It's not easy reconciling the two sides of Robert Rodriguez. One likes to make pseudo-schlock flicks with machine-gun-leg chicks, and the other likes to make kids movies -- not exactly an expected transition is it? Latino Review has posted a script review for Rodriguez's latest kiddie romp, Shorts. So let's get right to the point, shall we? Review's scooper liked what he saw. Sure there were some complaints, and we'll get to those in a moment, but overall it's a solid thumbs up.

Shorts is the story of Toe Jackson, a young boy in a Texas subdivision who narrates four stories set in the heart of the suburban neighborhood. Now for the bad news. According to the review, the script is a little heavy on the "fart jokes" -- also, it may be a little too focused on the boys. This is a shame considering what a great young female character Rodriguez created in Spy Kids. Then again, he also managed to make a list of the most misogynistic flicks, but I digress. The reviewer also had some complaints about character names, because the script is loaded with cutesy ones like Loogie and Nose.

It's likely that most of Rodriguez's fans are focused squarely on the long awaited sequel to Sin City, not to mention those of you out there hankering for a full-length Machete feature, so Shorts probably won't be high on your list of priorities. If, however, you've got some rug rats at home, then you might want to get used to the idea of seeing this movie in theaters. Shorts is tentatively scheduled for release in 2009.

Courtesy of the folks over at Variety, there's news on three new flicks headed our way by the folks over at Warner Brothers. These puppies are coming our way for the company to "ensure not only that their unique visions will be fully realized, but also that the success of their work will be rewarded as stakeholders in their own films." That's a sweat deal, if these are successful, which is a decent possibility since they're all well-known. Here are the lucky films:

1. Richard Kelly's The Box -- News of the feature geared up a year ago, back when some still had hope for the mess that is Southland Tales. Since then, Cameron Diaz signed on, as did Frank Langella, and finally James Marsden. I wonder if any of them are nervous about the film now? I guess we'll all have to wait and see. The film is about "an unhappily married couple who receive a box from a stranger (Langella) who tells them that if they push a button on the box, they'll receive a hefty amount of cash -- and someone they don't know will die."

2. Ricky Gervais' This Side of Truth -- We first heard word of this sweet feature back in September, and since then, the lucky goat cast Jennifer Garner to be the object of his woo. The premise sounds pretty perfect for the Brit, who co-wrote the script with Matthew Robinson. It's about a man in a world where no one lies. Then he tells the first one and harnesses the all-mighty power of lying to nab women out of his league and find professional success -- a role obviously to be played by Ricky himself.

3. Robert Rodriguez's Shorts -- Written by the man himself, and to be directed by him as well of course, it's about... Well, you tell me. News surrounding the filmmaker has focused on him, Rose, and Barbarella. Searching for him and "shorts" doesn't get one very far, so if anyone has word on it, please comment below!

My introduction to Spike Lee came through the commercials he shot for Nike starting in the late 80s, featuring Michael Jordan and Lee himself as Mars Blackmon, his motormouth character from She's Gotta Have It. Eventually I caught up with his other work, and over the years I have always admired his ability to switch effectively from narrative features to documentaries to short filmmaking. He's made a flock of commercials for a variety of advertisers as well as numerous music videos, and short films for MTV and Saturday Night Live.

His short Jesus Children of America was one of seven that comprised All the Invisible Children, focusing on children struggling "in the face of violence, disease and poverty," according to UNICEF, which partially funded the project. The film played at Venice, Toronto and many other film festivals in the last couple of years, though it doesn't seem to have screened much, if at all, in the US. Earlier this year Lee struck a deal with online video startup Babelgum to show Jesus Children of America exclusively on the site. He will also serve as honorary judge of the new Babelgum Online Film Festival, as announced recently during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival.

The competition is open to short films screened at international festivals between January 2007 and February 2008. While there is no entrance fee to submit films, note that Babelgum will hold exclusive online rights to all accepted films from March 2008 to March 2009. The Hollywood Reporter notes that $27,500 will be awarded in each of six categories. The Babelgum site is still marked as "beta," but you can find out more information about their plans by clicking around a bit.

Delta Air Lines and Gen Art are coming together for the second year in a row to stage a short film competition, and I've got to say that I love the idea. It never occurred to me before, but screening short films on airplanes is brilliant -- what better way (aside from airing before big films) is there to get an audience for shorter fare? The people are strapped in, and they can't go anywhere! The contest, called "Delta's Fly-In Movies," will select five finalists who will get their shorts aired online as well as on the airline's domestic, transcontinental flights. Viewers will then vote on the films, and after all the finalists are flown out to Sundance, the winner will be announced. The big prize: $10,000 cash and a pair of round-trip tickets to any international destination Delta flies to. (But watch out, taxes, fees and restrictions still apply.)

