Animated/Live-Action Film Sets Cinderella in a Chinatown Massage Parlor

Year of the Fish, a contemporary re-telling of Cinderella set in a Chinatown massage parlor, will premiere at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival on January 24th, 2007. This low-budget independent feature film was shot with live actors entirely in Chinatown, New York on low cost video, and then animated in post-production on Apple computers utilizing Studio Artist to create the final high resolution feature film. more

When everyone involved with bringing Resurrecting the Champ to the big screen read the soul-searching truth that ran through every word in J.R. Moehringer‘s article (LA Times, 1997, also entitled “Resurrecting the Champ”), it became the utmost of priorities to make the film as genuinely true to the spirit of the article as possible. To that end, writer/director Rod Lurie (The Contender) wanted to capture the powerful authenticity of the newsroom, so instead of constructing a set of a newsroom, he shot in a real one.

For logistical and financial reasons, Lurie chose to film in Calgary and the story was reset to Denver because the look of the city was a better match. Therefore, they later shot key exteriors in Denver itself so that when audiences see the Bronco‘s training ground and John Elway‘s restaurant (where he makes a cameo appearance), they are looking at the real thing. more

In an effort to raise awareness of youth media makers at Sundance, Adobe Youth Voices extended an invitation to five youth media organizations — Listen Up! (New York), Educational Video Center (New York), Bay Area Video Coalition (San Francisco), Reel Grrls (Seattle), and Spy Hop Productions (Salt Lake City) — to send two students each to Sundance. The high school students will attend films and workshops like regular festival attendees, and they will also pair up in teams with the Adobe Design Achievement Awards winners to create blogs, video logs, photo galleries, and a five-minute documentary.

The Adobe Reel Ideas Studio at Sundance 2007 site is a way to interact with and share the experience of those at the festival. Starting on January 18, the site will feature daily videos, photos, and a blog to keep you posted on all the happenings at Sundance. more

HP will create the ultimate photography experience at Sundance. Stop by, have your photo taken with an HP digital camera and printed on an HP photo printer and go home with a great memory from Sundance.

Location:

Sundance House at the Kimball Art Center

638 Park Avenue at the corner of Main and Heber,Lower Level

Hours: Friday, 1/19 - Saturday, 1/27 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. more

Alfredo de Villa‘s new film, Adrift in Manhattan, will have its world premiere in competition at the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday, January 21. A poignant drama starring Heather Graham (Bobby), William Baldwin (The Squid and the Whale), Dominic Chianese (“The Sopranos”), Victor Rasuk (Lords of Dogtown) and Erika Michels (Yellow), Adrift in Manhattan is the third feature directed by de Villa, one of the fast-rising young directors raised in Mexico and working in the U.S.

“The spine of the story,” says de Villa, “is to seek connections, to reach out in the most unlikely of places. Geography affects the main action; the setting is a metropolis of the present. We contrast the idea of modernity, reflected through professional settings, public transit and the practical negotiation of any big city, with the protagonists‘ lack of spiritual fulfillment.” more

Independent Spirit Award-winning producer Effie Brown returns to the 2007 Sundance Film Festival with Rocket Science, the first film produced by her Los Angeles based company Duly Noted Inc. Directed by Oscar-nominated director Jeffrey Blitz, Rocket Science makes its World Premiere in the Dramatic Narrative Competition. This highly anticipated film, to be distributed by Picturehouse, was announced at last year‘s festival as part of an exciting line-up of projects selected specifically for their independent sensibility and unique personal visions. Shot on location in Baltimore, Rocket Science centers on an average young man, Hal Hefner, who despite his persistent stutter, joins the high school debate team when invited to by his crush Virginia Reyerson. Blitz‘s tale is a humorous and poignant story of adolescent love and finding one‘s own voice. more

Washington State production industry will promote new financial benefits for filmmakers

For the 5th consecutive year, Washington State government agencies and businesses will be in Park City, Utah during the Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals to promote the financial and aesthetic benefits of film production and post-production within Washington State. The group will introduce new financial incentives which provide funding assistance to independent filmmakers. When combined with existing tax and vendor savings programs the new incentives give filmmakers a compelling reason to take a serious look at Washington State for reasons beyond the unrivaled variety of locations throughout the State.

The events include the Washington Party which will begin with a VIP cocktail reception followed by a concert presented by Sub Pop Records featuring the cutting edge sounds of popular artists Low, The Album Leaf and Death Vessel. Additionally, the Washington State Film Office, Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau, Seattle Mayor’s Office of Film and Music, and W Seattle will co-host two special invitation dinners prepared by Executive Chef Adam Stevenson of Earth & Ocean restaurant. more

Press Release:

In the midst of Sundance pandemonium it‘s hard to find a way to unwind at the end of the day…

The Green House is the perfect solution… After spending your day on your feet and running around in the snow getting the celebrity gossip and film buzz, come to The Green House for a relaxing and eco-friendly time.

Get facials, hand massages, and foot massages at the Desert Essence Organics Spa and Gifting Suite.

Book your appointments now by calling Reshma at 917.536.7620

Organic treats and refreshments will be on hand. more

Four Sheets to the Wind - David Michael Mauer Podcast (To Download: Right Click, Save Target As)

Download iTunes here.

Educational workshops, podcasts from Avid filmmakers and advice on the art of editing for aspiring storytellers on the agenda

Avid Technology, Inc. announced that a wide variety of creative storytellers who used Avid systems will take center stage at this year‘s Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah from January 18-28. Avid tools were used in nearly every category of competition this year, including Short Films, Dramatic Competition and World Cinema - and several of this year‘s entries were shot, edited and/or output to HD. For those who can not attend the festival, Avid will provide updates as well as host a number of podcasts and blogs on its newly-launched independent film Webpage at: www.avid.com/indie. more

Sundance Film Festival, Park City, UT: January 19, 2007 — Blackmagic Design Inc. today announced that We Are the Strange, a 94 minute animation produced in the United States and whose workflow utilizes Blackmagic’s DeckLink Pro capture card, will be screened at Sundance Film Festival beginning January 19, 2007. In addition to being the only full length feature animation at Sundance, We Are the Strange is also unique in that it is composed of mixed media consisting of 3-D, stop motion, and 2-D, taking almost three years to complete. The film was produced, written and directed by M Dot Strange. Chaylon Blancett was brought aboard for post-production. more