This Day in Indie History: A Little Princess

Alfonso Cuarón’s A Little Princess was released in the United States on this day in 1995. Adapted by Richard LaGravenese from the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the movie tells the story of young Sara Crewe, sent from India to New York when her father decides to enlist for service in WWI. Within the walls of her New York boarding school, the young Crewe is worshipped by the headmistress for her family’s wealth and adored by her housemates for her vivid imagination and fanciful storytelling. But news of her father’s demise turns her world upside down—all captured with cinematic flair by cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezski, who went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for this movie in 1996.

Connections: A Little Princess marked the first international success for the pairing of director Alfonso Cuarón and DP Emmanuel Lubezki. The duo moved on to collaborations on Great Expectations (1998), Y tu mamá también (2001) and Children of Men (2006).

May 9th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson was born in New York, NY on this day in 1979. In her formative years, Dawson lived in a Lower East Side tenement, where she was famously discovered by director Larry Clark, who cast her as the promiscuous girl-next-door in his slice of pubescent New York City life, Kids. Since then, Dawson has embodied the quintessential New Yorker for Spike Lee (He Got Game and 25th Hour), Edward Burns (Sidewalks of New York and Ash Wednesday), Ethan Hawke (Chelsea Walls) and Dito Montiel (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints). In a large departure, the self-professed comic book geek took a role in the movie adaptation of Frank Miller’s Sin City, thereby escalating her status as a fanboy’s fantasy. Roles in Kevin Smith’s Clerks II and Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof have only cemented that status. Here’s to guessing what will happen when Sin City 2 hits theaters in 2008.

Factoid: In 2005 Rosario Dawson picked up the role left off by a pregnant Daphne Rubin-Vega, when she played Mimi Marquez in the film adaptation of the musical Rent. Although the Chris Columbus-directed film found little critical acclaim, Dawson’s role alongside the original Broadway cast was honored with nominations at that season’s NAACP Image Awards and American Latino Media Arts Awards.

May 8th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: Michel Gondry

To most people, Michel Gondry, born on this day in 1963, is most recognizable as the director of 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. But his surrealistic work began long before that Jim Carrey/Kate Winslet vehicle played to mass audiences. And it continues today with smaller, more personal films like The Science of Sleep, which he explained to MM in Fall 2006, was a “very personal” journey for him. Born in Versailles, France, Gondry learned early on to appreciate the narrative nature of music. It was within this medium that the artist first made an impact, directing music videos for The White Stripes, Beck and others. His first feature, Human Nature, written by Charlie Kaufman, was a minor success, gearing the pair up for their Academy Award-winning, mind-bending Eternal Sunshine. Next up for the French moviemaker is 2008’s Be Kind Rewind, about a man who must recreate all manner of favored films when he accidentally destroys his friend’s video store stock.

Quotable: “When you have a mixture of things going on in your life and all around you, that gets filtered through your imagination (to me, that’s what a dream does) it generates a lot of original imagery. So when I’m working on a music video or a film, I try to recycle what I see in my mind as much as possible. I like the way that something you’ve seen on the street on the way to work will suddenly show up 10 times larger or 10 times smaller or in a totally different color.” —Michel Gondry, “Requiem for a Dreamer” by David Fear, MovieMaker Volume 13, Issue 64.

May 7th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

Comments: 1

Top of the Box Office

1. Spider-Man 3
Sony Pictures
Weekend Gross: $148,000,000
Total Gross: $148,000,000

2. Disturbia
Dreamworks SKG
Weekend Gross: $5,720,000
Total Gross: $59,883,000

3. Fracture
New Line
Weekend Gross: $3,425,000
Total Gross: $26,458,000

4. The Invisible
Buena Vista
Weekend Gross: $3,125,000
Total Gross: $12,346,000

5. Next
Sony Pictures
Weekend Gross: $2,768,000
Total Gross: $11,835,000

6. Lucky You
Warner Bros.
Weekend Gross: $2,515,000
Total Gross: $2,515,000

7. Meet the Robinsons
Buena Vista
Weekend Gross: $2,466,000
Total Gross: $91,771,000

8. Blades of Glory
Paramount Pictures
Weekend Gross: $2,302,000
Total Gross: $111,632,000

9. Hot Fuzz
Focus Features
Weekend Gross: $2,054,322
Total Gross: $16,145,075

10. Are We Done Yet?
Sony Pictures
Weekend Gross: $1,700,000
Total Gross: $46,106,000

All numbers courtesy of The-Numbers.com.

