If you  have ever wanted to have a chance to help make a movie, here’s your chance.  As part of a fundraiser program, called Kickstarter, the director of the circus documentary, “Tearing Down the Tent,” is offering readers a chance to have their name listed in the credits of the movie for just $10. Other rewards are offered for supporters who back the film, whose production crew is currently raising money for a promotional road trip to take the movie to venues with the band Hellblinki Sextet.  Kickstarter is a Web site that partners creative individuals with people looking to back interesting projects.

Anyone interested in donating can following the link below

http://kck.st/aelPif

By Michael Knox, director of “Tearing Down the Tent“

mknox@modernfilmzine.com

I am currently planning on a self distribution project for “Tearing Down the Tent” and plan to use Modern Film Fest/Modern Film Productions as a “front” for being a distributer of the movie to theaters. …continue reading “Tearing Down the Tent” promotional road trip/theatrical “run”

By Michael Knox

Mknox@modernfilmzine.com

Fans of the hit HBO series, “Entourage” can get a behind scenes look at the creation of the show and the real life people that inspired the show through the new documentary, “One Love Entourage,” according to a news release.

“One Love Entourage,” by Bridgegate Films tells the real story of HBO’s “Entourage” characters and how the real Vincent Chase, Ari Gold, Drama, Turtle and E made it in Hollywood, the news release states.

The HBO series follows the adventures of the suddenly risen film star, Vincent Chase after he leaves his native home in New York and learns the ropes of the in and around Hollywood.

Chase brings his friends from their native New York who make up his crew. But Chase’s team is not a glittery bunch of professionals. The crew are a close circle of friends since childhood, and his professional agent finds they often make his job harder as the Queens boys not only sponge on the star but also have his ear, so Vince is much harder to counsel.

Based on the life of Mark “Monk B” Basile, the documentary shows and tells the back story of how a random meeting between actor Mark Wahlberg (“Planet of the Apes,” “The Italian Job“ and “Max Payne“) and Basile inspired the HBO hit show, “Entourage.

” The documentary contains more than 20 years of unseen footage that helped serve as the insight to HBO’s “Entourage.”

Anthony Cohen, the executive producer of “One Love Entourage,” said the movie shows regular people chasing down their Hollywood dreams.

 ”For an ‘everyday Joe’ to be able to have his dream become a reality, while also inspiring one of the most notable shows on television and to have it all documented to share with others is an immense honor for Mark Basile,” Cohen said in a news release. “I am so glad to be a part of such an encouraging project.”

 

Check out the trailer for the documentary “Being the Diablo.”

The documentary tells the story of Mickey Mahaffey’s search for himself, which could not be derailed by what people thought of him.

The path went from preacher, to living homeless, to being committed to a mental institution, to finally dancing with Tarahumara Indians at the bottom of a remote canyon in Mexico’s Sierra Madre.

His Daughter Stephanie has spent most of her life defending and justifying her father’s choices. His quest for a deeper, yet more simple, spiritual life was constantly at odds with what Stephanie’s family and friends expected from a father.

By Michael Knox

mknox@modernfilmzine.com

My apologies to any readers who have visited this site waiting for new content. The past nine months have been devoted to launching Modern Film Fest, plus planning a new festival, Ricochet Film Fest, as well as directing my second feature length movie, a documentary on the Blue Ridge Rollergirls.

That being said, I will be back writing for this site and hope to have other writers contributing in the next few months, supplying film festival coverage, actor and director interviews as well as reviews of new films. Along the way I will also be writing more personal blogs about trying to find distribution for the circus documentary I directed, “Tearing Down the Tent,” as well as continue a production log on the curretly untitled roller derby documentary.

I will also keep readers updated on movies being submitted to both Ricochet Film Fest and Modern Film Fest, letting readers know what’s been submitted as well as what we are looking to run in each festival.

As a return to this site I am happy to be writing a review of the new Jude Law film, “Repo Men.” It was pretty much what I expected and I am glad I went to see it. Take care and thank you for everyone who has read my stories in the past.

By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com

“Midgets vs Mascots,” a shockumentary shot in a style similar to “Borat” pits five little people against five mascots to battle for $1 million apiece in outrageous competitions. The film finished third in voting in the Heineken Audience Award at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, according to a news release.

…continue reading “Midgets vs. Mascots” described as “Borat” meets “Jackass”

Here is a run down of stories that ModernFilmZine reporter Michael Knox gathered during his trip to Winston-Salem, N.C. for the RiverRun International Film Festival. Knox will be working on writing up the interviews over the course of the next few weeks so keep checking in to see what interviews are posted.

* An interview with Oscar nominated script writer Guillermo Arriaga who penned, “21 Grams,” “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada” and “Babel.”  Arriaga discusses his directorial debut with his new movie, “The Burning Plain,” featuring Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.

…continue reading RiverRun coverage to feature interview with Oscar nominated screenwriter

By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com

Ash Baron Cohen, cosin of "Borat" star

Sacha Baron Cohen has made a name for himself with the hit film, “Borat” and his latest movie, “Bruno” is about to hit screens, but Baron Cohen isn’t the only one from the family in the film business.

Ash Baron Cohen, a cousin to the “Bruno” star, is currently casting “RadioActive,” a contemporary gangster love story set in Los Angeles against a backdrop of multicultural Americana. The $15 million project is scheduled to go into production in July.

…continue reading “Borat” cousin set to film Lenny Kravitz movie

Here is a clip from the Changing Elevations, Inc., circus documentary, “Tearing Down the Tent,” featuring the band, Hellblinki Sextet. The movie features Jamie Reel who runs away to join Cole Bros. Circus for a week, where he worked as a clown, stood inside the Moto-Globe of Death and worked with the clowns. This clip is from a performance at the circus that Reel worked at for a week.