Friday, October 24, 2014

Seattle Video Production - Lynn Shelton - Laggies

Seattle Video Production - Lynn Shelton - Laggies

Do you love film in Seattle, and yearn for a real film industry, 
where Artists get paid?

Then run and buy a ticket TODAY for Lynn Shelton's new feature movie "Laggies."

(UPDATE
Lynn Shelton's "Laggies" is available on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, Vudu, Xbox, Playstation, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Comcast. Don't miss it! Every sale helps Lynn make more movies, and that helps YOU. Do it! http://bit.ly/laggies)

Either do that, or admit it's all been just talk.

How do I figure that?

At every filmmaking step, you SPEND money.
Only one step EARNS for you - selling your movie.

Are you selling your movie?

I will give you examples. All those people at the American Film Market (AFM) every year, raising money and making deals, they are selling their movie.

Will YOU be there, or are you making plans to go next time?
If you are not, or you are not in some other way selling your feature movie, (for cash money), you are just pretending. You are not even playing the game.

Lynn Shelton's movie "Laggies" opens today in New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Lynn has been all over the media, and is selling her movie. 

If you support Lynn (and you should), go to the movies today or Sunday, and buy a ticket and see it.

Your dollars go toward the only thing that matters in the Movie Biz - box office. If there's enough dollars, Lynn's Distributor will keep playing the film in more and bigger theatres, and she'll find money for her next one. 

That's how you can help Lynn sell her movie. Her success will help YOU, in ways we cannot even guess.

All those people who spend their time just talking and thinking, taking or giving endless classes, entering contests and film festivals, with the result of only making short films that cannot be sold commercially...not so much.

Now, how about YOU?

Do you have a finished feature film? Are you working toward that?
Are you calling and writing and wheeling and dealing?

Are you selling your movie?












Monday, September 15, 2014

Seattle Costume Designer - Janessa Jayne Styck


Seattle Costume Designer - Janessa Jayne Styck

When I'm doing a show or film, in Seattle or Hollywood, my first choice for Costume Design is Janessa Styck. Her designs are classically elegant, perfectly suited to the Production, and remarkably well-priced. All those make my little Producer heart go thump thump thump!

Just look at her designs! She's a wizard with fabric and an era. She has highest ratings from her Customers, and Reviewers who have seen her shows and films. She's worked with top Tony-nominated professionals. Can't recommend her enough. Just go to her webpage, and see what she's got for your show.

Janessa demo video




Janessa Jayne Styck
Seattle Costume Designer
Hollywood Costume Designer
Seattle Costume Design
Hollywood Costume Design



 

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Lord Richard Attenborough - Actor - Director - There Was A Man Dept.






Lord Richard Attenborough - Actor - Director - There Was A Man Dept.
He was riding high, when I met him. 55th Academy Awards, in 1983. He and his picture (Gandhi) had just won eight Oscars, and he'd made a fine speech about it, and he was positively giddy with triumph.

It was my first Academy Award ceremony, and I really wanted to talk to the Best Picture's Best Director, Sir Richard Attenborough.

It's a funny thing about the Ceremonies, It's nothing like you see onscreen.

There are boos and screams and funny noises, and weird things happening all the time, but such brilliant Camerawork and Floor Direction, you never see any of that. Anything out of the ordinary, switch to stock shots, or remote cameras, or an Ad.

In this particular instance, once Best Picture was announced, much of the Audience arose and swarmed the exits, heading home from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, to beat traffic, although you would never know that, at home on TV.

Sir Richard spoke of "Gandhi," his film, and Gandhi the man, and what Gandhi means to our times. He was quite moved, and he delivered his message, even though he spoke to a mostly (and increasingly) empty room.

Then the show was over, and he gathered his thoughts on his lectern. I approached, with my program and pen. He gave me a warm, white movie star smile. I only had a moment, so I was somewhat direct.

"I loved 'Gandhi,' it was wonderful!"

"Thank you."

"And you were in one of my favorite pictures."

"Which one?"

"The Flight of the Phoenix."

His smile got brighter and wider.

"Oh! With James Stewart! That is one of my favorites, too!"

We chatted about it, and I asked for his autograph. He took my pen, with a flourish.

"How shall I sign it? Shall I sign it 'Sir Dickie?'"

And he did. "To Sam, Sir Dickie."

I wrote him after that, when he made the wonderful "Chaplin," and when he became a Lord, (my salutation then was "Dear Lord," and I hope it made him smile).

I think his last picture I saw was "Jurassic Park." His grace and his decency always came through, in his pictures.

