FilmClick

Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s film “Lorna’s Silence” opens August 7 at Lumiere in San Francisco and the Shattuck in Berkeley and on August 21 at Aquarius Twin in Palo Alto. The film, winner of the Cannes International Film Festival’s Best Screenplay Award in 2008, shows the audience a perspective of hope in the face of depression through the story of a young, ambitious Albanian woman living in Belgium named Lorna (Arta Dobroshi) . Lorna has dreams of leaving her dreary job and setting up a snack bar with her boyfriend Sokol (Alban Ukaj). Unfortunately Lorna and Sokol need money and Belgium residential status in order to make their dream come true. Fabio (Fabrizio Rongione), an Italian taxi driver and an aspiring mob boss, hears of Lorna’s aspirations. Fabio knows a very wealthy Russian Mafioso named Andrei (Anton Yakovlev) who has a great deal of money but is also in need of Belgium residence papers in order to obtain an EU passport.

Fabio devises a scheme to get both Lorna and Andrei the Belgium papers. He finds Claudy (Jérémie Renier), a junky who is in desperate need for money, and who happens to be a Belgium citizen. Fabio sets up a false marriage between Lorna and Claudy allowing Lorna to get her Belgium citizenship. The plan is for her to divorce Claudy and marry Andrei in order to give him citizenship and a EU passport. However Fabio, impatient to move Lorna from the first marriage onto the next, decides to take matters into his own hands. In doing so he changes the plan to a much more sinister and bloody one and Lorna must decide whether to be safe and silent or be vocal and risk everything.

About the Filmmakers:
Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne were born and raised in Seraing, near Liege. In 1975 they established the production company Dérives, where they made sixty documentary films before branching into narrative features. In 1994, they created Les Films du Fleuve, a company devoted to their narrative works. In 1996 the Dardenne brothers had a feature film breakthrough with the critically acclaimed release of LA PROMESSE (THE PROMISE). LA PROMESSE was followed by the 1999 critical smash ROSETTA, which won the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or. The Dardennes won their second Palme d’Or in 2005 for there film L’ENFANT. Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne belong to a rare group of filmmakers, including Bille August, Francis Ford Coppola and Emir Kusturica, who have won the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or twice.

Check out more at the film’s offical site:

http://www.sonyclassics.com/lornassilence/

Monty Miranda’s directorial debut “Skills Like This” opens this weekend in the bay area, playing at the Sundance Kabuki in San Francisco, the Elmwood in Berkeley, and the Nickelodeon in Santa Cruz. Miranda’s film, the South by Southwest Film Festival audience award winner, is about a struggling writer named Max Soloman (played by screenwriter Spencer Berger) who decides to make an unlikely career change at the spur of the moment.  When Max calmly walks across the street and robs a bank after the failure of his latest play, he discovers that he’s finally found something he’s good at.  As Max embraces his new talents, his change in career filters through his friends and they start to look at their lives from new perspectives as well.  The film is amusing; it doesn’t take itself too seriously and features good performances from Berger, love interest Kerry Knuppe and Gabriel Tigerman as the uptight friend Dave.

FilmClick had an opportunity to discuss the film with director Monty Miranda and writer/star Spencer Berger while they were in town for the film’s showing at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival.  Take a look.

For more info on the film, check out the “Skills Like This” website:

http://www.skillslikethis.com

“In a Dream”, a documentary about the tumultuous relationship between mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar and his wife, Julia, opens April 17 at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco. “In a Dream”, an IndiePix release, is in English, runs for 80 minutes, and is not yet MPAA rated.

In the vibrant, bohemian neighborhood of South Philadelphia, 50,000-square feet of concrete are covered with tile and mirrors-mosaics that were created by Isaiah Zagar, an eccentric, tormented artist.  The murals chronicle his love for his wife, Julia, and subtly hint at the darker corners of an extraordinary imagination. Where Isaiah is obsessive and narcissistic-a former Peace Corps volunteer who has become an icon in South Philly’s art community-Julia is gracious and warm. For decades, their opposing natures complemented one another perfectly. But suddenly the family is torn apart at the seams: A few hours before picking up his oldest son from a rehabilitation center, Isaiah declares to the camera, “As people get older they have less and less passion.” He then confesses to an affair with his assistant, is kicked out of the house, and spirals into a debilitating, suicidal depression.

