We recently reviewed Edge of Outside which was an original documentary produced by Turner Classic Movies. If you get the chance to watch this program it will be worth your while. It takes a look at independent filmmaking at it's best and worst. The documentary is filled with interviews from many of today's greatest filmmakers such as, Darren Aronofsky, Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee and many more, speaking on the filmmakers who inspired their creative drive. This program helped me remember why I wanted to be a filmmaker in the first place. It touches on the feelings of finishing the films at all costs and never giving up your hopes and dreams. Truly an inspiration and a fine piece of work from the Turner company.

This is a great web page that has operating manuals in .pdf form for most of the major cameras being used for video production today. The files are available for download. The site also provides phone support for the cameras. Take some time to know your gear before you get to the shoot and save yourself and your crew some headaches.

(Link to Site)

(IMDb Link)

For anyone interested in what it's actually like to work on the set of a low-budget, independent film, "Living in Oblivion" shows it in all it's glamour. For anyone who has worked on a low-budget, independent film, this movie will make you laugh as you wonder why you do it. From the expired milk on the craft services table to the arrogant, no-name, acting lead, Oblivion will make anyone question whether or not they really want to work in the film industry.

Steve Buscemi is great as director Nick Reve and he sums it up best when he says "...it's just one disappointing compromise after another."

While best original song may not be the most sacred of Oscars, Jon Stewart summed it up best with this statement: "For anyone keeping record, Martin Scorsese, zero Oscars. Three 6 Mafia, one." It was an interesting win, to say the least.

For a refreshing, alternate view of the 3/6 Mafia win, check out this article.

The East Lansing Film Festival has posted the times for events and films. TALKING DEAD is playing in the LMFC short film program on Sunday, March 26th at 2pm. We hope to see a lot of West Michigan faces at the festival. The entire day on Sunday is devoted to Michigan filmmakers.

East Lansing Film Festival Site

(IMDb Link)

Penguins are incredible creatures. Their mating ritual is explored in great detail in the Oscar nominated documentary, "March of the Penguins."

This film was shot over a thirteen month period and is truly a magnificent undertaking. The barren landscape, bitter cold temperatures and racing winds topping 125 mph make the production of this film an amazing feat. From a filmmakers point of view, it's amazing the equipment still functioned at an average temperature of -50 F. There is only so much you can do to fight the elements before mother nature takes hold.

Can you see the difference between these two pictures?

With the popularity of systems like TiVo, advertisers are more interested than ever in the product placement. Many times, viewers may not even know they're being sold something and now products can be digitally placed into scenes where they never existed. (Link to Article)

This raises many questions like how do the writers and directors make money from this practice? At least that's what the WGA and Actors Guild want to know. They staged a protest recently saying that they're genuinely concerned for the integrity of the art of film and television. However, it seems they are more concerned with getting in on the action. (Link to Article)

So where does that leave the viewer? Television is all about the commercials. That's how networks make their money so a television show is really nothing more than what happens between commercials. Having a product like a can of Coke strategically placed on the table in an episode of Friends may not be that unusual. But seeing it featured prominently in a movie makes some people a little uneasy. It's bad enough sitting through ten minutes of commercials before the previews start. Once the movie has begun, it's probably time to stop selling the public a product and start focusing on telling a good story.

(IMDb Link)

This 2004 Sundance Film Festival award winner is one of the best science fiction movies out there. A group of young entrepreneurs attempt to invent the next great American product and, somewhat by accident, end up with a time machine. Forget the flux capacitor, though we wouldn't want to discredit "Back to the Future" as being a great film. "Primer" takes the space-time continuum to a whole new level and depicts time travel as the confusing mess that it probably would be.

The story is brilliant and the film was made for around $6,000 total. The director, Shane Carruth, said that he only shot a total of 80 minutes of film and cut only 4 minutes from the final product. That's a fraction above a 1 to 1 shooting ratio. That's crazy.

Some people are put off by the confusing technical jargon spoken by the characters. It's really not that difficult to grasp the premise. Think of it like E.R. You don't need to know what a cc is to know that needing it stat means its serious. The scientific and technical dialogue ads to the feeling that someone may actually be able to build one of these things.

"Primer" is an extremely low budget, independent, science fiction movie with a story that makes special effects unnecessary. It's a great film and we hope to see more from Carruth in the not to distant future.

First it was "Memoirs of a Geisha," now it's "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" China is going movie banning crazy lately...

(Link to Article)
(Link to Article 2)

The Academy recently gave out the awards for the annual tech honors. These awards go to the people who make filmmaking possible. From a stunt man who created a safer way to jump out of a building to the inventor of the steady-cam, many people were honored that most movie audiences will never know exist. It is their innovation, however, that makes film what it is today and allows filmmakers to push the boundaries of possibility.

