films

Sundance opens film fest by breaking the mold

PARK CITY, Utah--The Sundance Film Festival broke the mold--so to speak--when it kicked off Thursday night with a feature-length clay animation film, Mary and Max, which innovated on many levels.

Robert Redford's annual opening night speech, which preceded the screening, was the perfect prelude to the Australian-made film. After assuring the packed auditorium that "even when times are bad (economically and politically)...it can be good for artists," Redford assured the audience that Sundance would continue to be a showcase for work that's diverse, unique, and often full of "surprise."

And when it … Read more

Sundance Film Festival, starring...the environment

Nevermind the Hollywood glitterati. Many of the films debuting at this year's Sundance Film Festival feature a more understated star known as Mother Earth, and she plays roles ranging from dramatic to mysterious to horrific.

With one film all about dirt, another about global overfishing, and another still about a family's attempt to live with no net impact on the earth, the environment is getting top billing this year at Robert Redford's indie film festival, which kicks off Thursday night in Park City, Utah, and runs through January 25.

Five out of the 32 documentaries competing at … Read more

A storied role for technology at Sundance

The theme for this year's Sundance Film Festival kicking off this week is "Storytime," apropos considering stories are the heart of each and every film.

However, many of the stories at Robert Redford's 10-day indie film festival--which kicks of Thursday in Park City, Utah, and runs through January 25--are told outside the screening rooms. They're told at panels and forums, through art installations, and via online offerings--with technology often key to the plotline.

The bulk of the festival offerings for the digerati take place under New Frontier (PDF), which is a programming category featuring films … Read more

Fraud case leads Polaroid to bankruptcy protection

Polaroid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Friday, but no, it's not because almost nobody wants its self-developing film anymore.

Instead, the company said that its filing, which permits the company to undertake a financial restructuring, is related to a fraud matter involving Petters Group Worldwide, owner of Polaroid since 2005.

"Polaroid's financial condition was compromised by the apparent fraudulent acts perpetrated by the founder of Petters Group Worldwide, Polaroid's parent company, and certain of his associates," the Minnetonka, Minn.-based company said in a statement Friday. "The Chapter 11 process will provide … Read more

Sundance opening night pick spotlights animation tech

The Sundance Institute's decision to open its upcoming film festival with a clay animation flick shines a light on one of the oldest forms of filmmaking--molded with a modern day twist.

Robert Redford's film institute last week announced that the opening night film at its annual festival in January will be Mary and Max, a feature-length movie directed by Australian animator Adam Elliot and produced by Melanie Coombs of Melodrama Pictures. Elliot and Coombs' 2004 Sundance film, Harvie Krumpet, went on to win the Academy Award for best-animated short film.

Mary and Max, narrated by Barry Humphries, is … Read more

Cinema snobs rejoice: Criterion Collection goes Web 2.0

Highbrow film company The Criterion Collection has launched Criterion.com, an "online cinematheque" for people who want to watch movies, delve into some editorial content, and socialize with other fans.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of the new site is the fact that you can rent many Criterion films (a melange of old and newish, domestic and foreign) for $5 per stream, and that $5 will be deducted if you then choose to purchase the flick on DVD. Kind of a cool model that nobody seems to be using yet.

Criterion has also teamed up with a new … Read more

So many comic book films, so much potential revenue

Den of Geek posted a story Monday detailing 75 comic-book-based movies that are currently in some form of production.

Look, I love a great comic book movie as much as the next guy, but for every Dark Knight or Iron Man, there are a few Ghost Riders, Constantines, and Incredible Hulks (although I personally liked the film).

If I had to pick one from the list to be most excited about, Akira would get that distinction. If you've ever read Katsushiro Otomo's orginal comic book with the same name, however, you'll know that no one film can … Read more

Camera disguised as book exposes 10-year-old girl in all of us

Inside all of us, there lives an inner creep just itching to get out and secretly take photos of unsuspecting members of the opposite sex. The secret book camera, offered here by Keith Carollo and Chris Bick of Fred Flare, definitely confirms that theory. The camera uses inexpensive 110 film and is the perfect size to stick in your backpack or Miley Cyrus-approved clutch purse.

You know what this camera reminds me of? That one scene in Troop Beverly Hills where shevillain Velda Plendor hides a camera inside the Girl Scouts book so Herman can spy on the tragically affluent Girl Scouts of Beverly Hills. Wait, what? You're not as self-deprecating as I am? OK, well I loved TBH and now I can finally live out my cinematic fantasies. Never mind that it's seafoam green and made to look like an antique toy for children--I just so happen to have $55 burning a hole in my apron. Patches?! We don't need no stinkin' patches!

Check out more pictures of the camera after the jump.… Read more

Buzz Out Loud 847: Don't stand behind the hologram

The U.S. Army prepares to test and deploy ghost soldiers in MMORPGS and possibly also the real world. They may be decoys, folks, but remember: they're still light-based projections that won't stop a bullet. Also, it appears Apple will finally activate over-the-air podcast downloads for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Which, yeah. Ya think? Geez. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 847

Hey Microsoft, Yahoo’s for sale--for real this time http://www.crn.com/software/212000962

Obama, McCain campaigns both hacked, files compromised (thanks rpcaldiera) http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/11/05/221222… Read more

Machinima.com raises $3.85 million in funding

Machinima.com announced Thursday it raised $3.85 million in funding from MK Capital and other investors, which will be applied toward its business expansion. This is the first round of venture funding the company has raised.

The company also noted it recently named five new board members: Yair Landau, former Sony Pictures Digital chief; Joi Ito, CEO of Creative Commons; Matt Coffin, LowerMyBills.com founder; Mark Terbeek, MK Capital partner; and Allen DeBevoise, CEO of Machinima.com.

The company provides tools to allow users to incorporate images from video games and apply them to movies, as well as generates … Read more