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THE SHORT LIST, Fridays @ Noon EST: It’s New To You!

  • June 13, 2012 3:27 pm

YouTube has been a boon for the short film format. Relegated to film festivals, special screenings, interstitials between long form programming on TV, short films as a medium, has always been second fiddle. Sure, there’s been lots of recognition for short films, ranging from the Oscar short categories, major short film festivals (mostly in Europe like Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Fest & Market) and other platforms. But, with the advent of video streaming and especially YouTube and other social media platforms, sharing and viewing short form content is daily part of life.  Read more...

Cool FX Demos – Where are the Asians?

  • March 1, 2011 8:26 pm

No, I am not referring to the cheesy ’80s flick starring Bryan Brown. I’m talking about talented graphic artists and computer animators who showcase their cool shit online. During our Interpretations industry panel last year, Hollywood producer Dan Lin (TERMINATOR SALVATION) mentioned that the best way to get noticed is to just release your demos online. He referred to the then just released short PIXELS by Patrick Jean that was making the rounds on computer screens all over Hollywood. It got the talented computer animator noticed and an outpouring of jobs, and perhaps a movie deal as well. Check out the Galaga-inspired short, to refresh your memory. YouTube Preview Image Uruguay-based filmmaker Fede Alvarez, is perhaps most famous, for securing a $1 Million film deal with Sam Raimi (EVIL DEAD, SPIDERMAN) and his genre production shingle Ghost House Pictures, just from his homemade alien invasion short, PANIC ATTACK (Ataque de Pánico!).  Read more...

I WOULD, AND I DO

  • February 18, 2011 9:39 am

In the celebration of St. Valentine’s and flava flav Romance week, I’d like to spotlight an Interpretations entry that might have flown under everyone’s radar. I personally thought this was in my top ten, if not five list. It may not have won the judge’s hearts but it’ll win yours. This 3 minute video was filmed in San Francisco where people are much more open minded. And if you were lonely over Valencrappytine’s day, then perhaps it was fate you watch this.

I WOULD, AND I DO

JOSH CHUCK – i made “i would, and i do” with my friends casey and morgan, totally for fun. i heard about the contest and thought about it for a bit, thinking of different ways to say those four lines, especially the first one. is anyone else sick of those damn lines? anyways, i tried to emphasize different words, and laughed when i thought of saying it like “not something id DO.” like do, as in “id do her if i was drunk enough.” So i thought of things i had never done but what others may have, and came up with my co-star.  Read more...

INTERPRETATIONS: The Necklace

  • February 1, 2011 8:18 pm

We’re spotlighting another INTERPRETATIONS entry that made an impression on the jurors, but didn’t make the final five: Michael Aki’s THE NECKLACE. We asked the filmmakers to share their experiences working on the project.

KARIN, ROBERT, PRYOR, BILL, ERIC

Karin Anna Cheung (actor) is an actor, singer/musician and artist who loves every form of art. She made her acting debut in Justin Lin’s BETTER LUCK TOMORROW and currently has a new film with director Quentin Lee called THE PEOPLE I’VE SLEPT WITH (due March 22 on DVD). Robert Burke (actor) has worked at the craft of screenwriting for a number of years since transplanting to Los Angeles. He worked as a co-screenwriter on Cine Hous’ feature film STRANGERS, and is working on directing a low budget thriller titled CLEAN. Pryor Praczukowski (DP) is a graphic designer, photographer, hobbyist filmmaker and Cine Hous founder. Bill Poon (Executive Producer) feels film has the ability to change, shape and create the ideology of a person’s perception of their surrounding. He considers himself a fan of the process and its end result. Eric Nakamura (Executive Producer) is the founder of GIANT ROBOT.

How we got involved in the film:
KAC: I was hoping to write/direct my own Interpretations short, but between a painful accident in July and promoting TPISW in festivals and its theatrical release, I couldn’t get my head in the right space to create. So when I was approached by the team to be a part of THE NECKLACE, I said yes. I love the idea of having a female lead who’s a hitman. And I’m always game to be a part of anything related to Giant Robot. I feel blessed to have the chance to work with a great team.
RB: Through knowing Michael Aki. I previously worked with him on a film called STRANGERS.
PP: The director Michael Aki and I have been working together on projects for what seems like 10 years now, and when this opportunity came along it seemed like an interesting challenge.
BP: Michael and I have known each other since our days of turning would be routine singles into outs. He called me one night and said, “Do you know of this contest through YOMYOMF? Write something.” After pitching five or six different ideas, two days later, Michael chose his story.  Read more...

