seattle Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Promotional Display Doesn't Stay 'Up' for Very Long
Filed under: Animation », Comedy », Disney », Family Films », Movie Marketing », Images », Summer Movies »
I can totally see why the company handling regional promotions for Disney/Pixar's Up thought that tying numerous balloons to this quaint-as-all-get-out Seattle landmark would serve as a fitting display with which to promote the film. Alas, the fates had other plans, as strong winds whittled down the number of balloons afloat from somewhere near 200 to maybe half that, at which point the whole thing was simply taken down.The home of the late Edith Macefield is best known for withstanding the encroaching development of the area, especially when Macefield refused an offer of a million dollars from those developing around her. Even without the balloons, that seems like an ideal complement to the stance the film's protagonist takes before taking off.
I can't help but wonder, though, if the winds weren't perhaps strengthened by the narrow space now surrounding the home... the winds of change, that is! Oh, never mind all that. That's one perfectly adorable house, and Up's one perfectly adorable movie.
(Thanks to Sarah for passing this on.)
The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar: Film Fests Galore, 'No End in Sight,' and a 'Taxi to the Dark Side'
Filed under: Animation », Classics », Comedy », Documentary », Drama », Foreign Language », Independent », Noir », Family Films », Other Festivals », Cinematical Indie », The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar »
Welcome to The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar. Each week, we'll give you a round-up of what's going on in indie film (and sometimes just cool film news and screenings) in cities near you. If you know of cool stuff happening that's related to film -- a local fest, a series of classic restored films, lectures, workshops, open calls for casting of an indie film -- send your tips to me at kim(at)cinematical(dot)com and we'll add them to the calendar. Here are this week's happenings in film from New York to LA and points in between ...
New York City: This weekend brings New Yorks the Independent Features Film Festival at Tribeca Cinemas. The fest, whose 21 selections were chosen by viewers who watched the films over the internet, runs July 27-29, starting with tonight's red carpet premiere of audience pick alleyball.
At Film Forum, you can still check out Live-In Maid (showing through July 31). Starting today, there's also a fest going on at Film Forum: the NYC Noir Fest, a spectacular five week, 46-film exploration of the dark side. You can check out the full schedule right here -- I have to note that it includes one of my fave bad movies ever, Cat People, which I used to revel in watching every time it showed on the late-night movies on the local UHF channel when I was a kid (UHF? Yeah, that was pre-cable, thanks for noticing and making me feel old). You can also catch films like Midnight Cowboy, Taxi Driver, Panic in Needle Park, Rope, and Rear Window, if Cat People isn't your thing. As a part of the fest, Film Forum also has a series called "The Silent City: New York in the Movies, 1898-1928."
As if a fest full of noir wasn't enough to make your cinepheliac heart go all a-flutter, Film Forum also has screenings of the very excellent No End in Sight this weekend, with director Charles Ferguson on hand for Q&As following the 8PM screenings. I saw No End in Sight at Sundance, and attended a pretty impressive panel discussion of the film as well. The film rocks -- don't miss it. You can get more insight into the film as well with James Rocchi's interview with Ferguson, which we just posted today.
Over at the Walter Reade Theater, we have yet another film fest: Scanners: The New York Video Festival. You can see the full fest program right here.
Los Angeles: If you didn't make the trip down south to San Diego to hang out with all things geekerific at Comic-Con, never fear, there are plenty of things to do in that other southern Cal city. As usual, American Cinematheque's got you indie film fans covered. Mods and Rockers is still going on there, and on Sunday you can get all classic with a screening of For Whom the Bell Tolls. Coming up August 2 (and running through August 27), it's the Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror Fest, just in time to get you past those post-Comic Con blues.
Seattle: Seattleites can get their film fest jones satisfied at NW Film Forum: starting this weekend, NWFF brings you "From the Tsars to the Stars: A Journey Through Russian Fantastik Cinema." Tonight through August 2, you can catch a screening of fest fave The Trials of Darryl Hunt, which won best doc at the 2006 Seattle International Film Festival.
