The Only Good Indian

The Only Good Indian, the KC FilmFest and Sundance hit directed by Kevin Willmott and starring Wes Studi, will have its Lawrence premiere at Liberty Hall on Friday, Nov. 6th at 7 pm. Tickets are $8.

Liberty Hall
644 Massachusetts
Lawrence, Kansas

Half of the box office will support the Department of Film and Media Studies in its efforts to have more educational opportunities for students.

Truth Blues is an award winning independent short film made by Studio Artist user Mike Snell of Blue Wall Design. The film showcases some really creative ways to incorporate Studio Artist processing into an animated film that go way beyond the normal process the entire video frame in one pass approach that is typically used. I recently spoke to Mike about the making of the film.

“As far as the workflow went– It is a mix of roto-scoped HD video, Photoshopped stills, 3D animated objects and green screened people. The primary tools were Shake, Motion, Final Cut, Color and of course Studio Artist. I tried many, many variations in the Studio Artist Paint Action Sequence (PASeq) Editor to get to the look I was shooting for. That is one of the features I truly love about Studio Artist. You can build up effects and try many variations and then delete, double-up, tweek or add yet another pass all within the PASeq.

I have found that your software has given me a bit of an edge in a market that often kicks out things that look just like the things the guy down the street kicked out. After running each individual element through a Studio Artist PASeq I then composited everything in Motion adding camera moves, depth of field etc.”

Breaking up the individual elements of an animation scene and then processing them individually with Studio Artist prior to compositing the final scene together is an interesting approach that has a really great visual look that is very unique. Mike used Motion for his final compositing of the individual Studio Artist processed animation elements.

A different approach that would have a very unique aesthetic look unlike any other compositing program would be to run multiple passes of alpha matted or green screened source elements through Studio Artist while painting into a master composition movie file. The PASeq would be constructed so that paint strokes would only occur starting from within the matted source elements, but could then spill outside of the original matte boundaries.

You could use a PASeq Content Context action step to do this in Studio Artist version 4, or content layer keyframes in Studio Artist 3.5. Because the individual elements would be individually painted onto the master movie layer you could incorporate smear and mixing effects as the individual processed scene elements were over-painted that you could never get in a conventional compositing program.

Mike also pointed out a killer feature of Studio Artist, which is that it is an environment for creating an endless variety of custom artistic effects. So when you buy Studio Artist you aren’t just getting a set of canned stock effects that everyone in the universe is also using. You’re getting the ability to customize and tweak to your hearts content. Either to modify existing effect presets, or to create amazing new effects no one has every seen before that have your own custom signature or aesthetic look.

I think that Mike achieved this with the overall look and feel of Truth Blues. It definitely looks like Studio Artist, but at the same time he has stamped his own personal vision and artistic aesthetic on that Studio Artist look and made it his own.

Make sure to look for Truth Blues at a film festival near you. You can lean more about Blue Wall Design here.

This article by John Dalton originally appeared at Studio Artist News. For film stills and more information, visit the original article.

Kansas City based casting director Heather Laird is working with the TV series WORLD’S STRICTEST PARENTS. Each episode “.documents the journey of two misguided teens from different families as they are forced to adapt to the rules and regulations of very strict host parents. Living under different standards from their families back home, the misbehaving teens are subject to punishment for breaking rules and skipping chores while the strict parents help them mend their ways.” Laird says. “It’s a little like Wife Swap meets Super Nanny!” The show is produced by the award winning Shed Media, which is also responsible for SUPER NANNY and IT’S ME OR THE DOG. Like these series, WORLD’S STRICTEST PARENTS seeks to help families in crisis.

Casting producers are conducting phone interviews this week and next. The following week, they will come to Kansas City to interview selected kids and their families in person. Teenagers 15 – 17 (or 18 if still in high
school)are eligible for consideration. Are you a troubled teen? Are you a parent at your wits end with your teenager? Or do you know someone who might benefit from this show? Parents or kids may apply directly at www.theworldsstrictestparents.com . They can also call 888-41-TEENS (1-888-418-3367) or email teens@shedmediaus.com for more information. Producer Andrea Rehrig can be reached at 323.904.4680.

