There's a new site called SnagFilms.com, which aims to bring documentary features and documentary makers alike to the front of the class.  What the site does is let users browse for documentaries, in their entirety, and "snag" it as a widget to display on your site of choice (blog, social networking, etc.).  Once the film is on your site, visitors can view the film, again, in its entirety, for free.  Should said visitor want to find out more about the film itself, they can visit the film's page on SnagFilms.com and pick up a DVD or any other further info on the feature.

It's a great tool that is sure to make some headway for any struggling filmmaker in the documentary arena.  So check it out if you yourself are looking for ways to get your work seen and/or heard, or if you just want to support the documentary arts.  The site is beta at the moment, which means they are still putting it all together, but there is enough on the site already to juice the juice from the get-go. 

The Quad Cinema house is hosting the Hola Mexico Film Festival from July 23rd to July 27th. The link includes a synopsis and schedule for each film that is being shown on those days. The Quad is usually behaves just a straight up movie theater, so when the hold a festival or two, you know it will be good. Check it out.

The Film Society at Lincoln Center, or Filmlinc, is letting site visitors take a survey about how to improve the site and is also taking suggestions for design ideas. If you do this, you will be entered in a contest that will give out 2 free tickets to the opening night of the New York Film Festival. It's one of the biggest around so do yourself a favor and check out the Filmlinc site.

There's a celebration of that crazy little thing called love (actually, they're focusing on relationships) going on at NewFilmmakers this Wednesday, and some of the pickins look ripe. There's the usual shorts program at 7:15pm, but previous to that is a documentary called Single by Jane Scandurra which aims to examine the recent, crazy trend of people who actually aren't married (shocking, no?!). Trailer go!

The second feature of the night, Strange Girls by Rona Mark, is a great (albeit creepy) film from 2007 that tells the story of two twins who are released from a psych ward after a murder and try their hand at attaining a boyfriend. Here's a better description:

Twin sisters, unable and unwilling to talk to anyone but each other, are released from a psychiatric institution after the shocking murder of their psychiatrist. Living on their own proves liberating at first, but when one twin becomes infatuated with a boy, the other twin tries to rein her in… by any means necessary.

Check the site for schedules and more d'tales.

It's always sad when news gets around that a beloved independent arts venue has to close its doors in some fashion or another. Enter The Tank on 279 Church street in Tribeca. Due to several building violations which include bad pipes and that always pesky one, an asshole owner, The Tank is being forced to move out of their current location by the end of the month.

The Tank is a non-profit venue that has been a haven for creative performing artists in the independent community around New York for three years. They pretty much host every form of performance art you can think of. As of July 31st, however, they will be relocating to a temporary space until they get their feet back on the ground for 2009 (hopefully).

From the press release:

After we lost our original home on 42nd Street, it wasn't clear if we'd survive the transition. But we've been on Church Street longer than we were on 42nd and "we not only survived, we expanded," explained Founder and Managing Director Mike Rosenthal, who has curated two of The Tank's most successful offerings: the annual Bent Festival of experimental music and Blip Festival of Game Boy generated music. "It's a shame to move so suddenly after all the work we've put into this space, but we need to feel our artists and audience are coming to a welcoming, healthy setting and we're going to make that true.

A home for theater, dance, mixed media, music, comedy, film, community events and public discussions, The Tank presents 300 events a year, welcoming over 10,000 audience members at capped, affordable ticket prices. Additionally, The Tank does not charge performers or presenters, making it a unique spot in Manhattan where artists can take risks without the prohibitive financial burden of most venues.

Now, it sounds like they're performing another one of their routine moves, but I think many of us who love venues like these are cringing just a little bit inside. Many realize that anytime a cash-strapped independent has to do something like this, there's a chance they might have to close their doors for good. It's hard for places like this to thrive, let alone survive in pricey New York (that's not even counting non-profits like The Tank). Granted, their Tribeca building was not up to snuff, but hopefully they can find a great place to set up shop soon and keep churning out the goodness (while never faking the funk).

You can go to their site and donate, or if you have any tips to provide them with so they can find a new home, they'd appreciate that as well.  And wherever they might wind up, support them by showing up and having a good time.  After all, They can only exist with your (our) help!

Eight Miles High about Uschi and Kabluey at Cinema Village.

Polanski's sex with a minor trial goes under the microscope in the doc Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired at the Quad.  But the guy made Chinatown, isn't that enough?

At the Crossroads explores the poor man's French film collective, Slovenian cinema; now at the Filmlinc.

Charles Burnett in person at the IFC Center this Friday, along with the first night of The Exiles.

Maybe the Angelika can finally convince me to actually care about Hunter S. Thompson with Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson.  (Hint: not likely.)

