Atlanta Film Fest 365

Not at Cannes

2009-05-13T16:15:00.006-04:00

Cannes started today without me yet again. The lineup looks particularly stacked with high profile filmmakers this year, and there also seems to be something of a horror bent to many of the titles. I will be looking forward to reading others' reports from Cannes and hopefully catching many of the films as they travel the festival circuit or perhaps find distribution in the United States. There is often not much to go on when looking at the lineup so I'm usually drawn to directors that I like or perhaps if something grabs me in the description. Perusing the program, here are 10 films I am most anxious to see (in alphabetical order).

Air Doll (Hirokazu Kore-Eda)
Based on a manga comic, Air Doll sounds a little bit like the surprisingly touching Lars and the Real Girl. It’s the story of a life-size blowup doll who develops a soul and falls in love with a video clerk. Kore-Eda is probably best known in the U.S. for the tender and heartbreaking Nobody Knows, and a similar touch seems appropriate here.

Antichrist (Lars Von Trier)
It sounds like a standard horror film: a grieving couple goes to their cabin in the woods as an escape to try to repair their relationship, but then things start to go badly as nature or the supernatural takes its course. But there’s no reason to expect anything “standard” from the director of Breaking the Waves, Dogville, and Dancer in the Dark among others. A trailer can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FHp5yDw38U.

Don’t Look Back (Marina De Van)
Marina De Van’s debut feature as a director, the self-cannibalism film In My Skin, examined themes such as identity and dissociation, and it appears that she continues those themes in her new film. Jeanne is a writer with a husband and two children, who begins to notice that her perception does not match the world around her and feels that her body is transforming though no one else seems to notice. A photograph motivates her to track down a woman in Italy, and there, completely physically transformed, she will learn the secret of her identity. Jeanne is played by both Sophie Marceau and Monica Bellucci in what is sure to be a mind-bender.

Enter the Void (Gaspar Noe)
Gaspar Noe hasn’t made a feature film since Irreversible in 2002. Perhaps the world needed that time to recover from that beautiful, harrowing film. He returns with the story of a brother and sister recently arrived in Tokyo, where he is a small time drug dealer and she works as a stripper. When he is killed, his spirit remains faithful to the promise he made to protect his sister and refuses to abandon the world of the living. The press notes promise that “Past, present and future merge in a hallucinatory maelstrom” which sounds like a good two hours of cinema to me.

Looking for Eric (Ken Loach)
Ken Loach is known for his films featuring everyman heroes and social realism. A past winner of the Golden Palm for The Wind That Shakes the Barley, I more associate him with films like My Name is Joe, Sweet Sixteen, and Ae Fond Kiss. In Looking for Eric, a down on his luck postman turns to soccer star Eric Cantona (playing himself) for advice and guidance. http://www.lookingforericmovie.co.uk/

Nobody Knows about Persian Cats (Bahman Ghobadi)
Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi has already established himself with films such as A Time for Drunken Horses, Marooned in Iraq, and Turtles Can Fly. He has generally focused on Kurdish people in his films and often features musicians as his main characters. Nobody Knows about Persian Cats follows a young man and woman who form a band and become underground musicians trying to leave for Europe to play the music they are unable to play in Iran.

Police, Adjective (Corneliu Porumboiu)
Corneliu Porumboiu, writer/director of 12:08 East of Bucharest (ATLFF 2007), returns with his follow-up film about a police officer assigned to perform surveillance on a teenager who is accused of selling pot. In the process of gathering evidence, the police officer also develops sympathy for the teen and is torn between his professional duty and not wanting to destroy this young man’s life. Romanian cinema has exploded in recent years, and this looks to be another worthy entry.

Thirst (Park Chan-Wook)
I’ve been a fan of Park Chan-Wook since stumbling across JSA: Joint Security Area, and that continued, of course, through his “revenge trilogy” of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance. Here he takes on a vampire story, and from the looks of the trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG2NCsz1mFc), it could be a nice companion piece to last year’s Let the Right One In to provide a new look at the well-worn vampire genre.

To Die Like a Man (Joao Pedro Rodrigues)
Inspired by the real life of a Portuguese drag performer. Her star status is being threatened by younger performers, her boyfriend is pressuring her to undergo a sex change operation to turn her into a woman, and her son whom she abandoned as a child returns after going AWOL from the army. She and her boyfriend leave town and wind up lost in an enchanted forest where they come across an enigmatic figure who will reveal the secrets of life and transfiguration.

