I have moved

Hey All
I have moved to http://mediaspout.livejournal.com/.

Don't look too hard for a digital story because I didn't create one. I know, I know.

Mr. SNAFU meets Betty Boop

Keeping in the film theme of my blog, I mixed and mashed some old footage from Internet archive to make my own movie.
I incorporated footage that might be seen at the drive-in, because I have unfortunately never been to one. I also included an cartoon staring, Mr. Snafu.

Mr. Snafu(Situation Normal, All Fouled Up) , was created by Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) and Phil Eastman, during the Second World War. The character was used US Army Signal Corps to educate and boost the morale the troops.

In the mash-up he encounters Booby Traps and the lovely-legendary Miss. Betty Boop.

MEET MR.SNAFU!

S.F. International Asian American Film Festival

This Thursday is the launch of the 25Th annual San Francisco Asian American Film Festival, March 15-25. The website is great, with a lot of information, definitely worth checking out. It has information about the films to be shown, tips on how to best enjoy the festival, it also offers essays in regards to the films and Asian Cinema

One of the interesting things that I noticed is SFIAAFF's, incorporation of local high schools in its events. It has specially set up screenings and discussions to encourage the participation of the youth. They offer discounts to students ($9) to encourage students and educators to partake in the festival.

At the festival three competitions will be held and awards for Best Narrative, Best Documentary and the Comcast Audience Awards will be announced. The festival will also be the stage for the World Premiere of seven films.

(below is the trailer for the upcoming festival)



Another organization that I learned about is the Center for Asian American Media. CAAM organizes SFIAAFF every year along with other events in the Bay Area. CAAM "is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. We do this by funding, producing, distributing and exhibiting works in film, television and digital media."
According to their website they are currently seeking interns in the Web/Graphic, Education/Distribution, and Media Funds department.

I hope that you not only consider BUT make a good effort in attending at least one (or two) screenings!

Witness to War

This weekend I attended the Witness to War Documentary Perspectives: World War 2 to Iraq event presented by the DOC Film Institute and International Center for the Arts.



It was a four-day event with screenings of award winning documentaries and renowned filmmakers, critics, and writers. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the highly anticipated compilation from the new seven-part documentary series introduced by Ken Burns, himself at the Castro Theatre. The second evening of the event featured part one of THE WAR, his newest documentary about the Second World War. The series is scheduled to air in September on PBS.

Although I didn't attend the first two nights, I did attend the FREE screenings of the other war documentaries held at the de Young Museum. On Saturday I watched the tribute to Humphrey Jennings a highly regarded British filmmaker. His films Listen to Britain, and A Diary for Timothy were both short documentaries filmed during the Second World War. I actually kinda dozed off during both films, but I got the idea of the films. Listen to Britain didn't have dialogue, the musical soundtrack, and radio edited into the film are the narrative of the film. It is filled with strong images of British soldiers, training, and preparing for battle. A Diary for Timothy, was more interesting because its narrative takes the form of a father keeping a diary for his son, during the last days of the war. As the narrator is describing the events of the last six months of the war, which happen to be the first six months of the Timothy's life, he includes satirical comments about life after war. The letter is somewhat of a warning to Timothy and viewers that perhaps the most fearful things are yet to come after the war.

The third film I watched, Iraq in Fragments was also the closing film for the event. It is James Longley's 2006 Sundance Film Festival documentary winner for Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing. It also won the 2006 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival-Grand Jury Prize, but lost the Academy Award to Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. Mark Danner, an American journalist, who specializes in U.S. foreign affairs, gave a great introduction to the film. He gave high praises to the films ability to show the daily lives of Iraqis during the war. Danner mentioned that he has never viewed a film that eloquently portrayed the lives of civilians in a war zone. The film as indicated by the title is in three fragments. The first follows an 11-year-old boy who works for an auto-mechanic in Baghdad. We witness the boy struggle to learn to read and write, as well as maintain the part-time job that helps his family survive. The second part of the film is more political as follows it, Sadr's followers in opposition of the American Occupation. The group want to rule Iraq according to very strict Islamic customs. There is an intense scene in which men are kidnap and beaten because Sadr's followers believed they were selling alcohol at the market. The final part of the film takes place in the rural part of Iraq where the Kurds own farmlands. Longley films the election for the province's councilman.



I feel that this is a powerful documentary because it gives an in depth first hand account of the lives of Iraqis not shown on the news. The characters that Longley follows represent the three different groups of people currently living in Iraq, the Shia, Sunni, and Kurds. One of the most surprising things I learned was that the conflict among the people was created and fueled by the Saddam and continues to be by the American government. I liked that Longley did not use a narrator but let the characters in his story talk. I also thought it was creative and fresh that he didn't film (or at least edit in) any interviews of the subjects into the documentary.

