Woody Allen’s New Movie “Midnight in Paris”
by Jaden
Woody Allen has a new movie out called Midnight in Paris, which has only been released in a small number of theaters. I saw it at the Embarcadero Landmark Theater in San Francisco. Each Midnight screening was sold out all day and night, packed house, hour after hour. It was the intellectual art crowd, the kind of people you just feel smart sitting next to them.
For me, to know nothing about a movie before I see it is best. I love surprise, so I won’t tell you anything too specific. The trailer for the movie did a great job of keeping the good part of the movie secret.
This movie is rather silly and absurd, but in a marvelous way. Midnight in Paris is full of inside jokes for people who are well studied in the arts, literature, music, and earlier eras. If you are not, you might miss a lot of the humor, but it should still be enjoyable.
Owen Wilson, plays Gil, a successful screenwriter from Pasadena who wants to be a novel writer; he does a great job channeling Woody Allen’s neurotic energy. Through his unexplainable midnight adventures, he discovers the truth about what he needs out of life and about his relationship with fiancee Inez, played by Rachel McAdams.
If you loved Woody’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), you will also love Midnight in Paris. Only problem now is finding it, because it just isn’t showing at very many movie theaters.
Writing in his 70s, I have never felt more connected and interested in Woody Allen’s movies as I do now. He has over 60 screenwriting credits to his name and oodles of awards. Will someone please give him his Lifetime Achievement Award already, please!
Midnight is another excellent Woody Allen movie not to miss. Full of fun celebrity cameo appearances, the movie received applause from the audience at the end of my screening. As this movie may not ever have a wider distribution, I don’t know, I suggest trying to see it now while you have the chance; it’s only at a few select theaters.
[2012 Update: WON GOLDEN GLOBE for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture]
Speak of the Dead Interview Series, Screenwriters from Shriekfest: Emilie Flory
Participating writers and filmmakers from Shriekfest past and present talk to Screenwriting for Hollywood about their horror thriller suspense movies and experience.
ALERT: Process 5 is a really cool sci-fi thriller short film, which plays more like a snippet from a feature film on par with The Matrix. It is extremely well done and sleek. I recommend major producers to get in touch with Emilie Flory, while the opportunity still exists, to talk about making a feature film.
Process 5
French Writer/Director
Emilie Flory Speaks to SfH
The movie:
My film is a science fiction short titled Process 5 , or in French it is called Processus 5. It is filmed in 35mms scope (9mns12) by Tariel Meliava, my Director of Photography who also filmed 13 Tzameti.
The story is about five people from a lost generation who are compelled to save a world that is on the brink of exploding.
Inspiration:
Information I know about the French Defense inspired me to write this.
Budget:
The total budget of Process 5 was 32,000 euros ($45,700).
I raised the money around me.
The Journey:
It took two months for me to write Process 5.
It was really hard to get my film seen. I did my best during one year to show my movie at film festivals, but I didn’t have enough connections. Very few people know about Process 5.
Background:
At seven years old, I knew I wanted to make movies.
Writing Credits:
- Prix QUEFFELEC ( meilleur poème sur la mer)
- Rubrique « Horror show » (L’ECRAN FANTASTIQUE)
- Scénario « Le ciel et l’enfer » (Idée originale : Jean-Christophe POLIEN)
- Concepts T.V & Radio : « A.D.P-centre-« (Soap), « The Cults » (divertissement), « Les rendez-vous de Sigmund » (sketches radiophoniques), « Politiquement belles » (série politique de 22mns pour adolescents), « Quotidien plaisirs » (émission quotidienne), « Les “comment” de Lovita et Barbijana » (programmes-courts), « Lovita & Barbijana » (série glamour humoristique)…
- Pièce / Revue glamour humoristique : “DIVINES ou Lovita et Barbijana“
- Roman illustré (Illustrations et photos en 3D): « Les Anges de L’homme »
- Les aventures de « Dic TAFONE » (Sciences et vie découvertes) , « Kitt enquête » (le journal de Corinne et Jeannot -TABARY)
- Bande dessinée humoristique « Pénélope POP » -tome 1 « Collection privée » (dessins : Jaap de BOER).
