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Northwest Film Forum and the Henry Art Gallery Present "The Silence Before Bach"
Portabella, who in the 1960s produced Luis Buñuel's "Viridiana", proves he is still as idiosyncratic and energetic with this film on all things Bach. The title refers to a poem by the Swedish poet Lars Gustafsson, "The Silence of the World Before Bach." In it, the significance of Bach and the position of his music in the history is made clear by the simple reflection that there was once a world without Bach's music. Filled with visually stunning images, this wonderful film is as much music for your eyes as for your ears. "The Silence Before Bach" can be seen at these times: August 1 - 7 at 7, 9:00pm (PLUS Sat & Sun at 3, 5pm)
Rod Lurie at the Henry Art Gallery
Admittance includes in-depth, audience-driven conversations with the director as well as a screening of the film. It is free to members of the Warren Report and the Henry Art Gallery. The Henry is located on the University of Washington campus at 15th Ave NE & NE 41st St. The event kicks off at midday on July 19th.
 A Second Chance to See NFFTY FilmsThe NFFTY 08 has partnered with the Seattle Center and Sidewalk Cinema to screen a different ‘youth-made’ film from their 2008 Festival prior to all their outdoor movies this summer! The list of NFFTY shorts coming to be screened will be available soon.WHERE TO SEE THEM: West Seattle Movies on the Wall
Seattle Center Movies at the Mural
Fremont Outdoor Cinema is BackProst Amerika's fellow Fremonters, The Fremont Outdoor Cinema is back for our 16th Season with more than just movies. This year’s blockbuster schedule also has games, contests and pre-show entertainment courtesy of Wing-It Productions. Also returning this year with four more live Twisted Flicks is the cast of Jet City Improv. FOC is still right where you remember it at North 35th and Phinney Ave N. Visit the Fremont Outdoor Cinema website for the full schedule.
Sidewalk Cinema Summer 2008 Movie ScheduleSidewalk Cinema presents its 2008 summer outdoor movies and events for your enjoyment. Movies start around dusk, and most locations have pre-movie entertainment. This is its 5th year of presenting free outdoor family movies around the Seattle area. New this year is the Community Shorts segment featuring the talents of local filmmakers. Sidewalk Cinema has also partnered with the National Film Festival for Talented Youth, and will be screening shorts submitted by beginning filmmakers. For more information see Sidewalk Cinema Website.
South Lake Union Summer Cinema on the LawnCome to South Lake Union for summer movies on the lawn behind SLU Discovery Center at Denny and Westlake. No outside drink, bring picnics and blankets; movies start 30 minutes after dusk. July 11: "Heathers"; July 25: "Bring it On"; August 8: "Juno". See the Cinema on the Lawn website for more information.
Seattle Dance Film to Screen at High DiveALCHEMY OF THE ORACLES is an 8min 16mm black and white experimental dance film shot by cinematographer Ben Kasulke with a sound track featuring Jeff Junkinsmith, David Stutz, Steve Kim, Wolfgang Rain, Ian Lesage and Sean Donavan covering 'Breadmaker' by Lazy Lester and 'A Little Mixed Up' by Betty James.Dancing in the film are Yvonne Croteau, Monica Gilliam, Heather Kravas, and Karn Junkinsmith. The screening will take place on Monday August 4th before the Raqs Serpentine monthly belly dance show.
OpenCut Project 1.0 "SUSANNAH" - Call for Participation
OpenCut is a completely open-source film competition designed to encourage people to take professionally shot material and edit it in their own way. As there is no "one way" to tell a story, so too can stories benefit from being re-edited and re-told from many different vantage points and perspectives. The winner of OpenCut 1.0 will receive a brand new AJA IO HD from Silverado. They will also be recognized as the "editor-of-record" at IMDB and will have their cut submitted to multiple film festivals. Registrations accepted starting May 18. For more information and to register visit the OpenCut website
Austin Film Festival Calls For SubmissionsThe 15th Annual Austin Film Festival is announcing a call for screenplay/teleplay/film entries. The festival which will be held October 16-23 2008 in Austin, Texas, screens entries in six competitive categories: Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Narrative Student Short, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, and Animated Short. The festival is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an Oscar Qualifying festival for Short Films. Submit your film with the new online form. Late deadline is July 5. For more information see the festival website.
