I decided not to write the review, that could influence people to watch it. Since is our first time as online exhibitor, I would like to see how the world of mouth is going to play out here. But believe me, since August 2008 we're been trying to find a movie like this and a director willing to allow us to experiment, so Luis, we're very thankful to you for allow us to do the Internet World Premiere of "C@staways".
I hope you enjoy the film, leave your comments, good or bad, and recommend the film to your friends if you like it and to your enemies if you don't.
A couple of weeks ago I received an email from Luis Cerezo, a guerrilla filmmaker from Spain, inviting me to write a post about the internet release of his movie N@ufragos (C@staways). I told him, why you don't send me the movie and maybe I can write a review about it.
I saw the movie, it's so interesting that I offer him to show it through this blog, it's about a group of people that show their intimacy in the internet for money without realizing that they are about to lose control of their own lives. So this Friday the 13tht, for the first time, Guerrilla Filmmaking will air in exclusive, Luis Cerezo's film, only for 10 days. I'm writing the review that would be ready for the day of the premiere.
As part of this event I interviewed Luis and this is what he said about the process of doing this film with $40,000 and more than 100 locations: GF: How you developed the idea of the film? LC: I decided to make a film so I spent the whole summer writing a script that I didn't liked it. One night I went to my bed and I said to myself "you're gonna be here until you have a great idea". I start thinking about snuff movies, I imagine how would that be in real time, I imagine people getting together to do atrocities and people watching it online. GF: How you convinced the talent and the crew to work for free? LC: Oh! I offer to divide the profit of the film equally among everybody. The crew was conformed for recent graduates from film school, their experience was running around with coffee in biggest sets, so this was an opportunity to do something more challenging.
Over a month ago, right before I started the crazyness with subHysteria, I met with Jamay Liu and Tony Cheng from Tripfilms.
The meeting took place in their unique office located in the east village: "Gramstand Cafe", a cute little place with full WiFi internet connection. It allows the six people team from Tripfilms to use their place as headquarters.
Tripfilms is... I’ve to stop here, only to preface that something so avant-garde that does not have real competition is difficult yet easy to explain. Trip Films is the ultimate video reference for the out of ordinary tourist. For that person that is not only interested in the mainstream landmarks, but is also eager to extend their experience to those hidden and underrated places that are out of the flyers’ kiosk in every city hotel. They start every video with a "Travel Quote", no wonder their tagline is Travel Inspired, it couldn’t be better. I am one of those travelers that really enjoys to live my adventure as a local, and right now, I’ve to say, thanks to Tripfilms, it is really simple. The best thing is that you can find all the mainstream attractions and landmarks without leaving the site, also.
At this point you’re maybe asking yourself “Ok, nice. What this has to do with guerrilla filmmaking? Let me show you an excerpt of how they get their videos!
I'm sorry I've been a little distant from the blog lately, I've been really busy with the pre-production of my next feature subHysteria, but I couldn't pass the chance to let you know that Night & Weekends, the new film from director Joe Swanberg, this time co-directing with actor Greta Gerwig, it's opening tomorrow at IFC Theaters. This is the 4th no-budget film from Swanberg since 2005, his previous works are: Kissing on the Mouth, LOL and Hannah Takes the Stairs.
STORY
Mattie and James are in love. But too many mornings and too many miles apart have taken a toll on them. As they struggle with the distance between New York and Chicago, their visits become reminders of the difficulties, not the pleasures, of their relationship. Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig follow Hannah Takes the Stairs with this intimate portrayal of longing and confusion. This time Swanberg co-stars with Gerwig, and Gerwig co-directs with Swanberg, creating a film that resonates deeply and leaves scars that fade but can’t heal.
How can filmmakers utilize new technologies to get their next project budgeted, developed and completed for less time and money? Hear how filmmakers around the world are actively using new technologies and innovative cross platform collaboration for creative and financial gain to get their big ideas with small budgets off the ground and out to global audiences.
My favorite quote from the panel was "Technology is no substitute for craft" by Bryan Poyser, the rest of the panel was conformed by Barry Jenkins,Todd Rohal and Melissa Scaramucci, it was moderated by Gabe Wardell, Executive Director of the Atlanta Film Festival.
All the filmmakers agreed that the best way to start is starting! Bryan Jenkins said "Film is like a sport, you need to train to be good, and the only way to train is making films".
Funny how this entry is totally in the same line of yesterday's interview.
Here the highlights of the conference, boost the volume, I was kinda far.
This is really a fantastic way to resolve those underwater shots, just watch the video. I didn't have all the tools to do it, but the guys at Home Depot cut the box for me. The camera in the video is medium size, but those ammo boxes come in all sizes!
Nick Dawson's Web Exclusive Director's Interview this week is Azazel Jacobs, whose third feature, Momma's Man, opens today. Of the movie, which details a few days in which a young, recent father, Mikey, travels home to his parents (played by Ken and Flo Jacobs, the director's real-life parents) and is not able to leave, having become entangled in the crosscurrents of nostalgia for his childhood.
No money is not a problem anymore, actually, since the arrive of MiniDV the number of independent films has increased enormously. The new technology allows pretty much everybody to make a film. Now, how many of them are good? I would say a few of them. The trailer above is from the film Quiet City, made with a budget of $2,500 distributed theatrically by 600 West Productions. Narrates the story of Jamie a 21 years old from Atlanta. She's come to Brooklyn to visit her friend Samantha, but she can't find her. Jamie tries calling, but Samantha's phone is dead. Jamie meets Charlie when she asks him for directions. Nothing to do and nothing but time leads them to bowls of coleslaw, footraces in the park, art shows, and after parties. The movie was released very limited (Just one theater) but it made $15,500 in box office that's a profit of 620 % against its budget, to give you an idea The Dark Knight needs to make more than a billion to have numbers like that. Quiet City also got a DVD deal so, it was a fantastic experience.
I'm a believer that if you have a fantastic story that can be made under ultra low budget circumstances, you will have success and the prove of that is the anti-movement MUMBLECORE, and I say anti-movement because according to Filmmaker Magazine"the filmmakers in this movement don’t want to be grouped into any kind of movement at all"
In Guerrilla Filmmaking, the great equalizer is location. A unique location can make your life easier while shooting, give you something wonderful and interesting to look at, and, if you're really cooking with gas, provide you with a unique story to tell. For Azazel Jacobs' Momma's Man, the root of the making of the film was his main location, his parent's apartment in New York where he grew up. He knew he wanted to capture this unusual place on film and then tried to figure out a story that he could set there. To be sure, Jacobs' home isn't your typical Ozzie & Harriet, and neither are his parents. Father Ken Jacobs is a renowned experimental filmmaker and mother Flo is a frequent collaborator.
It's the same, Guerrilla Filmmaking refers to a form of independent filmmaking characterized by low budgets, skeleton crews, and simple props using whatever is available. Often scenes are shot quickly in real locations without any warning, and without obtaining permission from the owners of the locations.
Guerrilla filmmaking is usually done by independent filmmakers because they don’t have the budget to get permits, rent out locations, or build expansive sets. Also studios tend not to use guerrilla filmmaking tactics because they could be sued, fined, or get their reputation hurt.
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