Now, this is cool, but it could be so very much cooler. Five films will get screened on cross-country flights -- but man, they should look into showing the shorts on shorter flights too -- and not just their contest finalists. It would be much better than an old sitcom re-run or old news piece. And, it could extend into bigger-budget shorts as well -- a perfect opportunity to screen both great little-known films and buzzed-about celeb shorts. Hopefully that will come sooner or later, but for now, some lucky travelers will get to see the 5 finalists when they're screened in December and January.

Submission requirements are after the jump.

We're always bringing you bigger news -- big names, professional projects and the like, but sometimes its nice to hear about the unknowns and the fresh talent who might one day make it big. I thought I'd share a particularly fun and cool student film that's currently making waves. The short is called Process Enacted, and it's a sophomore final for RIT student Jordan Greenhalgh. Before I say anything more about it, go watch the clip here -- but be warned, the music can be insidiously catchy. I'll wait.

Now that you've seen it, I want to tell you how it was made -- old school, all with regular photography. The process, straight from Greenhalgh: "I used Polaroid 600 film to capture all of my imagery. During the development phase of each image, the Polaroids were manipulated to create lines and shapes as well as pulling some emulsion completely off. After shooting all of the Polaroids (987 to be exact), I re-shot them in black limbo with a Canon digital SLR. The end result is my film, Process Enacted. There is no digital compositing or computer trickery...just what was in front of the lens." Sure, it's no unheard-of amazing feat, but in a world where computers can do it all for you, and coming from a 2nd-year student, that's an extremely classy and smooth short. It's nice to see how some old or simple equipment can do just as much as a few clicks of your mouse. Good job, Jordan.

[via Cartoon Brew]

When I was a kid, I always hated camp. Part of me was against all the physical activity, and the other despised those cocky councilors who insisted you do what they say, when they say it. Well screw you Tad McMichaels -- what if I don't want to play kickball from three to five? Here's a thought --- what if I want to spend my summer vacation doing things I enjoy? Ah, childhood ... how I miss it so. Leave it up to those hippies in California to begin doing things differently; apparently, The UCLA Armand Hammer Museum has launched a free Screenwriting Camp for kids ages 10-14. Yes, that means you aspirings over the age of 14 will have to find some other way to get your pen on.

Deadline Hollywood provides the following description: "For three weeks in July, adolescent screenwriters will work with Hollywood professionals to write and produce one monster of a short film. Professional screenwriters will teach the students what makes a screenplay tick; later on, the students will cast professional actors (or act themselves), manage props and set equipment, and then shoot their short yet sweet film. Last, but certainly not least, they'll screen their film at a small gala in Venice, CA." Um, sweet! Man do I wish something like this was available back when I was a lonely boy with a vivid imagination forced to play seven hours of dodge ball under the hot, blazing sun. What do you think about this program? Are they simply prepping these kids early for a life in the entertainment industry, or is this a great idea for those youngsters who would rather spend their summer being creative rather than competitive?

To give you an idea of how good this short film is, my best friend (who practically watches shorts for a living) had no problem declaring this to be one of his favorite short films of all time. And trust me, coming from him that's huge. For those of you who aren't yet familiar with Funny Or Die, it's a website that was started with help from Will Ferrell -- and since then, we've been lucky enough to watch a number of hilarious short films featuring Ferrell, his young daughter, his creative partner Adam McKay, Judd Apatow, Michael Cera and a number of other funny folks. Well now, Jason Biggs has joined the action in a film directed by Mike Samonek called The Glitch. It's truly one of the funniest shorts I've ever watched, and it also comes with its own teaser -- hosted by Biggs (everyone's favorite pie f**ker) -- which is equally as funny.

I don't want to ruin too much for you, but I will say that the short features Biggs as a guy who's out on a second date with a pretty girl. They're sitting in the middle of a restaurant, eating their meal, when she decides to pop the big question: "So, where do you see you and us going?" From there, let's just say it heads in a Groundhog Day direction and the comedy keeps building to a pretty hilarious conclusion. Although it's a tad too long (I believe it clocks in at around 10 minutes), there's definitely enough here to keep you laughing throughout. I've included both the teaser and the short after the jump, so definitely come back here after you watch and let me know what you think. Is Jason Biggs still worthy of the big-screen treatment, or was he just another flavor of the month? You be the judge.

