What’s caught my eye this week? Tickled my noodle? Made me long for some wonder? Or plead for a ponder or two? Well, when it comes to the film scene, in addition to yesterday’s download, I have this for you:
1
Only in America?
Where else will you see this on screening invites: “Firearms are prohibited from this event, including security personnel.”? Yup. We see this here. Not sure I would call it an appealing c’mon, although I am glad to know it will be a gun-free zone. I think I will post this declaration on our bathroom door. Just as I ask that our panel participantss at events reflect our community, maybe I should request this declaration too. As nuts as I think it is that we even need to consider this, perhaps by doubling down on the absurdity we will be more compelled to improve things…
2
‘Is it f*cking sustainable?’
I told you I would have liked to discuss how we have destroyed investment in indie film in America. It was in relation to the San Sebastian Film Financing Conference. And perhaps you are wondering what they spoke about instead? Variety has the story, but of course this is the highlight:
“No sector in no country has suffered so much as U.S. indie production from U.S. studio and streamers’ pull back in investment in movies and a move to more “commercial” production parameters. In some ways, the name of this panel should be: ‘Is it f*cking sustainable?’” ironized Christine Vachon…”.
And then’s there’s this truth too:
“It’s almost impossible to make anything interesting in the U.S. right now because the budgets are so contracted,” said CAA Media Finance’s Roeg Sutherland.
Is “ironized” really a word?
3
Loving the love for INVISIBLE NATION
You read yesterday about Park Chan-wook’s support for our film? Every day is a new adventure.
We’ve been on the road with our film for a year now. The support for our film keeps growing. Each screening is a celebration, filled with heartfelt appreciation. It means so much to hear, because it is so hard. It’s been a good week for that.
It is also a great boost to be included in Deadline’s series, “For The Love Of Docs”, of ten of the year’s best documentaries. Virtual screenings and Q&A’s… and truly such great company to be in. Sign up now!
https://fortheloveofdocs.deadline.com
It’s also quite pleasing that our film on a first female president will screen right after America elects our first female president. President Tsai Ing-wen’s campaign poster successfully market-tested the appeal of a childless cat woman.
And if you are an AMPAS Doc Branch member, or know someone who is, INVISIBLE NATION can now be screened on that site. Check it out, and spread some love. 23 Million people deserve the right to decide for themselves how they want to live. Frankly, everybody does.
4
It’s a winner! Please be sure to see THE BLACK SEA
I have had the good fortune to be working with Crystal Moselle for awhile now. When she and her partner Derrick B. Hardin told me they were going to disappear for awhile and go make a movie, I was a bit surprised, because it seemed like it came out of nowhere and they were just going to head out to Europe — Bulgaria to be exact — to have some fun and just maybe make something. That doesn’t happen much, and when it does, it doesn’t seem to often produce much. So when they came back and showed me something so warm, funny, heartfelt, and downright lovely,… well… WOW! It has been picked up by Metrograph and is now on the Fall Festival Tour. And it is particularly nice when right of the gate, you win Best Film. Thank you Nashiville!
https://www.moviemaker.com/nashville-film-festival-award-winners-sugarcane/
(Full disclosure: I am an EP on the film)
5
Please don’t let there be another work shutdown!
Be prepared for the winter season of ill... and don't let another work shut down happen. The Biden Administration has made 4 at home Covid test kits available for free for every household. Order yours now.
https://special.usps.com/testkits
6
Welcome Rebecca Green and DEAR PRODUCER
As a filmmaker at any level from any region, you need Dear Producer in your toolkit. I am thrilled they have joined the Substack community. Show your support and pledge an annual subscription now!
And I have to admit, I am jealous how good their description is! It’s true. And appealing. Maybe Rebecca could rewrite mine?
7
PGA’s Code Of Credits
They’ve been released. Give them a read.
https://producersguild.org/code-of-credits/
8
I hate it, but I love it too.
If I was to be brutally honest, I am 100% conflicted about streaming. I so far prefer to go to the movie theater and watch something, but I love having so much to watch at home. Granted, I still haven’t gotten through all the DVDs I bought back when, but there is something comforting to know that although I would prefer to see these movies on a large screen in the dark amongst strangers, they are available to me if I want to compromise.
Last week I finally set up my AMPAS app on my television so I can watch at home without the whole connecting my computer to my monitor thing. And I added the Metrograph app right next to Criterion and Mubi. I have to now add the Kino Film Collection too. And look, maybe arthouse is the next thing. I mean the NYTimes just wrote about it so it has to be, right?
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/25/movies/metrograph-at-home-streaming.html
9
Join us for a webinar on the changing distribution landscape
Vanessa and I will both be participating in “The Distribution Landscape: A Two-Part Webinar” on Oct 15th — but the first part comes a week earlier.
You can sign up for both here.
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Free Post From The Past (the paywall is down for the week)
Show it some love.
This is extraordinary information. Thank you, Ted, and congratulations on your films!