The Seattle International Film Festival may be long over, but the SIFF group is still bringing Seattleites great films all summer long with their SIFF Cinema Summer Series. Through August 2, they're showing Apachatpong Weerasethakul's Syndromes and a Century, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's Daratt, Bahman Ghobadi's Half Moon, and Tsai Ming-Liang's I Don't Want to Sleep Alone.
Also this weekend in Seattle: On July 28, The Film School brings Oscar-nommed director Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) into town to sneak-preview his latest doc, Taxi to the Dark Side, which played at the Tribeca Film Festival. Taxi is about torture practices used by the United States in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, told through the story of an innocent taxi driver who was tortured and killed in 2002. Gibney's a sharp guy and a solid filmmaker -- that one's a must-see for you Seattle film buffs. Tix available at Warren Etheredge's website, The Warren Report.
Toronto: Heading north of the border, Toronto film fans can head over to Yonge-Dundas Square on Tuesday, July 31 to catch Terry Gilliam's Brazil.
Austin: This weekend at The Alamo Drafthouse at Lake Creek brings you a screening for the kids (or those of us who haven't quite grown up yet, Dark Crystal. Coming up August 3 and 4 -- midnight screenings of Jackie Chan's Drunken Master! At the South Lamar location, bring the kids to free screenings through August at Kids Summer Movie Camp. Films will include Nanny McPhee, Holes, and one of my own faves, Howl's Moving Castle. Plus: The Village location has Rocky Horror Saturday night at 11:55 PM, so break out your corsets and fishnet stockings!
Dallas: Coming up in Dallas, the Dallas Video Fest runs July 31- August 5. The fest is surprisingly affordable -- all-day passes range from $10 weeknights to $25 weekends. Check out the full schedule and start making your plans now.
Oklahoma City: This weekend at the Oklahoma CIty Museum of Art: Ten Canoes and Susan Hayward in Tulsa (one screening only on Sunday). Upcoming in August: Summercamp!, Bound for Glory, La Vie en Rose, and The Outsiders. And mark your calendars NOW for Sarah Polley's remarkable Away From Her, screening starting August 16.
Want your city covered? Send your film news and links to me at kim(at)cinematical(dot)com ...
Police Beat Finally Gets a DVD Release
Filed under: Drama », Foreign Language », Independent », Seattle », Distribution », Home Entertainment »
It often feels like forever-and-a-day between the time I see a film at a fest, and when it finally sees light of day in a theatrical or DVD release. Such is the case with Police Beat, directed by Robinson Devor and written by Charles Mudede (the same team who just this year brought us an eye-opening look at the sub-culture of people who have sexual relations with animals in the documentary Zoo).Police Beat was released yesterday on DVD, with Home Vision/ Image Entertainment handling distrib, and can be purchased through the Image Entertainment website (or, if you're local to Seattle, at Scarecrow Video or Broadway Market Video). The film, scripted by Mudede and based off his column of the same name which he writes for Seattle's alterna-weekly, The Stranger, follows an immigrant bike cop around scenic Seattle as he deals with one after another of a series of bizarre crimes (regular readers of Mudede's column will know that, as with many things in life, you just can't make up anything that would be better than the craziness cops deal with on a daily basis) while dealing with the possible break-up of his relationship with his girlfriend, who's gone off on a camping trip with a male "friend."
The film, though relatively low-budget, is full of gorgeous painterly shots of Seattle in the summertime (thanks to DP Sean Kirby, who shot in 35mm scope) and if you live in Seattle or have spent any time there, it's fun to see all the places you hang out in up there on the screen in all that technicolor glory. It also has the distinction of being the sixth film co-produced by Seattle not-for-profit Northwest Film Forum, which does some truly fantastic work supporting indie film and independent filmmakers.
It's great to see this little film getting some distribution at last; it had strong reviews overall, but for a while there I didn't think it would get out there for more people to see it. It's always nice to see the hard work of independent filmmakers pay off, at least a little, and I hope the film will get some strong support in Seattle, where the film was shot in over 100 locations with hundreds of locals. Even if you don't live in Seattle, Police Beat is a good film for indie film fans to see and support.