May 7th, 2007 | Category: Top of the Box Office | By MovieMaker Staff

Comments: 1

Location of the Week: Minnesota

Quick word association: What are the first two words that come to mind when you hear “Minnesota?” If you thought “cold” and “snow,” you’re not alone. Of course, it doesn’t help that some of the best-known Minnesota-shot movies back up those associations. Fargo takes place almost entirely in cold and snow; winter weather figures prominently into the plots of Jingle All the Way, Grumpy Old Men and A Simple Plan; and who can forget Apollonia’s dip into the freezing waters of one of Minnesota’s many lakes (that wasn’t Lake Minnetonka) in Purple Rain.

While those films make use of the frigid Minnesota climate to great effect, the Minnesota Film and TV Board knows the state is more than just freezing temperatures. The state has a lot to offer any moviemaker, says production services manager Christopher Grap. “You can be shooting an industrial site or urban setting in the morning and isolated farm country or river banks in the afternoon,” Grap says. “Something producers have commented on is the close proximity of diverse locations. You don’t have to travel far in Minnesota to get a great range of backdrops.”

Through the board’s new website, www.mnfilmtv.org, and the Minnesota state production incentive, Snowbate, which returns up to 15 percent of production costs to producers on eligible projects, Minnesota certainly has more to offer than snow angels.

Other notable productions from the Land of 1,000 Lakes:
Graffiti Bridge
Beautiful Girls
The Mighty Ducks trilogy
Grumpier Old Men
Pushing Tin
A Prairie Home Companion
North Country
Airport

Sound Off: Like many other states, Minnesota offers a tax incentive program to entice productions into the state. Besides tax breaks, what are some other important economic sweeteners that would entice you, the moviemaker, to a specific location?

—Dante A. Ciampaglia

May 6th, 2007 | Category: Location of the Week | By MovieMaker Staff

Comments: 7

Film School of the Week: The Secrets to Distribution

”Many moviemakers won’t share the information that took them years to learn, for fear of diminishing the value of it and their strategies,” claims writer-producer Jerome Courshon. Luckily for up-and-coming moviemakers, Courshon has not been so stingy with his own knowledge of the Hollywood machine. Using the experience he gained from getting his first feature, God, Sex & Apple Pie, picked up by a major distributor, Courshon is now imparting his hard-earned and practical wisdom through a traveling seminar entitled “The Secrets to Distribution: Get Your Movie Distributed Now!”

Over the course of one day, Courshon provides seminar attendees with the essential tips needed to get on the path to U.S. distribution, from advice on how to best utilize the festival circuit to the names and contact information of the 80-plus U.S. home video distributors. “I came to my experience and knowledge from my own trials and tribulations of getting distribution for the independent movie I produced,” explains Courshon. “So this isn’t coming from someone who hasn’t done it themselves or what I call a ‘theorist’—which makes a big difference.”

Over the next several months, Courshon and his seminar will make their way across the country, starting in New York on May 12, and ending in Los Angeles in August. For more information on upcoming seminars, visit www.distribution.la.

Sound Off: How much do you depend on the advice and insight of other moviemakers to help you find your way in making and distributing your own work? Do you have, or would you like to have, an “industry pro” give you advice and support? Talk back in the comments section!

--Jennifer Straus

May 6th, 2007 | Category: Film School of the Week | By MovieMaker Staff

Comments: 3

This Day in Indie History: Whale Rider

Niki Caro’s Whale Rider made its New York debut this day in 2003, when it screened at the Tribeca Film Festival. Previously the movie had been the People’s Choice in Canada, where it made its world premiere at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival and won the Audience World Cinema Award earlier this same year at Sundance. After hitting three of the biggest international film festivals, the New Zealand movie opened to U.S. audiences in limited release on June 6 but continue to be showcased at film festivals around the world until October 2005. Based on the novel by Witi Tame Ihimaera, Whale Rider is an inspiring tale about a pre-teen female, played by the precocious Keisha Castle Hughes, the only living descendent of a legendary tribal chief who traveled to the village on the back of a whale. Tradition dictates a male heir reign over the tribe, which leaves an elderly downtrodden chief and a granddaughter (Hughes) eager to prove she is a worthy descendent.

