AMELIE IN 60 SECONDS: BEHIND THE SCENES
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH FILMMAKER JASON ROBBINS

Empire is running a competition in which filmmakers must remake a feature film in 60 seconds.  20 finalists were recently announced including No Country For Old Men, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future and an especially clever take on Amelie.

Amelie in 60 seconds was created by Jason Robbins and I had the opportunity to learn more about the inspiration behind the short film and what it took to pull it off.

What led you to Amelie?

These open briefs can be really overwhelming and I didn’t know where to start.  So I just looked for ways to help keep the project manageable. My wife (Aine) is an actor so that was a starting point, I shortlisted films with female leads which cut down the options to start. Amongst my shortlisted ideas were Black Swan, Amelie, Coco before Chanel, and Contact. All great films to work with. My instinct was to go for Black Swan as I felt the light and dark sides were a great basis to work with and allowed a lot of flexibility. After discussing it with Aine she felt it was likely that quite a few people would be choosing that film and it would be better to try and be a bit different. I then narrowed it down to Contact (I’m a huge fan of this movie) and Amelie, the kicker was that Aine happened to have a very similar haircut to Amelie, so much so that we’d joked about it previously and she’d posed for a photo that ended up being Amelie’s profile picture in the film. So the decision was made.

What inspired your unique approach to the material?

I knew from the start that I didn’t want to just do a straight remake of the material condensed into 60seconds, I felt it wouldn’t bring anything new to the table and for me wouldn’t be worth the trouble of putting it all together. I’d had an idea for Black Swan that the main character had two personalities representing light and the dark sides as different profiles on facebook/twitter. That she’d be posting as the two sides of herself and it would end with the reveal/transformation. After watching Amelie I was mulling over what I could do with it and it struck me I could use the same ‘social network’ framework to allow Amelie to get in touch with everyone from the film, and do her good deeds. It was a perfect fit and very economic on locations, I was ready to start planning it all out.

What challenges did you face with only 60 seconds to work with?

My main goal was to create a short film that worked by itself. I didn’t want it to feel like a barrage of quick cuts serving only to just get through the most amount of material in the time available so some tough decisions needed to be made.

On my second viewing of the film I sat with my notebook and wrote down the themes and how the story was told rather than specific plot points. These would serve as guides my version would need to follow if it was to retain the feel of the movie.  The third run through was plot points, noting everything that happens during the film (although I’d already decided to drop the market stall scenes as those characters are easily removable). Glassman, Painting-girl, Box Received, Amelie Alone, Take Gnome, etc.

Then it was a matter of cutting out and combining those plot points into my social network theme. I had initially planned to have an intro and a voice over to start with, that got cut pretty quickly. I worked on things such as Georgette and Joseph’s relationship, instead of showing both the introductions and them getting together, I could just show the introductions via splitscreen and then add a ‘Georgette is in a relationship’ status update into another shot which someone might spot on a repeat viewing or if they’re looking around, this made it more economic and added depth to the film.

Elements such as her relationship with Quincompoix was reduced to a text message about the bandit poster she made and then the Glassman telling her to ‘go get him’, before tying it up with Amelie’s relationship status, which I was really pleased with.

Finally a few credits for the free photos I used in the film.  It was a nice finish as opposed to the video just stopping without some kind of signifier to tell you it’s come to a close.

Jason was also able to give an in depth look at the technical aspects of the project.

Amelie was filmed on my Canon 600D(1920×1080 @ 24fps) over two days. I only decided to enter the competition at the start of January and the deadline was the 20th so I didn’t have as much time as I would’ve liked.  Fitting it around my day job (animator/3D generalist). I decided to spend 2 weeks planning and refining the idea and a week to put together an animatic and then assemble everything from there.

The location is in my flat. I’ve still got a lot to learn about lighting so I’m not entirely happy with the look. Lamp lighting for the sofa and laptop close up shots and we have no plug sockets downstairs so just had to suffer the ceiling halogens.

I used a bare bulb for the close up shots of the hands which I’m happier with.  I used the Tamron 17-50 2.8 for all of it, I’m kicking myself for not using the 50mm 1.8 (what was I thinking!?) mainly on a tripod and a shoulder rig for the final shot outside the door.

Edited in Premiere and graded in After Effects using Colorista II, once again I was short on time but was able to get a general warm hue on the live action shots and a green hue on the computer screens in fitting with the Amelie movie and the color palettes used for her apartment and the outside world. Ended up being so tight on the deadline I didn’t get to do a noise reduction and sharpening pass unfortunately.