- BD live « L’Egérie du Gotrash » (concept)
- BD humoristique à sketches : « Cerise au Gymnana » (dessins : Christian GODDARD)
- Bande dessinée érotique : « Strip girls » (concept)
- Scénario : « Traffic dans le fitness –GOLDEN BODIES fitness is business » (Giallo)
- Scénario : « Processus 5 » (Film d’Anticipation)
Influences:
Star Wars inspired me.
For me, the best horror filmmakers and best screewriters are Wes Craven & John Carpenter.
I love Carrie… but also, A Nightmare on Elmstreet, Halloween, Jaws, Poltergeist, Reanimator, Suspiria, Frightnight, and Maniac…
http://www.iconelabelpictures.com/
Shriekfest: Calling All Independent Horror Thriller Sci-Fi Fantasy Filmmakers & Screenwriters !
Speak of the Dead Interview Series, Screenwriters from Shriekfest: Edward E. Romero
Participating writers and filmmakers from Shriekfest past and present talk to Screenwriting for Hollywood about their horror thriller suspense movies and experience.
BUTTERFLY
Writer/Director
Edward E. Romero Speaks to SfH
The movie:
Butterfly is a psychological horror flick. It stars Mandi Kreisher (The Lodge) and Jay Laisne (Humanity’s End) with a special appearance by Eileen Dietz (The Exorcist).
When Laney, an over-zealous fan, kidnaps Nick, a horror director with a questionable past, it begins an experiment in madness where the difference between life and death is only 24 frames away.
Inspiration:
Way back in the 1990s I was working in a video store and watching a TON of movies. I would watch two or three movies a day sometimes. I especially liked dark little character flicks from writer/directors like Hal Hartley. But I also spent a lot of time watching schlocky Troma films and classic low-budget horror stuff. I don’t know. I guess I just got obsessed with the idea that I could to it. That I could make movies too.
Budget:
Butterfly was a true labor of love. It was mostly funded by donations from friends, family and the lovely folks at Visa and Mastercard.
We shot the whole thing in ten days over a series of five weekends. I’m not sure what the actual budget has turned out to be now with post. But I think it is somewhere around $50,000 and a LOT of favors. Only my producer knows for sure.
The Journey:
I wrote the script for Butterfly mostly out of the frustration of waiting for other optioned projects to get green lit. I wanted to write something that I knew I could shoot with the available crew and equipment that I had at my disposal. So I kept the story confined both in space and time frame.
The idea for the script had been hanging around for a long time. So when I actually sat down to write the screenplay, it came together pretty quickly. I had the first draft finished in about two weeks. I ran it past my producers/friends, got some notes and did another couple of drafts. All together, the whole thing took about five weeks. But I tend to write that way. I think about the story for a while, and then I put my ass in the chair and bang it out until it’s done.
It’s been a funny road.
The strangest thing that I’ve encountered so far has got to be that the SAG Conservatory refused to screen the film after watching it. We were told that Butterfly was “too salacious” for the conservatory members. That makes me grin. It’s kind of like a badge of courage or something.
We premiered the film at the Barnsdal Park Theater late in 2010. The reaction from the crowd was unexpected. People were really disturbed by it. My own brother said that he felt like he needed to take a shower after seeing the film. I think the film is pretty tame. So maybe I’m just crazy.
Our first “official” film festival screening was at Fear Fiesta here in Los Angeles around Halloween last year. Our next screening is in June at the Image Gazer Film Festival in Maine.
We begin a series of monthly midnight screenings at the Laemmle Sunset 5 starting June 24, 2011.
Background:
I hate this part.
I started writing short stories when I was in fifth grade. Mostly creepy stuff about giant insects and medical experiments gone wrong. I was a dorky fantasy role-player too. So I wrote a lot of stories for dungeon quests and such. It wasn’t until I got to college that I turned my attention to screenwriting. That’s also when I got my first camcorder and starting shooting little sketches with my friends.