The end result is a deeply moving film that started as an exploration of a man’s life and resulted in exposing the secrets of an entire family.

About the Filmmaker

Jeremiah Zagar was born in South Philadelphia in 1981. At age 19, he shot DELHI HOUSE, a documentary about a hospital and orphanage in India. The short premiered at the 2002 Slamdance Film Festival and aired on PBS affiliates across the country. Since then, Jeremiah has written and directed two award-winning short films: BABY EAT BABY and CONEY ISLAND 1945 They have screened in numerous festivals in the US and abroad, including Tribeca, SXSW, and the London Film Festival.  A graduate of Emerson College, Zagar now lives in Brooklyn.

“In a Dream” was part of the 2008 San Francisco Documentary Film Festival.

Interview with director Jon Bowden about the film “The Full Picture” which plays on Sat. Feb 21 at 9:30 PM at the Shattuck Theater in Berkeley, California. Shot during the San Francisco Independent Film Festival.

The 11th annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival opened to a packed house last night at the Victoria Theatre in San Francisco’s Mission District with Shane Meadows’ film Somers Town. Meadows’ film was an atypical choice for an opening night film, but a wonderful surprise.  Thomas Turgoose, the star of Meadows’s internationally acclaimed This is England, delivers an awkward, brave and vulnerable performance as run-away teenager Tomo, who leaves the north-Midlands and ends up in the rundown North London neighborhood Somers Town.  It is a difficult role to portray and Turgoose is full of the bravado of youth, the determination not to return home, and the discomfort of adolescence.

Somers Town

Turgoose’s deadpan comic foil, Piotr Jagiello as the as shy, Polish immigrant Marek, brings another dimension to the film’s illustration of the current struggle of the many Polish immigrants finding their way in the United Kingdom since the expansion of the European Union.  The film is shot primarily in black and white and its colorless world adds to the contrast between the characters, town, and their situations.  The exception is the film’s final journey, via the London to Paris train which is a background for this film about journeys.  When the film switches to color in a grainy, high-speed stock for a final journey by the two teenagers, it is almost a coda to the film, a reminder that journeys, internal and external, can be vivid parts of life.

Opening Night at SF IndieFest

True to form for any of SF Indie’s events, which include Another Hole in the Head and the San Francisco Documentary Festival, when we left the theater after Somers Town, a motley group of Star Wars characters awaited the departing audience.  I didn’t C3PO, but R2-D2 was there, along with many storm troopers, Ben Kenobi and Luke Skywalker himself.  One of the great things about  the festivals that Jeff Ross puts on is the light whimsy that surrounds the events.  I think he realizes that films and events like these are meant to be fun and it always shows.  I’ve been to festivals with my films and usually the parties seem to be stiff, hotel ballroom mixers and the best times are usually had after hours at whatever bar you migrate to.  Not the case with SFIndie’s events.  Don’t miss the Big Lebowski costume party on Saturday, February 7.  I’m sure it will be fun.

by Christopher Potter, FilmClick.com

Go to: www.sfindie.com for show times, more information and tickets.

Mass Romantic, a new independent feature by Richard Paro, follows activists and academics struggling to find love while creating political art. The film focuses on relationships, while the characters work with controversial topics such as healthcare, queer politics, abortion, transphobia, food activism and corporate control of media.

Mass Romantic plays at the Reel Time Film Festival at 3pm on Friday, December 12th.  For more information go to:

http://reeltimefilmfestival.org/venue

Tell us about your film.  Why should people see it?

Richard Paro (Director, Co-Producer) - They’ll be entertained. There’s a lot happening in it. I don’t think you’ve seen many movies like this. It has great acting and a great soundtrack. And it’ll leave you feeling good.

Cyra K. Polizzi (Co-Producer, Actor) - To tell you a bit about it, Mass Romantic follows a group of 20-somethings, falling in and out of love while creating political art. It features underrepresented people, stories and methods of filmmaking. You can check out the trailer at www.mudgeonsoul.org , www.myspace.com/MassRomanticFilm and www.youtube.com/mudgeonsoul   .