Factoid: New Zealand native Keisha Castle Hughes made her acting debut in Whale Rider and soon became the talk of the industry. The following year, at the age of 13, the actress became the youngest woman to receive a Best Actress Academy Award nomination.

May 6th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

Comments: 1

Festival of the Week: Action/Cut Short Film Competition

YouTube is currently the world’s hottest technological phenom—allowing any one who wants it the ability to make his/her own short movie and stream it online to a worldwide audience. That’s sort of the same concept Guy Magar had in mind when he began the Action/Cut Short Film Competition four years ago. But instead of YouTube’s superficial and fleeting recognition, passionate moviemakers who submit their movies to Action/Cut’s online competition can earn valuable prizes to help them further their careers.
Over 1000 films are submitted to the online festival each year and all are put into the competition—no schmoozing needed. This pretty much means that by submitting a short film, it’s pretty much guaranteed that it will be seen by any number of the top industry professionals who make up the jury. “Also, as part of the 125 prizes we award, about 30 of those are actual meetings with top industry players, which is very unique and intended to open industry doors,” adds Magar. In all, there are five categories from which major winners are declared. The winners then have their films streamed online—accessible worldwide for a six month period.
So instead of posting your undiscovered short on a popular video broadcasting website—hoping that it just might stand out among the millions of vacuous and frivolous home movies—check out Action/Cut for guaranteed exposure and feedback. The deadline for the 2007 Competition is May 15, 2007.

To find out more about upcoming and past Action/Cut programs, visit http://www.actioncut.com/sfc/competition.htm.

Sound Off: Action/Cut bases its philosophy (and prize packaging) on the idea that moviemakers—both homegrown and schooled—need that foot in the door to make it in the industry. What do you think is key to an independent moviemaker’s success? Sound off in our comments section!

—Mallory Potosky

May 6th, 2007 | Category: Festival of the Week | By MovieMaker Staff

Comments: 2

Exhibitor of the Week: IndieOrbit.com

A new kid moved onto the block when IndieOrbit.com launched in early April 2007. Be wise and prepare for the revolution. Founded by William Cicchino and Los Angeles moviemaker Javier Ruisanchez, the young site offers its Web space and services to any artist looking for the next step in independent distribution. “Finding a distributor is the last link in the Hollywood chain holding back the indie filmmaker from reaping the profits,” says Cicchino. “I created IndieOrbit.com as an alternative.”

The site’s concept is “true Web distribution,” which means that for less than $200 your movie can be made available online to paying customers for a six-month period. That’s right—paying customers, plus space enough to sell advertising on your designated page. Which means you can make that money back and conceivably distribute your film for less than what you spent on crew meals for one week! You set the price and keep the rights with IndieOrbit.com.

“I see putting films on IndieOrbit.com as one of the standard steps in the process of distributing films, just as entering festivals is a standard now,” offers Cicchino of his hope for his online venture. “Whether as a sole form of distribution, a means to attract theatrical distribution or just a means to recoup some of your production costs, IndieOrbit.com will be a mainstream tool for independent filmmakers.”

Find out about IndieOrbit’s piracy protection enforcement (customers pay for a copy-proof, 48-hour rental) and other special features atâ€"that’s right, you guessed it—IndieOrbit.com.

Sound Off: For worldwide distribution, which would you prefer: Getting into a few festival screenings or posting your film online on a site like IndieOrbit.com? Sound off in our comments section!

â€"Mallory Potosky

May 6th, 2007 | Category: Exhibitor of the Week | By MovieMaker Staff

Comments: 6

This Day in Indie History: Audrey Hepburn

Brussels, Belgium welcomed beloved actress Audrey Hepburn as a newborn citizen this day in 1929. The would-be style icon made her first mark on the world in 1951, when she began a Broadway run in Gigi; by 1953 she had a leading role opposite Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday. Classic characters and charismatic leading men quickly followed with 1954’s Sabrina, opposite Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. In 1955 came War and Peace, followed by 1957’s Funny Face. By 1961 Hepburn had created some of Hollywood’s timeless individuals—real and fictional—including Holly Golightly in the movie version of Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Eliza Dolittle in George Cukor’s My Fair Lady. Her later years saw little in the way of screen roles, but as a UNICEF ambassador she received the President’s Medal of Freedom in 1992—just one year before she passed away from colon cancer.

