Halloween season is here, and with it comes the flood of horror films. New and old, slasher and suspense, Zombie and ghost one and all. I love it. There is not a genre out there that is pushing the limits of the imagination quite like horror.
I am not a huge fan of the gore world, films like the Saw series, basically a 120 minute gross out. No, my favorites are the ones that get you to lean forward in your seat, to look around the corner or through the back window where the hero or heroine never seems to look...in time. They run the gamut as well, from the genre defining Halloween to outer space thrillers like the amazing Alien (how movies should be made!), to some of the paradigm breakers like 28 Days Later or 30 Days of Night. No I am not a horror aficianado so I am sure true lovers of the world of slashing knives and masticated brains will be harumphing and muttering 'he doesn't know what he is talking about'.
And it's true. I don't! I only know what I like. Most of the movies I like have an intriguing story and all the trappings of classic horror- suspense, intrigue and blood! But emphasis on story. That is what draws you in, brings you to the edge of your seat and then....gotcha! A good story can take you places you never thought you would be. In just a few more days, the onslaught of scary flicks will abate and we'll be back to more standard films. But the desire for intriguing story will persist....
Check out the story in my film BlueGreen. You can order it here:
http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html
Check out the trailer here:
http://www.bluegreenconnection.com/trailer.html
And really importantly, if you haven't already, we are on a huge campaign to get netflix to carry the film, so it would be great if you could add it to your queue! Do so here:
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/BlueGreen/70125109?strackid=5f123914b6c...d0caf_0_srl&strkid=1980134918_0_0&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&trkid=222336+
And on a side note, with a week left to go before elections, I feel compelled to just write one little note. No, it's not an endorsement for any given candidate. But more a plea to get everyone to take a moment and breathe. There is a groundswell of anger out there. But in this groundswell it seems that people are having this knee-jerk reaction and backing people that are truly unfit to be the elected representatives, the leaders of our country. People who truly have no knowledge, who lie, who disrespect the very institutions we are electing them to, and will serve to only bring us all down. If elected, these people will not help us, will not help our nation, our states and cities. We will rue the day we put these morons (for lack of a better word) in power. Please. I am begging you. Take a step back. Breathe. Not matter how angry you are at the way things are now. No matter how badly you want change. Look at what these people are saying, and look at what needs to happen. I think you will find a huge disconnect. Please make this election an election for sanity. If not, we could make this horror season a truly scary one that will have repercussions long after this Halloween is gone.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Finding The Balance
A good movie to me is one that draws you into it's story, makes you think a bit about what you just saw, and how that might translate into your daily life. Not that every movie has to be a heavy, thought provoking treatise, but for me it definitely separates a 'good' movie from a 'fun' movie.
So as I sit here formulating ideas and approaches for my next major doc, I am overcome by the first and initial thought- where is the balance? I definitely want to entertain, but entertainment without message seems to me a little void. At least in the area which I choose to make my films.
How does one find an equal balance? Where is the line that keeps a film from browbeating you with a message, but also keeps it from slipping into a vapid music video type blur of imagery and music? I want to draw the viewer in, and then wrap them in the story, the message, without alienating them, yet still entertaining them.
It's a tricky balancing act for sure. I am not sure I will ever figure it out. As with all things in life, balance is key. Certainly there are excellent films that are all imagery, or all message. For me though, the balance between the two is essential. I will let you know how it comes along!
For now, check out the balance in my last film BlueGreen. You can order it here:
http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html
Check out the trailer here:
http://www.bluegreenconnection.com/trailer.html
And really importantly, if you haven't already, we are on a huge campaign to get netclix to carry the film, so it would be great if you could add it to your queue! Do so here:
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/BlueGreen/70125109?strackid=5f123914b6c...d0caf_0_srl&strkid=1980134918_0_0&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&trkid=222336+
So as I sit here formulating ideas and approaches for my next major doc, I am overcome by the first and initial thought- where is the balance? I definitely want to entertain, but entertainment without message seems to me a little void. At least in the area which I choose to make my films.
How does one find an equal balance? Where is the line that keeps a film from browbeating you with a message, but also keeps it from slipping into a vapid music video type blur of imagery and music? I want to draw the viewer in, and then wrap them in the story, the message, without alienating them, yet still entertaining them.