Herzog's Encounters at the End of the World has been extended at the Forum again.  Also at that same place, Full Battle Rattle with Q & A's with the filmmakers!

Well how's about that, it seems like it's my turn again. All through the years short films have been my best friend*. And while animation was never my forte per se (see my brother for that one), I love a good animated story. Sometimes they miss and tend to be a little goofy, but with the domination of Pixar in the past few years, most have begun to understand that a good story is a good story...regardless of the development process. They can be just as moving, inspiring, and engaging as any human-starring film, so why not give in and indulge in some rendered goodness?

The BAM of all academies is celebrating animation in a big way by presenting visitors with an Animation Weekend from July 25th to July 27th. This will consist of selections from the Ottawa (International) Animation Festival and four blocks of the Animation Block Party that is so well-respected and "preeminent" in these here parts. The Animation Block Party is pretty much NYC's coolest, animated festival, and this time they will feature Sundance and Cannes selections for the BAM to showcase.

It'll be a sweet venture, so go to BAM's site for tickets, or check out the sites of the particular festivals themselves for some examples of what to expect. In the meantime, check out an Animation Block Party representative below. It's a film by Sylvia Apostol called "A Faery's Tale" and it has won awards (including last years Animation Block's best computer animation) so you know it's good...

* I really hope someone gets that reference.

Another July Fourth is upon us, and while all of you out there go forth to your various barbeques, partays, and uncomfortable family gatherings, remember my credo: it's not a real Independence Day until your genitals have been singed and you can no longer count to six with your available fingers. So, be careful, be merry, avoid injuring yourself to get away from that annoying new New Kids On The Block song, and enjoy these various filmic alternatives to puking alcohol and shards of lead this weekend (or indulge in both simultaneously, which might be more fun actually)...

Poultrygeist and Wicked Lake are at Two Boots.

Werner Herzog's Encounters at the End of the World has been extended at the Forum until next Tuesday.

First Sundays has moved and it is now taking place at Nuyorican Poet's Cafe this, what else, Sunday (don't forget the after-party, too!).

The New York Asian Film Festival is still going on at the IFC Center, but there's also Very Young Girls, last mistresses, and Ingmar Bergman retro specials to be had as well!

Full Grown Men, Roman De Gare, and All In This Tea all end on the 3rd at Cinema Village.

The Afro-Punk Festival is sliding on through the BAM for a while (including more after-parties!).

The Wackness and War, Inc. are playing at the Angelika.

I'll also leave you with these two clips from local highlanders/friends of New Roots The Redheaded League's newest venture; the short series called The Blood Brothers. These are my two favorite episodes, so enjoy.

In honor of the holiday that surely hosts the most limbs lost in a single day, July fourth, the NewFilmmakers Series is throwing together a batch of shorts and features that are centered around things that have nothing to do with July fourth.  But, they are still great.

What peaked my interest this go-around were the more descriptive entries on the website.  The first, Fanboy, directed by Brian Tomaselli, is about two nerds of the opposite sex, both of whom are lovers of comics and have less than stellar love lives, that decide to combine their powers and form a bond like no other (aka, an intimate relationship).  The problem is that Alex (the dude) becomes obsessed with his new found love powers and gets carried away with a stripper one night.  Beth (the dudette) finds the pair in the morning and leaves distraught.  Alex now has to win her back.  It might sound sort of formulaic, but one thing about independent/amateur flicks of this nature is that they tend to take conventions and through their own guerilla/gritty style, make it accessible and real; just one of the many reasons I love films in this vein.  And another thing: this one is genuinely funny and with its low budgetness, it takes the loser gets girl theme and makes it perfectly familiar and, at times, painfully relatable.

The other is a documentary (which I haven't seen) about a World Yoga Champion (yeah, I didn't think that was possible either) named Esak Garcia.  One thing I look for in documentaries these days are pieces that make seemingly boring and most likely anti-climatic subjects and turn them into gripping dramas through their genuine experiences (The King of Kong being #1 on that particular list of mine).  Can Yoga, Inc. (by John Philp) meet said expectations?  After all, it is about how Yoga is becoming a franchise pastime...and the main man of the flick is nicknamed the "Bad Boy of Yoga".  And with a setup like that, this has to be faux-badass.  Or, it could be completely deflating and infuriating, in that "I can't believe this is real" sort of way.  Either way, it gets you out of your cramped, overpriced NYC pad on a Wednesday night.

Check the NewFilmmakers site for schedules, times, and other goodies. 

First Sundays is a great short comedy film festival that takes place at Two Boots on the first Sunday of every month. The organizers/hosts, Jay Stern and Victor Varnado, always put on a good show and if you want to see some genuinely funny short flicks, this is the place to go. They run the gamut from silly to experimental, but combined with the theater and the community factor of the whole event, First Sundays is totally radical. They also throw an after-party after every monthly edition, with a card good for one free drink. Oh, mamacita!

