DesignWise Films and Video Production

Winnebago Man (2009), an American documentary feature film directed by Ben Steinbauer, is made available by Fandor, a curated service for exceptional independent films on demand.

Jack Rebney is the most famous man you’ve never heard of: an RV salesman whose hilarious, foul-mouthed outbursts circulated on VHS tapes in the 90s before turning into a full-blown Internet phenomenon in 2005, seen by 20 million people worldwide. Filmmaker Ben Steinbauer goes in search of Rebney and finds him living alone on a mountain top, unaware of his fame. Winnebago Man is a laugh-out-loud look at viral culture and an unexpectedly poignant tale of one man’s response to unintended celebrity.

Originally intended as an inside joke, the video spread across the globe earning the salesman the title of “The Angriest Man in the World“. The documentary explores the story of the clip’s origin and how, two decades later, it affects the man who never even knew it existed.

The film premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2009 and opened theatrically on July 9, 2010 at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema in New York, before expanding nationally.

ABOUT FANDOR:
As a Fandor syndication partner we are able to provide a unique collection of streaming Pay Per View Films that are unavailable elsewhere. Once the rental is purchased, it can be viewed here or on the Fandor site. Once your payment for a film has been processed, Fandor will send an email to the email address you provided containing a URL link to the film you have selected. You may either watch the film here or at the URL provided in the email. When you rent a film, you have 30 days from the date your payment is authorized and processed to start watching the film. Once you have started watching a film, you have 48 hours to complete your viewing. Problems must be reported immediately by emailing support@fandor.com outlining the nature of the error and the title of the film you were trying to view.

Controversial, thought-provoking, artistic and independent films are the focus of biweekly film screenings in the loft above Greens N Grains Deli in Egg Harbor.

There are many so-called “art films” that get shown and discussed regularly upon release if you are fortunate enough to live near a college campus. Often you can find some of these unseen cinematic treasures in rental outlets or on Netflix, but the chance to engage in thoughtful discussion with others afterward is missing. Film aficionados in Door County are encouraged to join in the creation of a new interest group that will pursue their love of cinema at biweekly meetings of the Green Door Film Society.

The concept was launched last winter in the Greens N Grains Dinner and a Movie Series which showed a variety of’s films from around the world and concluded in March with a local filmmaker’s night. As the organizer of last year’s series, I want to build on the success and expand the concept further with the inclusion of themed discussions as an integral part of the meetings.

The Green Door Film Society will have exclusive use of the loft facilities which comfortably seats about 30 people. Every other Thursday, beginning on November 18, we’ll get together to watch and watch and discuss film and the film making process throughout the “quiet season.” Notes and discussion questions for each film will be provided here in special category along with posters that you can download and post to help get the word out.

On Thursday, November 18 at 7 pm we’ll begin the series with Oliver Stone’s latest documentary, “South of the Border.” Eager to explore how the U.S. media has depicted Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, director Oliver Stone travelled to South America to interview Chavez and several other South American presidents in the process. Among the distinguished subjects in Stone’s probing and controversial documentary are Bolivia’s Evo Morales, Brazil’s Lula da Silva, Argentina’s Nestor Kirchner and Cuba’s Raúl Castro. The film is certain to provoke dialogue and was not shown in any local Door County commercial venues during its recent box-office release.

Greens N Grains Deli will host a natural and organic dinner special each evening before the Green Door Film Society meetings. Enjoy a delicious soup specialty, salad, a fresh baked roll and a cup of tea for $7.50, available from 6 pm on. The Film Society screenings take place at 7 pm and there is no charge for membership but seating at screenings is limited to 30 people.

Greens N Grains Natural Foods and Deli is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm – except on Film Society screening nights when they will remain open until 9 pm – in downtown Egg Harbor at 7821 Hwy 42, and can be reached at 920.868.9999 or by email at info@greens-n-grains.com. The store’s Website features news and special monthly discount flyers at Greens-N-Grains.com.

Winners of this online festival will be announced in December, 2010.

Bursting onto the scene in 2010, the 1st Annual INTERNATIONAL MOVIE TRAILER FESTIVAL (IMTF) is an online competition created specifically to celebrate the art of the movie trailer. Filmmakers are invited to submit trailers for short or feature films they’ve made or trailers for movies they dream of making. All genres are welcome, including trailers for dramas, comedies, thrillers, animations, and documentaries.

Entries will be presented on the Web within a “virtual theater,” featuring advanced search capabilities encouraging fans, producers, and exhibitors to find and view trailers in a multitude of ways. IMTF’s Grand Prize of $5,000 USD will be awarded by a jury of industry pros including Scott Rosenfelt, producer of MYSTIC PIZZA and HOME ALONE. Other awards include a $1,000 People’s Choice Award chosen by visitors to the site, a $500 music/soundtrack award, a $500 student prize along with a $500 grant to the winning student’s school.