It's a tricky balancing act for sure. I am not sure I will ever figure it out. As with all things in life, balance is key. Certainly there are excellent films that are all imagery, or all message. For me though, the balance between the two is essential. I will let you know how it comes along!
For now, check out the balance in my last film BlueGreen. You can order it here:
http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html
Check out the trailer here:
http://www.bluegreenconnection.com/trailer.html
And really importantly, if you haven't already, we are on a huge campaign to get netclix to carry the film, so it would be great if you could add it to your queue! Do so here:
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/BlueGreen/70125109?strackid=5f123914b6c...d0caf_0_srl&strkid=1980134918_0_0&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&trkid=222336+
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Biz...help a brother out?
BlueGreen, my third serious effort as a film maker is being released world wide on September 28th, by earthNOW!, an eco-oriented label imprint from Cinema Libre. I already gave that news up a few weeks ago here, but you can now pre-order the film at http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html
It's a really, really exciting thing, and quite frankly, a little bit overwhelming. No one in this business ever wants to admit their naivete about how the biz end of it all works, but I am here to say, it can be confusing and sometimes unnerving. Even though this is my third serious effort, it is the first time that I have had to deal with hurdles I never even considered, contracts, and my reputation as a film maker. There were a few mis-steps and a crazy learning curve.
Like this little one for instance. Netflix is a huge way for a film to get seen, reviewed and brought to others attention. But! They won't pick up a film it seems, unless there is interest from the Netflix community. What this means is, that to get Netflix to pick up BlueGreen, I need a little help from you all. Put BlueGreen in your Netflix queue. The more folks who want to see the film, the more chance there is that they will pick it up. You can do it here:
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/BlueGreen/70125109?strackid=5f123914b6c...d0caf_0_srl&strkid=1980134918_0_0&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&trkid=222336+
You may ask yourself... do I even want to see this film? Well check it out here:
http://www.bluegreenconnection.com
Amazing surf, beautiful locations and an illustration of how we are all connected to the big BlueGreen? Well, of course you want to see it.
So thanks in advance for putting BlueGreen in your Netflix queue, and helping me out while I am navigating some of these business hurdles.
It's a really, really exciting thing, and quite frankly, a little bit overwhelming. No one in this business ever wants to admit their naivete about how the biz end of it all works, but I am here to say, it can be confusing and sometimes unnerving. Even though this is my third serious effort, it is the first time that I have had to deal with hurdles I never even considered, contracts, and my reputation as a film maker. There were a few mis-steps and a crazy learning curve.
Like this little one for instance. Netflix is a huge way for a film to get seen, reviewed and brought to others attention. But! They won't pick up a film it seems, unless there is interest from the Netflix community. What this means is, that to get Netflix to pick up BlueGreen, I need a little help from you all. Put BlueGreen in your Netflix queue. The more folks who want to see the film, the more chance there is that they will pick it up. You can do it here:
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/BlueGreen/70125109?strackid=5f123914b6c...d0caf_0_srl&strkid=1980134918_0_0&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&trkid=222336+
You may ask yourself... do I even want to see this film? Well check it out here:
http://www.bluegreenconnection.com
Amazing surf, beautiful locations and an illustration of how we are all connected to the big BlueGreen? Well, of course you want to see it.
So thanks in advance for putting BlueGreen in your Netflix queue, and helping me out while I am navigating some of these business hurdles.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Trying, without trying...
I am probably the worlds lamest self professed environmental activist.
Sure I give a lot of lip service, belong to the organizations that fit my lifestyle, attend the odd beach cleanup, pick up the occasional piece of trash off the beach- maybe. But I haven't been able to truly dig my heels in (unless there is an issue that directly effects me and my stretch of water). Oh I have lots of excuses, too many to bore you with here, but excuses are just that.
This came to my attention when I did a few shows with BlueGreen in Washington State. The excellent folks from the Surfrider chapters that helped out with the organizations of the shows out there teamed the screenings up with a couple of anti-plastics activists (Anna Cummins and Marcus Eriksen) who work for the 5 Gyres group. If you don't know about these folks they are doing some amazing and hugely important research.
They had just returned from a trip aboard the Algalita (another group doing incredibly important ocean research) and started the evening off with a presentation about how plastics are choking the life out of our oceans. The presentation was so powerful and disturbing I could not sit through the whole thing, and watched one half one night and the other half the next.
