Making Solita

Solita (trailer) from Steven Fine on Vimeo.

Steven Fine talks about the technical challenges:

SOLITA was my thesis project for Boston University's film program. Though I have just graduated in May, I continue to work in post-production to polish the special effects. It's a short film that has the ambition to ask a big question - If you had to choose, would you pick the cold isolation of space or the warm environment of a virtual reality earth?

There were a lot of risks in making this project. The film was shot half on green screen and half on location. We weren't sure if shooting super 16 mm film would work with green screen. We also weren't sure if our ideas would get across in twenty minutes. It's a complicated story. We finished a version of the film in three months, which made us pretty proud, but we knew there was so much more that could be done.

Trailer to Trilogy

Mrs Peppercorn's Magical Reading Room - Trailer from Black Lake Films on Vimeo.

Black Lake Film's trailer for MRS. PEPPERCORN'S MAGICAL READING ROOM has magically become a future trilogy as Mike and Helen Le Han have connected with a production company through the trailer. Mike says that as they complete the feature script they're finishing a short based on the story. They're working with industry professionals who've worked on the Harry Potter movies. Mike says about the short, "It's epic in scale and will show what can be achieved on a very small budget."

"Faking" Your Way to a Real Movie!

Want to know how to make a faux movie trailer? Read this article at internet video magazine!

A Hard Day's Night

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the break-up of the Beatles. The Traverse City Film Festival will screen rare copies of A Hard Day’s Night andHelp, in addition to presenting the new John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy (which covers Lennon’s adolescence and the formative years of the Beatles) at this year’s Festival, running July 27 – August 1.

Academy Award-winner Michael Moore launched the Traverse City Film Festival in his home state of Michigan in 2005 to bring often-undistributed national and international films to the public. Some 100 films will screen at this year’s event which includes film tributes, free daily panel discussions, film school, outdoor screenings and forums.

For more info, go to: www.traversecityfilmfestival.com.

Preview Your Dreams...

Preview Your Dreams--version3 from Murray Suid on Vimeo.

You know you want to!

Zombie Love @ IMTF!

Harold's Going Stiff - Promo from Frisson Film on Vimeo.

Play it again, Sam.

And again. And again. And again.

You will find it... in "Casablanca"

MaXspeed's Reel Story

I started off 10 years ago making silly stunt videos trying to learn the craft, hoping to get into the film industry. They were so bad I could not even get picked up by America's Funniest Home Videos. I screwed up everything: filming, editing, and worst of all...stunts.

A friend told me one day, "you are more entertaining when you mess up," and Max Speed was born. I made a career out of screwing up stunts and filming them. One day, a milkman recognized me from internet videos and told me he was a DJ for our Halifax Metro Centre where big hockey games are hosted.  He said he knew the producer that plays videos during half-time to entertain the crowds.  "Would you like to have your Max Speed videos play?"

Someone in the audience was putting on a huge motorcycle rally weekend, and contacted me through the Metro Centre and asked if I would do a major public stunt. That is where I jumped a motorcycle off the Bay of Fundy into the ocean, smashed through a wall of light bulbs and did crazy fire displays in front of 10,000 people. After that, anything I did would make the news or television, and people started calling me.

When I put out this trailer to a few friends, they sent it around to people showing what Max Speed had done.  It made its rounds so quickly here because it was something WAY out of my realm, and nothing like anything I had done before. Somehow I went from being a stunt nut, and not a good one, to learning how to create a soundtrack on my studio from a tune in my head, to making sound effects, directing, cinematography. I was scared to put out this film trailer and fail.The support from friends and family finally convinced me, and I submitted the film to your site.

Like my slogan...."I'm Just Keeping It Reel."

Manifest Destiny wins an Accolade!

Manifest Destiny: A Fates Calling Official Trailer from Justin Chambers on Vimeo.

Vote for your favorite trailer at International Movie Trailer Festival!

Congratulations to Manifest Destiny!

MANIFEST DESTINY has just won the prestigious “Award of Merit” from The Accolade Competition. The Accolade is unique; it is an awards competition, not a traditional film festival. Awards go to those filmmakers, television producers, videographers and new media creators who produce fresh, standout productions. It is a showcase for cinematic gems and unique voices.

The Accolade recognizes producers, established and emerging, who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity.

The Accolade has recognized productions from all over the world including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Columbia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Guam, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.

View Manifest Destiny at International Movie Trailer Festival!

Holy Cow!

We have a brand-new entrant to our International Movie Trailer Festival. This one is from Guatemala and is called "La Vaca, una comedia con ubres," or "Holy Cow, a film with tits."

"Holy Cow" is the first feature film shot on RED ONE technology in Central América.

"Women and children can be careless..."

"...but not men."

"life goes where she goes"

It doesn't get much better than this.

We love L.A.

Dilated—winner of IMTF's "surprise prize" for best locations, features action sequences in the Los Angeles River (downtown L.A., USA) and in the Linda Vista Hospital (also Los Angeles).

The Gentleness of Rabbits wins a Bronze Telly!

Congratulations to The Gentleness of Rabbits!

Director Hank Isaac says: The Gentleness of Rabbits has been a labor of love since its inception back in the Summer of 2009. Despite the past work and successes of all involved, the film represents our first venture into the world of feature filmmaking. It also represents an evolution anomaly -- we're transitioning from a history of using digital media to originating on film. The trailer was created for the sole purpose of endearing the two central characters to potential investors. Basically, would you like to spend an hour and a half in the company of Daphne and Hollis and find out what happens to them? No attempt was made to tell or even hint at the story. The trailer was shot in an historic hundred-year-old mansion in one long day with forty five set-ups. Creating the trailer actually inspired a new scene which has subsequently been added to the screenplay. Thus far, the trailer has won an Accolade Award of Merit and a Bronze Telly Award. As the film's writer/director, I am immensely proud of our cast and crew.

Watch the trailer now at International Movie Trailer Festival!

Surprise Prize!

The first surprise prize from IMTF.biz is for "Most Unusual Location." The prize goes to DILATED. The winner will receive an autographed copy of The Power of Film by Howard Suber. Watch the trailer now at International Movie Trailer Festival!

Check back often to see which trailer wins the next surprise prize!

Happy Fourth of July!