See ya in the Fall!

Hey Faculty and Students! Take this week to chill and regroup before starting a new on October 4th. In the mean time, please enjoy the video created by the UK paper The Guardian. They have 26 films that are portrayed in this animated short. Can you name all of them? Click HERE for the page and Guardian Site. This hunt is part of a contest the paper is running. Unfortunately, I believe the gifts are only for UK residents :( Doesn't matter. Earn your badge of honor by identifying all 26 films! Good Luck!

AENY on Sept 30th

From AENY: Get ready for another action-packed meeting of After Effects New York, the world’s largest software user group. Best of all, thanks to our awesome sponsors, the meeting is FREE! As always, we’re giving away Thousands of dollars worth of AE-related prizes: Plug-ins, Apps, Books, Stock Footage, and DVD Training!

No need to let us know you’re coming. Just show up!

Date: September 30, 2010 Time: 6:45PM-9:00PM Location:PS 41

David Maxime's Cupcake Video

"Cupcake" full video - Iowa Rockwell feat. SUPERTOY and Max.deciBels from 3rdEyelander Productions on Vimeo.

Our cage manager has broken his long departure from filmmaking to present to us his latest video, Cupcake. Enjoy!!!

Aaron Sorkin discussing Social Network

Those of you whom I've spoken to know that I am a David Fincher fan. For those of you who are unfamiliar, check out Fight Club, Se7en, Zodiac, Panic Room. Below is an interview with the writer of David Fincher's latest film, The Social Network. I posted it today because I am impressed with the amount of research that was dedicated to this film. Aaron Sorkin has a reputation for being through, to the point of textbook history, when it comes to the accuracy of his writing (Military procedures in A Few Good Men, White House Protocol in West Wing).
Take is approach into consideration when working on your own scripts. As the writer, you should know everything about your characters; ie. what clothes they wear in the winter, how they brush their teeth, what celeberties they think are attractive, where they like to meet up with friends. . . and so on. This level of detail shines on set and resonates with your actors. You may not think this approach is relevant, but trust me when I say that the audience notices. Enjoy!

Photos from Alpha Channel on the AINYC Blog

http://ainycnews.blogspot.com/2010/09/alpha-channel-hit.html
Thanks to everyone for coming out! PS: A few of you have been asking about posting the Alpha Channel videos online. Ross and I will be meeting about this week one. I'll have an answer for you guys shortly. - Eve.

Short: 7:35 de la Manana

- By director Nacho Vigalondo. This short earned him an Oscar Nomination in 2003. He is currently working on his second feature, Extraterrestre. His first feature, Timecrimes, is a great time travel film, full of explanations without paradox. A worthwhile suggestion for those of you interested in science fiction films. - Eve.

Happy Monday Everyone!

I am back from vacation! If you need anything, feel free to contact me via post, phone or e-mail.
Cheers! - Eve.

PAs NEEDED FOR FEATURE BY SUNDANCE DIRECTOR & PRODUCER

Seeking unpaid PAs for low-budget indie black comedy called ART
MACHINE by Doug Karr, whose award-winning short TEN FOR GRANDPA
premiered at Sundance 2009. Producers include Mynette Louie of
CHILDREN OF INVENTION (Sundance 2009) and MUTUAL APPRECIATION (SXSW
2005, top 10 films of 2006--Artforum, Film Comment, Village Voice,
etc.).

Start helping with pre-production ASAP and work through the shoot,
which ends 10/25, or some portion thereof. All NYC locations, mostly
Williamburg/Bushwick. Full-time preferred but not required--we can
have a staggered PA schedule, but you must commit at least 10 days.
Must have clean driving record, and we prefer the ability to handle a
box truck (like a moving truck) or cargo van. You will make great
connections and learn a lot (you won't just be relegated to fetching
coffee). Aspiring producers are particularly welcome to apply!

More info here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dougkarr/art-machine-a-feature-length-film

If interested, send resume and cover letter to: artmachinefilm@gmail.com

Department Chair on Vacation!