I’m mostly a thriller/ horror screenwriter. I’ve won the UCLA Professional Screenwriting Competition for my script Lullaby. I’ve had a couple of shorts as well as three features produced. All of them low/no budgets.
I’m the co-writer of the film Ashes, which won “Best Horror” Feature Shriekfest 2010. It won “Best Screenplay” at International Sci-Fi and Horror Festival 2010 and has since gone on to win a mess of other stuff.
Influences:
That’s a tough one. There are so many greats. It’s probably a cliché to say it, but I still love The Exorcist. Either that or the original Night of the Living Dead. Both of those films are just so perfect to me. And they are truly the first horror films I can remember loving.
As a script, I’ve got to give it to William Goldman’s adaptation of Misery. I love that script. And I’m not the biggest Stephen King fan to start with.
As far as directors go, Dario Argento would probably be my favorite all-around horror director. That guy just makes beautiful pictures. I’m a big fan of Italian horror from the sixties and seventies in general.
“I am alive only in what I love and desire to the point of terror.” – Hakim Bey
http://www.butterfly-the-movie.com/
Shriekfest: Calling All Independent Horror Thriller Sci-Fi Fantasy Filmmakers & Screenwriters !
Speak of the Dead Interview Series, Screenwriters from Shriekfest: Marion Kerr
Participating writers and filmmakers from Shriekfest past and present talk to Screenwriting for Hollywood about their horror thriller suspense movies and experience.
Golden Earrings
Writer/Director/Actor
Marion Kerr Speaks to SfH
The movie:
My feature film is a psychological thriller called Golden Earrings, which has screened in nearly a dozen festivals and won two Audience awards for Best Horror Feature.
The film is about two young women who are roommates and best friends, one of them mysteriously disappears. The film explores the fine line between love and friendship and how sometimes your friends aren’t who you think they are.
It stars Julia Marchese, John T. Woods, Lauren Mora, Anthony Dimaano, Teddy Goldsmith and myself, Marion Kerr.
Inspiration:
The inspiration was just observing very close female friendships over the years and realizing how all consuming and distorted and obsessive they can be. I wrote it shortly after I moved to L.A. and then it sat on my desktop for about five years until I had the opportunity to make it.
Budget:
Our budget was under $50,000.00.
Myself and my producer funded the film with generous donation of resources from other filmmakers and friends.
The Journey:
Well, for my film, it was a two part experience. When I completed the first version of the film, we entered it into about 15 top tier festivals and got nothing. Then, we re-edited the film to fix a few little things and spruce up the sound and we had a private screening at a theatre and invited some industry to come. Luckily, Joe Dante, director of Gremlins & The Howling, and Rian Johnson, director of Brick, The Brothers Bloom and the upcoming Looper, came and they loved the film and gave us amazing quotes to use to promote it. Then I launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund my second round of festivals and we submitted again using these quotes to a bunch of second and third tier festivals and got an amazing response. Each festival we went to and/or won an award at, created invitations to more festivals and it just kind of steam rolled from there. The film screenings were all over the country and I was fortunate to attend many of the screenings with my cast which I think helped the screenings do well.
Background:
I wanted to be an actor since I was 10 and I’ve been writing as long as I can remember. But going to the New York Film Academy really made me fall in love with filmmaking and I’ve been making short films ever since.
Influences:
Rosemary’s Baby is the scariest, creepiest film I have ever seen. That film just really got under my skin and I couldn’t shake it for days. That tune that Mia Farrow hums throughout is just SO creepy. The one I enjoy watching the most is Dead Alive by Peter Jackson, but that’s more of a horror comedy. Best horror thriller screenwriters I’d say are either Wes Craven or John Carpenter, just for sheer innovation of making very simple ideas incredibly frightening.
Shriekfest: Calling All Independent Horror Thriller Sci-Fi Fantasy Filmmakers & Screenwriters !
Forget or Forget Me Not
31 Quick Movie Reviews
by Jaden
Can’t figure out what movie to watch tonight?
These movies are the ones I have seen so far in 2011 at the movie theater and at home.
