Jonathan Rosenbaum: Podcast

Acclaimed film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum discusses film and film criticism with professor Michael Chaney at the Collaborative Learning Center workshop. You can listen to the podcast here.

Review: The Week In Photos

Filmmakers Flavio Alves (The Secret Friend) and Nick Moran (The Kid) at the CLC

Film Critic Jonathan Rosenbaum

Our greenroom

Sir Ian McKellen delivering a monologue to students

Producers Denise Cramsey and Leigh Seaman discuss producing with students

National Geographic’s Juliet Blake

The crowd waits for Liam Neeson to arrive

Liam Neeson with faculty host Chris Auer

Week In Review

Independent Filmmaker Workshop

That’s a Wrap!

By Kate Fitzpatrick

Has it really only been a week? I can hardly believe how much has happened in Savannah over the past seven days. I’ve met dozens of filmmakers, been in the audience for several great panels, and watched Sir Ian McKellen perform a monologue for the first time live – and that’s only what happened at the CLC. Suffice it to say, it’s been a great week.  Tonight the festival closes with the awards ceremony and the film 127 Hours.

My highlights included the aforementioned Sir Ian McKellen workshop; the staged performance of my romantic comedy, Swine Fever; and the tangible excitement in the crowd on wednesday night’s director’s choice as the opening credits of The Conspirator rolled. But the greatest part of the week has been the people. That’s the true heart and soul of this festival—the energy and enthusiasm of the students, locals, visitors, and guests who come together for a week, united around a shared love for stories.

I’ve just realized that this is my last time at the Savannah Film Festival as a student—I’ll be graduating soon and likely moving out of town. But I sincerely hope this is not my last time being a part of this festival. I loved every moment of it, and after talking with other filmmakers this week I know I’m not alone. So many of the invited guests raved about the festival, and more then one cited this as their favorite festival of all, marveling at how open, accessible, and welcoming the city and the people in it have been.

Well done, everyone– I think we all deserve a round of applause.

Overview of Festival Week

Going the Festival Route

Panelists talk about film festivals, and how to take advantage of them.

By Dan Fine

So you just finished your masterpiece. What a great feeling – right? You’re sitting in the editing room; exporting…it finally works the way you wanted. You burn the DVD, and put a nice label on it and your work is over. WRONG! What about the whole reason you made the film? Why did you just spend $3,000 on a paper weight? If you ever plan on showing people your film, you should desperately think about (insert title of this article)…going the festival route.

Thursday’s panel featured six guests: Nick Moran (Director/Writer of The Kid, and actor in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), Flavio Alves (Director of The Secret Friend), Chris Ordal (Director/Writer/Producer of Earthwork), Kaila York (President of Headlong Entertainment), Christian Moore (Cinematographer for Quadrangle), as well as Nancy Higgins (Director of Viva Les Amis). They discussed with students their experiences submitting to festivals, and how we can decide on festivals for submission. As a student with a short film, they recommend promoting the hell out of it. Shop it around EVERYWHERE you can. You need people to see it. You want nothing more than an audience for your film. Say it again with me, “You want nothing more than an audience for your film.” Festivals will get your film screened, and also give you a great opportunity to meet people that can get your film screened elsewhere. You could also meet people that might pay for your next film, who knows? It’s a wide world full of people looking for talented individuals; festivals are where those people usually become concentrated. I think we can all agree that at this stage, you need festivals as much as they need you.

As a student producer, finding the money for my director’s evil plan (of making my life a living nightmare) was hard enough, then I had to find more for festivals?! Kaila suggests that you budget your festival fees before principal shooting begins. Anticipate the costs of DVD’s, shipping, submission fees, and whatever else you need. Chris suggests not wasting money on complex packaging, saying that most submissions end up in the trash anyway. Flavio thinks quite the opposite, as I’m sure some festival programmers do too, but really, it’s all about the film within the packaging. You could make the greatest DVD cover with holographic figures popping out of the plastic, but if your film sucks no one is going to watch it. So clean it up, but don’t go out of your way to do it.

In closing, festivals are a great tool for up and coming filmmakers. Use them to your advantage. The Savannah Film Festival is a unique experience, according to Thursday’s panelists. “This is the best festival in the world,” said Nick. He enjoys the lavishness of being a special guest to the festival, but really appreciates how it’s mostly about the love of films. Savannah is also the biggest film festival in the United States, hosted by a university; putting the students and professionals together is a great way to get our talented students into the industry.

Sir Ian McKellen, I Love You.