The White Ribbon (Michael Haneke)
You can always count on something interesting from Michael Haneke (Cache, The Piano Player, Funny Games). In a rural school in 1913 Germany strange accidents befall the students and residents and these accidents gradually take on the character of a ritual punishment and may relate to the rise of fascism.

Don't Forget To Change RSS Feed For This Blog

2009-01-18T12:06:00.003-05:00

Yes the Atlanta Film Festival 365 Blog has moved. It's now fully integrated into our home website. Be sure to subscibe to the New RSS Feed if you haven't already.

New Blog Hom e

New Home For Atlanta Film Fest 365 Blog

2008-11-21T15:12:00.003-05:00

Yes the Atlanta Film Festival 365 Blog has moved. It's now fully integrated into our home website.

New Blog Home

New Blog RSS Feed

Academy Awards Shortlist for Documentaries

2008-11-18T22:00:00.007-05:00

From indieWIRE:

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have named 15 films that made the short-list in the Documentary Feature category for the 81st Academy Awards, whittling the number down from a record 94 that had originally qualified. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles on the shortlist. The Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2009, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater, and the awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

The Fifteen films are:

"At the Death House Door, directed by Peter Gilbert and Steve James
"The Betrayal" (Nerakhoon), directed by Ellen Kuras
"Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh", directed by Roberta Grossman
"Encounters at the End of the World", directed by Werner Herzog
"Fuel", directed by Josh Tickell
"The Garden", directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy
"Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts", directed by Scott Hicks
"I.O.U.S.A.", directed by Patrick Creadon
"In a Dream", directed by Jeremiah Zagar
"Made in America", directed by Stacy Peralta
"Man on Wire", directed by James Marsh
"Pray the Devil Back to Hell", directed by Gini Reticker
"Standard Operating Procedure", directed by Errol Morris
"They Killed Sister Dorothy", directed by Daniel Junge
"Trouble the Water", directed by Carl Deal and Tia Lessin

Get the latest coverage of awards season in indieWIRE's special section.

At The Death House Door won the Grand Jury Award for Documentary at 2008 Atlanta Film Festival. The film's directors, Peter Gilbert and Steve James, were also honored at the 2008 IMAGE Film Gala Awards. The filmmaking duo previously nominated for the Oscar for Hoop Dreams, in 1995.

(Steve James, Peter Gilbert and Ric Reitz - photo courtesy of Bob Mahoney)

2008 Screenplay Retreat Finito

2008-11-17T11:23:00.009-05:00

It's hard to believe, but it's been two months since I wrote this on the blog: "The fundamental element of 99 percent of all narrative filmmaking is the screenplay. You can say the director is the beating heart of a film. We're going to adamantly say it's 110 pages of paper and ink. The power a well written script can have to attract talent and to inspire passion isn't the stuff of legends, it's the truth."

Well those scripts did attract some serious talent to Atlanta this weekend. From our industry mentors who have been involved in some of the most influential projects of the last 30 years, to our winning screenwriters whose varied backgrounds, scripts and awards ensure that the world of film, hell, media in general, will never be bereft of great stories.

Also on display this weekend was the power these scripts had in bringing 12 strangers from around the country to the ATL for an experience that created new friendships and networking opportunities. You know you're in friend territory when you...okay me...have had your ass spanked by both fest director Dan and Miracole, wife of our Perfect Pitch operator Chris Burns (pictured below in uniform), on the dance floor in front of the screenwriters. Or, enter into a can't-be-repeated conversation with both a screenwriter and a mentor that starts innocently with a pants leg zipper being unzipped. (Again me) Yes, we kept this prestigious retreat respectful and above board the entire weekend.

The entire weekend moves much too quickly.

I'd like to name everyone involved with this weekend, but unfortunately, the list is way, way too long. It takes a small company of soldiers to pull a weekend like this off. When it's all said and done, by my count, there's literally over a 100 people who were involved in this competition and retreat. From the script readers and folks who provided coverage, to the folks who helped promote it, to the actors who read.

I'd like to thank Sandy Corley (pictured on the right) for hosting the Friday night reception at her home for the screenwriters and mentors. You know the night's a success when the writers and mentors opt to walk back to the hotel together as a group. It's that kind of Southern hospitality that sucks people right in and makes them comfortable enough to let their guard down (which is a must, because the next day is when the critiquing and mentoring happens in earnest).

