INDIE FILM CHAT FORUMS

I have agreed to help support a new and fast growing Indie film site, Eyesoda.

It is an Independent Film website that has a social networking component and allows you to view free movie trailers, and purchase to view numerous independent films from all over the world.  It is really cool and I am excited for her.

The more people I get to register, I will win some money.  I will be donating ALL and ANY Winnings to a very good friend of mine who not only deserves the money, but is in a bind and this would mean the world to her. 

Please click on the link below and register.  It is a simple form and you do not have to buy anything.  Thanks for all your support with this!
http://www.eyesoda.com/register/EYESATQW9CQYYS


Thanks,
Stephanie

I saw sideways and loved it.  After watching the preview to this at  www.bottleshockthemovie.com, i am ecstatic to see it, and can't wait till it comes out. it looks funny and exciting, and looks like it has breathtaking camera shots of california wine country.

Hey all, was curious what you guys think of this new movie "Bottle Shock" that comes out in a few weeks. I saw the website recently, and think it looks really funny-- trailer is at www.bottleshockthemovie.com.

Looks like its been getting great reviews as well, I wonder if this will be this year's "Sideways". I love Alan Rickman, and this has a great cast. I loved Freddie Rodriguez on "Six Feet Under" and Bill Pullman is a great actor, both in comedy and in his serious stuff.  Thoughts? Anyone see it or know any more about it?

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), a newly formed national initiative to help raise awareness and accelerate science toward finding an end to cancer is inviting emerging filmmakers across the country to join the fight against cancer by turning their cameras on this disease. From the insightful to the irreverent, and take a stand. Each film must focus on the subject of cancer, being affected by cancer, and/or the battle against it.

Entrants will have the privilege of being judged by some of the industry's top filmmakers and producers, including Laura Ziskin (Producer, Spider-Man, As Good As It Gets, Pretty Woman), Robert Greenwald (Director/Producer Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism), Julie Taymour (Director Across The Universe) and Lauren Shuler Donner (X-Men 1 & 2, Secret Life of Bees, Semi Pro) and Sherry Lansing (Former CEO of Paramount Pictures).

The top three finalists will premiere on Stand Up To Cancer’s website -- alongside content produced by top filmmakers, journalists and performers.

Deadline: ALL MATERIALS MUST BE RECIEVED BY August 1, 2008.
Submissions: http://www.standup2cancer.org/filmchallenge/

Paul Bacharach published a review of Millions: A Lottery Story on DVD Talk, check it out:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/33393/millions-a-lottery-story/

If you've ever daydreamed about what you would do if you won a million bucks in the lottery -- and, really, who of us hasn't entertained that notion? -- Millions: A Lottery Story can be instructive. Documentary maker Paul La Blanc catches up with a handful of past lottery winners and spends time with them to see if sudden wealth transformed their lives into the stuff of fantasy.

As it turns out, the answer is: Not so much. Two lotto winners eventually blew through their bonanza, while others surveyed in the doc are barely dipping into their bounty at all. But Millions doesn't come with an agenda. La Blanc does not reach for any grand statements about state-sanctioned gambling or get-rich-quick mindsets. His aim is more modest and inviting. He just wants to get to know some folks who happened to have Lady Luck on their side -- at least once in their lives.

In 1981, Louie Eisenberg won $5 million in the New York State Lottery, at that time the largest lottery prize in history. He promptly quit his job and charged into the highlife, becoming an overnight celebrity in the process. Affable and loquacious, Louie turned up as a frequent guest on TV talk shows and was interviewed by everyone from Ted Koppel to Johnny Carson. But Millions makes it clear that Louie is also something of a compulsive gambler. After a couple of divorces and far too many trips to the dog track, the 76-year-old man now resides in West Palm Beach, Florida, and struggles to afford his daily regimen of pharmaceuticals.

Two years later, another New Yorker, Curtis Sharp, bought a lottery ticket worth $5 million. Like Louie, he was catapulted to celebrity status. In fact, the two teamed up to serve as pitchmen for the New York Lottery. Curtis bought a Fleetwood Cadillac and a home in West Orange, New Jersey. But years of cocaine, bad investments and out-of-control generosity saw his money dwindle to nothing. Now he is a minister in Tennessee.

The cautionary tales of Louis and Curtis are balanced by the example of 16 lunchroom ladies in the small town of Holdingford, Minnesota. In 2003, the workers of the town's high-school cafeteria claimed a winning Powerball lottery ticket that translated into about $2 million in winnings for each employee.

Students and school officials braced themselves for the cafeteria staff to quit, but the mass resignations never happened. The women remained on the job.

