Film Club - That's a Movie

Science On Screen with Dr. Peter Veres, “DART – A Successful Planetary Defense Mission.” from Martha's Vineyard Film Society on Vimeo.

Vooza Is Getting Closer

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHe1LJ4dFKw)

PERISCOPE VS. TV INDUSTRY

The TV Disruption 2.0 is happening. Stephen Colbert got it with Periscope’s app. ‘Scope is a first real threat for the television industry. No wonder it comes from Silicon Valley and not from Hollywood.

SCRIPT VS. BOOK

I'm both a scriptwriter and a writer. Every time I start writing, I ask myself: "What should I write first? The script or the book?" It's like standing in front of two secret rooms. You can't enter both at the same time. "Should I write a book first that would attract the readers or a script first that would attract a producer?" It's a very tough decision. "What are my chances of being more successful, one or the other way?"

This is how I approached my latest project PROMO – A Story about a Video Startup in San Francisco – promothebook.com. The first book of the trilogy I wrote as a script, and then I rewrote it as a book. The second book I wrote first as a book and then later I created a script from it. The third book is a work in progress.

From December 16 till December 20 you can download them free on amazon.com:

Silicon Valley Film Tech

Yesterday, on August 12, 2015 I attended a Silicon Valley Film Tech Meetup in Menlo Park, Bootup Ventures, which provided a nice venue for the interesting gathering of people coming from two backgrounds: Film and Tech.

As a filmmaker, writer and content producer I mostly enjoyed this event, because there are not so many of this kind in Silicon Valley. It was also a proof that contradicts the general idea that algorithmic solution, like using apps for socializing and networking, is everything you need for your life and career. At the end to see the real people and how they talk and behave gives you much, much more.

However, there wasn't a lot new that filmmakers already don't know—drones, virtual reality, augmented reality, advertising models—basically the tech solutions and multitude of service offers. I also get excited about new gadgets and innovative solutions, but they're just possibilities and they are not principal in creating new content, stories, narratives. Many panelists agreed that there are not so many good movies to watch. So, the problem is not about the services, we have them and many, but it is about creating new video content. We don't have the content, films, shows. We all complain about the quality of video content.

Venture capitalists accept that millions of dollars go down the drain with most of startups. Only a few survive. If you want to have a content—not only from Hollywood—you need to finance it directly. Many films and shows will fail, some will be great.

I am aware that for people who never created a film, video, show, documentary, or a well crafted promo it is difficult to understand the complexity and resources—both creative and financial—necessary to allocate for the whole process. Each serious film project actually resembles a startup. However, I am baffled when the same people who wouldn’t be surprised by the fact that millions of dollars are poured into a tech startup, when it comes to a content, they want it usually for free. They imagine the price similar for buying a disc or streaming a video file for your personal enjoyment. They want the same price for using it by their business models. Mea culpa. And of course, since everybody watches movies also thinks that is an expert on film. Using proficiently computer makes me an engineer or an expert for tech?

Henry's Premiere

FILMS ON ART - SCREENING

I am a writer, director, producer and editor of films that deal with the various art forms: visual art, performance, theatre, photography, set design, architecture, music and even film medium itself. I offer a filmmaker’s point of view that goes far beyond the objective depiction of art, step into the process of creation to enhance or transform the original artifacts, and collaborate closely with artists on the final filmic art form. My films use different film techniques and mix various film genres.

1. That’s a Movie

2. Europe–Europe

3. Scenographic Attack on Groningen

4. St. Barbara’s Chapel

5. Ekoem

6. Promo (Bonus movie for fun)

Screening EKOEM at ATA with Revelation

Yesterday I attended an Open Screening at the Artists’ Television Access in San Francisco, exquisitely curated and moderated by a filmmaker and actor Brit Xen Osiris Zane. Among the films was also my short movie Ekoem, and I was a little bit nervous as any author, artist or filmmaker would be before such a public event.

To relax my nerves, I roamed the ATA space. When I entered the passage in the darker entrails of the venue, I suddenly saw a big red book that lay conspicuously on the narrow stairs. I knew this book very well after its red cover, but I was surprised I saw this book exactly here and right now. Why? Because it was a catalogue of a 1991 edition of Berlin Film Festival. Who in San Francisco in 2015 is interested in films screened in Berlin 24 years ago?

It looked like someone has planted this book here for me, but who on earth could know that my short animated movie That’s a Movie is listed in this catalogue? Literally, nobody. So, I grabbed the book in my trembling hands and I thought: “Okay, let’s look, if your movie is still listed inside. It’s 300 pages to go through.” But when I opened the book for the first time, I landed directly on the page with my movie and my portrait! See the picture.

What an insane coincidence. It brought me back 24 years ago, when my film introduced the evening premiere of The Godfather: Part III by Francis Ford Coppola. Good times.

Anyway, the screening at the ATA went well and people liked our ECO-logical po-EM very well.

Top 100 Free in Kindle Store! Number 78 in the Fiction - Humor section. Free download on Amazon.com till May 7 - get our book and laugh!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X1QALKY