Another 48 hours competition

Recently I had the pleasure to put together a team of talented individuals to complete in the 48-hour film project in Atlanta. For those of you reading this that are not aware of what the 48 hour film project is a competition that pits many teams against each other in a 48 hour, hence the name, race to make the best 7 minute film possible. Many of the people I chose this year are veterans of the competition, and we have competed together before. However I extended the offer to compete in this competition to several new comers. Three of the people that I extended the offer to accepted. Our journey began on Thursday a day ahead of the competition, because we were traveling into a much larger city than our own we needed time to organize as well as get settled in to our lodgings for the weekend. The plan was for the four organizers to travel ahead, and prepare for the others arrival on Friday evening. We met in the early morning and had a pre trip breakfast, sharing our hopes and wishes for this year’s competition. Speculation on what genre we would receive raced between our minds. Everyone had his or her own favorites and hopes for this focal point of our short film. We discussed the latest films and the previous years winner in the market we were traveling to. After a few good laughs and filling up our tanks, both belly and car, we began our trip.
The kick off for the competition wasn’t until Friday at 6pm so we used the extra time to scout possible locations get a feel for the area that we were in and rest up. This competition was the largest that any of us had ever competed in. There were a total of 55 teams ready to lose sleep for the next two days to submit the best film in their genre using the line of dialogue, prop, and genre provided. As we all sat waiting to have our turn to pull our genre from the hat the anticipation began to mount as many of the teams pulled and became official entries into the competition. As our turn grew closer it was my job as the team leader to choose our genre from the hat. Wouldn’t you know that I lowered my nervous hand into the hat and pulled one of the hardest categories for us, Science Fiction! A little intimidated I wanted to choose a wild card immediately, but my team was content in the choice, and felt we could do it effectively, and maybe they felt we needed the challenge of doing something that we would not have normally done. What ensued for the next 48 hours was lack of sleep, writing, and rewriting, pick up shots, last minute plot changes, last minute location changes, and finally the night before we are supposed to turn in this film, a complete meltdown. Then in the wee hours of Sunday morning things began to come together the film began to take shape and we had a story that we felt made sense. However the drama was not over. Upon reviewing for the final edit we had some last minute changes. This was where the three new team members shined. Putting together last minute details, shooting extra scenes, and editing them in a timely manner. Due to their hard work and dedication to this project we were able to do what 11 other teams were not. We finished on time. If you are interested in seeing what we made the screening for the film will be Saturday the 18 at 7:45pm at the plaza in Atlanta. Shortly after the screening we will post and share this film online with the rest of our fans. Here is last year’s entry from us it was a Mockumentary called Adam’s Apples.

Joel Silver Vs. Goldman Sacs

In keeping with the times, and to give many who want to enter the entertainment industry a realistic focal point of the behind the scenes deals that go on, I have decided to post this blog article. It reads like the beginning of a movie that could have very well been produced by the plaintiff in this legal drama. In December of 2010 Joel Silver filed a lawsuit against Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs is a large investment bank, for those that do not know. Mr. Silver claims that the Wall Street giant was fraudulent and misleading in a deal that was brokered orally between Silver and Goldman. This is what it would sound like in terms everyone can understand. Let’s say that you and a friend that you knew were talking. Your friend wanted to get into the same business you are in, even though they are already successful at what they are doing. You agree to connect your friend with the person who helped finance your business venture, for a small fee of course. So you now you have an oral contract with your friend that upon the financing of his or her venture you would be paid what ever the amount is that you agreed upon. So now time passes your friend’s new deal has gone through and he is flourishing in his new venture. Everything should be great right, right? Except for one thing, you have not been paid yet. So you go to your good buddy and ask him about the money, he agreed to pay you. Without blinking an eye your friend says wait just a little longer until we raise a little more money. So you, ask can you at least be compensated a percentage, even if the deal did not go through like it was supposed to. So your friend agrees. Long story short you never see any of that money. Essentially that is what happened, and now we get to see it play out in the courts like a John Grisham novel. This brings to mind a couple of tips. Always get it in writing, no matter what, or whom the agreement is with. Never give up your assets without compensation. Finally learn from the mistakes of others, remember that even though we are in the business of entertaining, let’s not forget the business that goes along with it. Just in case you think Goldman Sacs gets a bad wrap check out the video.

James Cameron, TED, and Me

It is not often that you come across someone who can convey with clarity a journey that has taken them a lifetime. More often then not we seem to experience less than our speaker is willing to admit. This is not the case for a speech that James Cameron delivered on TED.com. In case you are not aware of whom James Cameron is, he directed some of Hollywood’s biggest films, including Titanic, and Avatar, but seriously you wouldn’t be reading this blog unless you had a clue right? Anyway, Mr. Cameron enlightened the audience on how went from a science fiction fanatic to feature film director. The journey started for him as a kid in Canada. Mr. Cameron explored and pushed the boundaries of his own imagination. He did not start out with a goal to become the director he is today. He actually decided by the time he was fifteen that he wanted to be a scuba diver. Like many of us he did not take into account the odds or the adversity that would face him in achieving his goal. He goes on in his speech t tell of how he overcame the obstacles that stood in his way with the help of his father. This event would not have meant as much for me had he not later used this skill, which started out as a passion for science fiction to really do what he wanted in his life. This was inspirational, as I had always dreamed of creating my own films. However one of the things that he said towards the end was one of the things that always seemed to bother me the most. What if I failed? What would happen if I could not be or do what I had set out to? That fear of failure kept me from even trying to achieve my goals. Mr. Cameron points out that you must fail in order to succeed. We should not fear failure, because we need the option to fail, in order to really try and explore new things. What we cannot be is afraid. Being afraid stifles our creativity as well as our dreams. How many of the worlds greatest innovations would have never been created, had the inventors of those innovations been afraid? We must all grow from the seeds of our passions and inspirations to become whatever it is that we dare to dream of becoming. James Cameron did just that, and even though that path may not have been the straight path that he would have liked, he still got to live out his childhood dreams of becoming an explorer of strange worlds even if that strange world is in the oceans of our own.

