Interesting Take on 'R' Rating for Smoking in Film

I have to admit, when I first heard the MPAA would give an 'R' rating to a movie they felt glorified smoking, I was annoyed. What's next? NC-17 for French kissing?

But Craig Mazin over at The Artful Writer has a really compelling argument for why it's a good idea. Take a look.

And don't forget to check out the comments. There are a lot of them, covering the full spectrum of viewpoints.

Come scream, for a good cause!

TIMEWARP FILMS, LLC

PRESS ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Come scream for a good cause!

Don Dohler, King of Baltimore Indie Horror: A Double Feature Benefit Screening

Cult hero filmmaker Don Dohler (1946-2006), master of low budget sci-fi and horror films and co-founder of Baltimore?s Timewarp Films, produced 11 movies and influenced generations of DIY (Do It Yourself!)
filmmakers.

Celebrate Dohler's life and work with a double feature of his first and last films.

In Alien Factor (1978), an alien spacecraft makes a crash landing in Baltimore, releasing its bloodthirsty cargo of beasts?the lizard-like Leemoid, slimy Inferbyce, and wild and wooly Zagatile!

And in Dead Hunt (2006), ten movie reviewers at a horror film convention find themselves victims of gruesome traps and danger lurking in every shadow!

Beer, wine, liquor, sodas, juices, sparkling water and, of course, popcorn, will be available at the theater concession area.

Proceeds from the screening benefit the Joyce Dohler Foundation, a charity providing continued care for Don?s sister Joyce, who is developmentally disabled and for whom Don was guardian.

Date: June 23, 2007

Time: 7 PM

Cost: $15 general admission, $12 for Creative Alliance members

Location: Creative Alliance at The Patterson, 3134 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore Maryland 21224

Parking info: ample street parking, especially bordering Patterson park, only a block from the theater

Creative Alliance contact: 410-276-1651 or www.creativealliance.org

Tickets may be purchased in advance from the Creative Alliance in person or by phone or by mail. Cash, checks and credit cards accepted.
Tickets may be purchased online in advance through MissionTix.com.

Of course, tickets may be purchased the night of the event at the box office, if it is not sold out.

More detailed Ticket purchase information can be found at:
http://www.creativealliance.org/tickets.html#advance

More details on the Don Dohler double feature benefit screening can be
found at: http://creativealliance.org/events/eventItem1041.html

Timewarp Stabilizes

Now that I'll be responsible for Timewarp's cinematography, I decided to look into acquiring a Steadicam, a camera mount that allows the operator to move around while keeping the image stabilized. Of course, professional models can cost several thousand dollars, so I decided to look into making one. I was truly surprised how many Web sites provide plans and instructions.

I decided to start off simple and build Johnny Chung Lee's $14 Steadycam (left). I had to alter the basic design to accommodate our larger camera (XL1S), and I added some padding to cover the galvanized steel, but it was easy to build and only took an hour or so.

When I tested it, I discovered two things: 1) it takes practice to make it work. Moving around with a counter-weight takes a little getting used to, plus you have to learn to work around the base as you walk. 2) A rig that relies completely on arm strength can get heavy--particularly with a prosumer-level camera. Ultimately, this rig can only be used for short periods, and I really want one without that kind of restriction. So I kept looking, and I found the ultimate site for home-built stabilizers. The name says it all: http://www.homebuiltstabilizers.com/index.htm

This site has more about the subject than you can possibly imagine. From info and tips on how to build your own rig, to forums to share your experience. There's also a photo gallery that allows users to publish detailed photos of their creation. And these creations are amazing, and overwhelming. At this point, I can't imagine building one. But the forum members are happy to offer advice and answer questions.

My first step will be to buy one of the books a forum member had published. It has detailed instructions on building a Steadicam that has a spring-loaded arm, a harness, and a mount for a monitor. This is serious stuff.

Here's the link for the book: http://www.cafepress.com/stabilizer.31893959

In addition to Steadicams, the site has information on dollies and crane's as well.

Photo provided by Robert Long II

Blood, Boobs & Beast Premiere

I'm sure Don would have been honored to know that a documentary about his life, and careers in filmaking and publishing, was accepted into the Maryland Film Festival. Though, we that know him know he wouldn't have made a fuss about it. He'd probably have said, in that calm, low Baltimorian drawl of his, "hey, that's great," and would have offered a genuine smile.

But his family, friends, and fans were elated. We couldn't wait to see what documentarian John Kinhart had put together, and we weren't disappointed. We were able to spend 90 minutes re-living fond memories of a man we all admired.

After the Friday showing we were invited to a party hosted by Greg Dohler (Don's son) and his wife Cindy France. I had a great conversation with John, absorbing all the inside information on how the film came together. I also got to meet Christian Brown, the film's composer. We compared notes (as it were), me being a wannabe composer myself.

I also met one of John's friends, Rich, who gave up a major in political science (thank God) to pursue filmmaking and writing. We talked shop for quite a while--he seems to think I know what I'm doing behind the camera :lol:

Also, Rob Long presented Don's wife Leslie with an original painting of Don.

We stayed out way too long, the old farts that we are, and were dragging all the next day, but it was worth it.

The next showing was Sunday. This time I brought my own entourage, and some folks from Horrortalk (Steve, Eric, and Robert) also made an appearance.

When the weekend was over, I was exhausted, but felt as if I had spent the time hanging out with Don, like I used to. If only that were true.










