AnnieG Movies » Articles

MIFF 2010: MONEY FOR MOVIES WORKSHOP

AnnieG — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 21:01:00 +0000

Artists may be long on creativity but what they’re most often short on is cash to realize their ideas. Where the painter needs canvas, brushes, and paints to bring his imagination to life the filmmaker may require equipment, facilities, hardware, software, and more importantly the cooperation of other…people. A film may be the realization of one person’s vision but it is utlimately the result of an ensemble effort to collectively make that vision a reality. Given this principal it is only fitting that the prominent issue of how to fund films would be the first workshop offered at MIFF this year.

Paco Alvarez (Forward Motion Entertainment) and Matt Campagna (MIFF Founder and filmmaker) hosted a candid workshop titled “MONEY FOR MOVIES” this afternoon that proved to be helpful and informational. The workshop was an overview of how to fund films between the ten thousand and one million dollar budget range. Alvarez was honest and to the point about the film business giving sound and solid advice to novice filmmakers and perhaps enlightening the perspective of some more experienced producers in the group. He covered everything from funding, tax credits, and the reality of the film business being a business. The information he provided allowed everyone present to fully comprehend the process of selling and funding films and the realities of success and failure within those paradigms.

Matt Campagna was a great asset to the workshop as he gave an insight into how it is an indie filmmaker can use the information provided with regards to the various governmental and private avenues of funding. This was very helpful and encouraging as the harsh realities of the business were revealed whilst mitigated by the live example of someone who has used the same information presented to work through the industry, sell a film, and get funding for a future projects. What was most impressive was that for every question about hypothetical situations there was always a real life and relevant answer accessible to the audience via Matt Campagna.

In an industry where answers are hard (if not impossible) to find these two gentlemen held nothing back from the audience of attentive listeners and avid participants. I only hope everyone took as many notes as I did because whether you are a writer, director, producer, or actor there was a lot of information given today that will prove to save valuable time in an industry where time is money.

The Sweetest Thing…

AnnieG — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:06:28 +0000

There are men and then there are gentlemen. The super nice guys who just ooze with charisma and charm that you can’t help but be smitten with for purely genuine and innocent reasons. I rarely make reference to things non-film/performance related on this site but sometimes you just have to break your own rules to make a point. So for once I’m going to talk about an actor and not reference his talent, craft, brooding good looks (I’ll try), or his
ingenuity–I’m just going to focus on what a sweet heart he is to his fans. The person I’m talking about is Ian Somerhalder. (a.k.a totally sexy Salvatore brother Damon from The Vampire Diaries)

ZZ Top said it best "every girl is crazy ’bout a sharp dressed man" and not only is Ian Somerhalder one of the finest dressed men in show business (with that James Deanesque quality to him) but he’s also an absolute sweet heart to just about everyone…even the paparazzi. This Louisiana native never seems to lose his cool and always seems to find the most delightful things to say when put on the spot. Whether it be cool calculation or some kind of whimsical goodness this guy’s grin will make just about anybody smile even if they don’t want to. It’s as though the best of Cary Grant, Paul Newman, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, James Dean, and Clark Gable have some how been channelled and the 21st century result is Ian Somerhalder. He’s got a sense of grace about him, a pinch of danger, an element of enigma, and just enough sweet southern charm to make even the most frigid of hags blush. Lost in the world of YouTube I stumbled upon some fan clips of him being oh so sweet and I was adamant on finding one of him being a jerk but alas no cigar. I’m usually proven right in my cynical and most jaded ways but clip after clip I couldn’t have been happier to be wrong. Check out these clips of Ian Somerhalder I’ve included below and tell me you don’t swoon and feel all girly inside despite your best efforts to be miserable (like me). Damn you Somerhalder! Damn you, your soft spoken elegance, and dreamy eyed ways!

SHARP DRESSED MAN ZZ TOP

Measuring Tape Girl at Cannes

AnnieG — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:41:55 +0000

Here’s a new update for you all about PM Veltri’s Measuring Tape Girl . Our proud Canuck took this little gem to Cannes and it just so happened to have its world premier there. Not too shabby for our sharply dressed man. This is just another testament to the fact that if you are true to your art and persist on the path of great story telling you can’t go on ignored. PM Veltri has worked very hard at his craft and never lets up an inch when it comes to being true to himself. I’m really proud to have been a very small part of this project and look forward to hearing about its future success and reporting back to you guys on it!