What’s more, select trailers will have the opportunity to be included in an upcoming feature-length documentary entitled PREVIEW YOUR DREAMS: THE ART OF THE MOVIE TRAILER.

UPCOMING DEADLINE
August 31, 2010 – Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5 on this deadline

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Filmmakers who submit to IMTF become part of an online community where information is exchanged, production problems are solved, and members can collaborate on movie projects. Everyone who signs up will receive a free digital copy of Moviemaking Illustrated: The Comicbook Filmbook.

To date entries have been submitted from across the globe. Get your trailer seen by both movie fans and movie professionals from around the world – submit today!

A screening of “Wo Ai Ni (I Love You), Mommy” followed by a discussion with the film’s director, Stephanie Wang-Breal kicks off 3-day NALIP Workshop,

Stephanie Wang-Breal is fortunate to have a foothold in two worlds. Born in the USA to Chinese speaking parents, she is fluent in English and Mandarin. Nonetheless, she had to interview more than a hundred families before she found the right one to work with. She invested a good deal of her own money to launch the film project but eventually managed to secure significant additional funding to see her film reach completion.

In production, Stephanie found that her role as filmmaker would at times include that of translator and thus, she was reluctantly drawn in as a supporting actor in her own film. As documentaries often do, the project took on a life of its own. Her efforts have resulted in the creation of a remarkable record of the pairing and bonding of Fang Sui Yong, an 8-year-old Chinese orphan girl and the Sadowskys, a Jewish family from Long Island, New York.

Stephanie also touched lightly on another kind of second life that controversial documentary films must now inhabit – the one that is spawned on blogs and in discussion boards across the Web after a film is released. Not all of these “reviews” have been positive, but they fault the subject and not the film. In some ways this too can be seen as a success, exposing the issue to public scrutiny and fostering a passionate debate. Stephanie Wang-Breal is winning awards for her thought-provoking work, including her most recent, “Best Emerging Director in a Documentary Feature” at the Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) in New York.

I’d like to extend a thank-you to the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) and to Stephanie Wang-Breal for providing such an unusual opportunity. “Wo Ai Ni, Mommy” will be broadcast on PBS: POV on August 31, 2010.

LINKS:

Wo Ai Ni Mommy Official Website

www.facebook.com/pages/wo-ai-ni-mommy

Chicago, Illinois – USA
October 22 to 24, 2010

In the Spotlight this week is the 5th Annual ILLINOIS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (IIFF), celebrating a broad spectrum of indie films and screenplays against the vibrant backdrop of Chicago, Illinois.

With the belief that no matter the film’s budget or the director’s vision it’s the filmmaker’s passion that drives a film, IIFF declares itself a “no limits” festival, screening a multi-genre lineup of films from around the world. From underground and horror films to the more traditional family-friendly fare, IIFF has been known to show a diverse selection of works, offering something on the schedule for film fans of all ages. Noteworthy selections from years past include CRAZY, MASS ROMANTIC, GOD’S EARS, and documentaries HEARTS OF HOPE, JACK BE NIMBLE, FACING SUDAN, and FOUND IN CHINA which enjoyed sold-out screenings.

IIFF’s list of alumni only furthers the point: the festival is rapidly growing and picking up steam early on. Alumni include Mike Reiss (ICE AGE 3, “The Simpsons”), who unveiled QUEER DUCK at IIFF; Tony Wash (IT’S MY PARTY AND I WILL DIE IF I WANT TO), who recently inked a distribution deal; and Mark Roberts (writer/producer of “Two and Half Men”), who presented WELCOME TO TOLONO and declares it “a wonderful experience for showcasing my film.”

UPCOMING DEADLINE
July 31, 2010 – Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5 on this deadline

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
The Illinois International Film Festival brings audiences and filmmakers together to better enjoy the art and fun of filmmaking.

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Exhibiting filmmakers receive two all-access passes to IIFF festivities and a gift bag filled with swag. What’s more, the Festival emphasizes the filmmaker’s role in the equation; filmmakers participate in engaging Q&A sessions, sharing their behind-the-scenes stories and perspective on their films. Networking opportunities abound with fellow filmmakers and visiting industry players. Alum Warren Sheppard (STEWARD) gushes that IIFF “is an amazing…opportunity to meet…artists. I had the best time!”

Filmmakers & Screenwriters: to present your work in the great city of Chicago, submit to the Illinois International Film Festival today!