July's version comes complete with titles ranging from Boyfriend Latte (by Shannon Beckner and Mark Sanders) and Harold goes to the Circus (by Michael Fontana), to Vanilla Ice Cream and I Kicked Luis Guzman in the Face (by Adam Hendricks and Sherwin Shilati). It looks to be great, just like their other offerings, so do yourself a favor and head on over to the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe (down the street from the Pioneer) on July 6 to peep this new heap.

In case you were interested, I interviewed both Jay and Victor back in the days of yore for our very first New Roots Exclusive! Go here for it, or follow the jump...

In preparation for the carnival of weirdness known as the Coney Island Film Festival, those of which we often speak are putting together screenings of several shorts about the 5th most visited attraction in New York (still don't buy it), Coney Island. This Saturday at the Coney Island Museum they will be showing five flicks, including two from the 50s, one from the 70s, and one from this decade that might as well be from the 50s. The films in question are Under The Roller Coaster, Whirligig, Coney Island Cyclone, Bally Master, and Coney Island USA. They're barely twenty minutes each, which is just enough time to sit around and wait for your greasy hot dog to come back up. Ah yes, there's no mood depraved enough that a little film, burned beef, and bearded women can't enlighten.

Check out the CIFF's website for times. There's also still time to submit for the actual festival, coming 'round September 26th through the 28th at Sideshows. Fees are $30 by tomorrow (!), and $45 by July 3rd.

Senses of Cinema is an editorial/online journal site that has some great writings/insight on the art of film making. They have reviews, festival updates, up-to-date features on films and directors, and some book info as well. If you are looking for some inspiration (i.e. what to do and/or what not to do) and have some time to kill, check out this site. You might learn something new that you can apply to your "experiments".

And, in sort of an unrelated note...

...this being New Roots, comedy is one of our many affairs. George Carlin was a giant in the world of comedy...not just stand-up, but in the various other forms as well. He changed the nature of what we say and do in comedy (along with Bruce and Pryor), so his passing will definitely hit many hard. So, I will humbly pay homage to the man by displaying my personal favorite routine/clip of his. Follow the jump for the goods.

George Carlin: 1937-2008

There's still a chance to see Piavoli's Blue Planet at Two Boots!

Take Out, Love Comes Lately, Chris & Don, and The Visitor are all at the Quad until the 26th.

If you have a hankerin' for some up-scale "independent" features, then head over to Angelika where films like Kicking It, My Blueberry Nights, Smart People, and The Counterfeiters are playing (Kicking and Blueberry are at the Village East).

Experience encounters at the ...End of the World and at The Edge of Heaven at the Forum.

Filmmakers Kenneth Anger and Amy Greenfield will be on hand for screenings of their Cinema Dance Euros programs at the Anthology all weekend! And Danny Lyon will be on hand for the showings of his flicks, too.

The New York Asian Film Festival is taking over the IFC Center this weekend, including films like The Bodyguard, Tokyo Gore Police, Mad Detective, and Dog In A Sidecar. (You can also go here for more details on the fest.)

And at the Clearview NYC locations...well, they're not really independent are they?

The 6th Annual Bronx Independent Film Festival is about to begin courtesy of the Bronx Film & Stage Company on June 25th. The fresh batch of celluloid (eh, who am I kidding, they're probably digital) promises to be pretty diverse with new eyes and ears on familiar subject matter, while featuring some documentaries and shorts that look to please even the most hard-shelled hipster. Some flicks that looked particularly enticing to me are Jackson Ward (the 26th), At Home In Utopia (the 25th), and A Riot In The Dark (the 29th). The descriptions on these are long and engrossing, so you should go to the festival's site to read about them in full, but here's the tagline(s) for A Riot In The Dark, a 10-minute short which is written and directed by Mike Brown...

Nasir's plans for revenge are upturned when he catches his bully
in a perverse and disturbing situation.

Me likey. I'm a bit of a sucker for abused nerd revenge tales.

The Bronx is usually not mentioned alongside the major film canals like Manhattan or Brooklyn, but this particular festival is a very good example as to why the other boroughs should never be overlooked. The BIFF (not sure if that's the official acronym) features great flicks by up-and-coming artists like Jezabel Montero (Blondes Are Latin Too), Andrew Houston (Ropies), and Dylan Reynolds, whose first feature film Chain Link is making it's world premiere at this fest.

The screenings are taking place at the Riverdale Y and the Lovinger Theater on the 25th through the 29th. General admission is five bucks. Check the site lazy surfers!

