DIY Filmmaker Sujewa

Carter at Anthology on Tue 11/24

2009-11-22T22:32:00.002-05:00

Get all the info on the NYC indie film Carter & its screening on Tue 11/24 at Anthology Film Archives (& after party) here. A Carter trailer:

CARTER Festival Trailer from Ryan Balas on Vimeo.

Date Number One screenings at Aeon Logic Art Gallery, NYC - December 2009

2009-11-21T22:50:00.000-05:00

Start Over - Date Number One Story 1 from Sujewa Ekanayake on Vimeo.

DATE NUMBER ONE
a comedy about several first dates
a film by sujewa ekanayake
December 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 30
Every Wed & Fri of December (except 12/25 Fri)
7 PM (doors at 6, opening act at 6:30)
Aeon Logic Art Gallery
4 Malcolm X Boulevard
(Malcolm X & Broadway, Bed-Stuy, nearest subway: Kosciuzko Street on the J line, map)
Brooklyn, New York 11221
$5
*
Event contact: Sujewa Ekanayake, 240-354-3394, wilddiner@aol.com
Website: http://datenumberone08.blogspot.com/
*
About Date Number One:
A writer,
A ninja,
A woman who is working on saving the world,
and a guy who works at a bookstore
searching for love in
DATE NUMBER ONE
http://datenumberone08.blogspot.com/
A movie by Sujewa Ekanayake

Date Number One, a comedy about several first dates, is made up of 4 different stories: Story 1 - Start Over, about a writer who tries to get back together with his ex-girlfriend, Story 2 - Just Another Ninja Searching For Love, about a ninja who goes on a blind date (ninja is played by John Stabb Schroeder from the DC punk band G.I.), Story 3 - A Romantic Dinner For 3, about a woman attempting to add a third partner to a romantic relationship, and Story 4 - The Superdelicious French Lesson, about a first date where a character learns a little bit of French in an unusual way. The movie has been discovered to be: "Witty" (GreenCine Daily), "Funny" (The Chutry Experiment), and "Sexy, Sexy, Sexy" (Hollywood Is Talking).
*
Starring John Stabb Schroeder, Julia Stemper, Jennifer Blakemore, Shervin Boloorian, Dele Butler (formerly Dele Williams), Steve Lee, Kelly Ham AKA Kelly Ryan, Subodh Samudre, Jewel Greenberg
*
Not Rated * 90 Minutes * yummy
*
SCREENED AT: Goethe-Institut - Washington, DC (World Premiere, May 2006), Northwest Film Forum - Seattle (May 2006), Capital City Microcinema - Kensington, MD (June, October 2006 & March 2007), Sangha - Takoma Park, MD (July 2006), Pioneer Theater, New York City (August 2006), Warehouse Screening Room - Washington, DC (November 2006), The Armory - Kensinton, MD - 1 week run (July 2007), Jackie's - Silver Spring, MD (May 2008), Aeon Logic Art Gallery - Brooklyn, NY (February 2009)

"Date Number One is quite funny...twentysomethings and occasional thirtysomethings looking for romance recall Richard Linklater's philosopher slackers and Jim Jarmusch's minimalist attention to conversation...also a subtle, thoughtful film...might be understood as the anti-Crash depiction of life in the city...depicts a comfortably multi-ethnic community...I'd happily recommend it."- Chuck Tryon, media professor & blogger,The Chutry Experiment blog http://chutry.wordherders.net/archives/005873.html
*
"I found the characters and the premise sexy, sexy, sexy."- Jerry Brewington, Hollywood Is Talking blog, on Story 3 of Date Number One http://hollywoodistalking.com/Blog/508/
*
"...witty...often inventive...and, even better, airy: characters are given time and space to spell out their views...views that never bear the artificial markings of a Hollywood screenwriter's compulsion to reduce them to sound-bites."- David Hudson, Editor, GreenCine Daily blog http://daily.greencine.com/archives/002353.html
*
"FIVE really entertaining, fully realized romantic interludes...a shamefully rare achievement"- Tom Kipp, Seattle audience member,former film reviewer for Seattle alternative weekly The Stranger http://diyfilmmaker.blogspot.com/2006/05/interview-with-seattle-audience-member.html
*
"Heartfelt...poignant...I loved it!"- Jon Moritsugu, award winning filmmaker
*
"...somehow, someway, in the end, the love of the characters, the positiveness of the film, and Sujewa’s disregard for conventions wins you over. The act of making this film wins you over. There is only a positive through line in this film, and that is rare to see, especially when dealing with characters in their late to early thirties."- Amir Motlagh, director of the popular '04 Atom Films' short Still Lover & upcoming feature Whale
http://stilllover.blogspot.com/2006/10/date-number-one-review.html
*
Date Number One website & blog:
http://datenumberone08.blogspot.com/
Wild Diner Films: http://www.wilddiner.com/
::

Support the project at Kickstarter:

Thanks!