I'd also like to thank Drew Fransen and Hotel Midtown for hosting our group again this year. Having a host hotel that you know will do whatever it can to make your guests feel welcome is key.

As a venue, the weekend wouldn't have been what is without the Margaret Mitchell House and staff. Gracie Gummere and her crew were accommodating, friendly and again, demonstrated what Southern Hospitality is all about. Working hand in hand with the Margaret Mitchell House just reinforces how much writing is at the center of this weekend. And having our reading in the space couldn't have gone better. Is it no surprise that our collaboration continues into the New Year with some of our Winter/Spring screenwriting classes?

Huge thanks to Chris Burns who hosted Perfect Pitch: Elevator Edition. Believe it our not, we added this easily 15 minute component to this year's reading and we actually had an event that was almost 20 minutes shorter than last year. Between our mentors, who were definitely game, Dan and Burns, it was an event that was not only fun, but added an injection of energy that kept the show flowing.

Shout out to the actors at the reading. The list is entirely too long, so what I'm going to do is upload the program and link to it. As usual, Atlanta's talent brought their "A" game.

Other thanks to Turner; Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment; Delta; Georgia Council for the Arts; Fulton County Arts Council; National Endowment for the Arts; Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs; Metro Atlanta Arts Fund; Atlanta Convention & Vistitors Bureau; Inktip.com and the members of Atlanta Film Festival 365.

Lastly, thanks to Joel Zwick, J.T. Petty, Anne Hubbell, Stephen Israel, Morgan J. Freeman, and Carly Hugo. These mentors where gracious with their time and advice. Without them this weekend wouldn't be what it is.

ATL Film Fest Alums McKinnon and Goggins land AMC series

2008-11-13T08:48:00.005-05:00

Ray McKinnon and Lisa Blount are joined by Walton Goggins to celebrate the Oscar win for "The Accountant" as best live-action short. The film qualified for its Oscar by winning the Atlanta Film Festival

AMC, Johnson to 'Rectify' drama
Network to develop legal show
By MIKE FLAHERTY

AMC is developing a legal-themed drama with "Breaking Bad" exec producer Mark Johnson.
Walton Goggins, of FX's "The Shield," is set to star in "Rectify" as a man released from a lengthy prison term after being exonerated by DNA evidence.

Script was penned by Ray McKinnon, who won an Oscar for his 2001 live-action short "The Accountant."

McKinnon will exec produce along with Johnson. Goggins is set to co-exec produce along with Stephen Kay.

"Ray McKinnon's script beautifully weaves together the legal drama surrounding a wrongful conviction into a great character-driven family drama," said Christina Wayne, AMC's senior veep of scripted series and miniseries.

Johnson has been a key player in AMC's push into original series as one of the stewards of "Breaking Bad." The gritty drama earned an Emmy for star Bryan Cranston in September.

In addition to "Rectify," AMC's series development slate includes a fantasy drama "Red Mars," based on the classic sci-fi tome by Kim Stanley Robinson.

Read the full article at Variety

Project Direct: Sundance Speed Filmmaking Competition

2008-11-12T17:04:00.002-05:00

Sundance and Youtube announce: Project Direct a new speed film making competition. See the introduction below from PI and THE WRESTLER director Darren Aronofsky:

How funny this should be announced on the same day the Onion announced a YouTube Contest Challenging Users to Make a 'Good' Video:

Will New President Mean New Media and a New Hollywood?

2008-11-12T13:42:00.007-05:00

Fundraising to getting out the vote, no other presidential candidate has used the Internet to fuel their campaign the way President-Elect Barack Obama did. And the speed that he had change.gov up and running is further indications that an Obama presidency will use the Internet as an integral tool in communicating with the public.

But what does an Obama presidency mean for media and Hollywood?

Considering that Obama wants to push for further diversification in media, create a cabinet level post of chief technology officer, expand broadband access for the nation and believes the U.S. isn't creating enough high, what we could be seeing is the ground work for a New Hollywood.

With a CTO focused on creating new security measures for the U.S. at large, combined with a more robust Internet, the underpinnings of ever more secure methods of distributing movies across the country and overseas could be possible.

As audiences crave programing that speaks to them, diversification, in combination with a technology shift, could see the already astounding number of voices explode in unimagined ways. Diversification, depending on how it's implemented (so much of new media doesn't fall under FCC rule) could mean that the media conglomerates' continued stranglehold on distribution could become more egalitarian. Smaller companies finally getting a foot into door that is notoriously narrow.

