“Berlinale What?”

I knew it was some festival in Berlin. For a guy growing up in Chennai, making shorts on miniDV, and still stuck in the second year of his film school, that was good enough. ‘Some festival in Berlin, dad,” I told my father, “I am going to be nominated as India’s delegate. They call it the Berlinaal or something like that.” I was excited.

Of course the next day when I knew it was not some film festival in Berlin, but the film festival in Berlin, in fact the world, my joy knew no bound.

It was only because the director of the Goethe Institute was a very visionary lady that she had the courage to nominate a 24 year old short filmmaker, in competition with 30-something heavyweights – movie critics, journalist, the elite!

RIP:VHS

VHS 1977-2008

After three decades of bringing us the best in home entertainment, the VHS tape has finally been retired. The format was, up until recently, still being bought and shipped by just one US company, but now even they have layed the, let’s face it, pretty crappy, tape to rest.

Reelshow International Italian Student Festival Shortlist

Reelshow International Announces:
The  Italian Student Filmmakers Festival Shortlist: Click here  to see the finalists.

The Voting Room is now open and will remain open until 10th January 2009.
Ten amazing films have been selected to go through to the final.
As well as our panel of judges,all members have the chance to vote for their favourite film.The shortlist consists of ten films by young and emerging Italian filmmakers and spans fiction, animation and documentary genres.
Click here for the Voting Room. You have to be a reelshow member to vote. Registration is free.

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