I hope to meet you at “Doing Your Doc,” an upcoming 3-day seminar in St. Paul sponsored by the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) in conjunction with Native American Public Telecommunications, Native American Journalists Association, InMotion, St. Paul Neighborhood Network, IFP Minnesota, Intermedia Arts, UST, Latino Public Broadcasting, NBPC, ITVS, CAAM, PIC and Twin Cities Public Television.

Here’s a unique chance to work with story consultant Fernanda Rossi, the Documentary Doctor, author of the book “Trailer Mechanics,” plus receive project mentoring on your proposal, trailer or documentary idea. This intensive 3-day workshop is tailored for anyone… whether you are just beginning, have already shot footage on a documentary project or are seeking finishing funds.

“Doing your Doc” is designed especially for media makers in the diverse communities of Minnesota, preparing them to receive production funding and apply to national professional programs while developing unique stories and views. It takes place starting at 3 pm on Sunday and runs all day on Monday and Tuesday.

The Oscar-winning documentary film has been edited by Japanese distributor Unplugged, blurring out faces of fishermen and police, inserting tickers that express opposing points of view in parts where opinions differ.

If that’s not bad enough,  3 of the 26 theaters that planned to screen the film have backed off, canceling their scheduled screenings after threats of violence and intimidation. Japanese nationalists call the film anti-Japanese and claim that foreigners are trying to disrupt a 400-year-old tradition.

But scientists and environmental activists agree that one of the most important issue affecting the Japanese people is not about saving sea mammals. Dolphin and whale meat has been found to be very high in mercury says Tetsuya Endo, a professor at the Health Sciences University of Hokkaido and one of the world’s foremost authorities on mercury levels in dolphins and whales caught off Japan’s coastal waters. He has shown in studies conducted on hair samples taken from residents of  Taiji, Japan who eat the whale and dolphin meat sold in local stores, that they have extremely high concentrations of mercury in their bodies.

The Monday, July 5, 2010 edition of CBC’s As it Happens radio show features an interview with Ric O’Barry who had a lead role in the film and just returned from Japan. He was once the dolphin trainer on TVs “Flipper,” who has become a committed campaigner against dolphin abuse.

They call TestTube, an “ideas incubator.” This is where YouTube engineers and developers test out the latest advancements in beta format and ask you to test drive them. Here you can find the new online video editing application YouTube just released.

The new YouTube video editor is still in development, so the features are somewhat limited… for now. Here’s Dave Kaminski explaining how to use it to edit and mashup your videos adding in royalty-free sound files that YouTube provides:

There is an applications called CaptionTube that will let you add captions and subtitles to your YouTube videos. Video Annotations will let you  add interactive commentary to your videos, link to other videos add notes and more.  These are only a few of several interesting development projects you can find in TestTube.

“Alejandro is on the radio. Fuck it sounds so good, we did it little monsters,” – tweets Lady Gaga.

The dissolution of boundaries between music, art, theatre, dance and film, underway since the launch of MTV: Music Television in 1981, occasionally spawns elegant short form works of cinematic fine art. I must admit that last month, I scoffed at Time magazine’s inclusion of Ladt Gaga in their recent list of the 100 most influential people of the year… but I now withdraw that opinion. Alejandro, her latest video, fashioned with director and photographer Steven Klein, is crafted in the genre of an early Fritz Lang cinema noir masterpiece and immediately brings to mind scenes from Metropolis.

The latest Gaga video also reminds me of a rule I personally attribute to Ingmar Bergman – that each and every frame of a film should be so well composed that it could be printed as a still photograph and exhibited in a gallery. Allejandro exhibits that kind of attention to detail in Klein’s careful framing, form and placement of everything and everyone. It may be surprising to realize that Madonna’s “Express Yourself” video, also a Klein creation, was released 25 years ago. The comparisons are obvious…

As an ex-Catholic, I have always enjoyed the irreligious subtext in Klein’s work with Madonna and now with Lady Gaga. Alejandro is rich, dark and elegantly erotic. I am glad to be converted at last to just another Gaga worshiper, one of her little monsters.

Come back every day to vote for your favorite submission – even if it’s your own. Keep up with the contest on Twitter using the #pbsvideocontest hashtag.

At PBS.org, you can watch your favorite PBS shows on the new video player, in their entirety, whenever you want. You can interact with PBS producers and talent through live chats. Or you can get up close and personal with your favorite shows through blogs, Facebook Fan Pages, Twitter and YouTube.

The Associated Press said “PBS may be cooler than you think.” Check out our online offerings and see if you agree. Then SHOW us what you think.  Create a 30 second video showing something surprising about PBS on the web.