It's hard to say what the future will look like. Howevever, with a blackberry addicted, flickr using President at the helm, we could be looking at the impetus of a web 3.0.

(photo: LA Times)

ATL Film Fest @ GPP Fundraiser

2008-11-11T11:38:00.005-05:00

Last week Georgia Production Partnership held it's annual "Made in Georgia" fundraiser at Magick Lantern Studios.

Positioned at the intersection of art, culture and commerce, the Atlanta Film Festival champions shared community experiences, fosters the free exchange of ideas, and nurtures the development of a thriving industry.

The Atlanta Film Festival demonstrates leadership in the field by acting as the creative hub between film lovers, independent film makers, and the industry. As such, we were there to represent:

Managing director Paula Martinez with Board Member Ashley Epting (Producer, The Hill; Harry's Pig Shop & Epting Events)

Ashley dives into a shot with Programming manager Elizabeth Ingram

Board Member Pete Ballard (Lab 601)

Board Member Linda Burns and JD Taylor

Youth Filmmaking Opportunity

2008-11-10T14:40:00.002-05:00

Looking for hands-on experience shooting with digital video
cameras, non-linear editing, scriptwriting and storyboarding?

Join the FUEL Media Explorer Post program to develop
leadership and communication skills, which wil help you speak
out about issues that matter to you.

From Nov. 2008 to May 2009, FUEL Media will provide a series
of workshops for young people (ages 15-18) to create a variety of
public service announcements, studio projects, community forums
and screenings. These activities will give particpants an
opportunity to address topics of community development, cultural
enrichment and personal growth.

To download your application today, visit
www.peopletv.org/ptv_youth.html and return via fax or e-mail to
404-874-3239 / antoine@peopletv.org

Watch 2007 Alum Soldiers of Conscience Online

2008-11-10T11:07:00.007-05:00

Soldiers of Conscience premiered at the 2007 Atlanta Film Festival and is now streaming online till November 18. It's a powerful film that asks some tough questions about war and the effects killing can have on soldiers. Watch Now

Synopsis : Soldiers of Conscience is a dramatic window on the dilemma of individual U.S. soldiers in the current Iraq war — when their finger is on the trigger and another human being is in their gunsight. Made with cooperation of the U.S. Army and narrated by Peter Coyote, the film profiles eight American soldiers, including four who decide not to kill, and become conscientious objectors and four who believe in their duty to kill if necessary. The film reveals all of them wrestling with the morality of killing in war, not as a philosophical problem, but as soldiers experience it — a split-second decision in combat that can never be forgotten or undone.

THE VISITOR is coming back to visit once more!

2008-11-05T15:44:00.019-05:00

Just announced by Active Voice and ACLU Of Georgia! THE VISITOR is back in Atlanta for limited screenings at various college campuses around town, with the first one scheduled for this Thursday! Made possible with support from Active Voice, the ACLU of Georgia is presenting these screenings in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each event is additionally being co-sponsored by a number of other human rights groups.

THE VISITOR, as many of you know, premiered in Georgia as the closing night film of the 2008 Atlanta Film Festival back in April. It eventually had a theatrical run and screened at limited venues this Summer with no more screenings since then in the area...UNTIL NOW! There are 4 encore opportunities to see this film on the big screen so if you missed it at our festival or this Summer, go out and support human rights while getting to see a great film!

THE VISITOR will be screening on:

Thursday, Nov. 6th, 7 p.m., PushPush Theater; post-screening discussions with Azadeh Shahshahani, ACLU of Georgia. Sponsored by: The ACLU of Georgia, Georgia for Democracy, Amnesty International, and many other human rights groups

-Tuesday, Nov. 11th, 6 p.m., Morehouse College, Wheeler Hall, Room 236; post-screening discussions with Azadeh Shahshahani, ACLU of Georgia and a former detainee will also be a guest and participate in discussion and q&a. Sponsored by: The ACLU of Georgia, Morehouse Sociological Association, Morehouse Philosophy & Religion Society, and other Morehouse student groups

-Wednesday, Nov. 12th, 7 p.m., Emory University, White Hall, Room 206; post-screening discussions with Herbert Abdul, former immigration detainee and Azadeh Shahshahani, ACLU of Georgia. Sponsored by: The ACLU of Georgia, ACLU Emory chapter, Amnesty International Emory chapter, Emory South Asian Law Student Association

-Wednesday, Nov. 19th, Georgia State University campus, location and time TBD. Sponsored by: The ACLU of Georgia, Amnesty International Georgia State chapter

Don't Stress Election Night - Boozer Doodle at the Vortex

2008-11-03T15:20:00.004-05:00

Tuesday, November 4th- Boozer Doodle is Election Night Headquarters!