INTERPRETATIONS: Wishful Thinking Edition

  • December 31, 2010 12:01 am

As we say hello to a new year and new possibilities, here are three more INTERPRETATIONS submissions our jurors had high praise for, but that didn’t make the final five. They’re all very different films, but each in its own way speaks to this theme of possibilities and wishful thinking. Whether dealing with the consequences of a horrible act or seeking a dream that’s probably way out of reach, the characters in these shorts find themselves in the all too real, human dilemma where the thing that they so desperately wish for, seems out of reach. Enjoy:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME 
Xiao Li Tan

“Xiao Li Tan really took advantage of the three minute format and told a complete, original (with a nod to homage) and entertaining story. I laughed, I cried, I watched it twice. Bravo!” — MATT HOLLOWAY (Screenwriter, IRON MAN)  Read more...

INTERPRETATIONS: Eternal Piece by Ryan Yang

  • December 30, 2010 10:19 am

As part of our series of shorts that caught our attention during the Interpretations Film initiative last year, I wanted to give some kudos to ETERNAL PIECE by Ryan Yang from Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

While this short film is quite accomplished for a filmmaker of any age, we were particularly struck by the fact that it was directed by a 17 year old.  Guided by the elegant cinematography of Justin Capadocia of Kinema Group, Ryan created a touching tribute to those in his life who were struck down by cancer.  His approach – juxtaposing the subject as a child playing piano with the melancholy sequences of him dying as a young man effectively create a moving little short.  The performances are subtle and the use of the script is effective in punctuating the dramatic beats.  My only critique would be that the vocals were not necessary as the simple piano arrangement and images alone were quite powerful to carry the emotions of the film.  Much like the way it feels to mourn and remember the life and death of a loved one, this film evokes both the painful and bittersweet.

INTERPRETATIONS: Macabre Edition

  • December 29, 2010 9:28 am

The Interpretations Film Initiative may be over and the winners already announced, we’ve still got a plethora of worthy entries. The sheer amount of quality short films were too good to pass up, so for the next several weeks, we Offenders will be presenting our personal favorites. There were tons of thematic threads throughout our entries and I’d like to highlight three distinct short films that had a macabre bent, from straightforward horror to biting dark comedy.

WE LIKE DEATH

Edward Kim

This dark comedy  has a great mix of mundane slacker vibe with zany and vintage Woody Allen tropes. It’s a suicidal Waiting for Godot meets Cheech and Chong riff of a film that plays out ingeniously. They even pull of a convincing and very cute Grim Reaper! In the end, this short is darkly funny and had me in stitches throughout its succinct three minute running time.  Read more...

INTERPRETATIONS: The Family Edition

  • December 23, 2010 11:08 pm

Today, we feature three more of the short films that were submitted to our INTERPRETATIONS Film Initiative and received praise from our judges, but didn’t make the final five. Since Christmas is almost here and our flavah of the week topic is “family,” here are three submissions that touch on that theme. And yes, still more INTERPRETATIONS films to be featured here so keep your eye out…

THE DESPERATE
Jae-Ho Chang

“Really well directed, and acted. The way the script was used was the most natural and most inventive. The way human emotion was conveyed, the depth of the characters, and the tension between the three – how these were all done in three minutes was really incredible.” – LAURA KIM (publicist/distributor, founding member of Red Flag Releasing & Warner Independent Pictures)

 Read more...

Short Film Spotlight: MIRACLE FISH

  • November 29, 2010 2:53 am

Since I was busy working with my fellow Offenders with the Interpretations Film Initiative, I’ve kind of neglected the Short Film Spotlight here on the blog. Well, it’s back again and perfect timing, because this edition showcases one of my favorite short films from the past couple of years. MIRACLE FISH, directed by Luke Doolan, is one of those rare gems. Here’s the plotline:

8 year old Joe has a Birthday he will never forget. After friends bully him, he sneaks off to the sick bay, wishing everyone in the world would go away. He wakes up to find his dream may have become a reality.

The film was Oscar nominated last year and is just another example of great, atmospheric film work coming from Australia. A film editor by trade, Doolan recently cut the Aussie crime drama Animal Kingdom, which is another film to add to your Netlfix queue. Enough chit-chat and watch this amazing film after the jump….  Read more...

Raiders of the Lost Interpretations

  • November 15, 2010 8:34 am

FEODOR

Feodor Chin is an actor, writer, producer, director, and bon vivant. Recently, he teamed up with some fellow INTERPRETATIONS filmmakers to screen their shorts at Michael McCarthy’s El Cid Short Film Night in Los Angeles (read about the first “MISINTERPRETATIONS” event here). This Thursday, November 18, they’ll be doing it again, screening 16 Interpretations shorts on the big screen. Here, Feo explains why the INTERPRETATIONS Initiative was as important to him as the Ark of the Covenant.

