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Monsters (2010) Making of featurette

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 07:22:00 +0000

Monsters (2010), UK, sci-fi romance set after aliens have taken over parts of Mexico. The thing that makes this film an incredible discussion point is the low budget but the amazing production values that appear on screening. Check out this featurette on the making of Monsters.

video platform video management video solutions video player

Here's the trailer of the film to get a real sense of the quality of the production values.

#MIFF Day 10: The Robber, Wild Targets, Love in Puff and Rubber

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:12:00 +0000

The Robber (2010), Austria/Germany, the journey of Johann Rettenberger, an Austrian armed robber and long distance runner. The film starts as Rettenberger is close to being released from jail and then moves immediately to after his release where he wastes no time returning to old habits. He finds success with his running and his armed robberies, but this crimes are not driven by greed but appear to be a more adrenalin driven activity. Rettenberger starts a relationship with a Erika which does nothing to stem his activities. A brilliantly made and fantastic ride about a man who lives for survival itself.

Wild Targets (2010), UK, pure popcorn comedy which is completely absurd. Victor Maynard (Bill Nighy) is a very proper English hitman who takes a job to kill a young vamp fraudster, Rose (Emily Blunt). Rose ripped off businessman, Ferguson (Rupert Everett) who isn't the kind of fella you should scam. Victor initially is committed to the task but soon discovers that he has taken a shining to the young lady and can't go through with the contract. After much insisting by his mother to finish the job ends up protecting Rose and in the process recruits Tony (Rupert Grint), a homeless lad, to help protect her. Mad capped and silly but with a lot of laughs but don't expect too much and you'll get good value from it.

Love in Puff (2010), Hong Kong, director Pang Ho-Cheung second film at MIFF is a completely different experience from Dream Home. This film is more a romantic comedy (ROM-COM) with a group of smokers who gather at their regular smoking spot to socialize and tell stories. The film centrally revolves around two of the group, Cherie and Jimmy, who's friendship starts to blossoming into something more serious. Cherie is in a dead relationship and Jimmy has just got out of a relationship. An amusing and at times funny film that also breaks up the film with interviews with the smokers discussing their smoking habits, relationships and moments in their lives. Great to have two different style films by the same filmmaker showing a great range in his directing ability in the one festival.

Rubber (2010), USA, a serial killer tyre film sounds completely absurd, actually it sounds like interesting concept. For the first twenty five minutes of the film it is very funny and a whacky idea that works. Then the laughs dry up and the film starts to get a little unhinged. The scenes of the tyre killing people start to get boring and the novelty has well and truly worn off over the next 45 minutes. This was wonderful fresh and original idea that got stale really quickly and proves that is should have been a good short film that would have been cinema gold.

#MIFF Day 9: Collapse

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:08:00 +0000

Collapse (2009), USA, Chris Smith (American Movie, The Yes Men) again returns with another very engaging documentary featuring simply an interviewing Michael Ruppert, an ex-cop and investigative report who has been trying to warn the world of the impending doom with the planets excess consumption of oil and the collapse of the financial markets. Ruppert is a unique character who is passionate, articulate and intelligent who clearly breaks down the issues that are facing the human race in the near future. Smith has constructed a simple, but effective documentary with one man in room talking about his thoughts on world. The tone, feel and editorial choice bring the best out in this very informative documentary.

#MIFF Day 8: Blame, Enter The Void and Dream Home

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:35:00 +0000

Today was my first triple billing of the festival which started with the world premiere of Blame (2010), Australia, received some funding from the MIFF Premiere Fund. While the majority of the film was financed by ScreenWest (WA) and FilmVictoria. The screening was full of cast/crew, funding representatives, MIFF Board members and even a politician. Blame had very favourable audience for it's world premiere.

Blame was unfortunately quite dull and predictable as a group of vengeful youths set in motion a murder plan to seek revenge for a friend who took her own life because of relationship with her music teacher several years earlier. What unfurls is a painfully slow chain of events with a group of despicable characters who executed their ill conceived plan. The cast delivered honourable performances with this lacklustre script as it struggled to reach any great heights. Blame felt like it went on way too long, but could be characterised as a serviceable and mildly interesting film.

