That's So Crazy Talk

Curtis' Carnival Werewolf Birthday

2010-04-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

March is gone and so is Winter

2010-04-02T15:36:00.008-05:00

SXSW '10

2010-03-25T13:26:00.011-05:00

'Twas a great year at SXSW. The best part being fun times with friends that I hardly ever get to hang out with.

Janet Pierson and crew really outdid themselves with everything this year and the programming was particularly great. At the top of my list is Dogtooth a simple yet exploding film about three late-teens trapped away from society by a controlling patriarch. I caught it several months ago at Cucalorus Film Fest but was eager to watch again. I'm quite captivated by it; from it's extremely dry humor, to it's subtle ode to cinephilia, to it's handling of both macro and micro themes of sex, violence, family and society. Plus, I can't stop saying "Bruce!"

Here's a trailer with subtitles (NSFW):

Here's a better trailer sans subtitles (also NSFW).

Some of my other top favorites were:
Winter's Bone - There's all sorts of elements I love about a film in this Southern Gothic Noir: a regional setting, a lead character who won't take no for an answer, and a slowly unfolding mystery told with as much emphasis on the character as the narrative. It's also full of wonderful performances especially Jennifer Lawrence in the lead and John Hawkes as her uncle.

Lovers of Hate - Granted that some of my very good friends made this film I do think I can be objective enough to say that this is a great film that has an amazing script and performances lead by a very assured director in Bryan Poyser.

Enter the Void - A technical feat and mesmerizing story. One could easily argue that it's kind of boring but there is something about it that pulls you in and doesn't let go. The opening title sequence alone got an ovation at the screening I was in.

Marwencol - Outstanding documentary that combines superb filmmaking with an eminently compelling subject.

Audrey The Trainwreck - Again, lots of friends involved with this project but I can say that's it's a wonderful gem of an indie that has one of the best endings of a film and one of the greatest rants on film. Not to mention Frank Ross' almost anthropological perspective on Suburban life and love and Lowery's quietly observing camera.

The Happy Poet - One look at the tag line and you might find yourself saying "Uh oh." But this film is a real winner. I hate to use the word charming but dammit that's exactly what it is. It's also really funny. Of course on a personal level I can identify with trying to bring something tasty and healthful to the world even when everybody doesn't seem to get it.

NY Export: Opus Jazz - This film is just plain beautiful. Beautiful photography of beautiful people doing beautiful dance moves. I want to watch it again and again. Seriously, just take a look at the trailer:

And more favorites:
Saturday Night
American: The Bill Hicks Story
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child
The Red Chapel
Cold Weather

I was remiss in my short film watching this year but I did catch a few that I really loved. Delmer Builds A Machine and a selection of 5-Second Films like this one:

Or this one:

Or this one!

Ones I really wanted to see but missed:
Tiny Furniture
Brotherhood
11/04/08
Bear Nation
Mars
Red White & Blue
Citizen Architect
Skateland
Thundersoul
Reel Injun
Trash Humpers
Amer

This Cloudy Friday I Miss Being On The Beach With Amy

2010-02-26T14:46:00.001-06:00

Coffee, Cats, Fashion, Cake

2010-02-18T16:59:00.002-06:00

Offline

2010-02-04T22:58:00.003-06:00

For the next week I will be almost entirely offline. I'll be at an undisclosed island in the Caribbean that only has a population of about 400 in a house on the beach that's basically in the middle of nowhere.

The occasion is two-fold; it's Amy's birthday and our seven year anniversary next week. We've known each other the same amount of years we've been married.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I really won the lottery with that special lady. I love her.

Happy February

2010-02-01T21:28:00.004-06:00

Amer

2010-01-28T13:59:00.001-06:00

The Maid

2010-01-27T12:51:00.006-06:00

A little over a month ago I got an email from the distributor of The Maid (http://www.themaidmovie.com/) asking if I minded posting something about their upcoming screening at The Modern, Jan. 28-30th.

Not only do I not mind but I also have to commend them on the outreach effort. Enlisting the help of local filmmakers to get the word out is a pretty ingenious idea to add to the play book and just another fine example of how web networking makes us a big filmmaking community.

I'll have to remember this when St. Nick starts rolling out.

Merrily, Merrily - Full Film Now Available Online

2010-01-20T15:27:00.004-06:00

After much internal deliberation (and procrastination) about the best way to get Merrily, Merrily out into the world I've decided to release it myself through Vimeo.

I really loved making this film. I loved taking it to festivals and discussing it with audience members. At almost every festival someone stopped me on the street or at a party and wanted to dig deeper into the film. One time it happened while crossing the street. I had to suggest moving to the sidewalk.

I hope you all enjoy it. If you see fit please pass it on.

Merrily, Merrily from James M. Johnston on Vimeo.

Merrily, Merrily (2008)

HD

17 min.

Official Selection of Sidewalk Moving Pictures Festival, Austin Film Festival, Maryland Film Festival, Sarasota Film Festival, Tallahassee Film Festival, Naperville Independent Film Festival

Synopsis:

After a serious revelation from her father Merrilee's reality begins to fracture and she realizes that her family life is more unstable than she had always believed. Not your typical teen angst film, "Merrily, Merrily" explores the lines of perception, self-awareness and being a character in your own life.

(Tech: Shot on Panasonic HVX-200a. Edited with Final Cut 5 on a MacBook Pro.)

To Do

2009-12-27T23:25:00.001-06:00

Think to a time in the future. A future one hopes is far from now. Imagine yourself old and withered. Your time has come. You lie on your deathbed and inhale deeply, holding it inside. You close your eyes and see clearly the life behind you. Now embrace that moment. Imagine it. Think of all your triumphs and the ones you loved. Your body wants you to release the breath but first you must think of the things you wish you would have done. All the things you could have done more of. The people you should have spent more time with. The things that really mattered.

These are the things you should be doing now.

Exhale.

The New Year Parade

2009-12-16T14:59:00.006-06:00

After I saw The New Year Parade at SXSW I wrote this:

"If you want to see a film that truly embodies the grit and gusto of independent filmmaking then you have to watch The New Year Parade. The storyline might seem familiar but I promise you won't see a film that handles it's melancholy subject the way this one does. I love the softly turning mechanisms of The New Year Parade and how it balances it's subtle storytelling with completely engaging insights into a little known Philadelphia subculture."

Well, if you missed it out on the festival circuit nows your chance to finally see it. The wonderful DVD boutique distributor Carnivalesque Films has released the film on DVD. It's available through Amazon, Netflix, and of course the Carnivalesque website. You can also pick it up at Target, Barnes & Noble, and Best Buy.

So please, go add it to your Netflix queue or better yet buy a copy to own!

Here's the trailer.

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A FOUR COURSE MEAL Original Teaser from Clay Liford on Vimeo.

In other DVD news, the impenetrable Clay Liford's long awaited horror/comedy anthology film A Four Course Meal will be out on DVD December 22. It's also available on Amazon and other DVD retail outlets. It's turning out to be a good December for Clay. First this DVD release and then his short film My Mom Smokes Weed got into Sundance!

Greece then Paris

2009-11-30T19:37:00.006-06:00

Instead of posting a ton of pictures here I'll try it this way instead. You should be able to view these even if you aren't on Facebook.

Go here for pictures from my trip to Thessaloniki International Film Festival: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=43727&id=1367101819&l=0ca3dc4389

On my way back to Texas from Greece I spent a few days in Paris. Here's some pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=43776&id=1367101819&l=9f25ef8d9f

The trip was amazing to say the least. I sure did miss Amy though.

Holy Shnit! Day 4

2009-10-11T17:40:00.002-05:00

This is my daily bus ride to and from Zytglogge downtown.

View on Facebook

I was very surprised and happy to show up to the festival party and find a honkytonk going on. It was quite a mind fuck. I hung out with the band later. They took notes.

View on Facebook

Holy Shnit! Day 3

2009-10-09T21:53:00.007-05:00

Bahnhof.

View on Facebook

Holy Shnit! Day 2

2009-10-08T21:48:00.006-05:00

Well, I don't have as much to talk about today since I didn't wake up until about 4pm Switzerland time (which equates to about 9am Texas time.) It really is hard to readjust your body to a completely different time zone like this. I didn't even go to bed that late last night and I slept so long! I pretty much only had time to get ready and grab a quick bite to eat. I got real lucky in that respect.

At the house I had a light snack of local artisan bread and locally grown grapes (that taste completely different from any grapes I've ever had in Texas) that my wonderful host left out for me then headed into downtown. While looking for the theater I stumbled upon Tibits. I had read about it in preparation for my visit but didn't know where it was but I got of the tram and it just presented itself to me. It's sort of a cafeteria style place where you serve yourself and then they weigh your meal. It's all vegetarian with vegan stuff clearly labeled.

It was so good and I was so hungry that I ate there once before the screening and once after.

From the outside. (Awesome side note: there are

enough people on bikes that they have their own

traffic lights.)

The buffet.

I don't know what any of this is called because

everything was written in Swiss-German. I just

picked out stuff marked vegan.

The screening was awesome. It was in a beautiful old theater likely built before there were even films to be shown. Receive Bacon was the last of the block which worked out great because a lot of the films weren't comedies. I didn't have a Q&A (I was told that Swiss people are too shy so Q&A's usually don't go over well.) But I did get to introduce the film and myself. It was a fairly quiet screening compared to other festivals I've shown at but I think there is a cultural difference at play. To my relief I got lots of compliments after the screening was over.

The theater entrance

Holy Shnit! Berne, Switzerland day 1

2009-10-07T18:04:00.014-05:00

My wonderful host Sarah met me at the train station and after I settled into her lovely mid-century decorated flat she showed me around town.

Waiting on the train.

On the train: Zurich to Berne.

Some sites from the train window:

(I think I should try to make this my Swiss Nickname)

Around the corner from her apartment is the Rosengarten (not currently in full bloom) a park with an amazing view of the city.

Some sites around the city:

Berne's oldest tree, over 300 years old.

A giant cuckoo clock!

Amazing old church.

Food and beverage.

A vegetable spaetzle.

Local brew. The name translates to: "A Kiss of Berne."

Sarah couldn't tell me exactly what to call

this in English but it's like Corn Grits and a

faux-chicken in a peppery sauce (all "soya").

Then it was off to opening night festivities.

Checking in. On the wall they put the envelopes up

of all the entries they received.

The cover of the catalogue.

And when you open the first page. I can now officially

say I'm big in Switzerland, or at least Berne.

(Thanks to Nick for the awesome picture!)

The crowd waiting to cheer or boo at the

"Slam Movie Night"

I like: 45365. Woodpecker. Drag Me To Hell.