All filmmakers, anywhere, are invited to submit your short or feature film – drama, comedy, documentary, animation, or experimental work. It must have been completed since January 1, 2008.

EARLY DEADLINE DATE: August 15, 2009 (Other deadlines: 10/1/2009, 11/15/2009. and 12/01/2009)

ENTRY FEES: Vary by short or feature and increase with each new deadline date

Visit our Call For Entries page for complete details, entry form, and pay fee online. You may also submit through Withoutabox.

Check out our special CinemaJAZZ division if you have made a work (short or feature) inspired by JAZZ

Send your screener (DVD-region 1), check, entry form to: KC Jubilee, 4826 W. 77th Terrace, Prairie Village, KS 66208-4321

Kansas City FilmFest is scheduled for April 14-18, 2010 at the all digital AMC Mainstreet. Visiting filmmakers and jurors will be announced soon.

If you have any questions – call 913-649-0244 or email: kcjub@kcjubilee.org.

Creative Screenwriting Magazine’s Senior Editor Jeff Goldsmith interviewed Rian Johnson following the screening of The Brothers Bloom at the 2009 Kansas City FilmFest.

The interview is now available as a podcast download on Apple’s iTunes (you’ll need to have iTunes installed to download).

Goldsmith’s podcast is available weekly. More information (and instructions) are available on the Creative Screenwriting Magazine website. For a complete listing of available podcasts, check iTunes or visit Jeff’s blog on Blogspot.

Best Feature

I Hear a Rainbow / Eli Tal-El
Electric Heart – don ellis / John Vizzusi

Best Short

First Place

Lesa Terry & Women’s Jazz Orchestra / Leena Pendharkar
Why I Was Born / Marlon Gonzalez

L’Arbre Harmonica / Paul Shannon

Babelgum Best Comedy Short

The Wonderful Way-Ahead Machine / Todd Norris

US / International Shorts

Best Narrative

Toyland / Jochem Freydank

Honorable mention

In the Name of the Son / Harum Mehmedinovic
Warrior Queen / Hezekiah Lewis

Best Documentary

Chapter XV:12 / Fernando Pinheiro

Best Animation

Chainsaw / Fiona Cochrane

Best Experimental

Near the Egress / Antonio Martinez
The Nightgardener / Jennifer Hardacker

Heartland Shorts

Best Narrative

The Wonderful Way-Ahead Machine / Todd Norris

Best Documentary

Untitled / Andrea Agosto

Best Animation

Truth Blues / Mike Snell

Best Student

The Loneliest Place on Earth / Cody Stokes

Best of Fest Short

Truth Blues / Mike Snell

US / International Features

Best US / Int’l

Sync or Swim / Cheryl Furjanic

Honorable Mention / Vision Award

Idiots and Angels / Bill Plympton

Heartland Features

Best Heartland Feature

The Stem Cell Divide / Barbara Langsam Shuman, Jill Mirowitz Mogil, Sharon Harris Pollack

Honorable mention / Auteur Award

From Inside / John Bergin

Outstanding Service to the KC Film Community Award

Gwen Widmer and Patrick Clancy

Volunteer Award

Maggie Wood

Judges

Heartland & US / International Short Films:

Tammy Stone – Toronto International Film Festival Group / Film Circuit
Jacques Thelemaque – Founder of Filmmakers Alliance
Jesse Trussell – B-Side Entertainment – Festival Liaison

Heartland & US / International Feature Films:

Nancy Collet – Festival consultant, former director of programming of AFI Film Festival
Jeff Goldsmith – Senior Editor, Creative Screenwriting Magazine
Sarah Price – Documentary filmmaker

CinemaJAZZ:

Rich Ambler – Filmmaker & jazz musician
Dr. Chuck Berg – Professor of Film Studies, University of Kansas, jazz musician
Caitlin Horsmon – Professor of Film Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City, filmmaker

Babelgum Comedy Short:

Frank Chindamo – President of Funny Little Movies

Best Feature

I Hear a Rainbow / Eli Tal-El
Electric Heart – don ellis / John Vizzusi

Best Short

First Place

Lesa Terry & Women’s Jazz Orchestra / Leena Pendharkar
Why I Was Born / Marlon Gonzalez

