’ve found success: almost half of the film projects meet their funding goal. Overall $10 million has been pledged on the site — $2 million of it to film projects.
Over at Filmmaker Mag blog, Scott Macaulay finally got around to posting a reply to my “Can Truly Free Film Appeal To Younger Audiences“and all the comments everyone supplied. Scott conducted a bit of a survey among filmmakers in their 20’s to find out what films changed their life. The results are a bit surprising; the old ones held onto to their classic status. Check it out here.
Today’s guest post is from Nelson George. I love hearing how artists who have worked historically in traditional media have made the transition into new forms. I asked Nelson how his new web series “Left Unsaid” came about.
Last year, after a very sad break up, I moved into a roomy recently renovated apartment very close to Fort Greene Park. I had exposed brick, a downstairs living room, a staircase, a backyard with bamboo trees and lots of storage space. Instead of focusing on decorating, I thought, “I should shoot something in here.” I’d directed an HBO film, Life Support, around Fort Greene/Clinton Hill in 2007 and this new place inspired me to write another script set in my hood. I’ve lived in the area some twentyfive years and knew, as its changed from a area known for Spike Lee movies to one synonymous with white kids in baby carriages, there tons of stories to tell.
With the break up still a fresh psychic wound I decided to write a project that would feature the many gifted but underutilized actresses I knew. I wanted to explore my feelings about women, but didn’t want to impose my male view on the characters. So I recruited an eclectic group of women —
One Owl: 3 Versions! Epic win.
Courtesy of Scott & Graham: “If you could have any four super powers, what would they be?”