Join our new electoral emcees Elizabeth and Jenny from the Gorgeous Ladies of Comedy as they bring you the groundbreaking results of our nations' biggest political party! Get your sketchbook ballots ready to rock the vote as Dames Aflame performer Shockaboom shakes the room with her own special campaign contributions. This is one battleground state that can't be missed!

http://www.damesaflame.com/
http://www.gorgeousladiesofcomedy.com/

Check out our new website for pictures from the last event and new
information for this upcoming Tuesday!

http://www.boozerdoodle.com

So vote early & we will see you there!

When: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 7:30 PM
Where: The Vortex Bar & Grill
878 Peachtree St. NE
Atlanta GA 30309

NEW TICKET INFO - PLEASE READ
Tickets are sold at the door for $10 bucks on the night of the event.
Front row tables for $13. (cash only)
Paid parking lot across the street ($2.50)

Out On Film: All Grown Up

2008-11-01T13:32:00.015-04:00

ATL icon Ru Paul closes OUT 2007's Out On Film screening of STARRBOOTY!

More than a few folks have been asking about the current status of Out On Film, and how The Atlanta Film Festival (nee IMAGE) will be involved in its future. So, I figured I'd offer an update.

Over the course of the past two and half years, I've blogged about the challenges (crisis?) facing LGBT Film Festivals:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/gabe/archive/017768.html

The problem is compounded by the recent theatrical success of a film like Noah's Arc.

On 5 screens, "Arc" grossed $161,302, averaging an astounding $32,260. The film opened in New York (Chelsea), Los Angeles (Sunset 5), Chicago (Century Centre Cinema), Atlanta (Landmark Midtown), and Washington, DC (E Street Cinema). Not only was its average among the best of 2008 (it's just a few $100 behind "Rachel Getting Married"'s fall season benchmark average earlier this month), it also is already 2008's highest grossing narrative gay film overall (beating Regent Releasing's "Shelter," which grossed $142,666 this Spring).

Such stories bode well for the future of LGBT cinema, but complicate the prospects for LGBT Film Festivals.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/gabe/archive/013959.html

The more LGBT films find success in the marketplace, on broadcast outlets and On Demand outlets like Logo and hereTV!, the more important it is for events like Out On Film to focus on the development of the community!

A successful LGBT Film Festival MUST, first and foremost, serve the needs of the COMMUNITY. While content remains important, the event MUST be on par with a community event like Atlanta Pride! if it is going to succeed long term.

As part of an ambitious strategic plan, the Atlanta Film Festival began to transition Out On Film back into the hands of LGBT community leaders. (This plan returns Out On Film back to its original mission...IMAGE was never intended to be the sole presented of Out On Film, but rather had been invited to advise with the film festival production aspects of the event.)

As described in this article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution (back when the paper had film critics on the rolls), IMAGE envisioned a partnership that involved a multi-year hand off:

"While Image will be "stewards" for this year's Out on Film —- to be held Nov. 6-9 —- and participate in the call for entries and film selections, the event will move to Theatre Decatur, which will become one of the fest's major players, Wardell says. Also involved will be Carma Productions Inc., which annually prints guides to events such as Atlanta Pride....Ideally what we'd like to see happen is for a lot more of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community leaders to take ownership of the event," Wardell says. "We can continue to give guidance, but Out on Film needs a community. We're using as a model the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, which has such a large base and sponsorship support."

Since this article first appeared in the AJC in May, there have been significant changes to this plan (as reported in Southern Voice.)

An Oct. 3 press release confirms again that IMAGE Film & Video released Out on Film, Atlanta’s gay and lesbian film festival, to a new group in control of the event since May. It also states the new board recently voted to decline IMAGE’s offer to help with resources and guidance and formed its own entity, Out on Film, Inc.

What the release doesn’t say is that the new organization will not produce a festival in 2008. Out on Film is traditionally held at the end of October or in early November. ...Once we settle on the dates in the very near future, we will start holding fundraising screenings.”

Out on Film is now run by several gay business owners, including Advantage Graphics & Signs, Brushstrokes, Carma Productions, Labrys Magazine, the Gay Community Yellow Pages, and Theatre Decatur.