Enter the Void (2009), France, Gasper Noe's film has been kicking around for over 18 months and has finally landed in Melbourne to a sell out screening which was full of energy/enthusiasm as the amazing credit sequence rolled for the film. Unfortunately, the enthusiasm amongst the audience dropped as the film slugged along with audible sighs and groans coming from the audience.

It was my second viewing of Enter The Void with the last time I saw it was almost twelve months ago at TIFF. My opinion remains the same, Gasper Noe should be locked in an editing suite and made to cut the bloody film down by about an hour. Yes he does amazing camera angle/shots, transitions and visual effects but once you've seen them five or ten times they don't seem so special.

For those not interested in Gasper work but do want to see the credit sequence here it is so turn it up and enjoy.

Dream Home (2010), Hong Kong, was one of the strangest slasher films you could ever imagine straight out of left field. Cheng dreams of an apartment with harbour view for her family and herself which reveals unhappy journey that her family has taken as she tries to achieve that dream. The films plays out like a dramatic story about this unrealized dreams which turns into a nightmare. Our leading lady, does the responsible thing and goes on an outrageous killing spree like something from a splatter film which makes for some very gruesome but comically scenes. Dream Home was a real surprise but certainly very dark humour.

#MIFF Day 7: The Angel

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:31:00 +0000

The Angel (2009), Norway/Sweden, is a one of those very tragic films that makes the audience question the idea of going to the cinema to see such a depressing film. Lea's life is a serious of tragic events that lead her to giving up her young child because of her addiction to heroin. The film cross weaves through the significant events in Lea's life that helped shape her tragic existence. The unthinkable concept of a mother willingly giving away her child is an act of compassionate towards her child's future. Lea's life is a serious of toxic relationships that destroy an sort of normality and leave her a train wreck in this life. The film finds some hope as she battles her addiction and enters rehab as we are left with a clean Lea at the crossroads of starting a new chapter in her so far unhappy life.

Margreth Olin tackles the difficult moments of incest, rape and domestic violence with tact and avoids the shock value of such events. The audience is aware of the abuse that has been inflicted on Lea and her mother. Maria Bonneive (Lea) harrowing performance should win her plenty of praise and certainly put her on the radar.

#MIFF Day 6: Four Lions and Kanikosen

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:10:00 +0000

Four Lions (2010), UK, pokes fun at Jihad and serves up a reasonable funny film about a group of disenfranchised Islamic followers who are planning a terrorist attack in England. The film moves along at reasonable pace as these shambolic terrorist make a complete utter balls up of their attack. Partly slapstick and ridiculous humour does fall flat in parts but keeps enough of the laughs to keep most people happy. This film has had strong buzz since it's world premiere at Sundance and sold out both sessions at MIFF.

Kanikosen (2009), Japan, was by far the most disappointing film of the festival so far. The film felt like a play that has been filmed and wasn't cinematic at all. The screening was helped by starting over twenty minutes late and then the film stopped halfway through due to technical problems which gave the audience an impromptu intermission of ten minutes which certainly did enhance the film. The entire film took place on a canning ship as the workers ended up revolting against their employers. This is the first significant miss of the festival for myself and I was glad when the film got to the end.

#MIFF Day 5: The Day Will Come and Spine Tingler!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:43:00 +0000

The Day Will Come (2009), France/Germany, was described in the MIFF guide as psychological thriller drama which really misrepresented what is in fact to a kitchen table drama. The central plot revolves around Alice tracking down her mother who abandoned her thirty years ago after she murdered a man during a bugled armed robber. Her mother escaped Germany and started a new life were she now has two teenage children, husband and a struggling winery. The film is predictable and we catch on better quickly what is going on. As Alice confronts her mother and reveals the truth to her family of her mother's dark past. The cast delivers strong performances which holds together a fairly lacklustre film.

Spine Tingler!:The William Castle Story (2008), USA, is very enjoyable and informative documentary on the B Grade Horror Maestro William Castle who gave us such gimmicks as emergo, percepto and insurance policy taken out to cover the untimely death of audience members due to fright. Spine Tingler is a testimonial to Castle featuring interviews the likes of John Waters, Leonard Maltin, John Landis and family members. Not a bad word is uttered about Castle who is portrayed as genuine character who was passionate about entertaining cinema goers around the world.

#MIFF Day 4: Korean Double, Paju and The Housemaid (2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:27:00 +0000

On tonight's menu was back to back Korea films, Paju (2009) and The Housemaid (2010). Both films were dramas of very differing styles and tone.