Old School Theme Songs That Still Kick Ass!

AnnieG — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:05:57 +0000

If you have ever sat and wondered (for whatever ungodly reason) what AnnieG does when she should be sleeping but isn’t then you might want to take a gander at this list of Old School Theme Songs That Still Rock.

Sad and lonely life I lead…the proof is in the youtube embedding…I say no more. Geek me says "over and out".


The Golden Girls Theme Song	Family Ties Theme Song

Growing Pains Theme Song	Cheers Theme Song

Who’s The Boss Theme Song	Fame Theme Song

Magnum P.I. Theme Song	Three’s Company Theme Song

The Love Boat Theme Song	The Dukes Of Hazard Theme Song

21 Jump Street Theme Song	The Littlest Hobo Theme Song

All In The Family Theme Song	Miami Vice Theme Song

Knight Rider Theme Song	The Muppet Show Theme Song

And now a world from our sponsors…..Statler and Waldorf

Randy Pausch: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

AnnieG — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:53:11 +0000

Randy Pausch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Pausch

Every day of adult life takes us further and further away from our childhood and more importantly the dreams of childhood. More often than not (and more than I’m inclined to admit) I look upon the entirety of my endeavours as complete and utter failures. Perhaps, it’s regret coupled with a sense of nostalgia for a time where I think a lot more was possible even if in fact there was nothing special about back then except for grunge music. I think we all, regardless of our childhood dreams, look back and wonder if we did the best we could with what we had. This kind of thinking isn’t exclusive but rather inclusive of all people I believe and is indicative that at some point we all lack that push or inspiration to get on track to being who we are.

Randy Pausch gave a great lecture about the realization of childhood dreams. I was inspired very much by this lecture and would like to extend it to all of you. In an age where no one can look or listen to anything for more than five minutes I think you should make an exception for this lecture. There is something really beautiful about listening to someone speak in the full length version of their thoughts instead of the edited condensed versions we have so (sadly) become accustomed to. I listened to this lecture from the late Randy Pausch and was inspired–I hope your experience will be just as good if not better.

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

AnnieG — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:29:57 +0000

The Sexiest Men…According to ME!

AnnieG — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:17:28 +0000

I was driving around running some errands and at the cross walk was a man who stood out amongst the sea of confusion comprised of traffic and people. There was something about him that made my eyes stick to him like glue and I began to wonder what it was about this man that affected me so. Then after pondering the image of him in my mind’s eye I figured it out. He looked like a MAN. Not a male, not a metrosexual, not a boy, not a guy, but a MAN. And then I realized that’s what made him so sexy

As a result I put together a list of sexy men non inclusive of the ever popular metrosexual; because it’s time somebody stood up and said something about what’s going out in the world today. It’s time somebody said "I like my men with hair ON their chests and unkempt eye brows!". I’m doing this for guys who have no problems undoing a button after dinner. I created this list for guys who don’t stop and ask for directions but stick it out because that’s not how Columbus discovered America! I am putting this out there in the universe for men who get five o’clock shadow at half past eleven. This list is for guys who want to kick Brad Pitt’s ass for taking his shirt off in public. For real men who know what steak tastes like and make fart jokes with their friends. For men who still use words like baby, sweet heart, sugar, and doll when addressing the fairer sex. So for what it’s worth here’s the world of sexy men according to me! Check these folks out and more importantly have a gander at their work…especially the late Chet Baker, rest his soul.


ALEC BALDWIN	JASON SEGEL	GREGOIRE COLIN

JOHN CUSACK	RUSSELL BRAND	PIERCE BROSNAN

CHRISTOPHER WALKEN	IAN SOMERHAULDER	CHET BAKER
GABRIELGARKO Born Dario Oliviero on July 12, 1974, Torino Italy With eyes like that accompanied by a towering stature and a seductive voice how is it possible that the Italian Cinema isn’t taking the world by storm?

Measuring Tape Girl Behind The Scenes

AnnieG — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:59:32 +0000

Measuring Tape Girl is the latest cinematic endeavour by Canadian filmmaker P.M. Veltri. The film deals with a milieu of issues packed into a short format centred around what is essentially a monologue. How is that possible many of you may be asking? Well, at first glance and after trying to say that fast five times you may be at a loss, but, if you’ve ever seen a P.M. Veltri film you would know that he takes that which is seemingly impossible and transforms it into a very plausible cinematic work. But of course…it all starts with a script…and what a script it is indeed. This picture is going to be like nothing else he’s ever done as it will truly bring the audience to a place where they are watching a performance based piece. This is exceptionally challenging given that people are so used to fast cuts and lots of action these days but I am confident that folks will enjoy this as much as I did watching it live.