2009-10-04T00:32:00.002-05:00

My new friend Bill Ross suggested I make a sequel to Receive Bacon out of this.

45365 Teaser from FOUR FIVE THREE SIX FIVE on Vimeo.

Speaking of Bill. I got to spend some quality time with him and his brother Turner this weekend at Sidewalk Moving Pictures Festival. Their film 45365 is probably one of my favorite documentaries of all time. Seriously, just watch the trailer above for a small taste. It's out in festivals now but I hope it'll make it's way to a wider audience soon. Make note of it if you can and seek it out.

Alex Karpovsky's wonderfully funny and melancholy film Woodpecker is out on DVD now. It's really great so rent it/buy it and enjoy.

It's being released by Carnivalesque Films the boutique DVD label run by filmmakers Ashley Sabin and David Redmon. They are gallantly delivering festival films to the public that might otherwise never be seen outside of the festival circuit. You should definitely check Carnivalesque out because you can pretty much trust that any film they are distributing is worth watching.

Drag Me To Hell is awesomeness. If you missed it in theaters, well I feel sorry for you, but at least you can catch it on DVD now.

I thought this was pretty funny.

Origin of Stupidity

The Sunset Limited

2009-09-23T21:54:00.003-05:00

Tagged a "Novel in dramatic form" this stage play is a treasured work of pleasure and pain. I read it twice last week. For me, when reading it the first time, I just couldn't put it down. Not because it's a mystery, melodramatic or particularly plot driven but because each and every word is so masterful it's like eating dessert. You just have to keep stuffing your face no matter how full you are. Hence the second reading. This time to savor it. It's just too good. How does this man have such immense insight into humanity? Below is a quote that I'm just going to pick at random because honestly you can open the book at any page and find the "best" piece of dialogue.

WHITE: Now I know you're being facetious.

BLACK: This time I think you're right. I think you have finally drove me to it.

WHITE: Mm hm.

BLACK: Well, the professor's done gone to laying the mm hm's on me. I better watch my step.

WHITE: Yes you had. I might be warming up the trick bag.

BLACK: But still you think that your reasons is about the world and his is mostly just about him.

WHITE: I think that's probably true.

BLACK: I see a different truth. Settin right across the table from me.

WHITE: Which is?

BLACK: That you must love your brother or die.

I got a grant from Rooftop Films!

2009-09-21T15:45:00.004-05:00

The kind souls at Rooftop Films have seen fit to award my next short film Knife with a grant. I think it might be in bad form to mention amounts but I'll say it's very gracious and will send me well on my way to getting the film off the ground and into production. To be perfectly honest the vote of confidence, the elation of being chosen for something is as big a boost as the first money.

Here's what Knife is about:

A searing, slow-burning portrait of vengeance, Knife is a transgressive look at a Southern Gothic staple told entirely in silence. Set in rural Texas the story chronicles an unnamed man with a broken spirit. In the beginning we see him returning to his family. Where he's been is unknown. Wherever it was - prison, maybe war - the years have not been kind to him. In spite of his family's warm welcome the man can't shake an anger that builds in him so he must leave them again. This time to return to the land that was once theirs, a land that had been in the family for generations, a land that has been stolen, plundered, and sewn with seeds of greed. There's a force at work, a corruption that destroys homes, nature, families, and memories. The Man decides to lay his stakes down and pits himself against it all. He is on a ruinous mission to sate the hatred in his heart with the knife he carries in his hand.

Congratulations to Sara Zia Ebrahimi, Moon Molson, and Dustin Guy Defa who all won grants for their short films too.

Stuff I like this week - 09921

2009-09-21T14:37:00.004-05:00

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

I watched it three times last week. It's a goddamn modern masterpiece.

Hold

I saw Frank Mosley's new film recently and thought it was really great.

Animals With Lightsabers

I saw Stingray Sam out on the fest circuit. It's this really awesome space western serial. You can watch the first episode for free at their site.

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Good lord that's amazing!

(Facebookers will have to go to the original post to see all the images and videos.)

On 'Revolutionary Road'

2009-09-04T10:25:00.002-05:00

"From now on, whatever else his life might hold, there would be no more apologies."

I finished reading "Revolutionary Road" while on the plane back from NYC. What an astounding, charged piece of work it is! While I still stand by my notion that you can't judge a movie by it's book because in my opinion they are two very different beast. By the by "Revolutionary Road" the movie was fine in and of itself but when you read the novel you see how enormously wrongheaded it is to think you can even come close to capturing the breadth and scope of it. I sincerely believe that even the most masterful filmmaker could not offer on screen what an audience can get from those pages.

So in other words, I don't think we should judge the movie on not being as good as the book but instead ask "Why was this book even made into a film?" I think "Revolutionary Road" has made me realize that sometimes there has to be a line drawn between literature and film that maybe shouldn't be crossed.

Which I'm finding hard to reconcile with my own personal yearning to someday turn "Moby Dick" into an epic trilogy.

Glory at Sea

2009-08-05T15:00:00.002-05:00

I hope you'll all have time to spend 25 minutes watching this most accomplished and moving short film. It is by far one of my all time favorite short works. I first saw it at SXSW two years ago and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Rarely does a short film move me the way this one does. It's a gargantuan effort that gives us a seldom seen perspective on Hurricane Katrina and it's aftermath.

I'm embedding the film below but I highly suggest to watch the film in high quality on full screen.

Go here to watch it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2hBZToDSbM. Just click the HD button and then watch it on full screen.

You can also download a high res quicktime of the film here: http://www.court13.com/gloryatsea.mov

By the way, the soundtrack is amazing so turn it up.

Watch The First Ten Minutes of St. Nick!

2009-07-07T16:19:00.004-05:00

David put up a great post about the seeds of St. Nick, a web series that only got as far as the first episode provided the conceptual beginnings of what would become the feature film. You can read about it and watch a comparison between that episode and the opening of the actual film St. Nick here: http://www.road-dog-productions.com/weblog/2009/07/the_beginnings.html.

Embedded below for your viewing pleasure is the first ten minutes of St. Nick. (Note: You can watch it in full HD on the actual Vimeo page.)

St. Nick - Clip 1 from ST NICK on Vimeo.

A Wonderful Meal

2009-07-03T22:08:00.005-05:00

I just got back from having such a lovely meal prepared by Valerie and Curtis that I feel compelled to report it here.

Mustard Greens
Roasted Brussels Sprout
Sweet Potato Fries
Black Beans
Brown Rice
Grilled Butternut Squash
and Tahini Dressing to drizzle upon whatever you fancy.
To drink was Mint Ice Tea and Moscow Mules.

Delightful.

Some Things

2009-07-01T17:38:00.003-05:00

I'm very happy to say that a fine group of young filmmakers have stepped up to the plate to create a coalition of Fort Worth Filmmakers called: Fort Worth Filmmaker! On the front page of the site you'll find a video that includes me espousing why I love Texas and making films here.

They also have a great Vimeo site that collects videos of Fort Worth Filmmakers.

Below are a couple of small, short videos I made for their 5x5 Filmmaker Challenge which is simply a series of vignettes containing five 5-second shots.

…………………………

Here's something really awe inspiring that Poyser directed me to:

Inspiration

2009-05-27T19:23:00.003-05:00

I've been writing furiously these past two days. I draw inspiration from a song.

Knife
by The Theater Fire (lyrics by Don Feagin)

Oh, I've been carrying a knife (repeat),
Between my smiling lips (repeat).

I do not need a mighty sword (repeat),
My knife is sharp as wit (repeat).

And when I split the pearly sheath,
And release it from the gash,
A shaft that spits and swallows greed,
For a moment of relief.

A name is written on it's blade (repeat),
It has a broken tip (repeat).

So when I see that name again,
Oh when I see that name again,
Slip it between his ribs,
Twist it between his ribs.

IFC Narrative Lab - SUBMIT!

2009-04-17T18:33:00.002-05:00

One of the critical first steps we took in getting St. Nick out into the world was submitting to the IFP Narrative Lab. Getting accepted and going through the program really gave us the leg up we needed to realistically prepare for festivals and distribution and the prestige of the program placed us on the radar of many important decision makers in the indie film world. Thus I encourage all of you first time feature film directors to please submit. It's free and it could be one of the most important things you do for your film!

Word came down yesterday from Rose Vincilli the Program Manager at IFP that they are extending their deadline through next Friday, April 24 so now's your chance.

All the details can be found here: http://labs.ifp.org/.

Me As A Painting

2009-04-04T23:38:00.003-05:00

By Valerie.

St. Nick Wins Grand Jury Prize at AFI Dallas

2009-04-03T13:51:00.004-05:00

St. Nick took home the Grand Jury Prize in the Texas Competition yesterday at AFI Dallas. Not only did we get a nice award made of pure crystal, we also got this: $9,000 unrestricted cash prize and $11,000 in goods and services from MPS.

In David's acceptance speech he delivered this wonderful line: "This confirms my suspicion that this is a good movie."

If you didn't get a chance to see St. Nick at AFI don't miss your chance to see it in Fort Worth at Modern 'til Midnight.

St. Nick Comes Home

2009-03-27T01:41:00.003-05:00

Screenings at AFI Dallas and Modern 'til Midnight coming up!

This weekend AFI Dallas gives you two chances to see St. Nick on the big screen!

Friday, March 27th 4:15pm and Sunday, March 29th 12:30pm
Both screenings are at the Magnolia Theater in Dallas.

Tucker and Savanna, the two stars of the film will be in attendance along with David, Adam and I.

Go here for more info and to buy tickets.

Modern 'til Midnight is a special event held by The Modern Museum of Fort Worth. They'll be keeping their doors open late for a night of world-class art and unique performances. Experience the Modern’s collection with tours and gallery projects designed to engage and entertain. Have a bite to eat at Café Modern, listen to music in the Museum lobby, and come watch a special screening of St. Nick!

Saturday, April 18, 6 pm–midnight, St. Nick starts at 8pm
Admission is $15 (includes access to all events)
Tickets are available at the door or can be purchased in advance; call 817.738.9215 or visit the museum admission desk.

I know I'll be there to represent the film. Tucker and Savanna will probably come to.

We premiered St. Nick with great success last week at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin. All the screenings were sold out and we got lots of great feedback.

Here's what some folks are saying:

"Without a doubt, the best film at SXSW 2009 was writer-director David Lowery's lovely, lived-in, slow-burning debut feature St. Nick." --GreenCine

"St. Nick is a stunning film, all the more resonant because it clearly comes from the same movement of realist movies here at SXSW, but has a distinct care for rich visuals and thought-provoking audio, qualities that are often lacking in these other films..." --Flavorwire

Check out David Hudson's post over at IFC's The Daily for some other reactions.