Paju (2009), South Korea, was little hard to follow in parts due to the poor editing style. The story takes between over an eight year period visiting between current day, three and eight year marks in the story. In different scenes it was hard to spot the different time as the characters really didn't age over the time period which made it difficult for the audience to identify which point in the story.

The film revolves around Kim who arrives in Paju after a horrific incident in Seoul where a baby was seriously hurt. He returns to a church group and marries a village girl, Choi who's sister, Eun-mo is a student in Kim's bible class. Eun-mo is resentful about Kim and her sister's relationship. The tension builds between them until Choi is killed in a tragic accident. A few years down the track, after Kim has raised Eun-mo like a father. She decides to steal her college fund money after her relationship with Kim deteriorate.

Eun-mo arrives back in Paju after being away for three years in Indian. Kim and Eun-mo reconnected with the mystery of what actually happened to her sister still being a sore point better each other. Paju is a slow paced film that pays off in the end, even if it is a little confusing in parts.

The Housemaid (2010), South Korea, is a stylish melodrama that is opulent in style and production design. The simple story of Eun-yi getting hired as a housemaid with upper class family. She soon finds herself the object of desire by the master of the house, Hoon. Mi-hee ( Hoon's wife) is pregnant with twins and soon becomes aware of the affair. Eun-yi becomes the thorn in the side for all the players, as the old housemaid, Byung-sik, stirs the pot of this brewing disaster.

This remake of the original from 1960 is directed by Sang-soo Im who delivered a very different film. Sang-soo has made an enjoyable melodrama, but it's not without it's flaws which will make interesting discussion points for audiences. As the final scene probably reveals more details than what is initially obvious.

#MIFF Day 3: The Silent House and The Clinic

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:22:00 +0000

I started off Day 3 by dropping into a couple of seminars at MIFF 37 Degrees South Market. First off was "Agency Development - The State of Play", followed by "Low Budget, High Future?" the common theme at both panels was there isn't enough money to go around.

The Silent House (2010), Uruguay, started off with the clever approach of telling this tale using one continuous shot, which worked well for the first forty minutes of the film. A daughter and father get a job to cleaning up a deserted house with one simple request, just don't go upstairs. They hear noises coming from upstairs and so of course they go to investigate. The tension and atmosphere develops and the audience is dragged into the suspense. Ever present in most horror's today is the fact that the character seems compelled to stay in peril and not escape, which is what any normal person would do. Letting go of this point will make the film more enjoyable.

Until you get to the hour mark of the film when big reveal occurs in the story that just doesn't work and really doesn't making any logical sense. This could have been a ground breaking horror film but is let down by the story or a lack of a believable elements in the story.

The Clinic (2010), Australia, is another addition to the ever growing resurgence in Australian genre filmmaking. James Rabitts (writer/director) delivers an interesting tale revolving around the theft of babies from expecting mothers, but not only are they stealing babies from the kidnapped mothers. They are pitting the mothers against each other in a survival game to see who has the strongest survival instincts. The story is set in rural Australia in the late 1970's to add to a level of believability of the story. The film holds its suspense with good production values and strong performances from the cast. Tabrett Bethell delivers a standout performance as Beth the main mother, which helps drag this film above straight to DVD label that would normally be attached to such genre material.

A small point of interest is that both films claimed to be inspired by actual events, which is phrase that is becoming a little tired now days. The link between the actual events and the events portrayed on screen are poles apart from each other, making such claims ridiculous.

#MIFF Day 2: Dreamland and Uninhabited

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:51:00 +0000

The day was hijacked by my Indie Film Nation commitments. I had the opportunity to interview Daniel Roberts (actor) from Ivan Sen's film, Dreamland.

Dreamland is a captivating film that proves the simplest ideas in cinema can be sometimes be the rewarding experiences for audiences. The interview with Daniel was an amazing insight into what is a wonderful film. Stay tuned with the video interview coming out in the next day or so. The interview was shot and edited by Peter Miranda who elevates the discussion to a new level.

Back to the screenings, Uninhabited (2010) Bill Bennett's new film left me very underwhelmed. Bennett had the perfect concept for his film, a couple staying on a remote isolated for ten days, five hours away from the outside world and with a ghost inhabiting the island. All should have made added up for a ripper tension filled film.

