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.
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!
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.
Seattle Times:
“Children learn about the world through these films,” says Liz Shepherd, director of Northwest Film Forum’s festival for young people. “Kids can see things they never get to see otherwise, and be inspired by that.” The 4th Annual Children’s Film Festival Seattle will showcase 86 films (features and shorts) from 25 countries, including a documentary on a beloved character from children’s television; a selection of animated shorts from a legendary husband-and-wife team; and a story from China about the hard road to learning selflessness.
Women in Film Seattle:
Beth Harrington was born in Boston and transplanted to the Pacific Northwest and you’ll find out why when you read about her. Her work often focuses on exploring American history, music, and culture. She’s been active in various film communities, most recently having served on the board of Film Action Oregon as well as the Oregon Media Production Association. Beth is a past President of Women in Film/New England and a former Vice President of Women in Film/Seattle. Beth Harrington’s independent production Welcome to the Club – The Women of Rockabilly, a music documentary about the pioneering women of rock & roll, has been broadcast on public television and screened at festivals throughout the U.S. and abroad, and was honored with a 2003 Grammy nomination. Currently Beth is in the final production stage of a feature-length music documentary about the Original Carter Family called The Winding Stream.
West Seattle Movies on the Wall:
West Seattle Blog and Hotwire Coffee are sponsoring the first Winter Movies on the Wall series set for March 4th, 11th, and 18th. Unlike its summer counterpart, Winter Movies on the Wall will be screened indoors in the West Seattle Christian Church activity center. Nominations for all-ages friendly movies are now accepted on the film series’ official site above.
Prost Amerika Film:
After a successful “sneak preview” at the Northwest Film Forum with more than 200 guests, the Seattle film The Day My Parents Became Cool is set to debut at the Sedona film festival. The festival runs from February 24th to March 1st.
Parents, as it is affectionately known by those who worked on it, is set in a bizarre world where all of the adults on the entire planet have literally “become cool” and desire to look and act just like their teenage kids, which provides both comedy and horror.
Don’t miss the Northwest Film Forum’s coverage of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival on their blog Hot Splice. Lyall Bush, interim Executive Director of the NWFF, writes a day-by-day account of his time at the independent film festival in Park City. David Russo’s The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle is the sixth film produced in association with NWFF’s innovative Start-to-Finish program and the second to participate in the Sundance Film Festival after 2005’s Police Beat. Lynn Shelton’s Humpday was also made with support from the organization.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLRoq3WN0ec]
Watch as the cast and crew of Humpday head to their premiere!
