murmurandshout:

[T]here was a moment when I was writing Upstream Color where I fell so hard for what it was becoming that I couldn’t think of anything else.

- Television Without Pity

It really started with this notion of personal identity. […] And I think I had this view that, if you could strip away all that subjectivity, strip away everything you’d learned or that you’d been taught or accumulated, that maybe underneath would be this core—that would be plurality of thought, that would be the ability to be malleable to circumstances instead of having a predefined understanding of them. Eventually [it] lead to the idea that maybe there wasn’t anything inside, that maybe we are just an accumulation of these subjective key points of experience. That’s the bit that started to make this whole thing horrific, this idea that you’re not left with anything, that you’re just a lost consciousness in the world.

[…]

[on his next film] It’s actually set all over the world, in all sorts of remote places. It’s about shipping routes and trading commodities, pirates and privateers. It’s a tragic romance. I really can’t wait. It’s going to be a good thing. 

- Interview

“My ability to make another film is directly connected to whatever revenue this movie generates,” he says. “It’s not like, ‘Maybe I can buy a house someday.’ It’s more like, ‘I get to make this film exactly the way it needs to be.’ ”

- Wired

JH: But you act in both your films and you’re a handsome boy. You could probably get acting work.

SC: Oh, well…thank…well, I don’t even know if that’s true. No. No one’s ever – well, actually, that’s not true…

- Film.com

I’m not saying I’m developing a thing for Shane Carruth, I’m just saying he is an engineer and a genius who has decided to use that genius to make movies and I’m not sure how to finish this sentence so I’ll just stop typing.

two-things-productions:

Top 10 Cities to Be a Moviemaker: 2013 

by Kyle Rupprecht

1. Austin, TX (Score: 32)

Making it to the top of our list is the one, the only…Austin. The film capital of Texas—home to SXSW, Austin Film Festival, and Fantastic Fest, to name three—Austin has been a thriving, moviemaker-friendly community for years. “Austin is home to crew members with the talent and technical skills to make good movies, and remains small enough that people help out on each other’s projects when needed, instead of viewing other projects as a threat.” says Sushi director Mark Hall. “Also, the amazing folks at the Austin Film Society have helped me and many others, not only with the facilities to shoot or test what we’re working on, but also with funding through the Texas Film Production Fund.”

The city is home to some of today’s most exciting auteurs, including Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused; Bernie), the Duplass brothers (Baghead; Jeff Who Lives at Home) and, of course, Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi; Machete), who has made virtually all his films in the city, and owns the Austin-based production company, Troublemaker Studios. Rodriguez has also utilized the space at the 10,000-square-foot Austin Studios, managed by the Austin Film Society, which houses production offices, sound stages and the largest green screen in Texas (True Grit and 25th Hour are just two of the films shot there)…

2. New York, NY (Score: 31)

Coming in just behind Austin is the city that never sleeps (and, apparently, never stops filming, either). Though Hollywood may be recognized as the film capitol of the world, it’s in the heart of the Big Apple where the spirit of independent cinema thrives…

…The much less quantifiable upside to making movies in New York is the other people who make movies in New York. NYU, Columbia, the New School, Coopers Union, and Pratt—just to name five—are the university breeding grounds for the next generation of film. And when you throw in the New York International Film Festival, Lincoln Center, the IFC Center, the Angelika, the Nighthawk in Brooklyn (where you can drink a Magic Hat while you’re watching Ryan Gosling kill someone in a Nicholas Winding-Refn film), New York is almost the best place to be a moviemaker. If only it didn’t cost so damned much to live there.

3. Seattle, WA (score: 30.5)

Seattle is quickly becoming a “go-to” city for small-budget moviemakers, with such recently acclaimed indies as Your Sister’s Sister, Safety Not Guaranteed, and Eden taking advantage of all the tax incentive goodies the city (and state) has to offer. “Shooting in Seattle was fantastic,” remarks Rufus Williams, director of Butterfly Dreaming. “The city is a standout for its moody, light-varied looks. But, more than that, the people here are enthusiastic and helpful; I was struck by the tight-knit film community, something that is a real blessing for an independent filmmaker. We benefited immeasurably from the film office’s help in finding great local crews and locations.”

The vibrant Seattle film industry supports over 5,000 jobs, 700 freelancers and contributes $471 million to the city’s economy. And the city makes the filming process as easy as possible for moviemakers. The dedicated Film Office is a one-stop shop for all logistical production needs, and provides permits for use of all city-owned property—for just $25 per project (of up to 14 days) for low-budget film productions. Seattle also offers a number of financial incentives, including a 30 percent cash back film incentive for productions that shoot in the city, as well as sales tax exemptions on rental equipment, vehicles used in production, and 30 consecutive days of lodging.

Much like its independent music scene, Seattle is renowned as a hip indie moviemaking hub, with a strong sense of community and collaboration. Film is serious business in Seattle, and a moviemaker would be hard-pressed to find a more welcoming, creatively inspiring environment to film his or her latest production. “The Seattle filmmaking community is a nurturing, inclusive and vibrant one, filled with folks who have a genuine passion for making movies,” says writer-director Lynn Shelton (the upcoming Touchy Feely; My Sister’s Sister; Humpday) of shooting in her hometown. “Whether it’s a local director or an out-of-town company, our local crews bring so much talent, good spirit and artistry to everything shot here. Seattle filmmakers will undoubtedly continue to deliver excellent homegrown films, building on the reputation of quality that’s been building for the past decade.” Also, MovieMaker first appeared on the streets of Seattle back in 1993. The Emerald City must be doing something right.

4. Los Angeles, CA (score: 29)

5. Portland, OR (score 28.5)

6. Detroit, MI (score: 28)

If you’re looking for a unique city atmosphere—one that offers both beautiful lakefronts and picturesque landscapes, as well as urban environments that range from ultra-modern to dystopian—then film in Detroit. “The history of the town also makes it a fabulous location for a period film, and the blue-collar character of the city can provide interesting drama,” says writer-producer Clark McMillan (Prayer Life). “The very fabric of the city is woven in creativity.”

Perhaps most importantly, Detroit offers a whopping 42 percent tax incentive (for projects with expenditures of at least $100,000), making the Motor City one of the country’s most cost-effective and attractive locations for film productions. The Detroit film office currently has $57 million available for incentives in 2013; in 2012, projects were awarded $17,807,292. The film office also offers an iPhone app that allows moviemakers to access online directories at the touch of a screen—including a location database (featuring 78,000 photos of over 5,400 locations across the state), as well as a production directory of Michigan crew and support services. On top of that, the non-profit organization Film Detroit offers a helping hand to moviemakers by assisting productions in finding appropriate locations and facilities throughout the city, as well as coordinating long-term hotel accommodations for cast and crew—all at absolutely no cost.

With its high tax incentives and array of benefits, the “Motor City” could become just as well known for being the “Movie City.” And since the median home price in Detroit is still hovering around $20,000 (i.e. what it would cost to rent a one bedroom in Greenwich Village for six months), if you’re really intrepid, you can take over an entire block of Detroit and turn it into your own studio lot. If you want to get your hands dirty (and potential crime issues don’t scare you off), the Motor City is calling.

7. Boston, MA (score: 27.5)

8. Albuquerque, NM (score: 27)

9. New Orleans, LA (score: 26)

10. Atlanta, GA (score: 25.5)

Read The Full Article

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Yes, there is a production directory of Michigan crew. And it is a beautiful place to film.

But it’s a broken state of affairs that the focus here is on funding, making films for nothing, while the mass exodus to find film work continues.

Film should work for Michigan, it should put Michigan to work.

Crowdfunding has been revolutionary simply because the platform supports projects that might otherwise never have happened.

Celebrity crowdfunding campaigns are centered on people and properties that are already known. Through their previous exposure, proven fiscal returns, and legions of devoted fans these celebrity properties already have enough momentum to further develop.

But this tweet is EXACTLY the point.

What about new personalities and properties, new creative endeavors? Projects that could speak to us with a new perspective and could only exist through the use of crowdfunding?

At best, celebrity crowdfunding campaigns draw attention to the rapidly growing movement. At worst, they wick money away from proper indie filmmakers, amateurs and unknown professionals at the cusp, who use the funding to create breakout projects and new intellectual properties.

Without this avenue of new creators, the trend of recycling people and properties would undoubtedly continue ad infinitum. The loss of the video store resulted in a consumer tailored experience of self-imposed parameters when seeking entrainment —

I can only hope celebrity crowdfunding doesn’t result in the same loss when making entertainment.

Read more about the loss of the video store and a tailored existence.

$1MM+ in less than a day. My love/hate with crowdfunding continues.

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“Wish I Was Here” is the story of Aidan Bloom (played by me), a struggling actor, father and husband, who at 35 is still trying to find his identity; a purpose for his life. He and his wife are barely getting by financially and Aidan passes his time by fantasizing about being the great futuristic Space-Knight he’d always dreamed he’d be as a little kid.

When his ailing father can no longer afford to pay for private school for his two kids (ages 5 and 12) and the only available public school is on its last legs, Aidan reluctantly agrees to attempt to home-school them.

The result is some funny chaos, until Aidan decides to scrap the traditional academic curriculum and come up with his own. Through teaching them about life his way, Aidan gradually discovers some of the parts of himself he couldn’t find.

It was written by my brother, Adam, and me last summer.

@TheScriptLab

Be so good they can’t ignore you.
Steve Martin

(Source: etsy.com)

True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist.
Albert Einstein

(Source: etsy.com)