Oh, and in case any of you live in Florida, we'll be playing at the Sarasota Film Festival. Here are the details. David and I will be in attendance with the film.

Watch the trailer!

ST. NICK trailer from ST NICK on Vimeo.

Thanks for reading. I hope to see you out at one of the screenings!

To the South

2009-03-13T11:58:00.005-05:00

Carried Away is wrapped.

Now I'm off to SXSW to represent my two films playing there.

St. Nick, a feature film that I produced for one of my dearest friends David Lowery. Both of us have been busy on many separate projects since we shot St. Nick a little over a year ago and I'm looking forward to hanging out with him once again.

ST. NICK trailer from ST NICK on Vimeo.

And Receive Bacon, a naughty little short film that I wrote and directed will be playing the Midnight Shorts.

If I had more time I'd list a whole slew of films I'm excited to see. Nonetheless, if you're in Austin please do come by and watch some films and be sure to say hi!

---

In other news, thanks to Gorrila vs. Bear for posting up the Bosque Brown "Phone Call" live video. Since they posted it I've been getting thousands of hits. I don't mention this to brag, I'm merely amazed and thankful that so many people are witnessing Bosque Brown's wonderful music!

BOSQUE BROWN - "Phone Call" live

2009-03-07T03:30:00.003-06:00

Back at the very beginning of February before diving headlong into full time production on Carried Away I had the honor of putting together and shooting a staged live performance of Bosque Brown. Curtis and Valerie graciously allowed their beautiful home to be the stage. Nick was there to help with the lighting, Valerie with Art Direction and Amy came along for any and all support. Curtis lent me his skills to record the live sound while also lending his cooking skills along with Valerie to cook us all breakfast. What a deal! They let us use their house and then feed us for the trouble!

It was a wonderful way to spend the day. Just getting to hang out, eat great food, and have meaningful and funny conversations and on top of that I got to listen to Mara's beautiful voice and the band's stunning accompaniment. Half the time I forgot I was supposed to be shooting them and just wanted to set the camera down and listen!

Below is the first piece from that day. There will be more to come when I can find time to steal away and edit.

Bosque Brown's new album BABY is out now. I can't recommend it enough. It's easy to get moonstruck by the sweet haunting songs.

BOSQUE BROWN - "Phone Call" live from James M. Johnston on Vimeo.

Carried Away

2009-03-06T00:32:00.005-06:00

For those of you interested in what I've been up to, it's being well documented by our wonderful still photographer George Wada.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=125957690439

UPDATE: I put a better link that goes to the film's Facebook Profile.

Receive Bacon to play Midnight Shorts at SXSW!

2009-02-16T20:21:00.003-06:00

The short film I shot back in September at the Chatroom Pub has been accepted into the SXSW film festival and to make it even sweeter it's playing in the Midnight Shorts package. I'm especially honored by that because the Midnight Shorts is always packed full of really fun and hilarious shorts making it one of my favorite collections to watch at the festival.

Check out the SXSW page on the film for all the details.

Favorite New Quote

2009-02-05T14:24:00.001-06:00

EVERY NORMAL MAN MUST BE TEMPTED AT TIMES TO SPIT ON HIS HANDS HOIST THE BLACK FLAG AND BEGIN SLITTING THROATS.

Two Important Things

2009-02-01T23:11:00.003-06:00

1) St. Nick is premiering at the SXSW Film Festival in March as part of the Emerging Visions section.

2) My next film as Producer is called Carried Away by Tom Huckabee. It's the biggest film I've ever worked on in many ways: budget, length, crew, and scope to name a few. We start production on February 9 and wrap on March 12, one day before SXSW starts.

A thrilling prospect indeed! To walk away from the harsh stresses of a month long shoot into the cozy and jovial celebrations of SXSW.

Three Things Happened Yesterday I Never Imagined

2009-01-21T10:42:00.001-06:00

1) A Black man was sworn in as President of the United States of America.

2) Watching the inauguration in Tempe, AZ on a tiny 12 inch TV in the kitchen area of a Sri Chinmoy Centre with a wonderful and kind man I'd only just met a few days before.

3) Actually feeling something contradictory to sardonic contempt at the speech of a politician.

Ciao - LA Times review

2008-12-25T23:08:00.001-06:00

"Yen Tan's "Ciao" is a revelation, a minimalist work of maximum effect. It is determinedly understated and consistently expressive, beautifully composed yet never studied."

Full article here.

Prop 8 the Musical - Ciao in Theaters - The Citizen

2008-12-03T23:25:00.006-06:00

I find this to be quite brilliant and hilarious.

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

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I'm not sure that anyone outside of DFW reads this blog but if you happen to live in or know anyone who lives in: New York, San Francisco, Berkeley, Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, Portland, Philadelphia, or Atlanta. Please go see Ciao. Check the website for screening dates as it is rolling out one city at at a time. The roll out starts this weekend in New York at the Landmark Sunshine.

I'm so proud of being involved with this film and couldn't be more proud of Yen and Jim for not just making it but actually getting it distributed and into theaters.

Here's the official trailer:

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Oh yeah:

Announcements coming soon!

Lone Star Film Festival 2 - Starts today

2008-11-12T09:58:00.014-06:00

It's back. Regardless of what went down last year, Alec and Dennis proved to me beyond any doubt that they were going to bring a great festival in year two. As you look at the schedule of films and events you can see that they delivered. I'm proud that my hometown is able to support such a culturally significant event. Film is art and deserves to be heralded the same as any painting at The Modern.

There is a great line up but I'm going to concentrate on short films because features already get plenty of attention from regular media. So here are my recommendations for short film watching. You should definitely make it a point to watch some short films. Sometimes the true artistry of filmmaking stands out more when one is limited by time. Plus, this is where you find the stalwarts of future film stardom. There are lots of great shorts playing, some I haven't seen, but these below are my favorites (follow the links for screening info).

Glory At Sea: I'm honestly not quite sure how to put into words my adoration for this film. Glory at Sea is a true epic. I literally mean that. Even though it's under 30 minutes it is a magnum opus of the likes I've rarely seen. It is hands down one of my all time favorite films. Do yourself a favor and see it now, on the big screen, no matter what.

Quick Feet, Soft Hands: Paul Harril is a prodigious talent. His last short film, the Sundance winner Gina, an Actress, Age 29 was a wonderful film and he follows it up with an even more accomplished outing this time. Quick Feet, Soft Hands is an intense relationship drama that focuses in on the rarely seen realities of not only a couple living paycheck to paycheck but also the crumbling dreams of a life-long pursuit. It propounds the question "When is it time to give up and is there ever actually a time?" It's the simplicity that counts, no overwrought triteness in the presentation here. Paul proves himself to be a maven of efficiency in his storytelling by giving us masterful set ups of lighting, composition, and action that speak when the characters don't. As you can probably guess, I loved it.

My Mom Smokes Weed: Okay, full disclosure here, Clay is one of my best friends. However, that doesn't mean I can't fully recommend this awesome and funny film. The title is quite exact. A young man, visiting his aging mother has to take her on an errand to obtain the titular substance. As you can guess, it doesn't go off without a hitch. What's so great about My Mom Smokes Weed is that it very maturely moves beyond the obvious slapstick comedy and renders a surprisingly emotional commentary about leaving a place for your mom in your life even when you've grown up into adulthood.

Woman In Burka: A hilarious look at the sometimes unglamorous life of an Indian actress being typecast as Arab in a post 9/11 entertainment industry. Even though the film is laugh out load funny at times with lots of deliciously irreverent humor it also has an emotional honesty that I love.

Spider: This is just a really amazing, humorous, action packed little film. It has an amazing twist ending that's both hilarious and horrifying. Highly enjoyable.

Scaredy Cat: A very personal, highly affecting essay documentary Scaredy Cat accomplishes an amazing feat by trying to understand both the victim and the criminal. Told in an immensely creative and engaging way this short represents truly inspired documentary making that breaks from the insipid conventions of reality TV.

Doxology: Don't let the word experimental scare you. This is a really fun film full of artistic special effects that will have you wondering "How did they do that?" The scene where he dances with a car is worth the price of admission alone.

When The Light's Red: Another great personal documentary that has the filmmaker facing those people we all see begging at intersections. What could easily be overwrought bleeding heart material is rendered with a light hand.

The Smallest River in Almirante: This is one of those films often called a gem. Indeed it is. I really loved this one a lot. It's a beautiful and lyrical film reminiscent of the the things I love about Malick films.

Stars and Suns: A supremely well crafted film. Beautifully shot with great use of special effects that instead of distracting, actually add to the emotional journey of the characters.

Small Apartment: Like the three characters - a young man, his girlfriend and his father - living in the space described by the title, this film can get a little uncomfortable. It's in the best way possible though. By being brutally honest about the lust and love left in a broken older man this film transcends it's awkward subject matter.

One Of The Last: A documentary about an old Italian farmer who still does it the old way. I loved listening to him talk about his life and philosophy and just observing his actions throughout the day. He's definitely the kind of guy you want to spend the day with just hanging out and talking. That's what this doc gives you.

I know I said I'd be talking shorts but there are two features I do want to point out. Let The Right One In doesn't need any help from me because it's been widely heralded but I'll just join the course by saying it is a mesmerizing film that takes the notion of romanticizing vampires and turns it on it's head. A definite must see.

If you want to see a film that truly embodies the grit and gusto of independent filmmaking then you have to watch The New Year Parade. The storyline might seem familiar but I promise you won't see a film that handles it's melancholy subject the way this one does. I love the softly turning mechanisms of The New Year Parade and how it balances it's subtle storytelling with completely engaging insights into a little known Philadelphia subculture.

The Time for Divisiveness is Over

2008-10-29T12:00:00.004-05:00

This is an amazing speech. It is well worth watching the entire thing. The last half transcends anything I've ever heard a mainstream politician say.

My politics are squarely rooted in the Progressive Left mixed in with a few Libertarian tendencies. Speaking strictly in ideological terms there are third party/independent candidates that are a better choice for me than Barack Obama. But this election isn't about me. It's about the entire country. As I've matured into my mid-thirties I feel like I've learned a lot about politics and society. I have a very special vantage point that a lot of Americans don't. Being raised in a red state, constantly surrounded by some of the worst representations of Republicanism, I've seen what selfish "me" thinking has to offer. Fortunately, I've been able to contrast that by living in the bubble of one of the most liberal districts in Texas and a Progressive business that's like a sanctuary of my beliefs and ideals. However, being in that bubble hasn't stopped me from having to consider the thoughts and feelings of a large percentage of people around me who don't agree with me and might even see my way of thinking as dangerous for society.