In fact, none of their lives changed much at all. Barb Nelson still gets up at the crack of dawn to milk the cows on her family farm. Another cafeteria employee, Phylis Breth, took advantage of her newfound wealth by buying a refrigerator that makes ice. Then there is Susan Breth, who explains her modest tastes: "I guess I just don't go to Red Lobster and say, 'Hey, I want lobster.'"

Leisurely paced and sometimes meandering, Millions: A Lottery Story is nevertheless a good-hearted flick with a palpable fondness for its interviewees. It is easy to understand why. Filmmaker La Blanc doesn't hit upon any shattering truths, perhaps, but he finds some quirky, interesting, decent men and women who responded to sudden riches in their own unique way.

Anyone a fan of Cynthia Wade? She just won an academy award for that "Freeheld" documentary, right? I saw "Almost Home" and "Kismet", which I really enjoyed! Anyone else a fan?

If you guys are, she has produced a series of docu-minis for the Phoenix Children's Hospital featuring the stories of four brave kids who dealt with, and overcame, life threatening illness and disability. Some of the children will be forever marked (physically and emotionally) by their experiences. It was truly inspirational to watch these brave kids and their families, and see the strong network of support and dedication that helped them to beat the odds.

Just an fyi, I'd highly recommend these films to families dealing with severe illness or disability, and to anyone who could use a little hope. You can check out the series at www.pchhandprints.org

I saw Forgetting Sara Marshall last night and loved it. What a smart, well written film. Besides the usual Apatow mafia, there is also a guy who worked on the remake of Fun With Dick And Jane involved too.  It is hard to think of this as an indie film, but when you see the horrible booms and mikes violating some of the scenes, you might think again.  Funny how a studio production couldn't account for that.

Did anyone else see those booms and mikes?

Who liked it?  I am curious.

got a review of it?

BITTERSWEET PLACE: THE MOVIE
DEBUTS ON THE SUNDANCE CHANNEL
FRIDAY, 23 MAY 2008 AT 7PM

STARRING SEYMOUR CASSEL, ELISABETH MOSS
JEN ALBANO AND GLENN FITZGERALD

DIRECTED BY ALEXANDRA BRODSKY 
Written by Alexandra Brodsky and Jen Albano


“Bittersweet Place has personality and texture to burn, locating a lovingly shot Cassavetes minor key amid the mess of cheap paneling, picnic tables and personal messes...(the film) comes from a real place” 
Village Voice
 

“Jen Albano's performance as Susannah is so stunning that she is sure to be tagged as one of the up-and-coming actresses of her generation.”
Tribeca Film Festival program notes

www.bittersweetplacethemovie.com

So far my girlfriend and I have seen, in chronological order –

1) Let The Right One In – Interesting film, very entertaining.  The film takes a slew of horror movie clichés and approaches them from a different direction, and it works.  Definitely recommend.

2) From Within – There are a few ideas within the movie that are interesting, like the “bible thumpers” being the true evil of the town, but unfortunately most of the film is spent on pretty standard horror movie death scenes and not on the compelling story elements.  Plus there’s a large technical problem with shots from the final scenes that really bothers me (let’s just say bright daylight coming through the trees in the woods during what is supposed to be a late night/early morning scene).  Skip it.

3) Love, Pain, And Vice Versa – Love the style of the film, and the story is fantastic.  The structure is perfect and the acting is quite impressive.  I wouldn’t call this my favorite movie from the festival so far, but it has generated quite a bit of positive conversation between my girlfriend and I.

4) The Wackness – Saw this at Sundance, favorite thing there, and watching it the second time here it was even better.  I love this movie and can’t recommend it enough to everybody.  Favorite movie of the festival so far, though I guess that comes with prejudice.

5) Milky Way Liberation Front – Definitely the most unique film we’ve seen at Tribeca, and in general in a long time.  I like a lot of the ideas in the movie, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being pleasantly confused during parts of it.  Still, good film, and I’d like to see it again just to see if I can better wrap my head around it.  Consider it recommended.

6) Football Under Cover – The story behind this documentary is a lot more interesting than the final product.  Don’t get me wrong, the film isn’t bad, but it doesn’t go beyond the surface level.  With as many interesting women as they had on the two soccer teams, it seems like a missed opportunity to not spend more time with their stories and not just the main plot.  Slight recommendation.

That’s it so far.  We’ve got tickets to This Is Not A Robbery and Idiots And Angels tonight, Whatever Lola Wants tomorrow, and Playing on Saturday.  It’s been a good festival so far.  Definitely my favorite Tribeca experience since we started doing it three years ago.