The Martini Shot

Sunset in Seattle, on those rare days when it's sunny,
means it's the last shot of the day...
The Martini Shot

Build Your Own Filmmaking Studio

Once you've got a house, you've got most of what you need.
Don't believe me? Build Your Own Filmmaking Studio

Puppetmaster Passes

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Paul Winchell, a ventriloquist,
inventor and children's TV show host best known for creating the
lispy voice of Winnie the Pooh's animated friend Tigger, has died.
He was 82.

Winchell died Friday morning in his sleep at his Moorpark home,
Burt Du Brow, a television producer and close family friend,
told the Los Angeles Times.

Over six decades, Winchell was a master ventriloquist --
bringing dummies Jerry Mahoney and
Knucklehead Smiff to life on television -- and an inventor who
held 30 patents, including one for an
early artificial heart he built in 1963. Unfortunately, the
heart wouldn't work unless Winchell had his
hand in the patient's back.

(Thanks a lot to my pal Randy in NZ.)

Shorten Your Hollywood Shuffle

Producing your own Independent Feature movie
can take years off your Hollywood Shuffle.

Learn all the tools, tricks, and strategems
to become an Independent Producer, and leapfrog
over your filmmaking competition!

Stop trying to make deals, and start making movies!
Everything you need to know, to make your own
Independent Feature, in only two days.

Hollywood Seminars "Independent Producing,"
20-21 August 2005, for info call 323-960-5550

Hollywood's Summer of Sergio

Looks like Gene Autry and the Alex Theatre
are finally giving Sergio Leoni the retrospective
he deserves, and as a guy with a Techniscope jones,
I'm excited. This is the Summer of Sergio.

Big, Bigger, IMAX!

Love those big cars,
big guns, big movies...
IMAX!

What happens...?

...when the set knows more than
the Filmmaker?

Digital? Maxivision's Better!

A brilliant film system for shooting
31% more image at 48fps, twice the frame
rate, only using 50% more film. Huh?
Don't worry. This is bigger than math.

Money For Your Movie - Hurry!

Well, we're back on the air, after a massive computer snarl.
I'm holding the 28% discount on my ultimate filmmaking
money-raising guide until it ships, which will be soon.

Completely updated the links, so it's even more relevant and useful.
Whole bunch of new info, for those who want to apply for grants
(free money you never have to repay) as well as my simple system
to find and qualify investors for your film and video projects.
Chock-full of these and other loan sources. You'll love it.

With all this information at your fingertips, if you can't raise all the money
you need, you're not trying. (Maybe you don't really want to be a filmmaker...)
Fully backed by my awesome 1 year money-back guarantee.

The 28% discount is for those who order in the next few days before
it ships. I'm focused on the book right now, and I appreciate your patience.
"Secrets Of Raising Money For Your Movie"

Should Film Be Harder To Break Into?

Here's your question for the day:
Should film be harder to break into?

Film Footage Chart

How many feet? How many frames? Minutes? Seconds?
16mm? 35mm? Thank goodness for
Greg Pak's Film Footage Chart

Great Star Wars Article

Warning: Not for the jaded or cynical. Romantics only.

Digital Cinema 4k Origin Camera

Here's a taste of the new 4k DALSA Origin Camera.
Mmmm.

One Page Lighting Course

My friend Mike Conway's indy movie lighting course
is short, to the point, succinct, pithy, abrupt, and concise.
In a word, brief.

Old New Mexico News

Although it happened a while back, this program,
from Panavision and the New Mexico Tourism Department,
is worth a read. What a heart-stopper. These guys are serious!
New Mexico just looks better and better as a place to shoot movies.

RIP Eddie Albert

Oh, no. Eddie Albert died today,
at the age of 99.

"Green Acres" is still my favorite
sitcom of all time, as it's so far beyond tv.
It's surreal and insane!

If you watch it carefully, you'll eventually notice
most of the dialogue is shot before painted backdrops.
That show cost virtually nothing but a backdrop rental
and some actors every week. And some film. Love it.

I'm so sorry to hear of Eddie Albert's passing. He was a real
war hero, a good singer, and is in one of my most favorite movies.

Elaine May's "The Heartbreak Kid," starring her daughter Jeanne Berlin,
Charles Grodin, and Cybill Shepherd. Script by Neil Simon.
Eddie played Cybill's Dad, and was he tough! And funny.

Grodin, a shallow opportunistic newlywed, who's just abandoned
his bride because she has the worst sunburn ever filmed,
asks Eddie something like,
"Sir, would you be all right with me keeping company
with your daughter?"

Eddie, tough as nails, responds:
"Not if I were dragged forty miles by my tongue."

Rest in peace, Eddie.

Kodak Cinematography Workshop in Seattle!

Break out your light meter and your contrast glass, the
Kodak Cinematography Workshop is coming to Seattle!

Money For Your Movie - Hurry!

Only a few days left to get my ultimate filmmaking
money-raising guide, at a 28% discount on its price.
It ships 1 June 2005.

Completely updated the links, so it's even more relevant and useful.
Whole bunch of new info, for those who want to apply for grants
(free money you never have to repay) as well as my simple system
to find and qualify investors for your film and video projects.
Chock-full of these and other loan sources. You'll love it.

With all this information at your fingertips, if you can't raise all the money
you need, you're not trying. (Maybe you don't really want to be a filmmaker...)
Fully backed by my awesome 1 year money-back guarantee.

That 28% discount is for those who order in the
dwindling few days before 1 June. Sign up and save!
"Secrets Of Raising Money For Your Movie"

One Of The Greats - Howie Morris

I note with sadness that Howie Morris, of
"Your Show Of Shows" has passed away, at 85.
If you don't know who Howie Morris was,
well you just should, that's all.

IndieGathering in Cleveland!

Independent filmmakers from all over converge on Cleveland
Ohio USA 3-5 June 2005 to meet, schmooze, and make movies.
Learn more here.