Crime doesn't pay...unless you film it. The NewFilmmakers series understands that, and that is why they have dedicated this week's installment at Anthology to that ever-enticing aspect of society that beckons to us on a daily basis: crime. The celebration kicks off with a collection of noir shorts, including Take Out, which was also being shown at the Quad in recent weeks. The noir bonanza is followed by the cop shorts, which begin at 7pm and include Gone Too Far and Whitebread and Goatman.

The first feature is called Target Practice and it sprung from Mr. Richmond Riegel. Here's the description from the NewFilmmakers site:

"Target Practice" is an intelligent but raw, visceral, extremely tense updating of outdoor thrillers with an emphasis on character as much as action. The story centers on 5 blue-collar friends on a weekend fishing trip – and the hell that’s unleashed upon them when they almost run into a car that’s been abandoned in the middle of an isolated mountain road. Stopping to see if anyone needs their help, they inadvertently stumble into the middle of an undercover operation involving a CIA agent and a hidden training camp for homegrown terrorists (molded after real-life, recent discoveries in both the U.S. and Canada).

The second part of the features presentation showcases two shorts (each at 30 minutes) about murder and mayhem, two words that make for some good watchin'. The first one, Driving: A Story About Vengence, is about, er, vengence and the lengths a man will go for said vengence, while the second feature is called The Pact ("...two friends about for a night of fun discover a deadly secret").

This version of NewFilmmakers sounds great, doesn't it? There's really nothing like a good crime induced fantasy to make you question your own direction in life. After all, they make it look so cool.

Check the site for more or, hit the jump for some trailers.

A harrowing piece up on BlogStage today about the dangers independent actors face going on auditions.  It's a scary and also fascinating exploration of the notion of instinct, and how we all learn to draw the line between ambition and self-respect.  The most provocative passage:

As a new actor fresh out of college, I told myself that I would go to every audition offered to me. When I got a call to audition for a nonunion film at the director's house way out in Brooklyn, I stapled my headshot and résumé and pulled out my subway map. Did I have reservations? Certainly. I Googled the director and found that he had attained distribution for another film. I also noted that the film appeared to involve a lot of vampires running around very scantily clad. I was wary, but the vampire film was out on DVD. I wanted to be on DVD. So I went to the audition, and upon minutes of reading the very poorly spelled sides, I was informed that they would like to offer me a part, but only if I went into another room -- a bedroom, no less -- with the director and stripped topless in front of the camera. I declined. If I had trusted my instincts, I never would have shown up in the first place.

It's a scenario countless actors have found themselves in, and females in particular, who already have to deal with demeaning writing much of the time, even when the director isn't trying to sleep with them.  I'm curious as to whether any New Roots readers have had similar experiences, be they hilarious, frightening, or somewhere in between.  It's a dilemma that is particular to our profession, which requires profound emotional availability and sacrifice, and thereby makes us ripe for exploitation by the unscrupulous.   

Piavoli's amazing Blue Planet is pulling double duty at both Two Boots and the Anthology (which is also featuring a sleu of his films until the 15th).

Yves Saint Laurent is on display at the Film Forum.

Mister Lonely and My Winnepeg are at the IFC Center.

The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival is front row at the Lincoln.

Helen Hunt directs? Cinema Village says so...

Directors' Fortnight is what's happening at BAM this time around.

You say you like contemporary film noirs about a public radio personality who investigates a group of people who have a weird desire to be disabled? Who doesn't? Sunshine has you covered, don't worry.

So the Rooftop Films Summer Series has officially begun, and the festivities are loaded with great flicks and a very relaxed attitude towards the film-going routine. Now, even though this is a film, theatre, and comedy blog, my heart also lies with music a good chunk of the time. One of the more appealing aspects of the Rooftop Films experience is the music that accompanies the screenings. The Rooftop crew recently partnered with Sound Fix Records in an effort to produce some really kick ass pre-film shows on selected nights of the "summer". Here's the official release:

Rooftop Films is proud to present a new partnership with Sound Fix Records!

Since 1997, Rooftop Films has been screening new independent films on rooftops throughout New York City. Live music has always been part of Rooftop's programming and this summer Sound Fix Records will be presenting the music for The Rooftop Films 2008 Summer Series....

Highlights from Sound Fix presents at Rooftop Films: Dirty on Purpose, O'Death, A.R.E. Weapons, Deer Tick...

The Rooftop Films 2008 Summer Series will consist of 38 unique, outdoor, film and music events. It will run from the first week of June through the end of September, with 2 or more events each week. All of the screenings will take place outdoors in New York City, either on rooftops or in other uniquely scenic locations. Live music precedes each of the films, and free after-parties or receptions follow most events.