Hey Guys! Just letting you know that I will be on vacation next week Sept 13th - 17th. Please direct any questions to David Nash while I am out. I will return Monday Sept 20th.

Alpha Channel Selection

Below is the Alpha Channel list of films for this evening:

Wingman
Butterscotch
Jacqueline Star
Seduction
War Dancer
Piece of Mind
Recollection
Unplugged
One More Shot
Whisper
Friends
Fatal Error
Combat
Dirty Venas
Worker Bees PSA
Gene's Revolution
Blocking the Sunshine

Interactive Videos : The Wave of the Future?

1. Go to this site : http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/

2. You will need Google Chrome to experience the site. Download it if you do not have it. Instructions are on the home page.

3. Type in your childhood address and begin experiencing the interactive video.

It's fascinating to me how in just ten years, knowledge has shifted from being paper/analogue based to strictly digital. It makes me wonder if this is how we will be experiencing music videos, films, television, etc. This shift is already happening with streaming media like Netflix, YouTube, and Vimeo. But how far can it go? The new Arcade Fire Video, The Wilderness Downtown, plays with the idea of interactivity. Frankly, I enjoy the idea of film transforming from a passive to an active experience. I won't spoil too much. You will have to watch the video for yourself! Then let us know what you think.

If you are interested in the idea of films and their interactivity, I would suggest the websites below. They were created by the company HiRes. Remember that these are interactive sites. You will have to move your mouse around and click on random parts of the frame. The experience is all about discovery!

http://www.donniedarkofilm.com/

http://www.requiemforadream.com/

Star Wars II Review : Weird and Interesting

To add laughter to your weekend, I leave you with this review of Star Wars 2 : Attack of the Clones. While this reviewer's voice over is dead and monotone, he delivers an articulated and pretty well thought out explanation why this trilogy is unsuccessful. Watch and laugh!

Cinema 16 Tonight in DUMBO

For one night 3 short experimental films by Maya Deren, Wallace Berman, and Kihachiro Kawamoto will be scored by Ablehearts at Smack Mellon, DUMBO.
Thursday, September 2nd
Doors open at 6:00pm
Performance by Ablehearts at 7:00pm

Smack Mellon
92 Plymouth Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201-1002
http://smackmellon.org/

Cinema 16 asks for an entry donation of $10. Catering provided by Solber Pupusas of the Red Hook Vendors. Beer sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon

Black Swan - A word about horror films

Several instructors have given me the privilege this past year with invitations to their screenwriting classes. I have been shocked and amazed at the wealth of talent and insight that most of you posses. While some of the writing was rudimentary, the raw talent for storytelling is there; to be polished with some practice and education.
This statement couldn't be more true to those of you interested in writing and directing horror films. The horror genre is overburdened with mindless shock value and cheap thrills. With the Saw series as the genre's latest poster child, no wonder the blood gushing, maniac ravaging films are getting horrible reviews. Central plot devises rest on gimmicks rather than genuine character development. Nudity and blood are poor substitutes for acting. Zombies and vampires are played off as nothing more than overused shells of once interesting, original concepts.
The genre is suffering from the same issues in student writing.
Don't get me wrong. If you have been to my office, you would know that I am a lover of the horror genre. I am also a believer that horror films can transcend their stereotype as a powerful metaphor for psychological drama,(at times, George Romero) politics, and sociology.
I'm on a rant today because the latest reviews came out for Darren Aronofsky's latest film, Black Swan. Black Swan is opening the Venice Film Festival this evening. An advanced press screening was yesterday. One of the reviews states "Indeed, White Swan/Black Swan dynamics almost work, but the horror-movie nonsense drags everything down the rabbit hole of preposterousness." This quote makes me feel like the reviewer has a bias against the poetry of the genre rather than considering using metaphor as a compelling, dramatic storytelling device.
If you are interested in the horror genre, I would recommend the following titles as examples of what I am talking about: Dead Ringers, Let the Right One In, The Thing, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978),The Brood. Below I have posted the trailer for Black Swan. Try to see it when it comes out and make your own decision. - Eve.