Mr. Crab, will be making its Toronto premiere on Friday the 13th of April at the ReelWorld Film Festival, Canada’s premiere festival promoting and fostering racially and culturally diverse artists. The Gondry-esque Mr. Crab follows Rishi, a ten year old boy that idolizes and fears his imposing father, who tells him stories about the crystal clear waters of Trinidad & Tobago.
Mr. Crab plays in the Short Program 2 of ReelWorld. Check out the festival website for information: http://www.reelworld.ca/festival/program-2012/
James Hoffman recently finished his short film “Things Worse”, which I acted in and produced. We had a cast / crew / friend screening at Montreal Improv last week to watch that and a few other shorts (The Audience & Encounter Abroad by David Eng, Only Sky and Water by Tamara Scherbak, Once Upon a Many Time by Eva Cvijanovic, Where the Heart Is by Adam Reider, and Cry Baby by Gabi Kislat & Emory Murchison) and it was a fantastic show. We also played a few of the music videos James and I have worked on over the years, as well as a number of others by some very talented friends.
I don’t think we do this enough actually – it is so rare that (film & video) friends get together to watch each other’s work. It’s a shame, and I was thinking that perhaps we should make it more of a habit to get together to socialize and watch the things that we toil so long on but so few of us get a chance to see. Film festivals are great and all, but sometimes I just want to see a few films by people I know rather than strangers (regardless of how good they may be).
I had the privilege of being invited to the Talent Lab in Iceland this year, and just returned from what was an unforgettable trip. There are many of these “Labs” or “Campus’” around nowadays, all inspired from the original Talent Campus hosted by the Berlinale. This version is more intimate (Talent Campus as an example has hundreds of participants) which was great because I got to know pretty much all of the people who had come from around the world to do the workshop.
Basically the formula is the same no matter where you go. Emerging filmmakers are given lectures or talks by industry professionals, and have the opportunity to engage in conversation with them. It’s great because there are very few other places someone who is not established can chat with filmmakers who have gone through the trials of production time and time again and come out the better for it. We got to meet Academy Award winning director James Marsh, listen to a masterclass by art house icon Bela Tarr, and although it had nothing to do with film, I even got to meet the President of Iceland and the First Lady.
I also took part in a pitch session of the Lab which got me in front of a few professionals to present my project ‘Path of Light’. The pitch went well, and they had lots of questions about the concept, all which seemed to be good signs I am on the right track with this story. The process of just getting that pitch ready has solidified many of the ideas that I have actually – I find it always helps to simply talk your way through issues rather than only dealing with them on paper (or computer for that matter). I didn’t get a chance to show them my ever growing pre-production scrapbook though, which is a shame, because it’s turning into something quite interesting. It’s the first time I’ve put anything like this together, and I think it’s a great way to explore an idea. Thanks to Academy Award winner Danny Boyle who suggested this to TIFF 09 Talent Labber Tamara Scherbak who then passed on the suggestion to me. I didn’t even attend that Lab but still got some great advice!
Beyond the Lab, Iceland is an unbelievably interesting place to visit. I didn’t have nearly enough time to do sightseeing, but one unforgettable trip through the Reykjanes Peninsula by very personable and knowledgeable guide Thorsteinn Gunnar Kristjansson of Salty Tour whetted my appetite to come back. I can truly see why films go out of their way to shoot in Iceland, especially those looking for an otherworldly setting like Ridley Scott did for his upcoming Alien prequel (or perhaps not) ”Prometheus”.
All in all, just like it was when I went to the other island seminar (the much warmer Barbados for Caribbean Tales) it was over far too fast. I hope to make it back to this alien world someday, but for now I will have to settle for the the memories I am sure will form into some kind of sci-fi film idea.
Special thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts that awarded me a travel grant to take part.
The moss has been growing for 800 years and it's still only a few inches tall.
Useless Things makes its internet debut today after a successful festival run. The script, directed by Green Dragon’s Faisal Lutchmedial, won the Writer’s Guild of Canada English Prize at the Festival du Nouveau Cinema Montreal when it was competing in SODEC’s Cours Ecrire Ton Court. The film is playing in the National Screen Institute’s Online Film Festival (click for link).
Lutchmedial is currently developing the feature “Path of Light”, which follows some of themes explored in his award winning short.
From the director: “Useless Things, my first professional short fiction, follows themes I began with my feature documentary, My Cultural Divide (2006). You could say I am seeking a better sense of place, of where I am as a Canadian and where my family finds its roots. When does our family’s expectations and history fade and become fused with us? What part of their culture do we take when they are gone and all we’ve known is the new world?
Useless Things is not an autobiography. The character Shashin is not me, although physically I inhabit his space. I think in some ways the Hindu subtext is more real, the larger than life gods and demons that I identified with in some way and wrote about.