I was going to just do the computer shots in after effects and apply a filter to get the screen look but after some tests it actually worked best just filming the monitor so I stuck with that, most of it is just me manipulating layers in photoshop in real time(in the split screen email shot the cursor that appears is the move one if you look closely, couldn’t find a workaround for that

What’s next for you?

I’ll definitely be entering more competitions but I’m looking to step things up and start building a crew, being a one man band tends to spread you a little thin for my liking. One area I’d really like to work on is the lighting, I could go and buy a bunch of equipment and try things out but I’d rather just find someone who has the knowledge and has already spent the money and get them on board, plus it’s great to have people to bounce ideas off and who can bring their own suggestions to the table. Away from competitions I’m also looking at some short film scripts and in discussions to work with an established director on an animated short.

Every time I make a film I learn something new, so I’m just going to keep making them. My long term goal is to make a feature.

Special thanks to Jason Robbins for the interview.

CHECK OUT HIS FILM AND OTHER FINALISTS AT EMPIRE.

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TALE AS OLD AS TIME…

I was 8 when I first saw Beauty and the Beast in theaters.  20 years later, I sat down in a theater again to experience the Disney animated classic in 3D.  The verdict?  It’s still an amazing movie.  That was never really in question.  I purchased the blu ray a few months back and it’s amazing how I still remember all the words to the songs.

“Noooooooo ooooooone… Plots like Gaston.  Takes cheap shots like Gaston…”

I suppose the majority of people from my generation who grew up with Disney movies understand the nostalgia I felt sitting in the theater as an adult.  The real question was the 3D which honestly didn’t add that much to the experience.  Still, it was great to see it on the big screen again.  Especially since I have virtually no memory of my first viewing.

Yet, I couldn’t help but notice a few things I would have never picked up as a child.  I definitely enjoyed the film but you take things a little more seriously as an adult.  Indeed there’s something there that wasn’t there before…

BONUS: Is that a Wilhelm scream I heard during the final battle between men and enchanted castle furniture?

10. All the enchanted creatures seemed awfully positive about a girl being held captive in the castle at first.  I understand they have high hopes she will break the curse…  But constantly trying to cheer her up knowing she is being held against her will?  … I suppose it all worked out.

9. At some point when Gaston is plotting to have an innocent man committed you would think someone would say: “You’re kind of an ass Gaston.”

8. For someone who loves books Belle seemed perfectly okay with that sheep tearing off a page.

7. Isn’t Mrs. Potts a little old to have such a young child?

6. When Gaston falls to his death, I couldn’t help but wonder how long he had to fall before exploding on the ground.  It was a long way down.

5. When Lumiere and Babette are messing around behind the curtain she says “I’ve been burned by you before.”  That’s a very serious accusation to make… Isn’t it?

4. If I was Lefou, I wouldn’t let Gaston punch me in the face and get away with it so many times.  And I certainly wouldn’t risk hypothermia for the guy.

3. The whole girl in love with an animal thing…  It’s very much like the day I realized that Pepe La Pew was kind of a creep…

2. As far as horses go…  Phillipe kind of sucks.

1. I would never get a book on the top shelf in that library.

Check out this old school making of documentary:

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THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS AN UNLIKELY SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

Every couple months, I pick up a couple new Photoshop Magazines to learn some new tips and techniques.  My absolute favorite is Advanced Photoshop.  Every issue is packed with design inspirations, interviews with passionate artists and incredible images crafted inside Photoshop.

But the latest issue struck a cord for an entirely different reason I did not expect.

In an interview with Vasava, founder Bruno Sellés says:

“The thing is, when you do something for the first time you get really excited and you experience lots of fun.  When you do it twice it’s cool because you do it better, though the amount of amusement reduces.  If you repeat this process over and over you really get bored, and you enter the safe zone, where you’re confident although not excited at all.  We like to evolve our styles and techniques in order to get on with every new project.  We don’t like to get stuck in one recognizable style and live in this safe zone.”

It’s an interesting take on design that can easily be applied to screenwriting.

“Writing is a journey into the unknown” (Adaptation 2002)

If you don’t challenge yourself to try new things you will undoubtedly get comfortable and bored.  My new screenplay is different than anything I have ever done because it’s based on deeply personal subject matter.  I find myself constantly second guessing whether I’m making the right choices.  I’m uncomfortable writing it.  It’s interesting that I came across that quote the day I resumed writing after a month away from the script.  It put things into perspective.  I’m supposed to be scared of the unknown.  Working outside of my comfort zone has been both terrifying and liberating at the same time and it’s absolutely normal.

