As I blog this I'm engrossed in a great documentary airing on The Documentary Channel...about making documentaries of all things. It's entitled Capturing Reality: The Art of Documentary (2008) and it's totally got me jonesing to go out and shoot a new doc right now. If you are stuck on a doc project and need some motivation or inspiration to get it going again, you should definitely give it a peep.
It's a series of interviews with a dozen or so of the most influential doc makers on the planet including Werner Herzog, Errol Morris, Jennifer Fox, Albert Maysles, and many many more. It's a great little slice f film school and inspiration as these world class docmakers share everything about their approach from how they use the camera, to developing relationships with subjects, to how they use sound.
I don't see it listed as airing again until Saturday morning, June 6, but this one's worth owning of you are a serious docmaker. It's the kind of flick I can see watching a few times a year to refocus and reignite my film passion. (American Movie is the other doc that does that for me in a weird sort of way.)
Anyway, peep it out and let me know your thoughts. I've gotta go bang out some treatments now! My head is exploding with ideas
Monday, June 1, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Spike Lee on Blaxploitation Films and Telling African American Stories
Just thought I'd share a quick blog post from That Black Girl's Site about a recent appearance by Spike Lee at the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference. Spike shares his views on the current state of cinema depicting Black people and the difficulties of funding Black films.Read it HERE.
Thanx to Kia M. Neal for the tip.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Zoe Saldana, Uhura from "Star Trek", on the Next Double Down Film Show
It’s all about acting on the next episode of the Double Down Film 
Show as we feature an exclusive and candid interview with actress Zoe Saldana who stars as Uhura in the new Star Trek film – currently #1 at the box office.In just a few short years with no formal training, Zoe has gone from Double Down co-host Pete Chatmon’s indie hit, Premium, to starring in some of the hottest blockbusters out there including Pirates of the Carribean, Star Trek, and James Cameron’s much anticipated $200 million 3-D epic, Avatar.
How did this one-time ballerina cross-over from up-and-coming indies to mega-budget hits? What were the challenges and rewards of working on a huge franchise film like Star Trek? And more importantly, how can you land the next rising star in your film as a filmmaker? The answers to all these questions, plus Zoe’s candid advice for aspiring actors, will all be revealed on the show.
And on top of Zoe’s words of wisdom, we’ll open up the phone lines and chat room to take your questions about training, auditioning, and the craft of acting with professional casting director/ acting coach, Tracey Moore, who has coached the likes of Ludacris, Missy Elliot, and Busta Rhymes just to name a few. (Her book is called "The Spirited Actor: Principles for a Successful Audition")Listen in and double down on your filmmaking career. It ain’t for fans, it’s for filmmakers.
The Double Down Film Show...Filmmaking Reality Starts Here!Listen Live Every Wednesday 9pm-10pm E.S.T.
Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
How to Create A Breakout Web Series Tonight in The Double Down Film Show
Tonight on Double Down Film Show we talk to the founders of ThisThing Films, Marin Gazzaniga and Anslem Richardson, to hear about how they grabbed some filmmaker friends and a camera and made a web series that caught the Indepedent Film Channel’s attention.Their series, Like So Many Things, is not your typical web series – it looks good, sounds good, is well written, directed and acted and doesn’t have any high concept gags. In fact, IFC decided to put it on TV. They’ll be joined by ThisThing member Ben Insler. The series debuts on IFC May 26th.
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Art of Making It Happen on the Next Double Down Film Show
This Wednesday, May 6th at 9pm E.S.T. on an all-new Double Down Film Show we’ll take a look at Line Producers and Unit Production Managers with Producer/Unit Production Manager, Brent Morris.Brent Co-Produced Rob Zombie’s horror hit, The Devil’s Rejects, as well as the film, Monster starring Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron. He has worked as a producer and/or UPM on many other indie films through the years including, Smoke Signals, American Gun, and The Grand just to name a few.
The writers and directors dream it up, but these professionals actually make it happen. From scheduling and budgeting to everyday production logistics, we’ll break down the art and craft of “making it happen”. Only on the Double Down Film Show...the back door to film school is now open.The Double Down Film Show...Filmmaking Reality Starts Here!
Listen Live Every Wednesday 9pm-10pm E.S.T.
Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956
Friday, May 1, 2009
Music Video Contest
NYC based indie hip hop record label, Crown Digital Records, will be holding their First Ever Music Video Contest for Mr. Ozwald's single A Night To Remember, with a $1,000 grand prize offering.
The contest will run from May 1st - June 5th, features a prize of $1,000 and local guest judges Joe Rosati, Late Night host of Z100 and Peter Shankman of Help a Reporter Out, who will help choose and name a winner.
All contest details are available here:
http://crowndigitalrecords.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
This Is How You Do a Video in One Take!
How do you make a hot-ass music video on a low budget with just one take? Easy- just use talent, creativity and hustle - The Down and Dirty formula. Sometimes less is more.
Check out hip-hop artist, Nyle, performance in this live music video remake of Lil' Wayne's "Let the Beat Build" done by film and music students at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and Clive Davis Institute for recorded music.
It was filmed in one take, with audio being recorded simultaneously with the film. The video features Nyle (www.nyleraps.com) and is produced by Last Pictures (www.last-pictures.com) and 194 Recordings (www.myspace.com/194recordings)
It's been burnin' up the internet video sites for a few days now. I haven't been through the Clive Davis School yet, but can see that a visit is long overdue. Y'all are doin' ya damn thang over there. Congrats on the video and looking forward to seeing more of your work.
UPDATE: Read the New York Magazine article on the video.
Nyle "Let The Beat Build" from Nyle on Vimeo.
Special thanx to Tahir Jetter for the tip!
Check out hip-hop artist, Nyle, performance in this live music video remake of Lil' Wayne's "Let the Beat Build" done by film and music students at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and Clive Davis Institute for recorded music.
It was filmed in one take, with audio being recorded simultaneously with the film. The video features Nyle (www.nyleraps.com) and is produced by Last Pictures (www.last-pictures.com) and 194 Recordings (www.myspace.com/194recordings)
It's been burnin' up the internet video sites for a few days now. I haven't been through the Clive Davis School yet, but can see that a visit is long overdue. Y'all are doin' ya damn thang over there. Congrats on the video and looking forward to seeing more of your work.
UPDATE: Read the New York Magazine article on the video.
Nyle "Let The Beat Build" from Nyle on Vimeo.
Special thanx to Tahir Jetter for the tip!
Tonight - Weds. April 29th - on The Double Down Film Show
Tonight on a special EXPANDED edition of The Double Down Film Show we'll be sharing a private webinar originally given for Turn Here Productions that gives some key tips and tricks to documentary and corporate production.- How do you get good documentary "performances" from "real people"?
- What can you do in low light situations?
- What are some of the most helpful tools for doc filmmakers?
- What's a "ghetto light kit"?
The answers to these questions (and much more) will be revealed tonight in a special hour and a half episode as show co-host, Anthony Q. Artis, will expand on the info in his best-selling book, The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide.
Join in the chat room to have your doc production questions answered live. Call in questions after the webinar- time permitting.
The Double Down Film Show...Filmmaking Reality Starts Here!
Listen Live Every Wednesday 9pm-10pm
Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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!
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
Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
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.
Create Your Own
The Double Down Film Show...Filmmaking Reality Starts Here!
*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.
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.
Create Your OwnThe Double Down Film Show...Filmmaking Reality Starts Here!
Date / Time: Wednesday April 8 - 9pm-10pm
Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
