Saturday, September 25, 2010

Camera, Camera

A trailer for the feature documentary CAMERA, CAMERA. cameracamerafilm.com

Westerners young and old arrive in Laos, and so do their cameras. They document a fragile and deceptively brutal world, revealing themselves in the process. CAMERA, CAMERA quietly calls upon viewers to ponder the multifaceted and often ambiguous impacts of travel and photography on citizens of two worlds.

Directed by Malcolm Murray. Written by Michael Meyer. Produced by Josh Haner.

Produced by THIS. hereisthis.com



Short film by Malcom Murray, director of 'Up There'.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

UP THERE - short film about billboard painters in NYC

I wrote this documentary along with my friends Malcolm and Christine, as part of The Ritual Project sponsored by Stella Artois (more at uptherefilm.com). So proud to help these painters tell their story.

Concept: Mother NY; Production Co: Mekanism; Director/DP/Editor: Malcolm Murray; Music by The Album Leaf; Painters: Colossal Media/Sky High Murals/Bob Middleton; Presented by Stella Artois

Sunday, September 12, 2010

San Quentin Film School

I recently stumbled upon this Discovery series which was created by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, the director/producers behind Brother’s Keeper and the Paradise Lost films.

A wonderful concept and it’s beautifully shot, proving that beautiful cinematography and wonderful story telling do have a place on TV and in the documentary/journalism world.













Friday, August 13, 2010

Zoo



Zoo - If Terrence Malick and David Lynch were morphed into one person and made a documentary film about zoophiles -- ZOO would be it. Some of the most amazing cinematography and visuals I've seen in a long time. Cinematic eye candy and a revolution in doc-film making.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Words

Made by Everynone (in Collaboration with WNYC's Radiolab & NPR)

Directed by Daniel Mercadante & Will Hoffman

Supervising Producer: Robert Krulwich
Original Score: Keith Kenniff (http://unseen-music.com)

http://www.everynone.com

Lucas With The Lid Off

Michel Gondry is still the king of the one take.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Summer of 1994

When I was 13 I spent a summer at Phillips Exeter Academy.

As these documents show, I must have 1) told my brother never to go in my room when I wasn't there and 2) that my photography teacher didn't like my style very much.


Plastic Bag

Plastic Bag
by Ramin Bahrani

Struggling with its immortality, a discarded plastic bag (voiced by Werner Herzog) ventures through the environmentally barren remains of America as it searches for its maker.

1,890 miles in 39 hours


Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Film Festival Rejection: A Response



Film Festival Rejection; A Response

Film festivals typically send you rejection notices that read like sterile hall passes. For all I know, they never even watched my film. They just took my submission fee and ran. I've taken to writing them response letters upon receiving the rejection notice, not because I believe that they'll respond (I'm 0 for 4 on responses) but because I know that somewhere, someone is receiving my passive aggressive e-mail and they're either getting angry at me or frustrated that my e-mail is clogging up their in-box.

Here is my response to the new 2010 New Orleans Film Festival's above rejection letter:


To Whom It May Concern,

Thank you for the update on the status of my festival submission. I am wondering though why the film was not accepted into the 2010 program. Perhaps your input and critique could shed some light on how my short documentary could have better fit into your programming.

I know that my film is a beautiful film, with a simple portrait for a story. The film has been accepted at other film festivals and has been received well by my peers who happen to include famous filmmakers and photographers. Knowing that, I am genuinely interested in what you didn't like about the film, personal taste aside. After all, just because one person doesn't like a film doesn't mean that the film is bad, or warrants a rejection. Film festivals are not popularity contests, but rather forums to present quality film making to the public.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to your thoughts and comments.

Sincerely,

Rod Blackhurst

Monday, August 02, 2010

Pecker Size Not Unrelated to Declining PC Sales




Pecker Size Not Unrelated to Declining PC Sales

I love spam mail. Like this company thinks I'm going to somehow decided to get my drugs through them. Right. Oh, and they've used the word pecker. Pecker was a cool word in, say, I don't know, 5th grade. But their business model is based on it. I'm probably not going to get my meds through them.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Catfish

'Catfish'

In late 2007, filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost sensed a story unfolding as they began to film the life of Ariel’s brother, Nev. They had no idea that their project would lead to the most exhilarating and unsettling months of their lives. A reality thriller that is a shocking product of our times, Catfish is a riveting story of love, deception and grace within a labyrinth of online intrigue.

How Much Hipster Can You Pack In That Jazz

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

It's Kind Of A Funny Story

Fudge.

Sony Walkman Ad = Brilliant

Flame Throwers Are Always Cool

Directed by Tomas Mankovsky

Cast/ Performers (in order of appearance)

Old Man - Keith Francis
Flame Man - Adam Speers
Ice Man - Phil Zimmerman

Producer - Patrick Craig

Casting Director - Sophie North

Editor - Julian Tranquille

Post Production Supervisor - Justin Brukman

1st AD - Chris Kelly
1st AD - Ben Fogg
Production Manager - Adam Shaw

Director Of Photography - Adam Frisch
Focus Puller - Jeremy Fusco
Phantom Technician - John Hadfield
Camera Assistant - Roland Philip
7D Camera Assistant - Chris Nunn
Gaffer - Tony Miller
Spark - Jim Okeffe
Spark - Chris Georgeous
Spark - Jason Fletcher
Genny Op - Kevin Cooli
Genny Op - Lee Parfit

Art Directors

Arthur De Borman
Sam Ludgate

Special Effects - Artem
Special Effects Supervisor - Simon Tayler
Special Effects Technicians - Toby Stewart
Special Effects Technicians - Jonathan Bickerdike
Special Effects Technicians - Matt Loader

Hair & Make Up - Izzy Broad
Stylist - Tess Loe
Stylist Assistant - Daisy Babbington

Fire Cover - 1st Defense
Medical Cover - Location Medical
Animals - A-Z Animals - Gerry Cott

Photography - Marcus Palmqvist
Photography Assistant - Belinda Foord

Production Assistant - Rob Leonard
Runner - Sophia Marks
Runner - Lola Marks
Runner - Anna Fogg

Special Thanks To

Cut and Run
Take 2 Films
MPC
Green Door Films
Panalux
Black Country Parks
San Remo Café

Tuesday, July 27, 2010