Where My Blacktors At?

As of lately this movie reviewer has been watching her fair share of black romantic comedies. When I was talking to my best friend about this situation she put it simply because "Girl you're black , and looking for love." Maybe. Or maybe I was watching them because I cant find my quality black romantic comedies and black love stories in the theaters any more!!

Remember there was a time from about 1999 to 2004 when we had this nice steady stream of black romantic movies. Films such as Brown Sugar, The Wood, The Brothers, Two Can Play That Game, Breaking all The Rules, Deliver Us From Eva, Love Jones, Love and Basketball and to me the top of the heap The Best Man. It also would include what I've branded the "Black Pack". The most common players in these movies would include Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Sanaa Lathan and Gabriel Union with a few supporting characters like Omar Epps, Vivica Fox, Nia Long, Tamala Jones, maybe a rapper turned actor like L.L. Cool J and Queen Latifah to round out the cast.

These films would be like any other romantic comedy. You know the whole boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, some issue happens where they are mad at each other, then they make up and get together and all that jazz. The only major difference would just be the color of the cast and usually some comedian would be in it to be the comic relief. Not since the blaxploitation movies of the 70's and the break dancing/rap movies of the 80's had we seen such a large swell of movies that showcased new upcoming black actors. These movies were enthusiatically recieved by audiences of all colors. So why arent' they in the movie theatres now!?!

However, if I were to walk down the aisle in Blockbuster video or go on Netflix I would see a long list of straight to video black films that I've never even heard of. Does Hollywood think they are non-profitable so they put them straight to DVD? Were we not supporting these movies like we should have? Is it because Black Folks watch too many damn bootleg movies so these films werent seeing the profit that they should have? Maybe. But also we have to look into finding good material to film, because if I have to sit through another film like the Seat Filler I will hurt somebody.

Fortunately Tyler Perry has been picking up some of the slack in recent years with the black romantic comedy through his blockbusters Diary of Mad Black Woman, Madea's Family Reunion, and Why Did I Get Married ?just to name a few. Bottom line is we have to support these films, because in the end no matter what race you are you're just watching a good movie. And that is what it's all about.


So excuse me, it's time for me to watch my guilty pleasure B*A*P*S

NY indieseen readers!! I want to hear your opinions on black films. I wanna hear what your favorite black romantic comedies and black love stories are. Email me at moviechik80@hotmail.com

Movie Review:The Seat Filler

Well I came across this film on my Netflix queue, because it was a recommended movie and it was a watch instantly film, so I said “Hey, why not.” In this movie Duane Martin (remember him? Mr. Tisha Campbell) is Derrick a man trying to find his way in life and LA. He has a law degree and MBA, but alas no job. That means crashing at his friend’s apartment and taking the bus.

In order to get some extra cash to pay for his classes that prepare him to take the California State Bar Exam he becomes a seat filler. You know one of those people that sits in empty seats at award shows whenever someone goes to the bathroom, doesn’t show up, etc. While sitting in a seat at a music award show he meets R & B singer Jhnelle (played by Kelly Rowland in a major acting stretch), who literally falls into Derricks arms when she breaks a heel. They strike up a conversation and she sees what a nice and good looking guy Derrick is. However, Jhnelle doesn’t realize Derrick is merely a seat filler and thinks he is actually in “the business”.

Jhenelle sees Derrick at another awards show and thinks he is in fact Alonzo Grant the man whose seat he is filling. Derrick keeps up the charade of being Alonzo Grant, who is a powerful entertainment lawyer, because he is afraid that Jhnelle will find out that he isn’t rich, powerful, or drives a sports car. Derrick also goes to such great lengths as “borrowing” a Bentley, posing at Alonzo Grants office, and pretending to be a VIP at the club. Also while he is dating Jhnelle he starts missing his bar exam classes and he has to deal with her jack ass of a playboy ex-boyfriend (Shemar Moore playing a soap star. Once again an acting stretch).

Ok. So let me say I really watched this movie because Shemar Moore is in it, and I still have my high school-girl crush on him. I looked at the imdb page and saw it was released in 2004 and I wondered “Why didn’t I hear about this movie before?” I’ll tell you why. It went straight to DVD because this movie isn’t all that great. It had not one, not two, but three writers which include Duane Martin, Tisha Campbell-Martin, and Mark Brown to write this? Plus as a Romantic Comedy its “Comedy” really missed. DeRay Davis is the so called comic relief as Derricks friend EJ, who I didn’t find funny so much as annoying. Every time he cracked a joke I thought “Could you please SHUT UP!!!!”

The movie had potential with an interesting premise with the whole seat filler aspect (and honestly I wish I could be one to earn a little extra cash), but its just totally a by the numbers romantic comedy and entirely predictable. Don’t even get me started on Kelly Roland. As pretty as she is, I kept thinking as I watched her perform her songs in the movie “She ain’t no Beyonce!” She just doesn’t have that OOOMPH, IT, RAZMATAZZ that some popular perfomers’ have.

