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Let's Make Better Films

What is SUPER? James Gunn speaks

Earlier this week, our directed posted from his blog his description of what our film is:

“Yes, I know, there have been other films that are superficially the same as ours, movies about real people becoming superheroes – including some very good ones. But ours is the first that, although funny, focuses first and foremost on the emotions of the characters involved. It is a dark, gritty, violent, no-hold-barred independent film that is, I promise you, not at all what you expect.”

Check it out.  James throws in some photos of his girlfriend for good measure.

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Let's Make Better Films

“On Casting With The Director” via The New Breed

When I was out in LA for LAFF, I got an opportunity to sit with Kevin & Zac of Sabi to talk about the casting process for their series “The New Breed” that they are doing with Filmmaker Magazine and The Workbook Project.

NEW BREED LOS ANGELES – Episode 4 from Sabi Pictures on Vimeo.

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Let's Make Better Films

SUPER Comic Con Mega Dose

If you didn’t make it to the panel in San Diego, have no fear; most of it is up on line now.  Wow.  What a rush to read and watch all of this.  Hopefully some distributors will take notice.

First the panel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ntf2UPn6Dc

Now the press (courtesy of the good folks at 42 West):

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Let's Make Better Films

Let’s Make Films That Support The World We Live In

Vanessa just pointed me to The Bechdel Test:

  1. Does the film have two women with names in it?
  2. Do these two women talk to each other?
  3. Do they talk to each other about something other than a man?

What is particularly surprising is how few movies can pass this test.  Every screenwriter should give this thought before hitting the keyboards.  

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Let's Make Better Films

Building A List Of Hollywood Cliches

Vanessa and I were hipped to this “video essay” by editor Louise Ford.  Thanks Lou!  And you’ve got to dig Jesus Lizard (although I’ve only licensed them once, in Hal Hartley’s AMATEUR).

Pure from Jacob Bricca on Vimeo.

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Let's Make Better Films

Required Reading: Most Influential Film Books

Sight & Sound sounds off on their top five film books.  I’ve written a bit about my most influential film books previously.   I would add Story Of The Eye, Camera Lucida, Ways Of Seeing, and The Three Stigmata Of Palmer Eldritch to this list.  They may not really about film, granted, but they taught me about film for sure.

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Let's Make Better Films

You Need A Plan To Abandon The Plan

Fifteen Great Scenes That Were Unscripted

Thanks ListVerse!