I am starting The Reelshow Editor’s Choice series 2012 in February this year!
The film I have chosen was uploaded a few weeks ago by Famu, Czech Republic film student graduate Jan Chramosta and is called Ahoj Coco.
I really like this film, it was nicely shot, has a great theme and is a real pleasure to watch.Jan describes Ahoj Coco as ‘Metaphorical movie about work.’ Take a look..

ReelshowInt MAG - For Student Filmmakers And Lovers Of Film

I cannot lay claim to having seen every car chase in the movies worldwide but a couple of nights ago I was lucky to catch a screening of “Ronin”, dir: John Schlesinger …Starring Robert Di Nero.

The main sequences were shot in the very narrow streets of Nice and then a fantastic sequence which seemed to go on for ever along the main thoroughfares of Paris..

Most of the action was against the flow of traffic with crashes, narrow escapes, multiple crashes, smashes in tunnels, all done at high speed and covered amazingly well.

If you have ever driven in Paris and driven with the flow of the traffic you will realize how insane it must have been to drive at top speed against the flow.

I could only find credits for six drivers at the end of the film.

Well done to all of them.

If any one has seen a better example of high speed chases then please let me know

ReelshowInt MAG - For Student Filmmakers And Lovers Of Film

If you are a film student or recent film studies graduate and have an opinion about a film you have seen recently or an old favourite why not write a review of the film for The Reelshow Magazine? As an incentive, if we publish your review on the magazine site, we will send you an Amazon voucher for $US10.00.

This is open to students/grads from around the world but the review has to be written in English – it doesn’t have to be perfect English- we can always edit the article if you want us to. It should be around 600-800 words in length and include an  image/s ( if poss).

Interested? Any questions just use the contact form below. Also use the form to send in your review and images – use the file upload for that.

Comments or questions are welcome.

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ReelshowInt MAG - For Student Filmmakers And Lovers Of Film

January at The Reelshow is always busy taking care of updates to The Reelshow International Student Film Festival Directory and our International Film School Directory. Both directories are now done and as up to date as possible. New Student Film Festivals are added all the time so if thats what you are interested in keep checking the site.

The judges gave their assessments of the films entered in The Reelshow All Winners Festival 2011 in January as well. Congrats to Valeriy,  our winner, who directed Quadraturan the overall best film.

The Reelshow bimonthly Student Film Competitions kick off this month- February – the deadline is 26th. If you want to take part, get us your film, check out the options on how to do this here.

After last year’s success we are running The Reelshow 30 Second TV Commercial Competitions again this year. There are 5 contests down the year with one winner from each contest going through to the final in December. The above link will take you through to the details of the first contest.

We are introducing a series of 3 Music Video Competitions this year – as yet there are no details up on the site.

All Reelshow Film Competition dates for 2012 can be seen on The Reelshow Film Competition Calendar 2012

Please remember The Reelshow site is exclusively for film students and film studies graduates ( see FAQ) to upload their films to. You do not have to take part in any on going competitions -we would still love to see your film up on the site all the same..!!

ReelshowInt MAG - For Student Filmmakers And Lovers Of Film

That is not a title that is seen too often in relation to the Film industry.

Having worked in all branches of the industry for over forty years I have not experienced any overt racism at all in the one International industry that is as culturally diverse as the Film and TV industry.

Why?

No idea..

Maybe it is similar in the music business.

Different races and ethnic groups seem to work in almost perfect harmony in both of these entertainment businesses.

I have experienced racism in a number of countries, from a dislike of my race, English, to a total rejection of my White Anglo Saxon appearance..but it was never really associated with  the job I was doing.

What is it about our industry that surpasses the common prejudices.

Maybe it is the involvement in the creative process.

“Slumdog Millionaire” was shot inMumbai,Indiaby an Englishman from the North ofEngland.. using inexperienced young Indian actors in some of the worst social conditions in the world . It won an Oscar….An amazing achievement.