What this has taught me is: Our country, as a whole, can't just be one way. It can't just serve one ideological interest. We NEED a moderate person for president. I don't want to live in a country where half of the people are pissed off all the time. Republicans have proven that they are okay with that. But as Progressives we have to be better than that. Obama is likely to win but that still leaves almost half the country voting for McCain. All those people's opinions still mean something and still have a place in this country.

And that is why I think Obama is the best candidate. While he definitely has liberal beliefs I also see his compassion and message of hope as a way of reaching out to everybody and trying to bring America back together. To put forth the idea that it's okay to disagree on things. We can find the issues that we do agree on and work on those together.

So yes, maybe Ralph Nader or Cynthia McKinney speak directly to my ideology but honestly, I don't think either one of them would make a good President. They offer the same divisiveness that we've had the last eight years.

Right now at this point in history we need a leader that can stand above all of that. I think Barack Obama is that candidate.

Austin Film Festival

2008-10-15T12:21:00.005-05:00

This weekend (and next week) Merrily, Merrily will be playing at the Austin Film Festival. I met Kelly Williams, the head programmer, while Deadroom was out on the fest circuit back in 2005. Ever since then he's kept up with me and thankfully he's still interested in the films I'm making. So thanks Kelly!

Here's info on the screenings:
Saturday 10/13 5:30pm at The Dobie
Wednesday 10/22 3:00pm at The Hideout

It's got an amazing line-up of films including a personal favorite of mine Mike Brune's The Adventure and a special TBA screening of Rock-a fire Explosion a doc made by some fine filmmakers from Houston that I met out at the Sidewalk Moving Pictures Festival. All around they've got some amazing stuff showing.

Since the fest is all about Screenwriters I'm looking forward to meeting some writers!
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While in Austin, Mr. Bryan Poyser has been gracious enough to host Amy and I and I'm hoping he'll show me a sneak preview of his new short film called The Crane House. I watched some footage when we were in NYC and it looks amazing so far!

I'm also WAY excited to see the theatrical event (because it seems to be much more than a "play") The Casket of Passing Fancy which is co-created by and featuring my friend Rebecca Beegle. The show is doing gangbusters already from what I've read.

Merrily, Merrily - Sidewalk Moving Picture Fest Screening

2008-09-23T11:07:00.002-05:00

Merrily, Merrily will be playing in Birmingham, AL at the Sidewalk Moving Pictures Festival this weekend.

Here's the details:
Sat. September 27
2pm
Location: Harbert Center

It is playing before Medicine For Melancholy for which I'm very honored and also very nervous. Medicine is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year so it will likely be a packed screening. I'm glad there will be lots of people to see it but I hope they don't get too antsy having to sit through my 17 minute existential angst film before getting to watch the film they really came to see!

Either way, I'm excited to be there and share the film again with a new audience and take part in an amazing festival.

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Merrily, Merrily will also be playing at the Naperville Independent Film Festival this week. If I understand correctly, Naperville is just outside of Chicago. This is a first year festival and I don't know much about it but I wish them much luck on their inaugural run and I hope the film will play well there. You can find the schedule for the festival here.

Receive Bacon - the shoot, the edit

2008-09-12T00:58:00.005-05:00

The shoot: Fun and excellent. Jonny and Kelli are such great performers with wonderful attitudes to boot. The crew was tight and all the background extras were on point. I had a lot of fun.

The edit: Oy vey. Not so fun. I already knew but this project in particular has verified that I DO NOT like to edit my own films. My judgement gets way to clouded by what I meant when I wrote the script and the moments and visuals I fall in love with while shooting. This script was about two and a half pages. The cut so far is almost 7 minutes! I don't know what else to take out.

I'm kind of glad I'll be out of town all next week. It will give me a chance to quit thinking about it and come back fresh the week after. Then I have to start killing my babies.

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This is pretty comical: http://www.myspace.com/politicalsongs.

I don't understand how someone could be so excited over McCain. Maybe he used to offer something different but definitely not anymore. Then again, maybe he's just using this appalling, divisive right wing Karl Rove type stuff to get the vote out and win. Then he'll swoop in and be the centrist superman that nobody wants him to be! I don't know, I'm not a Republican, maybe that guy knows something I don't.

On the eve of Receive Bacon

2008-09-06T22:25:00.004-05:00

I'm shooting a new short film tomorrow. This time it's a really short film. Thanks to Bryan Poyser for hooking me up with two great actors from Austin, Jonny Mars and Kelli Bland. Thanks to David for convincing me to do it now instead of later. Thanks to Brad for letting me use the Chat Room Pub for the shoot. Thanks to Tim for loaning me some key equipment. And of course, thanks to Clay and the rest of the crew who will be waking up early on a Sunday to help me make the film possible.

It's gonna be a fun shoot for a fun little film. I hope to have it edited by the time I land in NYC to help rep St. Nick at IFP Independent Film Week.

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In other news:

Merrily, Merrily has been accepted to three new festivals for the fall: Sidewalk Moving Pictures Festival, Naperville Independent Film Festival, and Austin Film Festival. Amazing! I'm happy we're getting some more play this year. I'd like to get the film online at some point. Just trying to find a good online home for it.

Why can't the real media be this prescient?

2008-09-04T18:42:00.003-05:00

A sad day - RIP Orson

2008-09-01T12:25:00.002-05:00

Sleeping in my lap - Jan. 08

When Amy and I went to the Humane Society searching for a missing cat we met this little gray and white kitten for the first time. As soon as I saw him I knew we had to take him home. He had the most boisterous meow and stretched his arms through the holes of his cage as far as they would go trying to get our attention. When we asked to see him as soon as the cage opened he immediately jumped in my arms and climbed to the top of my shoulders and set there purring.

He was a few months old, found living on the streets by himself. So we adopted him. How could we not? We named him Orson, full name was Orson Welles the Adventure Cat. He truly earned his name. He played like mad, climbed to the top of tall trees, jumped off of roofs, and wrestled with cats twice his size. He had a joyous spirit and lived life for all it's worth.

At night he loved to nestle his face into my beard and go to sleep purring so loud I could hardly sleep myself. His favorite napping spot was my office chair where he'd curl up tight covering his eyes with a paw. He was enthralled by the shower - so curious about what went on in there. After every shower as soon as the water was off, he'd jump in there and look around.

Whatever he did it was always with utmost glee.

Playing on my desk after I dragged him from playing in the fireplace, Jan. 08.

Last night, just after midnight Orson passed due to complications with Kitty Leukemia. It happened very suddenly with no warning. One day he was playing and running around full of youthful exuberance and the next day his body was being ravaged by internal bleeding. He wasn't even a year old.

We laid him to rest under the rose bush in our backyard.

Before meeting Amy I never thought I'd admit out loud that I loved a cat but indeed I did love that little friend of mine. He was the best damn cat a big lug like me ever could've had.

Me and Orson, Jul. 08

Classic Film Feast, Art & Seek

2008-08-15T11:02:00.005-05:00

There is King's feast of classic films happening for this weekend and next at The Modern in Fort Worth. Give that DVD player a rest and go watch these films the way they were meant to be seen.

Here's a clip from one I'm most looking forward to, Salt of the Earth:

And here's one I wish I could see but I'll I have to do a cooking class that night, Brute Force:

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In other news:
There's an interview up I did with Alec Jhangiani for the KERA Art & Seek Blog where I muse about local filmmaking, mumblecore, my current projects, and other stuff.
Part 1 here.
Part 2 here.

To all the Real Terrorist out there: I'm sorry for getting all up in your list.

2008-08-06T15:32:00.002-05:00

Get Your War On

Join my email list please!

2008-07-30T15:50:00.003-05:00

The Dark Knight

2008-07-18T03:56:00.003-05:00

I'm not planning to write some long dissertation on how and why The Dark Knight is so amazing but I will say this - it absolutely, 110% lives up to all the hype surrounding it. It is an incredibly crafted film.

Heath Ledger really does play the hell out of that role and if they are going to give special Oscar consideration to him then I say let them. There have been far lesser talents given that honor and with this mesmerizing performance he's earned it.

Ciao: The Best Gay Movie of the Year?

2008-07-10T00:39:00.001-05:00

Damn fine article here: http://www.afterelton.com/movies/2008/7/ciao.

It's just amazing when someone totally gets it.

A visit to St. Louis and Springfield, MO. Art House Cinema is coming to FW!

2008-07-03T17:20:00.004-05:00

You never know when Tom Waits will decide to stop touring for good so Amy and I took the opportunity to see two shows of this tour. Thus after Dallas we went to Missouri to see him in St. Louis at the Fabulous Fox Theater. That show was probably one of my favorites of the four I've seen. He played an amazing set to match the breathtaking theater space he was performing in.

Before we hit St. Louis though we stopped in Springfield to visit Dan and Nicole Chilton's wonderful art house cinema called Moxie Cinema. Not only are Dan and Nicole wonderful humans and gracious hosts but they run a damn fine business there in Springfield (a town I find very similar to Denton here in our area.) We met them through David who is working on a short documentary about the theater and their drive and ambition in creating it.

The reason for the visit to Moxie was research. If you don't know Amy and I personally then you probably haven't heard that Amy is in the beginning stages of her next business venture. That venture being a real Art House Cinema in Fort Worth (of course I'll be helping her out but just like Spiral it will be her baby). We've already been perusing suitable buildings and are very dedicated to keeping the theater in the Near Southside (where Spiral FW is.) Our hopes are to have the theater up and running by 2009. As I mentioned, we're still in the very beginning stages but here are the plans thus far: It will be called "The Citizen Theater", it will be a modest sized theater in art deco style. There will be two screens with a heavy emphasis on exceptional picture and sound quality playing both first run art house films and repertory films as well as undistributed indie films (but only the best of the best.) We'll have a mini-cafe in the lobby serving organic popcorn, wine and beer, coffee and espresso, sodas, juices and smoothies as well as some of the other Spiral goodies you know and love (no full meals here, just snacks and desserts, maybe a veggie wrap or two.)

Amy's very excited about this and will be working on it full speed ahead by the end of the year.

But before we can open the theater we have to get our cookbook written!

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In other news:
While in New York, Keith Uhlich editor of the great blog The House Next Door was kind enough to invite me to be on their podcast which has been posted online today. It's a fun and rowdy listen so enjoy: http://www.thehousenextdooronline.com/2008/07/lichman-rizov-live-at-grassroots.html

NYC

2008-06-24T15:51:00.003-05:00

I had me a nice little room in Chelsea with a few channels on the TV and air conditioning (plus a fellow tenant who liked to play with knives in the hallway and told me someone hung themselves in my room). There was a subway stop on one corner and a little Health Food shop on other where I could buy some nice vegan snacks and Kombucha.