Tonight is O'Death. Here's the schedule of bands (and go to the Rooftop site for more details and exact times):

• June 12th: O'Death
• June 13th: A.R.E. Weapons
• June 14th: Silver Haunches
• June 20th: Deer Tick
• June 21st: Sharon Van Etten

For more on the 'Top's uniqueness, check out New Roots' interview with the founder, Mark Rosenberg.

(The photo is of Dirty On Purpose's Rooftop appearance on June 6th)

There's some cross-exposure with a NewFilmmakers documentary series about Coney Island this Wednesday night.  There are a few shorts that kick off the night at 6pm, including Bally Master, followed by a dramatic shorts series about New York which features a film called Blindness (...and just in case you have forgotten what blindness means, the film's website is there to help).  At 8:15pm, the comedy shorts begin, which include Tesla and the Bellboy (just 4 minutes) and Sons Of a Guns (24 minutes).  There's eleven films combined in all three programs, so you should go to their site to see the exact schedules and titles.

The feature that is being shown tomorrow night is called Love in the Age of Dion, and it's about a man who, while enduring a life in L.A. that is ripe with rocky marriages and shady neighborhoods, visits his old stomping grounds back in the Bronx with an old friend from "the 60s".  Apparently when he's there, he begins to experience things that change his life in "unexpected ways".  It's a few years old, it's 85 minutes, it's video, and it's directed by Philip Cioffari.  Check it out.

As you are perhaps aware, another round of labor disputes is roiling the waters of the entertainment industry. No sooner was the WGA dispute resolved when those pesky actors started getting touchy about their contracts. At issue, as was the case with the WGA, is the messy question of rights management as it relates to the use of actors' likenesses in "new media," that wonderful catch-all term for the Internet and all its corridors.

For some detailed reporting on the ins and outs of this ongoing dispute, I recommend BackStage's excellent BlogStage, which has been on top of the story from the get-go and continues to have the latest developments. Of particular note is the internal rift between the Screen Actors Guild (the union for film actors) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (which, as its name suggests, represents actors in television and radio).

I wanted to take a moment to note an interesting subtext to this dispute as it relates to the independent community we cover here at New Roots. It has been my general observation that much of the indie scene in both theater and film operates essentially parallel to the complex and hard-fought structure of union-sanctioned productions. As a matter of fact, I've been told by several independent directors that they try to avoid casting union members for independent work simply because of the crippling restrictions it can place on a production strapped for cash and resources. While I of course recognize the value of the rights these unions have fought so hard for, I do find it troubling that it has created this rift at their very roots. I've spoken to many actors and writers who have a difficult time sympathizing with their union counterparts and their impassioned cries for help in claiming hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost wages. Many independent artists are spending themselves into debt just to get the attention of these unions and their members, and many have similarly seen their projects handicapped or even derailed by stringent union regulations designed according guidelines that many view as completely out of touch with the realities of self-producing in New York City.

A prolonged strike would therefore have a complicated effect on the artistic underground; it would create an opening for renewed focus on the thriving independent scene, but it would also pose the danger of further stigmatizing those artists working outside the union model, painting them as disloyal to their striking brothers and sisters in the industry.

So, you're an adventurous filmmaker you say? You want to film a flick with your friends/confidants, but you have so much time on your hands that you don't know what to do with it? Well then, said conflicted mate, your boat has arrived. Meet the 48 Hour Film Project, a special opportunity for you to endulge in your wildest desires: filming something while being strapped for not just cash, but time as well!

In all seriousness though, the 48 Hour Film Project is a very cool, very fun thing for filmmakers to pursue. Basically, you show up at Fontana's Bar on Eldrigde Street (Manhattan) on Friday June 20th where the kickoff for the competition begins. You and your team (of two, which includes yourself) get a genre, a character, some dialogue, and a prop to include in your piece. Then, they let the bulls loose and you do your best to film said piece in 48 hours (get it?). You write, shoot, and chop it the way you want it to be, and submit it on the 22nd for entry. Then, there will be screenings of the entries on June 25th and 26th at the Sunshine, where tickets will be presented a half hour before showtime.

The cherry on top will be the special screenings that will take place at Two Boots on July 17th and 18th, where the best in all of NYC will be on display. Sort of a greatest hits '08 collection.

Now, it looks like there's still time to register for teams on the 48 Hour Film Project website, but the deadline might have passed. If it has, my bad y'all, but you'll still be able to go see the happenings. If it's still a go, then excelsior! (Teams are $135 per duo.)

Dreams with Sharp Teeth and The Edge of Heaven at Film Forum.

Film and internet collide in "Where Film and Internet Collide" at the IFC Center.

Ever feel a yurning for a Spinal Tap-esk riff on the horror film genre? Then head to Two Boots for a Brutal Massacre of epic proportions!