In the summer of 1982, two young friends from southern Mississippi set out to film a shot for shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala were not at all deterred by the fact that they had no filmmaking experience, no budget, no equipment, and at 10 and 11 years old, respectively, they had yet to even hit puberty. What they did have was an audiocassette version of the film (clandestinely recorded at the local movie theater) which served as their script, a pair of very understanding and supportive mothers, and a shared love of the film that bordered on obsession. Ambitious? Oh, yes. Foolhardy? Perhaps. Inspired? Most definitely. In 1989, seven years after they began, Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation would finally have its premiere.

I first read about Chris and Eric’s fascinating story in an issue of Vanity Fair. And while I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing their film, I understand it to be not only an impressive and faithful homage to the original, but a genuinely engaging and inspiring tribute to the art of filmmaking itself. With little more than their own creativity and enthusiasm, these kids managed to successfully “interpret” one of the most beloved action-adventure films of all times. Decades later, as grown men sitting in his office, Spielberg himself reportedly told them, “I watched it. Then took it home and watched it again. And yes, it inspired even me.”  Read more...

INTERPRETATIONS: And Then There was ‘Misinterpretations’…

  • November 8, 2010 11:33 pm

Last week, we highlighted the five winning finalists of our INTERPRETATIONS Film Initiative. We said that in coming weeks, we’d also spotlight some of the other “worthy” entries. Well, one of our INTERPRETATIONS filmmakers, Feodor Chin (along with fellow filmmakers Deborah S. Craig and Timothy Tau), has already taken it upon himself to bring attention to some of the other shorts at an event dubbed MISINTERPRETATIONS which took place this past Wednesday. The five shorts screened included many of the juror favorites so we thought it’d be fun to spotlight them here as well as have Feo and company blog about the MISINTERPRETATIONS experience. So below, you’ll find Feo’s MISINTERPRETATIONS recap with photos by Mark Nilsen (including info on how your short can be a part of a future screening) followed by the five MISINTERPRETATIONS films with a few words from each filmmaker. Enjoy and look for more INTERPRETATIONS shorts to be featured here in the coming weeks.

On Wednesday, November 3, five INTERPRETATIONS shorts screened at the El Cid Short Film Night, a monthly program that is the brainchild of Los Angeles event producer, Michael McCarthy. After a mutual friend showed Spice It Up! to Michael, he contacted me to see if I’d like to screen it. Naturally, I said yes.

He also asked me if I knew of any other comedy shorts he could program as he had some time to fill for the November show. So in addition to some other comedian/filmmaker friends I sent his way, I asked him to take a look at Randall, Dave, and Neil’s WWJD, Deborah S. Craig’s White Out, and Jolene Kim’s Cafe on a Staircase. WWJD and White Out are terrifically funny and while Cafe… is not a comedy, I thought it was a lovely film that might round out the evening nicely as well as give the audience an idea of what else could be done with the same four lines.

Not long after announcing the screening, Timothy (whom I met through the INTERPRETATIONS contest) asked about screening his film, The Case. I definitely enjoyed Tim’s stylish, neo-noir take and with that we had our “final” five. Deborah cleverly coined the moniker “MISINTERPRETATIONS” and while that’s how the event was advertised, I really must say, these films and these filmmakers are absolutely winners in my book.  Read more...

INTERPRETATIONS: ‘Bottled Up’ by Joey Yee

  • November 5, 2010 1:06 am

(In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be highlighting other INTERPRETATIONS entries that caught the jurors’ eyes but didn’t make it to the final five. But each day this week, we’ll spotlight the five winning finalists in their own words, followed by a few words about their films from a few of the jurors. Last but not least, Joey Yee.)

JOEY

Born and raised in the city by the bay, Joey Yee is among the last few non-Italian people over the age of 12 with the name Joey. Though he’d never admit to enjoying the hamstring-crippling hills or the fierce wind and fog, Joey Yee takes great pride in his hometown of San Francisco. He loves the city so much that he even decided to stay there for college (a decision totally not influenced by the awesome bachelor pad in his parents’ basement). Nowadays, he divides his time between editing until his fingers fall off and being carded everywhere alcohol is served. see Joey’s INTERPRETATIONS profile page here.

Perhaps one of the most appealing aspects of the Interpretations Film Initiative was the fact that my biggest shortcoming was already taken care of. Really, when it comes to writing dialogue, I suck. So when I had gotten word that the script was already laid out for me (and couldn’t be changed, for that matter) I was stoked. I didn’t need to worry about any of these complicated things like “beats” or “rewrites” or “character development” All it took was that one idea and blammo, I could start shooting.

Although I did eventually think of a story to compliment the dialogue, it wasn’t until I finally decided on a title did I begin to get really excited about it. I guess I’m just one of those people who feel the title is just as important as any other part of the movie. Yeah, I’m just weird like that.  Read more...