I hope the uneasiness I feel results in a script that’s honest.  There’s a lot of work to be done until the day I type fade out.  I’ve got some emotional hurdles to leap before I get there but that’s all apart of evolving as a screenwriter.

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THE AVENGERS ARRIVES MAY 3, 2012

I can’t handle it anymore.  The excitement is building exponentially.  This is a movie Marvel fans have been waiting for every since Nick Fury began recruiting his team in 2008′s Iron Man & The Incredible Hulk.  We’ve all wondered whether The Avengers will live up to the hype.  Thankfully, each and every promotional still, promo and trailer have confirmed that we are in for something special.

Check out a pretty handy Timeline for Marvel’s brilliant cinematic universe.

It’s impossible not to get pumped up for this.

Will The Avengers be the greatest superhero movie of all time?

Battle of the Teaser Trailers: The Dark Knight Rises vs The Amazing Spider-Man vs The Avengers

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The Avengers Trailer: A Complete Breakdown (Crave Online)

The Avengers Trailer Breakdown (Geek Tyrant)

The Avengers Super Bowl Trailer Breakdown (Total Film)

10 Questions We Hope The Avengers Will Answer (IFC)

The Avengers: Everything We Know (Total Film)

Does It Really Matter at this point who the mysterious aliens really are? (comicbookmovies.com)

Stay tuned for more…

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CHRONICLE DELIVERS BECAUSE WE ALL WANT TO FLY

I don’t think I was much different than most boys who grew up during the golden age of action figures.  Obviously there are still plastic heroes amongst the youth of today but it’s not the same.  When I was a kid, the video game age was just beginning.  Remember when the original Super Mario Bros. changed everything?  It seems like to long ago now.  Today, you can stand in front of Xbox Kinect and control characters on the screen with gestures instead of a controller tethered by a power cord.  Raise your hand if you saw that coming.

Back then, I got my thrills from carefully staged action figure battles and the power of my imagination.  Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles faced off against battered He-Man hand-me-downs.  Food Fighters drove hot wheels cars and joined forces with G.I Joe to fight evil.  Transformers protected strange planets from the invasion of creepy mind controlling Muppet Babies.  (Happy meal toys no less.)

Note: Those are MY Ninja Turtles.  I’m 28 years old and I still know exactly where they are in my home.

These amazing battles played out outside the walls of Castle Greyskull and in the war torn lands surrounding The Technodrome.  The forces of good arrived in the Turtle’s van.  Sometimes, they would hitch a ride on Optimus Prime.  Many times, wars were waged in the treacherous waters of the bath tub. The possibilities were endless.

I wish I could remember all the stories I created back then.  I spent hours continuing the adventures I began the previous afternoon.  Each day the stories would become more elaborate.  I learned to tell stories in the trenches of my bedroom surround by my most beloved toys.

Having said that, I don’t mean to suggest that kid’s have no imaginations today.  They have so many amazing MORE sources of inspiration.  Action figures are but one of dozens of outlets for children to spin their epic tales.  When I was a kid, action figures were all I had and it was a time I’ll always cherish…  As a side note, toys are so much cooler today.  I can’t imagine what my brain would have come up with if I got my hands on them 20 years ago when I depended on my action figures for entertainment.

ONE ACTION FIGURE REPRESENTS YOU

It was always inevitable that my favorite action figure at the time would become ‘me’.  It was always the most powerful hero of them all with super powers beyond imagination.  Flight, fire, ice, wind, telekinesis, speed, invisibility, INVINCIBILITY…  You name it.  Sometimes the character would be blessed with one power.  Other times, my hero of the day would have them all.

Even then I wished I could fly…  I still do.

Chronicle brought me back to those days.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH SUPER POWERS?

Chronicle asks this question in a way that feels more realistic that many superhero movies that came before it.  Ordinary teenagers are given an incredible gift but they don’t immediately have to deal with an arch nemesis, villain or monster.  They have to deal with the reality of their own lives and how these powers will fundamentally change them.

I felt right at home watching Andrew, Steve and Matt learn about their abilities.  If you buy into the story, the first half of the film will have you smiling ear to ear.  Where is the first place you would travel if you could fly?