Don't feel like tipping when your Chinese order is late? Take a gander at Take Out at the Quad and see if it doesn't make you question your iron-wallet ways.

Scoop some new Italian cinema at the Lincoln.

There's Genghis Khan, "horror maestros", and steroids at Sunshine.

And, there's a Howard Hawks retrospecticus at Anthology.

It's no secret to anyone that has been keeping up with some of the interviews we've had on this site that internet distribution is quickly becoming to way to go for aspiring filmmakers to get their work seen/heard. Despite what the MPAA or other organizations are trying to do for studio produced films, the internet is proving to be extremely useful for independents alike (duh). When dealing in the independent, self-financed realm, freedom of expression and sole governing over your work can be your only weapon. However, there are not that many outlets for independent filmmakers that promote free distribution and networking for their creativity (at least, not as many as you would think). One of the aims this New Roots Project will have in the coming moments ahead is to create a thriving, totally connected online community for artists looking for that very type of outlet.

That's not to say that there isn't anyone else out there on the same wavelength as us. One such site that is looking to create new opportunities for filmmakers is Eyesoda.com. Eyesoda is looking for films to present on their site, at more than 20 minutes in length, in order to build up their hopeful "global" community. You can register, mail your films in DVD format, and begin to house some buzz and interest in your work. You can also cut in on 50% of the profits Eyesoda.com receives from advertising and ticket sales your film pulls in on proceeds. (That sounded a little sketchy to me personally at first, so you might want to read up on the site's terms and conditions about rights and earnings for your films. You want to make sure you have a firm grip on things like that.) Although, all things considered, it looks to be a sweet deal for anyone interested in getting their film seen by a larger than normal audience. I'm not sure how many people use the site yet, but hey, any publicity is good publicity, right?

I haven't signed up for this site, but from the looks of it, it might not be free. I'm also not sure if they have some sort of selection process for the films they receive, but...they might. You can't win 'em all, though (at least not yet anyway).

Check out the site for details and to submit what you would like...

Kevin Maher is an Emmy-nominated writer-producer whose work has been seen on Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Vh1 and HBO. He’s made over 40 short films, which have been shown everywhere from MoMA to Troma, with screenings outside of Sundance and Cannes. Critics have compared Kevin to Ernie Kovacs and Jonathan Winters, but his highest praise came from Tiger Bear, who called him “funny!” I wanted to chat with him because he's been around the block and is one of the lucky bunch who have gone from independent film making to dependent film making with a paycheck. He also produces themed nights at the Sci-Fi Screening Room on a monthly basis which are geek-tastic for all the right reasons. This week's edition (June 4th) will be Batman Night. They share bootleg footage, rare clips, and even fan films. Check the Kevin's blog for more details on where to go and what more to expect.

He's also a really nice guy that was cool enough to let me bug him about what he does/has done. Check it out.

What got you interested in film?

I can’t pick an exact moment of interest. But I do remember being a kid and going to a soccer game. Just before the game, I was telling my friend about seeing this new movie Christine. Then we had to play soccer, and I thought “I’d much rather talk about that movie.”

How did you try to wet your feet with film making initially?

In college, I was doing sketch comedy. Some ideas seemed better as videos than stage pieces. I knew nothing about filmmaking, so these were very lo-fi projects. That helped, in a way – gave the shorts a raw, “garage band” quality that really reflects the mood of a 19 – 20 year old. I can’t get away with that now. I’m 33 and fat.

Explain what you are doing nowadays.

My main projects are a weekly web-show for American Movie Classics, called THE SCI FI DEPARTMENT. And I recently started producing episodes of a CNN show. I’ve gone from being an independent filmmaker to a co-dependent filmmaker.

What about non-paid work?

The fun stuff? I host the SCI FI SCREENING ROOM at the theater under St. Mark’s each month. We show vintage videos -- and some not-so-rare stuff. Last month Raven Snook and I screened a weird 1980 musical called The Apple. Sure, you could rent it, but it’s much more fun to watch with an audience. We had sing-a-longs and drinking games, trivia, prizes, and someone got a futuristic glam-rock makeover. It’s an evening out.

And you also showed KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK. How’d that go?

I co-hosted with a comic named Rob Gorden. We’re both used to playing comedy shows, but the audience was INTO the movie on a non-ironic level. They didn’t want to laugh at our Haikus about KISS. But after the movie, people shook my hand and said “Thank you for doing this.” I loved that! As long as people are having a good time, I’m happy.

What do you enjoy most about Science-Fiction?