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IFP Accepting Applications for IFP/Seattle Spotlight AwardsAward Was Large Step on Journey for One Seattle Filmmaker  Heather and Ixaac "Winning the IFP/Spotlight Award allows us to treat Betty like we're making a feature. We spent months on script development knowing we'd be shooting on 35mm with some really intense material and wanting to get it right. We did a still photo shoot with Port Townsend actress Heather Poulsen, exploring the visual landscape. This is a character driven story. We know that one sentence in the script, "she spits out the little white pill," might be one of the best moments on screen; but only because we're shooting on film. Even with all the incredible magic one can create editing, nothing compares to the human face captured on film." This week, "My Time With Betty" launched a brand new souped up website. Heather explains that this is not just vanity but an important step. "We just launched our website. It's true, a good website helps a film. We obviously need to raise money, so we wanted to put something out there to show what we are capable of, but I think of a website as an extension of a filmmaker's vision and voice. If we're making films to speak to audiences, then the web is just an extension of that conversation." Applications for IFP can be found on thetheir website at: www.ifpseattle.org. Deadline for script submission is September 3, 2008. What a Difference a Year Makes!From Chemo to Cool in 12 Months A year ago, Seattle film writer and producer Steve Edmiston was about to start six-months of chemotherapy for Hodgkins Lymphoma. That all seems a very distant memory now for Steve who started his directing debut in "The Day My Parents Became Cool" a year to the day he began the chemotherapy. Steve on the set with Megan Joy Photo: Jim Cayce "Parents" as it is affectionately known by those who worked on it, is set in a bizarre world where all of the adults on the entire planet have literally “become cool” and desire to look and act just like their teenage kids, which provides both comedy and horror. The film is expected to complete post-production by
mid-September and then launch into the festival circuit submission process. In addition to the usual “A-list” must-submit festivals, Steve has his eye on several personal-favorite fests where his films have screened before, including Sedona and Palm Springs. 'Local Support Equals Local Screenings' Because the film was supported locally by King County’s 4Culture, and the cities of Burien and Federal Way, there will be a variety of local screenings. Steve refers to the way the local community rallied around the project to support the film and the high school students involved as 'phenomenal'. "Without a mix of public and private advocacy for public high school students and the arts, this film does not get made.” We'll have some tales from the shoot and further details on the progress of the film in the weeks to come. In the meantime, we all wish Steve well and are thankful for his recovery.
"My Effortless Brilliance" Picked up by IFCAnother Success for Seattle Film Maker Seattle filmmaker Lynn Shelton has negotiated with IFC to distribute her film "My Effortless Brilliance." IFC Entertainment announced its acquisition of the worldwide rights on July 16th. The film appeared at this year's Seattle Film Festival and will screen next as part of Rooftop Film in New York City on August 1st. Lynn Shelton: 'An important new voice in American independent cinema' The film stars Harvey Danger lead singer Sean Nelson as self-involved novelist Eric Lambert Jones who has been unceremoniously dumped by his life long buddy Dylan (Basil Harris). In an attempt to piece together the fractured friendship, Eric takes a side trip from his latest book tour to drop in on Dylan, newly settled in the picturesque backwoods of Washington state. An awkward weekend ensues as the two ex-buddies and Dylan's enigmatic new friend Jim, chop wood, match wits and ultimately embark on an impromptu, booze-soaked cougar hunt. Read Prost Amerika's review of "My Effortless Brilliance".
Northwest Film Forum Acquires Limited Rights for "La France"Ten City Release Planned Northwest Film Forum has acquired limited rights to Serge Bozon’s "La France", winner of the prestigious Jean Vigo Award. Bozon's new film is a WWI musical that has eluded US distribution since its premiere at Cannes Film Fest Directors' Fortnight.In a unique new model of film releasing, NWFF will take the film to ten North American cinemas beginning July 12, 2008, kicking off with a one week run at Anthology Film Archives in New York on July 12 and reaching Seattle on September 5th. When a soldier's wife Camille, played by Sylvie Testud, receives a letter from her husband telling her to forget him, she disguises herself as a man and heads to the front to find him. Along the way, she falls in with a troop of battle-hardened soldiers led by a soulful lieutenant, played by Pascal Gregory, who eventually becomes a sort of mascot for the men. The cast also includes Guillaume Verdier, François Negret, Laurent Talon, Pierre Leon, Benjamin Esdraffo. “The tour was predicated on the lack of theatrical release for what many non-profit cinemas see as a commercially viable film,” said Northwest Film Forum’s program director Adam Sekuler, who negotiated the acquisition. "La France" joins Robinson Devor’s "Police Beat", which the organization produced through its Start-To-Finish program and Linas Phillips’ "Walking to Werner", as titles distributed by Northwest Film Forum. Prost Amerika has tickets to give away for this unique screening. For details, go to our Competitions Page or sign up for our Film News mailing list to be kept informed. "Soft Titling Makes Debut in Seattle"In another first for the NWFF, soft titling will be used to bring 1960’s action films: “NO BORDERS, NO LIMITS” to Seattle's screens. "No Borders, No Limits," is a four film series of action films from Japan's Nikkatsu studio in the late 1950s to the early 1960s.Although these films remain unavailable with English subtitles on both film and video, Northwest Film Forum is bringing tour organizer Marc Walkow to project soft titles, or digital subtitles, and provide historical context in all screenings of the Nikkatsu Action Cinema series. The four films in the series are "The Warped Ones", "Glass Johnny", "Velvet Hustler", and 'A Colt is My Passport". Walkow, the Programmer and Director of the New York Asian Film Festival, is excited to be sharing these films with Seattle audiences, “Most of the films from this genre have never been seen before by American audiences, even those who consider themselves Japanese film experts,” he said. "No Borders, No Limits" series passes are $15 for Northwest Film Forum members and $20 for general audiences. Individual films are $5/NWFF members, $6/children and seniors, and $8.50/general. Advance passes and tickets are available at NWFF Website.