Quotable: “I don’t want to own anything until I find a place where me and my things go together. I’m not sure where that is but I know what it is like. It’s like Tiffany’s.” —Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

May 4th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

Comments: 7

In Theaters Now: May 4, 2007

Away from Her
directed by Sarah Polley
When Grant (Gordon Pinsent) finally admits to himself that his wife, Fiona (Julie Christie), has Alzheimer’s, he commits her to a nursing home. But as he struggles with being physically and (increasingly) emotionally apart from his wife, she begins a new relationship with another resident in the home (Michael Murphy). Sarah Polley mines some familiar territory in this, her directorial debut, but from the looks of things she does so with honesty, heart and panache. Like Adrienne Shelly’s Waitress (see below), Away from Her might prove to be excellent alternative programming in this kick-off weekend of the summer movie season. Also starring Olympia Dukakis, Kristen Thomson, Wendy Crewson and Alberta Watson.

The Flying Scotsman
directed by Douglas Mackinnon
Lance Armstrong may have made America safe for cycling, but it’s a sport with a significant international following. Case in point, The Flying Scotsman. The film is the true story of Graeme Obree (Jonny Lee Miller) and his quest to revolutionize the sport by developing a new bike despite the protestations of the sport’s old-fogey authority. While the film should appeal to cycling enthusiasts, it’s hard to imagine The Flying Scotsman catching the imagination of the masses a la Lance Armstrong—no matter how hard it’s peddled. Also starring Billy Boyd and Brian Cox.

Lucky You
directed by Curtis Hanson
Even though Lucky You isn’t the first film to deal with the world of high-stakes poker (there’s always Rounders), this is one of the biggest to come along since the explosion in poker’s popularity. But since this is a Curtis Hanson movie, it’s not really about poker; it’s just a metaphor for how the main characters, Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) and Billie Offer (Drew Barrymore), are playing the odds in life. Hanson is an excellent director, but this might be a little too overwrought—even for him. Also starring Robert Duvall and Debra Messing.

Spider-Man 3
directed by Sam Raimi
In a summer of franchise pictures, Spider-Man 3 might be the biggest release. (Of course, the third Pirates of the Caribbean film might have something to say about that.) And unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that this third installment of the popular series finds Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) locked in a battle with his dark side, thanks to an evil black suit, a new villain (Thomas Hayden Church), his friend Harry Osbourne (James Franco), who’s bent on avenging his father’s death, and Eddie Brock (Topher Grace), a rival photographer. Add to the mix Peter’s desire to marry Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), and what you have is a very full film that might be stuffed a little too full for its own good.

Waitress
directed by Adrienne Shelly
Keri Russell kind of dropped out of the limelight after “Felicity,” but her turn in Adrienne Shelly’s final film, Waitress, as a lovelorn food-slinger with a penchant for concocting excellent pies, has already garnered many positive notices. If you find this film playing near you this weekend, it might be excellent indie counter-programming to the explosive kick-off to the summer movie season happening this weekend. Also starring Cheryl Hines, Nathan Fillion, Jeremy Sisto, Adrienne Shelly and Andy Griffith.

May 3rd, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

Comments: 1

This Day in Indie History: Bobby Cannavale

It was on this day in 1971 that Bobby Cannavale was born in Union City, NJ. After high school, the Cuban-Italian joined the Circle Repertory Theatre in New York City and used the experiences as his acting school. His time was spent performing many duties, including janitorial work, just for the opportunity to one day earn his way to the stage. He finally got the chance in Paul Rudd’s Most Fabulous Story Ever Told. Cannavale’s early career involved many television shows, including “Third Watch” and “Ally McBeal.” In 1996 the actor made his screen debut as walk-on in I’m Not Rappaport. Since then, Cannavale’s resume has expanded to include Washington Heights, Fast Food Nation, 10 Items or Less, opposite Robin Williams in The Night Listener and most notably in the 2003 Sundance Audience Award-winner, The Station Agent, with co-stars Peter Dinklage and Patricia Clarkson. In 2005 the actor won an Emmy award for his guest stint as Will Truman’s boyfriend on “Will & Grace.”

Factoid: Bobby Cannavale has made a career out of niche independent films and New York-centered television shows (typically as gay men). Look for him next in Spike Lee’s 2007 television pilot, “M.O.N.Y.”

