Spring/Summer '00
FOCUSING ON MICRO BUDGET FILMMAKING
AND FILMLOOK®
Until recently, it used to be that independent filmmakers
only worked in and associated themselves with the rarefied atmosphere
of "art films", while independent video producers were
assigned to the dubious domain of "experimental video."
After all, filmmakers still worked in film and could enter their
works in prestigious film festivals and possibly even release
their project to movie theaters worldwide. Video producers meanwhile,
created "videos" and the dismal quality of most available
(a.k.a. affordable) video equipment relegated their works to
"public access" and local cable outlets, if they were
ever seen at all.
Independent filmmaking has certainly changed recently with the
introduction of high quality, inexpensive prosumer digital video
camera formats such as DV, Digital 8, Digital S, among others.
The line between filmmaker and video producer was further blurred
once popular video originated movies such as "The Blair
Witch Project" and academy award nominated documentaries
such as "On The Ropes" leapfrogged from the film festival
circuit to the multiplex and then to home video. Suddenly it
became entirely possible and acceptable to create a high quality
"micro budgeted" movie for far less money than film
origination.
With the coming of digital projection systems such as DLP and
the Hughes-JVC video projectors to your local multiplex, the
aesthetic choice between film and video will become a moot point--again
producers discover the speed, versatility and cost savings of
video origination over film. It is already common knowledge that
George Lucas is planning to shoot his next installment of the
Star Wars saga entirely on high definition video, and movies
such as Disney's "Toy Story 2" and "Dinosaur"
is being produced and projected entirely within the digital domain
without having to expose a single frame of film. What does this
mean to the micro budget video producer?
Despite the hurdles of low- or no-budget, it still pays to be
creative and disciplined in the basic rules of filmmaking--powerful
storytelling, creative camera work, and good lighting and exposure.
A video originated project shot with the same care and attention
as with film will stand on its own against film-to-video originated
projects. The potential for truly "democratic" storytelling
and filmmaking with a video camera is enormous. In the near future,
apologies for "experimental video" projects will no
longer be necessary, since video projects on the film festival
circuit or in the multiplex are indeed becoming as ubiquitous
and respectable as filmmaking with film is today.
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Recorded at various concerts in high-definition video and then down converted to NTSC, "The One" features concert video and backstage footage that needed "a clean, 35mm look," according to director Chris Hafner. The video was sent to FILMLOOK Inc for the FILMLOOK process and color correction, then delivered within a few hours of satellite transmission and its world premiere in May.
Previously shot in film, the new Dr. Scholls FILMLOOK spots feature hard working people introduced to new products "Magna Energy" and "Magna Gel" cushioned inserts. So far, the Dr. Scholls van has visited such places as Magnetic Springs and Las Vegas, Nevada. The Dr. Scholls spots are now running nationally.
"Cindy" is an updated version of the classic story as told by the daughter of the famous fairy tale icon. The program was shot on video, posted and incorporated with special effects before FILMLOOK processing.
The series, hosted by Roger Mudd, profiles major figures of the American revolution. The documentary also features interviews and period re-creation pieces shot entirely in video and processed in FILMLOOK for final film simulation and color correction. This is the second documentary processed by FILMLOOK for MPH, which also produced "Napoleon" for the History Channel. "Founding Fathers" can be seen this fall on The History Channel; check local cable listings.
The new series is helmed by executive producer, Mark Shapiro who was also the executive producer for the critically and nationally popular "50 Greatest Athletes". ESPN called on FILMLOOK again for film simulation and color correction for the entire series. "ESPN Classic Moments" starts airing this summers and well into the 2001 season (check local listings).
ON THE ROPES WITH FILMLOOK
HOLLYWOOD--The Academy Award® nominated documentary "On
The Ropes" was originally shot on video then transferred
to film for best documentary consideration, but producers Nanette
Burstein and Brett Morgen turned to FILMLOOK® to process
the acclaimed boxing documentary for its premiere on The Learning
Channel.
In the critically acclaimed documentary, three young inner-city
boxers overcome personal tumult to pursue their dreams. "On
The Ropes" premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival--where
it received a "Special Jury" Award. The FILMLOOK version
of "On The Ropes" was seen in April on The Learning
Channel, and is now available on home video.
