Smashing Magazine has posted a list of what they're calling 40 Exquisite Independent Film Posters, a showcase of indie film one-sheets that dared to take a more stylized approach than the stock "floating heads" approach. I'm not sure I agree with their assessment that the face of a concerned skater kid on the Paranoid Park poster is necessarily "exquisite", per se, but it was nice to be reminded of beauties like the above Chris Ware-designed Savages poster once more before death. Before you go, remember to grab a pen and paper so you can jot down which you want...
By Andrew Lindstrom An independent film, traditionally speaking, is generally referred to as a movie created entirely outside the traditional Hollywood system. It is usually the kind of production where the actors double up as camera men, friends and family provide the bankroll and the director’s mom is in charge of craft services. Over the last few years, however, the “indie” film has taken on a whole new face. Large productions houses have formed specialty divisions that focus exclusively on “limited run” titles. These are movies that may not have the broad appeal of a summer blockbuster, but still...
YouTube is set to announce a deal Monday with MGM to host some of studio’s content, its latest move to position itself as a player in the commercial online video space. Initial offerings from the fabled MGM library are pretty weak -- highlights include episodes of "American Gladiators" and clips from "Legally Blonde." But any crack in the wall with Hollywood is good for YouTube, which dominates user-generated content -- and, to the chagrin of Hollywood, perhaps user-stolen content as well. While YouTube has become the leading brand of online video, it has yet to figure out how to...
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Filed under: Cable, New contentLooks like Chattanooga isn't the only Comcast market waking up to news of fresh HD channels bulging from the DVR, as word from Bean Town has it that Boston will also be blessed with a new heap. Without further ado, here's what you folks can expect: Encore HD (785), Fox Business HD (789), Hallmark Movie HD (790), Toon Disney HD (792), Fuse HD (793), Bravo HD (794), CNBC HD (795), ESPNews HD (796), Biography Channel HD (797), Independent Film HD (798), Women's Entertainment HD (799), MGM HD (819), FX HD (830), FOX News HD (841), Starz...
Have you ever wanted to see an independent film but were unable to because it’s only playing in New York and Los Angeles, places you don’t live? Or wished that you could experience a classic like “The Godfather” not in your living room, but on the big screen? Well you’re in luck — that is, if you’re in Brazil, home of MovieMobz. According to founder and CEO Fabio Lima, the idea behind MovieMobz is to eliminate the traditional notion of theatrical windows for movies while opening up independent and art house movies to communities that might not otherwise get them...
Mark Cuban may have a chunky hunk of money invested in the movie business -- he owns Landmark Theaters and Magnolia Pictures -- but piracy doesn't seem to keep him up at night. "You can't stop it. There isn't really a solution," he said, speaking at a keynote event at TechCrunch50. "At different stages of our lives we have more time than money . . . I don't think [the people who download movies] were going to buy much anyway." That hasn't stopped Cuban from fighting file sharing, though. Magnolia Pictures, his independent film distributor, reportedly subpoenaed Google a...
Even more obscure than struggling online video startup Joost is Babelgum — which on initial inspection looked at lot like Joost, but in a browser. The company has, however, has managed to hold a second online festival in a year, with Spike Lee again bringing a little legitimate luster to the now clearly annual event. Italian entrepreneur Silvio Scaglia's company has changed directions a couple of times since its first fest, the departure of a number of executives and the decision to invest €10 million in original content production. Of course, Lee has his own interest in promoting online projects,...
SnagFilms — a new movie widget company founded by AOL Vice Chairman Emeritus Ted Leonsis and backed by AOL bigwig Steve Case — has bought out independent film site IndieWIRE. SnagFilms focuses on building widgets for nonfiction films. IndieWIRE, in contrast, provides news, blogs, and social networking for independent film fans. The two sites will now share content but operate as separate entities. IndieWIRE’s execs will stay on-board through the transition. IndieWIRE has been around since 1996 and has been featured in publications such as Forbes Magazine, Variety, and Vanity Fair. SnagFilms actually just went into public beta today —...
YouTube nabbed a revenue-share agreement with Lionsgate, under which the independent film studio will get a branded video channel to broadcast movie clips -- from pictures such as "Dirty Dancing" -- and TV clips, including "Weeds" (right). Google CEO Eric Schmidt discussed the agreement at an industry conference, according to Hollywood Reporter. YouTube confirmed the deal. In reality, an agreement like this probably won't add much to YouTube's bottom line, but any revenue is better than none. Since Google closed its acquisition of the site close to 2 years ago, ad sales have been a challenge. Advertisers are reluctant...
Now featured in The YouTube Screening Room: Jake Polonsky’s School of Life. “The film may be set in an elementary school, but it tells a poignantly ironic story that any adult will relate to. School of Life won the 2004 British Independent Film Award for Best Short.” A higher quality version can be watched here. But make sure you have a high speed connection. Subscribe to our feed ShareThis...
Is Jaman selling out by signing with Paramount? That’s the first question that came to mind as I read the release announcing their new deal. Jaman, which is known for being an online home to the indie and art house set, will now carry typical Hollywood fare like Cloverfield, Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Mean Girls. During a phone interview, Jaman founder and CEO Guarav Dhillon defended the company’s expansion into new territory. “We’re bringing on bigger films,” said Dhillon, “the combination and cross-pollination works both ways.” Dhillon cited Cloverfield and The Host as good examples. A fan of...