THOR 3D (2011)
Sexy mythology collides on Earth, it’s hammer time!
*Watch it*
SOURCE CODE (2011)
If at first you don’t succeed… die and die again.
*Watch it*
MOONSTRUCK (1987)
What is crazier, love or this movie?
*Watch it*
BULLITT (1968)
Words schmourds. Silent Steve McQueen is golden. San Francisco stunt car chase extravaganza!
*Watch it*
THE ITALIAN JOB (1969)
The British might be snobs, but they’re F’in funny, monster Mini car chase, glorious cinematography and script.
* Watch it !!! *
EUROPEAN VACATION (1985)
American dumb gets dumber than the dumbest when the Griswalds win a trip to Europe.
–Forget it–
10,000 BC (2008)
A massive film endeavor that takes us back in time. Hear me roar! …meow.
–Forgot it–
CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR (2007)
The side of politics and war you don’t want to know… oh yes you do!
*Watch it*
KUNG FU PANDA (2008)
It’s ok to be fat, darling.
*Watch it*
WINDTALKERS (2002)
WWII with Navajo native Americans, extremely horrifically violent, no doves, what up Woo?
–Try to Forget it–
SCOTT PILGRIM VS WORLD (2010)
Surprisingly awesome movie of our time: video gamers and rockstar hipsters unite.
*Watch it*
AUSTRALIA (2008)
Scenic route, this way…
*Watch for cinematography, if you have the time*
THE WRAITH (1986)
A hot Charlie Sheen doing his return-from-the-dead hot rod thing in the desert.
*Watch it at a 1980s Charlie “Winning” theme party only*
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S (1961)
Shallow big city gold-digger party girl story, pre-cursor to Sex in the City. Great flick if you lose the painfully obnoxious fake Asian stereotype upstairs neighbor, aiyayaya.
*Read the excellent short story by Truman Capote instead!*
WALL-E (2008)
The robot that could and the big fat humans who couldn’t.
*Watch it*
THE HANGOVER (2009)
A bachelor party in Las Vegas that no one can remember: funny in unexpected offbeat ways.
*Watch it*
THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT (2009)
Ghostly cool and truly horror-ific! What’s down in the basement? A cancer story like none other.
*Watch it + all the DVD documentary extras based on true story*
SOUND OF THUNDER (2005)
A great Ray Bradbury time travel story gone awry; for $50+ million, filmmakers don’t do this sci-fi story justice.
*Read the short story first, then watch it with low expectations for some cool concepts*
ANGELS AND DEMONS (2009)
Better than Da Vinci Code.
–Forgot it–
BATTLEFIELD LA (2011)
Go Marines Go!
–Forgot it–
RANGO (2011)
Screenwriting 101 with Cute Desert Creatures.
–Forgot it–
ADJUSTMENT BUREAU (2011)
Fate or part of the plan? Open the back door to love.
*Watch it*
LIONS FOR LAMBS (2007)
Famous movie stars talk talk talk talk talk talk, no walk! Should be only a stage play.
–Forgot it–
MASTER AND COMMANDER (2003)
Yes, Your Epicness Master, take me out to sea and rock my boat!
*Watch it*
FAY GRIM (2006)
What the hell is this weird crap? Where’s my husband? Wait, wait for it. Ok. Love it! Clever script! Odd film direction.
* Watch it !!! *
TRUE GRIT (2010)
Everyone has a price. Matt Damon as an Old West prick, truly great!
*Watch it*
THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010)
The wicked world wide webs we weave!
*Watch it*
THE UNINVITED (2009)
Which movie was this? Cute girls kill. Oh yeah. Forgot it, but…
*Watch it — for teens and twenties only*
GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn about Scarlett, the snobby selfish lead character, but the historical perspective of the South during the American Civil War is extremely interesting.
*Watch it*
GNOMEO AND JULIET (2011)
Very cute rendition of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliette played by ceramic garden gnomes.
*Watch it*
THE KING’S SPEECH (2010)
The older you are, the more you will appreciate this ma-ma-ma-ma-mooovie.
*Watch it*
