http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php en info@establishmentproductions.com Copyright 2009 2009-01-06T23:28:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/fri-jan-9th-y-not-iii-slamdance-film-fest-in-milwaukee-underground-film-vs-/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/fri-jan-9th-y-not-iii-slamdance-film-fest-in-milwaukee-underground-film-vs-/#When:23:28:00Z + Headliners: Pseudo Slang (Fat Beats Records) and The Woes (from Brooklyn) + Meet the folks from Milwaukee Film and enter to win a chance for free tickets to upcoming screenings of "American Movie" and "Handmade Nation" @ The Oriental Theater + Exclusive DJ set by:DJ Tarik (88.9fm Radio Milwaukee / The Rhythm Lab). + Free Slamdance DVDs + $5 @ door -- a bargain! Support Independent Artists!!! + Doors open 9 p.m. , 21+ The Y Not III is 1854 E. Kenilworth Place, near Beans and Barley. Spread the word, and see you there! 2009-01-06T23:28:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/casting-call-for-new-day-feature-film/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/casting-call-for-new-day-feature-film/#When:18:48:00Z Hey Vital Peoples....from the director and producer.....read on! We are presently looking for extras for the film for several days of shooting at various locations in the Milwaukee area in January. Here's what we're looking for: TUESDAY, JANUARY 6th - 15 extras. Males and females, over the age of 21 only, all ethnicities, to play bar patrons in a scene at a local bar with singer Jennifer Lee on stage. Need extras to be dressed as if they are going out for a casual night at a bar. Must be able to report to the location at 4:30pm and be prepared to stay for several hours. Some extras will also be selected for an additional scene to be shot on January 28th. SATURDAY, JANUARY 10th - 10 extras. 7 males, 3 females. Age range: mid 20s to late 50s, all ehtnicities, to play Defense Intelligence Agency agents in an office setting. Must have business attire. Men in conservative suits, women in skirts or business suit type outfits. You will be in the office, on the phone, walking around in a scene that shows the inside office of a federal agency. Must be clean cut and able to pass for a fed. Must be able to report to the location at 8:00am and be prepared to stay for 3 to 4 hours. Some extras will also be selected for an additional scene to be shot on January 28th. THURSDAY - JANUARY 15th - 20 extras. Males and females, various ages over 18 only, to play customers in a truck stop diner scene. Different styles of dress needed, from casual to "trucker" to business. You'll be seated at tables and booths, some will be moving around a little, walking in and out...your basic diner stuff. Must be able to report to the location at 8:00am and be prepared to stay several hours. Some extras will also be selected for an additional scene to be shot on January 28th. MONDAY, JANUARY 19th - 5 extras. Males and females, over the age of 21, all ethnicities, to play hospital employees in a scene that takes place in a hospital lobby. Must have scrubs or other medical attire. Must be able to report to the location at 4:00pm and be able to stay for several hours. Some extras will also be selected for an additional scene to be shot on January 28th. TUESDAY, JANUARY 20th - 10 extras. Males and females, all over the age of 21, all ethnicities, to play hospital employees (3 nurses and 7 orderlies/aides) in two scenes that take place in a hospital. One scene is in the hallway of a hospital, the other is in a hospital room. Must have scrubs or other medical attire. Must be able to report to the location at 8:00am and be able to stay all day. Some extras will also be selected for an additional scene to be shot on January 28th. TUESDAY, JANUARY 27th - 60 extras, males and females, over age 21 only, all ethnicities, to play patrons at a club where singer John Waite is performing on stage. This is a major scene and will be a LONG shoot. Need to be dressed as if you are going out to see a band play at a club. Must be able to report to the location at 9:00 am and be able to stay all day. This one is going to be a fun day of shooting, and that evening there will be a special treat for everyone who sticks around. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28th - 25 to 30 extras. Males and females, over the age of 21 only, to play "mental patients" in a scene that takes place in the day room of a secure mental hospital. This scene also features singer John Waite. For this scene, we will need several of the extras who appeared in other scenes, as well as some others. Must dress very casually, in pajamas or sweats, like residents at a secure mental facility. Must be able to report to the location at 8:00am and be able to stay for several hours. This is an important scene and we need everyone there to stay until the end. Due to the short notice of all of this, we (Director Jason Williams and Me) will need to meet with all prospective extras by the end of this weekend. Please reply back to this message ass soon as you possibly can, with the days you are available for shooting and when you can meet over the next three days. Or call me direct at: 414-899-3360. There is no pay for these extra roles, but you'll have a lot of fun and will be in a movie, and will get an IMDB credit out of the deal. You can get further information about the movie by going to: http://www.loiseaublancfilms.com or by checking out the film's IMDB page at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1311079/ 2009-01-03T18:48:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/milwaukee-filmmaker-speakeasy/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/milwaukee-filmmaker-speakeasy/#When:05:00:01Z Michael Sotille of Lemon Lounge @ Oakland and Locust … So I told Grandma I loved her and then Grandpa ambled onto the phone. We did the wife, dog, salon updates and I heard about the latest movies to sneak into at the budget cinema and how there will never be peace in Israel in his lifetime. I um-hmm along and the call (as always) ended with “Give Carly a big kiss and say hello to the boys in the back room.” Kissing the wife is no prob, but the boys