What was truly impressive to me, and perhaps even made me a bit envious, was that here were two folks that had chosen to pursue this life, a life of ocean activism, of anti-plastics campaigning, because it was the right thing to do. These two people (yes they are part of a larger team as well) have added their voices to the cry of outrage, and the effort to stem the tide. It is an hugely amazing and admirable thing. Why can't I?
Oh, I have work. School. The kids. I am tired. I went to the Surfrider meeting last month. The list goes on. I know I am not the only one either. But there are things, small things, things that help, without hardly any effort at all. They are everywhere. For instance, stop buying Happy Meals for your kids with the stupid little plastic toys that can't be recycled and end up in the trash hours later. Don't use a straw when you order a drink. Bring a bag to the grocery store. Yes! Pick up that bottle on the beach!
But for me, one of the hugest, easiest things I could do was saving up all the money from the hundreds of plastic bottles my family returned on a monthly basis- soda, bubbly water, bottled water- and bought one of these babies. Sure it's a little more work, but the carbonation is fantastic (it carbonates exactly like they do at the factory) and plastic bottle consumption has nearly disappeared in our house. Have you read the statistics on America's plastic bottle usage? (Americans buy an estimated 29.8 billion plastic water bottles every year, Nearly eight out of every 10 bottles will end up in a landfill or the ocean, Less than 1 percent of all plastics are recycled. Therefore, almost all plastics are incinerated or end up in a landfill or the ocean) Terrifying. I am glad that with very little effort here I am no longer part of the problem. That was pretty easy. It seems I have made a tiny difference without even really trying. Why can't you?
As a side/related note, Cinema Libre has announced that pre-orders for BlueGreen are now active! You can grab them here: http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html. Ocean pollution by plastics and other non organic materials is a big part of the message of the film. Help spread the word about the release and grab a copy for yourself....
Sure I give a lot of lip service, belong to the organizations that fit my lifestyle, attend the odd beach cleanup, pick up the occasional piece of trash off the beach- maybe. But I haven't been able to truly dig my heels in (unless there is an issue that directly effects me and my stretch of water). Oh I have lots of excuses, too many to bore you with here, but excuses are just that.
This came to my attention when I did a few shows with BlueGreen in Washington State. The excellent folks from the Surfrider chapters that helped out with the organizations of the shows out there teamed the screenings up with a couple of anti-plastics activists (Anna Cummins and Marcus Eriksen) who work for the 5 Gyres group. If you don't know about these folks they are doing some amazing and hugely important research.
They had just returned from a trip aboard the Algalita (another group doing incredibly important ocean research) and started the evening off with a presentation about how plastics are choking the life out of our oceans. The presentation was so powerful and disturbing I could not sit through the whole thing, and watched one half one night and the other half the next.
What was truly impressive to me, and perhaps even made me a bit envious, was that here were two folks that had chosen to pursue this life, a life of ocean activism, of anti-plastics campaigning, because it was the right thing to do. These two people (yes they are part of a larger team as well) have added their voices to the cry of outrage, and the effort to stem the tide. It is an hugely amazing and admirable thing. Why can't I?
Oh, I have work. School. The kids. I am tired. I went to the Surfrider meeting last month. The list goes on. I know I am not the only one either. But there are things, small things, things that help, without hardly any effort at all. They are everywhere. For instance, stop buying Happy Meals for your kids with the stupid little plastic toys that can't be recycled and end up in the trash hours later. Don't use a straw when you order a drink. Bring a bag to the grocery store. Yes! Pick up that bottle on the beach!
But for me, one of the hugest, easiest things I could do was saving up all the money from the hundreds of plastic bottles my family returned on a monthly basis- soda, bubbly water, bottled water- and bought one of these babies. Sure it's a little more work, but the carbonation is fantastic (it carbonates exactly like they do at the factory) and plastic bottle consumption has nearly disappeared in our house. Have you read the statistics on America's plastic bottle usage? (Americans buy an estimated 29.8 billion plastic water bottles every year, Nearly eight out of every 10 bottles will end up in a landfill or the ocean, Less than 1 percent of all plastics are recycled. Therefore, almost all plastics are incinerated or end up in a landfill or the ocean) Terrifying. I am glad that with very little effort here I am no longer part of the problem. That was pretty easy. It seems I have made a tiny difference without even really trying. Why can't you?
