Afrikana Film Festival Final Day

This weekend marked the inaugural Afrikana Film Festival in Richmond, VA. It is an event that celebrated the creativity and vision of the African diaspora. I am thrilled that this festival exists and will do my best to cover the many short films that will be shown today.

Roger Ebert has passed away.

 Roger Ebert, aged 70, has passed away after a long battle with cancer.

I've been trying to process the significance of this loss, but I cannot conjure the words to express what it means to lose such an influential icon in the world of film. Thorough and honest, his reviews shaped generations of move-goers and inspired future film critics alike. He helped change the way we watch movies, and for that, I am so thankful.

Rest in peace, Roger Ebert.

Sound Editor Mike Hopkins dies in Rafting Accident

Tragic news: Oscar-winning sound editor (and frequent collaborator of Peter Jackson) Mike Hopkins has died in New Zealand. Despite wearing a life vest and a helmet, the veteran sound editor drowned in a rafting accident when his raft capsized. Best known for his work in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, his work also includes Dreamgirls (2006), King Kong (2005),  Blade Runner (1982), and the classic 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet.

More information can be found on The Hollywood Reporter's website.

Back with a Vengeance (and The Avengers)!

You know what's worse than having a couple of months between posts? How about a freaking year! I did make a note on my twitter that the blog was on hiatus, but I wasn't planning on it being this long before I got back to it. If it makes you feel better (and it won't, because you probably don't care), I haven't been completely idle, and I've got more film study under my belt, though sadly not much focused on sound. But I do still love it, and I brought something awesome for show and tell!

On May 4th, blockbuster movie The Avengers hit the theaters harder than Thor's Hammer to the face. Honestly, if you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for? Joss Whedon knocked it out of the park. But I digress. While the film is filled with action and stunning visual effects, the atmospheric sound is just as notable and just as great. The SoundWorks Collection recently spoke with Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer, and Re-recording Mixer Christopher Boyes about his work on The Avengers. Give it a look (and listen)!

*Dusts off blog*

I promise I haven't abandoned the blog, I'm just having trouble pinpointing where I want to go with this. The post-production side of the movie business is massive, with a lot of passionate people putting their talent, time and effort into a project. It'll be difficult, but seeing as I'm mostly intrigued with editing and sound mixing, that may be what I will focus on exclusively, at least for now. As I go forward, I hope to highlight other parts of the industry, because there are far too many groups of professionals that deserve to have their kind of work showcased, and I do not want to leave them out. Anyway, off I go to find some content for this baby! Two months in between postings is WAY too long.

Who Gets the Credit?

I just read this wonderful discussion by Cole Abaius and Landon Palmer, bloggers from film blog Film School Rejects. It concerns the idea of "authorship" when it comes to cinema. Who really deserves the credit for a film? Why does the director, and not the writer, get all of the accolades? This interested me because this is exactly why I decided to create this blog. I've always wanted the people behind the scenes to get their dues. 

Anyway, Cole and Landon go on to question whether "Auteur Theory" has created this mess for writers not getting the praise. I'm not entirely sure the blame should rest on auteur theory, except to say that maybe the theory should be expanded- perhaps to "Auteurs Theory" or maybe "Collaborator Theory". I say that because I think directors have a tendency to work with the same people- people they can trust, people whose work they know well. And that's fine. But that tendency creates patterns within the final product of the film. For example, we all know a Tim Burton film when we see one. But what's a Tim Burton film without a Danny Elfman score, eh? Or Quentin Tarantino? For all his glorious visuals, will his future films fail to retain their magic now that the late Sally Menke won't be in post cutting them up? 

But, perhaps I'm just reinforcing Cole and Landon's point with my suggestions. After all, they acknowledge that it's far easier for directors, cinematographers and editors to get the recognition they deserve. Cinema is a visual medium, and it makes sense that those in charge of the visuals would get nods. Writing is another issue all together. It's just a piece of the puzzle, or to borrow from Cole, "[An] ingredient in the recipe..."

And yet, it's an important ingredient. Look out people; I'm about to torture a metaphor. It's the flour of this "recipe" Cole mentions. It's a basic ingredient. And yet it can be used to make any things: Cakes, pastries, brownies, cinnamon rolls. Hell, you need it to make a decent roux for cheese sauce. You may use varying amounts of the flour, but in the end you still need it to make these delicious things. And without it, your baked goods will not be eaten. Okay, enough torture. What I'm saying is, while writing may not be the main draw when it comes to films, you can bet someone's going to complain about the writing if it's not up to par.

So screenwriters deserve more attention. Maybe critics should make more of a point to give a shout out to the writers, or cite more examples of their work when they are mentioned. It's conceivable that people will ten become more familiar these writers, which will get them more recognition.

If that doesn't work, well that's what the Writer's Guild Awards are for.

REEL DAME FILM FESTIVAL

I know, I know. It's been quite a while since I've posted anything. And it may seem odd that  what I'm about to post is no more than an advertisement for a festival, but hear me out. It's the Reel Dame Film Festival, and if you're going to be in the Richmond metro area from April 8th to April 10th, I kindly suggest you visit the Grace Street Theater to experience this event.

Visit the Facebook page for more information: Reel Dame Film Festival