Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Broadway flexes those A-list private parts POST A COMMENT Those chasing an A-list make-over usually means a stop over to Broadways dark-stage -- for some, showing off their punnani for the jollies of the theater elite. 'Broadway, it seems, has eclipsed Playboy as the place to make Hollywood pay attention,' says the NY Times. 'There was a time when female movie stars who felt they were being ignored by the industry took off their clothes for Hugh Hefner’s magazine. Now they brush up their Shakespeare — or Schnitzler or Miller — and hit Gotham.' Case in point, Nicole Kidman (way before anybody was checking for her), she was -- 'a movie actress who was most famous for being the wife of Tom Cruise took her first step onto a Broadway stage and was instantly transformed into her own dazzling woman....there’s no question that Nicole Kidman’s professional life was kicked into a new, loftier orbit after she starred in 'The Blue Room,' No difference than any current Hollywood A-Lister working for peanuts on smaller films; looking to for some INDIE-cred by taking a walk on the wild side. And no mistake in the timing for Radcliffe (Equus) -- since that Potter series is nearing its end...word on the streets seems to be -- 'If you feel you’re losing ’em, pal, just shuck the clothes.' Source: NY Times Labels: A-list, Broadway, Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter, hollywood, indie film, NYC, Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 8:07 PM Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Editing Day One: 'Kitty Talk... POST A COMMENT A few months ago we shot the short film "After Party Babies," with a great INDIE crew, decent actors...but, this week is the first time we actually start cutting. On reflection, making a short movie is a semi-glamorous mix: really long hours, little sleep, and people yelling, that I can only now think of as lots of fun. It took 9 full days, consisting of 14 really long hour days of on-location prep and shoot time... Now, months later, it's finally time for editing...'all for what might end up being 15 minutes of film time. The story for After Party Babies showcases a day in the life of three New Yorkers that all end up at an after hours party. I'll be writing little blurbs here and there on the editing process and eventually (fingers crossed) the various submissions to the film festivals. Yesterday, on day one. We -- (meaning the editing crew that consists of myself, Valery and Stephanie) -- screened a few minutes of foreign film clips to talk with the editors on style and rhythm. I told them "I'm really attracted to the european style of editing. That doesn't always tell you everything thats going on." We then logged footage and set up a blueprint for our editing sessions to come. The big talk on day-1 was our pets, Valery and Stephanie have a six month old Kitty (that sat in the editing studio with us), I myself have a much fatter and older 20 pound-porker. Workwise, it felt good to see, and hear the potential of film on the editing bay. The big line of advice given to me -- (and recited yesterday by me to Stephanie and Valery): "The script is written twice, on the page, and rewritten in the editing room." Labels: After Party Babies, Cruz Editing Diaries, Film, Film Festivals, indie film, screenwriting, Short Film posted by Henry Cruz at 11:36 AM Monday, June 09, 2008 Art-house Flicks find a new home? POST A COMMENT 'Was chatting with my partner on that unstoppable drum-beat of the blurring of media online...sounded something like this: Me: "You can watch all your fav TV shows online." Partner: "More and more shows..even cable." Me: "Add to that the equalizing factor of the web, and you'll get your next new shows starting right here..." So, why-not throw the "art-house" into this mix of colliding trends...look-y-here: Announced today: Tribeca Film Institute partnered with Amazon to launch on web: Reframe, a site for INDIE films -- and owners of content that would otherwise be unseen to convert digitally and sell their films. With this service, called Reframe - (reframecollection.org)-- -- "copyright holders will split the profit on digital download rentals and purchases (distributed in Windows Media Player format) evenly. DVD sales will operate under a tiered system, with 40% of $50 and under titles, 85% of $51-$200 titles and 90% of more than $200 titles going to rights holders." I'm one all for the old-school experience of that dark-shared-experience in room with buttery popcorn to watch my movies...but, this at least gives hope to those niche films that might otherwise never see the light of day. Source: NY Times Labels: indie film, movies, News Trends, web trends posted by Henry Cruz at 4:02 AM Tuesday, May 27, 2008 Basic-coming-of-age-road Film... POST A COMMENT I sat in for an advanced screening of Martin Hynes' INDIE-Flick: "The Go-Getter" - (opening June 6th)...'Not much on story here; just your basic-coming-of-age-road-film. However, along the way, the main character meets a bunch of quirky characters -- (included is a scene-stealing cameo played by Bill Duke, who alone is worth the