Machan review at Sri Lankan Film Critics blog

2009-11-21T22:34:00.002-05:00

While searching for stuff on Machan found this blog - Sri Lankan Film Critics - check it out.

National Economy

2009-11-21T02:11:00.001-05:00

Interesting web page - National Economy - check it out.

Clip from My Dinner With Andre

2009-11-20T15:20:00.000-05:00

Saw Machan (awesome) :: View review quote & link

2009-11-19T22:17:00.003-05:00

Just saw the Italian/German/Sri Lankan illegal immigration & sports adventure comedy-drama Machan (not in the best possible viewing formats, and it has not been made available in the US yet, so, will post US release info when I find it) - liked the movie a lot; flick's got a lot of surprisingly funny & achingly sad moments that come out of nowhere (anyone who knows a bit about recent events in Sri Lanka will feel some pain in one unexpected scene in act 3) - altogether an excellent story of the modern times. Anyone who wonders about illegal immigration should see this movie (also, the question not discussed in the movie is why people will try anything to get out of some countries & perhaps some ways those countries can improve life for their citizens so that they won't vote with their feet - but that is another story for another movie). Anyway, check out Machan when you get a chance, here is a review quote from View, a UK site:

"The Good

Pasolini's direction gives the film a documentary-like realism that works well; he also gets extremely naturalistic performances from a terrific ensemble cast made up of non-professionals and first-time actors. De Chickera and Dias make a likeable central duo and there's strong support from Mahendra Perera as local crook Ruan, who comes up with a few last-minute solutions when everything seems lost.The script is excellent, balancing moments that are laugh-out-loud funny with poignant, moving and emotionally resonant scenes that touch on the themes of family, male pride and the men's desperate hunger for the opportunity to work and support a family.

The Great

This is, in many ways, a sort of Sri Lankan version of The Full Monty, with an unlikely group of men undertaking something they know nothing about in order to regain a sense of self-worth. As a result, there are several wonderful scenes and the final act is delightful."

Read the rest at the View.

Also, the Sri Lankan slang word "machan" would best translate to America as "dude" or "bro" - a term of friendship (usually).

I'll have to add Machan to somewhere near the top of my "favorite movies of all time" list - up there with Amelie & Mystery Train.

- Sujewa

Found official website for Machan (but no US release plans mentioned)

2009-11-19T18:59:00.002-05:00

Here's the site that seems to be the official website for Machan (being released in Europe & Asia, but I do not see any US release plans there yet).

Machan might be the next Slumdog Millionaire or The Full Monty

2009-11-19T18:44:00.003-05:00

So says reviewer Shoard in Guardian (i think the flick opens in the UK tomorrow) - read the brief review here.

The Fabulous Picture Show discusses Machan

2009-11-19T13:03:00.000-05:00

Machan trailer (in German)

2009-11-19T12:40:00.001-05:00

Machan review link

2009-11-19T12:26:00.002-05:00

About a new flick about a group of people from Sri Lanka who impersonated a handball team to slip into Germany illegally - sounds very interesting, looking forward to checking it out - here's the link to the Guardian review of the flick.

Does the universe care about the agnostic or is salvation only for the believers? An answer here.

2009-11-18T22:06:00.003-05:00

Many teachers & advocates of various religions want you to believe that benefits may come to you from the universe (all of creation, or all of existence, or all of existence personified by a god figure or gods) if you were to believe in their path & commit to living by their recommended guidelines.

No way to know if any of them are telling the truth since we (humans) do not know - yet - for certain exactly what the universe is (what it is made of, how various parts relate to each other, origin, etc.) & how humans may or may not be significant to the universe/all of existence.

However, the following is true:

- each human is a part of the universe/existence - definitely physically, & maybe in other ways if any other ways exist

And thus, the following may be true:

- since each one of us is a part of the universe, and all manner of life has shown self-interested behavior (behavior aimed at the preservation or for the benefit of oneself) - it is possible that if the universe is sentient (aware of itself in a human like or beyond/greater than manner) & is able to behave - ultimately - as one organism - that it may, in fact, care about each human or is aware of each human (and might even assist humans) - since humans appear to be one of the most interesting & capable aspects of the universe (at least on Earth).

Since, at the moment, the above item cannot be verified, if it is useful for an agnostic, I think it would be fine for them to establish the creative device of a "personal relationship" with the universe. As long as they are also aware that it may just be a self-created mental device/tool & that they probably should not gamble on things because of the existence of that idea/practice within themselves.

