This Savage Art

The above video is a gleaming example of what can be done with very little. It is an impressive looking short film called White Red Panic from Ayz Waraich and it shows us we don’t need all the bells and whistles equipment-wise to make something that visually stimulates. This is desktop filmmaking shot with a Canon HV20. A tiny kick around HD camera that goes for under a grand [the new replacement model is the HV30.] Yes, you heard me right. 1080p24 for under $1,000. The film itself is a simple sequence but you can see how far color correction can take you if you do your homework. I own the HV20 myself and I’ve shot a few things around the apartment but I can’t wait to beat this thing into submission and get some serious images. I’m planning on the next short film to be shot with this camera.

I first found out about this film and the camera through Stu Manschwitz’s ProLost site. He’s kind of a digital DIY guru of sorts that has an excellent book that informs and educates and I highly recommend it. He’s also one of the founders of The Orphanage and chief creator of Magic Bullet Looks. The film, the site and the book might be the boost you need to get you to sharpen your skills and get you excited about creating again. Remember what I said, a $1,000 camera.

We are moving into a new phase of independent filmmaking, beyond the crappy looking mini-dv cameras of just five years ago. Don’t get me wrong, use what you have. It’s not about the tools. It’s about the vision and ultimately, the story. HD isn’t everything and not everything needs to be HD but the options are there and at an extremely affordable price and with some ingenuity all things are possible.

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The Face of the Earth – Location Stills

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John August breaks down the short script.

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If there ever was a time when the film world was in a total state of flux it would be now. With a writer’s strike still looming everyone needs a new slate and fast. Sundance starts today and it should be interesting to see what studios will want to push out to its audiences this year. Safe is in and has been for a while which doesn’t give me a lot of confidence that we will be seeing a big push of daring new independent films this year but you never know. Damn I miss them! It seems that smaller films that were bought up last year and expected to break out just didn’t. There is definitely a Little Miss Sunshine vibe in the air I’m sure. There will much press and analysis of the festival in the next week so check this little tidbit out before the floodgates are opened. Remember, nobody knows nothing [or anything depending on how grammatically correct you want to get.]

Also, starting tomorrow you can watch festival shorts for free from the Sundance site.

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J. Ott blogs about his experience with the Panasonic Varicam on his short film Stull.

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Deep Structure has a nice recap of Film Independent’s Festival Seminar. If you’re looking to enter your short into the festivals you might want to take a look.

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I’ve been going to the Tribeca Film Festival for five years now and been quietly gauging the changes. This year? Quiet. The festival has slowly been relocating and expanding to the point that the Triangle Below Canal is just one of the many stops. There has been so much coverage of the festival with its price hikes and celebrity outshining its initial purpose I’m just going to stick to the subject at hand, the films.

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Yes, now I can say I was an editor of a film that went to Cannes. Friend and filmmaker Matthew Fabiano toiled away to resuscitate his short film Blazing Big Wheels of Fire after years of dormancy. Now it is a selection in the Festival De Cannes Short Film Corner. It’s not in competition but it’s still kinda cool.

Adam McKay, I hope you’re reading this.

Congrats Matt!

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Yes, making a film in 48 hours is insane but if you’re interested go here and check the participating cities. Oh yeah,  Grand Prize is $10,000.

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Tribeca Film Festival – Express Stops Only – Short Film Program

September 11th is viewed through a different set of “eyes” in Say Can You See. A mother will do anything to get her child Red Shoes, and two people connect for a New York minute in Lock. A Brooklyn barber shares a story from his past in A Nick In Time. One couple tries to spice up their love life in Super Powers, while another couple dances an emotional tango in Raving. A woman discovers you can’t buy Happiness, and don’t take things at face value In Vivid Detail.

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