Sarandon and Evans to Battle in Seattle
Filed under: Drama », Casting », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand »
It appears two more actors have decided to throw on the gloves and prepare to Battle in Seattle. Last week we told you how Charlize Theron had agreed to star in her real-life boyfriend's directorial debut. (Yes, for Stuart Townsend, those are the benefits of dating an Oscar-winning actress.)
Now, according to Production Weekly, Susan Sarandon and Chris Evens are in talks to co-star in the pic, which revolves around the 1999 WTO meeting in Seattle and the chaos (we're talking 40-60,000 protesters) that ultimately consumed the city, making it close to impossible for the World Trade Organization to continue their meetings. Heck, I'm just curious to see how Townsend manages to control the thousands of extras most likely needed during production. Talk about a hectic way to pop your directing cherry, huh?
Cinephelia in Seattle: Arab and Iranian Film Festival; Indigenous Film Festival, and Pulp Fiction at Midnight
Filed under: Classics », Comedy », Documentary », Drama », Foreign Language », Gay & Lesbian », Horror », Independent », Romance », Thrillers », Cinephelia in Seattle », Cinematical Indie »
I know you'll find it hard to believe if you live in the Puget Sound area, but this weekend we're scheduled for yet more rain. Like a good Seattleite, I like my rain and dark cloud cover as much as the rest of you, but even I'm starting to get excited at the occasioal glimpses of blue sky and sunshine. As always, though, you have lots of movie options to keep you happy, and chances are whatever theater you choose, there's a coffee shop nearby to get your obligatory caffeine fix to boot.
This week brings us the Seattle Arab and Iranian Film Festival (March 31-April 6), and what a lineup! The festival has some promising films lined up, including Sundance winner Iraq in Fragments, Gate of the Sun, a 278-minute epic film about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as told through the 50 year history of an uprooted Palestinian family, and documentary The Color of Olives. Check out the full schedule here.
Cinephelia in Seattle: Trudell, Hair High, Beehive and Battle in Heaven
Filed under: Documentary », Drama », Foreign Language », Gay & Lesbian », Independent », Family Films », Cinematical Indie »
This week's weather report for the lovely Puget Sount area: rain, followed by more
rain, with occasional showers breaking through. Yup, it's March in Seattle. Fortunately for us, my fellow
Seattleites, it's always raining film in Seattle as well. I know, 'round here we don't let a little rain stop us from
getting out and doing our biking, hiking and mountain climbing, but when you get done with all that, go bask in the
warm glow of the projector light and watch one of the many cool films showing around the Seattle.
Be Here to Love Me, FREE screening, Thursday, March 30 @ 7:30PM, UW, Smith 120
UPCOMING:
Seattle Arab and Iranian Film Festival 2006, March 31-April 6 - The festival has some promising films lined up, including Sundance winner Iraq in Fragments.
Cinephelia in Seattle: Duma's Run Extended, Jewish Film Fest Wraps
Filed under: Classics », Documentary », Drama », Foreign Language », Independent », Family Films », Cinematical Indie »
It's cold and rainy here in blustery Seattle, so why not go catch a movie? Here's a roundup of
some of the film offerings around the Emerald City:
UPCOMING:
Aaina: Southeast Asian Women Film Focus, March 24-26
Seattle Arab and Iranian Film Festival 2006, March 31-April 6 - The festival has some promising films lined up, including Sundance winner Iraq in Fragments.
Seattle Jewish Film Festival The festival winds up this weekend, but there's still time to catch some great films:
Thursday, March 16 - Ushpizin @ 6:30PM and Checking Out @ 8:50PM
Saturday, March 18 - Campfire @ 7PM and Joy @ 9:10PM
Sunday, March 19 - Rashevski's Tango @ 11AM; Becoming Rachel @ 1PM; Awake Zion @ 3PM; Schwartz Dynasty @ 5PM; and Go for Zucker! @ 7:45pm
Check out the festival website for film descriptions.