It's exciting to hear that the DOC Film Institute is a part of San Francisco States and hope that I will be able to take part again in another of there events.

Landmark Theatres, FiLM Club, FLM Magazine

An excellent sources for independent, foreign, and documentary film is Landmark Theatre. It the "nation's largest theatre chain devoted exclusively to art and independent film." In San Francisco alone there are 5 theatres, the Embarcadero Center Cinema, Bridge Theatre, Clay Theatre, Lumiere Theatre, and the Opera Plaza Cinema. Landmark also has theatres in the East Bay and Peninsula. Unlike like the larger chain of theatres, Landmark offers patrons the opportunity to buy espressos, various types of teas, flavored popcorn, and imported chocolates. The Bridge Theatre also is known city wide to offer the BEST Midnight Movie Series known as Midnight Mass-definitely worth checking out. Another characteristic that distinguishes Landmark Theatres is that most of the venues were built during the early 1900's which have since then been renovated.

FLM Magazine is produced by Landmark, it is available every Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. The magazine can only be exclusively picked up at any Landmark Theatre and is absolutely FREE! FLM offers "exclusive essays by filmmakers" from upcoming films soon to be shown at a local theatre.

The FiLM Club sponsored by Landmark Theatre is a weekly newsletter which contains information about upcoming engagements at local theatres, free screening invitations, and opportunities to win newly released DVDs. It is also tailored to local theatres in your area. I was able to watch tons of films this summer like Little Miss Sunshine, The Science of Sleep, Quinceanera, and A Scanner Darkly because of the FREE screening passes offered to members.

Unprecedented

Everyday there is a news story in the paper or in the national networks, even if its a short blurb, about the upcoming Academy Awards . One of the best surprises is the diversity of people, and films nominated. I realized that a great number of Latinos are nominated in various categories. This is an unprecedented record in the history of the Oscars.

Pan's Labyrinth (El laberinto de fauno)
Best Original Screenplay: Guillermo del Toro
Best Art Direction: Eugenio Caballero, Pilar Revuelta
Best Cinematography: Guillermo Navarro
Best Original score: Javier Navarrete
Best Foreign Language Film of the Year




Babel
Best supporting actress: Adriana Barraza
Best Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Best Original screenplay: Guillermo Arriaga
Best Original Score: Gustavo Santaolalla
Best motion picture of the year

Children of Men
Best Film Editing: Alex Rodríguez and Alfonso Cuarón
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alfonso Cuarón.

"Children of Men, a P.D. James novel and directed-dazzingly-by Alfonso Cuaron"---Michael Phillips, CHICAGO TRIBUNE

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Best actress in a leading role: Penélope Cruz
Although Penelope Cruz isn't technically a Latina, (she is from Spain) we like to claim her as one of our own.



As a Mexican-American studying media it is important to see that their are successful Latinos in a tough industry that is Hollywood. It is inspiring be a witness to such an incredible event. Although the chances of the individuals winning all of the categories in which they are nominated for is highly unlikely, the recognition from peers is moving. The nominees are breaking barriers and stereotypes. They are setting goals higher for the Latino youth and community.

Rebel without a Crew

Great stories are those in which the protagonist perseveres through challenges in extraordinary ways. Perhaps one of the greatest stories in Hollywood is the story behind the Mariachi Trilogy by director and writer Robert Rodriguez.Rebel without a Crew: or how a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker with $7,000 became a Hollywood Player, contains Rodriguez's journal entries through the two years it took to raise money, shoot, edit, and sell his first feature length El Mariachi.

Robert Rodriguez's has also directed and written Desperado, and Once upon a Time in Mexico, (the second and third installment of the Mariachi Trilogy), the critically acclaimed and blockbuster Sin City, and co-director and co-producer of Dusk till Dawn with Quentin Tarantino.
Rodriguez demonstrated that perseverance and creative problem solving skills are essential to make the projects we want, and fulfill what dreams we have. Instead of waiting around for Hollywood to give him a chance and help fund film, he personally financed his film. Rodriguez submitted his body scientific research for a month and again for week to raise money for El Mariachi. Being interned at the hospital for a month also allowed him to write a great deal of him script. He also creatively found ways and locations to shoot the film with only the $7,000 dollars his budget allowed.
Aside from the entries, Rodriguez includes a "The Ten-Minute Film School" at the end of the book. In it, he offers motivational words, and ideas as to tackling creative endeavors. If there is no interest in reading the process of making his film, than at least read "The Ten-Minute Film School" it is funny, smart, and filled with advice from his own experience. He is dedicated to being self-sufficient and believes that if you want something done, you have to do it yourself.
I really enjoyed reading Rebel without a Crew. I thought it was insightful, funny, smart, and well written. Rodriquez wrote in a conversational style without taking away from his message.