May 3rd, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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Top of the Box Office

1. Disturbia
Dreamworks SKG
Weekend Gross: $9,100,000
Total Gross: $52,186,000

2. The Invisible
Buena Vista
Weekend Gross: $7,606,000
Total Gross: $7,606,000

3. Next
Sony Pictures
Weekend Gross: $7,200,000
Total Gross: $7,200,000

4. Fracture
New Line
Weekend Gross: $7,075,000
Total Gross: $21,326,000

5. Blades of Glory
Dreamworks SKG
Weekend Gross: $5,200,000
Total Gross: $108,086,000

6. Meet the Robinsons
Buena Vista
Weekend Gross: $4,842,000
Total Gross: $88,356,000

7. Hot Fuzz
Focus Features
Weekend Gross: $4,780,241
Total Gross: $12,446,716

8. Vacancy
Sony Pictures
Weekend Gross: $4,200,000
Total Gross: $13,868,000

9. The Condemned
Lionsgate
Weekend Gross: $4,000,000
Total Gross: $4,000,000

10. Are We Done Yet?
Sony Pictures
Weekend Gross: $3,400,000
Total Gross: $43,818,000

All data courtesy of www.the-numbers.com

April 30th, 2007 | Category: Top of the Box Office | By MovieMaker Staff

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Top of the Box Office

1. Disturbia
Dreamworks SKG
Weekend Gross: $13,460,000
Total Gross: $40,654,000

2. Fracture
New Line
Weekend Gross: $11,175,000
Total Gross: $11,175,000

3. Blades of Glory
Dreamworks SKG
Weekend Gross: $7,808,000
Total Gross: $101,082,000

4. Vacancy
Sony Pictures
Weekend Gross: $7,600,000
Total Gross: $7,600,000

5. Meet the Robinsons
Buena Vista
Weekend Gross: $7,088,000
Total Gross: $82,211,000

6. Hot Fuzz
Focus Features
Weekend Gross: $5,836,739
Total Gross: $5,836,739

7. Are We Done Yet?
Sony Pictures
Weekend Gross: $5,200,000
Total Gross: $39,591,000

8. In The Land of Women
Warner Independent Pictures
Weekend Gross: $4,915,000
Total Gross: $4,915,000

9. Perfect Stranger
Sony Pictures
Weekend Gross: $4,100,000
Total Gross: $18,068,000

10. Wild Hogs
Buena Vista
Weekend Gross: $2,872,000
Total Gross: $156,213,000

All data courtesy of www.the-numbers.com

April 23rd, 2007 | Category: Top of the Box Office | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: Jessica Lange

The ever-elegant Jessica Lange was born in Minnesota on this day in 1949. Before her screen debut in 1976’s King Kong, Lange had studied art at the University of Minnesota, mime work in Paris and acting in New York. So by the time her screen career took off, Lange became the easily adaptable, graceful addition to any film set, including Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz, Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear, Sydney Pollack’s Tootsie, Julie Taymor’s Titus and Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers. Most notable about Lange’s career is the ratio of movies to nominations she has received: In her long and respected career the actress has been honored with five Academy Award nominations and two statues. In 1983 she became the first actress to receive two nominations in one year (Best Actress for Frances and Best Supporting Actress for Tootsie).

Quotable: “I suppose we all have to grow old someday. I just don’t think you got to look bad in the process.” -Jessica Lange, as Carly Marshall in her Oscar-winning performance in Blue Sky, must be following her own advice.

April 19th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Based on a one-woman show by Nia Vardalos, My Big Fat Greek Wedding began screening in limited release on this day in 2002. Actress Rita Wilson and husband Tom Hanks produced the feature about a Greek woman (Vardalos) who pursues and marries a man (John Corbett) not of Greek descent. In a review days before the film’s release, Kirk Honeycutt from The Hollywood Reporter claimed the film “will probably have little impact theatrically outside of its obvious ethnic audience.” Boy was he wrong! What cost just about $5 million to make went on to gross over $600 million and became the biggest independent hit film of all time.

Quotable: “I had to go to Greek school, where I learned valuable lessons such as, ‘If Nick has one goat and Maria has nine, how soon will they marry?’” --Toula Portokalos (Vardalos) pointing out the basic principle of her Greek life.