I have noticed that when I attend social events at the BAFTA headquarters in  Piccadilly, London that all social and racial groups intermingle and seem very happy to do so, maybe because the main topic of conversation is the making, writing, producing, financing, casting ,and shooting of films.

Is the creative process of making movies about to create something else, an Esperanto of the creative world.

ReelshowInt MAG - For Student Filmmakers And Lovers Of Film

Jason E. Flynn MFA is The Reelshow Film Tutor of the Year 2011.

Congratulations to Mr Flynn who is Assistant Professor of Film & Digital Media Production at the University of North Alabama, USA.

Jason Flynn is a 2004 graduate of James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA) with a BS degree in Media Arts & Design, Cinema Studies. In 2008, he completed his MFA in Drama, Broadcasting & Cinema with a concentration in Film & Video Production at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of North Alabama (Florence) in the Department of Communications, where he has developed and implemented a Communication Arts concentration in Film & Digital Media Production.

Flynn’s variety of professional projects has played at dozens of international and domestic festivals, museums, conferences, trainings, and been broadcast on the Independent Film Channel & Spike TV. He also previously won Yale University’s screenplay competition and was a National Association of Television Program Executives’ Faculty Fellow.

In 2008, Jason Flynn began developing and implementing a new Communication Arts concentration in Film & Digital Media Production in the University of North Alabama’s Department of Communications and in 2009, the curriculum was approved by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. In addition to the major, minors have also been added in Screenwriting and Digital Media Production.

The program works with students to “visualize” their future within the perimeters of “artistic training with commercial ability.” As of 2011, the 65 majors utilize an array of resources that include 22 HD cameras (all with full support gear), an Arriflex 16mm, Chroma key studio, and 42 editing stations with programs ranging from Apple’s Final Cut Studio to Adobe’s Production Creative Suite.

With the support of President William Cale, Vice President John Thornell, Dean Vagn Hansen, Department of Communications Chair Greg Pitts, community members and students, the program looks to continue increasing their assets and artistic output.

Samples of student work for each academic year can be viewed at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yisjCHSWA08
http://www.una.edu/film/PastDemoReels.html

University of North Alabama
UNA Box 5007, Florence
Alabama (Lauderdale) 35632, U.S.A.

Reelshow Editor: We had a good response to our first Film Tutor of the Year Award. Lots of students, graduates and faculty members wrote in to nominate film tutors who have inspired them and made their learning experiences memorable for all the right reasons! This award will be a yearly event as it is important to draw attention to tutors/teachers that make a difference and have a positive impact on their students’ future careers. We wish Mr Flynn all the best for the future.

ReelshowInt MAG - For Student Filmmakers And Lovers Of Film

You may wonder why I have raised this point in an article on a Film Makers site.

I have filmed the British Royal Family on many occasions.. one never gets really close, mainly for security reasons.

I have filmed various members of the family at functions and have been allowed to follow them into state banquets and other dining functions, but I have never been allowed to film them eating.

The Security , Special Branch Officers , always give you the order of the boot, as in “Get Out”

Why?

Do members of the most elite family in the UK have eating disorders.

Were they not taught basic table manners?

Were they never taught how to handle cutlery?

Do they eat with their fingers, or push their faces into the food and slurp it up?

Have you ever seen any member of this family eating, on newsreels or any other media outlet.

They must be the most photographed family group in the world and yet no-one has ever seen food pass into their mouths.

There may be some old Hollywood version of someone like Henry VIII chomping on a chicken leg or a leg of lamb, before throwing the remnants over his shoulder for the peasants or hounds to leap upon, but none of the modern royals ever do that.

In the “Kings Speech” I cannot recall one eating scene.

No wonder the newest arrival is bone thin…they never eat.

Are they aliens, as some prominent conspiracy theorists would have you believe or are they just a little sloppy at the table.

We may never know.

A fortune in royalties (Pardon the pun) awaits the first news man/woman to grab a few seconds of the royal chomp…keep your eyes open out there.