As a side/related note, Cinema Libre has announced that pre-orders for BlueGreen are now active! You can grab them here: http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html. Ocean pollution by plastics and other non organic materials is a big part of the message of the film. Help spread the word about the release and grab a copy for yourself....
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Huge News!
It's been a long road, but I am pleased, no- totally psyched! To announce that BlueGreen, my latest documentary about the human connection to the ocean (through a surf-centric lens) has been picked up for world-wide distribution! The release is September 28.
That's right! Cinema Libre Studios', earthNow! imprint has picked up BlueGreen for DVD, VOD, broadcast and select screenings world-wide! I can not even express how exciting this is for me and the film. (check out the cover to the right, and the trailer at http://www.bluegreenconnection.com)
As far as extras go, (every DVD needs 'em!) this DVD has extended interviews with Keith Malloy, Jim Moriarty of the Surfrider Foundation, and of course the eloquent Rabbi Nachum Shifren- the surfing Rabbi. It will also feature a 6 minute mini feature of surfing in a little trafficked corner of the US- The Northeast. Additionally it will have the soundtrack as DVD-ROM content, and features French and Spanish subtitles! It's loaded!
AND! The excellent folks at Cinemal Libre Studios have teamed up with the group that helped promote the documentary 'The Cove' to help promote BlueGreen. Which is pretty much unbelievably huge in itself.
I am incredibly excited on so many different levels. It's a huge deal for me as a film maker, and I think it's a huge deal for the message of the film. Which (very broadly) is that we are all connected, whether we acknowledge it or not, to the ocean. And if we continue to abuse it, we are done for. There is more to the film but that is part of the core.
I know I leaked this news to some folks, but generally I tried to keep this under my hat until the release date was set. Not that it's ready to roll on September 28, I hope you will look for it. It's a great film that I am very proud of. Whether you like surf, you love the ocean, or just colorful personalities, it connects on a lot of different levels.
I will have more news in the coming months about what is happening with the film, in terms of screenings, festivals, where you can find it and more. The website and the Facebook page (and even twitter!) will be carrying more as well. Stay tuned, and thanks so much to all of you who have supported me through this process. You know who you are!
That's right! Cinema Libre Studios', earthNow! imprint has picked up BlueGreen for DVD, VOD, broadcast and select screenings world-wide! I can not even express how exciting this is for me and the film. (check out the cover to the right, and the trailer at http://www.bluegreenconnection.com)
As far as extras go, (every DVD needs 'em!) this DVD has extended interviews with Keith Malloy, Jim Moriarty of the Surfrider Foundation, and of course the eloquent Rabbi Nachum Shifren- the surfing Rabbi. It will also feature a 6 minute mini feature of surfing in a little trafficked corner of the US- The Northeast. Additionally it will have the soundtrack as DVD-ROM content, and features French and Spanish subtitles! It's loaded!
AND! The excellent folks at Cinemal Libre Studios have teamed up with the group that helped promote the documentary 'The Cove' to help promote BlueGreen. Which is pretty much unbelievably huge in itself.
I am incredibly excited on so many different levels. It's a huge deal for me as a film maker, and I think it's a huge deal for the message of the film. Which (very broadly) is that we are all connected, whether we acknowledge it or not, to the ocean. And if we continue to abuse it, we are done for. There is more to the film but that is part of the core.
I know I leaked this news to some folks, but generally I tried to keep this under my hat until the release date was set. Not that it's ready to roll on September 28, I hope you will look for it. It's a great film that I am very proud of. Whether you like surf, you love the ocean, or just colorful personalities, it connects on a lot of different levels.
I will have more news in the coming months about what is happening with the film, in terms of screenings, festivals, where you can find it and more. The website and the Facebook page (and even twitter!) will be carrying more as well. Stay tuned, and thanks so much to all of you who have supported me through this process. You know who you are!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Environmentalism In The Oddest Places
I like watching movies. I don't mind watching some movies over and over again. Good ones, bad ones, it takes a truly horrific movie for me to walk away. Sometimes I will leave the tv on in the background while I do particularly rote work where I don't have to think too much. The channel of choice, of course, is AMC. Why? Because they show old, tired movies all day long, interrupted only by the obnoxious ads for whatever scooter device, or free diabetes testing kits the majority of their daytime demo needs (read: way over 65). It's where, as my Dad says, old movies go to die.