Good news! On the NEW Web site, Out On Film 21's dates and venue have been announced:

Mark your calendar

The 2009 Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (2009 AGLFF) will be held May 28 - 31, 2009 at the Plaza Theatre.

Please join our mailing list to be kept informed of upcoming events, movie screenings, festival information, and community involvement.

Congratulations to the NEW Out On Film. We couldn't be happier to see our baby all grown up.

All said, it is IMPORTANT for the me to stress the following point: The Atlanta Film Festival will continue to showcase significant and important works by for and about the LGBT community. In the 2007 Atlanta Film Festival, the festival showcased a strand of Out On Film content and issued the first PINK PEACH AWARD to celebrate superior LGBT filmmaking, as covered in Southern Voice. (Such prizes are issued at International Fests like Berlin and Venice...to the best of our knowledge, we are the first U.S. fest to follow suit.)

The ultimate goal of this move is to allow Out On Film to thrive--just as the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has succeeded under the guidance and stewardship of a dedicated (and vested!) community.

This past year, the Atlanta Film Festival has provided our members numerous LGBT themed opportunities this year--including in person appearances by Alan Ball (TOWELHEAD) and Kimberly Pierce (STOP LOSS).

We'll continue to pursue screenings of interest to the LGBT community: in fact, we have a select cache of passes to a sneak preview of Gus Van Sant's MILK.

The first 10 folks who renew (or sign up for a new!) Atlanta Film Festival 365 Membership (click here) and email me at gabe[at]AtlantaFilmFestival[dot]com with the header "Milk: Out On Film Renewal" will be officially RSVP'd for our MILK sneak preview.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T11:34:00.006-04:00

Another Marquee event.

Lucy?!!! You got a lot of 'splainin'to do!

Thanks to the Plaza, FEARnet and Comcast for making Demon & Zombie Night such a monster success!

Did you miss out?

Order scary films from FEARnet On Demand…on Halloween, or anytime! FREE to Comcast Digital Cable customers!

Joakin Phoenix to quit acting?

2008-10-29T17:11:00.003-04:00

It vexes me. I'm terribly vexed...

I quit

Joaquin Phoenix: Quitting acting or Acting like he's quitting?

Joaquin Phoenix, the twice Oscar-nominated star of Gladiator and the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, has announced his decision to retire from acting to pursue a career in music.

Phoenix said this to a presenter for US celebrity TV show Extra at a benefit for a Paul Newman-backed charity in San Francisco last night. Phoenix had been on stage performing with Hollywood glitterati such as Julia Roberts, Jack Nicholson, Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Warren Beatty, Danny DeVito and Sean Penn in a one-off production of Ernest Hemingway's The World of Nick Adams.

"I want to take this opportunity ... also to give you the exclusive and just talk a little bit about the fact that this will be my last performance as an actor," Phoenix told the shocked reporter. "I'm not doing films any more." The actor's representative later confirmed the news.

Netflix HD Streams Coming to Xbox

2008-10-29T12:46:00.005-04:00

Dear Santa,

I want an Xbox and an HD TV for Christmas. No, not for playing games - for watching HD streaming movies from Netflix. Well, I heard that they're making TVs that will be able to stream on demand via an internet connection and have an interactive component (via Tru2way), so maybe I don't need the Xbox. Hmmmmm, although, I think I would like to play some games too.... so, yeah, go ahead and throw the Xbox in there.

Milk and Cookies will be waiting for you beside the fireplace.

Yours Truly,
Paula

I just saw this in the New York Times:

Netflix HD Streams Coming to Xbox
By CHRIS ALBRECHT, GigaOm
Published: October 29, 2008

The Netflix hits just keep on comin’. We’ve known for a while that the movie rental company was going to make its streaming service available to Xbox 360 users. But what we didn’t know is that it was going to offer movies in HD. Hot diggety, the battle for your TV just got wayyyy more exciting.

Gadget sites Gizmodo and Engadget got a preview of the can’t-come-soon-enough (it’s being released on Nov. 19) update of the Xbox Live service, the “New Xbox Experience.” Part of the upgrade includes the Netflix capability, which appears to work similarly to the Roku’s Netflix player in terms of design and functionality.

But as Engadget discovered, the NetfliXbox has the Roku beat (and the other Netflix streaming partners, LG and Samsung Blu-Ray players) by offering high definition streaming. Unfortunately there aren’t any further details at this time (does it incorporate Microsoft’s Silverlight like Netflix on the Mac?). We’ll just have to wait until Nov. 19, when its released.