in the back room? That’s kinda sick. I want a back room. We are on the top of Mt. 2009, so cut me some slack and allow me to gently dissect one of the challenges I experience as a fringe filmmaker and late-night screenwriter in Milwaukee. There is no spot. No filmmaker’s speakeasy. Bike messengers have the Swingin’ Door on Michigan to talk about short-billed hats and fixed gears; fat cat lawyers and judges pop over for lunch at Jake’s Deli on North to feel out pleas and city nominations. Filmmakers need that softly lit, sideways bar to hunch over and steal a look when the door creaks open to see if a comrade has entered. We need a place to drink in the anomalous delights of speaking the same, strange film language, a place to go to procrastinate, offer condolences for projects that die, do shots to films that spring to life, argue about this editor or that scene and just talk shit in general. A filmmaker’s back room if you will. Will you? I thought you would. So then, the mission is set! And I think I gots it: Lemon Lounge on Oakland. Owner/bartender Michael Sottile has been around the block of the independent film world. Since 1992, he has appeared in Reservoir Dogs, Speed, Outbreak and a few indie feature films starring opposite Julie Bowen (ER, Weeds, Lost, Boston Legal) and Traci Lords (amazing!). Sottile’s latest appearance is in Modus Operandi (directed by Frankie Latina; trailer on myspace.com/frankielatina), which was shot on Super 8mm in Milwaukee on a self-proclaimed budget of CHEAP. For those keeping score, that is some dirt-under-the-nails filmmaking. Walk into Lemon and shut the door quickly behind you, because chances are you’ll let out all the heat. The place is tiny, the size of a forgotten box office more than a bar, sitting in the shadows of the Miramar Theater on Oakland. Dimly lit with candles and white Christmas lights, Lemon comes on like a Brooklyn cellar bar or a Parisian lounge with its own Hemingway story. Hanging from the exposed brick walls are sentimental paintings, a few old film posters and a framed Rolling Stone’s Let It Bleed record. You can’t fuck with that. Bottom line: you get the feeling that this is a place where stories are told and business gets done. Lemon frequently hosts private screenings or showings of works-in-progress on their flat screen/DVD/stereo sound set up. In fact, walk-in, impromptu rounds on the DVD player are encouraged. Film industry or not, patrons become part of the same conversation, back-patting or critiquing the latest flickering film segments. Pushing into 2009, the film community in Milwaukee needs a place like Lemon. The Filmmaking Life is a long love affair with moments from transcendent to ridiculous and, like a love affair, you romanticize the great moments – the things that drew you in and the things that keep you coming back for more. In the same conversation is bittersweet reminiscences and everything in between. What better way to experience it than over drinks at a Milwaukee-born place where you can size up and define your inspiration and meet like-minded people ready to do the same. Your back room. VS On a side note: THANK YOU, ATOMIC RECORDS. The element of cool you brought to Milwaukee will be missed and impossible to replace. I remember trying to angle the inside artwork of the Smashing Pumpkins album Pieces Iscariot to figure out what shirt Billy Corgan was wearing. Yes, people, it was an Atomic Records shirt – in ’94. You can’t get much cooler than that. 2009-01-01T05:00:01-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/milwaukee-actor-gets-credit-gangbanger-1-in-clint-eastwoods-grand-torino/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/milwaukee-actor-gets-credit-gangbanger-1-in-clint-eastwoods-grand-torino/#When:21:20:00Z lets end the REEL Milwaukee year with a warm n fuzzie. Peep a letter we received at Vital from Elvis Thao repping all the indie-film-actor-milwaukee-hmong's out there. Peace y'alls: Howie ____________________________________________ I'm a local Milwaukee resident that just landed my first major film. Yes, as a cast. The title is Gran Torino and hits theatres here on January 9th, 2009 (wide). A Warner Bros film directed by Clint Eastwood. It is a four star movie and is in chase of an Oscar award. This is his LAST film acting, at that. Plus, hes already nominated for Best Actor. This is HUGE! All the major television and publishing companies nationwide already have their hands on this. The limited release had already come out December 12th. And the reviews are high. Check your search engines for ratings. However, the film has NOT landed here yet. SOON! This city needs some exposure to it. Lets create a demand for Milwaukee actors and city exposure. By increasing ratings. Also being Hmong, Id like to shed light on our community. Let me know how I can contribute to your corporation and yours to mine. We can even attempt to promote advanced ticket screenings and things of that nature directly from the WB. I have those contacts. Hope you catch the movie and hope to hear from you soon. Take care Elvis Thao 2008-12-30T21:20:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/film-vs-music-y-not-iii/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/film-vs-music-y-not-iii/#When:16:12:00Z BLUE SUNSHINE an electric eclectic audio/visual freak out Sat Dec 13 9pm @ Y Not III 1854 E. Kenilworth Pl. 10,000 WATTS OF EXPERIMENTAL SOUND AND AUDIO | MULTIPLE SCREENS OF LIVE FILM & VIDEO featuring: SIGNALDRIFT *LIVE* (Wobblyhead, Audraglint, Consumers R&D) Signaldrift has been trying to find a way via hardware since 1995. Their sound resides somewhere between shoegazing bliss and disco muzak at a nightclub in an '80s sci-fi movie, sprinkled with ambient passages sad and pretty. PETER J WOODS *LIVE* (FTAM) Peter J Woods, a local musician/playwright/performance and founder of FTAM, has been active in Milwaukee's DIY music scene since 2002 and Milwaukee's independent theatre scene since 2005. In 2006, he was named one of "the cities most innovative art proponents". His intense live PA consists of loud, dynamic noise that fluctuates between overpowering feedback to complete silence. SAMARAH *LIVE* (Chasma, Zod) Samarah