This Day in Indie History

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

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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

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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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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This Day in Indie History: Vincent Gallo

The often-controversial actor-writer-director Vincent Gallo was born on this day in Buffalo, NY in 1961. As a teen he dropped out of high school and moved to New York City, nurturing his creativity by making Super 8 films, playing in bands (including one with graffiti artist Jean Michel Basquiat) and exhibiting his paintings and sculpture work at local galleries. After discovering an affinity for motorcycle sports, Gallo took up acting as a way to get health insurance. His first feature was 1986’s Euridice of the Avenues, for which his score won the 1984 Berlin Film Festival Award for Best Music. In the mid-’90s his mug could be seen in Calvin Klein ads the world over. By 1998 when his semi-autobiographical Buffalo ‘66 was released, he had already racked up bit parts in The House of the Spirits, Palookaville and The Funeral. But he wouldn’t again receive such heightened critical acclaim until his second time in the director’s chair with The Brown Bunny. Starring alongside former flame Chloë Sevigny, Gallo also took on roles as the movie’s cinematographer, costume designer, editor and camera operator.

Factoid: Vincent Gallo came back with a vengeance when The Brown Bunny premiered at Cannes to extreme and mixed reviews. First there was the now infamous exchange of words with critic Roger Ebert, followed by an equally infamous sexually explicit billboard display in Los Angeles. It’s difficult to tell whether the publicity helped or hurt the small independent movie, which made back only one-third of its budget.

April 10th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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Film Festival of the Week: Independent Film Festival of Boston

Boston remains one of the most culturally vibrant cities in the United States--not simply for its historical significance but also now for its burgeoning independent film community. At the Independent Film Festival of Boston that community is celebrated.

This year the IFFBoston will run from April 25 - 30 and utilize such venues as the city’s historic Somerville, Brattle and Coolidge Corner theaters. Some of this year’s most anticipated screenings include actor-turned-director Sarah Polley’s feature debut, Away From Her, indie legend Hal Hartley’s Fay Grim and the latest from Wet Hot American Summer director David Wain’s star-studded The Ten. “We look for original, risk-taking films and shy away from formulaic Hollywood fare dressed-up as indies,” says executive director Jason Redmond of the festival’s one-of-a-kind programming.

The truly unique aspect of this year’s fest is the partnership it has formed with Apple. The collaboration offers any paying customer an AppleTV, pre-loaded with a variety of films from its first four fests. “It’s the best of IFFBoston in a box,” says Redmond. Now in its fifth year, this year’s event will offer more movies, more parties and, as always, the Candlepin Bowling challenge--all of which makes this an event almost as big as that infamous tea gathering in the harbor.

Head over to www.iffboston.org for more information on how you can score yourself a seat (or an AppleTV).

Sound Off: As a festival promotion, IFFBoston is offering the new AppleTV loaded with independent programming. Is this the next step for festival distribution deals? Talk back in our comments section!

--Mallory Potosky

April 10th, 2007 | Category: Festival of the Week, This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: The 1967 Academy Awards

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the rescheduled date for the 1967 Academy Awards ceremony. After the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4 of that year, artists including Louis Armstrong, Diahann Carroll, Sammy Davis Jr., Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger requested that the Academy postpone the originally-set April 8 ceremony until after the civil rights activist’s funeral on April 9. The Academy shuffled its feet but complied, unwilling in part to admit that the real world reigns over Hollywood as it does anywhere else.

Factoid: The event was postponed once more in 1981. Originally slated for March 30, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences held off on hosting the ceremony for one day following an assassination attempt on newly-elected President Ronald Regan--himself a former screen actor.

April 10th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: Zach Braff

Before he became the in-demand actor and moviemaker he is today, Zach Braff spent his youth in South Orange, New Jersey, where he was born on this day in 1975. While audiences might have first recognized him for his acting chops, Braff traveled to the top by way of Northwestern University. He graduated from the school’s reputable film program with a Bachelor of Arts and soon after took a turn alongside Alec Baldwin and Angela Bassett in the NY Public Theater’s production of “Macbeth.” His feature film debut came as the son to seasoned professionals Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in Manhattan Murder Mystery. Before entering America’s homes each week as J.D. on the NBC sitcom “Scrubs,” the actor took parts in indie mockumentary Endsville and the ensemble dramedy The Broken Hearts Club, plus opposite Heather Matarazzo in 1999’s Getting to Know You and 2000’s Blue Moon. His next film, The Ex, co-stars Amanda Peet as the breadwinning wife who trades family for career and leaves her husband to deal with the changes.