HOOPING IT UP WITH FILMLOOK
NEW YORK--Turner Network Television and New Urban Entertainment
have teamed up for "On Hallowed Ground," a documentary
on street basketball shot on video and processed in FILMLOOK
for TNT.
The "hoop-dreams" style documentary is a gritty, fast-paced
look at Harlem's Rucker Field and the legends of the "Entertainers
Basketball Classic" who earned the love and respect of the
game from residents. The interviews, game footage and profile
pieces were shot on DV and Digital Betacam then processed and
scene to scene color corrected by FILMLOOK for an integrated
look. "On Hallowed Ground" was broadcast in May on
TNT and will be syndicated for domestic and international distribution.
MY WAY WITH FILMLOOK
NEW YORK--HBO Sports has produced "Bill Russell--My Life,
My Way," a biography on the legendary NBA superstar that
was shot in video and processed in FILMLOOK.
Produced by Kindall Reid, who also produced the FILMLOOKed Peabody
award-winning HBO documentary "Dare to Compete," "My
Life" is a candid look at Bill Russell's involvement as
a pioneering basketball player, as the first black coach of any
major league team, furthering and validating black athletics,
and thus affecting the careers of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mohammed
Ali. The interviews and other elements were shot in video then
processed in FILMLOOK. "My Life, My Way" was shown
on HBO in April.
FILMLOOK GETS "UNDRESSED" AND RUDE AGAIN
FILMLOOK welcomes back MTV's popular nightly serial "Undressed" for its third run. We also welcome back Columbia TriStyar's "Rude Awakening" for its third season...airing on SHOWTIME.
"GIRLFRIENDS" FRIENDLIER ON FILMLOOK
LOS ANGELES--Playboy Enterprises has finished the post work
on "Girlfriends 2," a provocative video shot on film
as well as on FILMLOOK-processed DV.
The video features interviews and B-roll that was shot on DV
camcorders that had to integrate seamlessly with telecined film
elements. FILMLOOK was called upon to match the DV footage with
the look and color of the film transfer. "Girlfriends 2"
can be found in video stores nationwide.
LOOK OUT!
Be sure to look for upcoming FILMLOOK projects on television and on video... "Overload" sci-fi feature starring Billy Mumey and George Takei from Stargate Films... "The Horrible Dr. Bones" feature from Full Moon Productions... "Nothing But The Truth" dark comedy feature from Truth Productions... "Starforce" sci-fi adventure feature from Tony Kandah and Starforce Films.
PILOTING WITH FILMLOOK
Some pilots that have recently been processed by FILMLOOK for network consideration..."Dear Doughboy" series pilot from Columbia/Universal Television... "Beggy" and "The Choppy Show" series pilots for Big Ticket Television... "Miracle Cures" series pilot for PAX TV from Cedar Ridge..."Crime Stories" series pilot for Court TV from Tilicoultry... "Strip Mall" and "Supernerds" pilots for Comedy Central... "The Theory of Everything" pilot from Timeless Entertainment.
STRIPPING FOR FILMLOOK
HOLLYWOOD--Comedy Central and Caffeine Productions are producing
the sitcom "Strip Mall," a series starring comediennes
Julie Brown and Victoria Jackson that was shot in video and processed
in FILMLOOK.
The series centers on different shops in a shopping center and
the unsavory employees who work there. Brown plays a child star
who accidentally killed her co-star on a sitcom; Jackson is a
barmaid at the local tavern. "Strip Mall" is slated
for ten episodes on Comedy Central, and is now airing weekly.
TAKING STOCK IN FILMLOOK
Some production companies and their projects that have used FILMLOOK... NBC Studio Productions, "Providence" flood and rain footage for "The Storm" episode...Five O' Productions, "U.S. Savings Bonds Campaign 2000" PSA... RBC Ministries, "Day of Discovery" 2-part Easter special... "The Jon-Benet Ramsey Story" news footage and interviews for Rocket Science...Conan O'Brien Show, "Jim Carrey" sketch.... MADtv "Malcom X in the Middle," "Wizard of Oz Lost Footage" and various other comedy sketches for Fox..."After Diff'rent Strokes," selects for Rocket Science... T Minus 30 "Jenny Craig" spots featuring Monica Lewinsky and other testimonials.
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