Cinema Sam

Nine To Five

2009-05-31T05:32:00.000-07:00

I've noted this film only to mention Colin Higgins- its screenwriter, who also was the pen behind two of the greatest comedies of the early '70's, the classic Harold and Maude, and Silver Streak, the first and best pairing of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. Tragically, he died of AIDS in 1988, at the age of 47.

This is the weekend after Memorial Day- my first summer of my fifth decade, and i realize- nothng playing at the movies this weekend is for me. A complete lack of interest on my part- the first time this has ever happened. I now seem to be in that aged 50-64 demographic, the one nobody cares about. I don't want to see one of the loud movies- and I don't really care about a bunch of Catholics trying to kill Tom Hanks. My daughter isn't interested in the current kid's fare, and the arthouse films that are playing feature low-rent features from Jennifer Aniston, Michael Keaton, and Adrien Brody. This would've been a nice week for Academia.

8 1/2

2009-05-28T13:39:00.000-07:00

Like Spinal Tap had their 11, we have our 8 1/2, the Fellini classic. We won't parry with fractions often in this space- those waiting for me to follow up with the Mickey Rourke/Kim Basinger stinker 9 1/2 Weeks will be surely disappointed.

More to come.....

The Magnificent Seven

2009-05-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

What else were you expecting, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers? Maybe the 7-Ups? Nah, there's no getting around the ultimate death scenes- both James Coburn and Charles Bronson, at the hands of Eli Wallach and the other phony-tanned Mexicano extras.

It was just pointed out to me that the name of this blog could be somehow mistaken for www.cinemasm.com, which is for filmgoers who experience personal ecstasies in movie theaters.

Welcome To Academia is going to come out of it's theatrical shell differently than Screen Door Jesus, where the brass ring was always a distribution deal that would take the marketing and sales of the film off our hands. We thought by winning a major festival- which we did- and getting a heavy hitting producer's rep- which we did- was all we had to do. Famous last words. This time around we're looking for more control, and to gain a better understanding of our audience we're going to throw it out there in July at two event-type screenings- where we'll embrace the academic spirit with a great summer night out- loaded with a terrific film and jello shots. Stay tuned!

The Sixth Sense

2009-05-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

This film could be the subject of its own essay- how a one hit wonder can ruin a director's career. Great editing though by Andrew Mondshein- and the best twist ending this side of Witness to the Prosecution.

Today we begin to make plans to take Welcome To Academia out on the road for a special event in Los Angeles. Instead of waiting for a festival acceptance, we've booked the Clarity Screening Room in Beverly Hills on July 7th and the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus on July 8th to stage a two day screening event (featuring jello shots!) that we hope will bring our film some attention. Our publicist, Marilee Mahoney, will spearhead the attempt to fill the two venues. Results of course will appear on these pages.

Five Easy Pieces

2009-05-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

This was tough, but Nicholson's chicken salad sandwich scene helps this film classic easily beat out Slaughterhouse Five. If memory serves, because I was only eleven when these films were first released, I saw both of these films as part of a retrospective double feature at an old movie theater in Uniondale, Long Island called the Mini Cinema (sort-of named after Groucho's Mother). It's also where I first saw Harold and Maude, Clockwork Orange, Where's Poppa, The Groove Tube, and Kentucky Fried Movie, all of which were R-rated and therefore out of the question to see when they were first released. Not to mention two X-rated ones, Last Tango In Paris and Midnight Cowboy. There was no place on earth like the Mini.

Today's discussion in the office was whether or not to forego our film festival premiere for a public showing in Los Angeles at theaters at USC and UCLA. Last year's tactics to gain theatrical distribution tell us this isn't a good idea, but after getting rejected by top festivals about a half dozen times we're getting antsy. We're just looking to create some buzz, and if we can make it fun and stay out of trouble, it could be a very pro active thing to do.

Four Friends

2009-05-11T15:22:00.000-07:00

A terrific film directed by Arthur Penn, and edited by Barry Malkin. A good example of a talented ensemble cast that just didn't attract an audience. Catch it on DVD if you can.

Sometimes I dream, who'll want to see my movie?

I read an article today that reiterated some things that Ted Hope has written about, although in this case, the author wasn't referring to the film business. Some marketing whiz, only 25 years old, Josh Spear, says "that the time has come to create things people seek, instead of things that seek people." And all I thought I needed was a great script.

Three Days of the Condor

2009-05-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

Today's topic is marketing and branding- not as a functioning part of distributing films but it's relevance in the context of the plot of Welcome To Academia.

In one of those remarkable life-imitates-art coincidences, I stumbled upon a multi-million dollar construction project centering on the rehabilitation of the Nassau Coliseum, where a lighthouse is the branding symbol of their project. Not quite as earthshaking as Three Mile Island after The China Syndrome was released, but for an indie like ours, that's gold. If you want to verify- you can check it out at www.lighthouseli.com

It even has cheesey music and a cute car (probably a hybrid) driving around the soon-to-be-completed complex. If I hadn't of first heard about it on NPR I would've thought it was some phoney movie site. And let's not even mention this little piece of irony, that just like Victorian University, the Nassau Coliseum is also a land-locked institution.

Two Mules For Sister Sara

2009-04-22T09:37:00.001-07:00

Actually, the best Shirley McLaine movie, although it didn't hurt that Clint was her co-star.

Lots of the space on this blog will be dedicated to the distribution efforts of the film Welcome To Academia, starring James LeGros, Callie Thorne, Jess Weixler, Laila Robins, Matt Servitto, Dan Bakkedahl and Robert Hogan. Sometimes we'll divert and talk about Screen Door Jesus, which after laying dormant for a number of years, will emerge and premiere this August on the STARZ cable network.

We're very excited here in the home office about having another opportunity to share this festival award winning film with anyone who hasn't seen it, and, judging from the financials, there are an awful lot of you out there.

The Big Red One

2009-04-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

I'm hoping to keep coming back to the glories of this blank page to share some of my producing experiences on the feature films Screen Door Jesus, Welcome To Academia, and the Academy Award nominated documentary short Salim Baba.

Included will be anecdotes concerning all areas of production, from script to stage. Hopefully some of you will find these stories insightful and helpful towards your own work. Some of you might be friends or relatives wondering what it is I'm doing with my life. Either way- I hope these entries are at least a little informative.

As for the blog titles- I'm just trying to have some fun, plus make mention of some films I've especially enjoyed over the years. I look forward to chatting with you as we take this trip together through the blogosphere. Maybe we'll even make it to A Thousand Clowns.