ReelshowInt MAG - For Student Filmmakers And Lovers Of Film

John Salcedo tells us about the making of the book trailer for “My Life After Life.”

The book trailer idea for “My Life After Life” originated as an inquiry from Dr. K. Paul Stoller, MD FACHM, after we completed a short documentary featuring John Logan, one of his patients who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Dr. Stoller repaired his PTSD with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy decades after coming home from Vietnam in 1968. My little brother Julio Salcedo directed the film and Inder Mann was the Director of Photography. BRAIN STORM: “Purple Heart”

I had never heard of a book trailer concept but I became interested immediately. Galen Stoller, prior to the train accident that took his Earth life, was an accomplished actor, ethical vegetarian, and helped train dogs for Assistance Dogs of the West. Following the second anniversary of his passing, he asked his father to write this book.

Producing the book trailer for “My Life After Life” required a creative approach to make the book more interesting to sell, so I decided to apply some cinematic language. The book trailer makes more sense after viewers read the book to appreciate the true connection between the arts and the spiritual world. There is a piece of wisdom in the book that describes art, music, and literature as having very high soul energy and Dr. Stoller had an interest with the them and was able to align himself through his subconscious mind; in a dream state to communicate with with his son after his passing. You’ll have to see the trailer for yourself!

Since the concept of book trailers is still fairly new, I decided to not restrict my creativity by limiting my time to 30, 60 or 90 seconds. The entire book trailer is over three minutes and is a hybrid structure of a short film and a commercial. I like to call it “Cinematic Marketing.”

The book trailer opens with a shot in outer space which is how I felt the reader would best identify with Galen’s perspective from the spirit world. The white flashes represent Galen’s spirit presence to allow the viewer to begin building a relationship with the Galen’s character. The indian flute represents the alignment with the “death walker” and the Santa Fe connection between Dr. Stoller in the spiritual realm. Hence the term “Death Walker Series.”

2012 is kicking off with a technical advisor gig for two back-to-back episodes (214 & 215) on the ABC show “Body of Proof” with Dana Delaney, Peter Dunlop and guest starring 90210′s Luke Perry involving a bioterrorism incident. Body of Proof Episode 214 is scheduled to air on 17 Jan on Tuesday night on ABC. Thank you to the Reelshow International for international support given to film students & entrepreneurs. Thank you!

John Salcedo is a Reelshow member and Competition Winner.

ReelshowInt MAG - For Student Filmmakers And Lovers Of Film

I catch up with Vanshaj Kapur, winner of the Reelshow Online  Student Film Competition December 2011, to ask him a bit  about himself, the making of his film Toffee and his future as a filmmaker in India.

Hi Vanshaj, tell me a little bit about your background. What got you into filmmaking, and who do you draw your inspiration from?

As a child I was always fascinated by the Television and films. Especially in India, with the glamour of Bollywood, almost every child  grows to have a favourite hero/heroine. To be a part of this industry has been a childhood dream.It always gave me an impression of being free from the monotonous lives people lead. I watched the making of many films and envied the people present who worked so close with projects that everyone saw. Although I’ve liked a lot of films and works, my biggest influences are my experiences in life. I can’t really say that a film or director has inspired my work.

Where did you get the idea for your film?

3 years ago,when I started making films in school with digicams and had no idea about film language or technique, ‘Toffee’ came to my mind. Since then it’s lingered, but I never mustered up the courage to actually make it for fear of ruining it with my lack of knowledge. A couple of years into college and upon completing a small film assignment I knew it was time to execute the dream of ‘Toffee’.

Tell me about the casting process, did you use just professional artists or friends as well?  

The casting story of this film is rather funny. Initially I cast a small girl for the role, after having spoken to her parents and scheduling with them we finally began shoot. Halfway through the shoot, the girl refused to act, the heat bothered her and she refused to open her eyes every time I used the reflector! Just then, a little school boy happened to walk by and he seemed perfect for the role! I approached him and after much persuasion, he agreed to be my hero. However, in all the excitement, we forgot to ask him what his name was! The beggar was played by a friend of mine, he wasn’t much trouble at all.