Just around the corner was SoHo House, the location of the IFP Narrative Rough Cuts Lab. This prestigious program was kind enough to accept St. Nick, one of only 11 films in the lab. The film was well received by all involved and garnered much praise. Of course all the other films were great in their own right. Go here to check out a list of all the films: http://www.ifp.org/ifpnews/newsitem.php?id=604.

The labs were transcendent from a filmmaking perspective. The amount of information doled out was massive but never overwhelming. I learned so much and watched mountains turn into hills.

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I've been reading about Rooftop Films for a few years now and it's always intrigued me. I finally got a chance to see it for myself and let me tell you: it's a sight to behold. What a gorgeous set up they have. Excellent sound and picture quality with hundreds in attendance. The best part of it all was getting to see "Glory at Sea" again.

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Anytime I travel, food is at the top of my list. I was remiss in my culinary explorations this time though. The labs were from 9am - 6pm and only allowed for an hour lunch so I didn't have much time to visit all the wonderful places I had picked out. However I did get to visit two great restaurants. While not 100% vegan I did love the food at Curly's Vegetarian Lunch a great place for American style diner food. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is Angelica Kitchen with their concentration on healthy gourmet vegan food. Sometimes these places can place a little too much concentration on health and not enough on taste but Angelica's really does both well.

Tom Waits Dallas Show

2008-06-24T14:54:00.003-05:00

That was really great.

It was like escaping the hospital in spite of my yellow fever and going to a tent revival in the middle of a hot summer day where the preacher turns water into moonshine and the sermon is something I can really believe in.

Holy Crap - TOM WAITS!

2008-06-23T16:20:00.004-05:00

In just a few hours I'll be standing in front of a stage that Tom Waits will be performing on!

This will be my third time seeing him. This one feels so much more special because it's close to home and all of my friends are going to be there.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Q10

2008-05-29T14:35:00.006-05:00

One of the more interesting developments of my year in film has been an invitation to join the board of QCinema: Fort Worth Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival. Back around the time of the Lone Star fest I started talking to Todd Camp about helping out with QCinema, this lead to The Q10 Project and joining the board. Thus far the experience has been great. Todd does most of the heavy lifting for the festival being the Artistic Director and Programmer (and lots of other things!) It's been a lot of fun and all involved are great to work with. Even though it is a fairly small festival there is still lots to learn about the inner workings of a film festival. As a filmmaker I've discovered many different ways of thinking about my own festival experiences.

Today the QCinema Fest begins in full. In it's tenth year the festival expands to 10 days! I hope some of you local folks will come out and show support. Todd has put together a great line up of really well made and engaging films. Go here to look at the full festival schedule: http://www.qcinema.org/minisite/schedules/all.html.

You'll notice on Sunday June 1 at 7:30pm Yen's film Ciao is playing. If you didn't get a chance to see it in Dallas come see what everyone's talking about. It's been getting rave reviews all over the place.

All ten episodes of The Q10 Project are finished. Please check them out and let me know what you think!

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In other news there's some amazing things happening with St. Nick but I'll let David announce those when he's ready for it.

Balls To The Wall Creativity

2008-05-21T10:42:00.002-05:00

This has got to be one of the more amazing things I've yet seen.

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Sarasota - Maryland - Tallahassee (Monster Post)

2008-05-09T12:55:00.011-05:00

Munyurangabo is wondrous! Please try to find a way to watch it.

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Almost immediately after getting back from the Sarasota Film Festival Amy and I went on a little vacation to Tulum, Mexico. What was planned to be a five day trip turned into nine due to complications with armed rebels and blocked highways. So two days after getting back from the old country I had to turn right around and go to Baltimore. I wish I had more patience and time because I'd like to say a million things about my experiences.

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Sarasota was a dream. I just can't lavish enough praise onto that festival. There are so many great people working there and Holly and Tom go way beyond the duty of just programming great films to being excellent host as well. I feel incredibly lucky to socialize and hang out with the stellar group of folks that I met there. From bloggers to filmmakers to festival staff it was just an exceptional time.

One of the great people I met in Sarasota was Keith Uhlich, editor for The House Next Door. I passed him a screener of "Merrily, Merrily" and he was kind enough to review it on the blog. Here's what he had to say:
"Johnston's Merrily, Merrily goes off in its own unexpected directions, and I'd prefer not to spoil its central conceit, which adds several provocative shadings to this seemingly familiar tale of adolescent angst. Thirteen-year-old Merrilee (Emily Burgardt) moves through her awkward existence with a dour expression and gait, her perception of the world around her entirely, though quietly, introverted. A revelation from her father (Andy Sensenig) sheds some light on her feelings, but also fractures the boundaries of her reality - fact bleeds into fiction, and the whole thing closes out in the relative (dis)comfort of irresolution. Not simply a metaphorical treatment of growing pains, Merrily, Merrily also offers a subtle, striking portrait of a media-saturated age. As is made abundantly clear, Merrilee is starring in her own movie, but who controls her narrative, and at what point does it cease to be self-contained?"

Wow! He really hit the nail on the head. Thanks for such a great write up Keith!

Here's some films I saw and loved: Momma's Man, Medicine For Melancholy (again), The Adventure (again), My Effortless Brilliance, Battle For Haditha, By Modern Measure, Still Birth Chicken, Crustvaska, The Back of Her Head.

The Adventure - Trailer

I have to take a moment here to single out Mike Brune's "The Adventure". Exhilarating and mysterious, funny and poignant, "The Adventure" is another one of those transcendent short films that you rarely get to see. I feel lucky to have seen it projected on 35mm. Even still, on DVD it still packs a punch and I encourage all to seek it out.

Another film I want to mention specifically is "Momma's Man." Very deliberately paced at first it can seem meandering but it draws you in deeper and deeper and packs an emotional wallop I was wholly unprepared for. It's definitely one of my favorites this year. Luckily it's being released so you'll have a chance to see it in theaters.

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The Maryland Film Festival was a great time as well. They have an amazing emphasis on short films, even going as far as to have the opening night film be a collection of shorts! Again, I got to hang out with some of the amazing folks I met at SXSW and Sarasota and met some cool new peeps as well.

The "Merrily, Merrily" screenings were excellent. After my first screening I set out from the theater towards the filmmaker lounge and on the way at least 5 different groups of people stopped me to say how much they enjoyed the film and to discuss the themes of the film. It was amazing! It's one thing to hear a simple "Hey great job", but to actually have people want to discuss the style and substance of the film was a joy. Unfortunately, in my second screening the moment the lights came up a fire alarm went off and there was to be no Q &A.

Films I loved: White Lies, Black Sheep, We Are Wizards, Stars and Suns, Une Affaire de Femmes, Doxology (again), Salim Baba, Chop Shop, Pop Foul (again), Quick Feet, Soft Hands, The Acquaintances of a Lonely John.

I must say that "Chop Shop" is definitely something special. It's a film that I am not nearly eloquent enough to explain but for me personally it has something so perfectly compelling. I really loved it.

Another immensely interesting and honest film is "White Lies, Black Sheep". It has a rarely seen perspective on race and is an amazing first (narrative fiction) film. I usually consider mockumentaries a cop out but this film in particular transcends the genre in a perfectly self-reflexive way. It is a stellar example of the DIY spirit of filmmaking.

Quick Feet, Soft Hands - Trailer from Paul Harrill on Vimeo.

Paul Harril is a prodigious talent. His last short film, the Sundance winner "Gina, an Actress, Age 29" was a wonderful film and he follows it up with an even more accomplished outing this time. "Quick Feet, Soft Hands" is an intense relationship drama that focuses in on the rarely seen realities of not only a couple living paycheck to paycheck but also the crumbling dreams of a life-long pursuit. It propounds the question "When is it time to give up and is there ever actually a time?" It's the simplicity that counts, no overwrought triteness in the presentation here. Paul proves himself to be a maven of efficiency in his storytelling by giving us masterful set ups of lighting, composition, and action that speak when the characters don't. As you can probably guess, I loved it.

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Next "Merrily, Merrily" is off to the Tallahassee Film Festival. Many people have brought to my attention that Tallahassee is a cool town so it's unfortunate that I won't be able to attend with the film.

Here is the info on the screening in case anyone is in that neck of the woods:
Friday 5/16, 2:30 PM at the FSU Student Life Cinema.

Sarasota 2008 - Merrily, Merrily

2008-04-04T23:32:00.004-05:00

I've been so caught up between Spiral Dallas and AFI that I completely neglected to remind all of you that Merrily, Merrily has some screenings coming up! Thankfully David's latest post reminded me.

I'm proud and honored to be premiering at the 10th Annual Sarasota Film Festival. I consider it a great honor to be included among such fine films. There is no amount of prodding needed for me to concede that "Merrily, Merrily" is easily classified as a hard sell. It is for this reason that I bestow many thanks upon Ms. Holly Herrick and Mr. Tom Hall for discerning the merit of my artistic endeavor.

There is an inexplicable feeling in the room when a film you have authored is playing before an audience. I anxiously await the energy and the chance to see how the film is received. Pessimism has little chance in my heart of hearts, even when I try to expect the worst I'm naturally an optimist and always hope the people will love it more than I could began to imagine. Even if that doesn't happen on this film I'm convinced that it will some day!

For any of you who might be basking in the coastal glories of Sarasota, please do give my film a try. Here is information for the screenings. I'm quite enthralled with the synopsis they have offered of the film. It's so simple and so true. Why didn't I think of that!

Alas! David's full triptych "A Catolog Of Anticipations" will be playing at the festival too. I'm equally excited to see how people will react to that.

Ciao on NPR

2008-04-04T10:19:00.001-05:00

On KERA today they broadcast a great story/interview for Ciao. Go here to check it out online: http://www.kera.org/blogs/culture/?p=785

Ciao at AFI

2008-03-28T16:32:00.005-05:00

Yen's newest feature "Ciao", produced by Jim McMahon, is premiering on Sunday at AFI in Dallas. Here are the times and locations: Sunday, March 30th 7:15pm at the Angelika and Saturday, April 5th 10:30pm at the Magnolia.

I had the immense pleasure of working closely on this production with Yen and Jim. They are both dear friends of mine and I wish them well as the big night approaches. I hope that you all will support the film and come to the screenings.

CIAO Trailer from Yen Tan on Vimeo.

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Another friend, Barak Epstein has a film playing as well: Blood on the Highway. DP'd by the great Clay Liford I'm expecting a veritable feast for the eyes and a fun time. Here's all the info for that screening.