Welcome back to Eat My Shorts, where Cinematical regularly highlights short films that you can watch from the comfort of your nice warm computer. I'm going to try to fill Erik Davis's shoes, or rather -- well, if I said "shorts" there, I'd probably get reprimanded for harassment. At any rate, Erik's a tough act to follow. Since I'm just starting, of course I am looking for shorts to feature -- if you've made a short film yourself, or seen one online that you've enjoyed, please email shorts AT cinematical DOT com with a link. The entire short must be available for public viewing online. I love watching short films so writing this column is going to be a real treat for me.

On my first week, I thought I'd start with some shorts that I've seen at film festivals recently and have found online. The shorts all have been featured at Texas film festivals (what can I say, I rarely get to leave the Lone Star State), where most of them won awards ... or should have. Short films usually don't play many theaters, and few end up on DVD, so normally when I see something good at a film festival, it's frustrating because other people don't usually have the opportunity to see the film I'm gushing over. Fortunately, the miracles of the Internet mean that I can share some of these festival favorites with you.

When MTV stopped airing Liquid Television many years ago, I lost an outlet that let me see groundbreaking animation that I'd rarely get to see anywhere else. With the rise of the internet, and the birth of networks like The Cartoon Network, animation finally has more places to be seen, but it's tough to find quality stuff that pushes the envelope. Like the different shorts programs, this is where Sundance steps in. I've made it a point to book tickets to the animation spotlight before anything else, and I've always enjoyed the different films they choose. This year was no different, and the program was chock full of different types of animation and genres. From serious to comedic, and CGI to paintings on glass, there was a little slice of everything.

One of my favorite things about the Sundance Film Festival has always been the different shorts programs they offer. These are short films from around the world that you would probably never be able to see anywhere else. There is always a great variety of different material, styles, and performances. Sure, sometimes you'll run into something that you might not enjoy, but you know that within ten minutes or so, you'll be watching something else. Not to be cliche, but it's a bit like a box of chocolates ... some are good, some aren't.

This year's Sundance shorts are being offered up on iTunes, which is a fantastic way for these films to reach a new audience. Typically you might see these films at Sundance, and then never be able to find them again. If you were lucky, you might see them on the Sundance Channel, but even the chances of that were slim. Kudos to the festival and Apple for making these available online. As much as I'm a fan of flash fiction and short stories, short films are perfect for me, and I'm sure there are other people out there who enjoy them.

The event I'm most anticipating in 2007 is, sadly, not the opening of Spider-Man 3. No, what I'm most looking forward to is the 57th Berlin International Film Festival -- mainly, because I'll be traveling to Germany in order to cover the fest for Cinematical. Not only am I stoked to return to Berlin -- a city I absolutely adore -- but I'll also have a chance to bring a big taste of the fest back to you, the reader, while you lounge about your living room in that adorable pair of pajamas grandma bought you for Christmas.

One of the ultra cool aspects of Berlinale is its Talent Campus, a program which invites young aspiring filmmakers from all over the world to take part in a series of workshops, lectures and screenings dedicated to their particular craft, be it directing, screenwriting, composing, etc ... This year, however, the Campus is introducing a new Garage Flick project, as part of The Garage Studio, where Campus participants will get the chance to produce one digital short film per day, only to watch it be instantaneously uploaded online and available to watch via the Campus website, as well as on iTunes (Apple is an official sponsor of the project).

The Garage Flick project will take place over the course of five days, beginning February 10 and concluding on February 15, the final day of the Berlinale Talent Campus. And, on that final day, all of the Garage Flicks will be showcased on the big screen for the public. Fear not Cinematical fanatics, yours truly will try his best to get in there and attempt to cover some of the behind-the-scenes action, bringing you that much closer to this unique and spirited program.

It's not like my parents intended to screw me up religiously, that's just how it went down. Growing up, things were just confusing -- my father was Jewish and my mother converted, which meant her side of the family was Catholic. My father's previous wife was also Catholic, and so my two half-brothers and half-sister decided to live their life according to Jesus. Me? I went to my cousin's Bar Mitzvah when I was, like, six and was totally mesmerized by the fact that a kid could have this huge party dedicated only to him. Thus, I decided to be Jewish -- not knowing anything about the years of Hebrew School I'd have to take on -- strictly for the Bar Mitzvah party. Funnily enough, when I finally did have my Bar Mitzvah, I didn't even know enough people to have a party, so my parents took me on a trip to California -- a place I had always dreamed about traveling to (because, to a kid from New York City, California is on the other side of the world -- so exotic, sunny and full of big Hollywood stars).