Sir Ian McKellen at the CLC on Wednsday

by Kate Fitzpatrick

I considered writing this post in iambic pentameter, in honor of Sir Ian McKellen’s Shakespearean theater background, but decided it against it because I thought it might be too much awesome in one blog post. Not because I don’t understand it.

Sir Ian McKellen came to the CLC on Wednesday and it was amazing. Sir Ian McKellen’s resume is long and rich, but before his workshop I only really knew him as Gandalf and from that hilarious cameo he did on Ricky Gervais’s show, Extras. I didn’t realize what an extensive theater background he had, but his passion and love for theater quickly became evident. He started the workshop by foregoing the hand-held microphone and requesting a lavaliere instead, explaining that he wanted as little barrier as possible between himself and the audience of 40 students.

Throughout his hour-long workshop he alternately stood and sat as he talked about his work and answered questions from students. He waved and flourished his hands to emphasize points; his voice was melodic and warm; quite simply, he was captivating. We didn’t want him to leave, and he wanted to stay—when told we had ten minutes left in the workshop, he asked, “Do I really have to go? I’m quite happy to stay longer.”

Topics of conversation flowed from his work in theater and film to his advocacy for gay rights and his own coming out at the age of 49. A student mentioned that some agents recommend their actors to stay in the closet, a notion which McKellen rejected instantly. “If you can’t get work as an openly gay actor,” he advised, “get another job.” He emphasized the importance of being able to live a life in which you can be true to yourself, citing his coming out as “the best thing I ever could have done.”

He closed the workshop by saying, “I’ve brought a gift for you.” He then performed a monologue about inhumanity and strangers, from the Elizabethan play, Sir Thomas More. It was his first time performing this monologue to an audience. I have never read Sir Thomas More; my knowledge of Elizabethan writing is little at best. So I didn’t expect to be as moved as I was while watching him. It didn’t matter that I didn’t understand every single line he was saying—his passion and spirit was so strong that I could feel the message anyway. It was a beautiful gift. I know I won’t be forgetting this day anytime soon.

SCAD CLC: Tuesday Workshop overview

Conquering Everything from the Globe to My Fears

Liam Neeson answers questions from students at the CLC.

By Dan Fine

The CLC featured three presentations on Wednesday beginning with Juliet Blake, Senior Vice President of Production and Development for National Geographic Channel (NGC), talking to us about the challenges she faces while developing programs for NGC. Great Migrations, a new series premiering November 7^th on NGC, is a program she anticipates to be just as successful as Discovery’s Planet Earth. She found that Planet Earth, although very well done, lacked an ongoing storyline. That was the mindset of producers as they racked their brains for series ideas before coming up with Great Migrations. I thought Planet Earth was amazing, so hearing that Great Migrations promised even more plus the narration by Alec Baldwin makes me very eager to watch.

Juliet was also kind enough to give advice to a young crowd of filmmakers eager to jump into the field with a camera – literally. She gave us a website, NGCideas.com, to send any ideas or concepts for new television shows on NGC. She also gave me a business card to personally send her ideas, but I’ll keep that one to myself. She stressed watching NGC and their other channel, Nat Geo Wild, to get a feel for the kinds of shows they air BEFORE sending ideas. Nat Geo Wild, if you couldn’t guess, is where you can go to find content strictly about wildlife. Juliet really stresses that young filmmakers take advantage of opportunities that can get their content discovered.

The next event was highly anticipated, not to say that Juliet Blake’s was not, but let’s just say it was hard to find standing room once word got out that Liam Neeson was coming. I, for one, was extremely nervous. My hands were shaking before I even got sight of him. And once he got inside the room, it was like I was meeting my girlfriend’s father for the first time. He sat down, and once the talking began, things settled down for me. He described his start as an actor, and how in his transition to America he had trouble with the accent. When asked about his preparation for the role of Oskar Schindler, surprisingly, Liam said he didn’t research the Holocaust at all. His character had no idea of the travesty going on, so why should he? Instead, Liam, “…just hung around two-bit business men.”

Once questions began flowing in, he seemed very casual and calm. He later revealed to us how nervous he was getting up in front of a room full of people. I managed to ask a question. “As a producer, I’m always looking to keep up morale on set. What can you tell me about your experiences that would help with that?” It didn’t come out of my mouth so smoothly, though. It was more like this, “I’m a prod – I just graduated, and I want to be a producer – I’ve produced some senior films…” Anyway, he seemed to respond well to it, and remembered throughout the discussion that I wanted to be a producer. Anytime he would rip on producers and suit-types, he would gesture towards me. So that was cool. I’m sure I’ll remember my meeting him for years. If you want to hear about Sir Ian McKellen’s appearance at the CLC, be sure to read Kate Fitzpatrick’s blog.

What I Really Want To Do Is Direct

Director/Producer Jay Blumenfield with faculty host Ken Daniels.

By Kate Fitzpatrick

“There are many paths up the mountain”

-Japanese saying

I thought of that quote while sitting in one of today’s CLC workshops, What I Really Want To Do Is Direct, with director/producer Jay Blumenfield. I listened as he filled students in on his unusual path to becoming a filmmaker. He studied humanities at Berkeley, spent eight years in a rock band, and fell into filmmaking when he decided he could do a better job making his band’s music videos then the actual directors they were hiring.

I always love hearing about how people in film and television got to where they are. Everybody has a different and unique story, filled with unexpected twists and turns that eventually deposit them right where they were meant to be all along. This was certainly the case with Blumenfield—he’s been steadily working in film and television ever since taking over his band’s music videos.

The directing workshop was wonderful—conversational, intimate, and informative. Students asked questions about the business and Blumenfield answered honestly and openly. I asked him something I’ve been wondering a lot about lately—how do you pitch ideas to someone in a casual setting (like say, a film festival) without risking them being stolen?

Blumenfield’s answer: You don’t.

Ideas get stolen all the time and those are the breaks. He urged students not to hold on too long or too tightly to any one idea, and instead come up with as many ideas as possible. After all, you never know which one will be a hit and which one won’t.

There were two other workshops at the CLC today:  What I Really Want To Do Is Produce, and Fix This Pilot. For more on those, check out Dan Fine’s blog.

Meanwhile, in between the day’s CLC panels I caught myself wondering: why is my stomach in knots, like I’m nervous? What could I possibly be feeling nervous abou—MY EVENT IS TOMORROW!

Oh yeah. That.

I’ve been so engrossed with the CLC workshops and the rest of the film festival events that I have moments where I forget that I, too, will be showing my work at this year’s festival. Swine Fever, my feature length romantic comedy, will be performed live at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday morning at the Gutstein Gallery.

I’m nervous but I’m excited, too, and fortunately my excitement far outweighs my nerves. It’s a big deal for me, this play—I spent the better part of a year writing this screenplay and it’s finally time to share it.

And to make tomorrow even better, Juliet Blake (Senior VP of Production and Development at National Geographic), Liam Neeson and Sir Ian McKellen are doing back to back workshops at the CLC. Then the evening screening is the as-yet-unknown Director’s Choice. The film may be a mystery but one thing is certain—Wednesday promises to be a whirlwind. I’m going to do my best to hold on tight and enjoy the ride.

Making Pilots and Becoming a Producer

Producers Denise Cramsey and Leigh Seaman speak with students about the challenges for young producers in the television industry.

By Dan Fine

Tuesday’s first CLC event welcomed back Joe Houlihan (Executive Vice-President of Programming for Cineflix) and Freddy James (Senior Vice-President Program Development and Production for HGTV) for the event entitled, Fix This Show. Joe and Freddy’s companies are collaborating on a new series, Cash and Cari, which will be premiering on HGTV this January.

They began their discussion by explaining to us that we would be participating as a “test group” for the series’ first episode.

After viewing the pilot, we were asked to give our honest opinions about the show. While some were more brutally honest than others, I believe the comments launched into a good conversation about what HGTV is looking for, and how they can accomplish their goals for the show. By offering suggestions and seeing how Houlihan and James applied them to potential tweaks and changes for the show, the audience gained a clearer idea of how pilots are tested, rewritten and reworked over and over again before airing.

Part two of Tuesday featured two discussions, meaning I could only cover one of the events. Please read Kate Fitzpatrick’s blog to for the inside scoop on What I Really Want to Do is Direct. I covered the simultaneous event, What I Really Want to Do is Produce, in the CLC’s “green room.” Veteran producers, Denise Cramsey (President/Executive Producer for her own production company DCTV) and Leigh Seaman (Co-Executive Producer, Creative Director for TPTV and Executive Producer for Seaman Media), headed an informal discussion about the challenges young producers face trying to break into the industry – describing me exactly. As a recent college graduate, currently in the rat race that is job searching, I took pages of notes as I listened and found new ways to hunt for jobs.

I’ll admit, you’ve likely heard these suggestions before, but that’s because they are the proven ways to break into the industry. The first is to find work – ; anywhere. There are countless production companies around the country shooting commercials, music videos, corporate videos, etc. Work with them, embrace any experience you can get, and network. You are new to the industry and the best way to meet someone is to work with them and forge relationships with them. Next, when you finally get a chance at some real work, you have to make a positive impression. Cramsey and Seaman both suggested bonding with the cameraman or soundman, because good ones are few and far between, meaning they work often. Get them water, coffee, pastry, or whatever they need, while still doing your own job. Impress enough people and gain enough valid experience and those jobs will lead you to other jobs, and so on. And don’t forget your manners – ; your mom didn’t spend all that time yelling at you for nothing when she got on your case about being courteous and helpful.

“This is a freelance business,” says Denise, meaning that it is uncommon for most of us to be handed a job at a large company, along with a salary, 401K, and health insurance. The bottom line is simple – if you have the ability to produce, you have to prove it to someone before they’ll just hand you a job. One way of doing that is to shoot something, put it online, and repeat. If it’s good, people will spread it around by word of mouth. For all of you Field of Dreams fans; … if you shoot it (and it’s really good), they will call.

CLC: The Perfect Pitch and Sizzle Reel

Sizzle Reels and Perfect Pitch

Students chat with Cineflix Executive VP of Programming Joe Houlihan

by Kate Fitzpatrick

“What I just learned here may change my entire scholastic career,” said Kevin Parkinson, a graduate Film and Television student, following this afternoon’s CLC workshop: The Perfect Pitch/Sizzle Reel.

Panelists were Joe Houlihan (Cineflix), Freddy James (HGTV), and Jane Rogerson (UKTV). They spent an hour going over the finer points of pitching ideas using sizzle reels. A sizzle reel is a short and sweet bit of edited footage that conveys the tone, style, and content of your idea. I know it by another name, the pitch tape, but let’s keep calling it a sizzle reel because I like saying it. Sizzle reel.

Kevin is no stranger to pitching—he’s on the directing track at SCAD, and has done his share of pitching in both academic and professional settings. A few months ago, he had the opportunity to pitch a show idea to a Los Angeles based company called Natural 9. His idea centers around historically black colleges and their connection to television. “You can really glamorize excellence through cinema,” he says. “When the show ‘A Different World’ was on the air, enrollment rates at historically black colleges rose,” he explains. “The show went off the air in 1993 and enrollment has never been as high as it was then.”

Kevin didn’t use a sizzle reel for his pitch. Today’s panelists stressed the importance of having one by showing examples of great sizzle reels and not-so-great sizzle reels. Joe Houlihan screened a sizzle reel for a show called, “When Ghosts Attack”, a show about, well—you can figure it out. Kevin was amazed to hear Joe explain that the interviews, ghostly images, and footage on the sizzle reel was mostly made up of content grabbed online. That’s right—even the professionals use YouTube.

“The thing that struck me—you can make a sizzle reel using content you find online,” Kevin said. “I was really surprised that some producers would consider accepting that.”

It inspired Kevin to re-visit his show idea and put together sizzle reel for it using clips from ‘A Different World’ and archival footage from historically black colleges.

“You don’t need permission from the source to make a sizzle reel,” Joe confirms. “We just grabbed clips from YouTube—I think we did maybe one interview on our own, that’s all. We added the graphics and text and spooky music, and that was it.”

So what are you waiting for? A sizzle reel is a must have for aspiring producers and directors so take your best idea, hop on the nearest computer, and play around.

Solving the Riddle of the Perfect Pitch

Panelists (from left to right) Joe Houlihan, Jane Rogerson, and Freddy James speaking to the audience.

By Dan Fine

Monday’s CLC event featured three television industry professionals, who buy and sell the sizzle reels that go on to become the television shows that we know and love. Joe Houlihan (Executive Vice-President of Programming for Cineflix), Jane Rogerson (Director of Commissioning for UKTV), and Freddy James (Senior Vice-President Program Development and Production for HGTV) began by explaining to the audience how potential show producers use sizzle reels as a “sales tool.” Concept, characters, music, and editing are all very realistic questions to face while compiling a sizzle reel for a pitch. But our panelists also said that you must consider the person to whom you are pitching, too. While they generally agreed on good and bad sizzle reels, each had their own opinions on what specifics they look for when it comes time to make the final decision.

“Short is sweet,” said Freddy James, who is also more of a fan of raw and gritty reels, as opposed to “over-produced” material (as long as you have all the answers for the people to whom you are pitching). A sizzle reel that can clearly introduce the concept of the show, or the characters that will drive a show, works more effectively than a sloppy rendering of an isolated episode.

“You have to be very clear about what your concept is, and get directly to the point,” said Jane Rogerson. She mentioned an example that was pitched to her – a television show about celebrities participating in a game show while riding roller coasters. There were some obvious technical concerns that arose in the planning stages for the show. But the overall concept was something that appealed to her and her colleagues. The producers who pitched the show came back after figuring out the technical issues and, ultimately, sold the show. But all three panelists suggest having that information ready for the original pitch.

Joe Houlihan, although not very old, started in the business before sizzle reels became the standard for pitches. Now he preaches the importance of these reels as make-or-break elements when pitching because he believes, “You have to illustrate that you can do it.” As a result, the industry now spends a good deal of money on sizzle reels. Keep in mind that most sizzle reels are not sold for development.

Fortunately for all of us with that next great idea for a television show, the standards that make a show marketable haven’t changed much over the years. The basic storylines that exist have always existed and always will. The aspects of shows that continue to morph are more on the technical end and on execution. “An arms race” so-to-speak can ensue between rival companies trying to outdo the others while making sizzle reels for potential shows. Even so, the model for successful television shows remains essentially unpredictable – what it really comes down to is the uniqueness of the show’s concept or how memorable its characters will be.

What’s New This Year?

By Dan Fine

Hi everyone. I’m Dan Fine. During the next week, I’ll be a blogger for the Collaborative Learning Center, or CLC as we call it here. I’m a 2010 SCAD graduate with a B.F.A. in Film/Television. I produced two senior thesis films at SCAD and consider producing to be my specialty. While I’m still job-hunting, I feel fortunate to not only be involved at this year’s Savannah Film Festival, but also to be here for my fifth consecutive festival.

This annual event is great for SCAD and provides a huge boost to the city, which is hosting the festival for the 13^th year. During the next week, we get to see the likes of Liam Neeson (Schindler’s List, Michael Collins, Kinsey), Sir Ian McKellen (X-Men, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy), and Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet, Death Becomes Her, Green Porno).

A film festival wouldn’t be great without the buzz created by new film premieres, such as Academy Award winning director Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours, starring James Franco. Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, shown Saturday evening, was another highly anticipated film that certainly did not disappoint the audience.

I know many of you are thinking, “I couldn’t get a hold of those tickets.” Well, relax, and find some time this week to go see some of the other excellent films being shown. After all, you find the real meat and potatoes of any film festival within the daytime show schedule, including SCAD student work, short professional films, and other professional films that did not make the evening schedule. One that comes to mind is En Route, a 2010 SCADemy award winner starring my supervisor, Yotam Dor (whom also produced it). This is a prime example of the sustenance you will find during the day showings this week. For film students, I can’t stress enough how far you are from making a film like 127 Hours or Black Swan. En Route, in contrast, offers an excellent example of what you can aspire to given the budget and resource constraints of student filmmaking. So go see something that is much more within your reach, and when the time for your thesis film comes, you will have a much better idea of your competition.

A host of bloggers will cover film reviews, after-parties, and celebrity gossip this week. I hate to inform you that the events I will be covering, exciting as they are, will not be open to just anyone off the street, which gives you all the more reason to keep a close eye on this blog for all the details. The focus of my blog will be on events at the CLC, such as What I really want to do is Produce, with faculty host Chris Auer. I promise to take copious notes and fill you in on all the ways to break into the industry as a producer. Also, Liam Neeson and Sir Ian McKellen will speak on Wednesday about their careers and, I’m sure, will answer some questions – stay tuned for that. On Monday, November 1^st, Professor Andy Meyer is hosting a workshop on giving the Perfect Pitch featuring industry professionals Joe Houlihan, Freddy James, and Jane Rogerson. These are just a few of the exciting events I’ll be reporting to you.

Don’t forget – check the CLC blog throughout the week, as well as 16×9 and the District, for the inside scoop of this year’s Savannah Film Festival. Until next time, have fun out there and don’t forget your popcorn.

It Begins!

by Kate Fitzpatrick

I’m calling it festival-itis. Symptoms include: those sudden butterflies in your stomach that appeared early Saturday morning and won’t leave for at least eight days; the slight crick in your neck which will only grow worse, a result of nonstop people watching; and of course the constant mix of sheer excitement and slight panic that is with you at all times. The excitement is for the massive amount of events, movies, workshops, and starpower that descends on Savannah this week—an excitement that is immediately followed by slight panic as you realize you don’t want to miss a single event but you haven’t perfected that cloning machine. Take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay. Actually, no—it’s going to be even better.    

I transferred to SCAD in 2008 with no film experience—my background was in fine arts, but I quickly fell in love with the world of film and television, especially screenwriting and documentaries. I’ve attended the Savannah Film Festival each year I’ve been here and I have to say, it just keeps getting better. This year is especially exciting for me—I’ve  got an event of my own in the festival.

Since receiving the 2009 Silver Screen Society Screenwriting Grant, I’ve spent the past year writing a feature length romantic comedy called Swine Fever (because what’s more romantic than swine flu?) which will be performed live at the Gutstein Gallery at 11:30a.m. on Wednesday. It’s being moderated by Barry Rosenbush (producer, High School Musical and co-founder of the Silver Screen Society) who has worked with me on the screenplay since last fall. While that’s at the top of my personal must-attend list, there are a few other events I’m not missing:   

127 Hours. Danny Boyle plus James Franco multiplied by thrilling cinematography equals YES. Have you seen the trailer for this? Go check it out. Now. And in case you didn’t already know: it’s based on a true story.

Private workshops with Juliet Blake (Senior VP of Production and Development at National Geographic), Liam Neeson, and Sir Ian McKellen at SCAD’s relatively new Collaborative Learning Center. I’m a tease for mentioning them, I know– they aren’t open to the public but they’re so exciting I couldn’t keep it to myself. This is a prime example of what I love about the Savannah Film Festival—the abundance of opportunities for students to mingle with big names in film, television, media, and more.

The Director’s Choice. Wednesday night’s film is kept secret from the audience until the opening credits roll. Love it. I know what film I’ve got my fingers crossed for…

Ultimately, the best part of the Savannah Film Festival is being immersed in stories for a week. Whether we’re watching them onscreen, hearing them during a panel, or seeing them unfold in front of our eyes, there is a certain magic in the air this week which makes for some great tales to tell. I can’t wait to share them. See you at the movies!

Sir Ian McKellen – Lifetime Achievement Award 2010 SAVFF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-nK65AZUxg

At the Mansion on Forsyth Park, we talk with astonished, and charmingly honest Ian McKellen. He talks about his continuing career, key moments in his lifetime and how much he enjoys Savannah and its locals.

Exective Director Danny Filson and Conspirator actor Jeremy Tuttle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqr9RMf43fs

We get a chance to talk with the executive director of the Savannah Film Festival about all things to do with the festival, the students, and the filmmakers and actors; as well as ing SCAD grad student Jeremy Tuttle about his role in tonight’s surprise Director’s Choice Film: The Conspirator.

Coffee Talks; Day 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFkRgOq_a3w

On the first day of the SAVFF Coffee Talks, the topic was: “Film Journalism: What’s Going on with Movies?”

from Monday, November 1st.

Jay Blumenfield and Ryan Waterson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRbAUvKn2hs

On the fourth night of after-parties we get a chance to talk with Savannah Film Commission’s Ryan Watterson about the benefits of the Film Commission for SCAD students, and we talk with TV producer Jay Blumenfield about the benefits of the festival and the ups and downs of the industry.

Panavision Workshops

Third Night’s A Charm

Looks like the stars are trickling into town! Last night both Tony Goldwyn and Ed Burns were at Trustees Theater. Tony Goldwyn introduced his film “Conviction,” and even stuck around to do a Q-and- A. Ed Burns’ film “Nice Guy Johnny” was also screened last night. There were some dedicated fans out there that stood in line for hours, so for all of you out there not making it to the Savannah Film Festival, you are missing out.

For those of us who saw Tony Goldwyn’s “Conviction” last night, can you believe that story is true?! “Conviction” is a true story about Betty Anne Waters and Kenny Waters, a brother and sister from Massachusetts, and their struggle to prove Kenny’s innocence after he is sentenced to life without parole for murder. Betty Anne is determined to get her brother out from behind bars, and so she gets her GED, her college degree, and goes through law school, all while raising her children. Betty Anne Waters deserved a truly amazing actress to play her part, which is why it’s no surprise Hilary Swank was cast for the part. Hilary Swank really showed us the heartbreak, fear, and unwavering faith Betty Anne had for her brother, who was played by Sam Rockwell. Now I may be a biased opinion, but Sam Rockwell rocked. His character Kenny was a wildchild with a bad temper and a big heart, and Sam Rockwell was right on target. I’m sure I’m not the only one, but I always wonder what Sam Rockwell looks like in real life, because in his roles he’s usually made up to look younger or older. Fortunately for him he looks great either way! The movie is also features other great actresses like Minnie Driver, and Juliette Lewis. And although they didn’t have major roles, they still shook the audience with their performances (Truthfully, Juliette Lewis stole the show). “Conviction” is a movie you’ve got to go out and see, especially if you have brothers or sisters or if you’re a daddy’s girl! It’ll make you think about how far you would go for the life of another. It’s a truly beautiful and moving film.
Director Tony Goldwyn, who did a terrific job with “Conviction,” actually heard about Betty Anne Waters’ story on the news. Tony Goldwyn is another well rounded film figure in the business that SCAD students can look up to. He doesn’t just look to direct, but dives into many disciplines which gives him knowledge about all the ins and outs of film. He is also an inspiration to keep working for what you believe in. Tony Goldwyn began working on the Waters’ story nine years ago, he stuck with it, and here we have a wonderful film.
As for the after party, I think I almost fainted when Ed Burns walked by me! For you ladies out there Ed Burns starred in 27 Dresses, and for you guys he plays himself in Entourage. He’s another actor, director, producer, writer, cutie, etc. and is the epitome of being well rounded in the film industry. So for all the film students, appreciate your professors for pushing you to do it all (And don’t complain).
Last night’s after party was hosted at Jazz’d Tapas Bar, and although the food was tiny, it was rich and packed with flavor. Tonight the festivities are moving further up Broughton to Ciao Bella’s, and the film featured tonight is Fair Game.
Hope everyone gets out the Festival tonight! Who knows which stars will be in town…

Bobby Zarem and SCAD’s own Kate Fitzpatrick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9J_r3qfOXQ

On the second night of the film festival we talk with Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Bobby Zarem and SCAD’s own Kate Fitzpatrick.

Tony Goldwyn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuGJHiiHMYk

Night three of the film festival – we caught up with Tony Goldwyn, director of Conviction, starring Sam Rockwell and Hilary Swank.

Night #2

Let me start out by saying congrats to Miles Teller! The handsome young devil, I mean young actor, was given the SCAD Discovery Award before the screening of his new film “Rabbit Hole.” He gave a short speech before the screening, and his humble and genuine personality gleamed with every word. Shia Lebouf better watch his back because Miles Teller will give him a run for his money! It’s always great so see a sweet talented new face make it in the business, and we hope to see Miles Teller stay! Sadly, Miles couldn’t stay for the screening in Savannah, but for good reason. He had to jet yesterday evening to be on the set of the remake of “Footloose!” Miles’ career is on the rise, and all of SCAD is rooting for him! So we bid Miles Teller Farewell, and say hello, “Rabbit Hole!”
With a star-packed cast including Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Diane Weist, and of course Miles Teller, the audience was sure to be treated to an outstanding performance. How outstanding you ask? The actors had such chemistry and powerful emotions, you cried when they cried, laughed when they laughed, felt ashamed when they felt ashamed. The movie gave a glimpse into the grief and mourning process parents got through when they lose a child. But the film didn’t have to beat you over the head with the common and the expected route to make the audience feel emotional. Instead, the events and actors were not exaggerated or wallowing in pain and grief, they were real. Again I have to mention Miles Teller because playing alongside such distinguished and talented actors and actresses is no easy feat, but Miles held his own in the movie and did a fantastic job.
“Rabbit Hole” is an inspirational film, not only for the content, but because of the actors. Miles Teller is a role model for all SCAD’s young talented actors, and proof that dreams do come true. I’m also curious if “Rabbit Hole,” which is based on a play, will inspire SCAD’s theatre department to put on a performance! “Rabbit Hole’s” future is looking quite bright, and has the audience looking towards a brighter future in more ways than one!
As for the afterparty, it was held at the Gutstein Gallery below the Jen library. If you haven’t been there already, you must be sure to check it out. There you’ll see the many ways in which SCAD students’ talents stretch. The installations will have you awestruck and pondering for hours. Show your support and check it out, bring a friend because the artwork is definitely something to talk about.
Looking forward to the rest of the week! But what I’m really curious about is WHERE in the world is Liam Neeson?! I’ll keep you updated without a doubt.

- Steph Halpin

Oh…what a night…

SAVFF OPENING NIGHT

We kick off this years Savannah Film Festival by talking with well-known producer and film fest advisory board member Stratton Leopold, the recipient of this years Discovery Award Miles Teller, and SCAD’s own Colin Levy, the director of En Route.

Ian McKellen receives the Lifetime Achievement Award

Actor Sir Ian McKellen received the Lifetime Achievement Award Nov. 4 before the screening of “Blue Valentine” at the Trustees Theater. McKellen also sat down with students for a master class and answered questions after a screening of his 1998 … Continue reading →

“127 Hours” in one word

District caught up with moviegoers after the premiere of Danny Boyle’s controversial film “127 Hours” to see what they thought about the film—in one word… Continue reading →

“Blue Valentine” in one word

District caught up with Savannah locals and SCAD students after the screening of the NC-17 film “Blue Valentine.” We asked them to describe the film in one word… Continue reading →

“127 Hours” causes more physical reactions

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To Sir with love

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TV and film veteran Lembeck leaves his mark

Veteran performer and director Michael Lembeck offers straight talk advice and encouragement to SCAD students. Continue reading →

Technology shapes the state of American cinema

Movie critic Jonathan Rosenbaum measures the state of American cinema. Continue reading →

It takes a team to cast a film

A panel of professional actors, agents and casting directors discuss the teamwork that helps actors find work. Continue reading →

Liam Neeson’s sage advice lifts audience

Liam Neeson’s first onstage lines—translated from Irish as, “Where is the piece of rope, because I have to go to Connemara!”—don’t really have the same snarl as the Zeus’ command to release a mythic sea creature or the wrenching shame … Continue reading →

“We try not to take ourselves too seriously”: Juliet Blake master class

Nov. 3. Juliet Blake, the senior vice president of production for the National Geographic Channel, spoke with students Nov. 3 about … Continue reading →

“What is film?” panel

At the Gutstein Gallery Nov. 3, a panelist of actor Ed Quinn, logistic coordinator for the Savannah Film Festival Sheila Lynn Bolda and film studies professor Peter Hitchcock at CUNY discussed understanding films in context. They discussed “Fair Game” in … Continue reading →

Can you say, “I Know a Woman Like That”?

“I Know A Woman Like that” is an empowering documentary about women over the age of 60 by Elaine and Virginia Madsen. ’80s actor Virginia Madsen, accompanied by her mother, documentarian, playwright, author and poet Elaine Madsen screened their film … Continue reading →

“127 Hours” a compelling, uncomfortable end to Film Festival

This year’s Savannah Film Festival has included a number of controversial films. From the NC-17 rated “Blue Valentine” to “Blue … Continue reading →

“U-Carmen E-Khayelitsha” brings universal themes to present-day Africa

“U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha” is a contemporary adaptation of George Bizet’s 19th century opera “Carmen.” It is the debut feature length film from director Mark Donford-May who transplants the tempestuous, timeless tale … Continue reading →

“The River Why” a light movie for a rainy Sunday afternoon

“The River Why” is enjoyable, but makes for light festival fare. Based on the 1983 novel of the same name by David James Duncan (who actually sued to get his name taken off the credits and succeeded), “The River Why” … Continue reading →

Do you believe in magic?

“The Illusionist” is a touching tale of a magician keeping his trade alive in a time of unbelief. Do you believe in magic? That’s the main question to ask yourself when watching “The Illusionist.” “The Illusionist” is a French animated … Continue reading →

Another lovely and heartbreaking year

The success of “Another Year” lies with the likability of its characters and the realism of its depiction. “Another Year” is a witty British film, equally sad and funny, written and directed by Mike Leigh (“Vera Drake”). With classic British … Continue reading →

“Made in Dagenham” reminds us we have “rights, not privileges”

“Made in Dagenham” intersperses real footage with dramatized events. “This strike is about one thing and one thing only: fairness” This is what Rita O’Grady (Sally Hawkins) tells the women sewing machinists of the Dagenham Ford Plant. Directed by Nigel … Continue reading →

We can all be “a woman like that”

“I Know A Woman Like That” is not a documentary about aging; it’s about living. “I Know a Woman Like That,” is not about old women, it is about women who refuse to stop living. This documentary, produced by Oscar … Continue reading →

“Gods and Monsters” still hits hard after 12 years

More than 12 years old, “Gods and Monsters” still stands as one of Sir Ian McKellen’s best films to date. “Gods and Monsters” was shown at Trustees Theater Nov 4.  Even though the film came out in 1998, and … Continue reading →