The Dark Woods Experience by Paul Heath

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that a very old friend/ aquaintance of mine had just kick started his film career producing his very first motion picture, the independent DARK WOODS. Well, I have a bit of an update for you. I have just been told that the film has completed principal photography and moved on into that all creative part of the process ‘post-production.’ More on that in a minute.

 

Producer Mark Shady has agreed to spend a little bit of time with me revealing as to how it all went, what it was like working on the film (as a first feature, both as actor and producer), and how he found it working with the legendary James Russo, an actor appeared opposite Johnny Depp in Roman Polanski’s The Ninth Gate. Other Russo films include Kevin Costner’s The Postman and Open Range, plus Beverly Hills Cop, We’re No Angels, Donnie Brasco, No Way Home. We’ll hopefully be posting the interview next week, so keep ‘em peeled. It’s bound to be an interesting read.

 

In the meantime, here are some superb images from the set of Dark Woods, which also stars Tracy Coogan.

 

Dark Woods, in which she stars as the lead character, is a mystery thriller written by John Muscarnero and directed by Mike Escobedo.

The story follows a couple who moves to a secluded cabin in the woods to cope with a terminal illness of the wife. As the wife’s condition drags her deeper into dementia and darkness, the husband’s friendship with a local teenage girl takes a dangerous and obsessive turn. The film is said to be similar to Roman Polanski’s Repulsion or the works of David Lynch and Michael Haneke, with the feeling of the 1969 French classic ”The Swimming Pool/La Piscine” which starred Romy Schneider and Alain Delon.

 

Enjoy the pics, and make sure you check back next week for our ultra-exclusive interview with Mark Shady (that’s him with the beard and long hair below) to see how the film was brought to the screen.

taken by persmission Reelshow International

Festival alert ‘Reelshow Italian Film Festival’

The Reelshow Italian Film festival

The Reelshow Italian film festival is open for entries, top prize is US$1,000 and you can upload and enter online now.

A top panel of international judges will be passing their expert eyes on entries this year, more details on the Reelshow: Reelshow Italian Film Festival

How will the Credit Crunch affect filmmaking?

The precarious economy is unnerving many in the film and entertainment business with even Bond star Daniel Craig expressing concern that MGM may not be able to raise the cash to produce another 007movie any time soon. In an interview in a UK paper, Craig said. “As far as the next film’s concerned, there is nothing scheduled. … Economically the world is in quite a lot of trouble so who knows if we can afford to do another Bond movie anytime soon”. Not everybody is in agreement with Craig but it is evident that Studio’s shares are down and they are not taking the risk on making many films other than surefire blockbusters. The real concern here is the effect the current economic climate will have on independent films. It is widely thought that extremely low-budget and student made films will mostly be unaffected and it’s the mid-range movie that will have to be fought to be protected.

Unfortunately, I think we will see fewer of the quality indie/European films with enthralling stories, and Hollywood will stick to the safe Blockbusters. On the plus side as the saying goes ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going’ and sometimes a tightening of resources within the film community is met with an abundance of creativity.  Let’s hope the movie industry  focuses on quality and weeds out a lot of the chaff, and we’ll still see some real independent gems.

by permission Reelshow International

It’s All Down To The Title

A film’s success all rides on having a good title. Or so they tell me. I recently came across an article over at Entertainment Weekly which looks at recently released films that could have had more success in terms of box-office and worldwide exposure if the title had been different, or if said title related more to the movie’s content.

One of the best examples of this is Frank Darabont’s superb film THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, a film which features on top ten lists almost every time one is compiled. Just this past month it made the top five of Empire magazine’s definitive list of the 500 greatest films of all time. The film is excellent, there is no doubting that, but the title does very little to inspire or draw the audience in. The film has enjoyed relative success, but all as a result of good word-of-mouth over the years since its release back in the mid-nineties. It’s success slowly built up over the years. This film was obviously based on a short story by Stephen King of the same name, but imagine if Darabont has chosen (heaven forbid) to change it to something like ESCAPE FROM SHAWSHANK or even PRISON BREAK or something equally commercial. The punters would have rolled in and the film could have, they say, taken a lot more in green at the box-office. After all, film-goers are stupid, some studios may say.

Another example is the upcoming THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. The film stars Brad Pitt in a David Fincher film that tells the story of a human being who ages backwards (ie, he is born and old man, and dies a baby). Great concept, and again, based on a 1920’s story, but what about that title? Hardly appealing is it. Look at the most successful films of the year. For the guys (and some of the girls), THE DARK KNIGHT. Great title, and we all know that it is referring to the character of Batman. For the girls (and maybe some of the guys) SEX AND THE CITY, a film based on a successful television series, but also a film that’s title says it all. The best examples of films with great titles are in the horror genre. Examples. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, FRIDAY THE 13TH, THE HILLS HAVE EYES, SCREAM, GHOST TOWN – okay, so maybe not that last one (another midleading titled referring to a sub-average Ricky Gervais comedy). Then there’s the action genre, and in particular the films of Steven Seagel (MARKED FOR DEATH, HARD TO KILL) or Jean Claude Van Damme (BLOODSPORT, KICKBOXER).

I suppose what I am really trying to say with this post is think about what you call your projects. It could make or break your film’s success.

Or maybe you don’t agree with me?

Has anyone any other examples of films that have titles that mislead its audience?

Please, discuss.

taken by persmission Reelshow International