Ever wondered what this stands for?

Before I shed light on this intriguing symbol, lets take a stroll back down memory lane, to a time before the films that we have all come to know and love. It was a time of a new industry that was just starting to emerge. Silent films were the new past time for many as an escape. With the growing market there was a push from the government to censor the new industry. The leaders of this new industry took action to form an organization that would help to regulate their films before government action. With this the Motion Picture Association of America was born.
The MPAA has transformed since the early days, and it’s humble beginnings. Now the organization has offices in many other countries and partners with many different organizations and government offices to help educate and writ legislation that affects the ways we watch movies, as well as helping t keep us informed of the current economic policies and consumer ratings.
The MPAA has several different programs that assist in delving out information, and providing the newest ways to view movies and shows. The organization provides links to reputable sites where patrons can view media through verifiable sites. This is done in an effort to curb the “bootlegging” of copy written material. This brings us to another program that is offered by the association.
Updates on the latest information and legal rulings are also found on the blog. This is a crucial key in the ever-changing world of copyright laws. They are also are fully aware of the looming issues with theft of intellectual property. Choosing to make it well known the types of theft that are present in the industry and provide the consumer with tips and information on how to spot this material, as well as even listing a state to state listing of the penalties of infringing on the copyright laws in states that have adopted new legislation, with harsher penalties for those that steal intellectual property. However the reach does not stop there. They are also providing links to other resources that may dig deeper in to on specified area such as music, or other entertainment forms.
One of the most valuable tidbits of information that the motion Picture Association of America has is the information it has gathered on state-to-state incentives. This is informative for those who wish to know in there area what is needed to qualify for assistance to get a large scale picture made and the kind of money they can save in their own states.
Last but definitely not least the organization provides assistance to parents keeping them up to date on the latest rating system, as well as what each rating really means. This is important to all involved as ratings change with the society. All of the information provided by the MPAA makes it’s blog and website a valuable tool for filmmakers, as well as any one interested in the motion picture industry. The business of making movies is more than just pointing a camera it involves hundreds of people from costume designers to marketers. The service it provides is one that has taken many years to evolve to what it is today, and it continues to evolve, but the one thing that won’t change is the MPAA’s mission, to advance the business and the art of filmmaking. (Motion Picture Association of America, 2011) So the next time you see that symbol maybe you will have a new found respect and dare a friend that they really don’t know what it means.

Short films can be fun!!

In many ways shorts can be more fun than features. Found this short thought of you guys so here you go....Enjoy!!!

Tune for Two (2011) from alfa primo on Vimeo.

oh yeah found it on Filmschoolrejects

Who with a What!!!

I must say that I am a fan of movies that have an in your face attitude when dealing with social and cultural temperament. Such as how Planet Terror deals with the ideas that we all live secret lives and are even effected by the secret lives of others. This is a reference to the exploitation films of the 70’s such as Coffy. Often times these films are presented in such a way that most don’t appreciate what is really being said. The latest diamond in the rough film that I am looking forward to viewing is no exception. Hobo With a Shotgun is a new movie written by newcomer Greg Guy, according to (IMDB, 2011). These types of movies seem to carry a tone of what some people feel society has become already. In this new film Rutger Hauer plays the vigilante Hobo that plans to clean up the streets with his shotgun. Early reviews call this movie bloody fun. However many have seen some of the scenes as too long, and never really developing the main character to the full his potential. The trailor below is from Filmschoolrejects



All in all I believe that people seeing this movie will not go to look for a message, or even expect to see a particularly well-written script. What most people will go to see is the gory action, and to release that urge to see things spiral into chaos. This film should be great fun for the moviegoer who does not expect too much, but can enjoy seeing a writer’s commentary on society, and also enjoys the occasional gory action film that seems to say nothing about anything in particular.

What is the future of televised sports

Sports have always been a source of entertainment for the masses. As we marvel at athletes and their amazing performances, I think to myself what the future of sports entertainment holds. We have always loved to see others fight and battle each other. Even from the ancient times, when emperors provided gladiators as entertainment for their subjects. It seems that the more brutal the sport the better. Now with a looming lock out of the NFL, Whatever will we do? I will tell you in three little letters WWE. This week the Georgia Dome plays host to WrestleMania 27, and as I sat thinking about the sport itself, I wondered how a sport that started in rented out halls, as an oddity has turned in to the billion-dollar industry that it is today. We have seen this industry explode from television to encompass video games to movies. So what does the future hold for sports entertainment? What will be the sport that we love to watch in the future? Many could make the argument that there will be no difference between organized sports and wrestling with it’s scripted story lines. As the sport becomes less about extraordinary talent and more about the brutality and the bottom line, who knows what the future will bring. Maybe we will have a new sport take shape that combines our blood lust to see each other do battle and our love affair with commercialism. Maybe we will see some new extreme sports like execs fighting each other for that new commercial account. Soon we may even have fans taking part more and more in the creation of their own teams. Who knows? Whatever the future holds for sports you can be sure that it will revolve around violence, or simulated acts of violence. The fact of the matter is that as long as people continue to tune in and spend their hard earned money, on entertainment that can cost upwards of 69 just for a couple of hours producers, programmers and writers will continue to manufacture the story lines of wrestling, and possibly other sports.