SXSW '08

2008-03-18T12:15:00.004-05:00

For me the 2008 South by Southwest Film Festival was definitely the year of the short film. The program was overflowing with technically proficient short films that had richly developed characters and profoundly touching narratives. A prime example of this can be found in my absolutely favorite film of the festival "Glory at Sea". There is no synopsis or explanation I can give that will do the film justice. I will say that I haven't gotten misty eyed at a film since watching "The New World" for the first time. If you'd like to try and catch a tiny glimpse of it's greatness here is the trailer:

Here's the Quicktime version with is much higher quality and well worth the wait to load and watch: http://www.court13.com/glorytrailer.mov

"Glory at Sea" along with most of the other amazing short films that played this year were over 10 minutes long. This is a trend I hope to see continue in programming throughout the U.S.A. I've said this before but I really feel that many festivals obsession with the 10 minute cut-off is unjust and ridiculous. If we want to encourage filmmakers to make emotionally complex, well crafted films we have to allow them the proper time to do it in and not apply internet standards to the craft. Sometimes it feels as though you either have to make a feature or a short under 10 minutes if you want the chance to play a film festival and that's just stupid. There is so much amazing work being made out there in that no-man's land of 20 to 60 minutes and it deserves to be seen.

Here's my list of favorite shorts from SXSW '08:
Bachianis No. 5, Blindspot, Closing Night, Crossbow, Dynasty Handbag - The Quiet Storm, The European Kid, Frog Jesus, Glory at Sea, I hate you don't touch me or Bat and Hat, Kid, Knock Knock, Madame Tutli-Putli, MAN, Mr. P, Paradise, The Problem With Machines That Communicate, Rock in a Hard Place, The Rambler, Safari, The Second Line, Small Apartment, Spider, The Stain on the Sidewalk, Swedish Blueballs, Warlord.

Of course one section of David's triptych "A Catalog of Anticipations" screened and I loved watching it again on the big screen. It plays very well and is so amazingly done it definitely held it's own amongst the other excellent short films it was playing with.

As far as features go, well, I didn't gorge myself on them like I have in years past. Amy and I were trying to relax a little bit. As a matter of fact I missed a great deal of films I wanted to see. Nevertheless, there were some great ones. My top favorite was probably "Medicine for My Melancholy", check the trailer:

Here's a list of my favorite features:
American Teen, Goliath, Medicine For My Melancholy, The Pleasure of Being Robbed, Present Company, Nights and Weekends, Woodpecker, and Yeast.

GDMF - Watch the whole damn thing online now.

2008-03-04T15:51:00.004-06:00

A little under two years ago I shot GDMF. Now it is finally available in full for public viewing.

My friend and fellow Fort Worth filmmaker Erik Clapp's upstart film website Atombomb.tv is hosting the film. Erik saw the film when it played at Dallas Video Festival about a year and a half ago and told me way back then about his idea to start an online site for local short films. Thanks to him for taking a chance with GDMF for his site.

I would also like to thank David Lowery for consistently encouraging me to put the film online. I was always hesitant about it and worried about how it would play. His advice was to just put it out there and let it find an audience for better or worse.

I am severely proud of the film. It's definitely one of those projects that has enriched me as a filmmaker and will always mean a lot to me personally. It represents everything I needed to be doing to move forward in my creativity. I'm most proud of learning to hone in on my instincts and follow them at almost every turn. One of the prime examples of this was the casting of Abbey Collins as the lead. I literally saw a picture of her on one of my friends MySpace pages and followed the link to look at her page and knew she was it. Even though she was a completely inexperienced non-actor, somehow I knew it. I didn't even audition her. I just set down and had a conversation with her (David in tow to make sure I wasn't crazy) and we both agreed. She was it. When I watch her raw, honest, tour de force performance I know I made the right decision.

I've typed and erased many sentences where I felt the need to somehow make excuses for certain aspects of the film or the process of making it but in the end that is pointless and weak. You'll either like it or you won't.

Either way, I hope that you'll watch it and let me know what you think.

Visit the GDMF page Atombomb.tv where you can find info on the film with it streaming in standard definition along with links to audio commentary by Abbey and myself and a little behind-the-scenes video.

For best quality please watch GDMF in streaming HD here: http://www.vimeo.com/462565.

WARNING: This does contain mature content and is NOT SAFE FOR WORK. Also, it's 30 minutes long so it's a bit of a time commitment.

St. Nick is over

2008-03-03T15:46:00.003-06:00

Technically principal photography ended last week but we had some stuff to shoot this weekend. It didn't feel final until yesterday when art wrapped out the picture house. As I walked through the empty house returned to it's state of normal decay in preparation for construction to begin again I felt sad and lonely. It really is over. Even though we still have a few pick-ups the house is the big symbol of it all ending.

Below is a short film full of some behind-the-scenes clips that I shot on my Casio Exilim still camera.

St. Nick Behind-The-Scenes Short from James M. Johnston on Vimeo.

St. Nick - The Beards

2008-02-14T22:40:00.005-06:00

From the people who brought you Superbad and George Washington

2008-02-12T21:04:00.003-06:00

I've never gut laughed at a trailer this much before. David Gordon Green's Pineapple Express:

Probably won't be up for long so watch it quick.

Happy Five Years My Wife

2008-02-10T08:15:00.001-06:00

My very first tattoo, my wedding "ring".

In August of 2002 Spiral Diner opened and that is when I first met Amy. She was a USC Film School Graduate running a vegan restaurant. I was was filmmaker and foodie wannabe chef.

By December of 2002 we were for lack of a better word "dating".

On February 10 2003 we were married.

And today on our Fifth Anniversary that shared passion, film, is what is keeping us apart because I'm producing a wonderful film called St. Nick that is shooting all day today.

Not to worry though. Amy and I truly do treat everyday of our lives together as an anniversary. We are lucky in ways beyond measure. And her love is the best thing ever!

St. Nick - Prelude

2008-02-09T00:43:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow morning St. Nick begins shooting. I'm sitting up at Spiral waiting for Amy who is decorating a cake to be used in a scene tomorrow. As I wait I'm going over everything - the schedule, the cast/crew list, when we should do lunch on certain days, making sure there will be food the kids like to eat, etc. These are all logistical things that are necessary for a good shoot. While these calculations work through, in the back of my mind there is a very emotional pool of thought churning. So now I pause to commit it in full.

David and I have been making films together for eight years now. The very first film I ever worked on was David's. I think it's something we've gotten pretty good at by now. We've had great moments and had our hearts broken. Never have we been detoured. Never has there been a doubt that if I'm making something or he's making something that we wouldn't be working with each other in one form or another. There are very few people I hold close. I mean the type that I know I can call at 3am in the morning when I need help and they'll be there no doubt no question. David is one of those.

Now on the eve of what is technically David's first feature film I find my heart filled with an innocent pride. St. Nick is a beautiful work in motion. The script and story are an emotional landscape of deep resonance. Carefully selected are the elements and that which will represent them on screen. The children, the house, the props, and the visual language are all attuned. Everything feels too right to be anything but positive. I truly feel this film will find David at his finest yet.

So congrats to David for putting together a wonderful project. I'm honored to once again be a part of your growing artistic canon.

Q10 Episode 2 "Beautiful Thing"

2008-02-02T23:42:00.000-06:00

Click Here to view in streaming HD.

Check out the "Q10 Project" channel on Vimeo if you haven't seen the first one and for all the information about the project: http://www.vimeo.com/q10.

Quick Feet, Soft Hands

2008-01-30T12:59:00.000-06:00

Here's a quite amazing trailer for the short film Quick Feet, Soft Hands by Paul Harrill of Self Reliant Filmmaker fame. This is really one of the greatest trailers I've seen in a good long while. Can't wait to see the finished film.

Quick Feet, Soft Hands - Trailer from Paul Harrill on Vimeo.

How Interesting, How Bizarre

2008-01-30T12:44:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the world Sylvie Abigail!

2008-01-29T23:53:00.000-06:00

Heavy Winds in FW Today!

2008-01-29T23:49:00.001-06:00

The Q10 Project - Celebrating Gay Cinema

2008-01-26T12:11:00.000-06:00

In working with the Lone Star Film Festival I realized how much fun it is to help get other peoples work out into the world. I enjoyed balancing my own artistic endeavors – typically my relationship with fests is that of (begging) filmmaker - by introducing other works to an audience as a programmer. So, I promised myself that as long as I’m in Fort Worth I would actively work to help bring films to the eyes of an audience in need of content. Or at least try to help the people of Fort Worth realize that they do indeed NEED content.

My second chance at doing this came through Todd Camp the Director of the Qcinema International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, which takes place here in Fort Worth. I spoke with him and asked what I could do to help QCinema. I was honored when he asked me to become a board member.

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Qcinema Festival and to celebrate Todd and his partner Doug had an idea to make mini-documentaries of people talking about their personal connections to gay film. Being a filmmaker I asked if they would allow me to take over that project. Thus The Q10 Project was born.

Each episode features someone talking about a moment in cinema that exults the gay experience or has a personal connection to his or her life. The Q10 mini-docs will act as trailers before films playing at the festival and as online advertising for the fest.

The first episode is Michael McDermott speaking about the film “Sordid Lives” and is available here on the Q10 Vimeo Channel: http://www.vimeo.com/q10. Please do check it out and pass it on. Be sure to bookmark the page and check back because there will be more in the coming weeks!

While you’re there checkout some of my other work on Vimeo at http://www.vimeo.com/jmj.

NOTE: If there is anyone out there who has a passion for this subject and has skills in graphic editing and is willing to donate your time, please contact me. I would like there to be more visually pleasing graphics and titles for the episodes but alas, I have no skills in that arena myself!

Upward Spiral

2008-01-16T10:40:00.000-06:00

"After finding unlikely success as Cowtown's lone vegan eatery, Spiral Diner is basking in accolades from a national magazine - and is branching out into Dallas."

Pretty awesome article in the Star-Telegram about Spiral: http://www.star-telegram.com/408/story/412658.html

07 - 'Twas a good year for film

2008-01-16T09:30:00.000-06:00

I don't really care about list but I must say that if I had to pick one my personal favorite film of 2007 was The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

The Lone Star International Film Fest and the firing of Tom Huckabee

2008-01-13T00:49:00.000-06:00

I have to wonder by what accident and ill state of mind the Lone Star Film Society Executive Committee under the leadership of Chairman Johnny Langdon must have been when they fired Tom Huckabee as Artistic Director of the Lone Star Independent Film Festival. Especially when on their own website front-page it states in big bold letters “Inaugural Lone Star International Film Festival a great success” over a picture of smiley faced Bill Paxton and Harry Dean Stanton, two of the celebrities that Huckabee hand delivered to Fort Worth along with that success they’re speaking about.

A native of Fort Worth, Huckabee has worked as a filmmaker in Hollywood for nearly 30 years. He came back home early last year for his family and was tapped to run this fest. Needless to say he has true experience in this industry with lots of connections.

