Today I’m continuing my mini series on foreign filmmakers. Today our “plane” lands in the UK with Scottish filmmaker Den Lennie, founder of F-Stop Academy. Den is a man after my own heart. A 20+ year veteran in the business, Den’s career dates back to the time when cameras weighed hundreds of kilos (I’m speaking foreign […]
Nino Leitner – Austrian Filmmaker Extraordinaire (Crossing the 180 #35)
Today I start a mini-series on foreign filmmakers (i.e. filmmakers working outside the U.S.) When it comes to the world of filmmaking, the beautiful country of Austria has given us a wonderful artist. No, I’m not talking about the ex-Govenator of California. Of couse, I’m talking about none other than Mr. Nino Leitner. The son […]
The Comparison Game Never Ends. Why? Oh Why?
Last week I had coffee with a friend of mine. A fellow artiste. (Well actually, I had hot chocolate and a coffee cake.) He knew I had been out of town for a gig a few weeks earlier and asked what I was up to. I proceeded to tell him how I had flown out […]
Calling All Atlanta (and Nearby) Filmmakers – I Need You!
Calling all filmmakers in or within decent driving distance to the Atlanta Metro. Do you love the process of filmmaking? Are you excited at the notion of connecting with and networking with other creative filmmakers? Do you want to participate in a project where you will have loads of fun and learn a lot? Can […]
Terrie Samundra: The Director of “Kunjo” on Crossing the 180 #34
Today’s guest is one of those passionate filmmakers that you could talk to for hours and not realize how much time has flown by. I met Terrie Samundra while I was filming the promo video for the SF Bay Area Windrider Forum (a sort of mini-Sundance designed to generate meaningful discussions around the films screened). […]
Edward Burns Crosses the Gap Between Old Hollywood and New
I think it’s a fitting end to my week-long series on the New, New Hollywood filmmaker by talking about Edward Burns. You may recall that Burns hit it big and had the ultimate filmmaker’s dream come true when his indie film “The Brothers McMullen” became a critical, festival, and box office hit back in 1995. Since […]
Should Young Artists Study the Masters? A Classic Case of “No, but…”
Wow! I love my blog readers. One of the reasons I’m so passionate about writing this blog are YOU guys. The amazing dialog I get to be a part of every week with passionate artists. Even when we don’t always agree on a topic, I love the fact that you all can bring it on […]
Featured Filmmaker Friday: Kristen Souders of Bliss Productions (c180-030)
The first time I ever met Kristen* it was like meeting a celebrity. It was around 2003 or so. Kristen* was the owner/operator and creative muscle behind Bliss Video Productions (now just Bliss Productions), perhaps the premier wedding and event film studio in the San Francisco Bay Area at the time. When I had started […]
Filmmakers’ Foolish Fuss Over Frame Rates
So there’s this big debate going on in the world wide interwebs over some recent decisions made acclaimed, multi-award-winning filmmakers Peter Jackson (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy) and James “King of the World” Cameron. Is the fuss over some provocative film they’re creating that is challenging some social injustice? Nah! Oh, maybe the debate […]
Recapturing the Love of Your Craft – Five Suggestions
It started just as a hobby. A side thing you did because you loved it. Then at some point a friend, or a colleague or a family member said, “You really should do this as a living. You’d be so great at it.” Their words encouraged you. You thought to yourself, “Yeah! I could be […]