That’s right folks AnnieG was conducting behind the scenes interviews for this film. I got to hang out a while with the crew and watch the fine oiled machine that is a P.M. Veltri production. I have to say it’s really nice to see people who are organized, actually know what they want, and are able to execute that vision. In my experience with indie films nothing ever goes to plan but this shoot totally did and everyone was right on the money and extremely professional. The wonderful Jessica Embro plays Measuring Tape Girl (the 30 something v-logger) in this film and is just amazing. I will confess now that there’s one line I got to watch her say at the shoot that literally had me teary. She was able to take me on an emotional journey take after take which makes me anxious to see her in the film when it’s all cut together. A very talented actress that I am so glad I got a chance to spend some time with as one day in the near future it’s not going to be so easy…trust me…my inner geek can sense these things.

The behind the scenes will give you a taste of what this film will look like. I must say that getting to talk to both P.M. and Jessica I really got a new perspective on a project I had already fallen in love with. The film deals with the communication breakdown that is happening on account of there being way too many means of communication. It touches upon how the digital self is creating an increasingly alienated society that relies on screens in order to emote. It’s a very vast subject matter but it’s conveyed in such a way that it would appear to be practically seamless. It would only make sense that while talking about the digital self Veltri would incorporate themes of body image and self esteem which I believe men and women will be able to relate to on respective levels. The performance based piece enables Veltri to delve into a tangled web of subject matter while entertaining the audience in a unique and challenging way. I really look forward to the final product and will keep you all posted on when and where you will be able to see it.

To learn more about P.M. Veltri check out his website www.pmveltri.com where all your cyber stalking needs will be satisfied. FYI, that was a joke…cyber stalking is not cool and neither is real life stalking for that matter!

REX….Dirt Nasty Gets His Very Own Show!

AnnieG — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:56:51 +0000


		Simon Rex a.k.a Dirt Nasty has got a new TV pilot called REX and you should most definitely check out the tres cute and oh so funny thespian in these vids to get a dose of what might be coming in the near future. (get your dirty little minds out the gutter!)

REX is the pilot written and directed by Guy Shalem. Who is Guy Shalem you may be asking? I don’t know but I can seriously say he’s on to something with this pilot. It is everything you secretly believe to actually be happening in Hollywood but won’t say out loud because people will think you are nuts. Okay, maybe that’s just me but this show is still wicked funny and speaks to generation X’ers and Y’ers alike. Yes folks, it speaks to those you yapping away at the movie theatres while you tweet and update facebook and to those of us telling you to shut up while seriously considering middle class on middle class violence. But, on a more universal note: this show will have you laughing your asses off. Simon Rex is easy on the eyes (code for cute), very funny, and marketable to a wide demographic. The show stars the likes of the adorable and aforementioned Simon Rex along with: Victor Garber (my fellow Canadian!!!!), Paris Hilton (My New BFF), Geoffrey Arend (500 Days of Summer), Brian Huskey (Super Bad), Jill Talley (The Boondocks), Jill Bartlett (Frank TV & Punk’d), Lance Bass (NSYNC) and Jaime Pressly (I Love You Man). I like to describe this show as the antithesis of Entourage. Instead of showing an actor who gets into all the snazzy parties and always has a model strapped to his arm REX is a show about the guy getting turned away at the door for not being "famous enough". Taking a jab at young Hollywood and at our post-modern pseudo pop culture REX with have you in stitches while the lucky network that picks it up laughs all the way to the bank. I originally thought "HBO material" but on second thought perhaps SHOWTIME might pick it up as the antithesis to Entourage really can’t exist on the same network. We may be that progressive but the boys in suits are not. If you haven’t checked it out on YouTube you simply must. You can find it here REXCOMEDY’s Channel . And if you aren’t familiar with our man Simon here check out his DirtNasty MySpace …I suggest you give 1980 a listen. It will gross you out, make you laugh, and make you feel guilty. And like a good Catholic girl you’ll get over the first and the last quickly and wind up with a big smile on your face.

AnnieG’s Movie Picks for 2009

AnnieG — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:05:20 +0000

Here’s our second multi-media-thingy. So far it’s going well so I think we will be sticking to this format! Hope you all enjoy!