IFP's Script to Screen Conference is Back in Effect!

IFP’s Script to Screen Conference is returning after a five-year sabbatical to address the new landscape and opportunities facing content creators working across platforms in film, television and new technologies. Directly connecting aspiring and working screenwriters, filmmakers and producers to the decision-makers of the film, television and new media business, the Conference features some of the most prolific industry innovators and iconic screenwriters in independent film today.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Keynote Focus Feature CEO James Schamus and “30 Rock’s” Jerry Kupfer
• Master classes with filmmaker Lee Daniels (2009 Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner Push: Based on the Novel By Sapphire) and producer
• Scott Franklin (The Wrestler)
• Panels with:
• Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden (Sugar, Half Nelson),
• Ramin Bahrani (Goodbye Solo)
• Kelly Masterson (Before The Devil Knows Your Dead)
• Producer Ted Hope and more!”

March 7 & 8

New York Film Academy 100 East 17th Street, New York, NY

Click Here to Purchase Pass

Best Websites for Filmmakers w/ Maxie Collier, Tech Guru

Join us for another info-packed DOUBLE DOWN FILM SHOW, as we breakdown all the best web resources for filmmakers from film education to DVD duplication and everything in between.

Special guest Maxie Collier, author of the “IFilm DV Filmmakers Handbook”, director of the IFC documentary “Paper Chasers” and all around web technology guru will give an informative overview of some of the best websites for filmmakers.

In just the last few years, the web has greatly leveled the playing field for indie filmmakers and artists. Learn how to use the full power of Web 2.0 to prepare, produce, and promote your projects regardless of your budget.

The Double Down Film Show…Filmmaking Reality Starts Here!”

*LIVE*
Wednesday, February 18th @ 9PM EST

Listen in from your computer:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doubledownfilmshow

or

Listen in from your phone:
(646) 929-1956

Maxie Collier's Websites:
Paper Chasers TV
B-More Hacks
UrbanArtsClub

Paper Chasers Trailer:

A Powerful New Short - 'Us: A Love Story"

Just wanted to give a share with everyone a short film that I recently had the pleasure of viewing. It's called "Us: A Love Story" and it's by a serious up and coming filmmaking talent and personal friend, Alrick Brown.

Some of you may be familiar with Alrick from the reality series, Film School, which chronicled a year in the life of four NYU grad film students. Well, Alrick has since graduated from grad school and "Us: A Love Story" is his thesis film which is just starting to make the festival rounds.

Interview w/ Alrick and his Short "Super N"
(chronicled in the IFC series, "Film School")

If it comes anywhere near your area, make the pilgrimage to check out "Us: A Love Story". Like much of Alrick's work to date, it's a powerful, thought-provoking and deep examination of race relations in America. It's the type of film that can make an audience uncomfortable, because it shines a magnifying glass and bright light on some deep and heavy cultural issues that have long since been swept under the rug. It completely skirts preachiness and simplicity in favor of unflinching unexamined truths about- us.

It stayed with me long after I saw it. And if it's a sign of things to come from Alrick, I look forward to a long career of provocative intelligent films. Keep your eye out for his name...you will definitely hear it again.

Trailer - "Us: A Love Story"

Coming Soon to:


Garden State Film Festival
Asbury Park, NJ
April 2 - 5, 2009

Langston Hughes African-American Film Festival
Seattle, WA
April 18-26, 2009

Get Some Guts, People!

Here's a quickie post for my low-budget horror peeps out there. It's a short instructional video by Tressa Sanders of Still Guerrilla Films on how to make fake intestines.

I have yet to make an actual horror film, but love the genre and spent many years as a volunteer for the Woodlawn Haunted House in Baltimore where I also plied my trade as a self-taught Special FX Make-Up artist.

No matter how old I get, I still love a little juvenile humor and fun. Thanks for sharing Tressa. Enjoy...

Apple Improves the Suckier New Version of iMovie

If you've followed this blog at all, you that I am huge fan and proponent of Apple products. It's not just that they are sexy and cool (which they are), but for me it's that they are stable, simple and extremely practical and easy to use. Rarely do I need to even consult a manual to get a new Apple product or software up and fully running...and I'm not that bright.

Substance - good fully-functional products - is always number one. (Think Volvo.) Style is fun and hip to look at, but annoying when it's not practical. (Think cheap iKea furniture.) However, when you find a way to successfully marry the two together - you've got a bonafide hit everytime. (Think the Mini Cooper, iPod, or The Daily Show.) In a nutshell, Apple does what I continually strive to do with Down and Dirty DV, which is marry substance with style. They generally do it consistently and well, so that's why I usually love their products.

But you lest you think I have a completey bias eye towards Apple, know that they are not infallible in my eyes. So I will share one BIG way that that I think they screwed up recently- and that is with the most recent incarnations of their editing program, iMovie. I have always loved and relied on iMovie to put together mostly personal projects such as podcasts and home movies.

iMovie's always been a greatly simplified, but powerful editor that had more than it's share of powerful professional features to pull off a variety of video projects, even some more complex ones. It's always the first place I recommend newbies start with editing.