I love how dated and absurd some old movies are. I went to a midnight showing of Tron and the audience was clearly digging the movie, but we were also laughing at the film’s misunderstanding of how a computer works. I also love it when an early 70’s movie depicts a vision of the future, but it’s all the fashion, hairstyles and architecture of the then-present. And also, filmmakers can say more politically, with fantasy than with drama. (Maybe not so much in Tron.)

Seeing as how Science-Fiction might require struggling filmmakers to stretch their wallet to the limits, what are your thoughts about independent film making in that genre?

Sci Fi is a tough genre because people associate it with Spaceships, Cyborgs, Dinosaurs, Time-Travel and chicks in futuristic binkins.

Now, most indie producers don’t have the resources to create a convincing two-headed alien warlord. So they’ll have to find creative solutions. If your heart is in it, the audience will be rooting for you and they’ll like the fact that you’re using puppets and green-screen and flying saucers on fishing line. But they might hate it, too.

How can television help independent film?

That’s all changing, right? Isn’t TeeVee going to be replaced by some new fiber-optic medium?

Again, that’s why I do the Sci Fi Screening Room. Watching a video on your computer is a cold and empty experience. Or watching comedy at your cubicle. Or watching anything on your phone.

A lot of today’s technology allows you to stay in your home. You don’t have to go outside to get movies, books or food. We become isolated from each other. It’s much more fun to get together and be a part of something bigger than yourself. We shouldn’t be limited to communal viewings of the stuff that comes out each summer. Come to my show this week and enjoy BATMAN clips from the 40’s, 60’s, 70’s and 90’s. And have some cheap beer and Batman cereal.

I didn’t really answer your question. Sorry. Media is a big eco-system, so TV and internet and film are always helping and hurting each other. I think a lot of TV people don’t “get” the internet or why something can work on the web but not on TV.

Maybe the best way TV can help Film is by being so awful that it turns people away from TV and those viewers will look to independent film.

Are there any myths about independent film making that you believe do not exist and need to be clarified?

Uhm…. I guess each individual needs to clarify the REAL goal of a project. Any artistic outing is like asking a sneaky Genie for a wish. A writer might say, “I want to write for TV.” But then you’re writing for the Home Shopping Network. Or you say “I want to write for a cool TV Show.” But then you’re writing for a cool show, but not getting paid. Figure out what’s important to you. Know what your goals are. Also, it’s a myth that if you just get an agent everything will work out.

Finally, just a general question: How would you view the independent film making scene in New York City? From experience, do you feel there are adequate venues/outlets for up-and-coming artists to get their work made and seen?

I’ve met some incredibly talented people who don’t know how to market themselves or their movies. And those people go un-noticed. Then I’ve met some average filmmakers who know how to network and they get some press and attention. New York City is just as susceptible to that B.S. as anyplace else. We’re not so hip.

My best advice (coming from the guy who wrote the direct-to-video Hoodwinked Christmas special which never got made) is to try the NYC scene and circuit. If it doesn’t work, create your own opportunities. Rooftop Films is a great example of that. First Sundays started as people trying to show their own movies. Flicker Film Festival is one of my favorite shows in town – and they do them all over the country. From there, you meet like-minded people and you can enable each other to make more weird stuff. And isn’t that the point?

He's a true artist.

Thanks Kevin! And don't forget to go to ThisKevin.blogspot.com for his blog with all the information you can cram in your brain.

Want a way to have your cake and eat it too? Well, the Brick Theater in Williamsburg is ready to give you a fork to dig in with because the progressive theater has kicked off it's Film Festival: A Theater Festival spectacle (May 30th to June 29th). This fest combines the best of both worlds by presenting work that incorporates both film and theater elements into one interactive, very cool package. There are films based on plays, there are performances that center around audience-particiaption and cell phone/iPod interaction, and just generally films that explore new mediums and break the boundaries of what the film going experience should be like. It's experimental film at its finest, and even touches on concepts discussed in a previous interview with filmmaker Elise Kermani on this very site. It looks like theatrical film is becoming more commonplace, eh?

Some films of [my] note include LOL (a non-scripted, nonprofessional look at man's submission to technology), Bring Me the Head of John Ford (a "one-man, one-act production that uses video projection and live performance to examine the effects of isolation"), Kill Me Like You Mean It, Suspcious Package (a noir piece that involves portable electronics used by audience members to drive the story), The Melon of the Sky, and A Paranoid's Guide to History.

You should go to their site for schedules of specific films and details of the festival.

As we discussed previously both here and in our interview with Teresa Bass, the PIT has lately been inviting theater artists to perform in its traditionally comedy-oriented space on 29th street. They had great success with Blood and Stone Theatre Company's production of The Dumb Waiter in April, and now they're presenting John Clancy's The Event tonight.