What led you to make this film?

Richard- I wanted to tell a story that reflects the people I know.

Cyra - Richard conceived of an amazing project and so although I only signed on to act in the film initially, I was quickly drawn into just about every aspect of making the film. It has been a truly collaborative process.

What were some of the greatest challenges you faced in making this film?

Richard- Casting took almost a full year. We had a large cast and because there was so much collaboration and improvisation, the actors had to be comfortable enough with the subjects to be able to work like that. Once we had the cast set and we started filming, they were all pretty amazing.

Cyra - Also, we shot without a budget, which was extremely challenging. Now looking back, I see how this served the film in many ways, but it wasn’t easy.

Trailer:

What impact do you hope this film will have?

Richard- On me, I’d like to be able to make another film. On others, I hope they leave the theatre possibly thinking about things a little differently, possibly meeting some people they didn’t know before or seeing people they know but haven’t seen on screen before…

Cyra - A major theme of Mass Romantic is the importance of community, so one of the greatest responses from audience members is when they tell us that they recognize themselves and their friends in the characters in a way they rarely do in mainstream media.

What are you working on now, or next, and how do you find projects?

Richard- I just finished directing a short called “Allison, My Love”, that we shot with three of the actors from Mass Romantic, including Cyra, that we’re just starting to submit to festivals. After that, I’m focusing on acting while writing a new feature. Though I may shoot a short or music video somewhere in there.

Cyra - I spend a lot of time acting. As a director, I have a couple shorts I’m working on and I’m writing a play.

What are your three favorite films?

Richard- Well, seeing how my Top 10 list each year consists of 20 movies or more it’s really hard to pick just three, but if I have to pick only three, today, it would be “Harold and Maude”, ” Me, You and Everyone We Know”, and “Before Sunrise/Sunset”. See, I even managed to make my top 3 films into 4.

Cyra - Ooo, “Before Sunrise/Sunset,” good answer. Hmm… there are just too many, I wouldn’t know where to begin.

Many of our users are just starting out; what advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers?

Richard - Cast actors, at least for the main roles, instead of your friends. If your friends want to help, have them help with things like set up, transportation and food.

Cyra - If you can, surround yourself with people who love to create, and collaborate with them. Take a risk and fully commit to a project you believe in. And then stop calling yourself “aspiring.”

Have you placed your films online and do you think it’s a good outlet for young filmmakers to get exposure?

Richard- I put trailers on line, and I posted a short film series I did. I think it’s no longer really a question but a pretty essential way to be seen, find festivals and publicize screenings.

Cyra - I think it completely depends on the film.

Did you go to film school?  If yes, where and what did you think of the experience?

Richard- No, I took a few classes but always knew what I wanted to do so I went out and did it. I think it would be different for everyone.

Cyra - I majored in Theatre Acting at UW-Madison and took some film classes while I was there. I had an excellent experience in school and the film classes were a part of that experience.

What are the other films you have made?

Richard- I directed the short film series “haunting perpetually dead squirrels”, the feature “an obvious moment of happiness” and just finished the short “Allison, My Love”. I also shot, produced and/or acted in a bunch of other things including shooting and producing “Most Wonderful People” which was one of Film Threat’s Top 10 shorts of 2004.

Cyra - Primarily, I work as an actor. Also, I’ve made a few shorts and a feature documentary, “13 Genders.”

Which filmmakers have most influenced your work?

Richard- Robert Altman, Woody Allen, Richard Linklater, Nicole Holofcener, Hal Ashby… I could actually list a lot here.

Cyra - My filmmaking is also very influenced by people outside the film industry, since much of my formal training is in Theatre, Women’s Studies and Environmental Studies. And it sounds cheesy, but the way my parents, a professional potter and a librarian, approach their work, certainly has an impact on the way I view filmmaking and the “industry.”

What’s you motto?

Richard- stop, collaborate and listen.
Cyra - Isn’t that someone else’s motto?

What format (film, video, hi-def) and camera did you use and why did you choose the format and camera?  If you had a choice, would you use that camera again?

Richard- We shot with two cameras (mini dv), a Canon XL-1 and a JVC GY-HD100U. I had used the Canon before and like it. It was the first time shooting with the JVC and I think it looked beautiful.

What other festivals is your film appearing in?

Richard- Mass Romantic screened at the LINK Film Festival- Best Director (Olympia, WA), Women’s International Film Festival (Miami, FL), Entzaubert Queer Film Festival (Berlin, Germany), Portobello Film Festival (London, England), Deep Fried Film Festival (Lanarkshire, Scotland), Illinois International Film Festival (St. Charles, IL), Vacant Era Film Festival (Norman, OK) and then coming up after Reel Time in NYC, we have British Film Festival LA (Los Angeles, CA) and International Film Festival Thailand (Phuket, Thailand).

What was your goal when you decided to make the film?

Richard- To finish it the way I envisioned it (I did!).
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Mass Romantic, a new independent feature by Richard Paro, follows activists and academics struggling to find love while creating political art. The film focuses on relationships, while the characters work with controversial topics such as healthcare, queer politics, abortion, transphobia, food activism and corporate control of media. Mass Romantic celebrates the everyday lives of activists, queer people and their allies, and acknowledges the importance of allies in building meaningful, enriching communities. The theme of coalition-building present in Mass Romantic is reflected by the diverse group of individuals involved in the making of the film, many of whom are underrepresented in American cinema and identify as women, LGBTQ, people of color, non-native speakers and/or activists. Paro, along with partner Cyra K. Polizzi, produced Mass Romantic with a DIY sensibility after extensive story development and workshopping, utilizing the creative input and improvisational skills of the cast.

After years of development, Mass Romantic was shot in the sweltering Chicago heat of late summer in just 11 days featuring 40 actors in over 10 locations, producing 33 hours of footage. The film features 13 independent bands, including live performances by Carrie Lydon, Kate Brown, ROFO and members of Head of Femur.
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Jamie and Erin’s activist theater company sets out to create a play based on PJ’s book of political short stories. PJ hasn’t written much in a while… or socialized much either, except for hanging out at Olson’s vegan cafe. Erin’s girlfriend Bel, having just moved from New York, prepares for a conference and searches for an apartment, as well as community, in Chicago. Meanwhile, Billy is void of direction even with the self-fulfillment classes, but his partner Sally hopes his new job at Olson’s cafe will help. Olson’s partner Annette is writing her third quantum physics book and feeling uninspired… as are her students.

When you’re an artist, academic or activist and known for your passion, where do you turn when it wanes? Your work? Your partner? How do you fall in love with life again?

112 Minutes . Black & White . Not Rated . English

In a near death collision following a hit gone wrong, two former special-forces operators continue their battle, unbeknownst to them, in the realm of the unconscious. While investigating their possible involvement in a murder, a female detective becomes drawn into their conflict and must face her own demons as she uncovers the truth about a secret psychic military program, her father, and herself.

- John Nelson about Between Two Evils

Between Two Evils plays at the Reel Time Film Festival at 8pm on Thursday December 11th.  For more information go to:

http://reeltimefilmfestival.org/venue

What led you to make this film?
We made a short, condensed version of a feature film as a proof of concept. We hoped to spark interest in the story, inspire audiences, and to raise additional funds for feature production.

Why should people see it?
Between Two Evils is a lean, mean, action thriller that doesn’t waste a second of screen time. It is a story of growth and redemption and has the ability to appeal to a wide audience both male and female.

The action and martial arts will capture the male audience, especially the coveted 18-34 demographic. The two male lead characters who do most of the fighting have a military past, and in the present interact in a decrepit, decaying, frightening dream world. This will have crossover appeal for martial arts film enthusiasts, war movie fans, and horror fans.

The film also features a strong female lead, who is attractive, confident, and driven. Her ambition, discovery, and personal growth will inspire and expand the female audience.

What were some of the greatest challenges you faced in making this film?
Getting funding, acquiring permits, and locking locations were the biggest challenges we faced.

What impact do you hope this film will have?
We want the audience to see the film and want to see more. There is so much more to this story.

What are you working on now, or next?
We’re working on securing additional funding for feature production of Between Two Evils.

What are your three favorite films?
Star Wars – George Lucas
Goodfellas - Martin Scorsese
Fight Night – Derek JW Wybourn

Many of our users are just starting out; what advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers?
Work hard, don’t give up. Surround yourself with good people who are talented and who you can rely on, then go for it!

Have you placed your films online and do you think it’s a good outlet for young filmmakers to get exposure?
I have put clips and short videos online. It’s not my first choice, but online is HUGE. I know people who would rather surf for videos than watch TV. Never underestimate online resources. I think it is a great outlet for all filmmakers, especially young ones or people who are new to the industry.

Did you go to film school?  If yes, where and what did you think of the experience?
Yes, I went to SVA. It was a great experience, best of all for networking. I made some of my best friends and business partners there, my director for instance Derek JW Wybourn.

What are the other films you have made?
Fight Night

Which filmmakers have most influenced your work?
George Lucas
Martin Scorsese
Stephen Spielberg
Bruce Lee
Chia-Liang Liu

What’s you motto?
When the bell rings, come out swingin’

What format (film, video, hi-def) and camera did you use and why did you choose the format and camera?  If you had a choice, would you use that camera again? 
HD, Sony HVR-V1. We chose it because it was affordable and available. No, I would not use that camera again.

What other festivals is your film appearing in?
So far we have also appeared in the NBBC Film Festival in NYC

Trailer:
TREATMENT
Between 1969 and 1971, US intelligence sources concluded that the Soviet Union was engaged in psychotronic research and using it to train highly skilled KGB operatives. STAR GATE was one of a number of remote viewing programs conducted by the CIA in response to Soviet investigations of psychic phenomena. The effort initially focused on a few gifted individuals and empaths who were trained and taught to use their talents for psychic warfare.

Controlled Remote Viewing (CRV) is the ability of a viewer to gather information on a remote target consisting of an object, place, or person, etc., which is hidden from the physical perception of the viewer and typically separated from them by distance and/or time. The first generation of CRV’s had the ability to project images to each other over great distances, but the projections they sent and received were often convoluted, hazy, and unclear. The most talented of these CRV’s was then Second Lieutenant JAMES WAGNER.

In 1995 the program was declassified and publicly canceled. Secretly, however, the concept was being revamped to use viewers who could project crystal clear images to one another over short distances or by physical contact, Controlled Remote Viewing Close Proximity (CRV-CP), while being monitored by a first generation viewer from afar.  The program evolved from a purely intelligence gathering asset into a tactical and combative one. This next generation CRV initiative was placed under the command of Lt. Colonel James Wagner.

During a black ops mission under the leadership of Cpt. JUSTIN MARSH, the primary CRV-CP assault team was betrayed and almost completely wiped out. Wagner mistakenly identified the wrong member of the team as the culprit and ordered the egress point destroyed in retaliation. Believing all members were lost, Wagner buried the details and moved on to create another team. Unbeknownst to him, two CRV’s, Marsh and ADRIAN VOSS, survived.

Suppressing their CRV ability to avoid detection by Wagner, the two were forced underground. After living lives amongst the shadows, organized crime, drugs, deceit, and murder, the two are reunited for one final showdown. As an attempted hit goes wrong the two former special-forces operators are involved in a nearly fatal collision. As they lie on their deathbeds, they continue their battle against each other in the realm of the unconscious, continuing their damaging effect on each other and those around them.

While investigating their possible involvement in a recent murder SAMIA LEWIS, an NYPD detective with a checkered past, becomes drawn into their conflict as she accidentally uses her latent and as of yet undiscovered CRV ability. She will be forced to choose between two evils, between justice and the law, and will face her own demons as she uncovers the truth about a secret psychic military program, her father, and herself.

B2E Website: http://www.between2evils.com

The Big Apple Film Festival will be held in NYC at the Tribeca Cinemas from November 19-22. This annual festival showcases independent films made by individuals residing and/or working in the metropolitan area of New York.  BAFF, which was named “one of MovieMaker Magazine’s top 25 film festivals worth the entry fee,” will screen 90 films of various genres (narrative, documentary, animation, experimental) and lengths (features and shorts).  Here are a few highlights:

Wednesday, November 19th 7:30 PM: Tribeca Cinemas, Theater 2

The Living Wake

Directed by Sol Tryon (2007)

This bleak comedy follows K. Roth Binew, a self-proclaimed artist and genius, on his final day of existence.  Discovering that he has a fatal disease, K. Roth Binew sets off to uncover life’s baffling mysteries.  Enlisting his best friend, Mills Joquin, an unrecognized poet, as his biographer, K. Roth records his final hours of living.

Thursday, November 20th 6:00 PM: Tribeca Cinemas, Theater 2

The River of Copsa Mica

Directed by Ryan Uzilevsky (2008)

A period piece set in 1916, Transylvania.  A runaway boy steps into the mystifying world of a tribe of Gypsies.

Thursday, November 20th 6:30 PM: Tribeca Cinemas, Theater 1

One Step Behind

Directed by Gregoire Jeudy (2008)

Unsuccessful writer, Josh Person, has once again failed to get his latest novel published.  Desperate for a good story, he observes people in Central Park in hopes of finding interesting material for his next book.

Saturday, November 22nd 8:15 PM: Tribeca Cinemas, Theater 2

The Project

Directed by Ryan Piotrowicz (2008)

The Project is a self-reflexive film focusing on three aspiring filmmakers that set out to document NYC’s inner-city struggles and confrontations.  As the film progresses, the filmmakers are confronted by several events that complicate the project’s original objectives.  No longer detached voyeurs, the filmmakers develop into active participants within this underground world of violence.

For more information on the Big Apple Film Festival, visit: 

http://www.bigapplefilmfestival.com/index.html 

By Nikki Zhang, FilmClick staff

nzhang@filmclick.com

Jake’s Closet (92 mins) takes us through the dark and twisted world of divorce where the terrifying threat of zombies is an easier fear to defeat than reality.We first meet Jake (the film introduces Anthony DeMarco) as he plays in his backyard by himself and finds a dead rabbit. A few scenes later, his reluctant playmate, Dillon (Matthew Josten), convinces him that a zombie that lives under Jake’s house killed the rabbit.  Dillon gives Jake a pamphlet with the FAQ’s about zombies, which encourages both Jake’s fear and proof of the zombie’s existence throughout the film. Although he falls in love with another woman, the audience learns to sympathize with Peter (Sean Bridges; HBO’s Deadwood), Jake’s father, who is  actually invested in his son’s interest and well-being, while his mother, Jules (Brooke Bloom; CSI: Miami), is the epitome of a self-interested, clueless maternal figure.  His mother ceaselessly blames Peter for the divorce, victimizing herself and Jake, and overlooks his well-being to indulge in the instability of her own emotions.  Home from school during the summer, Jake finds himself with too much free time for his imagination to run wild.

The film is shot with impeccable skill and beautiful technique, creating a calm, serene sense of eeriness that accurately captures the plot’s suspenseful tone.  Forced to play mediator between his parents, Jake is alienated from his family as he is ping-ponged from his mother to father, and back again, embodying the very split of the nature of divorce.  He is further alienated by his his overwhelming fear that neither one of his parents can understand.  Although Jake learns to grow up faster than a young child should, making his mother coffee when she cannot get out of bed or delivering the mortgage check from his father to his mother, it is when he finally comes face to face with the zombie that terrorizes him that Jake is truly forced to take action over his own life as he confronts his paralyzing fear. Writer/Director Shelli Ryan says of Jake’s Closet: “with so many marriages ending in divorce, there needs to be a national discussion about the effects of divorce on children, along with the appropriate behaviors from parents and everyone involved in family courts.  Often in a divorce, the children get lost in the battle that everyone claims is being fought on their behalf”. Exploring the fragile issue of divorce, Jake’s Closet tackles the common yet often unexamined  topic through the eyes of a young, only child who understands little of the trauma that he faces on a daily basis.

DVD  release: Tuesday,  October 28, 2008

Trailer:  www.JakesClosetMovie.com      

photos courtesy of Jack Zeeman

by Lily Saltzberg, FilmClick staff 

Keya Lea Horiuchi talks about “Considering Democracy” and the structure of her film. This interview was shot at DocFest in San Francisco and we discuss documentary filmmaking and the political aspects and intent of her film.

This is the HD version which will play above.

See it in SD here for lower bandwidth connections.

For more info on Docfest go to: www.sfindie.com