Factoid: Zach Braff finally had the clout (and a great script to boot) when he put his BA to work on Garden State. The moviemaker wrote, directed and starred in his first feature along with Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard and Ian Holm. The 2004 film and its screenplay were recognized by numerous Critics Choice Awards, the Grammys (for Best Compilation Soundtrack, produced by Braff), the Independent Spirit Awards and Sundance.

April 5th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: The Chumscrubber

On this day in 2004, film began rolling for The Chumscrubber, Arie Posen’s social critique on modern suburban life. Co-written by Posen and Zac Stanford, the movie takes its name from the pop culture sphere of the story’s fictional upper-middle class town. Death and deception feature greatly in this tale about adult/adolescent communication and the great common denominator in modern-day society: Drugs. The Chumscrubber hit Sundance in 2005 with its all-star cast, including Jamie Bell, Glenn Close, Rory Culkin, Ralph Fiennes, Lou Taylor Pucci and Allison Janney. By August of that year it reached U.S. audiences in limited release.

Quotable: “I live in a city, but in an apartment high above the cloud left by the blast. I’m one of the lucky ones. One morning, I awoke to find my head no longer attached to my body. I’m not dead, but who could call this a life? So I do what I can, in this city of freaks and subhuman creatures. I became… The Chumscrubber.” --living in suburbia, as summed-up in the movie The Chumscrubber.

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

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This Day in Indie History: The Illusionist

It was on this day in 2005 that Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell, Jessica Biel and writer-director Neil Burger met on set to begin shooting their independent feature The Illusionist. Set in Vienna in the early 20th century, Burger adapted his second feature from the short story “Eisenheim the Illusionist.” The story revolves around the son of a cabinet maker (Norton), his upper-class childhood love (Biel), the men who benefit from the separation of the lovebirds (Giamatti and Sewell) and the magic that interferes. The Illusionist went in to limited release in August 2006 and widened its popularity by the following month. Burger received a Best Screenplay nomination at the Independent Spirit Awards and cinematographer Dick Pope was honored with an Academy Award nomination for his camera work.

Connections: Actor Paul Giamatti will once again star alongside Rufus Sewell in the television miniseries “John Adams,” scheduled for a 2008 release. The story will follow Giamatti as the title character who sees the United States grow from a British colony to an independent nation. Sewell will play fellow founding father Alexander Hamilton. The impressive supporting cast also includes Laura Linney, Justin Theroux, Tom Wilkinson and David Morse.

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

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This Day in Indie History: Marlon Brando

Can any actor can live up to the legend that is Marlon Brando, who was born on this day in 1924? The suave bad boy who popularized the leather jacket as a symbol of rebel cool, the Nebraska-born Brando’s acting techniques developed throughout his studies at the New School and the Actors Studio in New York City. Under former teacher (and celebrated director) Elia Kazan, Brando won favor as Broadway’s Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Four years later his big-screen version of the same character brought the first glimmer of fame when he received a Best Actor Oscar nomination. (This would be the first of eight nods from the Academy throughout his illustrious career.) Buff up on film history by watching his one-of-a-kind performances in 1953’s Julius Caesar, Kazan’s On the Waterfront, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather and Apocalypse Now and the 1972 classic, Last Tango in Paris. Brando’s last movie, before passing away of lung complications in 2004, was opposite Robert De Niro and Edward Norton in Frank Oz’s The Score.

Factoid: Marlon Brando was the inimitable protector in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. For his patriarchal role, the actor won the Academy Award for Best Actor but chose not to show his face at the ceremony--instead enlisting a local actress to impersonate a Native American woman and appear on his behalf. His goal was to promote equality in Hollywood for the indigenous people. It was a cause so close to Brando that he had co-founded the American Indian Movement the previous year.

April 2nd, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: Maestro

The short film Maestro hit Los Angeles theaters on this day in 2004. But its origins began on the other side of the country, when fellow Rockport College professors-writers-directors Doug Stradley and Daniel Stephens began visualizing a humble $5,000 short project. In the end, Maestro was 30 minutes in length, six times its original budget and featured an unexpected performance by “Saturday Night Live” head writer and performer Seth Meyers. This Rocky-inspired story stars Meyers as the older version of Tim Healy, a bowling alley employee fantasizing about the day he would be the greatest orchestral conductor in the world. His piece de resistance would be the cursed composition “Air,” which failed anyone who ever had a hand in it.