April 18th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

Comments: 20

This Day in Indie History: Eli Roth

The newest master of horror, Eli Roth, was born on this day in Newton, MA in 1972. Before moving to New York and graduating from New York University’s Tisch film program, Roth utilized his time by traveling abroad to Russia and Iceland. While working on a farm in Iceland, Roth contracted an infection that left behind little flesh on his face. Or so the story goes. The experience is what led to the inspiration for his first feature, Cabin Fever, released in 2002. Perhaps it was also during that time he found inspiration for his terror-filled second outing, Hostel, which has formed many a second thought in the minds of young, independent American tourists. In front of the camera Roth has appeared in The Mirror Has Two Faces, Lloyd Kaufman’s Terror Firmer and his own first two films. This month the moviemaker contributed a faux trailer to the Tarantino/Rodriguez thriller Grindhouse (and has a bit role in Tarantino’s “Death Proof” segment).

Factoid: As a production assistant on the 1997 movie, Private Parts, Eli Roth had the responsibility of being Howard Stern’s alarm clock. During those sleepless nights the writer-director penned the script for his first feature, Cabin Fever. What cost his friends and acquaintances $1.5 million in investments won big at the Toronto Film Festival in 2002, selling to Lionsgate for $3.5 million. It eventually went on to become the studio’s biggest hit of the year, earning well over $30 million.

April 17th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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Film Festival of the Week: Hot Docs

While documentaries have enjoyed some commercial success over the last few years, Jerry Seinfeld’s dismissive Oscar monologue showed that the genre continues to be underappreciated in certain sectors of the film world. Luckily, for documentary-makers and fans alike, festivals like Toronto’s Hot Docs more than make up for this lack of love, creating a space where documentary film is the sole focus, to be appreciated in all its myriad forms.

Hot Docs, which is the largest documentary film festival in North America, is now in its 14th year and has grown from an event geared primarily toward Canadian moviemakers to a large-scale celebration of nonfiction moviemaking on an international scale. “We’ve created a filmmaker-friendly event that strikes a nice balance between being a large cultural festival with a huge public following and a significant market and conference,” says executive director Chris McDonald.

In addition to screenings, parties and awards ceremonies, Hot Docs devotes a significant portion of the festival program to helping participating moviemakers find distribution. The Documentary Forum was created to help independent doc producers find international financing, while the Doc Shop provides distributors with an on-demand videothèque facility that allows them to preview more than 1,500 documentary works for possible acquisition.

Though the mainstream movie world may not pay as much attention to documentaries as they should, festivals like Hot Docs ensure that the genre can still find its niche in the moviemaking community.

The 2007 Hot Docs festival will run from April 19-29. For more information, visit www.hotdocs.ca.

Sound Off: How do you think we can expose mainstream audiences to more documentary moviemaking? If you are a documentarian, what have been your most successful methods for getting your work seen? Let us know in the comments section!

--Jennifer Straus

April 17th, 2007 | Category: Festival of the Week | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: William Mapother

He may now be the creepy “Ethan” of “Lost” fame, but when William Mapother was born on this day in 1965, that’s probably something no one would have predicted. The Louisville, KY native graduated from Notre Dame in 1987 and pursued a career as a high school English teacher before taking small crew positions and uncredited roles in some of the most popular movies of the 1980s (including Rain Man and Cocktail). By 2001 Mapother had landed his first major role as a bullying ex-husband to Marisa Tomei’s cheating wife in In the Bedroom. Several more bit parts followed, including those in Vanilla Sky, Mean Creek (from which his scenes were deleted), Suspect Zero and Lords of Dogtown. Today he remains a stealthy “Other” on ABC’s island drama.

Connections: Although he was not a part of the third Mission: Impossible installment (he had a bit role in the second film), William Mapother maintains his connection to the series. His cousin is star Tom Cruise while the movie’s director, J.J. Abrams, is one of the creative forces behind “Lost.”

April 16th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

Comments: 2

Moviemaker of the Week: Thelma Schoonmaker

She has been honored by Oscar, Eddie, BAFTA and Emmy. But 2007 marks the first time that Coolidge came calling for Thelma Schoonmaker, making it a banner year for this master editor, who was given an Oscar earlier this year for her work on The Departed.