Cinephilia in Seattle: Jewish Film Festival, Oscar Shorts, and Duma
Filed under: Animation », Comedy », Documentary », Drama », Foreign Language », Gay & Lesbian », Independent », Cinematical Indie »
It's cold and rainy here in blustery Seattle, so why not go catch a movie? Here's a
roundup of some of the film offerings around the Emerald City:
FREE MOVIES IN SEATTLE!
Sure, you can listen to your fave radio station to find out about those nifty free preview screenings. But if you're really a movie buff, you might want to check out Janet's Film Club at Janet Wainwright PR. They'll send you passes to get in free to lots of preview screenings! The only catch? Use 'em or lose 'em.
Japenese Film Series - Supermarket Woman (1996, Itami Juzo). Japanese comedy about a woman (Miyamoto Nobuko) hired to remake a small grocery store to compete against a large chain. Thursday, March 9 @ 7:30PM, UW Savery 239
A Moveable Feast - Check out a rough cut of this film, by a former UW student. And it's free! At the Ethnic Cultural Center, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE.
Seattle Jewish Film Festival March 5-19 - This year marks the 11th year of the Seattle Jewish Film Festival, and they have a fantastic lineup. This year's fest runs at three venues: Seattle's Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), AMC Pacific Place, and Majestic Bay Theaters in Ballard. The festival really kicks into high gear this week, with an interesting lineup of films:
March 11 - The opening night film is Live and Become, which you can have with dessert at the 7PM showing (for passholders special ticket holders only), or without at 9:50PM. The film, which won the audience award at the 2005 Berlinale, tells the story of a young Ethiopian boy in the 1980s whose mother places him with a group of Ethiopian Jewish refugees to save him from the famine. As he grows from a boy into a man under his assumed identity, the lie under which he has lived begins to take its toll.
Check out the full lineup to see when other films are playing.
Sci-fi in Seattle
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy »
Because nothing says "science fiction" like the Space Needle, my lovely
hometown of Seattle played host this past weekend to the first ever Science Fiction Short Film Festival, held at
the best theater in Seattle, the Cinerama, which boasts a huge screen (all the better to show off your special effects,
my dear) and the cushiest seats in town (just in case things aren't quite as good as you'd hoped, and you find yourself
in need of a little nap). I, sadly, did not make it to the event, but have no fear - our friends over at Green Cine
Daily, ever on the ball, have a fab recap of the fest for
your reading pleasure. One of the honorable mentions from the fest was Sue Corcoran's Circus of
Infinity, originally filmed for last year's Seattle International Film FestivalLindsay Lohan, and more Hollywood flight: Variety in 60 Seconds
Filed under: Deals », Variety in 60 Seconds », Distribution », 20th Century Fox », DIY/Filmmaking »
The New York City tax
incentive program Made in NY has so far
been a rousing success, drawing $600 million in new filmmaking business to the city, and
creating more than 6,000 jobs. The progame has helped pay for a total of 350 film and TV productions this year, and
it's not just about tax credits – the city also offers free advertising on any city-owned media property to
productions that conduct at least 75% of their shoot here, which somewhat explains why I can't leave the house without
seeing an ad for The Producers.- In other non-Hollywood Hollywood news, Washington state is putting together its own incentive package to lure film production back to the states from Canada. The project, organized by a group of Seatlle-based industry leaders and soon to work itself through the Washington legislature, would offer rebates of up to $1 million per picture (which seems pathetically low for all but the most indie of productions). The state is said to be smarting over the loss of several recent, Seattle-set films to the more affordable British Columbia.
- And now, you've been patient, so here's your Lohan: Fox is moving the young bombshell's upcoming Just My Luck from March to May. They're apparently so confident in the film, they're setting it up to compete against Warner Brothers' huge-money remake, Poseidon.
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The Original Pitch for 'Monsters, Inc.'
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James Cameron Never Wanted to Make 'Titanic'