(Link to Article)

(IMDb Link)

This is a really incredible film that we didn't hear much about in 2002. It's a great story about two young boys growing up in the slums of Rio De Janeiro. One of them aspires to become a photographer while the other becomes a gangster. The cinematography and lighting are incredible and really set the tone for the scenes. The film also has a great soundtrack. The story unfolds in an interesting way as it's told through flashbacks with titles for each story line giving the movie a bit of a "Pulp Fiction" feel.

Here's a fun little piece of Hollywood history. If you already know what the Wilhelm scream is, you are truly a master of Hollywood trivia. If you don't, read this article about the famous "Wilhelm Scream".

(Link to Article)

DVB - DIGITAL VIDEO BROADCASTING

According to this newsletter from creativecow.net, the future of video is small. Those screens on your cell phone are already being used for more than playing Solitaire and Snake. iPods have taken the leap to video as will many other small format viewers. It's probably a good idea, if you're in any way associated with video production, to start thinking about how this is going to affect you and your business.

DVB-T (terrestrial) and DVB-H (handheld) are the top competitors in this new broadcasting technology game. What the standard will end up being is anyone's guess.

Tonight is the season, and most likely series, finale of "Arrested Development." It's going to be 2 hours of fun and hilarity, so make sure you watch it. You might not get another chance to see this brilliant show... unless you rent it on DVD.

It all starts at 8pm tonight on FOX. I know you were already planning to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics, but "Arrested Development" is definitely going to be a lot funnier.

IFC (The Independent Film Channel), always a friend of the independent and underpaid, has created the IFC Media Lab. It could be the short cut to getting your short film on television. According to IFC, the Media Lab is ruled completely by the viewers. Films that score high will air on IFC between regularly scheduled programming.

To qualify, your film must be under 6 minutes long. For more information, check out the IFC Media Lab.

(IMDb Link)

Director Wernor Herzog pieces together Timothy Treadwell's video footage from his summers spent in the Alaskan wilderness with the Grizzly Bears. The documentary is a fascinating look into the mind of a man that many would consider completely insane. With footage ranging from deeply personal to genuinely frightening, Herzog has put together an insightful, sometimes touching documentary.

Herzog offers his own opinion of the subject from time to time, which is probably a bit unnecessary. This doesn't detract from the sheer power of the footage that could only be captured by a man who dedicated 13 consecutive summers of his life to living with and "defending" the Grizzly Bears. Allow yourself to draw your own conclusions about the validity of Treadwell's quest, but wait until the end of the film to do it. Why this film was not nominated for a best documentary Oscar is puzzling.

21st Century 3D unleashes the power of 3D video

Do you love 3D movies but always thought that it was some magical process that you would never be able to grasp? 21st Century 3D has released the camera that will allow video producers access to 3D technology and in many ways allow them to make a better 3D movie. The technology is pretty impressive and we're not sure how things work on the post production end, but this is definitely an article to get those wheels turning about your first 3D feature or short film. Fulvew is imagining the possibilities as we speak...

(Link to Article)

So you took our advice and went to a movie instead of watching the Superbowl. That's good, but you missed out on the multi-million dollar advertising campaigns put on by some of the best and brightest in the advertising business. That's okay too, because iFilm has all of the ads online for you to view at your leisure. So sit back and take in the wonder that is mass consumer marketing...

Check out the Superbowl Ads on iFilm.

That's okay. Instead of watching the Superbowl just to see the commercials, why not check out some Oscar nominated films that are coming back to the theater this weekend? This is your chance to catch some of the films that slipped through before the Academy told you they were good.

(Link to Article)

Don't forget, the Muskegon Film Festival starts today! You can catch TALKING DEAD at 4:30 on both Friday and Saturday in the short films program. It's the lead off film, so don't be late.

Check out the Muskegon Film Festival.

(IMDb Link)

It's not a "chick flick" by any means and its causing quite a stir in China. This is an amazing story told with masterful cinematic beauty and technique. The set design and art direction are flawless. Take some time to watch this film that's destined to become a classic and see what the Chinese won't allow in their country.

(Link to Story)

Well, so much for the winners of the Golden Globes and the Sundance Film Festival. Step aside, here comes the nominations for the 78th Academy Awards. "Brokeback Mountain" apparently is a pretty darn good movie. It wasn't high on the radar when it came out, but we'll definitely have to see what all the fuss is about.

Here's a link to the official Oscar nominees.