Factoid: Seth Meyers and Stan Grunder (the young version of Tim Healy) returned for writer-director Doug Stradley’s Cub Scout Pinewood Derby comedy, Thunder Road.

April 1st, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: Warren Beatty

Henry Warren Beatty joined his parents and older sister, Shirley MacLaine, when he came into the world on this day in 1937. Beatty’s first noticeable role was on the CBS sitcom “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,” where he spent a short time as the resident heartthrob. His first feature, 1961’s Splendor in the Grass came soon thereafter. With longtime large aspirations, Beatty expanded his production role for his second movie, 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde. In addition to acting opposite Faye Dunaway, the actor produced the film. Both roles earned him Oscar nominations (the film was noticed for a total of 10).

Throughout the years, Beatty has continued to challenge himself with roles and production credits from Shampoo (which he co-wrote and starred in) to Reds (for which he won the Oscar for Best Director). In total, Beatty’s films, including Heaven Can Wait, Bugsy and Bulworth have garnered 14 Oscar nominations. At the 2000 Academy Awards ceremony the accomplished moviemaker was honored with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.

Factoid: In 1987 Warren Beatty hit a snag when Ishtar, the movie he produced and starred in, was deemed by critics as one of the worst ever made. Luckily he redeemed himself with such fare as Dick Tracy and a remake of Love Affair with his future wife, Annette Bening.

March 29th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: The Godfather

On this day in 1971, Francis Ford Coppola woke up to start production on The Godfather. Finalizing the script while on set and primarily concerned about collaborating with the actors, Coppola left most all of the decisions about visuals to his director of photography, Gordon Willis. Meticulous and slow-going in his lighting set-ups, Willis irked Coppola more and more as the production fell behind in its shooting schedule. On top of that, the mob thwarted the moviemaker’s ability to shoot in particular locations at specific times.

Although the movie release on March 15, 1972 ushered in both positive reviews and box office numbers, the production experience made Coppola question whether or not he wanted to direct the sequel. He relented—and returned in 1974 with The Godfather: Part II, often cited as the best of his mafia trilogy.

Quotable: “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” -Marlon Brando as Don Corleone in The Godfather.

March 28th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: Lucas

The David Seltzer-penned high school coming-of-age story Lucas was released to U.S. audiences on this day in 1986. Seltzer, previously known for writing The Omen, also took charge behind the camera as director. In a complete 180 from his previous work, this is a sweetly told tale of unrequited, teenage love. The story revolves around Lucas, a typical pint-sized science geek, his crush, beautiful new student Maggie, and her football player love interest, Cappie. An attempt to join the football team backfires and lands Lucas in the hospital. As an unexpected bonus, his injuries gain him the respect of the entire school--even the jocks that once goaded him.

Factoid: While the movie unfortunately did little to propel the career of its title star, Corey Haim, it did launch the careers of Winona Ryder (Mermaids, Reality Bites) and Jeremy Piven (Smokin Aces, “Entourage"). This was the first feature film for both.

March 27th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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This Day in Indie History: Quentin Tarantino

He’s not even 45 and Quentin Tarantino, born in Knoxville, Tennessee on this day in 1963, is already a moviemaking legend. By the age of two, his mother had moved him to Los Angeles. After leaving school at a young age, Tarantino began work at the famous California movie haven Video Archives. It was during his five-year stint there that the movie buff began imagining and writing some of his biggest hits.

Through a chain of connections, Tarantino met with Lawrence Bender, who helped to produce and release Reservoir Dogs at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival. Together the pair formed the production company A Band Apart and its divisions, including the Miramax distribution label Rolling Thunder. In 1994 A Band Apart released Pulp Fiction, arguably Tarantino’s most famous and well-respected work to date. It won the Palme d’Or at Cannes that year, plus honors at the Independent Spirit Awards, Golden Globes and the Oscars. Since then the writer-director-actor’s contributions to cinema have be seen in Four Rooms, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill: Volumes 1 and 2 and the highly anticipated Grindhouse, due out early next month.

Quotable: Quentin Tarantino is a walking pop-culture trivia game, frantically spouting off responses both on-screen and off. Ironically, so important is the writer that lines from his own screenplays have become part of that same lexicon. Case in point, Pulp Fiction’s “I’m going to get medieval on your ass” is sure to go down in movie history.

March 26th, 2007 | Category: This Day in Indie History | By MovieMaker Staff

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