When hired on there was already too little time, not enough money and way too many egos to really pull together a festival. Huckabee commandeered the situation with a mighty heart and managed to pull off a world-class festival for three reasons: he loves Fort Worth, he loves Film and he had a great crew.

That exceptional crew included Managing Director Pete Asplund, Advisory Board Chairman Bill Paxton, Head Programmer Alec Jhangiani, and a slew of other key contributors like Julio Cedillo and Jenny Jopling. I too volunteered, acting as a member of the Programming Committee for the festival. Therefore I got to watch from the inside as this ship came into port. I tell you now that never has a captain and his crew faced such storms and choppy waters as Huckabee did on this maiden voyage.

As a filmmaker I’ve visited many film festivals in this fine country of ours. My experience has varied and I’ve learned a lot about how this system works. I promise you that this first year festival truly did hold it’s own in the world of festivals.

There was a perfect blend of celebrities and local filmmakers and big name films alongside foreign and underground films that most of the Fort Worth populace might never be exposed too. The parties were packed. Happiness and fellowship abounded. People from all over the country were here talking about how wonderful and laid back Fort Worth is. I heard the comment over and over that this is a perfect place for a festival. Never have I felt more proud to be a native son of this great city.

Of course there were some problems. No first year festival of any size happens without a few mishaps. Even still, under the leadership of Huckabee the festival was a great success. Working with his team he delivered us an institution that if nurtured can sit right alongside the Van Cliburn Competition and our wonderful museums as another reason Fort Worth is a world class city for art and one of the most livable cities in the US.

Yet, a little more than a month after the festival Huckabee was unceremoniously fired and Asplund’s contract was allowed to expire. It’s rumored that several important board members have quit in protest of the insular actions of the Executive Committee. Now several contributors like Paxton, Jopling, Cedillo and myself have vowed not to return to the festival. With board members, key supporters, and Huckabee leaving so does the hope of a viable second year festival. With so much potential for greatness and a chance to build on the success of the first festival one has to wonder what the logic is.

Maybe the subject of this article is the problem. Someone’s ego got bruised and they felt the need to horde all the glory and power for themselves. Now they’re left with one golden egg but the goose is gone and our whole city will suffer the loss. My only hope now is that cooler heads will prevail and Mr. Huckabee will be allowed back in and given the chance to deliver a bigger and better festival this year.

Creative Animation

2008-01-09T23:44:00.000-06:00

Loving this video.

Danse (dance) from Remyyy on Vimeo.

Indeed!

2008-01-07T16:33:00.001-06:00

Ouch!

2008-01-05T23:43:00.000-06:00

Rejected by SXSW. That one really hurts!

The Greatest Christmas Story Ever Told

2007-12-24T23:53:00.000-06:00

This is a short film made by my dear friends Curtis and Valerie. It's quite brilliant. Enjoy.

Xmas On The Installment Plan

2007-12-22T10:43:00.000-06:00

You probably don't have to think too hard to guess that I'm pretty curmudgeonly about Christmas. I wish it could just be about Christianity celebrating their messiah, that the holiday could have stayed non-secular. A day where true followers of Christ show respect for the Prince of Peace. Now there is no peace in this holiday. It's become an ugly beast of stress and debt. A holiday of over-consumption delivered to us not on a sleigh, but on the backs of thousands of underpaid and abused workers from around the world. Call me a Debbie Downer all you want but that's the reality. I'm not saying everyone should just give up celebrating. I just wish somehow that people could understand and acknowledge the true impact of all the bullshit they buy for Christmas.

Anyway, all this is a lead in to say congratulation to the The Theater Fire for their brilliant song "Xmas on the Installment Plan." The ode is a category winner in the Sufjan Stevens Christmas song contest. You can stream the song (along with some other winners) here: http://asthmatickitty.com/sidebar.php?sidebarID=308
or download it here:
http://asthmatickitty.com/mp3/misc/xmas/bestchristmas.mp3

Oh and MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!

Wearing fur means you're a jerk, wearing fake fur can still mean you're a jerk

2007-12-21T10:47:00.001-06:00

Holiday Shoppers Beware: Six Major Retailers Selling Real Fur as Faux

So basically fuck fur in all it's forms, faux or not. Is it really that important to LOOK like you're wearing fur.

Not that any fur wearing assholes read my blog but how ignorant do you have to be to wear your fur into Spiral? Use your fucking brain for one second and show some respect so we don't have to "respectfully" ask you to not wear it the next time you come to eat.

Impromptu Public Dancing

2007-12-19T10:18:00.001-06:00

This is great:

Davey Dance Blog -34- TIMES SQUARE - Muse - "Time Is Running Out" from Pheasant Plucker on Vimeo.

What an amazing project!

In Your Face

2007-12-10T17:15:00.000-06:00

Merrily, Merrily - First Acceptance

2007-12-03T21:43:00.000-06:00

"(We) watched it this weekend and loved it. We were both really impressed by the scope of the story and beautiful and well-achieved cinematography. We would be thrilled to show the film in Sarasota, and so we'd like to invite it to be in our shorts program for the 2008 fest."

The Uphill Search

2007-12-01T12:05:00.000-06:00

Sundance is really just a symbol. By getting in you know that someone with knowledge and insight is paying attention. It seems that things will be easier because you've joined a club and people will take you more seriously. Yet again this year, the club will not have my friends and I.
__

Lately, I've been looking for a sign. Something positive that goes beyond my own self-satisfaction. I travel infinitely uphill. Somewhere is a path to a peak that has the respite of a larger audience.

Vimeo - A great new service for Filmmakers

2007-11-21T15:55:00.000-06:00

There is an amazing video hosting site called Vimeo. One great thing is that it exist to solely promote creative self-made content, not just a dumping ground for anything like YouTube. Technically, that's nothing new though, sites like Blip.tv and Brightcove do that. But there is just something about the vibe at this site that feels good as a filmmaker. What really sets Vimeo head and shoulders above the rest is that you can upload and stream full HD clips for free. That's right, beautiful 1280x720 HD. Of course you do have to use H.264 compression. Even with that it looks phenomonal compared to what YouTube and other video content sites offer. Plus, they will host the original file (QT or otherwise) for people to download too. The site is very intuitive and easy to use and it has great options for presenting your videos. Another plus is while a video plays all branding goes away leaving just the screen with the footage playing.

The one major drawback is that you can't embed your video on other sites as HD, instead it bumps it down to normal streaming SD. So for people to see that beautiful streaming HD they have to follow a link back to your Vimeo page. Also, there are no promises that the HD settings will always be free. Right now you can upload 500 mb per week. However, they've hinted that in the future to keep it free that limit might go down to somewhere around 200 mb per week. Other than that it's a damn near perfect site and one of the best tools I've seen for indie filmmakers to get their online content to the public looking the best possible.

Here's a link to the Merrily, Merrily trailer in HD: http://www.vimeo.com/396051 if you want to check it out.

Some Call It Mumblecore: A New American Independence

2007-11-01T12:29:00.000-05:00

Some Call it Mumblecore: A New American Independence

"The true spirit of independent American film is back...If these films share only one thing, it's that they're beautifully, painfully real." --The Guardian Unlimited

The Mumblecore movement is coming to Fort Worth. Join us in supporting these defiantly un-Hollywood films.

Thursday November 8
Orphans at 3:30pm
Texas DIY Shorts at 5:30pm
Quiet City at 8pm

Sunday November 11
Quietly On By at 1:30pm
Low and Behold at 5:30pm
LOL at 7:30

All films play at The Four Day Weekend Theater 312 Houston Street Fort Worth, TX 76102.

Description:
“Mumblecore, for all its categorical faults and flash-in-the-pan publicity, is representative of a definite stirring the in the American independent film scene. What’s frustrating about the grouping, however, is that its inclusiveness is always in flux. What constitutes a Mumblecore film? The lack of regulation both defines and invalidates the category; indeed, there are films presented in this very program that haven’t previously been associated with Mumblecore, and yet some aspect of them lets them fit into the previously established body of work. We could run down the general checklist of traits - DV cinematography, relationship issues, white male twentysomethings improvising on both sides of the camera - and find exceptions to every rule. Lots of them, in fact. These films are not interchangeable.

Their solidarity, then, comes not from aesthetic but from conviction. The one trait shared by all the filmmakers in this program is a persistence of vision, and an undying will towards that vision. They finance their own work. They make their films because they want to, and perhaps because they have to. They do it over and over again.

And, slowly but surely, their work is being recognized. These filmmakers make films that mean something to them. That the term Mumblecore has caught on suggests that they might mean something to everyone else as well.”
--David Lowery, Filmmaker and Film Blogger

Films:

LOL (81 min) Directed by Joe Swanberg Written by: Kevin Bewersdorf, Joe Swanberg, C. Mason Wells
Starring: Kevin Bewersdorf, Joe Swanberg, C. Mason Wells, Tipper Newton, and Brigid Reagan
Alex, Tim, and Chris view the women in their lives through the dimensions of a computer screen or the lens of a camera-phone, as they struggle to balance their online fantasies and addictions with the demands of real life. This raw, witty and painfully intimate feature explores masculinity in the new millennium, a time when young men are trying to decipher the mixed messages of modern relationships and technology. "LOL is a somewhat stunning mirror on the ways we say things without using words. [Swanberg] reveals himself to be one of the most emotionally astute young filmmakers working today."- Cinematical.com

Low and Behold (89 min) Directed by Zack Godshall Written by Barlow Jacobs and Zack Godshall
Starring: Barlow Jacobs, Robert Longstreet, and Eddie Rouse
Low and Behold is about an uninspired young man who takes a job doing insurance claims on hurricane damaged houses in post-Katrina New Orleans- his life is dramatically altered when he's forced to deal with the mass destruction and loss that surrounds him. "...what makes Low and Behold so satisfying [is] it shows all sides of humanity. There’s not one emotion, but many... I never thought a movie about tragedy could be so funny. This film covers all aspects of humanity in a truly thoughtful way." -CinemATL

Orphans (80 min) Written and Directed by Ry Russo-Young
Starring: James Katherine Flynn and Lily Wheelwright
Orphans tells the story of two estranged sisters who come together for a birthday celebration and are unexpectedly trapped in the world of loneliness. This wonderfully evocative and mercurial film depicts a compelling relationship that exists in an unusual and visceral world. "...A strong drama of heartache with two lead performances that are honest, blemishes and all…"Orphans" is the start of a promising directing career for Russo-Young, a true discovery…”
-IndieWIRE

Quiet City (78 min) Written and Directed by Aaron Katz
Starring: Erin Fisher, Cris Lankenau, Sarah Hellman, Joe Swanberg, and Tucker Stone
Jamie's lost. She's in New York to see a friend, but the friend is nowhere to be found. Charlie just quit his job and isn’t sure what's next. Their paths cross late at night on an empty subway platform, and an unlikely connection is formed. Together they share 24 hours drifting from diners, to city parks, to a party deep in the heart of Brooklyn. “Quiet City is as close to authentic human interaction as I have ever seen on film.”- Arts Editor

Quietly On By (87 min) Written and Directed by Frank V. Ross
Starring: Anthony Baker, Denise Blank, Debi Hulka, Jennifer Knox, Danielle Ostrowsky, and Lonnie Phillips
Two months ago, his girlfriend left him. One month ago, he lost both of his jobs after a nervous breakdown. Single, lonely, and jobless, Aaron expends his time and energy nurturing a long standing crush on his best friend Sara. If he manages to get out of bed, Aaron may mow the lawn, or he may reconstruct Stonehenge with a set of encyclopedias. Aaron sees something approaching on the horizon. Whether it's his future or his doom, apparently it drives a white SUV. "Ross beautifully captures the longing and aimlessness of a certain emotional moment all of us have experienced in our lives. It's a really wonderful film." --Ray Carney author of Cassavetes on Cassavetes and other books.