L’Arbre Harmonica / Paul Shannon

Babelgum Best Comedy Short

The Wonderful Way-Ahead Machine / Todd Norris

US / International Shorts

Best Narrative

Toyland / Jochem Freydank

Honorable mention

In the Name of the Son / Harum Mehmedinovic
Warrior Queen / Hezekiah Lewis

Best Documentary

Chapter XV:12 / Fernando Pinheiro

Best Animation

Chainsaw / Fiona Cochrane

Best Experimental

Near the Egress / Antonio Martinez
The Nightgardener / Jennifer Hardacker

Heartland Shorts

Best Narrative

The Wonderful Way-Ahead Machine / Todd Norris

Best Documentary

Untitled / Andrea Agosto

Best Animation

Truth Blues / Mike Snell

Best Student

The Loneliest Place on Earth / Cody Stokes

Best of Fest Short

Truth Blues / Mike Snell

US / International Features

Best US / Int’l

Sync or Swim / Cheryl Furjanic

Honorable Mention / Vision Award

Idiots and Angels / Bill Plympton

Heartland Features

Best Heartland Feature

The Stem Cell Divide / Barbara Langsam Shuman, Jill Mirowitz Mogil, Sharon Harris Pollack

Honorable mention / Auteur Award

From Inside / John Bergin

Outstanding Service to the KC Film Community Award

Gwen Widmer and Patrick Clancy

Volunteer Award

Maggie Wood

Judges

Heartland & US / International Short Films:

Tammy Stone – Toronto International Film Festival Group / Film Circuit
Jacques Thelemaque – Founder of Filmmakers Alliance
Jesse Trussell – B-Side Entertainment – Festival Liaison

Heartland & US / International Feature Films:

Nancy Collet – Festival consultant, former director of programming of AFI Film Festival
Jeff Goldsmith – Senior Editor, Creative Screenwriting Magazine
Sarah Price – Documentary filmmaker

CinemaJAZZ:

Rich Ambler – Filmmaker & jazz musician
Dr. Chuck Berg – Professor of Film Studies, University of Kansas, jazz musician
Caitlin Horsmon – Professor of Film Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City, filmmaker

Babelgum Comedy Short:

Frank Chindamo – President of Funny Little Movies

James Chressanthis, ASC has earned a diverse range of nearly 40 credits since the early 1990s, including documentaries, independent features, television movies and episodic series. He shot the Emmy®-nominated Four Minutes and Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows and additional photography on the Oscar®-winning Chicago. He is also a sculptor and mixed media artist. After Chressanthis directed a documentary about his family’s native village in Greece, he studied cinematography at AFI and began his career shooting nearly 100 break-through music videos with such artists as Bobby McFerrin, James Brown, Hammer, NWA and Dr. Dre. Since 2005, Chressanthis has been a director and cinematographer of the popular dramatic series Ghost Whisperer. He recently completed the Renée Zellweger produced Living Proof starring Harry Connick Jr.

Director – No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos

John Jackson began his career in film as an actor in Los Angeles. Working under the name John Durbin, he appeared in a combination of over one hundred films, television movies, series television and plays. Returning to the Midwest in the 1990’s, John met film maker Alexander Payne. The two have worked together on four films, SIDEWAYS, ABOUT SCHMIDT, ELECTION, and CITIZEN RUTH. As his interest in acting diminished, his work in casting grew. John is a winner of two Casting Society of America Artios awards for SIDEWAYS and ABOUT SCHMIDT. Additional casting projects include feature films: THE OBJECTIVE with writer/director Daniel Myrick (BLAIR WITCH PROJECT) and SHOE AT YOUR FOOT with French film maker Jennifer Devoldere. Most recently, John completed casting feature films entitled, EXPIRED, AMERICAN ZOMBIE, THE HOST (U.S. casting), HUMBOLDT COUNTY, OTIS and ALIEN RAIDERS. John is currently in pre-production as both Co-producer and Casting Director of the independent feature film, TENNIS WITH JESUS and is attached as Casting Director for the next Alexander Payne project, DOWNSIZING.

Presenting the Seminar Casting—A Primer for Directors and Actors