Somehow this idea just falls apart with disappointing performances by the two lead actors, Henry James (Harry) and Geraldine Hakewill (Beth). The combination of their very wooden performance and the lack of any real suspense drags this down a very unsatisfying cinematic experience.

The couple have no chemistry together and audiences will not connect emotionally to their blight. Bennett's direction failed to get quality performances from his leads and the film lacks any tensions.

The lack of enthusiasm for the film was very obvious amongst the audience as soon as the credits started everyone made a quick exits, even with the filmmaker and key cast present. Speaks volumes when no one wants to hear about the film from the people responsible.

#MIFF Day 1: Teenage Paparazzo

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) kicked off last night with the world premiere of the Australian film, The Wedding Party. I have made a real habit of skipping the opening night and save my money for actually festival at the bargain price of $130 for an opening night ticket you can buy a festival mini pass for that amount and get real bang for your bucks.

The first day of screenings for me started with Adrian Grenier's Teenage Paparazzo. A very interesting look at the world of the paparazzi focusing on a 13 year old boy, Austin Visschedyk who Grenier befriends and turns his camera onto the young lad who has joined the packs of paparazzi that stalk and harass Hollywood celebrities.

Adrian Grenier knows a thing or two about the paparazzi tracking his every move for the tabloid magazines. His role on Entourage has seen him become a household name around the world.

He delivers a nicely constructed documentary that peels back a few more issues then questionable parenting, celebrity harassment and the concept of fame which neatly gives us food for thought next time you are standing in supermarket check out queue as you skim through the pages of one of those trashy magazines.

Grenier delivered a slice of Hollywood for the largely female audience in attendance for the screening and he even managed to ham it up for the film's introduction wearing Popcorn's head.

I have eased my way into this year's because the opening day of screenings contained a number of films I have already seen like Air Doll, Splice and Red Hill which gave me a leave pass from a heavy day of screenigs.

Pic #02 - Dog Day Afternoon

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 06:25:00 +0000

Even the dogs get excited about a stocktake sale in St Kilda!

Pic #01 - Winter In St Kilda

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:00:00 +0000

It might be cold in Melbourne, but the lights shine brightly at the Palais Theatre for the Scared Heart Concert tonight.

Location:Jacka Blvd,St Kilda,Australia

Teaser Trailer for David Fincher's The Social Network

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 03:03:00 +0000

Facebook changed the social networking world and of course it was always on the cards that a film would be made about the story behind Facebook. But no one could have predicted that it would come so quickly in the form of narrative feature film, directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7en).

Here's the first teaser trailer and I mean teaser trailer that contains no actual footage, only dialogue and title cards.

#SFF Day 5: The Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:49:00 +0000

On the third day of the Sydney Film Festival my day started with the screening of The Tree (2010), Australia/France, which was the closing night film at the Cannes Film Festival a couple of weeks ago which is one of the most heralded spots in the world to have your film close the Cannes Film Festival. Unfortunately Julie Bertucelli, director, the film falls very flat and doesn't live up to the hype of such a heralded endorsement by the Cannes Film Festival. The Tree takes place in rural Australian when a family of four children suffers the loss of their father/husband. The film centrally revolves around the mother, Dawn (Charolette Gainsbourg) who really struggles with the loss of her partner and her daughter, Simone (Morgana Davies) who both seemed to have a close connection with a large tree that is located alongside their house. The other children play a smaller role in the story. The Tree tries to be mysterically kitchen table drama that such doesn't work essentially due to the performance of Gainsbourg which never really works, her accent and character just annoyed me. Her accent is an English/French background even though her character has lived in rural Australian for over 15 years which doesn't seem to work in the context of the story. Gainsbourg is amazing actress who's performance in this film just doesn't work. The Tree is held together by Morgana Davies who as child delivers a strong performance to keep this film from completely falling apart.

#SFF Day 4: Panels and disappearance of Alice Creed

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 11:55:00 +0000

The second day of my Sydney Film Festival experience started with two panels at the Statement Lounge in the basement of the State Theatre.

