Tonight - Weds. April 15th - on The Double Down Film Show:

Creating compelling images is only one element of the filmmaking process, so tonight on the Double Down Film Show it's all about showing love to audio. In another double-header we will have two special guests who specialize in making films sound better.

First up is renowned jazz pianist and composer, Eric Lewis aka "Elew", who has scored the soundtracks to Premium, Four Seasons Lodge, and provided additional music to The Great Debaters, not to mention burning up the keys at major music venues from New York City to Sundance to Milan and everywhere in between. We'll delve into some specifics on how to hire and work with composers as well as how music can be used to more effectively create emotion and engage your audience in a story.

After that, we'll talk about audio post production with Peter Levin founding partner of Splash Studios who mixed Shelter, Dark Days, Hell House and web spots for BMW amongst many other feature and broadcast projects through the years. Topics dicussed will include how to hire a sound designer, prep for mix, and the unique contribution of sound fx and audio sweetening to the overall professional quality of a project.

Also, tonight we will be giving away to one lucky listener a full copy of the brand new instructional double DVD set, Down and Dirty DV's Audio Crash Course, a $99.00 value!

The Double Down Film Show...Filmmaking Reality Starts Here!

Listen Live Every Wednesday 9pm-10pm

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Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

Listen To It Online Here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow

*PS - If you can't tune in live, you can still stream the show or save the podcast to your iPod later at the site above.

Emerging Filmmakers to Watch on The Double Down Film Show - Tonight!

Tonight - Weds. April 8th - on The Double Down Film Show:

On the next Double Down Film Show we'll examine the conundrum of achieving high production value with limited resources with some emerging filmmakers who are creating considerable buzz with their latest projects.

Rashaad Ernesto Green is an actor turned filmmaker whose film, Premature, was recently screened on HBO and Starz and just took second place at the NYU First Run Film Festival last week. He was just named by Indiewire Magazine as one of "Ten Exciting New Voices in Black Cinema".



We'll also be speaking with Director, "Black Magic" Tim and D.P., Eric McClain of RVI Motion Media and Cyberstorm Digital about the secrets to their success in shooting the new low-budget big-action sci-fi series "Vector 2033" using the latest greenscreen and CGI technology.

Click link to: Watch the "Vector 2033" Trailer - Full Screen

Production Stills from "Vector 2033":

Create Your Own

The Double Down Film Show...Filmmaking Reality Starts Here!

Date / Time: Wednesday April 8 - 9pm-10pm

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Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

Listen To It Online Here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow

*PS - If you can't tune in live, you can still stream the show or save the podcast to your iPod later at the site above.

A Lively Conversation w/ Outrageous Director Lloyd Kaufman - Tonight!

Tonight on The Double Down Film Show we’ll have a conversation with legendary modern B-movie director, Lloyd Kaufman. Co-founder and president of Troma Entertainment, arguably the longest-running independent film studio in the world.

Lloyd has operated outside of the studio system for more than 40 years, writing, directing and producing outrageous low-budget independent films that have influenced a generation of directors including Peter Jackson, Eli Roth and Quentin Tarantino. He also has an insightful and hilarious new film book out called, Direct Your Own Damn Movie.

FAIR WARNING: There WILL be some offensive content for everyone.

The Double Down Film Show…Filmmaking Reality Starts Here.

Date / Time: Wednesday April 1 - 9pm-10pm

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Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

Listen To It Online Here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow

Ant's Interview on Mac Video

Check out filmmaker and fellow author of The Focal Easy Guide to Final Cut Pro 6, Rick Young's interview with me on his very informative and resource-packed website MacVideo.TV.

(I look tired as hell 'cause I literally just finished teaching 8 hours of filmmaking seminars in about a 24-hour period at Boston's 19th Annual Pro Video Show, but that's just the way us guerrillas roll...then come back for more!)

Watch The Interview

The New Kids on the Filmmaking Block

I just wanted to tell you all about some filmmakers to watch. My man, Rashaad Ernesto Green, who's a grad film student here at NYU, just made the "official" list by Indiewire magazine of Ten Exciting New Voices in Black Cinema. His new film entitled, Premature, has recently screened on HBO (and may still be available on the HBO On Demand channel).

UPDATE: Premature is also screening at NYU's First Run Film Festival - Saturday, March 28 at 7:00pm.

Also on the same list is recent NYU grad, Dee Rees, who I've also previously profiled on this blog for her film, Pariah which was at Sundance last year. And although he was not included on indiewire's list, I'll give another quick shout out to Alrick Brown whose powerful latest film, US: A Love Story, is screening this week at NYU's First Run Film Festival this Sunday, March 29th at 5pm.

