-
19th Annual Philadelphia Film Festival – NIGHT CATCHES US & SEX MAGIC
by Le Anne Lindsay, Editor Not only was Friday night’s screening of Night Catches Us sold out, but attracted a cool, racial mix of peeps. This Centerpiece screening included a Q & A with writer/director Tanya Hamilton and lead Kerry Washington who looked really chic in her Costello burnt orange dress. Washington was drawn to the film not only because of it’s strong writing, but also the opportunity to humanize an important time period in our history, apart from the stereotypical depiction of afros, machine guns and fists in the air. The film is set around my neighborhood of Germantown/Mount Airy, a fact that one audience member was livid about.…
-
19th Annual Philadelphia Film Festival Coverage – 11/4/08 Participatory Doc
11/4/08 – Obama/McCain Presidential Election Day, a date declared historic well before it ever happened. Director Jeff Deutchman commissioned friends across the globe to contribute to this unique living document by asking them to film the chatter, the atmosphere, the last minute voting push, the skepticism, the hope, the celebration, the feelings and reactions of people around the world on this day. At Monday’s Penn Bookstore Cafe Cinema discussion they used this film as an example of Omnibus filmmaking. Deutchman didn’t set a shooting schedule, or location shots, I don’t believe he shot any of the footage, although that would have been a good question for the Q & A…
-
Making Film in Philly Panel (19th Philly Film Fest)
I made it to The Philadelphia Film Festival “Making Film in Philly” Panel Discussion (Four Points by Sheraton), in time to enjoy coffee and TastyKakes. The panel was amazing! Bob Lowerly & Andy Williams– Dive Shooter (Visual effects and Post Production), Justin Weinberg, Entertainment Lawyer, Thomas Ashley, President of Philadelphia Soundstage, Wendy Cox Hollywood Production Manager, Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of Greater Philadelphia Film Office. These individuals really love the film industry and had A LOT of stories to share about working with actors, how they got into the industry, the hard work and stick-to-it-ness necessary to break into the industry and why they love being a part of making…
-
19th Annual Philadelphia Film Festival – BLACK SWAN Darren Aronofsky Q & A
Q: Was the film Perfect Blue an inspiration for this film? A: Not really, there are similarities between the films, but it wasn’t influenced by it. It really came out of Swan Lake the Ballet, we wanted to dramatize the ballet, that’s why it’s kind of up here and down there, because ballet is big and small in lots of ways.
-
Why no Tinsel, mostly Tine?
It has been almost a month since our last film commentary, part of the reason is because I have been caring for my ailing mother, who by the grace, is self-sufficient again, not quite herself, but doesn’t need me like she did the last few weeks. During this time, however, I only missed one PFS sneak preview – Disney’s Secretariat. Understandably, there have been a few less films and events offered while gearing up for the Philadelphia Film Festival (October 14-24). I’m looking forward to covering the festival, but wish as “contributing blogger” I had some insider info. Instead, I’m waiting to see the schedule and highlights like a total…