Texas DIY Shorts:
Do-it-yourself filmmaking like the Mumblecore Movement relies heavily on the helping hands of friends. From acting, helping out on the crew, getting the word out on the Internet or just giving feedback, it’s the interconnectivity of fellow filmmakers that’s at the heart of DIY Film. This collection of shorts is a prime example. Hometown filmmaker James M. Johnston presents this group of defiantly un-Hollywood short films from Texas filmmaking friends (mostly from DFW) including the Fort Worth premier of his film GDMF.
Booty Recall by Yen Tan (13 min)
A last-minute cancellation prompts a desperately horny man to find a companion for the evening.
Coda by Yen Tan (7 min)
A man takes his dog out for a last stroll through the neighborhood.
GDMF by James M. Johnston (29 min)
An exotic dancer's personal and professional lives are catastrophically blurred after a dramatic coincidence at a private party.
Grammy’s by Bryan Poyser (17 min)
Two brothers have a really bad time on a fishing trip until a stranger makes them a bizarre but lucrative offer.
Lion’s Den by Frank Mosley (15 min)
A group of old friends are hanging out when one of them is accused of having masturbated in his friend's bathroom. This indictment escalates into a night of judgment that tests the truth of their words and the strength of all their friendships.
The Outlaw Son by David Lowery (11 min)
An experimental autobiography about those long moments spent sitting on the precipice of adulthood. Two old friends spend a long, cold night driving around, listening to music and remembering how things might have been.
The Stranger by Clayton Charles Liford, esq. (10 min)
Albert Camus' compelling and troubling tale of a disaffected, apparently amoral young man's murder trial, retold through a post modernistic lens of consumerism, and with a neo-fascist's eye on issues such as global warming and Myspace. (Category--Serious Drama-Allegorical Parable.)

Killer Cow Emissions

2007-10-16T21:54:00.000-05:00

"A University of Chicago study examined the average American diet and found that all the various energy inputs and livestock emissions involved in its production pump an extra 1.5 tons of CO2 into the air over the course of a year, which would be avoided by a vegetarian diet. Thus, the researchers found, cutting out meat would do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions than trading in a gas guzzler for a hybrid car."

Full article in the LA Times here: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-methane15oct15,0,1365993.story?coll=la-tot-opinion&track=ntothtml

I find it kind of interesting that an article chock full of factual information is stuck in the Opinion section. I guess technically the conclusions drawn from facts are still considered an opinion.

Update

2007-10-12T12:44:00.000-05:00

Everything's going great!

Dance, Monkeys, Dance

2007-09-24T12:14:00.001-05:00

Merrily, Merrily - Trailer

2007-09-09T02:09:00.001-05:00

Click here to download the Quicktime Version

Some Call It Mumblecore

2007-09-01T16:34:00.000-05:00

On February 16, 2005 I sent Joe Swanberg an email. That year my film "Deadroom" was to premier at SXSW. While perusing the other titles to be played I came across "Kissing On The Mouth." After looking into it further I was enthralled with the concept and emailed him to say "I think your film looks great and I'm very much looking forward to checking it out." In his reply he said "I really hope people give it a shot."

Now, two and a half years later there is Mumblecore. More aptly titled in their new screening series "The New Talkies: Generation DIY" by the IFC Center. Since I'm not in New York to watch the series on the Big Screen I've been having my own little festival on the small screen. Having already seen several of the films playing out on the fest circuit ("Hannah..." "Kissing On The Mouth," "LOL," "The Puffy Chair," "Hohokam," "Quiet City.") I wanted to catch up with those I haven't. So these past few weeks I've had a chance to watch "Mutual Appreciation," "Dance Party, USA," "Quietly On By," and "Frownland" (hopefully I'll catch "Team Picture" and "Funny Ha Ha" this next week.)

I don't really have any long critique or dissertation on this. I will say that aside from the stupid name I do think it's a good thing to be grouping these films as a movement. Although I think it's less of a "making" movement and more of a "watching" movement. Films like this have been made for quite awhile and of course there was a big resurgence when the first DV camera was released. Audiences are just finally catching up with the style and these great works have let them see that it's okay to let go of their expectations of Indiewood and enjoy something truly independent.

That's all I really have to say. I mainly just wanted to report that I'm watching these films and they are good. So when someone in 50 years is poking around the Wayback Machine over at the Internet Archives they will know that I was there when it all happened.

Merrily, Merrily - Locked

2007-08-23T12:05:00.000-05:00

I'm 99.9% sure that the cut is locked. Now we're moving on to finishing up the score, sound mix, and color correction. Right now we're clocking in at a little over 16 minutes. It's my shortest short ever! I've gotten lots of feedback from my trusted peeps and the word is "Masterpiece." Okay, I made them say that to me but everyone likes it so far and most people have said it's my best work yet. There are a few challenging parts that according to Lowery are "gonna be the contentious (and divisive) point amongst audiences and festival programmers alike.". I can't wait to see what audiences think (if anyone ever programs it.)

The trailer is coming soon. Until then please enjoy these fine stills taken by J. Britt Robisheaux.

Wrapped - Merrily, Merrily

2007-07-30T19:03:00.000-05:00

Merrily, Merrily is in the proverbial can. Actually it's more than in the can. The first cut is already almost done. After I have some voice over recorded tomorrow at Tim's ND Outpost I'll have all the components for a complete cut. God bless P2 technology.

Emily was beyond amazing. I was never more ecstatic than watching her mind interpret scenes and take them into territory I never could have. It was an amazing process from audition to rehearsal to screen. She's a complete natural. It's almost scary how good she is. I wonder where that comes from - what part of natural selection makes people so good at being in front a camera?

The same goes for Andy. He knocked it out of the ballpark. Especially the "big" scene of the film. His maturity and wisdom as an actor really brought an emotional resonance to the film that I couldn't grasp before. I never realized how incredibly sad the story was until I saw how crushed he became during "the talk." You'll know what I mean when you see it.

I think Jessica was the most method actor of the three. She stayed quiet and reserved while on set. During rehearsals I couldn't quite make out her interpretation of the character. I didn't know where she was going with it but wasn't concerned because I knew she was holding back. She totally pulled out all the stops in front of the camera. Her nuanced performance is so rich with layers I was blown away by her portrayal.

Everybody loves war stories but this wasn't a war. The most stressful part of the film happened before I even stepped on to the set. There were some equipment worries and an important part of the crew couldn't make the first night (they were there for the rest of the shoot thankfully!) All that was before the sticks ever touched the floor. We definitely had to warm up the first day but after that it was smooth sailing.

It makes for an interesting clash of cultures while working with a 13 year old girl on the set. By day three everyone was bursting at the seams with curse words and dirty jokes. We all just needed to run outside and have a tourette style barrage of verbal release. Childish I know.

While loyalty is important to me I feel no sense of duty to lie about my crew. That is to say they were amazing and I really mean it. The skill level on display felt like a birthday gift from an old friend. They were giving me something my budget didn't deserve. On top of that, this was the most fun, laid back shoot I've had. The stress level was way down. We just got in there and did it. No drama or unneeded pressure. Making a movie is just making a movie. There's no reason to freak out about anything. The crew abides.

That's all I can muster for now. I'm tired and need to rest before the wrap party.

Merrily, Merrily - Ante

2007-07-27T11:17:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day of shooting. I'm calm and ready. Many hours have been spent in pre-production for this. I'm finally gaining a comfortable work flow. Producing isn't all that bad when you have a really good A.D.

It's weird how uneventful this week has been. The majority of my time has just been waiting. No mad rush. Everything is ready. There is a difference between spontaneity and surprise. In order to achieve creative freedom you must limit your surprises. Well, at least me. I'm finally figuring out what I'm comfortable with. Having everything completely arranged and ready. I'm not fool enough to think nothing will go wrong but I've planned for things to go awry too.

So here we go.

Tim Fite

2007-07-13T12:24:00.000-05:00

“As much as I need to pay my bills, and it'd be great to sell some records, this is not a record for sale. These ideas are not for sale. These ideas should be for free."

At SXSW in 2006 there was an Anti Records Showcase at Central Presbyterian Church featuring Billy Braggs, Rambling Jack Elliott, Marty Stuart, Jolie Holland, and a few other bands I hadn’t heard of. There were some whispering rumors that Tom Waits might even show up. Needless to say Amy and I made sure we were there along with our friends. I'll save you the suspense now; Tom Waits did not show up. However, this didn't leave any feeling of disappointment because a fine show it was indeed. One of the great finds of the evening was Tim Fite. Using the setting of the church to his advantage and dressed in a full white suit, he blazed into an opening spoken word number with a great Southern Preacher impression. He was saying stuff a preacher would never say though. My interest was peaked. He continued on doing several songs blending folk and hip-hop. When Amy and I got back to Fort Worth we picked up his album Gone Ain’t Gone right away. It completely lived up to everything promised in the live show.

Earlier this year, Fite released a new album called Over The Counterculture. Equal parts indictment of consumerism and the highjacking of hip-hop by bogus hustler/gangsta posturing. Again, he blends his music into a hodge-podge of folk and hip-hop influences with a little more rhyming this time around. It’s a wonderful album full of great production and lyrics. In keeping with the theme of the album he decided to release the record entirely free online. That is an amazing and honorable action to take. Especially since Anti very much wanted to release the album as his follow up to Gone Ain’t Gone.

I encourage everyone to download the album and give it a listen. You won’t be disappointed plus it’s free!

Download all of Over The Counterculture (49 mb zip file.)