Life During Wartime (2009), Todd Solondz's sequel to Happiness (1998) which I saw at Toronto last year was the subject of the first panel of the day which featured Christine K. Walker (Producer), Shirley Henderson (actress) and Ruth Hessey (Journalist). A very enlightened panel discussing the development of the project and the production of the film. Christine Walker is a very savvy producer who provided very insightful background about the film production and the intricate details about the film making process. Shirley Henderson is an amazing actress who's truly a unique and fascinating person who detailed the secrets behind her performance as Joy in Life During Wartime. Ruth did a great steering this panel to make it a wonderfully informative sessions for the audience. I enjoyed Life During Wartime but the film will polarising audiences but it is one of those films that must should be experienced for you decide.

The FREAK ME OUT panel discussed the return to genre films in Australian genre with the directors, Patrick Hughes (Red Hill), Sean Byrne (The Loved Ones) and Adam Blaiklock (Caught Inside) with Gary Maddox, journalist. Maddox actually did a great job getting the directors to give the crowd a great insight into their individual projects and the resurgence of genre filmmaking in Australia. The underpinning theme for the success of these films was that all the filmmakers had played with existing genre and remixed the traditional elements to build on the concepts. All three directors had graduated from film schools over 10 years ago before they successful got their first feature films made.

Cell 211 (2009), Spain, is almost the perfect prison film. You can see a Hollywood remake on the horizon for this little ripper of a film. The film doesn't stop from the moments we are introduced to Juan who drops into his future employment as a prison guard in the forthcoming days. While on a guided tour of the prison, he finds himself stuck in the middle of prison riot which leaves him stranded in the prisoner controlled area of the prison. Juan finds himself the enemy within and plays a dangerous game with the inmates as trying convince them that he is one of them. Juan situation goes from bad to good and finds himself intricately to the prisoners plans as he becomes one of the masterminds behind their tactics with dealing the authorities. The twist in turns in this game are deadly for all the players, as the politics of Spain and the prison system collided with Juan the innocent person caught on the inside. This film is brilliantly executed action/drama that we leave you on the edge of your seat while the drama plays out.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009), UK, is a clever and smartly executed kidnapped film that doesn't contain any dialogue for the first ten minutes of the film. We are witness to the detail planning and preparation of their target, then rather then showing the execution of their plan, the audience rejoins after the two kidnappers have captured their target who's now tagged and bagged.

We then join them as they execute their careful planned operation and the hostage is in the dark about who know is behind her incarnation. We learn about her captors, hostages and their true motives. The majority of the film takes places in the apartment and slowly unravels the real story. This is a perfectly executed film that will keep audiences guessing to the final frame.

#SFF Day 3: Heartbeats and Red Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 11:49:00 +0000

I arrived in Sydney at 9.00 a.m. to check out this year's Sydney Film Festival. If there was ever the perfect day for cinema-going it was today with heavy rain all day. The rain was so intense that you got soaked just moving from venue to venue.

I managed to get from the Sydney airport to the first screening that was 10.00 a.m.

Heartbeats (2010), Canada, filmed in Montreal and French language film, directed by 21 year old Xavier Oliver (his second feature film) who delivers a dreamy and brilliantly executed romantic story with a twist.

Marie (Monia Chokri) and Francis (Xavier Oliver), two best friends who fall in love with the same guy, Nicolas (Neils Schneider). They both become good friends with Nicolas and they formed unique friendships. They send plenty time with Nicolas and neither Marie or Francis know where their relationships actually stands with Nicolas. Oliver constructs a beautiful scenes and peels back the layers of Marie and Francis lives, as both continue in unsatisfying sexual relationship with other people. While their own friendship suffers as they compete with each other for Nicolas attention. Unfortunately, Nicolas never really gives a hint about his true feelings for his friends which causes huge frustrations for his suitors. They both find different ways to confess their true feelings to Nicolas.

Heartbeats has a perfect tone and style which will immerse audiences into this enchanting film.

Red Hill (2010), Australia, is a modern day take on the western genre. Patrick Hughes, director, attempts to revitalise the western genre by transplanting the concept into a current day high country Victorian town. A new policeman, Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten), arrives in the decaying town with his new work colleagues showing very little hospitality toward himself. The town is presided over by the charismatic local Inspector, Old Bill (Steve Bisley), who quickly puts his new recruit into place while learning about his new work environment. The town is thrown into turmoil when news arrives that a prisoner has broken out of a jail and is a former resident, convicted of a murder in town decades ago. The law goes on high alert as they wait for the ex-resident to return seek vengeance against his enemy. The film is well acted and staged, but falls down horrible in the believability stakes as this film requires the audience to switch off every brain cell to get this plot by. As piece of action and entertainment, this film is great, but the quality of story, characters and believability stakes it's a big failure.w

Red Hill is a genre film that feels like it should have been made in the 80's, where it's weakness wouldn't have been such an issue with today's audiences who are a whole lot more savvy. Hughes also introduces an extra story element (well known urban myth in Australia) which feels out of place in this film and adds nothing to the story. A special mention for the performance by Tommy Lewis as Jimmy Conway, the escaped prisoner hell bent on revenge delivers a memorable portrayal that will potentially make Red Hill a cult classic.