began playing piano at the tender age of seven and experimented with various orchestral instruments and choir during her childhood. By thirteen she was composing her own songs. In the late 90's she discovered electronic music. Inspired, she bought her first computer, production software, synthesizers, samplers and drum machines. She has since released 3 EPs and a full length which feature elegant compositions of minimal trip hop and experimental idm with vocals. PYSCHOACOUSTIC SPORE *DJ/LIVE* 4 turntables, 3 mixers, 2 minds, 1 laptop The scientific study of the perception of sound is capable of giving rise to a new individual, either directly or indirectly, unconsciously or consciously, when coupled with adverse environmental conditions or chemical influences. Through the use of 4 turntables and a laptop, organic and austere ambient waveform experiments distort and reshape reality before returning to the void. VJ XAV (Riverwest Film & Video) Be prepared for an eclectic and mind-altering mix of film footage from the Riverwest Film & Video archives, the underground source for local, experimental, foreign and obscure films in Milwaukee. VJ NIXMIX & BISHOP (Simplistiks) The industry veterans will showcase their latest immersive visual tour de force on multiple screens located throughout the venue. Massive Soundrig :: SUBVERSION AUDIO Live video manipulation :: SIMPLISTIKS vs RIVERWEST FILM & VIDEO 2008-12-12T16:12:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/call-for-entries-gallery-night-screening-series-1-16-09/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/call-for-entries-gallery-night-screening-series-1-16-09/#When:17:59:01Z Here is an exciting screening opportunity from Cramer-Krasselt. Please Forward to all interested parties. ∼OFFICIAL CALL FOR ENTRIES∼ Cramer-Krasselt is proud to announce our inaugural participation in Gallery Night on January 16th, 2009 and we want to showcase your films! Our focus is to provide a space to show locally grown timed-based media projects (live action, animation, experimental, etc.) We’ll have two screening rooms running collections of short films and a dozen flat screens that will show individual films. It will be a fully devoted gallery to the art of multimedia! Deadline for Submission: December 15th 2008!! So get them in!! Send Copies To: Timm Gable 246 East Chicago St. Milwaukee, WI 53202 Screener Formats Accepted: Quicktimes, links, dvds. Note: your submission copies will not be returned unless indicated otherwise Final Formats Accepted: DVD or preferably a quicktime since we’ll want to loop the dvd’s. Length Limit: Due to the attention span limitations during Gallery Night- we’re looking for films that are under 15 minutes in length. Not a hard fast rule, but a preference PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING VITALS WITH YOUR SUBMISSION!! Title: Director: Other Cast/Crew: Length in minutes: Genre: Shooting Format: Year of Completion: Synopsis: Website: Contact Info- Name/Address/Phone Number/Email: Formats Available: Feel free to contact either Timm Gable or Lucian McAfee with questions. Thanks! Timm Gable tgable@c-k.com 2008-12-10T17:59:01-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/obligatory-year-end-article-go/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/obligatory-year-end-article-go/#When:05:00:00Z What a crazy year it’s been for independent film in Milwaukee! Isn’t that what you’re supposed to say to start these year-end warm ‘n’ fuzzies? I am trying as hard as I can not to write that everyone should have a Christmas Story leg lamp in their window or remind you how Clark Griswold’s accapella drum roll before he plugs in the Christmas lights in Christmas Vacation might be Chevy Chase’s finest on-screen moment. Not this year. No sentimental musing from me. I won’t say a peep about how Scrooged, Die Hard, Gremlins or even the sexed-up weirdness of Eyes Wide Shut should be a part of everyone’s holiday movie season. What? It takes place during Christmas! I won’t reach for nods of approval from hipsters with A Nightmare Before Christmas midnight screening references. You won’t find me snickering over egg nog at the Red Room about how the 1934 Laurel and Hardy classic Babes in Toyland lives on as NYC sex store Toys in Babeland. They switched the words around and sell dildos! Unreal! Nope. This year, my lips are sealed. Seriously, I am three days past deadline. I have been trying to concentrate on awesome Milwaukee film happenings in 2008 and big action in 2009. If you’ve read this far, you can see I’ve been struggling. That was until last night when I didn’t meet Faythe Levine at a semi-annual meeting for Our Milwaukee (ourmilwaukee.net), a grassroots organization advocating the whole think local/buy local/live local thing. I slinked into the meeting, did a lap around the bar (free Lakefront beer), did the name tag bit, found a friendly face, pulled up a chair. After a brief welcome from one of Our Milwaukee’s founders, Faythe was introduced to discuss her Milwaukee-based book-turned-documentary-film project Handmade Nation as well as her handmade gift fair, Art vs. Craft. I snuck onto my iPhone, Googled her name and found more information than I knew what to do with. According to her blog (indiecraftdocumentary.blogspot.com): Faythe Levine is a filmmaker, author, independent curator and creative director. She is currently documenting the rise of DIY and the new wave of art, craft and design. I got tired just reading that. She even has a whole Wikipedia page with a timeline and external links and everything! F that! The projector and PowerPoint fired up and her presentation about DIY and Milwaukee began. She was passionate and cool and ended her presentation with an eight-minute clip from Handmade Nation – and that’s when it hit me. I got up and went to the bathroom because three beers can break the seal. After that, another thing hit me. DIY is the sometimes forgotten but definite heart of independent film. Plain and simple. Sometimes that golden rule gets lost in the shuffle of million-dollar movie ideas or fantasizing about what you’d say in your Oscar speech. Not like we’ve done that. Uh-oh … here come the warm ‘n’ fuzzies. This past year saw the fall of the Milwaukee International Film Festival and the kickass rise of the lean, mean indie film group Milwaukee Film. The 48 Hour Film Project rocked, the Times Cinema, Alchemist Theater and Oriental Theater all programmed a healthy share of local documentaries and feature films, the Milwaukee Short Film Fest and Milwaukee Film both screened diverse films for a diverse city (thanks 88.9fm), and five of the seven prestigious Nohl Awards for 2008 were granted to Milwaukee filmmakers. It’s happening, people! Ideas are turning into films! DIY-style filmmaking in Milwaukee! Yeah! What does this have to do with my not meeting Faythe Levine? I didn’t meet her for a lame reason: I had to leave the Our Milwaukee meeting early to get back to the salon. In retrospect this is kind of cool because I can define last night in my own way. Just knowing that Handmade Nation is out there – and that people are inspired by Milwaukee to get behind cameras to shoot and cut and screen – is inspiring, and a foothold reminder of what film is all about. From my little REEL Milwaukee corner, leaving that meeting and taking it in on the drive back to the shop was like my own mini Christmas movie ending, where everything feels right, it starts to snow happy snow and the dawn of a bright new, creative, grinding, insane, imaginative, artistic year of filmmaking in Milwaukee is there for the taking. See ya in 2009 … cue orchestra … Gonna go call Grandma and tell her I love her. 2008-12-01T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/99-bottles-documentary-in-milwaukee-and-madison-qa-with-filmmaker-jason-wil/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/99-bottles-documentary-in-milwaukee-and-madison-qa-with-filmmaker-jason-wil/#When:23:13:00Z 99 BOTTLES a documentary about WI and Beer 4 shows on 4 different nights. Arrive 30 minutes before all show times for FREE Beer Tasting WHERE: Times Cinema (Milwaukee) WHEN: November 6-9 Thursday at 7:00pm Friday at 7:00pm Saturday at 7:00pm Sunday at 4:00pm WHERE Orpheum Theater (Madison) WHEN: Nov 13-16 Thursday at 7:00pm Friday at 7:00pm Saturday at 7:00pm Sunday at 4:00pm "99 Bottles Documentary" was created to promote exposure and public awareness of the rich and vibrant craft brewing industry. Visit the site for more details and the trailer: 99bottlesdocumentary.com What prompted a doc on beer? The producers David Oplinger and Glen Popple were interested in developing a project that was home grown. They were discussing ideas while taking down a few brews at Wolski's Tavern. Glen relayed a story that his co-worker kept bugging him to make a documentary about craft breweries. "That is a great idea," said Dave. The great part of the story is there was no such documentary made about this subject before. They decided to start asking the different breweries about the project and found out that all of them were thrilled to have their stories of history shared to the world, or at least in Wisconsin. How long did it take to shoot this doc? The documentary pre-production planning started in February simultaneously with shooting. The idea was to shoot the general "beer enthusiast" and ask their impression of the industry. One of the questions we asked was, "If you could ask a brewmaster anything, what would it be?" This lead to the list of questions that became the focal point of the interviews with brewmasters and owners. Principal photography lasted from February through May. The logistical issue was scheduling trips to other cities each week to get the necessary footage. We went as far as Sand Creek Brewing Co. in Black River Falls, which is 3.5 hours one way. War story to share? Crazy day during production? The biggest war story is the Premiere debacle. The gallant effort we choose was, shoot, edit, and distribute a full feature documentary within 6 months to the Harley Fest lovers. In the final day of editing for the premiere the Compressor failed to output a media file to burn a DVD. After repeated attempts the program crashed at about 20 to 30 minutes through each attempt. The thought was to work solid full time for 1.5 months to cut a feature documentary and deliver a show, but the luck wasn't there. The lesson is "pick the show date last, not from the start". The craziest day during production was obviously the above failed premiere. What are you working on next? Currently I'm working on 2 projects. I am in post for a short called "Indefinite". The premiere of the trailer will be shown during the "99 Bottles Documentary" shows. "Indefinite" is a co-directed project with Christopher Kuiper. He will be penning a comic book series that ties in with the short. The other project is a feature narrative with R. Michael Gull titled "New Day". Michael is co-writing with Jon Anne Willow and he will star in the film. We are in the pre-production phase and will start shooting some scenes in November and then pick up the rest in January. The story is about Robert Logan whose wife Alison was on American Airlines Flight 77' that crashed into the Pentagon during the 911 tragedy. Fast forward to the present day of 2009 and Robert finds his wife in a mental hospital. In his attempt to rescue her he finds she is the beginning of an elaborate cover up behind the 911 tragedy. What is important about "New Day" for me is the local connection. We have the bulk of the story occur in Wisconsin. With our Ultra-low budget funding we hope to contribute to the growth of the local film community by hiring Wisconsin crew and cast. 2008-11-06T23:13:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/amazing-music-in-film-moments-for-you-me-and-everyone-we-know/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/amazing-music-in-film-moments-for-you-me-and-everyone-we-know/#When:16:00:00Z Welcome to Inferiority Complex City: Population – me. So indulge me, you painfully skinny punks, you tattooed, bearded, pierced indie-everything hipsters, indulge me from my little film corner, waving my pseudo-hipster white flag because let’s face it – it’s cooler to be a rocker than an actor. I know, stop rubbing it in. And jeez, VITAL, an entire Music issue! I see how it is. GFY Music, GFY. OK, I’m