May 2002

It may not represent exposure on the scale of Project Greenlight, but if you have a film crying out for some screen time, the new Boston Cinema Census just might earn you a showing at the Brattle Theatre.

Created by the nonprofit collaborative Central Productions and hosted at the Brattle Theatre, the new series will present works by both student and professional filmmakers from across New England. Beginning May 31, 20002, the series will offer a vehicle for emerging visual artists and create an opportunity for audiences to experience local independent filmmaking.

Remember that annoying phrase your parents would say right after you lost a big game or the lead role in the school play? "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again?"

Well, it's back. But this time you'll be happy to hear it, because it's coming from the lips of Lois Vossen, director of broadcast distribution and communication at The Independent Television Service (ITVS).

"Treading Water"

Holidays always seem to bring out the best in some people and the worst in others. This holds true in director Lauren Himmel’s "Treading Water," in which lobster fisherwoman Casey Olsen (Angela Redman) tries to make her family accept her lesbian relationship. Written by Himmel and Julia Hollinger and filmed in Marblehead, MA, "Treading Water" portrays her struggle with insight and compassion.

The country life of Vermont is not exactly what comes to mind when one hears the phrase "melting pot." However, this may soon be challenged by the emergence of a "new" Vermont, one that is more culturally and racially diverse than ever before.

On the Web site, "Blue Vinyl" is described as "a toxic comedy look at vinyl" -- and that it is. The apparent contradiction between toxicity and humor in fact expresses the very essence of what filmmakers Judith Helfand and Dan Gold have accomplished with this documentary film. On one hand a powerful piece of activism, on the other a slightly dry comedy with a very human face, "Blue Vinyl" challenges viewers as consumers to take responsibility for their choices and to consider the entire life cycle and read more...

Who knew the Big Dig was handing out raffle tickets? Well, if you're one of the several hundred people showing up at MIT for in-depth discussions of digital filmmaking, editing, and Final Cut Pro, you already have tickets in hand. This particular Big Dig is actually the nickname given to the monthly drawing of software, hard drives, and other electronic goodies raffled off at the new and vastly popular Final Cut Pro users group in Boston (BOSFCPUG, or "Bossy Pug" as organizers have affectionately dubbed it).

Are you ready to see a film unlike any Hollywood mainstream film? If so, then head over to the Provincetown Art Association Museum on May 10th and 11th for the new experimental showcase for women filmmakers created by Rebecca Alvin.

Having first premiered to "indifference" at Suffolk University, "Alphabet" the super-8 short film created by local filmmaker Chelsea Spear has been gaining ground. Most recently, it screened as part of the Underground Film Revolution program and at the Persistence of Vision screening series at the Boston Film/Video Foundation.