Saturday, August 02, 2014

Nancy Beiman Reviews Elliot Cowan's "The Stressful Adventures of Boxhead and Roundhead"

Nancy Beiman Reviews Elliot Cowan's "The Stressful Adventures of Boxhead and Roundhead"

A delightful and revealing review of Elliot Cowan's new Animated Feature "The Stressful Adventures of Boxhead and Roundhead," by the great and renowned and greatly renowned Animation Guru, Nancy Beiman.

Nancy tells how exactly Elliot created his feature film, using only two years, talented hard work, and a tiny budget. Actually, Elliot's entire film cost less to make than many Animated television commercials!

Nancy's conclusions are especially interesting to me, because of her thorough grounding in Feature and Television Animation. It is quite good to get a glimpse of Elliot's film, through Nancy's trained and Professional eyes.

Nancy herself is a most interesting person, quite witty and intelligent, with a long and excellent Animation career, and is the Author of several books on Professional Animation.  I enjoyed her review, and look forward to seeing Elliot's film.


UPDATE
Elliot Cowan tells of his film and its difficult journey.


Nancy Beiman
Prepare to Board
Animated Performance

Elliot Cowan
"The Stressful Adventures of Boxhead and Roundhead"
Sam Longoria

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Raising Money For Your Movie, Bogie Style - Crowdfunding

Raising Money For Your Movie, Bogie Style - Crowdfunding




Crowdfunding is raising money from a crowd,
hopefully your crowd, that you cultivate online. They know you, and they know your work. There is nobody who wants your success like your crowd, and you want to entertain and inform them. 

There's much 
superficial Crowdfunding information, but every so often a simple idea how to play the Crowdfunding game is published. I found just such an easy article, with the right mindset, and I want to share it with you.

I'm a big Humphrey Bogart fan, and there's just something about Bogie's no-nonsense character. Every filmmaker should pay attention to him, and what Bogie knew instinctively about playing to a big group of people.

Woody Allen described Bogie's viewpoint, in Allen's 1969 Broadway play, "Play It Again, Sam," (perfect title for me Crowdfunding my movie). It's all simple and brutal, with a touch of pathos.

As Woody's Bogie put it, so sensitively,"I never saw a dame yet that didn't understand a good slap in the mouth or a slug from a .45."

John T. Trigonis's article gives you that slap upside the head, to get your film funding on track, and your Crowdfunding house in order. Put it to use, Sweetheart!








Woody Allen




Friday, June 20, 2014

Rick Baker Makeup Is Still The Gold Standard


Rick Baker Makeup Is Still The Gold Standard


Amazing! Such a career! Rick Baker has played King Kong,
brought life to "An American Werewolf In London," and to Bigfoot
in "Harry and the Hendersons." Great films! 
"Star Wars,"
"Planet Of The Apes," "Men In Black," oh 
his list goes on and on.

Most recently, Rick has applied his Special Makeup Effects Artistry
to "Maleficent."


Rick Baker got started making Halloween makeup for the other
kids
, and he did it so well he freaked out his neighborhood.

I've met Rick at the Oscars, (he has 7 of 'em), and I always
ask him for an Autograph on my program. He signs it
"Beast Wishes!" What a great guy.

Rick has 6 Filmmaking Tips for you.
Please enjoy, and let them soak in.




King Kong
Star Wars
Rick Baker
Men In Black 
Dino DeLaurentiis
Planet Of The Apes
Harry and the Hendersons
An American Werewolf In London

Charlie Chaplin and Nancy Beiman Share A Shelf In My Brain

Charlie Chaplin and Nancy Beiman Share A Shelf In My Brain
          


My friend Nancy Beiman, a lovely lady with the greatest Animation résumé in like, ever, is also a learned college Professor, a truly sweet person, a witty wit, talented Artist, Animator, Director, Author...AND an absolutely lethal punster. Our Pun Duels are legendary!
     
(Which is why I prize her above rubies). 

Nancy gave a talk to the 2014 Society of Animation Studies conference in Toronto, on "Charles Chaplin and Animation," which soon will be a half hour academic presentation at a Chaplin conference, in Bologna, Italy. (You never sausage a town!)
     
A wonderful review by Alex Williams, in the "FLIP" Animation Blog, covers Nancy Beiman's Charlie Chaplin talk. Enjoy "Nancy Beiman Explains Why Animators Ought To Study Charlie Chaplin."