But that’s not what makes Chronicle such a memorable film.  It’s the the journey of central character.  What would happen if a boy who has felt powerless his entire life learns that he is more powerful than anyone?  Suddenly social awkwardness, an ailing mother, an abusive father and a lonely existence becomes the fuel that ignites the anger within.  It’s a unique twist on the super power tale that shows you the unbelievable perks as well as the tragic pitfalls that powers would bring.

When I was a kid, I don’t remember thinking about messing with people in department stores.  Super powers granted you immortality, fame, excitement or an escape.  But what would you have done if it actually happened?

Director Josh Trank does a remarkable job that, for me, succeeds on every level.  The second you start asking yourself what you would do, the movie is a winner because you’re invested.  Not only is the film a fantastic entry into the found footage genre but it’s a solid film that fits nicely in between District 9 and Super 8 on the shelf.  My only real complaint was the short running time but that was cancelled out by an awesome and worthwhile final act.

I loved it.  Go see Chronicle.

Click here for more reviews.

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Total Film put together a massive list of movie blogs a while back and you must visit all of them immediately…  Understandably, that would take a while as there are probably around 1000 in total on the list. (Not counting doubles of course)

But if you love movies and things that are awesome then click the two links below and start exploring!

600 Movie Blogs You Might Have Missed

Another 600 Movie Blogs You Might Have Missed

Thanks to Total Film for putting these lists together and for including The Athletic Nerd.

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A PROMISING TRAILER PROMISED TOO MUCH

I was really excited to see The Grey.  Over the last few years, Liam Neeson has proven that he can take on anything with movies like Taken & Unknown.  Liam vs Wolves made perfect sense to me.  I absolutely adored the first 10-15 minutes of The Grey.  Liam’s character Ottway is established as a quiet hunter with a long lost love.  All I could think about was the inevitable clash between Ottway and a pack of angry wolves with glass taped to his knuckles…

At the end of the day, I was a little disappointed with the penultimate ‘clash’.  But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the ending.  Lets just say there better be a big awesome deleted scene on the Blu Ray.  Regardless, I think it was fitting ending given the story director Joe Carnahan was trying to tell.  The Grey is a good movie.

It’s a gorgeous survival tale full of tense moments and crazy wolf attacks.  (Although I have to say the attack in Adam Green’s Frozen was a little more intense.)  The wolves themselves were pretty sweet and the situation the men find themselves in is terrifying.  I’ve always said that I’d never go on vacation near snow because freezing to death is one of my biggest fears.  I now have two reasons to avoid Alaska.

My main problem with the movie is that, aside from Ottway’s back story, there isn’t much else going on except a group of men trying to survive.  There really weren’t many surprises and most of the kills happen in the order you expect.  That’s why this movie is better suited to be rented.  However, since it is a relatively slow month, I suppose a trip to the theater wouldn’t be a complete waste.

REVIEW IN 2: Cold, Survival

Click here for more reviews.

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FIND OUT WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF

The last new screenwriting post I wrote for this site was posted on December 1, 2011.  2 months ago to the day.  It was about the frustration screenwriters sometimes feel that leads them to furiously type FLKJFLSDDSJ:LF.  I haven’t written about my passion since…

The reason for the lack of posts is simple.  I wasn’t writing any screenplays.  I decided that, once and for all, I would wrap up some big projects and start 2012 with a clean slate.  I’m happy to say I accomplished that goal.  We finished and released 17 West’s latest short film The Climb.  In addition to that release, we put Playing Through online as well.  It was all timed with the launch of our brand new website 17west.ca.  Now I can start a new year with nothing left to do except write. (And get married in the fall)

All of the sudden I’m just a screenwriter.  I’m not a web designer anymore.  I’m not a director either.  All my projects in 2012 involve writing in some capacity.  Whether it’s blogging, picking away at my eBook or finishing up a new script, my mind is free to create new things.  It’s an incredible feeling.

First up for me is a deeply personal story that I’m absolutely terrified to write.  It’s a terror I can’t wait to explore.  A demon I can’t wait to banish from my mind and onto the page.

Thinking about the new projects I want to tackle makes me wonder where I will be at the end of 2012.  Mainly because I’ve been asking myself a very serious question for over a year now:

Am I a screenwriter?  Or do I simply enjoy writing screenplays?

I’m not sure I can answer that.  I’m an honest person so I don’t mind admitting that currently, I have no screenplays in production.  I have no screenplays awaiting judgement in competitions.  I do not have an agent texting me hourly for updates on my latest draft.  There are no producers with a copy of my screenplay on their desks.

