January 2002

If there’s one area where technology can give the artist’s imagination a place to run wild, it's in animated titles. It’s a place where for years the tools of the trade have trailed artistic vision.

Where an artist could envision objects turning into letters, or computer screens fluttering with binary code that morphs into title cards, actually doing this was a pain in the Athlon. Until India Pro from Prismo Graphics.

After a successful run with his Sundance short film hit "Chicken Pox Pal," Andrew Mudge is hard at work on his latest film "The Perfect Gooseys."  Shot in the Boston area, the film is currently in post-production and is expected to premiere in Spring 2002.

AS: Tell me about "The Perfect Gooseys."

Some might say that the austerity of the much-publicized Dogme 95 filmmaking manifesto, which aims to strip down cinema to its raw, essential basics with rigid mandates about natural sets, natural lighting and realistic acting and storylines, is already a way of life for an independent filmmaker. When working with limited means, constructing expensive sets or high-tech special effects isn’t really an option anyway. So it seems natural that an independent filmmaker like Christian de Rezendes would choose to shoot his next film in the Dogme style. read more...

In the wake of the events of September 11th, media and citizens alike sought to understand what kinds of international unrest and inequalities could lead to such violent actions. To this end, documentaries and films about global issues and conflicts have become more important than ever. A new audience, thirsty for social issue films and documentaries, has created a vital need to understand other countries, religions, and ways of life.

Zachary Stratis couldn’t wait to escape his hometown of Everett, Massachusetts. Everett was a dirty, treeless, factory-laden nowhere. Whenever he found himself in more genteel company, he felt self-conscious by his origins, forced to poke jokes at his hometown to maintain a sense of dignity.

What do you get when you combine a male student nurse from England, an eight-time Emmy Award winning comedian/actor/writer/director, and a story about spousal abuse? You get "Black & Blue," starring Paul Wagner -- a unique short film out of Boston. "Black & Blue," a surreal dark comedy dealing with a successful young businessman driven towards suicide in order to escape his wife’s emotional and physical abuse, was written by 23-year-old Brit, and professional psychiatric nurse, Paul Mitchell.

With a title such as "Boy George Michael Jackson Browne," it’s not surprising that filmmaker Memo Salazar’s most recent cinematic creation is a unique and enterprising venture. And, while the technical and creative merits of the feature are certain, what is truly distinctive about this feature is how and where it will be shown.

Women in Film & Video/New England (WIFV/NE) in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, launches its first-ever celebration of work by New England women filmmakers in a week-long film and video festival, January 28 - February 2, 2002. Rewind/Fast Forward: 20 Years of Work by Women in Film & Video/New England, is an opportunity to view important world premieres with the filmmakers present.

After premiering his short film "Bedfellows" at AS220 in Providence, Rhode Island this past summer, filmmaker Michael Grilli got a taste of the possibilities that might lie ahead as he autographed copies of his film for some newfound local fans. But before he could even stop and enjoy the success of completing and premiering "Bedfellows," Grilli set out for Los Angeles to finish his last few credits towards his Masters degree from the Emerson College film program, and to start the process of making contacts in the Hollywood film community.