That being said, my man David Pogue, Technology writer for the New York Times, just wrote a great article that sums up the virtues of the old stylistic and functional iMovie versus the last two versions which stripped away the most functional parts of this once beloved program. Anyway peep it out for yourself. He's much more eloquent than me...

Apple Recasts iMovie With Improved Features

Best Double Down Film Show Ever!

Last night’s show was great and went right to core mission of The Double Down Film Show - to help you succeed and stay inspired as you make your way in the film and tv industry. We had more people in the chat room and listening in LIVE than ever before. (Truth is we were just getting warmed up and could've easily gone another hour!)

Listen to the show for yourself on the player below. Here are just a few comments we got from listeners already:

“GREAT JOB MAN !!!!!!!! I listened to the radio show and ya said the truth”
- Eric Arriola

"I'm sure I don't have to tell you that the show is excellent. I also know that I don't have to tell you that I really enjoyed listening and will continue to listen. It's very motivating not only to film makers, but entrepreneurs, artists, designers and dreamers. I really enjoyed it. You two are top notch. Thanks for sharing the wisdom."
-Lenny Mayers

"Your blogtalkradio presentation was awesome! I can't wait for the next 20 lessons."
-Amanda Guest

“Nice show, I listened in. Keep up the good work :))”
- Jacqueline Cofield N’Namdi

“Great show tonight, Anthony. Each one, teach one in full effect- beautiful, just beautiful.”
- Kia M. Neal

“Pete that was AWESOME. I got a chance to listen tonight…..Thank you and Anthony so much. I am fired up, inspired and just so open to the many possibilities. As you say Onward and Upward….Continued blessings to you!!!!!!!!!!!!”
- Richarda Abrams

To get the complete breakdown of our “20 Filmmaking Lessons Learned the Hard Way” you’ve gotta join the DOUBLE DOWN FILM COMMUNITY. This will be uploaded to the site later today exclusively for our members, as well as my and Pete's “Recommended Reading List”!

20 Lessons We Learned The Hard Way

This week myself and co-host, Pete Chatmon, are going straight to the core mission of the Double Down Film Show- to give you "the real" on advancing in the film and tv industry in a special episode entitled, Filmmaking Lessons We Learned the Hard Way.

This will be a candid point-by-point conversation on all the most valuable and practical wisdom that we learned only through many years of experience in the industry.

Everyone is encouraged to participate directly by sharing your own stories of Lessons You Learned the Hard Way by logging into The Double Down Film Community and leaving a comment on our Forum.

After the show our full list will be emailed exclusively to members of The Double Down Film Community.

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

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

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Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

Listen To It Online Here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow

All-Star Celebrity Rant

Christian Bale Apologizes

After a week of brewing controversy about his blistering tirade on the set of Terminator IV, Christian Bale has issued a public apology on the KROQ morning radio show. We discussed the issue some at the top of last week's Double Down Film Show before Bale's Apology.

Here's a short excerpt followed by a link to the full audio version:

"The thing that I really want to stress is I have no confusion whatsoever. I was out of order beyond belief. I was way out of order. I acted like a punk. I regret that...There is nobody that has heard that tape that is hit harder by it than me. I make no excuses for it. It is inexcusable. I hope that that is absolutely clear." - Actor, Christian Bale

Audio: Christian Bales Apology on KROQ Morning Show

I think the incident is a tough career break for Christian and only time will tell if the public and Hollywood will ultimately forgive and forget his over-the-top on-set tirade. There's plenty of food for thought for budding filmmakers in this incident if you really think about it.

Apart from set etiquette and professionalism, I think there's a real lesson in the pressures of success and fame. Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it...and once you get it, it may come with some unexpected strings attached...like paparazzi, total loss of privacy, 27 dependent employees, pressure to perform every time and possibly even a complete loss of perspective and reality.

I don't think it's cool to talk to anybody like that, least of all in front of crew, but I do understand some of the factors that can fuel such a freakout and based on another unfortunate incident with his family around the same time, Christian was/is clearly dealing with something else in his personal life. I think it's a good reminder of the importance of keeping our feet on the ground as we progress in our careers...especially if we do reach the top.

There's a flip side to everything.

-Ant.

Christian Bale Completely Loses It On Set

(Above: Director, McG, and actor, Christian Bale, from Terminator IV)

The gossip website TMZ just broke this story today about actor Christian Bale who went ballistic on the set of Director McG's Terminator IV when the D.P. apparently walked onto a shot (or possibly the rehearsal of a shot) onset. I'm gonna post this one and let the audio speak for itself. Click below to listen...

WARNING: THIS CLIP CONTAINS SOME VERY GRAPHIC LANGUAGE.

Audio: Christian Bale Going Off On Set

Was Christian Bale in the wrong here?
Was the D.P. at fault?
Should the director have stepped in?
Will this hurt his career?
Is this really enough context to form a judgment?
How would you handle this situation on your set?
Is it ever okay to talk to anyone this way on set?

I wanna know what you think. I believe this is a real Hollywood learning opportunity.

Leave your comments below, better yet, call in or hit the chat room live tomorrow (Weds.) night at 9pm to discuss more at the top of The Double Down Film Show. Tomorrow's special guest will be casting director, Sig De Miguel.

Date / Time: Wednesday February 4 - 9pm-10pm

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Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

Listen To The Show Here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow