Monday, May 18th, 2009
ModernFilmZine is organizing a film festival in Kannapolis, N.C., coordinating the event at the
Gem Theatre with the
Independent Tribune newspaper as a sponsor.
ModernFilmFest is scheduled for Sept. 25-27, 2009.
Three movies are already set to screen including the circus documentary, “Tearing Down the Tent,” with the popular film festival movies “Sita Sings the Blues” and “Official Rejection.”
Tickets look to cost $4 each, with the Independent Tribune newspaper as a sponsor working with the Cabarrus County Chamber of Commerce. We also look to approach the N.C. Research Campus for help.
We look to collect 12 or more movies to play at the theatre over the three day period.
Monday, May 11th, 2009
By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (far left) works with Zooey Deschanel and director Marc Webb on the set of "500 Days of Summer."
When director Marc Webb helmed “500 Days of Summer” he saw a genuine chemistry between the stars Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt that translated onto the big screen for the quirky “romantic” comedy.
The two had worked on a movie, 2003’s “Manic,” prior to filming “500 Days of Summer,” making Webb’s work easier.
…continue reading “500 Days of Summer” director talks about Zooey Deschanel romantic comedy
Saturday, May 9th, 2009
By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com
Guillermo Arriaga still remembers the blazing image of his neighbor’s home that sent him and others from his neighborhood racing down the street.
The home was fully engulfed in flames when a fireman told Arriaga that there was still someone inside the home, burning.
The scene was one that Arriaga would later build on for his directorial debut on the movie, “The Burning Plain.”
…continue reading “21 Grams” and “Babel” writer haunted by “The Burning Plain”
Sunday, May 3rd, 2009
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”
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009
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
Sunday, April 5th, 2009
EDITOR’S NOTE: A more in depth interview with Wavy Gravy and director Michelle Esrick will soon follow this review.
By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com
When Hugh Romney joined up with Ken Kesey and the rest of the Merry Pranksters who formed the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test team, Romney knew it was an adventure he had to go on.
“It was a chance to sign up on a space ship,” Romney said during one sequence of a documentary based on his adventures, “St. Misbehavin’: The Wavy Gravy Movie.”
…continue reading REVIEW: “St. Misbehavin’: The Wavy Gravy Movie” tells story of basic human needs
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
TICKETS AND INFO: Tickets and all-access passes are now on sale at the Stevens Center box office, via www.riverrunfilm.com or over the phone (336-721-1945). For up-to-date information, or for details about volunteering at the Festival, visit www.riverrunfilm.com or call 336-724-1502
STAFF REPORTS
Director Marc Webb, who helmed the Zooey Deschanel romantic comedy, “(500) Nights,” will be in attendance at the opening night screening of his film during this year’s RiverRun International Film Festival, held in Winston-Salem, N.C.
…continue reading RiverRun film festival to include Zooey Deschanel romantic comedy
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
STAFF REPORTS
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The heavy metal band, Iron Maiden, is the focus of a new documentary the best music documentary award at the SXSW Film & Music Festival in Austin, Texas and will be released in theaters in April.
The film, “Flight 666,” won the “24 Beats Per Second,” award at the film festival.
…continue reading “Iron Maiden” documentary headed for theaters
Friday, March 20th, 2009
By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com
Shot for about $1,000, the ultra low budget “My Sixteenth Summer,” marks the film debut of director Savvy Lorestani’s who will screen the movie March 29 at the 11th Annual Method Fest Independent Film Festival in Calabasas, Calif.
Filmed in Atlanta, Ga., “My Sixteenth Summer” is a coming of age story about the ups and downs of being 16-years-old in suburbia, according to a news release. The movie centers around Samir (Ali Degan), an Iranian-American teenager, he struggles with all the pressures, highlights and disappointments of adolescence.
…continue reading Movie shot for $1,000 to play at Method Fest
Thursday, March 12th, 2009
EDITOR’S NOTE: “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” was one of the documentaries featured at the 2008 Asheville Film Festival, for which writer Michael Knox serves as a film recruiter.
By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com
“Anvil! The Story of Anvil,” a rock’n'roll documentary that premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival has landed a deal with VH1 as well as received a scheduled theatrical release. The film will be released on April 10 in New York and Los Angeles followed by a national release.
The film follows Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner and their band, Anvil, which released their album, 1982’s “Metal on Metal.” The album influenced an entire musical generation of rock bands, including Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, who all went on to sell millions of records, according to a news release. Anvil, on the other hand, took a different path — straight to obscurity. The film follows their last-ditch quest for the fame and fortune that has been so elusive to them.
…continue reading “Anvil!” rock documentary gets theatrical release and VH1 screening