over it. But in the end I’m a team player. And with that in mind I humbly lay before you my own contribution – amazing music from amazing scenes of amazing films. Be Amazed. And no, Pulp Fiction, Garden State, High Fidelity, Velvet Goldmine and 24 Hour Party People will not appear on this list because those soundtracks are on par and at times better than the films they represent and we are looking for moments, people, moments. Now be amazed. MOVIE: The Big Lebowski SONG: “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” by Sons of the Pioneers Let’s jump right in with two feet. Now you’d think it would be the opening credits track of “The Man in Me” by Bob Dylan (we’ll talk Dylan later) or “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” by Kenny Rogers and The First Edition because whenever you are dealing with Dylan or Kenny Rogers in any conversation they automatically are #1, regardless of the topic: everyone knows this. Except when dealing with The Big Lebowski. The opening scene is simple enough. Narrated by Sam Shepard, the camera pans up from a country hillside to reveal the vast valley of Los Angeles. This is when the vintage, crackling country song “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” plays. It has a kid-with-his-blankee effect: you settle in, feel good and realize everything is gonna be alright because The Big Lebowski is on. Again. MOVIE: Napoleon Dynamite SONG: “Canned Heat” by Jamiroquai This scene might be the greatest school talent show scene since Lindsay Lohan took the bull by the horns and busted out “Jingle Bell Rock” in Mean Girls. Right people?! Who’s with me?! This is scene is also the reason why I kinda want to see the Pedro actor deejay at Cans. We’ve all seen the ads but no one admits to going. Sinners. MOVIE: Trainspotting SONG: “Born Slippy” by Underworld This song legitimized the whole early-90s, skinny, heroined-out/ecstasy-infused art world in one scene. This dance floor classic plays at the culmination of a drug deal between friends and enemies in a seedy London hotel. The song soundtracks the only silent part of an otherwise dialogue-heavy, narrated film, punctuating the drama and conclusion of the story. Makes we wanna organize a Take Back the Night walk with glowsticks. MOVIE: Dazed and Confused SONG: “Tuesday’s Gone” by Lynyrd Skynyrd I challenge you to name a better 70s song to play during your teenage convertible drive into the sunrise after the greatest night ever. “Loving Cup” by The Rolling Stones, you say? OK, I challenge you to name a third. MOVIE: The Breakfast Club SONG: “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” By Simple Minds Simple Minds’ legacy lives as the 80s band whose song defined the up-cry feeling at the end of all Coming of Age movies. When I was 14, my friend Rob and I hatched a summertime Breakfast Club plan that we were convinced would result in getting farther with our girlfriends than ever before! His parents were away for a weekend so we dragged a TV and VCR on his back porch and invited over our ladies for a midnight screening, thinking it was the exact kind of cool bonding thing that would result in late-night make-out sessions. By the time the movie ended, both girls were passed out so Rob and I decided to walk around the neighborhood for no reason till sunrise. That pretty much sums up my entire high school hook-up experience. As a tribute to those awkward years, when this gem pops on the radio, I let the LA LA LA LAs rip. MOVIE: Rambo: First Blood 2 SONG: “Bring Him Up/The Eyes” by National Symphony Orchestra & Jerry Goldsmith Rambo is in a faux mud wall, reveals he is fully encased in said wall by opening his eyes, leaps out of the mud wall and kills enemy soldiers with neck snaps, knives and machine guns. All to a full string orchestra. I am drained just thinking about this. So … I’ll end with this: Best Music Movie Double Feature Ever: Pink Floyd Live in Pompeii – it’s the Floyd playing classic freak-out songs, tripping their little British heads off in the middle of an old Italian coliseum, filmed by French dudes in scarfs and leather pants even though it’s summer. The live scenes are intercut with the band in the studio, tripping their little British heads off, eating beans and toast and working out the sessions that would become Dark Side of the Moon. Don’t Look Back: Bob Dylan – Dylan in 1965 in Europe at the height of his acoustic/beat poet powers, picking apart journalists, fans and backstage hangers-on with dry sarcasm and Midwest ironic charm. Shot by DA Pennebaker (Woodstock, Ziggy Stardust, The War Room) on Super 16 black and white – this ain’t from the digital age of “shoot 50 miles of film knowing you can cut later” – Pennebaker created a fly-on-the-wall perspective that became the blueprint for rock-docs and reality TV, all as a one-man film crew on Dylan’s heels. I am still reeling from Rambo. Till next time .... VS 2008-10-30T16:00:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/mlwaukee-film-launches-to-a-packed-house-go-milwaukee-film-go/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/mlwaukee-film-launches-to-a-packed-house-go-milwaukee-film-go/#When:17:00:00Z The Milwaukee Show Launches Successfully "I Want You to Know" wins Jury Award, "The Waiting Room" wins Audience Award MILWAUKEE (October 24, 2008) — Nearly 600 people attended last night's inaugural program of Milwaukee Film. The Milwaukee Show, announced the award winners at the Discovery World – Pilot House last night to a packed house of filmmakers and attendees. The Milwaukee Show Jury Award Winner: "I Want You To Know" Directed, produced and edited by Derek Kimball Written and produced by Matthew Konkel A bated tension and quiet disclosure provides the milieu for this father and son camping narrative about reserved honesty and stunted youth. The Milwaukee Show Audience Award Winner: "The Waiting Room" Directed by Tate Bunker Produced by Mark Metcalf Written by Emily Downes In a room full of strangers, people come and they go…while a young woman waits. Filmmakers Derek Kimball and Matthew Konkel were awarded the first ever Jury Award prize, a $20,000 filmmaking production package to help them shoot their next short on film. Milwaukee Film's next event is the much anticipated Milwaukee premiere of "Song Sung Blue" on Thursday, November 6 at 7:15pm at the Oriental Theatre. The multiple award winning "Song Sung Blue" goes backstage into the personal lives of Lightning & Thunder, a Milwaukee-area husband and wife singing duo who pay tribute to the music of Neil Diamond. Over several hundred tickets have already been sold for this one time only screening; please buy your tickets in advance to guarantee a seat. Tickets are available at the Landmark Oriental Theatre box office 4-10 p.m., Monday to Thursday; noon-10 p.m., Friday to Sunday. 