price of admission). The films strongest point is the visual eye-candy from a well-shot road picture; especially since I didn't feel any sympathy for the script's lead character -- (written with a one-note-self-absorbed-angst that borders right on the edge of self-pretentious B.S.) -- which is a big problem when that annoying character is then in every scene of the film. More Info: Go-Getter Film site Opens in limited release: June 6, 2008 Labels: indie film, movie review, the Go-Getter posted by Henry Cruz at 10:09 PM Sunday, May 18, 2008 Spending "Summer" with Najera.... POST A COMMENT Before things got Ugly - (the ABC' series "Ugly Betty") - there was that INDIE film: "How the Garcia Girls spent their summer," which opened this weekend - (as with smaller films, it took years to make it to the big screen, but it's finally seen the light of day)...so, show some INDIE-luv and plunk down your cash to see it. Big Shout out to the funny Rick Najera, who nails the one-handed butcher 'Jose Luis' in that same film. Najera, a-god-in-the-making among Latino's: "award-winning actor/writer/director/producer, (MADtv, In Living Color) often referred to as the 'Latino Tyler Perry'" - is also pretty funny in that "Ceasar & Chuy" cartoon series: -- Much love, I'll be watching what's next, so should you! Labels: cartoon, ceasar and chuy, indie film, latino watch, Rick NaJera posted by Henry Cruz at 5:20 PM Friday, May 16, 2008 INDIE-WATCH: Oldest profession gets...younger? POST A COMMENT While it's called "The Babysitter's"... The twist on that tired cliche: "good-girl-gone-tricking" - is that High School baby-sitters, trying to earn a few extra bucks for college...wink, wink....get into a little Risky Business; 'guessing there isn't much in-the-way of a "happy ending" in that film... certainly an interesting premise for a short film...but, c'mon, not sure if it's worth a whole 90 minutues. Source: Vancouver Sun Labels: indie film, trailers posted by Henry Cruz at 1:16 PM Sunday, April 27, 2008 One Hour Film School POST A COMMENT Here in NY - the Apple Store and Tribeca Film Fest is sponsoring a "One-Hour Film School" -- promising "everything you need to create your own documentary or feature film. You supply the spark, we’ll supply the low-cost digital filmmaking techniques. Thursday, May 1, 5:00 p.m." -- as someone that is just wrapping a short film...I'm more of the mindset, like this comment from Clive Owen recently, talent aside, decent ideas aside..."filmmaking" takes "focus..." and ultimately, you have to be really passionate about that idea...'cause a good film takes a good chunk of "time." Source: Apple Store Labels: ideas, indie film, tribeca film festival posted by Henry Cruz at 2:22 PM Monday, April 21, 2008 Visiting personal projects POST A COMMENT I sat in a "screenplay" workshop, (with the talented Marilyn Horowitz at the helm), and she had everyone in the room write a TV Guide like teaser of film you want to write. And then she would re-spin it, playing the role of what "sells" -- to help make the story more "Hollywood marketable and ultimately more sellable." It kinda bummed me out that everything in the film biz needs to be neatly pitched and overly marketed (like a science project)...'leaving little room for personal stories. In that world films like "The Visitor" might never get made (unless an A list actor was pitched as the lead). I know that film is an expensive medium, I get it. And people need to watch a part of themselves up on the screen, so they can relate to and spend ten bucks...blah, blah, blah. In my perfect world, perfectly pitched and marketed films would be underdone and a lot more messier. The Visitor Granted this story doesn't rock my world: "The Visitor, stars 60-year-old Richard Jenkins as plain, unremarkable Walter Vale, a lonely suburbanite who teaches economics in Connecticut. Walter undergoes a profound transformation after meeting two illegal immigrants in desperate straits." -- I like knowing that such personal films are still possible. Labels: indie film posted by Henry Cruz at 4:22 PM Wednesday, April 16, 2008 Love me 'some Tribeca Film Fest.... POST A COMMENT This past week, I stopped by a 'cheese and wine' meet and greet event for the Havana Film Festival; and the big theme or frustration among filmmakers seems to be a viable "distribution" ring (seems piracy is very legal in some countries). That was a warm-up, for me at least, to get out my 'play-nice' hat. The cool thing about being an INDIE filmmaker living near New York City, is that we do have Bobby de Niro's Tribeca Film Festival. Which is a great spot for film lovers to meet the film makers (and hear what they have to say). I'll be doing another cheese and wine event next week, rubbing noses (feeling out the vibe from filmmakers and producers) -- with the folks at "Film in the City -Tribeca Telling Our Stories" Reception...this years line up looks pretty cool! check them online: Tribeca Film Festival Labels: indie film, receptions, tribeca film festival posted by Henry Cruz at 3:11 PM     ARCHIVES October 2005 . November 2005 . December 2005 . August 2007 . 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