Seattle Filmmakers React Positively to Mayor's Arts Office 2008 GrantsLocal Filmmakers Well Represented in the Funding "I love living in Seattle" The Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs has just announced its grants for 2008. Among the recipients are some of Seattle's best known film makers. Seattle's "Summer of Film" is recognised as Lynn Shelton's "Humpday" receives $8000. We hope to have a report from the set later this week. Look out for that on Seattle's best film new page! Lynn's reaction was one of joy and gratitude. "It's so wonderful to live in a community that puts its money where its mouth is in its support of the arts. Grants from the Mayor's Office and from 4Culture make it possible for me to be a filmmaker here, which is great because I love living in Seattle." Other film projects and people recognised are Robert Lawson, Jen Marlowe, Heather Ayres, NWFF's Adam Sekuler, Shaun Scott, Chad Morris, Gabriel Miller, Salise Hughes, Britta Johnson, John Helde and Andrew Hida. Robert Lawson receives $8000 to continue work on "Christiania: Our Heart is in Your Hands", a feature-length documentary about a squatter community occupying an abandoned military base in Copenhagen, Denmark, where hundreds of young people declared the 84 acres a free state. Jen Marlowe's film, "Rebuilding Hope" is a documentary film about three young boys who fled to the United States from South Sudan due to civil war. Now in their twenties, they travel back to Sudan where stories shed light on their homeland and a precarious peace plagued by war. Adam Sekuler, Program Director at the Northwest Film Forum, is renovating a film which had been underwater since 1968. He paid tribute to the city's progressive attitude towards film. "Receiving funding from the Mayor's Office for a film of this kind, a film that liberates me from traditional editing, is a sign of hope. When I look over the other films funded I realize the commitment of this city to works that push the boundaries of cinema." These grants can only serve to assist the increasing belief that to make film, you have to come to Seattle, not leave it. For a full list of the Arts awards, visit the Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs website.
"The Day My Parents Became Cool" Wraps up Shooting MondayFilm Highlights the Benefits of Co-operation  Megan Joy with Darryl Reese, Cheikh Davis, Tara Simmons and Jesse Caddell Elizabeth told us, "The film is very unique regarding the collaboration between community organizations such as Highline School District, Burien Arts Commission, 4Culture, Puget Sound Access, Pacific Grip & Lighting, Federal Way Arts Commission and Seattle's film professionals Many of the latter worked at reduced rates, just for the opportunity to work with (Director) Steve Edmiston and to contribute to such a high quality project." There are other local talents involved such as Megan Griffiths, TJ Williams Jr and wardrobe designer, Gerard Parr, who apparently had his work cut out if some of the photographs we have seen are anything to go by. In the film, kids go through some machinations to try to shock the parents back into their old ways, including dressing in 70's attire and 50's attire. Elizabeth added "this short was made by professional filmmakers and crew, yet made with 100% donated money and dozens of volunteers - both adults and teens - and even the industry (PG&L and Puget Sound Access) making equipment available. It's a unique model for any short film, and it works, because the story is so family oriented and fun."" The film which finished shooting on Monday (June 22nd), demonstrates something Prost Amerika and others have been particularly keen on, that is that if we all start pulling together, we can take the film industry in this city to the next level and truly make it the capital of independent film.
