Coffee and Celluloid

Coffee Break - Blue is the New Red Huge Roast of Links

Posted November 5th, 2008 at 2:16 pm by C47

So a while back I used to post cool links each Wednesday for a Coffee Break series. For many reasons (mainly time and laziness), I haven’t posted cool links in a while. But I still have a bunch saved up.

So in the spirit of new beginnings, I’m just going to offload everything I’ve had stored up and start fresh.

And just to recap why yesterday was one of the greatest days of my life: Voted in my first presidential election, free Starbucks, free Krispy Kreme, got an iPhone(!), ScottDobie thought my tweet “I feel like today is the day Frodo tosses the ring into Mount Doom” was wittier than both Leo Laporte and John Hodgman, watched the election results at the Democrat results party with all my friends, and the good guy finally won!

The best part - Obama robot at Disney’s Hall of Presidents!

Now enjoy the links.

The company now offers celebrity wannabe packages, including the A-List—Ariel’s choice—which gives clients four personal paparazzi for 30 minutes and a mock-up of a high-gloss tabloid magazine cover with their picture, for $730. The Superstar package ($990) lasts for an hour and the Megastar ($3,000) provides clients with six paparazzi for two hours, limo service, a publicist and a bodyguard. And for customers who hope to get into places like the Waverly Inn or La Esquina just because of the scene they’re setting, it’s priceless, says Drew Tinnin, Celeb 4 A Day’s New York manager. “We’ve gotten people past the velvet rope. Restaurants and clubs usually like the attention we get them when we show up with our clients.”

15 Minutes of Fame, On Sale Now | Page Six Magazine | The New York Post.

Objectified: A Documentary Film by Gary Hustwit - On seven years in the indie film business

From the director of my fav Helvetica on how he’s made a living doing small documentaries.

The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card | The Art of Manliness (via Chic and Charming)

Documentary Club - If you like documentaries

Hi-Res Star Trek Comic-Con Posters - Movie News

Day 1, Chip Heath on Flickr - Very cool illustration explaining the must-read book ‘Made to Stick‘

Full List of Stuff White People Like « Stuff White People Like - Very funny. One of the fastest Blog-to-Book examples

indieWIRE: FIRST PERSON | Film Department’s Mark Gill: “Yes, The Sky Really Is Falling.” - I plan to write more about this, but if you haven’t read it - do so

Channel 4 recreates The Shining to promote its Kubrick season | Media | guardian.co.uk

2008 Design Trends - Very cool designs for inspiration

Metropolis « Finding Some Direction - The missing reels from Metropolis have been found. This is so amazing.

The Steady Approach Part 2 | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio (via Coudal) - Interview with Garrett Brown, inventor of the Steadicam

The Media Equation - Little Movies, Big Problems - NYTimes.com - Indie films not doing so hot

Filmmaker Magazine | Spring 2008: NO VACANCY - The Visitor, the only indie film that did pretty good this year

Typeface - Documentary on Typeface. I have a feeling I’ll like this film. Helvetica and Typeface box set coming soon? Wingdings as a special feature?

The Simple Dollar » How To Write an Effective Thank You Note for Any Occasion

The Ira Glass Guide to Link Bait | Copyblogger

Cat got your tongue, follow these tips — Young Go Getter

What Does A Stylish Man Look Like?

Grocery List: Never Forget an Item at the Supermarket - These two links good for craft service shopping

grocerylists.org | FREE DOWNLOADABLE GROCERY LIST

Mastering the Informational Interview - Shifting Careers - Small Business - New York Times Blog

russell davies: how to be interesting

the media artist: Are You Interesting?

Prepping for Warren Buffett: The Art of the Elevator Pitch (Videos) | The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss

johnaugust.com » Scripting a short film

johnaugust.com » Rethinking motivation

From the Heart Productions :: The Roy W. Dean Film and Writing Grants

Ultimate Video Relay | How it Works

south by southwest festivals + conferences

The Best Places to Watch Documentary Movies Online | MakeUseOf.com

2008 Animated Shorts Nominees — OZOUX.COM

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Posted in Budgeting, Cinematography, Coffee & Celluloid, Equipment, Pre-Production, Preparation, Production | No Comments

Geoffrey Gilmore and the Creature from the Black Lagoon

Posted October 15th, 2008 at 8:04 pm by C47

So right before I went off on documentary making adventures, Mr. Gilmore and I had a rendezvous back in Tallahassee.

First, to belay any doubts I had when I ended my last recount of our adventures, he did remember me. Joining him was Julie Le Brocquy who produced Osama, an amazing film I saw back in High School.

The Film School was hosting its annual Gala and graduate program graduation, where they screen the 4 graduate thesis films, so Geoffrey was one of the distinguished guests. We also screened Ballast, which is a story worth a separate post.

There was a lot of driving around, some cool (free) lunches and Julie was super cool and super European, which makes her even super cooler.

The highlights? They actually had nothing to do with films or screenings. Frank, the Dean, wanted Geoffrey to have a little relaxation, so we all went to Wakulla Springs - one of the largest freshwater springs in the world and the shooting location for cinema gems such as Creature from the Black Lagoon and Tarzan.

I had never been there before but it was absolutely beautiful. It was also a spoiling first time venture since we chartered a tour boat with only 8 passengers, so I was free to roam to any side to snap some cool pics.

The other highlight? Taking Geoffrey and Julie to the mall. With monopoly money being worth more than the Dollar, to Julie and her Euro, everything in America is practically half off, so she wanted to buy some gifts for her son, whom I became a size model for.

Nothing eventful happened, I just like the image that I’m walking around a clothes store at the Tallahassee Mall with the Director of the Sundance Film Festival.

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Posted in Career, Film School | 1 Comment

Hollywood Parties and Last Stop 174

Posted September 7th, 2008 at 8:07 pm by C47

Last Stop 174 aims to tell the human side of the bus hijacking in 2000 in Rio de Janeiro. The film felt very real and was like a portrait of a world. It reminded me of City of God, something that was brought up a lot (the main actor was even in City of God).

It was inspired by a documentary, Bus 174. Bruno Barreto, the director, wanted it to be realistic but not naturalistic, an interesting approach to a film based on real events.

I definitely learned a bit about Brazil, especially how racism is still a problem, but it’s more racism based on class than skin color. There’s a Brazilian quote, “equals are treated equally in front of the law,” and Last Stop touches on that a lot.

Paul had released one of Bruno’s earlier films, so we were invited to a premiere party. This would be one of those ‘Hollywood’ parties I keep hearing about, the place where you meet people, wheel-and-deal, and say, “oh yeah, we met at that Bruno Barreto party,” during the Q&A of the film you and your party buddy made.

Just one problem - I’m terrible at mingling. Fortunately the drinking age is not 21 here, so I was able to use the free drink ticket and get a mojito that challenges Miami. After latching onto my fellow classmates, we eventually started talking to one of the producers of Last Stop.

Not helping my cause, he said parties were great because you get to talk to people in a relaxed environment. I think our definitions of a relaxing environment differ greatly.

We did talk about film festivals and how certain films are right for certain festivals. He knew Last Stop was a TIFF film and not a Cannes or Sundance film, even though they’re all great and prestigious festivals. He brought up a good point - you don’t want to be the film that applies and doesn’t get in. Create a festival plan and apply to what’s right for the film, not because it’s popular.

The group got invited to another party, but I skipped out to go see a film I had really been looking forward to - Blood Trail.

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Posted in Film Festival | 2 Comments