This could be a game-changer in a couple of ways. It helps accelerate Netflix into a leadership position among those offering digital movie and TV delivery as the combination of HD plus an all-you-can eat movie subscription is an offer that’s hard to refuse. And having a streaming video solution could finally give Microsoft something it’s been salivating over forever — getting a stronger foothold in your living room beyond just gamers.

Despite all this coolness, the Netflix service still has one huge hurdle to overcome, and that’s content. Even though it’s signing new deals, the library of content still has a long way to go before it becomes compelling.

It's the Great Pumpkin, ATL!

2008-10-29T11:16:00.004-04:00

Mad props to Jeanette Gregory (our Membership Specialist) for carving this awesome ATL365 Pumpkin!

BOO!!!

Have you renewed your membership? (She's crafty with a knife!)

Have you RSVP'd for Demon and Zombie Night? (Our free Double Feature Screening of Exorcism of Emily Rose & Resident Evil at the Plaza Theatre on Thursday, October 30, at 7:30 PM?)

It's FREE.

There will be prizes!

Xtacles Preview from Atlanta's 70/30

2008-10-29T08:08:00.002-04:00

Atlanta is not only home to Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, but it's also home to a large concentration of animation houses. One of those is Studio 70/30, which has become a staple on Adult Swim with its shows Frisky Dingo and Sealab:2021. Now 70/30 is back with The Xtacles a spin off of Frisky Dingoand you can watch a preview up above. The show premieres on Adult Swim November 9th.

What Is Fringe?

2008-10-28T18:39:00.010-04:00

Fringe is an amazing cultural experience.

The program starts in the court yard with casual mix of fellowship, food, music and a cash bar.

The courtyard also includes video installations, and other surprises.

Meanhile DJ Little Jen spins an eclectic ambient mix...

The show begins with a film..

...a real (reel?) 16mm film projected for all to enjoy.

The films are followed by a short documentary about the musicians, leading to an amazing chamber music performance!

The performance is anything but stuffy. You'll be mesmerized. Feel free to clap. Cheer. Enjoy!

The next Fringe concert on November 8th! The performance will feature The Vega String Quartet performing Beethoven's Quartet in C Major and Bartok's String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor.

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!

I have programmed three 16mm shorts, including two silent films in honor of Beethoven who deigned to "make no secret of your deafness, not even in your art."

The program includes Cat Film For Katy and Cynnie, by Standish Lawder and Nightcats by Stan Brakhage (the most imporartant experiemntal filmmaker of the 20th Century.)

Don’t wait to try and get tickets after this concert sells out!

Click here to buy your tickets.

Additionally, the organizers want to keep Fringe affordable for everyone. Tickets are cheap. But if you are able, become a "Friend of Fringe" by donating online at FringeAtlanta.org or by paying more than the minimum for your ticket via TicketAlternative.com.

We look forward to seeing you November 8th!

Where the Dexter Fans at?

2008-10-28T16:39:00.007-04:00

Jennifer Carperter, Dexter's potty-mouthed, romantically challenged sister on the cult hit DEXTER...

...stars in THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE...

...which will featured as part of our DEMON AND ZOMBIE APPRECIATION NIGHT...

...this Thursday, October 30 at 7:30pm at the Plaza theatre.

Comcast is also providing DVDs (and other cool give-aways) but you gots to dress up in a cool costume to qualify.

To guarantee your seat, send an RSVP for you (and up to 3 friends) to rsvp@atlantafilmfestival.com

Is anyone as creeped out by the fact that brother and sister Deb and Dexter Morgan are dating in real life?

(I thought he was still dating Keith, right?)

Savannah Film Festival (Step and Repeat)

2008-10-27T13:02:00.002-04:00

Striking a Pose at Savannah

A Marquee Event

Third Annual Atlanta-Indo American Film Festival

2008-10-24T11:17:00.005-04:00

This weekend the Atlanta Indo-American Film Festival starts. It's going to be 5 weekends of films from India and the Indian Diaspora. It's getting cold outside and if you're looking for a good place to escape to to get warm, think about hitting the festival one of these weekends. Some of the films that have us in the office intrigued are Sita Sings the Blues and Lions of Punjab. And if you missed The Wold Unseen at the 2008 Atlanta Film Festival here's your chance to catch it again.