Brothas and sistas are out there doing their damn thing and I hope everyone else reading this is inspired to get over the obstacles (internal and otherwise), pick up a camera and do the same. The only thing that can really stop us now...is us.

Congrats and love to all three emerging filmmakers out there doing it, not just talking about it. I love it!

-Ant.

Trailer for Premature:

Sam Pollard on the Next Double Down Film Show

On the next Double Down Film Show, we’ll be having an in-depth discussion with veteran Oscar-nominated Editor/Producer Sam Pollard. Over 30 years, Sam has won both Emmy and Peabody awards for his work as an Editor and Producer on dozens of feature projects.

He is a frequent collaborator with director Spike Lee and has most notably edited 4 Little Girls, When the Levee’s Broke, Jungle Fever, Mo’ Better Blues, and many more quality thought-provoking films. We’ll be discussing Sam’s editing and producing process, the director/editor relationship, advice for aspiring editors and serving up more real-world practical filmmaking advice.

The Double Down Film Show…Filmmaking Reality Starts Here.

Date / Time: Wednesday March 25 - 9pm-10pm

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Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

Listen To It Online Here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow

Clip from "When the Levees Broke" - Sam Pollard - Producer/Editor:

The Film Festival Show on the Next Double Down Film Show

Making a film is only the beginning of the story. After the film, comes the film festivals. Getting people to actually SEE and RECOGNIZE your film is the next big challenge. On the next Double Down Film Show, we’re going behind the scenes to talk candidly with Karina Rotenstein, Programming Manager at HOT DOCS in Toronto and Leslie Vanderpool, Founder & Executive Director of the BAHAMAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, to get the inside scoop on the best filmmaker practices for festival success. From applications to promotions, we’ll break down the most important things to keep in mind when applying, screening or attending film festivals.

The Double Down Film Show...Filmmaking Reality Starts Here.

Date / Time: Wednesday March 18 - 9pm-10pm

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Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

Listen To It Online Here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow

Behind the Scenes of South Park's Quick Turnarounds

Well into responsible adulthood, I am still a major fan of the animated show South Park. Yes, it's offensive, juvenile, and occasionally grotesque, but above all- the show is a damned funny (and sometimes even deeply reflective) running commentary on some of the biggest and most contraversial cultural issues affecting the country.

With regards to the latter, on many occasions South Park has managed to miraculously craft an entire episode around news events that happened the same week - and at least once even the day before - as in the infamous "About Last Night Episode" which aired the day after Election Night and somehow managed to incorporate President Obama's acceptance speech which had just aired less than 24 hours before South Park went to air.

I have always been perplexed and amazed by how quickly South Park could seize on a current news event and have it play out in animated parody with so little turn-around time. ( Didn't we always learn that animation was painstakingly time-consuming and slow filmmaking process?!) Surely creators, Matt Parker and Trey Stone, have some Down and Dirty guerrilla tricks up their sleeve to pull off such miracles of animation turnaround.

Click the link below to peep the very funny "About Last Night" episode and then check it out with director commentary about how the whole episode came together over 6 days. (BTW- ALL the South Park episodes are available online for FREE in their entirety at SouthyParkStudios.com) Thanks to Matt and Trey for years of making me laugh my ass off.

To view the full episode with commentary
CLICK HERE

Get the Shut Up and Shoot Doc Guide for Only $23.00 - 34% Off the Cover Price!

I recently found out that The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide was officially the best-selling film book of 2008 by the best-selling publisher of film books- Focal Press.

So to celebrate for the very first time and for a limited time only, I am offering personalized copies of the book for a whopping 34% off the $35.00 cover price. That's only $23.00 for:

• 296 Full Color Pages
• 500+ Illustrations
• Bonus DVD w/ Video and Audio Tutorials

Don't go to the main book sales page. You can only get the $23.00 price using the special link below. That's as cheap or cheaper than you will find it anywhere online- and I will sign every copy.

But hurry- this link will NOT be active forever. It'll be up for at least a week, but I won't promise more than that. Once current supplies have been exhausted, I will delete this blog entry entirely.

Order Now While Supplies Last:

Please Sign This Copy To:

Starting Your Own Production Company on the next Double Down Film Show

On the tonight's Double Down Film Show we will discuss the ins and outs of starting your own production company. The "show" is only half of the equation. Whether you are looking to shoot music videos, commercials or indie features, you've got to get your "business" right too.

We'll help you avoid some of the most common pitfalls of incorporating, setting up a company website and landing your first clients, plus more real-world filmmaking advice. Call in live with your questions or info to share tonight.

The Double Down Film Show...Filmmaking Reality Starts Here!

Date / Time: Wednesday March 11 - 9pm-10pm

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Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

Listen To It Online Here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow