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Showing posts with label docs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label docs. Show all posts
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Les Oscars 2009
Hard to believe it's Oscar time again! Going to a fun 1st Birthday party for Matteo tomorrow afternoon then coming home to watch Les Oscars (and all the red carpet action!) Here are my Oscar picks - you can play along at oscars.com
CATEGORY, Who SHOULD WIN, Who WILL WIN
Best Picture, Slumdog Millionaire, Slumdog BETTER win!!
Otherwise, I have no pick
Best Director, Danny Boyle, Danny Boyle
Best Actor, Sean Penn, Mickey Rourke
Best Actress, Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslett (6th nom-ok I get it)
Best Supporting Actor, Heath Ledger, Heath Ledger
Best Supporting Actress, Penelope Cruz, Penelope Cruz
Best Adapted Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog), Slumdog
Best Original Screenplay, In Bruges (hilarious), Mike Leigh (Happy Go Lucky) 6th nom
Best Score, Slumdog, Slumdog, which means
Best Song, should be Jai Ho (been listening to it on my iTouch all day), Peter Gabriel WILL win for Down to Earth, the theme from WALL-E
Best Animated Feature, WALL-E, WALL-E
Best Doc Feature, Man On Wire, Man On Wire (loved it at Hot Docs)
Best Short Film, Manon sur le Bitume (was at CFC Shorts in Toronto)
Best Foreign Language Film, Waltz with Bashir, Waltz with Bashir
(France's The Class is too long and reminds me too much of teaching)
Batman (The Dark Knight) will win for Best Sound, Best SFX
Anything else? Costumes? Art Direction? Wanted will win Sound Editing
Hugh Jackman is getting his dance number overwith at the beginning of the show and sharing the stage with the stars of HSM3 (High School Musical 3) and Mamma Mia.
Not excited for the dancing but definitely excited to see Hugh carry the 3+ hour spectacle. I think he'll be great - I'll be watching the evening (and the fashions) intently.
Would love to hear your pre-Oscar predictions or post-Oscar blather - please post! Kisses to Les Boys and everyone else in Oscarland (or dreaming of being there) xxMM
excitement, drama
haikugirl loves Oscar night
tell me all your picks
CATEGORY, Who SHOULD WIN, Who WILL WIN
Best Picture, Slumdog Millionaire, Slumdog BETTER win!!
Otherwise, I have no pick
Best Director, Danny Boyle, Danny Boyle
Best Actor, Sean Penn, Mickey Rourke
Best Actress, Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslett (6th nom-ok I get it)
Best Supporting Actor, Heath Ledger, Heath Ledger
Best Supporting Actress, Penelope Cruz, Penelope Cruz
Best Adapted Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog), Slumdog
Best Original Screenplay, In Bruges (hilarious), Mike Leigh (Happy Go Lucky) 6th nom
Best Score, Slumdog, Slumdog, which means
Best Song, should be Jai Ho (been listening to it on my iTouch all day), Peter Gabriel WILL win for Down to Earth, the theme from WALL-E
Best Animated Feature, WALL-E, WALL-E
Best Doc Feature, Man On Wire, Man On Wire (loved it at Hot Docs)
Best Short Film, Manon sur le Bitume (was at CFC Shorts in Toronto)
Best Foreign Language Film, Waltz with Bashir, Waltz with Bashir
(France's The Class is too long and reminds me too much of teaching)
Batman (The Dark Knight) will win for Best Sound, Best SFX
Anything else? Costumes? Art Direction? Wanted will win Sound Editing
Hugh Jackman is getting his dance number overwith at the beginning of the show and sharing the stage with the stars of HSM3 (High School Musical 3) and Mamma Mia.
Not excited for the dancing but definitely excited to see Hugh carry the 3+ hour spectacle. I think he'll be great - I'll be watching the evening (and the fashions) intently.
Would love to hear your pre-Oscar predictions or post-Oscar blather - please post! Kisses to Les Boys and everyone else in Oscarland (or dreaming of being there) xxMM
excitement, drama
haikugirl loves Oscar night
tell me all your picks
Sunday, February 08, 2009
DOC Soup and going GREEN
I was so busy in January I had no time to review last month's DOC Soup. The movie was excellent and I was THRILLED to see Hot Docs Director Sean Farnel back at the mic to introduce things and run the Q&A.
Recipes for Disaster is a personal film about a global issue. The Director and his family go on an "oil diet" for a year. They give up petroleum products (i.e. plastic), they give up their car and take public transit (been there, done that) and don't even succumb to buying things WRAPPED in plastic. They had to go to a special warehouse store to find "loo paper" on an industrial-sized roll.
The director's wife is the hero of the movie. She goes along with his idea and together they pass the camera and "document" their lives. The kids stay good-natured. It's the director himself who first feels the urge to cave... Anyway I won't spoil it but if it ever comes to TV (POV?) or your local video store - RENT IT.
Sean had the genius and carbon-neutral idea of connecting with the director for Q&A via SKYPE. BRILLIANT! And very effective, despite a brutal time difference for him in Finland.
This film is a great inspiration for families and government. See it then login to one million acts of green and add all the "green acts" you do everyday. START TODAY - it's amazing the difference we all can make.
one million green acts
the planet and I thank you
together we win!
xx Miss "Working for the Ministry of the Environment now" haikugirl
P.S. This Wednesday's DOC Soup is Milking the Rhino. Looking forward to it.
Recipes for Disaster is a personal film about a global issue. The Director and his family go on an "oil diet" for a year. They give up petroleum products (i.e. plastic), they give up their car and take public transit (been there, done that) and don't even succumb to buying things WRAPPED in plastic. They had to go to a special warehouse store to find "loo paper" on an industrial-sized roll.
The director's wife is the hero of the movie. She goes along with his idea and together they pass the camera and "document" their lives. The kids stay good-natured. It's the director himself who first feels the urge to cave... Anyway I won't spoil it but if it ever comes to TV (POV?) or your local video store - RENT IT.
Sean had the genius and carbon-neutral idea of connecting with the director for Q&A via SKYPE. BRILLIANT! And very effective, despite a brutal time difference for him in Finland.
This film is a great inspiration for families and government. See it then login to one million acts of green and add all the "green acts" you do everyday. START TODAY - it's amazing the difference we all can make.
one million green acts
the planet and I thank you
together we win!
xx Miss "Working for the Ministry of the Environment now" haikugirl
P.S. This Wednesday's DOC Soup is Milking the Rhino. Looking forward to it.
Of Time and The City
Finally saw Terence Davies' film Of Time and The City, his hommage (elegy?) to his hometown of Liverpool. Had tried to see it at Cinematheque at the AGO on Feb 1st but got there and it was sold out so I went shopping (still a productive afternoon).
Seeing it with Hardish at the Bloor Cinema last Wednesday was interesting. Critics raved about it at TIFF 2008 so I'm glad I got it out of my system but I'm not sending you all out to it right away. It's not a documentary as much as a tone poem, which is how I like to think of Marathon Women (a haiku about running). Except for a long, slow 4-minute pan from the downtown to the docks (for which they credit a DOP), the film is fully 72 minutes of stock archival footage from British Pathe and other sources. Davies narrates in his booming bass voice - think Boris Karloff of The Grinch, only tune up the cynicism, say, to ELEVEN. Every word is drenched with arrogance and disdain, with the faintest touch of longing only when he mentions his mother. To say he pokes fun at the monarchy is weak - he really resents them and the Catholic church and effectively contrasts "Betty Windsor's" lavish coronation ceremony with footage of poor Liverpudlians amidst their rowhouses.
A contemporary of Peter Greenaway, Davies has also made The House of Mirth (with Gillian Anderson) and Distant Voices, Still Lives. He talks about falling in love with cinema, being gay and leaving Liverpool. As the Beatles rise, he rejects rock and roll in favour of classical music and scores the movie with his favourite tracks. When the fireworks appear for Liverpool's 2008 celebration as European City of Culture, it's over. Don't see this unless you've had a large coffee and can adjust the volume levels with a remote. They just laid down the tracks with no consistent level throughout the film and at one point I had to close my ears it was so deafening. This from the woman married audiophile. MMm out of five for the archival effort.
Seeing it with Hardish at the Bloor Cinema last Wednesday was interesting. Critics raved about it at TIFF 2008 so I'm glad I got it out of my system but I'm not sending you all out to it right away. It's not a documentary as much as a tone poem, which is how I like to think of Marathon Women (a haiku about running). Except for a long, slow 4-minute pan from the downtown to the docks (for which they credit a DOP), the film is fully 72 minutes of stock archival footage from British Pathe and other sources. Davies narrates in his booming bass voice - think Boris Karloff of The Grinch, only tune up the cynicism, say, to ELEVEN. Every word is drenched with arrogance and disdain, with the faintest touch of longing only when he mentions his mother. To say he pokes fun at the monarchy is weak - he really resents them and the Catholic church and effectively contrasts "Betty Windsor's" lavish coronation ceremony with footage of poor Liverpudlians amidst their rowhouses.
A contemporary of Peter Greenaway, Davies has also made The House of Mirth (with Gillian Anderson) and Distant Voices, Still Lives. He talks about falling in love with cinema, being gay and leaving Liverpool. As the Beatles rise, he rejects rock and roll in favour of classical music and scores the movie with his favourite tracks. When the fireworks appear for Liverpool's 2008 celebration as European City of Culture, it's over. Don't see this unless you've had a large coffee and can adjust the volume levels with a remote. They just laid down the tracks with no consistent level throughout the film and at one point I had to close my ears it was so deafening. This from the woman married audiophile. MMm out of five for the archival effort.
BAFTAs and IDC
BAFTAs will be handed out tonight. Here are the nominees.
Been keeping my head down working on editing projects for my editing course at George Brown. In addition to the class assignment (which I'll post when it's done so you can see it) it has also inspired me to go back through the Marathon Women footage that Tamara and I shot in March 2007. Will post a link to that trailer soon.
IDC 2009 is coming up in a month. haikugirl is signed up again for 5 days of mad filmmaking. On Friday night the Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) screened the Toronto entries from last year at the NFB. Great to see team haikugirl's Secret Swinging on the big screen and always interesting to see the diversity of the entries.
Been keeping my head down working on editing projects for my editing course at George Brown. In addition to the class assignment (which I'll post when it's done so you can see it) it has also inspired me to go back through the Marathon Women footage that Tamara and I shot in March 2007. Will post a link to that trailer soon.
IDC 2009 is coming up in a month. haikugirl is signed up again for 5 days of mad filmmaking. On Friday night the Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) screened the Toronto entries from last year at the NFB. Great to see team haikugirl's Secret Swinging on the big screen and always interesting to see the diversity of the entries.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Tony's Reflections on Hot Docs
My friend Tony just posted some photos and videos from last weekend's Doc Challenge Awards night at Hot Docs in Toronto.
Or just check out Tony's blog in general. I need to post my final hot docs reviews and pics. Probably my best fest yet!
Or just check out Tony's blog in general. I need to post my final hot docs reviews and pics. Probably my best fest yet!
Monday, April 28, 2008
IDC Screening at Hot Docs
Hot Docs is a wrap!
Great to meet the filmmakers
See you all next year...
Met fellow filmmakers from around the world on Saturday night April 26 at the Duke of York pub on Prince Arthur before heading to the IDC Screening at Innis Hall. Despite the sudden TTC strike, the house was almost full and it was great to see the diverse selection of 14 finalists. Enjoyed Bend and Bow by my friends at Team Profluence (about the Saw Lady of New York). I also really liked Click, Whoosh about Polaroid cameras by the Real Grrls of Seattle (they won the $1000 IDC prize), Ars Magna about the high art of anagrams and I=me2 by Year of the Rooster about 2 twin brothers who are also filmmakers (Kevin won best editing). Their film Dante's Massage won Best Sound Design in the 2006 National Film Challenge. Also great to met Tony, Dinah, Joanne & Evan from Team It Donned On Me and congrats to them for picking up 2 IDC awards for directing and cinematography. Their film Stick and Pound about Melanie DeMore and the art of stick pounding made us want to go out and try it (I think it would be a positive stress buster). Interesting to see Beholder by Eric Daniel Metzgar, a New York filmmaker and Independent Spirit Award nominee whose also had his feature doc Life. Support. Music. about Jason Crigler's miraculous recovery screen at this year's hot docs. Also liked Ghost Bike by Team GO! of Toronto. They had the same genre/theme of Art/Change as team haikugirl this year. The music for Ghost Bike was by Tim Vesely of the Rheostatics. Richard was very pleased to meet Tim on Saturday night and the music had a haunting quality that matched the film perfectly. Kind of like the way Curbside Lapse created the atmosphere for Marathon Women!
Visit haikugirlmovies for the complete list of 2008 IDC winners and CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!
Great to meet the filmmakers
See you all next year...
Met fellow filmmakers from around the world on Saturday night April 26 at the Duke of York pub on Prince Arthur before heading to the IDC Screening at Innis Hall. Despite the sudden TTC strike, the house was almost full and it was great to see the diverse selection of 14 finalists. Enjoyed Bend and Bow by my friends at Team Profluence (about the Saw Lady of New York). I also really liked Click, Whoosh about Polaroid cameras by the Real Grrls of Seattle (they won the $1000 IDC prize), Ars Magna about the high art of anagrams and I=me2 by Year of the Rooster about 2 twin brothers who are also filmmakers (Kevin won best editing). Their film Dante's Massage won Best Sound Design in the 2006 National Film Challenge. Also great to met Tony, Dinah, Joanne & Evan from Team It Donned On Me and congrats to them for picking up 2 IDC awards for directing and cinematography. Their film Stick and Pound about Melanie DeMore and the art of stick pounding made us want to go out and try it (I think it would be a positive stress buster). Interesting to see Beholder by Eric Daniel Metzgar, a New York filmmaker and Independent Spirit Award nominee whose also had his feature doc Life. Support. Music. about Jason Crigler's miraculous recovery screen at this year's hot docs. Also liked Ghost Bike by Team GO! of Toronto. They had the same genre/theme of Art/Change as team haikugirl this year. The music for Ghost Bike was by Tim Vesely of the Rheostatics. Richard was very pleased to meet Tim on Saturday night and the music had a haunting quality that matched the film perfectly. Kind of like the way Curbside Lapse created the atmosphere for Marathon Women!
Visit haikugirlmovies for the complete list of 2008 IDC winners and CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Hot Docs - 2nd instalment
Tuesday: Saw Man On Wire, a fascinating doc about Philippe Petit who is a wirewalker (the coolest French word ever: funembule) who walked between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on August 7, 1974. At over 450 metres, it's still the highest wirewalk in history. Director James Marsh succeeds in building the suspense before the walk with another filmmaker's old stock footage of the training sessions in France as well as B&W re-enactments using stand-in New York locations. It's amazing to see the people interviewed today and how young they looked in the old footage from 30 years ago. Marsh also used footage from the construction of the WTC whose empty base at the outset looks eerily like Ground Zero after 9/11. Petit is charming and engrossing as a megalomaniac who is consumed by the art of the act, nothing more. It's interesting how the team bonded and grew together to support the project, then dissolved after the event took place. Well worth seeing - the title is how they labeled Petit's crime on the complaint form filed with the Port Authority.
Wednesday: Saw FLicKeR about Brion Gysin, friend of Beat poet William S. Burroughs and the Dream Machine that Gysin constructed to create a hypnotic, hallucinatory effect without drugs. An interesting account of the times including interviews with many of Gysin's old friends. Like many of my TIFF events, the more people on stage before the screening, the more disappointed I usually am. Director Nik Sheehan invited 20 people up to the front in advance of this World Premiere and the end result was okay, even a bit draggy. Should show up on Bravo (co-funder of this doc) in time. Weird to see Bravo! a division of CTV onscreen (I know that's the story but it's still weird not to see CHUM). My friend Chris should see this as a philosophy PhD from McGill, everyone else wait till it airs.
Friday: seeing Waiting for Hockney then Saturday cheering for my friends at the IDC Screening and Awards presentation at Hot Docs.
Wednesday: Saw FLicKeR about Brion Gysin, friend of Beat poet William S. Burroughs and the Dream Machine that Gysin constructed to create a hypnotic, hallucinatory effect without drugs. An interesting account of the times including interviews with many of Gysin's old friends. Like many of my TIFF events, the more people on stage before the screening, the more disappointed I usually am. Director Nik Sheehan invited 20 people up to the front in advance of this World Premiere and the end result was okay, even a bit draggy. Should show up on Bravo (co-funder of this doc) in time. Weird to see Bravo! a division of CTV onscreen (I know that's the story but it's still weird not to see CHUM). My friend Chris should see this as a philosophy PhD from McGill, everyone else wait till it airs.
Friday: seeing Waiting for Hockney then Saturday cheering for my friends at the IDC Screening and Awards presentation at Hot Docs.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Hot Docs 2008 is HOT!
Been catching up on my movies since Hot Docs started.
Friday: saw Air India 182, an emotional film about the bombing. The director did a beautiful job weaving together the intrigue of the case and interviews with family members who lost relatives in the bombing. Everyone aboard (331 people) died, including 86 children. Over 270 of the passengers were Canadian so it was a huge tragedy for the country and an early introduction to the impact of terrorism. Don't worry if you missed it: CBC will air it uncut and commercial free on the anniversary of the take-off on June 22 (check local listings).
Saturday: Saw Altogether Now, a mesmerizing look at all the work that went into creating the Cirque du Soleil show LOVE using all original Beatles music. Amazing behind-the-scenes camera and interviews with Cirque director and members and the remaining Beatles and their wives. Interesting how Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow both had so much input to Cirque along with Ringo and Paul. The crew shot 180 hours of footage and genius editor Heidi Haines whittled it down to an engrossing 2 hour movie. Director Adrian Wills was at the Bloor Cinema for the screening along with Giles Martin (son of Sir George Martin, who worked on all the original Beatles albums.) Giles is a hottie and very funny. Adrian's french is flawless. Uncle Wes and Marcella have seen LOVE at The Mirage in Vegas twice. I already have the soundtrack (natch) and told Richard he has a year to take me to Vegas to see it and that I want the DVD of the movie for Christmas. If you've seen LOVE, you need to see this movie; if you see this movie, you need to see LOVE. This has been my top pick of hot docs so far! Great to see it with our friends Tom & Linda - congrats on your engagement les amis!!
Sunday: Saw Talking Guitars about Flip Scipio who repairs and builds guitars. Both he and Director Claire Pijman were at the screening at Isabel Bader. Flip is a nice unassuming Dutch guy with an encyclopedic knowledge of guitars and tremendous skill with the instrument and love for it. He also happens to be based in New York and in demand by a very famous clientele, including Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, Ben Taylor (son of James & Carly) whom we all see in the movie. A relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon listening to wonderful calming music and conversation. Lovely to have Hardish, William & Cassie join us.
Next screening on Tuesday: Man on Wire
Friday: saw Air India 182, an emotional film about the bombing. The director did a beautiful job weaving together the intrigue of the case and interviews with family members who lost relatives in the bombing. Everyone aboard (331 people) died, including 86 children. Over 270 of the passengers were Canadian so it was a huge tragedy for the country and an early introduction to the impact of terrorism. Don't worry if you missed it: CBC will air it uncut and commercial free on the anniversary of the take-off on June 22 (check local listings).
Saturday: Saw Altogether Now, a mesmerizing look at all the work that went into creating the Cirque du Soleil show LOVE using all original Beatles music. Amazing behind-the-scenes camera and interviews with Cirque director and members and the remaining Beatles and their wives. Interesting how Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow both had so much input to Cirque along with Ringo and Paul. The crew shot 180 hours of footage and genius editor Heidi Haines whittled it down to an engrossing 2 hour movie. Director Adrian Wills was at the Bloor Cinema for the screening along with Giles Martin (son of Sir George Martin, who worked on all the original Beatles albums.) Giles is a hottie and very funny. Adrian's french is flawless. Uncle Wes and Marcella have seen LOVE at The Mirage in Vegas twice. I already have the soundtrack (natch) and told Richard he has a year to take me to Vegas to see it and that I want the DVD of the movie for Christmas. If you've seen LOVE, you need to see this movie; if you see this movie, you need to see LOVE. This has been my top pick of hot docs so far! Great to see it with our friends Tom & Linda - congrats on your engagement les amis!!
Sunday: Saw Talking Guitars about Flip Scipio who repairs and builds guitars. Both he and Director Claire Pijman were at the screening at Isabel Bader. Flip is a nice unassuming Dutch guy with an encyclopedic knowledge of guitars and tremendous skill with the instrument and love for it. He also happens to be based in New York and in demand by a very famous clientele, including Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, Ben Taylor (son of James & Carly) whom we all see in the movie. A relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon listening to wonderful calming music and conversation. Lovely to have Hardish, William & Cassie join us.
Next screening on Tuesday: Man on Wire
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Doc Challenge Finalists
Check out the list of 14 doc challenge finalists on haikugirlmovies.blogspot.com
You won't find Team haikugirl in the list but I like my friend Joe's philosophy:
Well, whoretoculture did it the first year, and haikugirl the second, but alas, neither of us made the cut in IDC's third year. Oh, well. At least your friends from Team Profluence did. I don't know them, but I'll be cheering them on for the big prize. Congrats on finishing another project, though. Can't wait to swap movies!
IDC's a wrap
14 Finalists this year
GO Team Profluence!
You won't find Team haikugirl in the list but I like my friend Joe's philosophy:
Well, whoretoculture did it the first year, and haikugirl the second, but alas, neither of us made the cut in IDC's third year. Oh, well. At least your friends from Team Profluence did. I don't know them, but I'll be cheering them on for the big prize. Congrats on finishing another project, though. Can't wait to swap movies!
IDC's a wrap
14 Finalists this year
GO Team Profluence!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
movies, movies, movies
I am looking forward to this weekend's release of Run, Fat Boy, Run - missed it at TIFF and after running a marathon (and making a short marathon movie) I need to see how David Schwimmer directs Simon Pegg who decides to run a marathon to win his fiancee (Thandie Newton) back. I like the message in the trailer: "Relationships are like marathons. They require dedication, discipline and determination, of which Dennis has none." They also borrow the line: "It's not how you start, it's how you finish" which I first heard by Gerard Depardieu as Chef Didier in the delightful movie Last Holiday with Queen Latifah.
Also interested in a couple of films at this year's Cinefranco - the 11th annual French film fest in Toronto. Planning to choose between Toi on Friday, Crossed Tracks on Saturday, or Conversations with my Gardener on Sunday.
Also interested in a charity event on Friday night at the Dominion pub on King East. One of the subjects in my new video has donated a work of art for auction. Will there be time for sleep and a run this weekend??? Watch for reviews early next week.
Also interested in a couple of films at this year's Cinefranco - the 11th annual French film fest in Toronto. Planning to choose between Toi on Friday, Crossed Tracks on Saturday, or Conversations with my Gardener on Sunday.
Also interested in a charity event on Friday night at the Dominion pub on King East. One of the subjects in my new video has donated a work of art for auction. Will there be time for sleep and a run this weekend??? Watch for reviews early next week.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
hot docs and IDC short list
The 15th Annual Hot Docs Canadadian International Documentary Film Festival just announced its schedule of films from April 17-27. The International Documentary Challenge Screening is at 9:30pm on Saturday, April 26 and I will attend even if Team haikugirl is not a finalist (but keep crossing your finger for us). I'll also be attending a few other films as part of my Doc Soup pass.
Last night we heard that 96 teams (out of the original 122) made the cut and are eligible for judging and awards. That means we have a 1 in 8 chance of being a finalist and screening on April 26. Good luck to all teams and see you at Hot Docs!
1985 Media
2012
2HourFilms
2WARDS Productions
Alacrity
Allied Media Group
Anecdote Films
Appaloosa
Asian Mainstream Productions
Becaj Productions
Billo Billo
Blake House
Borderline
Boss and Coder 34
Breakfast For Dinner
Brevity
Cactae
Castparty Productions
Cingulate (fka EG Productions)
CKA Productions
delia's gone
Digital Alchemists
Doc Doc Revolution
DocTeam Vienna
docuNATI
Elvis Cocho
Fade to Grey
Fan Club 82
FILMA
fischer
Fly on the Wall
flycycle films
GEMINCA
Ghost Mountain
Go!
haikugirl
Higher Rock & Downward Spiral Productions
Homespun
Intuitive Eye Productions
It Donned On Me
Jane O'Holly Productions
JDX Studios Inc
KelJo
KTF Films
KYU
lexfilm
Los Indios
Lucky Shot
Masked Men
Middleway
MODindie
New Circle Productions
PDXFCPUG1
PDXFCPUG2
Playin' Possum Productions
Poco Loco Productions
Profluence Productions
Puppy Fight Productions
ReadytoRoll
Red Dog Productions
Reel Grrls
Reel Hard-Workin' Dogs
Rock Creek Productions, Inc.
Rotating Planet
Sawbuck Productions
SCAN of War
Scumberland Productions
Seattle Métier
Shields Films
Shoodhoo Amee
Slim Productions
Smoke In Mirror Productions
Smokeshow
Somatic Cinema
StaringStraight
Surge Media
Team August
Team Endicott
Team Impact
Team Juicebox
Team Nexus
team sour cream
Team Tombrowski
testigo
The Prosimians
Tislet Projects
TPX Productions
TUJ Films
Vegetated Circumstance
White Noise
whoretoculture films
wideshot studios
Willamette Valley Film Collective
Wink
Xian Studios
Year of the Rooster
Last night we heard that 96 teams (out of the original 122) made the cut and are eligible for judging and awards. That means we have a 1 in 8 chance of being a finalist and screening on April 26. Good luck to all teams and see you at Hot Docs!
1985 Media
2012
2HourFilms
2WARDS Productions
Alacrity
Allied Media Group
Anecdote Films
Appaloosa
Asian Mainstream Productions
Becaj Productions
Billo Billo
Blake House
Borderline
Boss and Coder 34
Breakfast For Dinner
Brevity
Cactae
Castparty Productions
Cingulate (fka EG Productions)
CKA Productions
delia's gone
Digital Alchemists
Doc Doc Revolution
DocTeam Vienna
docuNATI
Elvis Cocho
Fade to Grey
Fan Club 82
FILMA
fischer
Fly on the Wall
flycycle films
GEMINCA
Ghost Mountain
Go!
haikugirl
Higher Rock & Downward Spiral Productions
Homespun
Intuitive Eye Productions
It Donned On Me
Jane O'Holly Productions
JDX Studios Inc
KelJo
KTF Films
KYU
lexfilm
Los Indios
Lucky Shot
Masked Men
Middleway
MODindie
New Circle Productions
PDXFCPUG1
PDXFCPUG2
Playin' Possum Productions
Poco Loco Productions
Profluence Productions
Puppy Fight Productions
ReadytoRoll
Red Dog Productions
Reel Grrls
Reel Hard-Workin' Dogs
Rock Creek Productions, Inc.
Rotating Planet
Sawbuck Productions
SCAN of War
Scumberland Productions
Seattle Métier
Shields Films
Shoodhoo Amee
Slim Productions
Smoke In Mirror Productions
Smokeshow
Somatic Cinema
StaringStraight
Surge Media
Team August
Team Endicott
Team Impact
Team Juicebox
Team Nexus
team sour cream
Team Tombrowski
testigo
The Prosimians
Tislet Projects
TPX Productions
TUJ Films
Vegetated Circumstance
White Noise
whoretoculture films
wideshot studios
Willamette Valley Film Collective
Wink
Xian Studios
Year of the Rooster
Friday, March 14, 2008
Hot Docs
I am liking the selections on the early list of Special Presentations at hot docs. Films by Errol Morris, survivors of Alive (the Andes crash) and Sandrine Bonnaire's directorial debut. Very interesting stuff.
Although I idolize Dr. Seuss, I am NOT interested in seeing Horton Hears a Who until it's out on video. Why are Canadians (Jim Carrey, Mike Myers) always involved in Dr. Seuss on the big screen? Did you know Dr. Seuss was born the same year as my grandmother, AND he lived on Howard Street in Springfield, MASS (Rich & I lived on Howard Street in TO)
Lots of great videos are now available to rent so it's my chance to catch up before I see my next movie in theatres: Run, Fat Boy, Run with Simon Pegg. My next rentals are: No Country for Old Men, American Gangster, and Gone, Baby Gone. Which are your favourites?
Although I idolize Dr. Seuss, I am NOT interested in seeing Horton Hears a Who until it's out on video. Why are Canadians (Jim Carrey, Mike Myers) always involved in Dr. Seuss on the big screen? Did you know Dr. Seuss was born the same year as my grandmother, AND he lived on Howard Street in Springfield, MASS (Rich & I lived on Howard Street in TO)
Lots of great videos are now available to rent so it's my chance to catch up before I see my next movie in theatres: Run, Fat Boy, Run with Simon Pegg. My next rentals are: No Country for Old Men, American Gangster, and Gone, Baby Gone. Which are your favourites?
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Doc Challenge Judging Details
I checked Purolator and our package 9060053402 was received by IDC Producer Doug Whyte in St. Louis, Missouri. As films come in, they check paperwork and digitize the films to go in their on-line judges’ screening room. Round 1 Judges (30 documentary professionals from across the world) watch and rate all of the films (122 teams from 16 countries). The 12 top rated films from Round 1 will premiere at the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival in Toronto in April. Finalists will be notified by the end of march to make travel arrangements. The Round 2 Judges (3 influential international documentary professionals) will select the Grand Prize Winner from the 12 finalists and announce it at the Hot Docs screening. Each finalist will receive two free passes to Hot Docs (~$1,000 value) and the Grand Prize Winner will receive $1,000.
They're accepting late films until March 13 - they'll put them on the IDC website but not enter them in the judging. They are also accepting behind-the-scenes footage so they can make a Making Of film...
They're accepting late films until March 13 - they'll put them on the IDC website but not enter them in the judging. They are also accepting behind-the-scenes footage so they can make a Making Of film...
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
IDC 2008: WE DID IT!
Last night Erin and I finished our IDC video and got it into Purolator just under the wire to meet the competition deadline. We missed the FedEx cut-off of 7:30pm at the local depot and I called Purolator and they were open till 9:00pm. Only the woman on the phone gave me the wrong info and we drove to Yonge and Adelaide and found no location. The odyssey continued at the next nearby Staples Business Depot where Sandra at Purolator helped us complete the paperwork and get our essential store-generated timestamp. 8:45pm on March 10, 2008. HOORAY Team haikugirl! WE DID IT!!! AMAZING!!!
