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Insightful. Inspiring. Independent.
Australian Writer-Director-Producer Wendy Dent
Thank God for NY Women in Film and Television. If not we would all be heading for the bar.
The NYWIFT 'Film Financing day: Focus on Dramatic Features' was a grueling line up of guest speakers guiding indie producers through investment and distribution options in the midst of an economic crisis, making for a very depressing morning as it became clear that when it comes to making films, at least most films still have catering to help us feed ourselves, because aside f...
What is it about seeing movie stars in person that so entrances people? It must be something more than the magnetism of their fame. Seeing Sylvester Stallone speak at the LA Film Festival was one of those experiences where you can feel the entire audience sitting in awe.
It wasn't just the Rocky theme playing loud that whipped the audience into a frenzy as he came in. Stallone had that celebrity sparkle, with his dark sunglasses, and the iconic Stallone strut that made him a st...
"Despicable". Thousands of kids, plastic yellow minions and unanimated studio execs took over the LA Film Festival "Closing Night" this afternoon at the World Premiere of Universal's new animation 'Despicable Me'.
Behind dark 3D glasses I tried to hide the fact I'm not 6 anymore but still had a lot of fun, especially at the after-party enjoying the spectacle of Universal's marketing maching eating children whole. (Oh and the film was funny too)
&nb...
I didn't think it would be possible for anything to upstage the last few days of the fest, but yes if there is one man whose indie credentials upstage them all it has to be the legendary Roger Corman walking in with none other than Peter Fonda: more in my blog coming soon about his awe-inspiring panel "School of Corman", and the power-packed films that have kept me alive for the last few days on more than just the sponsor's energy bars.
But first, t...
While the full moon hung over LA, long black limos descended on Downtown, delivering sacrificial celebrities to a blood-red carpet for the world premiere of arguably the most anticipated box office film in history. But those 'vampires' held no hold over me. I was busy interviewing the real stars of Twilight- the "Twi-hard" fans who'd flown from all around the country, and as far as Canada, to camp four days in advance for just a chance to beg Robert Pattinson for an autograph.
I h...
"OMG it's the world premiere of Twilight tonight!!
(Everybody SCREEEAAAMMMM!)
It's easy to tell where the movie stars are ranked in the A-list -
fans were lining up from 3pm to see Rocky himself, the smooth Sylvestor Stallone, speaking at the LA Film Festival last night.
Twilight fans were lining up 3 days ago to see Robert Pattinson tonight.
But boy did they miss out last night. Sylvestor Stallone strutted around with dark sunnies on, and a real movie...
Yes everyone, it´s only one day till the world premiere of Twilight. All those happy campers in the square are about to get very excited. But more on that tomorrow... People are not only talking about vampires, but about Superman (the LAFF premiere of 'Waiting for Superman', the new doc on the US public education system)- So I want to share with you something SHOCKING. All those Americans reading this article, you'd better take a seat. Did you know one high ranking student from a private scho...
A friend wrote to me last night "what are you going to see tonight?". I answered him, I'm going to see Ben Affleck, of course! My friend replied "Ask him what happened after Good Will Hunting". Well he answered that.
"C´mon, how can he be called indie?" another friend asked. I´d asked the same question myself. Well Ben Affleck answered that too, with reflections on Good Will Hunting that launched his career, role after role in films by Kevin Smith (who fa...
I wrote yesterday about 2 films receiving a lot of buzz, then felt a little worried they wouldn't meet up to my high expectations... too often the case when you hear about the best of the fest.
SO- it was such a relief to emerge from the LA Film Festival cinemas yesterday and say yes, those films deserved all that buzzing.
'Where Are You Taking Me' took me to Uganda with a sincere observational eye that simply lets the magical moments unfold before you, untouched except by Kimi Takes...
Ron Gilbert and I raced from the screening of "Farewell" last night, looking for the drinks. "Let's go the Elephant party!!" he was saying, and who can resist a line like that. "The elephants are all the way down the end there", he said, scanning LA live cinemas 1, 2, 3, 4 and... nothing. "Where are the elephants?" he asked the first person to step into the elevator, "and did you see the zeppelin film?".