But that didn’t stop me from writing short screenplays entitled After, Lorraine, Maybe Not Today, Nathan’s Hoard, The Cold Spot, The Guardian, Caligari, The Blanket Fort and Droid.  It didn’t stop me from dusting off a feature length script I started in college and finishing it.  It didn’t stop me from developing treatments for 2 new features I plan to write this year in addition to a bunch of new shorts I’m excited about.

I am not a professional screenwriter in the sense that I do not get paid to write screenplays.  I just love to write. Screenwriting is my cure for anxiety.  It’s my calm place.  It’s mine.  But I’m 28 years old now and I just don’t think that’s enough anymore.  I feel like it’s time to find out what I’m made of.  Yet, I’m frustrated because I’ve said that before.  I’ve even written about it on this blog.

“This year, I’m going to get my act together and find out if I have what it takes.”

It sounds great but that sentence won’t fill up the pages will it?  It merely starts the engine but it’s pointless if the engine dies less than a mile down the road.  What makes this year different?

“Nothing changes if nothing changes.”

What changed this year?  I’ve simplified things.  All I’ve got is screenwriting now.  It’s just me and Final Draft. (Or Celtx on my iPad)

Above all else, I think the main difference is my main goal overall.  Normally, I start a year thinking about all the screenplays I may or may not finish.  This year, I’m thinking about the screenplays I’d like people to read.  The screenplays that actors, agents and producers can get excited about. The screenplays that may become films someday.  That’s a BIG difference in my usual thought process and it’s a ‘rewrite’ I should have done years ago.

Maybe I was afraid.  Maybe I’m still afraid.

So…  Am I a screenwriter? Or do I simply enjoy writing screenplays?  I think I’d be happy with either in the long run because no matter what I’ll get to do what I love.

Check out my 150th screenwriting post featuring 15 of my personal favorites.

Have you rewritten your screenwriting goals lately?

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NEW DOCUMENTARY NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

Sapience: The Search For Wisdom is an independent feature documentary being produced in Toronto, Canada.

“Driven by a lust for infinite economic growth on a planet of finite resources, our way of life is coursing toward catastrophe. But the danger is largely masked. In a highly mediated world where swelling numbers of people spend more time in front of screens than they do with other people, or in nature, our reckless pursuit of wealth has had disastrous consequences for the future of humanity.”

The team behind the project recently began their Kickstarter campaign and released a pretty awesome trailer.

I loved the use of animation and CG in the trailer.  Particularly the way they staged their interviews in a post apocalyptic setting.

For more on the project visit their site sapiencefilm.com.

Follow them on Twitter @SapienceFilm.

Be sure to stop by the Kickstarter page for a ton of info on the project.

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Special thanks to ArcLight Cinemas for the heads up on these Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy interviews.  Be sure to check out my review of the film here.

Gary Oldman

Mark Strong

Director Tomas Alfredson

For more visit ArcLight Cinemas YouTube page.

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SOMETIMES SLOW MOVIES PAY OFF IN A BIG WAY!

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was #8 on my list of Must See 2011 movies…  That I missed.  Now that I’ve seen it, I think it would have been right at home in my top 5.  It’s a fantastic movie.

The first hour or so I found myself wondering where it was going.  The only thing you really know for sure is a mole exists and he/she must be found.  The story unfolds in a series of flashbacks and quick scenes and jumps around quite a bit.  Sometimes, it can be distracting and hard to follow but Tinker manages to stay interesting.  Perhaps fascinating is a better word for it.  It reminded me of The Insider with Russell Crowe and Al Pacino.  That movie unfolded very slowly but I absolutely loved it.

So yes, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy requires patience but it all pays off in the end.  The further into the story you get, the more engrossing it becomes.  I was glued to the screen when the answers to my questions arrived.

Ironically, I was slow getting out to see the film in theaters.  Having said that, if you haven’t seen it yet, you may as well wait to rent it.  It the type of movie meant for quiet Sunday afternoons spent on a comfortable couch with a blanket.  (I would include a really well made sandwich too.)

Click here for more reviews.

2 WORDS FOR TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY: QUIET, TENSION

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I was bound to cave sooner or later…

After months of recommendations and glowing reviews from my friends, I finally decided to give Game of Thrones a shot.  Whoa.  I now regret waiting as long as I did.  The show is absolutely phenomenal and I’m very proud to consider myself a part of it’s rapidly growing fan base.  Especially with the newest (and amazing) trailer for Season 2 working it’s way around the web this week.