Even as much as I want to support my Black Romantic Comedies, I just cant stand behind this one. It seemed to drag on even at a mere 1 ½ hours. Now everyone has a different opinion and if you want to check it out and see for yourself then I say go ahead, but don’t come back whining to me that you want that 90 minutes of your life back.

I give it 1 ½ out of 5 tickets.

Worlds Apart- A Good Film with a Great Story

Last Friday I was able to be a part of a very special event in Philadelphia: The Philadelphia Film
Festival. This festival debuts new documentaries and Independent cinema. I was got so excited about this event because, being a movie fanatic, I enjoy seeing new stories getting told through film and also viewing films which are totally brand new to the public. So, I went down to the Ritz 2 theater here in Philly, ( feelingg cozy and at home in the warm theather enivonment) in anticipation of seeing Worlds Apart. Worlds Apart is a Danish film directed by Niels Arden Oplev, co-written by Oplev and Steen Bille. This movie is relatable, emotional, and triumphant.

In the movie Worlds Apart, the main character, Sara is a devout Jehovah's Witness who never strays away from her beliefs. Sara, (played wonderfully by actress Rosalinde Mynster) always goes with her father and church on neigborhood missions work and stays grounded in Biblical principles. While she does these things greatly, Sara is also still seventeen years old. Like most seventeen year olds, she hangs out with her best friend duringd down time and likes to dance and have fun. I enjoyed in the movie how director Olev portrayed this through various scenes. These scenes create a relatable aspect: a woman today can see herself in Sara's life. A good example, a scene where Sara's best friend Thea helps her with her makeup during a party. This aspect, of being seventeen and hanging out is one of the most memorable things in the movie: who can ever forget great times like these with your bestie? Another , I can relate to that moment in this movie, comes in the main scene in which Sara meets a young man at a disco tech. At first, Sara is apprehensive about talking to this new guy, (played excellent by actor Johan Philip Asbaek). The prospective man, Teis, tries to get closer to Sara( great scene that shows this, when Sara and Thea are dancing, and Teis tries to come over, but can't!) Teis takes his time though, slowly becoming Sara's friend, through chatting online and meeting to talk at the mall.

Now, you may read into this story in Worlds Apart and think, ok this sounds so sweet, where's
the drama? the drama comes in the movie with the developing romance between Sara and Teis. Sara begins hanging with Teis, tells Thea to cover for her when one day she misses the train from a date with Teis, and can't get home. This is the turning point in the movie. Actress Rosalinde Mynster really shows the emotion well, of a young woman who wants to stay true to her faith by refusing an offer to stay at Teis's house since she missed the last train home. Through Roalinde's acting, you feel sympathy for her: you wished she had made that train so she wouldn't be faced with a difficult decision. Actor Johan Philip does a great job too in this scene, refusing to let Sara stay at the platform till moring, urging her to be safe and stay at his place( he even says he would pick her up and carry her away if she keeps fighting him! lol) Sara finally says ok, and spends the night at Teis's house. At Teis's, Sara has another dilemma on her hands:sleeping arrangements. Teis,being the gentleman he is, goes on the floor and Sara gets
the bed. After some small talk, Teis somehow gets beside Sara. Sara resists Teis's advances, and Teis respects her wishes to not be intimate. Eventhough nothing happpned between Teis and Sara, she does tell him that night that she wants to be a couple with him.

Emotions in Worlds Apart come with the exciting love and relationship between Teis and Sara. Sara has not told her father , played well by actor Jens Jan Spottag, about her new boyfriend. Sara's dad, the character Andreas, is a loving father to his children who is very devoted to the Jehovah's Witness religion. He leads his children in Bible studies, works with them on missions, and is a present factor in their lives. Andreas begins to sense something strange in Sara's behavior: she seems too happy at one point ( actress Rosalinde Mynster hams it up showing Sara's happiness, singing hymns loud in church, smiling broadly at her best friend during service, just gleeful at home). Soon, like most parents who have an invisible radar their children can't see ( point of fact, some parents can just tell when something is going on with their child)
Andreas decides its time to have a talk with Sara. It turns out, Andreas knows that Sara has a boyfriend, and he dissaproves: unless the potential mate is a member of the Jehovah's Witness
family, she cannot date him. Sara begs to at least be able to be Teis's friend, but her dad just thinks it won't work. The emotional struggle begins, and it only gets worse when Sara has to confront the Elders of her church and tell them EVERYTHING that happned the night she spent at Teis's house! Sara becomes torn, but still she stays with Teis. Eventually, it all becomes too much for her too handle... I won't give away the ending of this story, but go check out the movie to see!

Overall, the performances in Worlds Apart were brillant. You could see the overprotective father played well by actor Jens Jan Spottag, the caring and loving boyfriend( who in the movie
even decides to become a Jehovah's Witnesss since he's having so many problems being able to be with Sara.. he doesnt' stick through with it) played well by actor Johan Philip Asbaek, and finally the great performance by Rosalinde Mynster, who showed a young woman, dedicated to her faith, but falling in love deeply with a guy who she cares about. This movie, Worlds Apart, really shows how hard it can be for young women in religion, who want to date but face challenges when their mate is met with opposition. Also, Worlds Apart also shows just how tight the family bond is. In the movie, Sara's brother Jonas, was disowned by the family and expelled from the Jehovah's Witness religion, due to him sinning against the church. When Sara goes to her brother for help with her love situation, he grabs her and hugs her: the love between a brother and sister is a bond that even a church cannot break. I liked how this relationship between Sara and her brother was displayed. This was a triumph in the movie, the coming together of Sara and her brother, plus her mom too, ( who didn't agree with the Jehovah's Witness church rules and supported Sara in her decision to stay with Teis). The family love
shined, and Sara was not completly by herself in her hard situation.

Worlds Apart, go see it. You will not be dissapointed and its a wonderful experience.

Movie Review: I'm Through With White Girls!

In this comedy we meet Jay Brooks. He is not what you would call your typical Black Man living in America. He has a job as a graphic novel artist, listens to Indie rock, and dates nothing but white women. Ok well maybe he is like the typical Black man living in America. Jay just can’t seem to commit to relationships and ends each one by writing his spurned lovers a note on yellow legal paper. You know the whole “It’s not you, it’s me” type of BS. According to Jay it takes a special white girl to be in the black/white relationship

But a discovery is at hand, when Jay is at a lunch with his childhood best friend Drake and his fiancee J.C. He sees the dynamic of the black family that comes together and bonds. Jay’s conclusion is that maybe his problem with being in relationships is the simple fact that he had never really dated a black woman. So he decides to give white girls up “cold turkey”, and makes it his mission to only date black women. His white friends at work coin his search “Operation Brown Sugar” and even his friends tell him that they don’t envision him dating a black woman.

It seems that Jay doesn’t date black women for a reason, because he seems to have utterly nothing in common with them. Also throw in the fact that he is extremely immature, emotionally stunted, and has no car in Los Angeles no black woman will really put up with him.

However one day while visiting J.C. his friend’s fiancée at work, he comes to meet Catherine a writer with a newly released book. He finds her to be cute and quirky, being a light skinned mixed race woman with funky dreads. She is a very modern day black boho type. They both fall for each others quirks and see if they can make the relationship work.

In this relationship both have insecurities that they must face. Catherine being a writer cannot fathom having to read aloud her own work without worrying about being criticized of her speaking voice claiming that the more excited and nervous she gets the more she sounds like a valley girl. She believes this flaw makes it hard for people to take it seriously. Jay has to face his issues with commitment and find that it is his immature self that keeps running from relationships. And maybe it just wasn’t white women that was his trouble, just maybe it was him.

Now I want to say bluntly I didn’t expect much from this low budget indie black romantic- comedy. On the title alone I was like “Oh Lord, what kind of movie is this anyway?” But I found myself laughing out loud quite a few times at the well executed humor. Plus added bonus you get to see Alaina Reed Hall aka Rose from 227 and Johnny Brown who played Bookman on Good times. And Hunky dancer/model/actor Marcus Patrick makes an appearance as a tasty football player. Yummy!!!

I give it 3 ½ tickets out of 5. See it!

Movie Review: I Love You Man

This movie is a new breed of movie I like to call a bromantic comedy.
The ever affable Paul Rudd plays Peter Klaven. He is newly engaged to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones) after only 8 months of dating. One night when Zooey is at home dishing with girlfriends, she comes to realize that Peter doesn’t have any close friends and none which can be called a best man. His “friends” are mostly comprised of work acquaintances and members of his family. After overhearing his fiancée talk about him and his lack of buddies, Peter makes it his mission to make some new guy friends. He then enlists help from his gay brother Robbie played by an alarmingly charming Andy Samburg. Robbie insists he goes on man dates. It is basically an outing of straight men to get together and know each other and become friends. Some of the real comedy is seeing Peter on the man dates, because you see that meeting friends is just like dating. That most of the people you meet are by no means normal but instead complete freaks. Then by happenstance he meets Sydney Fife (Jason Segal). Sydney is slob of a guy who prowls on divorcees and refuses to curb his dog, but is also very articulate and easygoing. Peter and Sydney hit it off bonding over their love of Rush and playing in a band. However as Peter and Sydney’s bond grows stronger, the relationship between Peter and Zooey grows strained as she starts to feel left out.

This movie is a really good movie. I found myself laughing out loud a lot and I really liked the relationship between Paul Rudd and Jason Segal. In this sort of movie of the Judd Apatow persuasion (He is not related to this project though) it doesn’t disappoint. I give it 4 tickets.


4 out of 5 tickets

Wallabout Film Festival 2009

Wallabout is: a collaborative project putting cultural assembly into explicitpractice; a collective celebrating artists’ efforts and the co-production of art; a festival promoting the continuous flow of creative episteme and the techne. It is a question leading to a question leading to a question. Wallabout is committed to challenging our minds while exulting the works of to-day. Wallabout is about it all. First and foremost, efforts will go towards the moment of creative collision. We
strive to deliver innovative work and host an atmosphere conducive for playful and intellectual discourse. The passion to bring people together cannot cease. The Wallabout Film Festival submerges itself in the evolution of film while acting as a liaison between creators and community. Particularly attributing the short film, we acknowledge the diversity of expression captured within motion picture.

A short can challenge, entertain, and inspire its audience as aptly as a feature length film. Perhaps a champion of brevity and simplicity, a piece could very well dip and delve into any complexity of our world, opening our eyes to something new. We support the heart of the creative realm and wish to promote its essential role in our everyday lives. Be it in schools, on the street, or in a book, we believe the arts are not a supplement, but a necessity. You are an artist. We are an artist. The spirit of independent filmmaking constantly pushes and remodels the standard. Whether created with state-of-the-art equipment or with the most basic
devices, the accessibility to short film allows any ambitious visionary the opportunity to innovate. The format essentially cultivates this democratic approach to creative expression. Wallabout seeks entries that individually contribute towards this development of film and manifest the vast range of perspective.

Whether it is a film viewing or a casual discussion over chocolate, we very
much believe in the importance of interaction within communities, Brooklyn,
New York, and beyond. Though the world with its many differences seems to
expand by the second, we hope to establish a neighborhood of understanding
and curiosity while moving forward, together.

The Wallabout Film Festival will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2009,
at Pochron Studios, 20 Jay Street, in Brooklyn, New York.

Selections will be judged by a panel that includes an array of filmmakers and
artists and shall be evaluated in the categories of Fiction and Non-Fiction.
Entries are to be submitted on DVD or Blu-ray disc by the deadline of
April 10, 2009, along with the official entry form.

Run time must not exceed 8 minutes and the film should have been completed within the last year (finished after March 2008). All guidelines and requirements must be followed in order to
be eligible.

Entries are to be mailed to:
The Program in Critical and Visual Studies
Dekalb Hall, Office 315
Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205

The Great Buck Howard - A movie that will make you smile

This past Saturday I truly saw my zodiac sign , Libra's indecisive nature kick in. I didn't know which film I should see, being that their are many that have been released the past few weeks. After going through the listings and reading reviews, I finally came upon a movie I should see: The Great Buck Howard. What drew me to wanting to see this film was the story; the story of a young man who was not fulfilled with his career, so he decides to try a new path. Also, another element that drew me in to wanting to spend a few dollars was that John Malkovich was going to star . He brings an intense, yet realistic portrayal to his roles. Malkovich was not quite as intense in this film, but he played well opposite Colin Hanks, who was the calm to Malkovich's sometimes outspoken character. The Great Buck Howard, this movie charms you due to its down to earth tone, humor, and emotional depth.

Colin Hanks in this film, stars as Troy Gabel, a young man who goes through law school, but finds himself unhappy with his career choice. Troy does not feel fulfilled with what he is doing. Hanks, narrating during the movie, brings an honest voice to his character. You can feel this when he begins to list the excuses he will tell his dad ( played by real life father actor Tom Hanks) about why he decided to drop out of school. Hanks gives his character a quiet, unassuming touch. One can feel this quality as his character Troy begins to look for jobs after dropping out of school, and eventually lands an interview with The Great Buck Howard, an illusionist who is attempting an comeback to the entertainment scene. Hanks also shows through his calm stage presence how the character Troy almost always can settle down his boss, The Great Buck Howard. Buck Howard can be shrewd, antsy, and a bit naiive; he comes from another place in time...


John Malkovich, starring as The Great Buck Howard, truly becomes a man from another time period. Buck Howard was a star during the Tonight Show era of Johnny Carson. It is as if Buck has not left that time period. One can see this through Buck's clothes, high show biz nature. When Buck is first introduced to Troy during their interview, I expected him to be arrogant and unfriendly due to the background that his top manager gave Troy before he came. However, there is a warm nature to Buck which Malkovich shows. He doesn't scare the young Troy away, but rather is eager to get his career going and will work with anyone who can aid in the endeavor. Malkovich , while many at first see his character Buck as a sweet older man, suddenly shows the fiery side of his character when he goes on the road. Buck is a man who has to have everything his way, no mistakes accepted at all. Malkovich portrays this character trait well, showing how small things such as stage setup, press interviews not going well irritate this great
star of the past, Buck Howard, to no end.

While Malkovich and Hanks played well off of each others character, another standout performance in this movie came from actor Steve Zahn. Zahn plays one of Buck's hosts in Oregon, who is assigned to help him around the town. Zahn and his fellow hostess, played well by actress Wendy Worthington, are so excited that Buck is there and are truly big fans of his. After the duo make an error in judgment with one of Buck's shows( Worthington's character decides to sing a tribute song to Buck before he goes on stage, much to Buck's chagrin) they get kicked off the tour. Zahn's character really is upset about the decision. He tells Troy how his friend only wanted to sing a nice song for Buck, and how much Buck, just getting his autographed picture, means to him. This is the scene in the movie where Steve Zahn shines. You can feel the emotion in his characters voice, persona, and the dedication he represents of a fan who has been moved in his life by this one man, Buck Howard. I felt like crying right with Zahn's character during this scene; you can't help but be touched.

Overall, The Great Buck Howard is a good movie. Other standout performances include Tom Hanks, as Troy's dad. He showed the stern, hardcore nature of a father who does not understand his sons choice. It was great to see Tom Hanks on screen with his real life son, Colin. I felt like two different generations were working together( also its crazy how much Colin favors his dad in looks!!) Emily Blunt, as the character Valerie, was not very strong. She has a striking onscreen presence, however in her role as an aggressive Publicity Assistant, I didn't see much depth in her performance. Also, Colin Hanks, I wanted to see more depth from his performance as well. The character Troy seemed too calm at times. I wanted to see Troys young side, the one that I know would have rebelled a little to Buck Howard's sometimes overdrive personality.


To conclude, I will say go see The Great Buck Howard!!! it will leave you with smiles on your face, particulary the middle of the movie towards the end ( events happen that I won't give away!)

It's TFF Time!!

New York, NY [March 16, 2009] – The 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by American Express, the founding sponsor of the Festival, today announced its line-up of short films. The Festival received 2463 short film submissions this year, and 46 have been selected for participation to be presented in six thematic programs. Among the highlights is a short narrative written and directed by Tom Everett Scott, as well as a documentary narrated by Richard Gere. Directors making return visits to the Festival include Jason DaSilva, Brian Durnin, Paula Gaitán, Ken Jacobs and Mark Street.

This year’s Festival shorts are a culmination of works from across the globe, including Cuba, Brazil, Norway, Italy, South Korea and Australia. The voices behind these works range from first-time to veteran filmmakers that include animators, graphic artists and actors taking the helm behind the camera. Collectively, through captivating narratives and gripping documentaries, they tell stories about life’s lessons drawn from dreams, desires and the coming-of-age experience.

“The films in this year’s program represent a strong showcase in the craft of short filmmaking. It's exciting that as digital content platforms continue to emerge, short films are accessible to, and being watched by an increasingly larger audience.” said Maggie Kim, Tribeca Film Festival shorts programmer.

"These six thematic programs contain elements that everyone can relate to - from growing up to dealing with work issues to being faced with irrevocable decisions. It's a solid line-up with narrative, documentary and experimental short films all of which express a unique way of storytelling in this format,” said Sharon Badal, Tribeca Film Festival shorts programmer.

The 46 works in the 2009 short film line-up are eligible to compete for combined cash and value-in-kind prizes totaling more than $15,000 for Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short and Student Visionary Award, sponsored by Apple. The jurors for each of the shorts categories—narrative, documentary and student—will be announced at a later date.

Through April 12, 2009, consumers have the opportunity for the first time in the Festival’s history to help select a short film to premiere in the Festival through Delta’s Fly-In Movies competition. Five short film finalists were selected by the Festival programmers and are currently playing on Delta flights equipped with Delta on Demand. They are also available for viewing at delta.com/flyinmovies, where customers can rate each film. The film rated highest by viewers will receive the final spot in this year’s Festival shorts program.

Following is a listing of the selected short films in the six programs in which they will be presented:

Means to an End
Everyone’s just trying to make it through another day in these short films. Discover what’s on the menu at Café Paraíso. A dancing pineapple loses her rhythm in Oda a la Piña, while a rickshaw driver tries not to miss the boat in 3 Wheels. A loyal employee longs for a promotion in The Company Man. Two Average Joes dig their way through the meaning of life in Deconstruction Workers. In Glock, a new secret agent “kills” time waiting for his first assignment, while in Almost Every Day, Agatha navigates work, love and the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

· 3 Wheels, (China, Taiwan R.O.C.), Narrative, World Premiere, directed by Tony Wei, written by Chung Lee (Student film)
· Almost Every Day (Quase Todo Dia), (Brazil, USA), Narrative, World Premiere, directed and written by Gandja Monteiro
· Café Paraíso, (Mexico), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Alonso Ruizpalacios (Student film)
· The Company Man, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Andrew Zappin
· Deconstruction Workers (Bygningsarbeidere), (Norway), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed by Kajsa Næss, written by Kjartan Helleve
· Glock, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed by Tom Everett Scott, written by Michael McMillian, Tom Everett Scott
· Oda a la Piña, (Cuba), Narrative, North American Premiere, directed and written by Laimir Fano (Student film)

Mixed Feelings
Dreams and desires are contemplated and complicated in this group of shorts. Practically perfect simply isn’t enough in This Will All Make Perfect Sense Someday. Prepare for emotional turbulence in Delta’s Fly-In Movies Competition Winner. Interwoven stories with a cultural connection show the challenges of living in Nueva York. A big helping of truth is served at a dinner party in Oil Change. Mary Jane wonders if she’ll ever leave the Navajo reservation in Shimasani. Five characters collide with cosmic consequences in Of Best Intentions. In Cutlass, Robin remembers what it’s like to want something really, really badly.

· Cutlass, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Kate Hudson
· Nueva York, (USA), Narrative, World Premiere, directed and written by Manolo Celi
· Of Best Intentions, (Ireland), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Brian Durnin
· Oil Change, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Todd Luoto
· Shimasani, (USA), Narrative, World Premiere, directed and written by Blackhorse Lowe
· This Will All Make Perfect Sense Someday, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Long-Cuu Phan

Wake-up Call
These shorts show life lessons learned, some the hard way. An ex-con confronts an abusive guard from his past in Deadline. Whom would you rat out in Section 44? An immature twenty-something grows up and comes out in Cal Express. Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore in The Tinwoodsman’s Home Movie #2. “Unhappy” is a seven-letter word in Wu. Gail is torn between a fish and her family tradition in Gefilte Fish. After 20 years, a man takes The North Road home to Beirut to reclaim his father and his past.

· Cal Express, (USA), Narrative, World Premiere, directed and written by Sergio Carvajal (Student film)
· Deadline, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed by Joseph Bakhash, written by Sean McPhillips
· Gefilte Fish, (Israel), Narrative, North American Premiere, directed and written by Shelly Kling-Yosef (Student film)
· The North Road (La route du Nord), (France), Narrative, North American Premiere, directed and written by Carlos Chahine
· Section 44, (UK), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Daniel Wilson
· The Tinwoodsman's Home Movie #2, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed by Naomi Uman, Lee Lynch
· Wu, (France), Narrative, North American Premiere, directed and written by Cécile Vernant

Truth or Consequences
These mature shorts concern growing up, getting off and getting by. Not recommended for those under 16. Twelve-year-old Adriana spends a steamy summer at the sea in Sunspots. Step back to the pre-Internet world of porn in Love Does Grow on Trees. An Irish lad seeks solace from a priest in The Confession. Kenny is a country club lifeguard living in a haze, but one day all that changes in Blue Boy. Sophie hopes for a visit from the Tooth Fairy in Small Change, and two teenagers ditch school and discover a dark place in Search. Georgia’s journey to find her biological mother veers off-course when she meets the Nowhere Kids.

· Blue Boy, (USA), Narrative, World Premiere, directed by Alex Jablonski, written by Alex Jablonski, Kevin Canty (Student film)
· The Confession, (Ireland), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Thomas Hefferon
· Love Does Grow on Trees, (UK), Narrative, USA Premiere, directed and written by Bevan Walsh
· Nowhere Kids, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed by Eric Juhola, written by Eric Juhola, Jeremy Stulberg, Lindsay Goldwert
· Search, (USA), Narrative, World Premiere, directed by Lisa M. Perry, written by Aaron Walker (Student film)
· Small Change, (Australia), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Anna McGrath (Student film)
· Sunspots (Macchie di Sole), (Italy), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed by Stella di Tocco, written by Enrique Esteve

Time Will Tell
This group of documentary shorts will leave a lasting impression on the heart and mind. A sacred Tibetan cultural site is restored in Mustang – Journey of Transformation. Flooded with memories, home is where the heart is. Will you root for Team Taliban? In The Last Mermaids, a story swims beneath the surface about generations of women divers. A filmmaker chronicles his personal experience with multiple sclerosis in First Steps. Finally, in Skin, beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

· First Steps, (USA), Documentary, World Premiere, directed and written by Jason DaSilva
· home, (USA), Documentary, New York Premiere, directed by Matthew Faust
· The Last Mermaids, (USA, South Korea), Documentary, North American Premiere, directed by Liz Chae
· Mustang – Journey of Transformation, (USA, Nepal), Documentary, New York Premiere, directed by Will Parrinello, written by Sarah Kass
· Skin, (Australia), Documentary, New York Premiere, directed and written by Rhys Graham
· Team Taliban, (USA), Documentary, New York Premiere, directed by Benjamin Kegan

Human Landscapes
Drawn from filmmakers on three continents, this program of experimental short films and videos centers around the theme of the individual’s relationship to the environmental space he or she inhabits. The avant-garde filmmaking enterprise is essentially one defined by creative artists working single-handedly and with great sensitivity to interpreting the field of vision before their camera lenses. Unlike more conventional modes of storytelling, they employ such diverse techniques as found footage, collage, animation, superimposition of texts, the absence of visible characters, voiceless sound tracks and the transformation of the human figure and manmade constructions into studies of formal abstraction. In so doing, these filmmakers manipulate quotidian reality into beautiful and stirring tales of the fragile nature of human existence.

· The Bather, (USA), World Premiere, directed by George Griffin
· Camera Roll (for Taylor), (USA), World Premiere, directed by Joel Schlemowitz
· Chop Off, (USA), USA Premiere, directed and written by M.M. Serra
· densen, (Sweden), World Premiere, directed by Anna Linder
· Ha’Aki, (Canada), New York Premiere, directed and written by Iriz Pääbo
· Hot Dogs at the Met, (USA), North American Premiere, directed by Ken Jacobs
· influenza/Composition II (chrome square), (Netherlands), World Premiere, directed by Jeroen Jongeleen
· KOGI, (Brazil), World Premiere, directed by Paula Gaitán
· Métro, (Canada), World Premiere, directed by Martin Laporte
· A Time and A Time, (UK), North American Premiere, directed and written by Sarah Cox
· Trailer Trash, (USA), World Premiere, directed by Mark Street
· Us (Nous), (France), USA Premiere, directed and written by Olivier Hems
· Without You, (UK), North American Premiere, directed by Tal Rosner

Additional information for all these short films can be viewed in the media section of the Tribeca Film Festival website, www.tribecafilm.com/festival.

TICKET INFORMATION FOR 2009 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

Packages

The 2009 Tribeca Film Festival will offer eleven exclusive ticket packages, featuring three advance ticket selection packages, as well as eight discount ticket packages.

Advance Ticket Selection Packages: Advance selection ticket packages will offer consumers the opportunity to reserve tickets for films they wish to screen ahead of the general public. All films must be selected by April 10, 2009. The advance selection ticket packages include:

· Programmers Picks Ticket Package ($250) - Two general or matinee tickets to six Festival films, handpicked for each customer by the Tribeca Film Festival Programming Team
· Harrison Ticket Package ($225.00) - Early online ticket selection prior to public on-sale dates for ten individual general or matinee screenings
· Franklin Ticket Package ($425.00) - Early online ticket selection prior to public on-sale dates for 20 individual general or matinee screenings

Discount Ticket Packages: Discount ticket packages not only offer consumers a reduced ticket price, but also allow them to navigate the film slate by interest. The discount ticket packages include:

· Opening Weekend Ticket Package ($105) – Two (2) general tickets to one film on Friday, April 24; two films on Saturday, April 25; and one film on Sunday, April 26.
· Matinee Ticket Package ($40.00) – Six (6) matinee screenings tickets, two tickets per performance.
· Late Night Films Ticket Package ($40.00) – Six (6) late night film screenings tickets, two tickets per performance.
· Matinee Documentary Film Fan Package ($40.00) – Six (6) matinee tickets to any documentary film in the Festival, two tickets per performance.
· Documentary Film Fan Package ($75.00) – Six (6) general tickets to any documentary film in the Festival, two tickets per performance.
· Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Ticket Package ($45.00) – Four (4) general tickets to films playing in the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, two tickets per performance.
· Award Winners Screening Package ($45.00) – Four (4) general tickets to award winning films playing on May 3, two tickets per performance. Selections must be made by award category, as winners will not be announced until April 30, 2009.
· Music Fan Package ($75.00) – Six (6) general tickets to any music film playing in the Festival, two tickets per performance.


Single Tickets

Tickets for the Festival will be $15.00 for evening and weekend screenings and $8.00 for daytime weekday and late night screenings.

Ticket/Package Dates and Purchase Information

Advance selection ticket packages will go on sale Monday, March 9, 2009, for American Express Cardmembers and for the general public on Monday, March 16, 2009. All advance packages can be purchased online at www.tribecafilm.com/festival or by telephone, toll free, at (866) 941-FEST (3378).

Single ticket and discounted ticket package sales begin for American Express Cardmembers on April 14, 2009, for downtown residents on April 19, 2009, and for the general public on April 20, 2009. Single tickets can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets located at the Tribeca Cinemas Ticket Window at 54 Varick Street, and the AMC Village VII Ticket Window at 66 Third Avenue. Downtown residents can only purchase tickets with a discount at the Tribeca Cinemas ticket window. Discounted packages can only be purchased online and by phone. The 2009 Festival will continue ticket discounts for evening and weekend screenings for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Additional information and further details on the Festival can be found at www.tribecafilm.com/festival.

Tribeca Film Festival Online and On-the-GoVisit the Tribeca Film Festival online and become a part of the My Tribeca community at http://www.tribecafilm.com/register/Join the Tribeca Film Festival Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribeca-Film-Festival/10854154757 and follow the Festival at Twitter.com/TribecaFilmFest.

Starting March 16, access the film guide online from your mobile device on www.tffmobile.com. Film information can also be accessed on your mobile device by texting* a film's information code to TRBCA (87222). Information codes can be found in the box next to each film and special event listing. (*Standard text messaging rates apply.)
About the Tribeca Film Festival
Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center, New York City to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture. The Festival’s mission is to help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center.

Tribeca Film Festival is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors. The Tribeca Festival has screened over 1100 films from over 80 countries since its first festival in 2002. Since its founding, it has attracted an international audience of more than two million attendees and has generated over $530 million in economic activity for New York City.

About the 2009 Festival Sponsors

The Festival is pleased to announce the return of its Signature Sponsors: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Apple, Bloomberg, Brookfield Properties, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Delta Air Lines, iShares, NBC 4 New York, RR Donnelley, Snapple, The New York Times, Telemundo 47 and Vanity Fair.

The Tribeca Film Festival is also honored to welcome the following new Signature Sponsors: AMC, DIRECTV and Heineken.

INDIE FILMS INVADE MANHATTAN

The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF) returns to NYC for an exciting lineup of independent films and special events taking place March 19th-26th in Manhattan and will showcase a diverse range of features, shorts, documentaries and animations from all over the globe.

NYIIFVF begins its celebrations along with The New York International Art Festival (NYIAF) with a film/art market and opening night networking party at BLVD/Boulevard (199 Bowery at Spring St., NYC, NY) on Thursday, March 19th from 6pm-10pm.
Film screenings are Friday, March 20th through March 26th and will take place on 2 screens exclusively at City Cinemas Village East (181 2nd Avenue at 12th Street, NYC, NY).
**2009 NYIIFVF President is Abel Ferrara and he will host the Festival's Official Filmmaker Luncheon and will be in attendance during the eight-day film extravaganza. ** Legendary photographer Mick Rock will be among the talent confirmed to attend the eight-day film extravaganza.

In keeping with NYIIFVF's unique and successful formula of 15 years, more than 130 films will be screened in the competition covering every topic and country imaginable.
Genres include: Rockumentary, Sci-Fi, Animation, Music Video, Social Satire, Historical, Drama, Black Comedy, Mystery, Suspense, Travel Docu-Features, Action, Horror, Thriller, Experimental, Educational, War, Crime, Fantasy, Inspirational, Gay, Transgender, Romance, as well as a compelling slate of top notch documentaries.

Over 20 countries will be represented including: USA, France, Italy, India, Tunisia, Australia, Czech Republic, Botswana, Canada, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Malaysia, Japan, Spain, Serbia, Austria, Venezuela, Kosovo, Iceland, England, Montenegro, Portugal, Germany and Poland.
A sampling of World Premieres in the upcoming festival includes films with Iggy Pop, Mick Rock, Lloyd Kaufman, Tony Bennett, Amanda Righetti (star of the new Friday the 13th, The Mentalist) and Dan Deluca (The Wire).

Single tickets can be purchased in advance for $12 on nyfilmvideo.com or at the door for $15.
Media/Industry credentials can be obtained by faxing a request to 702-361-6309 on company letterhead or filling out the form on nyfilmvideo.com no later than March 12th 2008.
Keep visiting http://www.nyfilmvideo.com/ for all festival updates.

The NYIIFVF is accepting last minute entries for short films (under 30 minutes) for its upcoming NY festival in March. This is your LAST chance to be a part of the NYIIFVF and screen your film at the Village East Cinema in NYC. Please visit www.nyfilmvideo.com, if you want to submit a film.

Nick Writing Fellowship

The Nickelodeon Writer's Script Review is a one day, by invitation only event designed to prepare applicants for submission to the Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship.
Writing for television is a rewarding and creative outlet and a lucrative career path that enables writers to continually develop and fine-tune their written skills. The Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship serves to attract, develop and staff writers with diverse backgrounds and experiences on Nickelodeon Network productions.

Script Review applicants will be asked to submit a spec script based on any 1/2 - hour comedic television series currently in production on primetime network or cable by Friday, March 13, 2009. Spec scripts will be reviewed by Nickelodeon Executives and up to twenty candidates will be selected to participate in one-on-one script reviews in Miami on Thursday & Friday, June 25th & 26th, 2009. Selected candidates will have one-on-one time with Nick Executives, will receive feedback on their scripts during the script review and in addition will then be required to submit to the 2010 Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship program.

Go here to subit your application today!!

Jobs In The Industry

Featured Job Of The Week:

courtesy of The Creative Mind Group

An amazing opportunity is available for a film FOCUS PULLER/FIRST ASSISTANT CAMERA.

There is a position that opened up on my set, the set is filled with Hollywood's finest. From an A list Director of Photography, to an Academy award winner, to an international film star to a television sweetheart along with a MTV TV show creator and more, this crew is stacked with talent. We shoot on the Arri 16 camera on 16mm film, this is a great networking opportunity and a chance to be part of a dynamite project. I'm hiring for the FOCUS PULLER/FIRST ASSISTANT CAMERA position. Paid job with extra perks, we want to make you happy so you can do great work with us. The entire crew gets along very well and we welcome the right person into our crew. Please call me personally to discuss and of course feel free to contact me via e-mail address listed below. Time is of the essence, so if you're looking to work immediately get in touch with me. Call Jessica at 716.799.5334.