Nancy's wonderful Animation book: ANIMATED PERFORMANCE




Nancy Beiman

Buster Keaton
Charlie Chaplin
Bologna, Italy

Sam Longoria


Friday, March 07, 2014

Movie Food - Egg and Onion Sandwich (From "Harvey")

Movie Food - Egg and Onion Sandwich (From "Harvey")

1 Egg 
2 Tbsp Butter 
2 slices Buttered bread
2 slices Onion (I like thinly sliced, you may prefer thick)
Sprinkle Salt and Pepper to taste 
Ketchup (or spicier) on top

Break egg into bowl, and beat it mercilessly.
Melt butter in pan at medium heat. 
Fry egg, and fold into bread size.
When solid, spatula egg onto bread.
Top with Onion slices, Salt, Pepper, and Ketchup.

An excellent snack. To neutralize onion breath,
eat Parsley. Or make an Egg and Onion Sandwich 
for your girlfriend, so she doesn't notice.

Yummy snack! Good any time.

WILSON
Harvey? Well I'd better get goin'
Myrtle.

MYRTLE
Oh, but Marvin, you haven't
finished your egg and onion.

WILSON
Business before pleasure, Honey.
Even if it's a pleasure bein' with you.
You make a great egg and onion, kid.
A great egg and onion.

This sandwich takes 10 minutes to make, well worth it.

ELWOOD
Oh, Doctor, I - I - (stammers) 
Years ago, my mother used to say to me -- 
she'd say, 'In this world, Elwood, you must 
be --' She always called me Elwood.
'In this world, Elwood, you must be oh,
so smart or oh, so pleasant.' Well, for
years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.
And you may quote me."


http://amzn.to/-harvey

From the James Stewart picture "Harvey," by Mary Chase, 1950

© 2014 Sam Longoria, All Rights Reserved 





harveysandwich
movie food
mary chase
egg & onion

james stewart
egg and onion

elwood p. dowd





Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Front Projection For Filmmaking

Front Projection For Filmmaking
by Sam Longoria


Kind of a lost art today, front-projection was the Next Big Thing for studio and independent filmmaking, in the '70s and early '80s.

Does it still work? Yes! Good, quick, cheap, and remarkably convincing, front projection will enable your production to pull off many shots you'd find difficult with live or greenscreen techniques. View it through the viewfinder, real-time, no computer or monitor!

Is it easy? Not exactly. It takes a whole lot of testing and tweaking, to find the "sweet spot," where it all works. And you can't pan or tilt much, and your projector fan makes noise. Not much, but some.

What is the main advantage? Speed. When you write up the camera report and can the film at the end of the day, your composite is done!



Overhead View






Simple explanation of Front Projection




scotchlite
scotchlight

sam longoria
beamsplitter
beam-splitter
beam splitter

front projection
retroreflective screen
front projection screen

independent filmmaking

Friday, February 07, 2014

Seattle Premiere "The Last Light" SIFF Center

Seattle Premiere "The Last Light" SIFF Center

"The Last Light"
has its Seattle premiere this Saturday 11:30am, at the SIFF Center, 305 Harrison Street, 206-633-7151  

It screens with other films, as part of the 2014 Post Alley Film Festival. Tickets: $15 General, $12.50 WIF/SIFF/NWFF Members, $10 Students/Seniors 
"The Last Light" was Written by Persephone Vandegrift, and is Produced by Lisa Cooper, and Directed by Jennifer Cummins.

"The Last Light" stars Telisa Steen, Sarah Dennis, Elora Coble, Randall Dai, Pearl Klein and Danika Collins.

The film shows a mother's journey through grief, after the loss of her youngest daughter.

Screenwriter Persephone Vandegrift is an award-winning Writer ("All Things Hidden," "Death of a Mortal Woman").

Producer Lisa Cooper is an award-winning Documentary Filmmaker ("Beyond Naked," "The Coffinmaker").

Director Jennifer Cummins has Directed and Produced videos for Sunsports and ABC News. To make "The Last Light," she selected the script, funded it with a IndieGoGo campaign, cast it, shot it over a weekend, edited it, and submitted the film to a dozen national and international Film Festivals. Wow!

"The Last Light" was Scored by award-winning Composer Catherine Grealish ("Reversal").

"The Last Light"
 has been approached by the American Online Film Festival, to participate in its 2014 winter showcase in New York.
CONTACT: 
Phone
Jennifer Cummins 206-445-5138
Email
Jennifer Cummins or Lisa Cooper
thelastlightfilm@gmail.com
Facebook
http://facebook.com/thelastlightshortfilm
Twitter -
@lastlightfilm
http://www.twitter/lastlightfilm

Website
http://thelastlightfilm.com