Check out Seattle-based being MEdia’s daily video coverage of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Watch Virginia Madsen presenting the Special Jury Prize for the Spirit of Independence to Humpday director Lynn Shelton below:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arn5szhFDXU]
New York Times:
A study of New York’s tax breaks for movie and television production suggested that a 30 percent credit offered by the state, with an additional 5 percent offered by New York City, could be expected to keep or create about 19,500 jobs while yielding $404 million in tax revenue, at a cost of $215 million in credits. The study, completed last week, was conducted by the accounting firm Ernst & Young for both the Motion Picture Association of America and the film office of New York State.
Applying the new 30 percent subsidy rate and current tax rates to the level of activity that occurred in 2007, Ernst & Young figured that the state would have spent $184.4 million, while getting $208.7 million back in taxes. New York City, meanwhile, would get $195.3 million from a tax credit expenditure of only $30.7 million. Ernst & Young said it figured about 7,000 jobs were gained or retained in direct film employment, while an additional 12,500 came from related economic activity, not counting any increase in tourism spending.
NPR:
The days of waiting patiently for a favorite music video to appear on MTV are long over, swallowed up by the instant gratification of the smaller screen. But as MySpace, iPhones and Youtube allow music videos to be seen anywhere and anytime, directors are discovering that viewing habits aren’t the only things changing. Grammy-winning music video director Sean Drake says part of the shift is an effort to capture the attention of an audience that never seems to stop multitasking. “When I make a video, I just assume the majority of watchers are going to be on the Internet … IM-ing someone in a chat [while] … doing some other task on Word and checking their Facebook,” says Drake.
FACT Magazine:
Following the sublimely gloomy No Place For Us EP, Seattle-based producer The Sight Below has returned with Glider, a darkly beautiful long player that traverses the borders of ambience, post-rock and minimal techno. British online magazine FACT dispatched Justin Toland to track down this mysterious sonic wayfarer. Toland notes that, “I’ve been profoundly influenced by the Pacific Northwest – I think the landscape, weather and overall aesthetic of the region have been the most influential on my work to date.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY06J_2CPwk]
“Further Away” video filmed in Deception Pass, WA. Via The Stranger.
Pitchfork:
About a month ago, Warner royally pissed off millions when they pulled all videos featuring their music from YouTube, the result of a licensing dispute. And now the four members of Death Cab can count themselves among those millions. Death Cab had been using YouTube embeds to share their music videos on their official site. But now, thanks to Warner’s machinations, five of those videos don’t work anymore. You can still watch videos from the band’s Barsuk albums, however. Yesterday, Death Cab put a note up on their site explaining the problem: “The removal of our videos caught us by surprise but we are building a new video player so that we can get these videos back up on the website as soon as possible. Thanks for understanding and for being patient while we sort everything out.”
NPR:
Singers, actors and dancers can stimulate audiences, but can they stimulate the economy? The authors of the current stimulus package seem to think so — they have included $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts and $150 million for infrastructure repairs at the Smithsonian.
Seattle Weekly:
Arguably the debut album from Seattle’s Fleet Foxes was the most acclaimed album of 2008. With it’s beautiful, warm tone reminiscent of Crosby, Stills and Nash and The Beach Boys, Fleet Foxes’ self-titled debut album graced most of the ‘best of 2008′ lists. With the new found success both sides of the pond, the album will be re-released later this year with an added five extra tracks. The new package will be a deluxe double disc edition of the album with the added EP Sun Giant. Added tracks on the deluxe edition of the album will be English House, Drops In The River and Mykonos.
RealTVFilms:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g0STvCrn3M]
Check out this clip of Tania Raymonde, star of The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle speaking with a reporter from realtvfilms.com at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. The video also includes a few clips from this great movie!
Seattle Times:
The static popularity of jazz, the economics of hosting live music, the current recession — all have taken their toll on places like Tula’s, and in particular, on the open jam, a timeless ritual of jazz. Starting in February, Tula’s will have only two open jams per month instead of one every week. Once upon a time, Tula’s hosted two a week. For the amateurs who get those few minutes to perform on the stage, the opportunity is priceless. “It’s a gift,” said retired schoolteacher Kathleen Donnelly, who has been singing at Tula’s for five years. “Not just the chance to work with such talented musicians, but musicians who are so accepting and supportive.”
Eckerd College at Sundance:
Little Dizzle is a strange film, but it is also one seeped in charm and a creative vision to match its ambitious scope. Russo’s background in animation is evident throughout the film as he subtly weaves experimental animation sequence into this colorful tapestry. Stellar performances from all the primary cast members bring out a crazy sense of humor and each feels well cast for their roles. Perhaps the most remarkable element in Little Dizzle’s pallet though is the varied and perfectly executed editing.