- Sujewa

It's criticWIRE yo

2009-11-16T22:37:00.002-05:00

criticWIRE - a new section in indieWIRE - connects you to several critics' takes on several movies - check it out here.

One Way blog mentions "Date Number One" December screenings

2009-11-14T22:29:00.003-05:00

Thanks for the mention One Way. Check out the post here.

A very long SIFF interview with Barry Jenkins

2009-11-14T22:19:00.004-05:00

And this quote, from The Stranger, displays a not too bad of a way to have your film received by others (note: humor - understatement):

"Medicine for Melancholy is a masterpiece. It is the most important film by a black American director since Charles Burnett's To Sleep With Anger, black American cinema's highest achievement.-- Charles Mudede, The Stranger"

Read the interview with Melancholy's director Barry Jenkins at SIFF blog.

Thanks One Way blog for the link.

On Red camera & videography

2009-11-12T21:16:00.001-05:00

About an hour long discussion from '08, good stuff:

On "Precious" & Black indie cinema

2009-11-11T14:33:00.002-05:00

Article at IFC.com by Anthony Kaufman, with quotes from several indie filmmakers who have made films that can be categorized as Black indie films.

a nice scene from a favorite movie from the early 00's

2009-11-11T00:14:00.002-05:00

Rules To Rock By project on Kickstarter

2009-11-07T21:49:00.002-05:00

Looks interesting, check it out & support:

DNO Kickstarter project for December screenings

2009-11-07T20:43:00.003-05:00

Here is a video I made for Kickstarter site, to go on the Date Number One December 2009 Distribution Project's fundraising page (see page by clicking on Kickstarter ad below - oh, and yes, contribute, get rewards, & assist with this project if you can):

Thanks!

- Sujewa

Battle of Brooklyn - looks like a good project

2009-11-06T11:46:00.000-05:00

Spanish Artists in New York exhibit at Aeon Logic gallery

2009-11-06T11:25:00.003-05:00

Went to see the Spanish Artists in New York exhibit at Aeon Logic gallery (same gallery that I'll be showing Date Number One at, in December) yesterday, enjoyed it, check out some info about it here. Exhibit continues until November 17.

Interesting review of Precious by Armond White

2009-11-05T17:37:00.002-05:00

Interesting because 1) unlike some (or maybe many) of White's reviews, the ideas being put forth in this review can be clearly understood & fit together well, and 2) some of White's reactions to Precious reminds me of some reactions I heard from Indians (from India) to Slumdog Millionaire - that it's an outsider's fantasy of poverty & does not reflect reality accurately (or the large/common/usual reality of life for the kind of people depicted), & 3) points out that good movies that may reflect different sides of the African-American experience - less tragic sides - have not gotten as much support & admiration from Indiewood & Hollywood or audiences. From White's review:

"Precious raises ghosts of ethnic fear and exoticism just like Birth of a Nation. Precious and her mother (Mo’Nique) share a Harlem hovel so stereotypical it could be a Klansman’s fantasy. It also suggests an outsider’s romantic view of the political wretchedness and despair associated with the blues. Critics willingly infer there’s black life essence in Precious’ anti-life tale. And the same high-dudgeon tsk-tsking of Hurricane Katrina commentators is also apparent in the movie’s praise. Pundits who bemoan the awful conditions that have not improved for America’s unfortunate are reminded that they are still on top.

This misreading of blues sensibility probably has something to do with the disconnect caused by hip-hop, where thuggishness and criminality romanticize black ghetto life. Director Daniels’ rotgut images of aggressive cruelty and low-life illiteracy aren’t far from gangster rap clichés. The spectacle warps how people perceive black American life— perhaps even replacing their instincts for compassion with fear and loathing."

Read the rest of the review at New York Press.

That review aside, it will be very interesting to see how the audiences react to the movie - will the vision put forth in Precious be embraced widely as was the case with Slumdog Millionaire? If so, what does that mean? Will people love it as a freak show or will they love it as a story of hope? Or maybe a little bit of both? We'll have to see.

Kickstarter project to support Date Number One December 2009 screenings/distribution work is alive!

2009-11-05T02:34:00.004-05:00

Check it out from the image & link below. An exciting indie film distro project, great rewards for backers (pitch video coming early next week):

Blog for DNO December screenings in NYC

2009-11-04T01:11:00.003-05:00

It'll be under construction for a few days, but here it is. Eventually the dnonyc1209 blog will be a place to collect all manner of links & posts related to the 8 screenings of the flick happening in December.