The best things in life bring multiple rewards.
If you can solve a problem by improving other things simultaneously, you know everyone is going to win. Besides, we all have way too much to get done, that it only makes sense to kill two birds with one stone whenever humanly possible. I think the San Francisco Film Society and I may have just accomplished this remarkable feat. Let’s see
I don’t think we can get a clearer marker that times have fully changed in the Film Biz than James Schamus leaving Focus Features. And this is a curve that is not in a positive direction.
With his bow tie no longer the Focus brand, we can firmly say that the corporate suits see no business in art. James made money from beauty, found gold by reaching higher,
Jon Kilick and I have a fair amount in common — but we also seem to see the state of the world, or at least our film culture and industry, in a very different way.
We both also recognize — and encourage others to recognize — some really important things about the film world, namely that this is a great time to be a creator. We have
What would Variety, Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, The Wrap, MovieCityNews, Filmmaker Magazine & Deadline report if a single film company took the following awards at Sundance this year?
I can’t help but think they would announce the arrival of a powerhouse.
Well, allow me the pleasure of breaking such an announcement.
Last year, the film that the San Francisco Film Society had supported with grants went on to great things. Sure prizes and deals are not the only way to measure success, and really just getting a movie made is the real achievement — and hell, getting it into Sundance is pretty damn sweet.
I have loved what I have seen of Ryan’s work so far. I also love all he has to say about the film. I also love the the film is about something real to us all; in this case the killing of Oscar Grant at by a police officer. If you haven’t checked it out this video already, I recommend you do so now:
If you’d like to read more about this and the original case it is based on, this HuffPost article includes many photos of the Oakland riots that followed after the officer was sentenced only for involuntary manslaughter for two years, minus time served.