The editor best-known as Martin Scorsese’s closest collaborator was on hand in Boston last week to receive the prestigious Coolidge Award at the historic Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA. Initiated in 2004, the Coolidge Award seeks to honor “a film artist whose body of work is consistently challenging and original, breaks the boundaries of the medium and, in doing so, transports us to ever higher ground,” according to executive director Joseph Zina.

Following in the footsteps of previous Coolidge Award recipients—director Zhang Yimou, cinematographer Vittorio Storaro and actress Meryl Streep—Schoonmaker spent two days in Boston to take part in film and panel discussions, teach a master class in film editing and, of course, be handed her statue. With all events open to the public, the Coolidge Award is one accolade that rewards the recipient and his or her fans alike.

For more information, visit www.coolidge.org/award.

Sound Off: Of the almost 20 features Thelma Schoonmaker has edited since 1980, only one—Allison Anders’ Grace of My Heart in 1996—was not directed by Martin Scorsese (though he did serve as an executive producer). Who are your favorite close-knit, moviemaking teams?

--Jennifer M. Wood

April 16th, 2007 | Category: Moviemaker of the Week | By MovieMaker Staff

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Top of the Box Office

1. Disturbia
Dreamworks SKG
Weekend Gross: $23,025,000
Total Gross: $23,025,000

2. Blades of Glory
Dreamworks SKG
Weekend Gross: $14,065,000
Total Gross: $90,195,000

3. Meet the Robinsons
Buena Vista
Weekend Gross: $12,103,000
Total Gross: $72,004,000

4. Perfect Stranger
Sony Pictures
Weekend Gross: $11,500,000
Total Gross: $11,500,000

5. Are We Done Yet?
Sony Pictures
Weekend Gross: $9,200,000
Total Gross: $33,004,000

6. Pathfinder
20th Century Fox
Weekend Gross: $4,800,000
Total Gross: $4,800,000

7. Wild Hogs
Buena Vista
Weekend Gross: $4,639,000
Total Gross: $152,243,000

8. The Reaping
Warner Bros
Weekend Gross: $4,565,000
Total Gross: $19,763,000

9. 300
Warner Bros.
Weekend Gross: $4,315,000
Total Gross: $200,826,000

10. Grindhouse
Weinstein/Dimension
Weekend Gross: $4,239,000
Total Gross: $19,699,828

All data courtesy of www.the-numbers.com

April 16th, 2007 | Category: Top of the Box Office | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: Lukas Haas

It was on this day in 1976 that a doe-eyed boy was born in West Hollywood, CA. His name: Lukas Haas. The boy pursued a movie star career from his earliest days and was recognized often at the Young Artist Awards. His popular recognition, however, was most prevalent after playing a young Amish boy opposite Harrison Ford in Peter Weir’s 1985 film, Witness. Since then Haas has grown and so have his acting challenges. His career includes roles in Boys opposite Winona Ryder, Woody Allen’s Everyone Says I Love You, Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks! and the 2005 independent features Brick and Last Days.

Preview: Haas’ most recent project is Gardener of Eden, about the lengths a man will go to for some long-overdue attention. The film is directed by Kevin Connolly, the discerning manager of HBO’s “Entourage”.

April 15th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters
directed by Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis
Remember a few months back when Boston went on virtual lockdown because some people thought the electronic ads for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters were really bombs? This week, we finally get to see if all that hubbub was worth it. The movie is a big-screen adaptation of the popular Cartoon Network program that explores the origins of the show’s three main characters, Meatwad (Dave Willis), Frylock (Carey Means) and Master Shake (Dana Snyder). Fans of the show will undoubtedly be drawn to the movie, but casual observers might be a little more than confused by the attraction of an animated movie starring a talking wad of meat, French fry box and milkshake. Also starring the voices of Fred Armisen, Andy Merrill and Bruce Campbell.

Disturbia
directed by D.J. Caruso
We’ve certainly reached a strange point in the current remake culture, one where Hollywood is remaking classics without calling them “remakes.” Case in point, Disturbia. This thriller centers on Kale (Shia LaBeouf), a young man stuck at home because he’s under house arrest. Luckily, he has a lot of expensive photography and video equipment, which allows him to spy on his neighbors. He witnesses what he thinks is a murder; his friends, one of whom, Ashley (Sarah Roemer), is an attractive blonde, try breaking into the neighbor’s house to get evidence; things become really dangerous… Oh, if you’ve seen Rear Window, you know the rest. And really, the only way Disturbia could be any more like the 1954 classic is if a zombie Hitchcock were the director. Also starring David Morse, Carrie-Anne Moss and Aaron Yoo.

Pathfinder
directed by Marcus Nispel
Ah, the oft-forgotten history of the struggles between Native Americans and the Vikings. This is the jumping off point for this action-adventure thriller about a Viking boy who is left behind and raised by Native Americans. The boy grows to be Ghost (Karl Urban), who is forced to defend his tribe by repelling the invading Viking hordes when they return to the land. Judging from the over-stylized approach in the movie and the derivative, been-there-seen-that narrative, it’s probably safe to say that Pathfinder will quickly be as forgotten as its historical context. Also starring Russell Means, Moon Bloodgood, Jay Tavare and Clancy Brown.

Perfect Stranger
directed by James Foley
April is, traditionally, the last month of Hollywood’s annual dump period. You know, that time between Oscar season and the tent-pole summer when genre pictures and projects that really didn’t come off right are dropped into theaters when no one’s really paying attention. Perfect Stranger, a combination “Law & Order” and The Pelican Brief with a sprinkling of The Devil Wears Prada workplace politics, looks to be the perfect bridge between Hollywood’s lean period output and its loud summer blockbusters. Rowena (Halle Berry) is a journalist who goes undercover as a trampy temp in Harrison Hill’s (Bruce Willis) ad agency to discover how and why her friend was murdered. It could be a mess, but James Foley is competent enough as a director to keep things interesting. Also starring Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Portnow and Nicki Aycox.

Year of the Dog
directed by Mike White
Mike White wrote The Good Girl, an indie hit in 2002 that showed Jennifer Aniston could be more than just Rachel on “Friends.” It looks like his latest film, Year of the Dog, will do the same for Molly Shannon. The “SNL” vet tends to be typecast as the spastic, loud head-case comic relief in films like Serendipity. Here, though, she’s a more complete character, Peggy, who is struggling with her perhaps unhealthy love of dogs and her insecurities in love with humans. White is an individual talent whose films are quirky and irreverent. But he’s not quirky for the sake of being quirky--he uses eccentricity to heighten the humanity in his work. Year of the Dog should be no different. Also starring Peter Sarsgaard, Laura Dern, John C. Reilly and Regina King.

April 15th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: Palindromes

It was on this day in 2005 that writer-director Todd Solondz’s Palindromes was released to New York audiences. The movie stars Ellen Barkin (in what critics predicted was her comeback role) and a revolving cast of eight young girls of varying age and physical features. Solondz’s tale follows 13-year-old Aviva (portrayed throughout the movie by various women) in her quest to have a baby. After becoming pregnant by a family friend and the subsequent abortion procedure that leaves her unable to bear children, Aviva runs away. The film was nominated for a Golden Lion at the 2004 Venice Film Festival and following its release, earned an Independent Spirit Producers Award nomination.

Factoid: Palindromes picks up where 2005’s Welcome to the Dollhouse (Solondz’s first big hit feature) left off. It is for Dollhouse’s Dawn Wiener character that Aviva attends a funeral in the movie’s first scene. Apparently Dawn has gained weight in the 10 years since we’ve seen her and committed suicide, leaving her brother Mark to comfort their cousin Aviva through this difficult time.

April 12th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: Quinceañera

Writing-directing team Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland began shooting the hit feature, Quinceañera, on this day in 2005. Set in the Echo Park section of Los Angeles, the coming of age tale follows Magdalena (played by Emily Rios in her film debut) as she prepares for her 15th birthday. Traditionally this year in her life, her quinceañera, would be celebrated in grand form to usher her into adulthood. But instead of an elegant party, Magdalena discovers she is pregnant, propelling her into an entirely different adulthood. The movie went on to screenings at the 2006 Berlin, Newport, Provincetown and Seattle International Film Festivals, picking up many awards along the way. That same year it won both the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prizes at Sundance.

Factoid: Quinceañera star Emily Rios plays Magdalena, a modern girl breaking out of the traditional family mold. The actress has followed much the same path in her real life, beginning with the production of this movie. Brought up a Jehovah’s Witness, Rios had never before celebrated her birthday with such fanfare (as the cast and crew had set-up for her on set) or traveled by plane.

April 11th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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