2008-10-24T17:00:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/milwaukee-film-announces-the-milwaukee-show-line-up-october-23-event-to-sho/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/milwaukee-film-announces-the-milwaukee-show-line-up-october-23-event-to-sho/#When:22:07:00Z Milwaukee Film Announces The Milwaukee Show Line-up October 23 event to showcase 10 local filmmakers MILWAUKEE Milwaukee Film announces the line-up for The Milwaukee Show, October 23 at 6:30 p.m. The event will showcase a variety of local short films presented in the main auditorium of Landmark's Oriental Theatre, 2230 N. Farwell Ave., Milwaukee. The one-night-only screening will feature a collection of 10 films, spanning 90 minutes, and include traditional narrative storytelling, documentary, personal memoir, music video, comedy, experimental and more. The nine competition shorts to be screened were selected from a pool of nearly 70 submissions, more than twice the number received in past years, by an independent panel of judges. The panel included Elfrieda Abbe, Duane Dudek, Steve Hyden, Blyth Meier, Christine Prevetti, Scott Radtke, Bobby Tanzilo and Jessica Zalewski. "Launching our new organization with The Milwaukee Show was no accident," said Jonathan Jackson, artistic director for Milwaukee Film. "We believe in the talent of the local film scene and wanted to champion that with our inaugural screening. It's essential that Milwaukee filmmakers are given an annual opportunity to show their work in front of a large audience, at such an incredible venue." The event will double as the launch party for Milwaukee Film. In addition to showcasing the current filmmaking trends in Milwaukee, The Milwaukee Show will feature an Audience Award and a Jury Award. The Jury Award includes a production prize package valued at over $20,000. Artists Excited To Show Their Films "You know people are working on films in Milwaukee, and this is the night you actually see what they made. It's the one night everybody in the community meets each other," said Cris Siqueira, director of the film "Ka-Doo." Siqueira will be in attendance at the screening, as well as all of the local filmmakers who will be showing their films at The Milwaukee Show. "The cool thing about the last few years is that the film scene in Milwaukee seems like it's moved from the underground to the surface," said Andrew Swant and Bobby Ciraldo, the creative team that made "Zombie Killer," and last year's Milwaukee International Film Festival sensation "What What." "It's kind of like the film festival and the Internet have lifted up this big rock and exposed so many local works to the light of day." Screening outside of the competition will be the world premiere of "The Waiting Room," a short film produced by Collaborative Cinema in partnership with Milwaukee Film. "The Waiting Room" was written by local high school student Emily Downes, directed by Tate Bunker, produced by Mark Metcalf and funded by The Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation. Downes won an area-wide contest that nearly 150 high school students participated in. Tickets are available for $10 at the Landmark Oriental Theatre box office, 4-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; noon-10 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Following The Milwaukee Show guests are invited to join Milwaukee Film staff and supporters at the Discovery World – Pilot House, 500 N. Harbor Dr., for the opportunity to meet the filmmakers. About Milwaukee Film Milwaukee Film was founded in 2008 to serve as the area's independent organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee's premier film festival. Milwaukee Film is led by former staff members of the Milwaukee International Film Festival and continues to be funded by key contributors who are passionate about engaging the community. The Milwaukee Show Line-up "The Answer" (4 min.) Written, directed and edited by Paul C. Fuchs Discover the simple two-step process that will change your life forever. "Crossing the Line" (9 min.) Directed by Matthew Batta This probing documentary is an emotional look at the Tyson Foods strike in Jefferson County from 2003. "Houses Without Walls" (5 min.) Written, directed and edited by Heidi Spencer Imagination moves through a still frame in space, connecting the living and the deceased, my own family lineage. "I Want You to Know" (16 min.) Directed, produced and edited by Derek Kimball Written and produced by Matthew Konkel A bated tension and quiet disclosure provides the milieu for this father and son camping narrative about reserved honesty and stunted youth. "Ka-Doo" (11 min.) Written, directed and edited by Cris Siqueira Originally created as an installation piece, "Ka-Doo" is a reminiscent collage reflecting on love, ghosts, grapes and redemption. "Otto's Day" (7 min.) Directed by Ji-Sun O "Otto's Day" portrays an ordinary day in the life of an old man who lives alone in a city apartment. "To Write on Burning Paper" (17 min.) Directed by Brian Gallagher This poetic documentary looks at film artists who create films through direct application. "The Waiting Room" (15 min.) Directed by Tate Bunker Produced by Mark Metcalf Written by Emily Downes In a room full of strangers, people come and they go…while a young woman waits. "Who Me Was" (3 min.) Directed by Annie Killelea Reflective thoughts of a love lost are explored on a faded, blissful afternoon. "Zombie Killer" (4 min.) Directed by Andrew Swant & Bobby Ciraldo Leslie and The Lys perform for a sold out stadium…of