“Pitch Me”

This article, from the Variety film archives, highlights the important aspects of pitching a script to Hollywood producers.  At this year’s AFM “Pitch Me” conference, aspiring filmmakers were educated on how to successfully pitch a script.  Major points of advice included sounding unrehearsed, knowing the audience, and avoiding too much detail during the explanation of the script.  The panel of judges at the conference said that hitting these essential points, along with maintaining an atmosphere of charisma and personality, are necessary for producers to even consider accepting a script.

The one rule of thumb the panel stressed was that even if the script pitch goes well, and the idea behind the script may be terrific, filmmakers cannot persuade the public to invest in something they do not want to see.  Ultimately, the panel said, the goal is for these filmmakers to “get a foot in the door” and begin developing relationships with producers in Hollywood.  The hard work that these filmmakers put in now, the panel agreed, would pay huge dividends later in their careers.

Quantum of Solace

Filmakers have taken a different approach to the newest James Bond movie. Marc Foster, director of the new Bond movie, decided to use “fluidly fast shots” instead of any camera shake effects when making this movie. There aren’t any flashbacks in this movie, which means that the viewer must watch the previous Bond film in this series, Casino Roayale. David Arnold provides a powerful music score, which remakes the song “Another Way To Die”. This film shows a darker side of James Bond, and Foster didn’t really use alot of previous traditions that are seen in some of the older Bond films. The article says that the movie has great action scenes, but needs more special moments to push it to the higher level that Casino Royale has reached.

Screenwriters Strike Back!

This article from Variety.com, explains the frustration of screenwriters after last year’s strike.  Many screenwriters like Joss Whedon, creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” are taking initiative and exploring the autuer department of screenwriting.  Some of these writers were trying to uncover the Internet market, and the potential it held for screenwriters.

Another start-up from the strike, Strike TV, “is designed to be a kind of interactive spec marketplace for biz insiders seeking to generate interest in their concepts for adaptations for films, pics, books, etc.”

The interest in the Web market for screenwriters is great, but the question remains whether the Web will produce profitable work for screenwriters.

When the shooting stops, the war begins

I am really into documentaries and this is one that interests me quite a bit.  It is called “Official Rejection,” which is about a group of guys that get rejected from Sundance Film Festival and take their movie on the road to a bunch of smaller festivals. In general it is about the incredible hell that filmmakers go through to get their movies into film festivals. Apparently, it isn’t uncommon for filmmakers to feel like they have more trouble publicizing the movie than actually making it.  That was sort of interesting to me since we just got finished talking about PR, which really seems to be the currency for success in the world of cinema.

John Malkovich to Film Documentary About Migrants

Variety revealed that actor and director John Malkovich is to film a documentary named “Triple Crossing”. The documentary is about the journey migrant children take who cross illegally into the United States. The purpose of the film is to “humanize” migration. 

The film will be produced by Canana Films which is owned by Diego Luna and Gael Garcia.

John Malkovich is an Emmy award-winning, and two – time Academy Award nominated American producer and director.

“Bourne” Again

Variety is reporting today that Universal Pictures has made a deal with the estate of The Bourne Identity author, Robert Ludlum that gives the studio exclusive rights to the Jason Bourne character and any Bourne novels that may come in the future.

The three Bourne movies, “The Bourne Identity/Supremicy/Ultimatum” have grossed over $1 billion worldwide and are considered to be Universal’s answer to MGM’s James Bond series.

Could this be Meryl Streep’s year?

On the red carpet

In Variety, the article Could this be Meryl Streep’s year?: Actress gaining Oscar buzz for her role in ‘Doubt’ was posted on October 14, 2008 by Stuart Levine.  Meryl Streep has won about 15 Oscar nominations for her role in ‘Doubt’.  Other well known actresses have also received big nominations for leading roles.  Actresses such as:  Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married”, Angelina Jolie in “Changeling”, Kate Winslet in “Revolutionary Road”, Cate Blanchett in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, Nicole Kidman in “Australia”, Kristin Scott Thomas in “I’ve Loved You So Long” and Sally Hawkins  in “Happy-Go-Lucky”).

It is so nice to see women making progress in the celebrity world.  I know it takes more work than I could ever imagine to do what they do and to still deliver their roles under so much pressure at times. 

Wind Dancer to make BFF

Wind Dancer Films just bought the rights to a script entitled “BFF“. The script was written by the team of Vanessa Parise and Robin Dunne. The story follows to childhood friends who are reunited years later in Manhattan, NY. One of the friends is now successful while the other remained in an unfulfilling job in their small town home. Producers have already been assigned to the project.

This film seems overdone. It will be interesting to see how the production of this movie is completed in order to set itself apart.

The Day the Earth Stood Still is coming to Theaters

I’ve noticed that a lot of filmmakers have been remaking films lately and “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is one example, which will be screened in theaters on Dec. 12, 2008. Considered one of the all-time classics, this scientific fiction film was directed by Robert Wise in 1951 and with the screenplay written by Edmund North. The film won a Golden Globe in 1952 for “Best Film Promoting International Understanding;” furthermore, it was also nominated for “Best Motion Picture Score” (composed by Bernard Herrmann). The new version coming out in December will be directed by Scott Derrickson and star Keanu Reeves. Our technology today can surely surpass that in 1951 in terms of colors, special effects, and technological procedure, but will it meet the expectations of what we call a good film today?

 

 

Sony to make story of D.C “Butler”

With a newly elected African American president, Sony has bought the rights to “A Butler Well Served by this Election”, a film that follows the story of an African American butler in the White House. The project will be produced by Laura Ziskin. The film will follow Eugene Allen’s 34 years working in the White House as a butler. The film will feature interviews from Allen where he reflects on working in the White House when he could not even use a public restroom back home in Virginia.

This film will be coming out at a pivital time in history. It could not have any better timing to be released after an African American president will be in office. This documentary will show the long journey to civil rights and I think will do well in film festivals and the theatres it will play in.