It takes a very bad film for me to change it off of AMC during the day. For a multitude of reasons, when a Steven Seagal movie comes on, I won't change it. There is a perfect mix of bad dialog, ridiculous action, b-list stars, and of course Steven's ugly mug playing the romantic action lead. Normally it's easy to tune out, with the occasional explosion or burst of gunfire causing me to glance over from my work.
But the other day, 'On Deadly Ground' was on. Typical Seagal fare for sure, he plays the good guy, working for the bad guys, then goes over to the good guys side, with lots of martial arts in between, and of course, somehow, inexplicably, he gets the girl. But while I was watching it, or basically ignoring it actually, something caught my attention- it was well written dialog! I turned my full attention to the tv.
At the end of 'On Deadly Ground' Seagal delivers a scathing report on Big Oil, and corporate greed fueled environmental destruction. To hear a well written, researched, and delivered condemnation of those who seek to destroy our world for their own personal gain at the end of one of his movies was shocking to say the least, and really out of character I think.
And in 1994? Almost unheard of except in Environmental circles. I am not really sure if anyone actually ever saw this film, beyond AMC, but this message rings true, ever so much more today. With the BP spill still wreaking havoc in the gulf, and the Michigan and China spills on it's heels, this message has more power now I think, than it did tagged onto Seagals 1994 effort.
If you have 4 minutes, I think you should take a look. It's worth it. Take what he is saying and multiply it by 10 for today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfNEKKva7HY
It takes a very bad film for me to change it off of AMC during the day. For a multitude of reasons, when a Steven Seagal movie comes on, I won't change it. There is a perfect mix of bad dialog, ridiculous action, b-list stars, and of course Steven's ugly mug playing the romantic action lead. Normally it's easy to tune out, with the occasional explosion or burst of gunfire causing me to glance over from my work.
But the other day, 'On Deadly Ground' was on. Typical Seagal fare for sure, he plays the good guy, working for the bad guys, then goes over to the good guys side, with lots of martial arts in between, and of course, somehow, inexplicably, he gets the girl. But while I was watching it, or basically ignoring it actually, something caught my attention- it was well written dialog! I turned my full attention to the tv.
At the end of 'On Deadly Ground' Seagal delivers a scathing report on Big Oil, and corporate greed fueled environmental destruction. To hear a well written, researched, and delivered condemnation of those who seek to destroy our world for their own personal gain at the end of one of his movies was shocking to say the least, and really out of character I think.
And in 1994? Almost unheard of except in Environmental circles. I am not really sure if anyone actually ever saw this film, beyond AMC, but this message rings true, ever so much more today. With the BP spill still wreaking havoc in the gulf, and the Michigan and China spills on it's heels, this message has more power now I think, than it did tagged onto Seagals 1994 effort.
If you have 4 minutes, I think you should take a look. It's worth it. Take what he is saying and multiply it by 10 for today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfNEKKva7HY
Friday, August 20, 2010
BlueGreen Screenings!
Slackery! Slackery I say! I neglected to mention that BlueGreen was going to screen at the Outer Banks Surf Film Festival this weekend! Well you should get there if you can! It's going to be a great weekend of films, fun and sun! If you miss it, check out the Outer Banks Blues Festival the following day- BlueGreen will be showing there as well!
Not enough lead time to get there? Well check out the East Coast Surfing Championships www.surfecsc.com on August 28th, where BlueGreen will be screening at the Upper Deck in celebration of all the festivities! It's going to be a great party so if you are there, make sure to check it out!
In addition we have some terrific big news coming soon, oh so soon. I can barely contain myself, but it will have to wait for now... soon!
Not enough lead time to get there? Well check out the East Coast Surfing Championships www.surfecsc.com on August 28th, where BlueGreen will be screening at the Upper Deck in celebration of all the festivities! It's going to be a great party so if you are there, make sure to check it out!
In addition we have some terrific big news coming soon, oh so soon. I can barely contain myself, but it will have to wait for now... soon!
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