zombies. The Milwaukee Show Judge Biographies Elfrieda Abbe is the publisher of both The Writer and Bead & Button magazines. She was a judge on the World Cinema Program Committee for the Milwaukee International Film Festival. Duane Dudek is film critic for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and has been reviewing and writing about film for almost 30 years. Steven Hyden is the Milwaukee city editor for The Onion A.V. Club and its new Web site, milwaukee.decider.com. He lives in Bay View with his wife Val and a spunky pug named Lu. Blyth Meier is a freelance filmmaker, photographer and writer who served on various programming committees for the Milwaukee International Film Festival. Christine Prevetti is the DVD selector for the Milwaukee Public Library system and is a member of the Arts and Media Department at the Central Library. Scott Radtke, owner of the Riverhorse, and film enthusiast, has written about film for the now-defunct magazine, The Press, and was a writer for the Milwaukee International Film Festival program guide. Bobby Tanzilo writes about film for OnMilwaukee.com, where he serves as managing editor. He is also a co-coordinator of the Milwaukee Italian Film Festival, currently planning for its third year. Jessica Zalewski is the marketing specialist and publications designer for the Racine Art Museum. A film enthusiast and photographer, she volunteered with the Milwaukee International Film Festival as a programming committee member from 2005 to 2007, and has occasionally appeared in local productions. Milwaukee Film Board Chris Abele, Milwaukee Film board chairman; president and CEO of the Argosy Foundation Tina Chang, CEO of SysLogic Alec Fraser, partner at Michael Best & Friedrick, LLP; current chair of the UPAF board Bill Haberman, partner at Michael Best & Friedrick, LLP; president of the Herzfeld Foundation; chair, Public Policy Forum Carmen Haberman, vice president of the Herzfeld Foundation Marianne Lubar, philanthropist and community volunteer Paul Mathews, president of the Marcus Center, former Milwaukee County Supervisor Julia Taylor, president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee Milwaukee Film Staff Jonathan Jackson – Artistic Director: Oversees the content and programming for the organization's events. Jackson previously served as the artistic director for the Milwaukee International Film Festival, directing film programming from 2003 to 2008. He previously worked as the program manager of the UWM Union Theatre and has curated film programs for the Milwaukee Art Museum. Kyle Heller – Operations Director: Oversees logistics and operations planning for the organization. Heller previously worked with the Milwaukee International Film Festival in a similar capacity from 2004 to 2008. T.J. Fackelman – Program Coordinator: Oversees development of special events and programming. A graduate of Marquette University, Fackelman previously worked with the Milwaukee International Film Festival from 2003 to 2008, with primary responsibilities for coordinating the Midwest Filmmaker Competition. 2008-10-15T22:07:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/the-future-of-independent-film-has-arrived-meet-milwaukee-film/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/the-future-of-independent-film-has-arrived-meet-milwaukee-film/#When:05:00:00Z by Howie Goldklang + Photo by Kat Berger Film festivals are a tough business, man. One day you’re wearing your cleanest dirty suit in some board room asking for sponsorship money and the next you might be unloading office furniture from a rental truck, arguing about which films to program or waiting around for the Road Runner guy to show up between 3 pm and 10 pm on a Tuesday. And so it goes, on and on into an abyss of film submissions, stacks of papers and messes of wires up and down your office walls, dealing with filmmakers, the endless quest for sponsor dollars, securing equipment partners, a constant need to build build build – film programs, screenings, screenplay readings, competitions, contests, and then your actual festival! My god, you mean we have to show films? Yes! Creating the printed program, hawking down sponsors for ads two weeks late, finding reliable projectionists, pulling a jury together, organizing parties and panels, printing tickets and those cool-guy laminated passes, glad-handing sponsors, and on and on into an abyss of … You get it. The film festival world is a fucking grind and to be the core staff of a successful one means you are either crazy, bulletproof or both. Enter Jonathan Jackson, Kyle Heller and T.J. Fackelman – keys to the defunct Milwaukee International Film Festival (MIFF) now forging ahead with a new organization called MILWAUKEE FILM. (Peep the Facebook group of the same name. Now!) But wait? What the hell happened to MIFF? We’re a beer and shot away from that conversation, so if you see me at a bar, walk over with a Magic Hat and Makers and we can get into it. For now, think about reasons that arts non-profits might split. Then think about who the original organizers were. Go ahead, name names. Then do a Mad Libs called FOUNDERS VS. FESTIVAL and carefully place the words Money, Ego, Sponsors, Vision, Credit and Direction. Then buy me another drink. (Search the REEL MILWAUKEE Blog at vitalsourcemag.com for more on the 4W/H about what happened to MIFF.) But I digress. Can you imagine doing the brick-by-brick, day-to-day festival grind for five years and without warning, it’s gone? These dudes couldn’t. Up from the ashes came Milwaukee Film, which is both a kick to the teeth of the powers that stole MIFF from Milwaukee and a dog whistle to independent filmmakers and artists in Milwaukee that the real supporters of MIFF don’t go out like that. “The whole staff went through a grieving process. Having put a festival together for the last five years, I feel like a big part of my life is missing,” says Milwaukee Film Artistic Director Jonathan Jackson. “Ultimately though, I am ecstatic about the future. We have an incredible opportunity to create a cultural organization that will maximize its potential and provide entertaining and socially conscious film programming throughout