Austin360 blogs > Austin Movie Blog > Archives > 2006 > June > 15
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Blogging ‘A Scanner Darkly’
— Matt Dentler points out that “Scanner Darkly” producer Tommy Pallotta has a blog.
— The Alamo Downtown has a benefit screening of “State vs. Reed” Monday night.
— Blu-Ray arrives next week.
Brangelina, zombies and cheese
— Angelina Jolie’s first TV interview since the birth of lil’ Shiloh Nouvel will air Tuesday on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360.”
— Meanwhile, Brad Pitt’s production company outbid Leonardo DiCaprio’s for the movie rights to the upcoming book “World War Z” by Max Brooks. Brooks’ first foray into zombie lit was the very funny “Zombie Survival Guide” a couple of years ago, but the new book, out this fall, is said to be more serious.
— The Village and Alamo South theaters continue their war on bad pre-movie entertainment, and the new weapon is nacho cheese.
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2 days to make a movie
We’ve gotten a couple of news releases in about Big Plume Productions, one of the participants in next week’s 48 Hour Film Project. (The local sponsor of the event is Reel Women.) If you have a team, why not send us some info, and we’ll post it here, too?
Meanwhile, here’s the info on Big Plume. New release No. 1:
Producer Angela Lee, assisted by Co-Producer Tara Felmly, have enlisted the aid of Austin Director Michael Morlan to pull out the big toys to assemble a gigantic 50-person crew for the upcoming “48 Hour Film Project” starting June 23rd.
The “48 Hour Film Project” is a world-wide competition in which assembled film crews produce a completed film in only two days.
Big Plume Productions is comprised of some of Austin’s finest film professionals as well as amateurs and embodies the spirit of Austin’s independent film community.
George Oldziey, accomplished composer/arranger whose scoring credits include “Kill Bill”, “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” and “Spy Kids 3D: Game Over” is one of the many talented crew members on this team slated to join in the 48 hours of fun.
Lavastudios will be lending expert sound engineers and their eleven room studio to assist in the finished short.
Big Plume Productions Team producer is Angela Lee (formerly Production Manager and responsible for short film acquisitions for HBO). Ms. Lee, an Austin filmmaker, is at the heart of the Austin independent film world as facilitator of FilmAustin, an elite communications forum for Austin Film Professionals
Grandmaster Wonik Yi, martial arts choreographer for Robert Rodriguez, is an honorary member of the Big Plume Productions Team. Grandmaster Wonik Yi is an 18th Generation Sword Warrior, World Martial Arts Champion, Founder of the World Tukong Moosul Federation, and Former Chief Commander for the Anti-Terrorist School in Korea. Its headquarters is in Austin, and its extension schools are all over the world.
More than 1000 filmmaking teams from around the world are competing this year.
And news release No. 2:
The University of Mary Hardin Baylor is lending a heavy assist to Austin’s Big Plume Productions Team for the 48 hour Film Project.
Included among the crew are several who have served UMHB in “Cru Film Productions”, a 2-year-old entity started when the school added a minor in Film Production. The “Cru” stands for crusader, the school mascot.
Some of these are: Morlan (Austin Film Tools and Gear Rentals) as director, Fembly, who heavily influenced the formation of the UMHB program as producer, and Step Rowe (Keene Studios) as scriptwriter.
In addition, Dr. Diane Howard, a world-renowned expert in distance communication, will function as base camp director and Donna Teel will serve as credit designer.
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What films inspire you?
“It’s a Wonderful Life” tops the list of inspirational movies from the American Film Institute. How vast must AFI’s list-making division be? I’m picturing them locked away in an unmarked building somewhere in the Valley. They haven’t seen light in years.
Anyway, with so many films being so thoroughly demoralizing, it’s worthwhile to think about what films fire you up. Here are some of mine. What are yours?
“An Inconvenient Truth” — The most recent. Hits you upside the head and makes you think about the big picture, and how your recent bad eyebrow wax is not really important in it.
“Dave Chappelle’s Block Party” — I think I floated for a full day after seeing this concert film, which is out on DVD this week. Chappelle’s excitement over the concert he staged, a true labor of love, is contagious. Makes you honestly believe that you will not hit the snooze bar tomorrow morning.
“Amelie” — Now we get to the really girlie part of my list. On the plus side, always inspires me to be kinder. On the minus side, always reminds of how my initial viewing of the film inspired a deep envy of Amelie’s apartment and led to the purchase of fleur de lis wall sconces.
“Clueless” — Goodhearted, happy, pink and shiny. Also, constant repetition of the word “makeover” induces in me a state of euphoria.
And No. 1, for always and forever:
“Bring It On” — Has anyone ever combated adversity with the grace of Torrance Shipman? But we can also look at this on a deeper level. The fact that I love something that involves the otherwise loathsome Kirsten Dunst inspires me to believe in the limitless capacity of the human spirit. Also, I really like the closing credits where they sing “Mickey.”
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Teen crew shooting film today
If you’re around Dessau Road or Convict Hill Road today, you might see the Austin Samsung Fresh Films film crew at work shooting a movie.
Ten local teens will be working through Saturday to create a short film. The Austin team is competing against nine others from around the country to be named Freshest Filmmakers. The teens are doing everything from casting to location scouting to editing.
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Help kids, win movie stuff
Kevin Prewitt at the Arbor left this in comments. Just wanted to make sure you saw:
“If anyone has been to a movie lately at any Austin area Regal Cinema, we are doing our yearly charity drive, Stars of Hope. All proceeds go to the American Heart Association, Boys and Girls Clubs and more. So do your part and give a dollar.
Also, in conjunction with the opening of ‘Word Play’ on June 23 at the Arbor, either donate to Stars of Hope or bring in some school supplies for the upcoming year and be eligible to win movie passes, memorabilia and more.”
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