Shot & Echo http://shot-echo.posterous.com Motion. Pictures. Music. posterous.com Thu, 31 Dec 2009 06:19:00 -0800 Moon tries to tweet itself out of Oscar isolation http://shot-echo.posterous.com/moon-tries-to-tweet-itself-out-of-oscar-isola http://shot-echo.posterous.com/moon-tries-to-tweet-itself-out-of-oscar-isola

Moon

Can tweets land you an Oscar nomination? Ridiculous, you say? Maybe, but a little twitter storm has been highlighting the plight of an independent movie trying to rise above the corporate shadows of its indifferent distributor to orbit the upper echelons of Academy attention. (note to self, write more concise sentences in 2010) 

The movie in question is British psy-fi Moon by writer/director Duncan Jones. The campaign doesn't so much seek recognition for the film as a whole—although it proves more than worthy—but more specifically a little love for lead actor Sam Rockwell. Normally this is the task of the mighty movie studios who decide which of their year's releases they deem worthy of a consideration marketing blitz. Sony Pictures Classics had been quite supportive of the Trudie Styler produced lunar drama, but only as far as theatrical, DVD and Blu-ray distribution went. 

In Jones' own words, Sony wasn't going to waste energy on the critically lauded work. “We have more than asked," tweeted Jones (@manmademoon), "we’ve knocked heads. They have chosen the films they are backing & we are not in their plans." This is particularly frustrating for the filmmaker, who happens to be David Bowie's son, as "we have done SO well so far with the awards we HAVE been submitted to," including the British Independent Film Awards, the Athens Film Festival (Nychtes Premieras) and the Edinburgh International Film festival. Apparently when it comes to the United States, Sony thought it would cost too much, as DVD screeners of Moon sent out to critics and Academy members "would need to be water-marked copies as our DVD isn’t out yet in the U.S."

In addition, Jones also found out, too late, that Moon was in fact eligible for the Golden Globes. Moon is up and running for BAFTA nominations, and the British Academy has also been trying to shake up the voting procedure to allow more foreign movies to become eligible, and noticed. According to Variety.com,  Bafta is "studying a solution to stream all the qualified films via a secure website to its members in order to level the playing field," an that idea has the support of distributors, who would be saving precious screener cash in these harsh economic times.

But even though influential creators including Iron Man director Jon Favreau and Coraline author Neil Gaiman support Moon's cause, getting Rockwell on the Oscar bill will not be easy. It is not altogether impossible for Academy members to pick up on the buzz and decide for themselves to see the movie—and then hopefully submitting Rockwell's name—but the odds are low, even if over 2100 people have signed an online petition, including Jim Jarmusch and James Franco. 

However, all's not lost. 5,777 voting ballots have been sent out to the Academy members, and they have to be returned by January 23rd 2010. Nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards will then be announced on Februrary 2nd. Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences represent 15 general areas, namely (yes, I'm going to list them all) actors, animators and short film makers, art directors and costume designers, cinematographers, composers and songwriters, documentary filmmakers, directors, executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, producers, public relations specialists, sound artists and engineers, visual effects experts and writers (I love it how AMPAS leaves the best for last...). So, if you're reading this and happen to know a member, from Amy Adams to Steven Zailian, tap on their shoulder and whisper a little Moon love into their ears.

Alternatively, badger Sony Classics to send out £3.49 gift cards to rent Moon on the UK iTunes Store. It's swift, effective, and multiplied by 5,777 will only cost them just over £20.000. Think of the money you'll make selling DVDs when Sam Rockwell wins that Oscar, Sony!

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Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:11:00 -0800 Digging deeper into HDSLR movie making http://shot-echo.posterous.com/digging-deeper-into-hdslr-movie-making http://shot-echo.posterous.com/digging-deeper-into-hdslr-movie-making

Great things are afoot in cameraland. I'm talking about the capability of the latest DSLR cameras to capture HD video, and at some amazing results. Even entry-level models like the Nikon D90 and the pro-sumer Pentax k7 are allowing anybody to create some dedicated shorts with an array of lenses ranging from fish-eye wide-angle to superzooms. But it is at the High end where a serious departure is being made in moviemaking. Look at videos made with the full-frame Canon 5D mark II, shuch as Shane Hurlbut's Navy Seals project, and you'll see amazing quality already being used for commercials and independent shorts coupled with compact versatility.


And then there's the new Canon EOS-1D mark IV. Yes, it's a pro 16.1 megapixel still camera, but with its Full 1080p HD movie function at 30 frames per second its also a camera for cinematographers who think outside of the box. Explorer of Light Vincent Laforet has had pre-release access to canon's new beast and combining it with pro filmmaking gear such as steadicams, focus pullers and even Arri lenses. To see where all this can lead to watch his Nocturne video, shot entirely in available light on the street of LA, mostly at an incredible 6400 ASA.

Then go to Vincent's blog to see the making of Nocturne, and follow the developments first hand. I will personally be tracking the advances in HD DSLR movie making, as the fusion of photography and cinematography opens up so many inroads into new media that a photographer will soon not be able to do without mastering both skills. It's an exciting time, and I look forward to seeing the first full length feature shot on DSLRs to hit the cinemas...

Nocturne from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

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