Videos must be less than 8 minutes long or they're disqualified. Ours is 7:06:18 including credits which is okay. And it reflects the genre and theme and includes the required time element. We think you'll like our film too, Team Profluence and friends. THANKS TO EVERYONE - friends and family - for your messages of support during an exhausting weekend. Erin and I were at for 36 hours straight (basically since my last post). I got only 45 minutes sleep Sunday night sometime between 5:00am and 6:00am. We were editing in tandem at the Ryerson Lab and using my new G RAID external hard drive with 1 TeraByte (TB) of space. That's 1,000 GigaBytes (GB) or 1,000,000 MegaBytes (MB) people. Enough to store a lifetime of photos and music (or at least a big feature film edit). It's so sleek, silver and sexy - and the perfect complement to my MacBook Pro and Final Cut Express - it makes me feel like a real filmmaker!
I am also lovin' the groovy music on the new album by Sia called some people have real problems. I am groovin' out on it right now after hearing and buying it yesterday at Starbucks. I especially like Track 10 - Soon We'll Be Found but really the whole album is great. I'm glad I didn't let Richard buy it on emusic.com because the album artwork is so playful and charming. Check it out and let me know what you think.
After we submitted our film, Erin and I went to The Rivoli to celebrate with martinis and dinner. She had yummy soba noodles and I had delicious STEAK, mashed potatoes and a delicious medley of grilled vegetables. We must plan more martinis with Team Profluence when (god willing) everyone is reunited at hotdocs in April.
IDC's a WRAP!
Thanks to Erin for her help
Watch for photos soon...
Videos must be less than 8 minutes long or they're disqualified. Ours is 7:06:18 including credits which is okay. And it reflects the genre and theme and includes the required time element. We think you'll like our film too, Team Profluence and friends. THANKS TO EVERYONE - friends and family - for your messages of support during an exhausting weekend. Erin and I were at for 36 hours straight (basically since my last post). I got only 45 minutes sleep Sunday night sometime between 5:00am and 6:00am. We were editing in tandem at the Ryerson Lab and using my new G RAID external hard drive with 1 TeraByte (TB) of space. That's 1,000 GigaBytes (GB) or 1,000,000 MegaBytes (MB) people. Enough to store a lifetime of photos and music (or at least a big feature film edit). It's so sleek, silver and sexy - and the perfect complement to my MacBook Pro and Final Cut Express - it makes me feel like a real filmmaker!
I am also lovin' the groovy music on the new album by Sia called some people have real problems. I am groovin' out on it right now after hearing and buying it yesterday at Starbucks. I especially like Track 10 - Soon We'll Be Found but really the whole album is great. I'm glad I didn't let Richard buy it on emusic.com because the album artwork is so playful and charming. Check it out and let me know what you think.
After we submitted our film, Erin and I went to The Rivoli to celebrate with martinis and dinner. She had yummy soba noodles and I had delicious STEAK, mashed potatoes and a delicious medley of grilled vegetables. We must plan more martinis with Team Profluence when (god willing) everyone is reunited at hotdocs in April.
IDC's a WRAP!
Thanks to Erin for her help
Watch for photos soon...
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Less than 30 hours to go!
Less than 30 hours remain in our weekend filmmaking competition the International Documentary Challenge. Saturday we wrapped our 3rd successful day of shooting after 2 great interviews and 2 awesome Bacchus rotis. The SNOW was UNSTOPPABLE! At least 30cm (12 inches) overnight and all day. Every 3 hours when we moved Erin's car we had to spend 10 minutes cleaning it off the accumulation was so bad! It took me over 30 minutes to walk from the Dundas West subway in all the snow to our first interview shoot. En route I saw a crime scene on Roncesvalles and got Lost in the Barrens trying to navigate the back alleys of the neighbourhood. If I froze to death at least they'd find my footage. Back at home at night I made some delicious broccoli soup (this weekend, it's all about the food!) and a few phone calls then settled down to capture footage but was falling asleep in front of the computer. Spent a moment chatting online with my friends in Team Profluence in New York and am sending positive vibes to Team Whoretoculture in DC. GOOD LUCK EVERBODY! SEE YOU IN TORONTO!!!
Sunday morning and I'm using OneZone, the largest WiFi zone in Canada, at my old familiar Starbucks at College & Yonge before I meet Erin at Ryerson to keep capturing and start editing. It's crunch time babies and we are gonna rock the edit lab! Our genre is ART and our theme is CHANGE and our goal today is to whittle 11 hours of tape into a compulsively watchable, award-winning short doc!
Team haikugirl ROCKS
AWESOME interviews and art
shooting in the snow
Sunday morning and I'm using OneZone, the largest WiFi zone in Canada, at my old familiar Starbucks at College & Yonge before I meet Erin at Ryerson to keep capturing and start editing. It's crunch time babies and we are gonna rock the edit lab! Our genre is ART and our theme is CHANGE and our goal today is to whittle 11 hours of tape into a compulsively watchable, award-winning short doc!
Team haikugirl ROCKS
AWESOME interviews and art
shooting in the snow
Thursday, March 06, 2008
The Doc Challenge is ON!
This morning I logged into the secure IDC website and found out our genre assignments. I am taking the rest of the week off to work on this project with my new film partner Erin. Wish us luck and check back for updates!