German Films Triumph at SIFF"Cherry Blossoms - Hanami" scoops Golden Space Needle Seattle loves German film - it's official. At the Golden Space Needle Awards, SIFF Artistic Director, Carl Spence announced that Doris Dörrie's film had won the popular vote of the more than 70,000 ballots cast. Local favourite "Frozen River" came in second, with films from Jordan, Hong Kong, France and Turkey also featuring in a truly global top ten. Swiss film "Late Bloomers" made German the only foreign language to feature twice in the top ten. Full results are below. To cap a German double, Andreas Utta's "Felix" won best short film. Best Documentary was won by "The Wrecking Crew" with Seattle film maker Linas Phillips coming in second for his "Great Speeches from a Dying World." Nine of the Top Ten here came from English language film makers with only the Argentinean "Stranded: I've Come From a Plane That Crashed in the Mountains" breaking the monopoly. Best Director was won by Amin Matalqa for "Captain Abu Raed", Best Actor went to Alan Rickman in "Bottle Shock", and the female equivalent was Jessica Chastain in "Jolene". Best Film Golden Space Needle Award:
The remaining top ten audience favorites (in order):
For full information on all the Awards, including the Jury Awards, click here. Take the SIFF Survey
Eight Feature Films to be Shot This Summer The city of Seattle is set to enhance its reputation as THE place to make independent film this summer as no fewer than eight shoots are set to take place, either here or in Washington State. Seattleites will start seeing crews and lights popping up around the city as a combination of the magnificent scenery, the talent pool and the state and city incentives lure film makers here.The financial benefit to the city is expected to be large as spending on hotels, meals is added to the taxes local actors and crew will be paying on their earnings. What is harder to quantify at the moment is how great a benefit having Washington shown on screens all over the world will bring to our tourist industry. The Films in Washington State This Summer and Fall 1. World's Greatest Dad Amy Dee, Executive Director of WashingtonFilmWorks told us,
"Dear Lemon Lima Ready" to ShootAward Winning Short Film to Become Seattle’s Latest Feature  Melissa Leo and Misty Upham in Frozen River Vanessa spends the summer in Fairbanks, Alaska pondering the nature of heartbreak while preparing for her first year at a new college. She finds solace in the Snowstorm Olympics, the school’s attempt to replicate the World Eskimo Indian Olympics. The feature length version will expand on here story as she arrives at her new college. The 10 minute version directed by Suzi Yoonessi won awards as a short at three festivals, Columbia University Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival and the Westchester Film Festival. Melissa Leo who made such an impression at SIFF 2008 in “Frozen River” starred in the short and we hope to bring you more details of the production later. Shooting is due to take place from July 21 - August 22. Short shot in Capitol Hill Screens Down Under"Emerald City" is a drama that was inspired by the Seattle hip-hop scene and by Dan McComas, brother of the filmmaker. Dan is deaf and the film's motto is "If you can't hear the music feel the music."It stars local music artists playing characters in the film. The film was shot in the Central District, and at the Baltic room in capitol hill in Seattle as well as Tacoma. Emerald City has now premiered in the Short Film Corner of Cannes, and was recently selected by the Inigo Film Festival, in Sydney, Australia.
For more information see Emerald City's Website.
Alastair MacLean Will Screen at Philly Film FestivalSeattle Born and Bred Comedy also set for Israel  It Says "Made in Seattle"! Producer Meredith Binder described it as an "absurd comedy with a potent underlying message, typical of the work of Sleepwalk Productions. A young man has to convert to Judaism before his wedding. Ian Stone stars as Alastair with Binder portraying Dassie Goldblatt who runs the 'Bootcamp' where he has to learn the cultural ropes. The film is directed by Andy Spletzer, cinematography is by Ryan Purcell, musical score by Nan Avant, picture edit by Tommy Oliver of Black Squirrel Films and sound design by Thaddeus Wharton. Meredith added "We are also waiting to hear from another twenty festivals worldwide."
Robin Williams to Film in Seattle”World’s Greatest Dad” to highlight Seattle's "Summer of Film"  Robin Williams Prost Amerika can reveal that ”World’s Greatest Dad” is to become the latest feature length movie to choose Seattle as its location. This summer has seen a plethora of big movies choosing the Emerald City but this film probably brings the biggest star yet to our town. Robin Williams is set to play the lead role. ”World’s Greatest Dad” will be directed by Bob “Bobcat” Goldthwait. He made his feature film directorial debut with "Shakes the Clown" (1991), which he wrote and starred in as well. Goldthwait's most recent feature, "Sleeping Dogs Lie" (formally Stay (2006)), starring Melinda Page Hamilton, screened at in the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. The choice of Seattle for yet another feature film with real star quality should come as an encouragement to those legislators who recently increased the levels of funding available from the State for filmmaking. The new rules came into effect on June 12th and, although these things take time to negotiate, the decision at least has a very strong appearance of having paid dividends. For more information on the films shooting in Seattle this summer, click here.