All photographs provided by Leanna Chamish.

The Filmmaker's Exam

My wife noticed that at the bottom of the Fantasy Novelist's Exam is a link to a filmmaker's exam. It's even funnier for us filmmakers.

http://rinkworks.com/filmmaker/

Web Site Dedicated to Cult Filmmaker Don Dohler

Greg Dohler has launched a site dedicated to his father's creative legacy. Check it out: http://dondohler.com/

Don, best known for writing and directing the 1977 low-budget film The Alien Factor, also helped start the underground comic movement with his unique character Pro Junior, and published the filmmaker how-to magazine Cinemagic.

In 2000, he co-founded Timewarp films with partner Joe Ripple. In all, Don produced 11 films, including Fiend, Night Beast, Harvesters, and Stakes.

Last summer, Don was diagnosed with cancer, and passed away in December. But his legacy continues. A documentary about Don, produced by filmmaker John Kinhart, is premiering at the Maryland Film Festival the weekend of May 4th, 2007. For details, visit John's site: http://www.bbbmovie.com/

Grindhouse

Reposted from my review on Horrortalk.

[rate 3.5]

Grindhouse, the collaborative effort of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino (R&T), pays tribute to the schlock and exploitation films of the 70's. It's broken into two complete films: Planet Terror, written and directed by Rodriguez and Death Proof, written and directed by Tarantino. Filmmakers Rob Zombie, Eli Roth, and others also contributed fake trailers that are shown in between the two features. The fake trailers alone are worth the price of admission.

The first thing I noticed watching Grindhouse was that R&T took great pains to re-create the nostalgia of the drive-in experience. They dug up old coming attraction promos and feature intros, complete with the corny music--imagine going to see "I Spit on Your Grave" introduced with music that sounds like a high school marching band.

R&T chose two different paths for their respective films. Rodriguez actually made a schlocky movie from the 70's with Planet Terror, while Tarantino made a Tarantino movie that captures the spirit of the time.

Planet Terror



Planet Terror's plot is simple, and perfect for schlock. A group of mercenaries, making a deal for some dangerous chemicals, use an abandoned military base two miles outside a small town to complete the transaction. But, naturally, things go awry. The airborne chemicals find their way to the town (why do they always pick on small towns?), and the good town folk start turning into--zombies. The sheriff (Michael Biehn) and his deputies are on the case, but seem to be out of their league. So, true to a schlock movie, it's up to a drifter (Freddy Rodríguez), his stripper...er, go-go dancer girlfriend (Rose McGowan), and an abused nurse (Marley Shelton) to save the day. To complicate things (sort of), the story has an "As the World Turns" style subplot that takes place in the hospital where the nurse works. Of course, if this were an actual movie form the 70's, the subplot would disappear mid-movie, leaving the audience confused. But this one actually makes its way to the end, and leads to a satisfying conclusion.

I liked Planet Terror a lot. It was fast paced, over-the-top violent, and extremely funny--all the elements of a good zombie movie. The gore effects were done in "Dawn of the Dead" style, but updated. Ironically, Tom Savini--who pioneered those gore effects, and played a deputy in Planet Terror--didn't work on the makeup (at least according to imdb, but he's probably proud of how it turned out.

The acting was perfect, at least for its purpose. While the film never takes itself too seriously, the characters very much do. They express a seriousness that suggests the actors are subconsciously winking at the screen. And that works here.

Rodriguez also added a ton of film grain to make the movie look old, and added jumps and splices, often at opportune moments.

For anyone that likes zombie movies and/or schlock, this segment is just right for you.

Death Proof



Tarantino took his segment in a different direction, one that Tarantino fans will love, but cult-horror fans may not.

This segment follows two different groups of chicks, as they go out on the town, and on the road. Jungle Julia (Sydney Tamiia Poitier) is a radio personality who needs to blow off some steam. She gathers her drinking buddies and they head for their usual watering hole. One of them catches Stuntman Mike's (Kurt Russell) eye and he follows, but keeps a low profile. For a while, the chicks have a great time. They drink, tease, flirt, and talk shit in a way only Tarantino could dream up. But when they leave the bar, Stuntman Mike has plans for them.

The next group, played by Tracie Thoms, Rosario Dawson, Zoe Bell, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, drives out to the middle of nowhere to find Zoe's (Bell) dream car, which she desperately wants to drive. Zoe is in from New Zealand to visit Kim (Thoms), a fellow stuntwoman. They convince the owner of the car, who's selling it, to let them test drive it (the argument between the girls on how to pull this off was hillarious), and they take off. Unfortunately for them, they run into Stuntman Mike while trying some daring stunts with the car. But, look out! These chicks don't take any crap.

I liked Death Proof about as much as Planet Terror, but for different reasons. It's more a film for Tarantino fans than cult movie fans. True to Tarantino form, Death Proof has snappy dialog performed perfectly by a first-rate cast. A better portrayal of realistic banter you will not find. The film also has a soundtrack that would make Scorsese jealous. I imagine Tarantino sitting his his house, a juke box filled with songs from the 60's and 70's next to him, blaring away.

Death Proof also has some of the best driving stunts and cinematography I've ever seen.

But there is little story to speak of. A man stalks two groups of chicks sums it up. Of course, whether or not character-driven stories have or require a strong plot is debatable.

Overall, I recommend Grindhouse, if not in the theater, than on DVD, where it's sure to have a lot of extras.