Over the last week or so, I powered my way through the exceptional first season while avoiding spoilers from virtually every fan I know.  At the same time, I read a lot about the books on which the series is based.  It’s a pretty fantastic world that author George R. R. Martin created.

What’s impressive about the television series is how well they established the world and the multiple story lines.  It’s not easy creating a brand new world full of new characters, locations and cultures on the small screen.  That’s part of the charm of Game of Thrones.  By the end of the second episode, I was hooked and completely addicted to Winterfell, The Wall, The Starks, The Lannisters and the Iron Throne.

XTRA | Link, Zelda, Hyrule, Middle Earth & Screenwriting

THE OPENING CREDITS OF GAME OF THRONES

Something funny happened as I watched the first season.  I found myself looking forward to the opening credits sequence at the beginning of each episode.  Beyond that, I found myself humming the song constantly while I thought about my latest screenplay. The song fit very well into an action script I’ve been developing.  I don’t mean to suggest that the opening theme could find a place in the movie someday.  I simply felt inspired to write whenever I heard that song.  I helped me get into my world and think creatively.

It’s funny how fate can sometimes step in when you are writing a new screenplay.  Perhaps I was meant to delay watching the series until I was ready to write my new script?  I like to think I was destined to fall in love with that theme and use it as a spark in my own writing.

Inspiration comes in many forms.  Whenever something that triggers my creativity comes along, I try to seize every moment and write as much as I can.  My new script has absolutely nothing to do with swords, knights, Lords or Kings.  Yet here I am, playing the opening to Game of Thrones over and over again and writing…

It’s a good thing the show is amazing too.  Win Win!

Do you connect songs to your screenplays?  What other influences do you hold close while you write?  Music? Art? Other screenplays?  Movies?  Television shows?

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If you have a project you would like to see promoted on The Athletic Nerd email me at jason@17west.ca.

Note: There are a few offensive words as well as violence in these clips so adjust your speakers/eyes accordingly.  Viewer discretion is advised and such.

THE CODE

The Code was produced for the Splatterfest Festival in Houston where it won 11 awards: Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Kill, Best Splatter, Best Special Effects plus 4 audience awards.  It’s currently posted on Funny Or Die.

Visit the Facebook page for more.

RED KINGDOM RISING

This fantasy horror film is inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.  It’s about a terrifying fairytale world in which Mary Ann must come to terms with her horrific past.

OVERTURN: AWAKENING OF THE WARRIOR

This upcoming film was shot in the Ukraine featuring a cast from 8 countries.

Visit their website www.overturnmovie.com for more.

LEON HOUSE

This dark comedy is currently being completed on a micro budget.  Keep your eyes on their YouTube page for more.  Specifically a strange and cool Super 8/Stop Motion experimental short called Woman In A Cloak.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: THE SHORT FILM

This short is currently being submitted to film festivals.

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It’s pretty difficult to look passed the end of a legendary trilogy when The Dark Knight Rises is released next summer.  Likewise, 4 larger than life heroes will assemble after years of hype.  And how can you ignore a hero like Spider-Man returning to the screen?  Today, I attempt to put aside the Bats, Spiders and Avengers to see what else the 2012 summer movie season has to offer.  There are a couple picks that could go either way but I’ve got high hopes nonetheless.

5. The Expendables 2

4. Total Recall

3. G.I Joe: Retaliation

2. Battleship

1. Prometheus

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NEW DOCUMENTARY LOOKS INSPIRING!

I had no idea a project like this was even in development until I read an article promoting the trailer on /FILM.

The movie focuses on indie game developers and their passion for video games and video game design.

I write about passion on this site often.  I don’t feel normal unless I have some kind of creative project to work on everyday.  Whether it’s a new screenplay, a blog post, an image in photoshop or a big broadcast at work, I desperately need to feel creative everyday.  It’s that passion that drives me every morning when I skip television and jump straight onto my computer to work.

People ask me often how I’ve managed to write every day on The Athletic Nerd in addition to my indie film aspirations, screenwriting obsession and more.  I explain it by asking people what they do when they get home from work on a normal day.  Most evenings are filled up with television or whatever else helps one relax and unwind.  The last thing anyone wants to do after a long day at work is… More work.  But I don’t see these projects as work.  It’s simply what I love to do.

If you understand what it’s like to wake up extra early to work on a passion project then you probably enjoyed the trailer above as much as I did.

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