New Film Funding Rules in Washington State Take Effect
The changes passed in SSB 6423 in March came into force in Washington State on June 12th. The legislation sponsored by Rep. Phyllis Kenney (D-Seattle) made the following alterations to film funding:
WashingtonFilmWorks will continue to push for additional funds in future sessions to help ensure that our state re-emerges on the national and international scene as a premiere destination for motion picture production. For more information visit the WashingtonFilmWorks website.
New Film Commissioner for Washington StateWNC Film Commissioner Mary Trimarco has been named the new Film Commissioner for the State of Washington. In her new role she will work to advance the film industry in Washington. Trimarco has led the WNC Film Commission program at AdvantageWest since 2004. Prior to AdvantageWest, she worked in commercial film production in major markets like New York, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. She also has a background in finance and banking. Read the full story here.
Another Local Film On the Way - "Yonder" Gets August Shoot DateParty in June! Fresh on the heels of the successes of Seattle films at SIFF, there is more on the way. Seattle filmmaker Matt Wilkins' first feature since making the acclaimed "Buffalo Bill's Defunct Stories from the New West" in 2004 will be called "Yonder". The picture, with a budget of $100,000, will star Frances Hearn and Wiley Wilkins, and they are in negotiations with a prominent actor for the part of Robert, Frances' grandfather. We'll bring you more news on that when we have it. Yonder has been selected to receive funding from King County 4Culture for artist project support. "Yonder" and a short film called by David Miller "Love in the Year 2000" are being sponsored by Northwest Film Forum, and will be shot in the Pacific Northwest with local talent and crew. “We’re at critical points of pre-production and fundraising,” says David Miller, who is the producer of both projects. “We have already raised between one-third and two-thirds of the funding needed for each movie, but "Yonder" requires $15,000 in invested funds before we roll camera, while "Love in the year 2000" needs $20,000.
NFFTY Films Now Available On Demand
The wait is over! Comcast subscribers in the Puget Sound can now enjoy many of the films featured at NFFTY 08. Go to Channel 1 On Demand, click "Get Local" and then "Around the Sound." New films will be added so check back often. See the NFFTY website for more details.
Seattle Filmmaker, Jesse Harris, Scoops Runner-up Prize in National Competition.
 Jesse Harris You can see the winner and other runners-up here.
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Northwest Film Forum Cinemas
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Nesholm Family Lecture Hall
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Prost Amerika will be working to bring quality reviews and other content to Video Isle's web pages, and we will serve as a resource for their customers. There will be joint competitions and promotions as well. We recommend Video Isle to anyone who lives or works in the Fremont or Queen Anne areas! |
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Sad NewsProst Amerika was very sad to learn of the death of Paul Reed Smith. Paul had been one of our greatest help and supporters since we started Prost Amerika. Without his enthusiasm and advice, we would never have made it. He died after after a year-long courageous battle with cancer on the morning of June 20th. Paul's hard work and dedication to the German speaking community in Seattle brought many people together. He will be sorely missed. We would like to offer our sincere condolences to his wife Darlene and his friends and family.You can read the notice that is running in today's Seattle Times here. Thank you Paul. Thank you for everything.
Denise Gibbs Writes for Prost AmerikaSeattle filmmaker and Extras Coordinator Denise Gibbs whose Foreground/Background agency provides actors and extras for many Seattle productions recently gave Prost Amerika her writeup of last summer's Seattle filming of "Das 100 Millionen Dollar Date" ("A Letter To Bill Gates"). Read the story here.
"Senator Obama Goes To Africa" Fills the House in SeattleProst Amerika's opening night of the acclaimed documentary "Senator Obama Goes to Africa" opened last night at the Northwest Film Forum to a packed house. This excellent insight into the man who may soon lead the free world was made by Bob Hercules and Keith Walker. Their last film "Forgiving Dr Mengele" won the Special Jury Prize at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival and a Crystal Heart Award at the 2006 Heartland Film Festival. For more information about the film, please click here.
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MOTION PICTURE CREW POSITIONS AVAILABLE
"BIZKID$" SEEKS CHEF Nationally broadcast TV series "BizKid$" seeks a part-time temporary in-house chef and craft services manager. This is a great opportunity to experience working on a a real live TV set. Please submit a resume and cover note by email to norma@bizkids.com. You may also call Norma at 206-363-3077 with inquiries.
MOVIE PROMOTIONS INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
OLYMPIC BROADCAST SERVICES LOOKING FOR CREW
*Courtesy of www.seattle.gov/filmandmusic and NWFF. |
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