We'd been hoping to see the premie...
Because I could really do with one right now! Was confirmed for 3 LAFF red carpets last night, 2 of them at the same time, and the 3rd one on during the cocktail reception for the 1st one at the Live. Create.Lounge.
Guess which one I chose?
The cocktail party, and the red carpet premiere of Cyrus of course. Couldn't miss the chance to meet the marvellous Marisa Tomei.
She has 2 men fighting over her in Cyrus and yeah, who can blame them, because in this film, like so many...
Wow, what an opening. Limos cruised behind the red carpet, helicopters buzzed around LA Live, spotlights strobed the skies, and I felt like I was in a Batman movie, with the big action sequence about to erupt around me. Festival volunteers ushered me to the rooftop Opening Night party of the LA Film Festival, telling me excitedly "you'll be able to watch the riots from there!".
Yes the riot police were marching out. Were people actually RIOTING over the opening night film, 'The ...
The last week went by in a New York minute: ran between the NY Human Rights Film Festival, the Brooklyn International Film Festival and the NY Women in Film and Television Feature Film Financing conference (always nice to be added to the guest list by the Executive Director -love those NY women in film!).
Good to know I must have looked like a New Yorker too, as everyone kept asking me for directions & commenting on how much they liked my clothes and loved my shoes. A drumming troupe...
The party didn't stop at the red carpet... From a week of whacky island adventures off the road in Aruba, to cocktail parties till late - it was hard to get much reviewing done, I was having too much fun. I quickly had to master the art of speaking eloquently about international cinema whilst balancing a plate of hors doevres and a glass of Moet in one hand, and a designer handbag in the other- and they don't teach you that in film school.
A simple slideshow of sun and cinema, Aruba style:...
You gotta love a little glam. "Bring it, girl!" my friend told me, as I raced to Aruba. And the festival team 'brought it' too. So many red carpets, it turned the little island of Aruba into a little slice of Cannes on the Caribbean.
My editor, a seasoned carpet walker at Cannes, showed his sophistication by casually commenting on opening night in his suave French accent "yes it is a very good red carpet, it is so comfortable to wa...
A few fun trivial facts you may not know, from reliable sources that may
remain anonymous;
The Aruba Hyatt's most difficult guest is
Elton John. He's a regular visitor and likes to walk around naked, even
when answering the door for room service. He usually commands that his
Hyatt attendees are only men, and has a long list of requirements, from
50 odd kinds of vitamins to be lined up in strict alphabetical order, to
a lifetime supply of pickles.
Richard Gere, on the other hand, ...
Documentary filmmakers can be very serious. It is a serious art. The Italian Consul-General of New York, Francesco Talo, aptly describes the Festival dei Popoli's New York Documentary Film Festival as "recognising social problems through documentary expression". But the most magical moments and memorable quotes of the festival were so refreshingly funny that I nearly fell off my chair.
Like the best of Italian cinema, the three distinguished Italian directors featured in tribu...
A great film festival, like a great film, raises questions. The New York Documentary Film Festival- Festival dei Popoli, from its opening film tonight, has posed a controversial one;
Why has one of Italy's most awarded auteur films, 'Below Sea Level', (winner of 10 prestigious international awards including Best Documentary Venice Film Festival 2008, Grand Prix Cinema Du Reel 2008 & European Film Academy Awards 2009) not yet premiered in the United States?
As Director Gianfranco Ro...
In 2005 I released to the world an independent doc titled 'Dear Juliet'
about letters written from all around the world to the Juliet Club of
Verona. Later this year I will be releasing a second documentary about the Fair City of Verona, further info available on request to top film festivals looking for a world class world premiere. But first, a big budget new Hollywood romance called 'Letters to
Juliet' opens this Friday. So in answer to a FAQ many people have been
asking me- how am...
Oh so many parties coming up this week; DON'T MISS
Thursday May 13;
my big birthday party. Special invite only. Secret location.
Friday May 14;
9:00pm Legendary Fashion Night
Villa Oxygene, Cannes
Saturday May 15;
6:30pm-8:30pm Screen Australian Drinks
Screen Australia Office Level 8, Residen...
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