Red Hill as pure popcorn entertainment is an amazing effort considering the films limited budget and forgiving the film's short comings will make it an enjoyable visit to the cinema.

New podcast Indie Film Nation #093 online now!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:57:00 +0000

Just uploaded a new audio podcast for Indie Film Nation featuring an interview with Clare Stewart (Festival Director) of Sydney Film Festival.

I am looking forward to checking out this year's festival to see how it compares to other film festivals like MIFF (Melbourne International Film Festival) and TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival).

I'll be in Sydney for four days which should give me enough time to get a gauge on the Sydney Film Festival.

Great Moment in Advertising #02

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Wed, 26 May 2010 12:03:00 +0000

Japanese culture has always been a little odd to westerners, but ads like this one only reinforce our fascination with what the hell is going on?

It's like the Neverending Story on acid selling potato chips!

new episode of Indie Film Nation Podcast coming soon

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Tue, 25 May 2010 07:20:00 +0000

Fantastic new episode of the indie film nation podcast arriving very soon a preview of Sydney Film Festival plus the latest news from Cannes!

celluloid bacon #04: back to the dance

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:17:00 +0000

celluloid bacon #03: a night at the market

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:28:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:10:00 +0000

It's raining polar bears! Warning graphic but effective advertising that's makes you think!

October the month of misery!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:23:00 +0000

After getting back from Toronto in late September things were a little crazy trying to catch up on work, life and bills. Everything was pointed for busy and exciting month of October.

While I was in the USA, I commenced a documentary project, Inside A Savage Mind, conducting the first preliminary interviews with the subject of the documentary and had returned with quality material to get the project rolling.

After spending some quality time with my significant other in my life (Cheray). I returned to my full time job that finances my film obsessions and life.

Unfortunately on the 7th October 2009 while working on at my job, I sustained a serious lower back injury that resulted in a hospital stay and surgery, microdiscectomy to remove a large disc bulge between my L5-S1 which prior to the surgery had rendered me incapable of walking or even sitting.

The experience of spending a week in hospital was a completely foreign as I had been fortunate to avoid any medical complications in my life. My stay at the Epworth Hospital was as pleasant as a hospital stay could be and I am glad I have moved forward in the recovery.

My room for the first few days had the most incredible view overlooking the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), the iconic home of sport, and view of the Melbourne CBD skyline. Things are looking positive for a full recovery considering the circumstance.

I have been at home recovering from the surgery and taking stock of the events. I have taken the time to rest and been mostly bedridden during the healing process.

Even though I have been resting for a couple of weeks, I haven’t watched any films because my television is located in the lounge room and I can’t sit any longer than 30 minutes at a time. To make matters worse the television is on the way out and the manufacturer no long makes the part to repair the problem. The television is only 15 months old.

So that is the state of play, I am healing and I haven’t been able to produce any podcast, watching any cinema, visiting any cafes or bring you any cool independent film news.

It proves how quickly a month can disappear without a whimper of creativity or productivity. Hopefully I can release some interesting stuff in the coming weeks that may either bring back to the blog or you’ll discover this blog! You might have noticed a few layout changes, going for a basic layout with just quality stuff!

NFL Sunday in San Diego

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Smith) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:07:00 +0000

I arrived in Los Angeles late on Saturday night and my good friend, Chris Folino, director of Gamers (feature film) and the one of the genius behind Catastrophic Comics collected me from the airport. Folino is fellow football fan and pursued him to take me to see another game.

We set off earlier Sunday morning driving to San Diego to see the San Diego Chargers do battle with the Baltimore Ravens. Fantastic atomsphere and enjoyable game except for the stupid plays calls from Norv Turner that cost the Chargers the game!

Check out my mobileme gallery for a sample of the days activates!