Throughout the film there are visual references to Rahu, the serpent demon attempting to swallow Soma (the moon), the elixir of eternal life. Shashin finds himself in shadow, as the moon does during the eclipse, and is always trying to move toward the light of both his mother (Savita – or Surya) or his girlfriend Agnis (Agni).
To enrich the film beyond the surface story, my team and I attempted to use these and other metaphors throughout all of our planning of lighting, art design, and shot composition.
Now that I look back after having recently completed my second short film Mr. Crab (2011), I am very proud of the work we did here. Our goal was to create something intimate, dreamlike, and touching, and I think we succeeded.”
Adam Reider’s disturbingly funny short film Dog Sitter played at the Fantasia Film Festival last night. The screening had a great big crowd of genre loving filmgoers who loved the selection of movies. The weekend of short Quebec films was put on for free which was a really nice touch by the festival and the sponsors.
Director Adam Reider and producer Faisal Lutchmedial
“Dog Sitter” (13 min, 2011) will be playing at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal on August 6th, at 9:30 pm at the Hall Cinema at Concordia University. The short was directed by Adam Reider and produced by Faisal Lutchmedial through Rail City Media. Look here for the details on the Fantasia site.
Synopsis: Kelly is a beautiful teenage girl trying to keep up appearances. When she gets a part time job babysitting the neighbor’s dogs, Kelly decides to help them become better dogs. After working on a World War II project for school, Kelly decides to take influence from her project to train the dogs to be more popular and make more friends.
Montreal Mirror called the film “disturbingly funny” which I think hits the nail right on the head. Director Adam Reider to attend screening. Details found at the official website: http://www.mascara-popcorn.com/
Making the Band, the second feature film by Ugandan-Canadian couple Phad Mutumba (director) and Xena Zandrah Bantarizah (producer) has won multiple awards at the prestigious Zanzibar International Film Festival. The film won the Chairman’s Award from chairman Martin Mhando who said of the film, “This is a Knock Out! Emotionally charged and that’s what Zanzibari / African audiences will resonate with… Absolutely a charm.” This is the second year in a row Phaz Motion Pictures has picked up this award, the 2010 one going to the feature “My Policy”.
Making the Band also won the award for Best Score, awarded jointly to director Phad Mutumba and composer Jawad Chaaban. In addition to being an up and coming filmmaker, Mr. Mutumba is also a singer songwriter, and contributes many songs to the soundtrack, and worked with Chabaan to re-record some African classics with the rest of the cast.
The lighthearted drama follows four young woman trying to make it big in the music world with their Afro-pop band based in the most unlikely of places: chilly Montreal, Canada. When the girls unsuccessfully try to balance their day jobs, love lives, and band responsibilities, tensions flare and threaten to break up not just the band, but their close friendships as well.
Producer Bantarizah and lead actress Whitsa Jean were in Zanzibar to accept the awards. The Haitian-Canadian Jean, who has sung back up to Empire Isis, Catburglaz, and Mitsou to name just a few, also contributed to the soundtrack along with the other leads Kim Nelson and Linda C. Lerato.
Making the Band was produced by Simpli Phaz Entertainment, and produced in association with Green Dragon Productions, and Rail City Media.
The screenings are from all reports going excellently all the way out in Zanzibar, which is great to hear (but only slightly dulls the pain of not actually being able to go out to Africa). Toiling away, in admittedly beautiful summery Montreal, Jawad (sound) and I put together a trailer for the film. Enjoy!
Director Phad Mutumba and Producer Xena Bantarizah just got word that their feature comedy / drama “Making the Band” will be the opening film to the 2011 edition of the Zanzibar International Film Festival. For those who are keeping track, I served many roles in this production: screenwriter, cinematographer, and editor, as well as playing a producer role in the background. Oh, and I even filmed myself in a cameo.
Actors Helen Koya, Lynda Lerato, Kim Nelson, and Whitsa Jean
It’s a great honor to be playing at this festival, the most important for East African films, as both Phad and Xena are immigrants from Uganda, right next door to Tanzania. They are obviously overjoyed, as is the cast and crew, and we look forward to having it screen to what I am sure will be a enthusiastic audience.
A lot of work remains to be done – we only sent them a very rough assembly cut, and the festival happens in about a month. Xena will definitely be going to present the film, and we’re looking into how we can get anyone else (including yours truly) there as well. It would be wonderful if we could present with as many people as possible involved, especially the talented cast who shine on screen.
More information to come on screening times, but we know for sure it will play on opening day, June 18. Here’s the announcement from the festival.
Mr. Crab, will be making its Toronto premiere on Friday the 13th of April at the ReelWorld Film Festival, Canada’s premiere festival promoting and fostering racially and culturally diverse artists. The Gondry-esque Mr. Crab follows Rishi, a ten year old boy that idolizes and fears his imposing father, who tells him stories about the crystal clear waters of Trinidad & Tobago.