the year. We can’t guarantee perfection, but the staff and board of Milwaukee Film are going to work tirelessly to achieve it.” Stoked, right? Ready to roll up your sleeves and get all film crazy? Mayor Barrett is too. “I am pleased,” says Tom, “that Milwaukee will continue to host this international event which highlights our tremendous cultural landscape and local talent.” And the Mayor’s not the only one on board, big Milwaukee players (read: money dudes) are there too. Chris Abele, President and CEO of the Argosy Foundation, echoes the Mayor’s sentiments. “We are excited to help shape the future of a new international film festival in Milwaukee,” says Chris. “We’ve already received an overwhelmingly positive response from funders, and their generous seed money has built great momentum as we move forward with plans for the new festival.” Sweet! Adds Jonathon: “Our goal is that Milwaukee Film will eventually play a central role in [Milwaukee’s] year-round film culture. We are planning a major festival for 2009, but we are equally focused on developing events throughout the year, education programs for students and production initiatives to help foster our burgeoning film scene. There is a need in Milwaukee for more foreign and independent film exhibition, and we intend to work towards satisfying it.” Milwaukee Film’s inaugural screening is on October 23. The Milwaukee Show will be a premiere showcase of diverse locally-made short films at the Oriental Theatre. Films were submitted for screening consideration at no cost, and the top filmmaker will receive a Milwaukee Filmmaker prize package valued at over $10,000, including a camera rental package from North American Camera. Also on tap is the Milwaukee premiere of award-winning feature-length documentary Song Sung Blue on November 6, also at the Oriental. It follows the story of Milwaukee favorites Lightning & Thunder, a homegrown husband and wife singing duo that pay tribute to the music of Neil Diamond. From humble beginnings to their arrival on the world stage, and through success and tragedy, the film shows a couple who pursue an impossible dream while staying true to each other amid life’s toughest challenges. Talk about hitting the ground running. Milwaukee Film is ready to rock and now you are too. VS 2008-10-01T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/milwaukee-film-wants-you-volunteer-today/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/milwaukee-film-wants-you-volunteer-today/#When:22:08:00Z Want to meet fun, new people? Want free movie tickets? Want to help with Milwaukee's newest film festival? Milwaukee Film is currently seeking enthusiastic and dedicated individuals to help us out with upcoming events. Milwaukee Film are looking to fill volunteer positions in all areas from ticket-taking and ushering at the theatres to helping make sure the parties run smoothly. Please email MilwaukeeFilm414@gmail.com or send a message on Facebook or Myspace, and include all of your contact information (email, phone #, address). Volunteering is the best way to ensure that Milwaukee's film festival becomes the institution Milwaukee deserves. You also receive great benefits, for each shift volunteered you will get 1 ticket to the 2009 Film Festival presented by Milwaukee Film. If you know anyone who is interested in volunteering, please forward this message to them and tell them to e-mail Milwaukeefilm414@gmail.com with their contact information. Volunteer information for the Milwaukee Show on October 23rd and Song Sung Blue on November 6th will be released shortly so sign up quickly! Thank you in advance for your support! 2008-09-26T22:08:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/announcing-the-1st-annual-horror-movie-trailer-festival-amazing/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/announcing-the-1st-annual-horror-movie-trailer-festival-amazing/#When:22:19:00Z Hi Vital Friends: This festival sums up what 6pack, late-night-idea filmmaking is all about. You don't have to make the movie, just the trailer! Amazing! from the festival organizers: ------------------------------------------------------------- Do you have a video camera? Do you have a Mac? (or are you smart enough to handle a PC?) THEN you can create and enter a horror movie trailer into THE FIRST ANNUAL HORROR MOVIE TRAILER FESTIVAL!! http://www.freewebs.com/alchemistlounge/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ladies and Gentlemen, Ghosts and Ghouls, Film-makers and Scream-queens... Introducing the First Annual HORROR FILM TRAILER FESTIVAL! Have a horror film that you want to promote? No? PERFECT!!! We are currently taking submissions for 1 to 2 minute advertising preview movies for Horror Films that may or may not exist... or ever exist! Make them serious, creepy and bloody! Make them hillarous... or hillariously serious, creepy and bloody! The most popular Horror Film Trailer will win... well... something! Festival will be hosted by one (or more) of Joe Schmitz's characters! Films start rolling at 8:00 with costume party to follow in The Alchemist Lounge! SEE YOU THERE!! MOO-HOO-HA-HA!!! (evil laugh) http://www.freewebs.com/alchemistlounge/ http://www.freewebs.com/alchemistlounge/ http://www.freewebs.com/alchemistlounge/ 2008-09-16T22:19:00-06:00 http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/get-your-lgbt-film-fest-on/ http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/site/get-your-lgbt-film-fest-on/#When:20:57:00Z Sept 4 - 14, 2008 LGBT Film Festival - Milwaukee, WI click above for full schedule One of the community's longest running film festivals celebrates its 21st anniversary with an international array of the finest and newest in films and videos by and about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. The screening-packed eleven days of features, documentaries, and shorts opens at the Oriental Theatre with the local premiere of Tom Gustafson's Were the World Mine. The Milwaukee LGBT Film/Video Festival is sponsored by the Cream City Foundation's Joseph R. Pabst LGBT Infrastructure Fund and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation's Johnson & Pabst LGBT Humanity Fund. 2008-09-04T20:57:00-06:00