Even while I was in training for my Bar Mitzvah, for some reason my parents still wanted me to believe in Santa and open up presents under the Christmas tree. Of course, while I was still in Hebrew School, they'd be gracious enough to hide a menorah in the corner so that I wouldn't forget what the Jews were doing in December. Following the Bar Mitzvah, the menorah was gone, we stopped going to Synagogue, the Christmas trees got bigger and my little sister -- who was three when I officially became a man in the eyes of the Jewish religion -- decided all of this was way too f**ked up for her, and so she became a Buddhist. Still with me? Though my family weren't traditional Jews (in the sense that we actually celebrated the Jewish holidays), our household was forever filled with Jewish humor. One of my earliest memories of my parents was watching them screen Annie Hall over and over again, as my father would shout at me, "Don't worry Erik, one day you'll get this movie." My father also insisted on taking me to see Jackie Mason on Broadway a few times, we traveled to the Catskills, Seinfeld was constantly quoted around the living room and, till this day, there isn't a table that exists in any restaurant where my mother won't feel a draft. (I promise, we're getting to the short films -- just keep reading ... )

I wish I had more opportunities to watch short films. Erik's Eat My Shorts column isn't enough -- I always try to see at least one shorts program at film festivals (I'm especially fond of the animated films), and I'm usually thrilled when shorts appear before feature films. It's one reason why I look forward to Pixar movies: you get not only the feature but also a cool short. So you can imagine how pleased I am today to learn that once again, Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International are teaming up to distribute the 2006 Oscar-nominated shorts. Even better, the films will be shown in theaters before the Academy Awards ceremony, so we can actually make informed choices in the Oscar pool.

The unusual thing about the distribution deal this year is that it's so early -- no one knows yet exactly what the nominated shorts lineup will be. Last year, Magnolia announced a similar deal ... but not until February, after the Oscar nominations were publicized. It's a little weird to hear about distribution for as-yet-unnamed films, but I assume none of the filmmakers will object to this chance for wider exposure of their short films. The shorts will not only see theatrical release, but will distributed through Magnolia Home Entertainment (which I assume means a DVD release), and on other platforms. You may even be able to watch the films on your cell phone if that's your idea of a fun viewing experience. I prefer the theater myself. The shorts will appear in theaters in 20 cities (please please let one of them be Austin please) on Feb. 16, 2007, a little more than a week before the Oscars.

Argh, I totally dropped the ball last week and forgot to tell you about a really cool thing TCM (Turner Classic Movies) was throwing together. Throughout the month of September, TCM is partnering with Hermès and paying tribute to short films with a festival titled Behind the Camera: The Shorts Circuit. For those interested in checking out some of these shorts, TCM will mix them into their on-air schedule, throw a few online and host various premiere events around the country.

Okay, so if there's still some time left in September, then how exactly did I drop the ball? Well, this past friday TCM aired a slew of shorts (24 hours worth to be exact) ... and I forgot to tell you about it. Kill me now! Hopefully some of you managed to catch a few, it really was a special event. If it wasn't for a friend of mine (who, at the last second decided to use my DVR to record about five hours worth), I would have missed the entire thing. Instead, we were able to catch a bunch of shorts directed by folks like Martin Scorsese, Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick.

However, TCM did throw a few shorts online and we'll check those out in a second. But first, I want to thank all of you for tipping me off on some wonderful short films. I promise to include a few of them in the next edition of Eat My Shorts. As always, if you happen upon a sweeet looking short online and think it would be perfect Eat My Shorts content, then feel free to send all tips, links and suggestions to shorts AT cinematical DOT com. With that, let's go watch some shorts ...

I was going to stick this into next week's Eat My Shorts, but after watching the following short film, I simply had to write about it immediately. A good friend of mine was telling me about this hilarious Batman-themed short last night and, after going off on how cool it was, we were lucky enough to find it online.

Starring Sam Rockwell (Batman) and Justin Long (Robin), the film was directed by James Duffy and is called Robin's Big Date. Basically, Robin invites a girl (Callie Thorne) to a bar in an attempt to ask her out. However, Batman soon shows up and ruins the entire thing. I'm not sure how Duffy (whose only credit on IMDB is this film) managed to snag the top-notch talent but, seeing as the pic was shot in 2005, this was right before Long began starring in those Mac ads which, I assume, means he was a bit more accessible. As far as Rockwell goes, everyone I've spoken to says the guy is a cool dude, down for just about anything. Regardless, if you have a few minutes, I recommend you check it out.

[Thanks Aaron]