Full Schedule

The third annual Atlanta Indo-American Film Festival
will take place in Atlanta from October 25th through November 22nd , 2008. Presented by the Indo-American Film Society, the festival will be a fascinating five-weekend long journey into independent Indian cinema. The Atlanta Indo-American Film Festival will feature screenings of new independent films and select mainstream films, discussions with film makers, parties, and a gala. Screenings will include both feature length and short films from India and the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Diaspora, in Narrative and Documentary styles, from a variety of established and upcoming directors. A panel of expert judges will review the top films and announce winners in various categories. Films will be screened at distinguished locations in Atlanta: High Museum of Art, Emory University, Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech).

Serious Actors Wear Facial Hair and Bleed- Pride & Glory vs. Body of Lies

2008-10-24T09:27:00.009-04:00

I was at Atlantic Station to see a movie a few weeks ago and when I looked up I saw two giant banners tucked in the corner. One was for Body of Lies and the other was for Pride & Glory.

And there in all their 4 foot giant head awesomeness was Edward Norton and Leonardo Dicaprio, their faces adorned with hair. Their furrowed brows indicating that their characters were wrestling with complex moral and ethical issues. Read: Serious. Read: Important. Read: Pretentious.

Can't you just hear the interview in your head? "See it's a metaphor. Half my face is hidden. We live in the shadows and a beard is a metaphorical half-shadow. A metaphorical half-shadow that's located where words come out. Words out of shadows. Is it truth coming out of the shadows or lies?"

I'm not sure if you've seen the trailer for either film, but I think they're just godawful in the way they don't communicate anything about the plot or story in either film. Body of Lies is the most egregious, with its quick cuts. And Pride's is just plain insulting with the hip hop soundtrack that's supposed to indicate that it's gritty. Hear that penetrating bass, this is hard hitting drama at its best. To reinforce how much the trailers are trying to hide, is the dismal 50% score for Body and the 31% score for Pride on Rottentomatoes.

So let this be a warning to you, if you see either Ed or Leo donning facial hair, be forewarned. There's serious acting and probably poor script choice ahead. Which is never a good combination.

Should I See W In the Theaters?

2008-10-23T08:00:00.003-04:00

Back in the 90s, when independent film exploded and well regarded classics and obscure cult films could be found in small hole in the wall stores, tucked in the oddest places, I caught up on a lot of flicks. From Hong Kong action flicks starring Jackie Chan and directed by John Woo, to French New Wave Cinema, I saw hundreds of films that the average American had never heard of.

One, that quite a few people probably already were aware of was Micheal Moore's Roger & Me. Maybe if I had rented it and watch it with my boys, who like me enjoyed the hunt for something different, I might have finished the film.

To this day, I just can't finish a Michael Moore film. I find him smug. His conclusions, derived from very few facts, annoy the hell out of me. And the fact that he sounds exactly like the folks he's denouncing, only proves to me how a like conservatives and liberals are. To be fair, the only Moore film I haven't given a chance is Bowling for Columbine.

For me, the best political films have always been like a Rorschach test. Liberal or conservative, you watch the film and fundamentally you agree with all the basic tenets in the film (freedom of the press, serving your country is patriotic and noble, etc.). However, once you start comparing that film to the world at large, it's where you find the antecedents that reflect what you believe.

It's that ability for a film to outlive the politics of its time to be applicable to any time period, any situation, that makes a film about politics great and intriguing.

This is probably why a film like A Man for All Seasons, after 40 years and set 600 years ago, is still such a powerful film. Thomas More standing against King Henry VII as the later rejects the Catholic church to meet his own needs could easily be Kennedy standing against his own Military during the Cuban Missile crisis. With all the conservatives backing Obama because of McCain's choice of running mate and how they've perceived his campaign, conservative intellectuals could easily be More and McCain could be King Henry VII. Even Hillary supporters who haven't come on board for Obama could be seen as been very More like. And yes Obama would be the King Henry in that sitch.

Everything I've seen of W. and read, says that the film isn't a blunt cinematic clubbing of our current President. Yet everything I've read also says that the film isn't all that insightful either. It sounds like that in 50 years, no one is going to be using W. as a Roscarch test to gage the political temperature of a room. Which is a shame. I may be a soft gooey liberal inside my heart, but my brain enjoys being challenged by ideas and concepts from all political spectrums.

While I'd like to avoid films like Michael Moore's, even though I probably agree with 90% of his conclusions, I'm even less likely to enjoy a film that seems to arouse no passions in me at all. So no, I guess I won't be seeing Oliver Stone's new flick. Too bad. The Angry Black Man in me hasn't been fed in a while and he's hungry for a good film.