September 2000

When it was released this summer, I wondered what was all the fuss over an incremental version upgrade of Apple’s Final Cut Pro. Mathematically, I expected the new version 1.25 should be about five-hundredths better than version 1.2 (I didn’t even need a calculator to figure that out). After testing, I found that the newly released FCP 1.25 delivers what users of previous versions have been asking for and more.

read more...

For better or worse, the financial environment of independent cinema is changing. New technologies have altered the filmmaking process, and traditional ways of raising funds and securing distribution are quickly outdated. Yet new funding opportunities for independent filmmakers are emerging just as fast. Whether or not the "digital revolution" changes the way films are made and distributed in the coming years, it will undoubtedly expand opportunities for independent filmmakers seeking funds for their movies.

read more...

Errol Morris first dropped into my cultural radar with the PBS airing of his 1988 masterpiece "The Thin Blue Line." Advertised as the first murder mystery to solve a murder, the film was unlike any documentary I had ever seen (admittedly the breadth of my documentary knowledge at the time was suspect at best). Featuring hypnotic reenactments, a haunting musical score, fascinating characters and culminating with a shocking admission of guilt, "The Thin Blue Line" was film and detective work of the highest order.

read more...

Our last report of the ongoing strike was "An Open Letter to the New England Creative Community" from the SAG/A.F.T.R.A. Strike Committee, which appeared in our July 2000 issue. Here’s a recap, interspersed with actor Will Lyman’s commentary, not intended to represent SAG as a whole:

Since May 1, 2000, SAG/A.F.T.R.A. has been on the longest strike in its history over the terms for new commercial contracts, covering TV and radio commercial work. The embroiled parties are:

read more...

Film festivals are not meant to be glorified excuses for running off to some beautiful city, or stuffing oneself with free food and drinks, or touching up one’s tan by the hotel pool and then, perhaps, seeing a couple of movies. Ideally, they are extraordinary exhibits to attend, where films are viewed for their artistic merit.

read more...

Is it just me, or are people talking as much about the preview of "What Lies Beneath" as much as the film itself? Set and filmed on the shores of Lake Champlain, Vermont, the movie stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford as Claire and Norman Spencer. When their daughter leaves for college, the happy couple is left alone, free to enjoy each other -- or so they think. Instead, a ghost moves in to take the daughter’s place, and the chills begin.

read more...

August marked one year since the first installment of this filmmaking foray. That means my "Sandy 'Spin' Slade: Beyond Basketball" documentary is now in distribution and I'm retiring from royalties, right? Sure, and I know a guy named Spielberg who wants to read your script...

read more...

read more...

In Hollywood, it's said that it's not what you know, it's who you know. In my 20 years of working as story analyst, studio executive, and consultant, I can assure you that networking increases your chances of a big sale 100 percent. But there's a right way to go about it.

read more...

In early October the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline will unveil a new addition: A small, multi-purpose video theater built on the second floor of this Harvard Street landmark.

The new room’s modern feel will be in stark contrast to the art deco styling of the Coolidge’s main theaters. Instead of ornate chairs, there’s bench style seating for about 45 people. Instead of a film projector, there will be an LCD projection system and a digital surround sound system donated by Bose.

read more...