Attention haikugirl! The 2008 International Documentary Challenge has commenced!! Following are your documentary film genre choices and your theme for the 2008 Doc Challenge:
Genre Choices: BIOGRAPHY/CHARACTER STUDY or ART
Theme: CHANGE
You must choose one of the genres listed above, Your chosen genre must be the predominate genre of your film. You can mix genres, but it should be obvious to the judges and the audience that your main genre is one of these:
BIOGRAPHY/CHARACTER STUDY
A full account of the facts of the life of a particular person, or closely related group of people (Biography) or an exploration of a single character's personality and current life situation (Chracter Study).
ART
Focuses in some way on art and/or artists.
Find all genre definitions on the IDC website.
The assigned THEME must be present at some point in your film. It can be either the entire focus of your film, or it can just be addressed briefly (as in one interview question, if you happen to have interviews.) Once again, it must be obvious to the judges that at some point your film addresses the theme of CHANGE.
Also, don't forget the required TIME ELEMENT. To ensure the films were made within the required time frame, each team must prove the date the film was made by adding a time element to the film or credits. Feel free to be creative, but make sure that it is obvious to the judges. If the judges have a hard time determining the time element, the film will be disqualified. An example of an accepted time element is having your main subject (if you have one) holding a newspaper and the date is large enough to read. This can be done in the credits of the film so as to not affect the flow of the film.
Don't forget to fill out all of your paperwork!!
Your finished film must be postmarked by Monday, March 10 with a store-generated label to be considered on time and eligible for awards. Outside of the US Fedex is your best bet.
Attention haikugirl! The 2008 International Documentary Challenge has commenced!! Following are your documentary film genre choices and your theme for the 2008 Doc Challenge:
Genre Choices: BIOGRAPHY/CHARACTER STUDY or ART
Theme: CHANGE
You must choose one of the genres listed above, Your chosen genre must be the predominate genre of your film. You can mix genres, but it should be obvious to the judges and the audience that your main genre is one of these:
BIOGRAPHY/CHARACTER STUDY
A full account of the facts of the life of a particular person, or closely related group of people (Biography) or an exploration of a single character's personality and current life situation (Chracter Study).
ART
Focuses in some way on art and/or artists.
Find all genre definitions on the IDC website.
The assigned THEME must be present at some point in your film. It can be either the entire focus of your film, or it can just be addressed briefly (as in one interview question, if you happen to have interviews.) Once again, it must be obvious to the judges that at some point your film addresses the theme of CHANGE.
Also, don't forget the required TIME ELEMENT. To ensure the films were made within the required time frame, each team must prove the date the film was made by adding a time element to the film or credits. Feel free to be creative, but make sure that it is obvious to the judges. If the judges have a hard time determining the time element, the film will be disqualified. An example of an accepted time element is having your main subject (if you have one) holding a newspaper and the date is large enough to read. This can be done in the credits of the film so as to not affect the flow of the film.
Don't forget to fill out all of your paperwork!!
Your finished film must be postmarked by Monday, March 10 with a store-generated label to be considered on time and eligible for awards. Outside of the US Fedex is your best bet.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Autism: The Musical
Another snowstorm, another Doc Soup screening. Missed last month's screening of Up the Yangtze because of the massive snowstorm but plan to see it in theatres. This month: Autism: The Musical. This delightful doc follows a group of California kids with autism and how they scripted and performed a musical in 6 months. The work that Elaine Hall is doing with The Miracle Project is truly inspiring. A revealing, all-access portrait of participating families and their challenges. The five principal kids were very endearing and the parents were very candid about their lives and issues. I especially loved Henry (who has Aspergers) a hilarious charmer with an encyclopedic knowledge of dinosaurs. The Director Tricia Regan is equally adorable. She admitted she can't help choking up when she sees the film and her biggest thrill is to watch people experience it at screenings. A surprising 1 in 150 children will be diagnosed with autism in the U.S. this year (in 1980 it was only 1 in 10,000 children). Shot and edited with love, this doc shines the light on a growing issue, one that society can no longer ignore. See this with your family and laugh and learn together when it airs on HBO March 25
Friday, January 18, 2008
haikugirl's new blog!
I finally got a YouTube account to upload and share my 2 short videos. Haven't uploaded Marathon Women yet so it can still be submitted to festivals. Check out my own growing director's reel at haikugirlmovies.blogspot.com
Speaking of festivals, haikugirl's friends at Profluence Productions had their short doc Blind Faith accepted as part of the Official Selection at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula, Montana. Congratulations Team - that's such amazing news! See you in Toronto after IDC again we hope.
Speaking of festivals, haikugirl's friends at Profluence Productions had their short doc Blind Faith accepted as part of the Official Selection at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula, Montana. Congratulations Team - that's such amazing news! See you in Toronto after IDC again we hope.
Why I Missed Walmart Nation
Last night Pavlina and I were all set to head to Riverdale Collegiate on the streetcar in time for the 7pm screening of Walmart Nation, only to have our streetcar diverted at Gerrard and Broadview by a police barricade. We arrived on the scene around 6:30 - thank goodness we weren't there earlier. The police had closed Gerrard and wouldn't let people through. Normally we would have walked north and continued east on some side streets but good thing we didn't because one of the gunmen disappeared on foot north of Gerrard. If it was my movie screening, I would have been more determined to see it, but by this time, we were only motivated to go home. The northbound streetcar appeared on Broadview and we grabbed it.
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