It's exciting to see a theater having success blending these two worlds, and having John Clancy direct at the theater is a strong sign of support from the theatrical community. He's a legendary figure in the downtown scene, being, among other things, one of the co-founders of FringeNYC. It's a trend to watch, and one I hope continues!

Here's a description of The Event:

The Event is a comic examination of the act of theater. What starts as a straight-forward, hilarious deconstruction of the one-man show transforms into an honest attempt at communion with those gathered. Dealing directly and humorously with the technician, the stage manager, the critics and the audience, the actor moves into dangerous and slippery territory. Armed only with his memorized words, can an actor say something else? Matt Oberg (Goner, Fatboy, Americana Absurdum) stars. Written and directed by John Clancy.

There's a Good Dick and some Anvils at BAM (and that isn't a weird fetish).

Jean Luc-Godard and mod, cult conspiracies at the Film Forum.

First Sundays are back at Two Boots, and this time they have porn and space vikings!

Go Up the Yangtze at the Quad.

Take in a blueberry night and sit with some Hollywood Chinese at the Imaginasian!

Henry VIII and Chow-Yun-Fat save orphans in 1930s China, and some weird friendships abound at Sunshine.

Rooftop Films is one of the most unique and coolest outlets for independent film in the city, particularly Brooklyn. Mark Rosenberg is the founder and Artistic Director of said awesomeness and was nice enough to let me film him talking about his ventures with Rooftop on a windy and rainy, er, rooftop. Mark told me about why he decided to screen on roofs, how the settings the films are screened in helps the experience, why he prefers shorts (not the style of pantalones, but the format of film), and other sweet things Rooftop Films does to help out the independent filmmakers around the boroughs (including the Rooftop Filmmakers Fund and equipment rentals).

Now, if you go to their site, you can find plenty of information and scheduling on Rooftop's Summer Series that begins soon, as well as links to other goodies...including the IFC shorts showcase that Rooftop will be a part of. Each week there will be a bunch of short films added to IFC's website and, well, just go to www.rooftopfilms.com and you'll see what I mean.

And now, here's Mark. Enjoy!

Hoboken is where I call home these days, so you could imagine my surprise when I realized that the Hoboken International Film Festival is happening blocks away from apartment this year? I know, I know, how did it take me this long to realize that? I don't know, but thank god for my after-work evening strolls down Washington Street...and lampost flyers.

This one will take place from May 30th to June 5th, and it will be consuming various spots around the square mile stretch known as Hoboken, NJ. The majority of which will be held at the Multi-Service Center and Pier A. There are tons of films being screened (shorts, features, and even TV pilots) and it would cause me great pain to type them out, but if you check the festival's site, they have detailed information on what exactly is going on and where. Tickets are affordable, and Hoboken is a great laid-back change of pace from Manhattan so it should be a great time.

Oh, and Billy Dee Williams is getting a lifetime achievement award at the gala ceremony taking place at Sinatra Park on the 30th. There's still a chance to save Han!

This is a little tourist-y, but it sounds like an interesting way to see some films. The Brooklyn Bridge turns 125-years-old this year, and so Bloomberg and friends have decided to celebrate the occassion with a series of festivities; including screenings of films that prominantly display the iconic bridge at select locations. On May 23rd, Enchanted, that new Disney film starring my current starlet crush, Amy Adams, will be shown at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park at 8:30pm. Also on that Friday, Mo' Better Blues by Spike Lee will be featured at Tribeca Cinemas on Varick Street at 7pm (doors open at 6:30).

Saturday the 24th will see, what else, Brooklyn Bridge and It Happened in Brooklyn. Bridge can be seen at the BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) at 4:30pm and It Happened will be shown Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park at 8:30pm.

It should be noted that both Empire-Fulton park screenings of Enchanted and It Happened in Brooklyn will be preluded by musical performances, both beginning at 6pm each night. So, go see a film about New Roots' favorite mascot, and catch some tunes under the night sky.

There's a few shorts that begin the night and they are centered around life in New York (Rooftop Bees and A Hole in the Fence); plus some Spanish ones, including Terres Noires, which is filmed with 16mm (it's not totally dead yet!).

Following that are the features, one of which, Pardeye Sangi by Sadegh Bagheri, has either the worst description ever on the website, or the filmmakers have mastered the unsung art form known as minimalist tagline writing:

A man is coming back, a biker comes, together they ride across the road.

I'm interested. The second feature, Alex Pacheco's Praxis (2007, 93 minutes) is equally as mysterious. It's about Brian, a struggling writer who, I guess, is trying to write a piece about his own demons. According to the film's description, this quest to write leads him to discover his "true core" and "reflects the classical mythos of Proteus and the human search for meaning in the universe". Not much is revealed about the plot, so since I love being surprised and caught off guard in my film watching experiences, I'm officially curious. Are you?