What did you shoot the film on, and with which particular equipment?

This film was shot with a Canon EOS 550D, all the shots were handheld.

 How long was your shoot?

Although the preparation for this film took me about 2 days, we successfully finished shooting in 3 hours.

Where was it shot, and were there any issues with locations? Did you use college or University facilities for shooting or post production?

We shot this in Pune, Its a road close to where I live. During the course of the shoot,the heat and curious onlookers made it very hard to shoot! The equipment we shot with belonged to a friend, but our college does issue out cameras and lights. But what is really interesting is how we made music for it. A friend of mine in the United States composed it over skype, we’ve been working together on film for a really long time now and the distance hasn’t affected us at all. We both started as film/music enthusiasts and are now doing well for ourselves. He directs an a capella band there in his university.

What did you edit the film on?

It was edited on my mac with Final Cut Pro.

You graduate from Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune, India in 2013. Can you tell us a bit about your school and the course you are doing and if you think going to film school ( or studying media studies)  is essential for your career path.

My college is actually a design college, but it does offer a major in film and video design which I’m pursuing. In India it hardly helps to get into the industry with a degree, a higher degree of importance is given to your work. I’ve been able to work on many projects apart from college with just recommendations. I recently interned in the direction team of a star-studded  Bollywood film “The Dirty Picture”. So work here really depends on you and not where you are from.

What is your ambition and what are you working on now? What aspect of the industry do you aspire to be involved in?

I would someday like to direct full length feature film, as of now I aim at working with the feature film industry as much as I can and make short films for festivals. I hope for a big break someday! But that’s just a thought, experience has taught me that nothing can substitute hard work.

What are the opportunities in India now for young filmmakers? The film industry in India has exploded in the last few years this must have made a difference?

The Indian audience had opened up to new cinema, many new films with different genres have come in. Young film makers are now accepted to break the monotony of the industry and bring in fresh ideas.There is immense scope in this dynamic and evolving industry.

How are you finding things since winning the ReelShow competition?

Winning the competition was a great achievement for me. It would be my first international award. Compliments have been pouring in from family and friends. It has certainly boosted my confidence and morale.

Who is your favourite filmmaker?..and why

I don’t really have a favourite, but to name a few I love the work of Mira Nair and Deepa Mehta. Both quite different in their approach to cinema, but yet so close to their characters and surroundings. Mira nair’s ‘Monsoon Wedding’ was an eye opener as to how close one can get to an actual Punjabi wedding, and all this with films. It makes me believe that we can hit the core of a subject with films.

Finally, what’s the last film that you saw and the best film that you have seen in the last twelve months?

The last film I saw “The Dirty Picture”, it’s a film that recently released and also the one I’ve been closely involved with for a  long time this year. As far as the best film is concerned, I would have to say that ‘The Adventures of Tintin’  stole my heart. I was so scared of this legend becoming a film, but the masters handled it with excellence.

Thanks Vanshaj, we wish all the best.

Vanshaj’s film Toffee is entered into The Reelshow All Winners Festival 2011

ReelshowInt MAG - For Student Filmmakers And Lovers Of Film

Its December and this will be the last monthly  Editor’s Choice, selected from the student films uploaded to the Reelshow site this year. I have chosen A Videotape by Nick Bruhn-Petersen.
Nick graduates from the University of Copenhagen in 2012. He described his film to me as ‘a very web-new media-conscious work’. I really like this film and wish Nick well with his film studies and his career in film..!

‘Combining well-established genre-traits and an extremely elliptical structure, ‘A Videotape’ is an attempt to merge the out-worn narratives of contemporary Hollywood with the new narrative chaos that the rise of the Internet and computer has brought. It’s supposed to challenge and entertain.’

Film Production Values

ReelshowInt MAG - For Student Filmmakers And Lovers Of Film