Official uVu Blog

Highlights from FLIFF 2012

The Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival is heading into the final week.  As one of (if not the) longest annual Film Festival, FLIFF 2012 has had guests a'plenty including Carroll Baker and her daughter, Actress Blanche Baker, Ft. Lauderdale's own Bailee Madison, Molly Parker and James Caan,

Of course there was the usual collection of independent filmmakers and emerging talents, theatrical premieres and in general some good films with good friends, which makes attending FLIFF each year a must do event.

Here are some video highlights from the fest so far.

 

FLIFF 2012 - Carroll and Blanche Baker FLIFF 2012 - Molly Parker FLIFF 2012 Michelle Taylor "Dark Amazon" FLIFF 2012 Bailee Madison

Knight Asks You To Decide

South Floridians can decide which of five up-and-coming organizations should receive $20,000 as part of the first Knight Arts Challenge People’s Choice Award. To vote, watch the nominees’ videos at KnightArts.org/peopleschoice and then text to support your favorite. The nominees are: 6th Street Dance Studio, a nonprofit studio in Little Havana, Arts Garage, a cultural hub in Palm Beach, FUNDarte, producing multicultural exhibits and performances, LAB Miami, a co-working space at the intersection of art and business, and Urgent, Inc., working in part with the arts to revitalize urban communities. Now in its fifth year, the Knight Arts Challenge is a community-wide contest for the best ideas for the arts. Sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the challenge has invested $17 million in projects that help bring South Florida together through culture.

Watch the videos and then vote for your choice:

6th Street Dance Studio:

Urgent Inc.

FUNDarte:

Arts Garage:

LAB Miami

Posted at 06:44 PM in Around South Florida, Arts, Community Partners, Contests, Fashion, Film | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Reblog (0) | | | | | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

05/03/2012

Something Wicked.....

Generation n's Melissa Hernandez sits down with the ultimate villain, The Avengers' nemesis Loki.

 

Posted at 12:37 PM in Film | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Reblog (0) | | | | | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

01/04/2012

Miami Today Profile: Eduardo Padron

Since moving to the United States as a refugee at 15, Eduardo Padron has spent 41 years at Miami Dade College, working his way through the ranks at the only school he said would give him a chance after high school.

 

Since graduating from the college, Mr. Padron has worked as an assistant professor of economics, department chair, division director, associate dead, dean, vice president, campus president and now college president.

His goal is to ensure that all students, young and old, rich or poor, receive access to a quality education at a low cost.

“Opportunity changes everything,” he said, “and our concern is making sure that people who have the least opportunity are given a chance to get an education…Education is the passport to a better life and we’re worried about the low-income people and their ability to obtain a college [degree].”

As head of one of the most diverse institutions in the nation, in 2003 Mr. Padron pushed to receive state approval to offer bachelor’s degrees through the college. He has advocated on behalf of the Dream Act to provide those born outside of the US with cheaper tuition costs, and has been asked to serve on the White House Commission on Education Excellence for Hispanic Americans, where he works to provide educational opportunities to all nationalities.

“This institution has changed many lives,” he said, “and it’s demonstrated that you can have open access and excellent academic programs. The students who finish here are second to none and are able to compete in the best universities in the country.”

Mr. Padron discussed his plans to provide Miami-Dade residents with a quality education, how he plans to counter recent reductions in state funding and what the college is doing to better the community with Miami Today staff writer Ashley Hopkins at his downtown office.

Posted at 07:21 AM in Around South Florida, Community Partners, Film, Miami, Miami Today Newsmaker | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Reblog (0) | | | | | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

11/15/2011

Like Crazy

As part of the closing night festivities for FLIFF 2011, "Like Crazy" producer Jonathan Schwartz took questions from the audience after the premiere of his film.

The film was directed by Drake Doremus and stars Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones and Jennifer Lawrence. The film won the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic Film at the 27th Sundance Film Festival, and Jones won a Special Grand Jury Prize for acting in a dramatic film.. It was shot with the inexpensive Canon EOS 7D DSLR camera, and its budget did not exceed $250,000.

 

Posted at 10:42 AM in Around South Florida, Film | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Reblog (0) | | | | | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

10/25/2011

Good Hands and a Damn Fine Actor

Some know him as President David Palmer from the TV series 24, others remeber him from the Major League Trilogy and just about everyone knows him as the spokesman fro Allstate Insurance, but actor Dennis Haysbert has had an unprecedented career in film, television and even Broadway, in front of and behind the lens and in recognition of his accomplishments, The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival honored him with a Career Achievement Award during FLIFF 2011.

if you didn't make it to Cinema Paradiso to see the presentation, you can watch it here:

 

Posted at 04:20 PM in Around South Florida, Film | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Reblog (0) | | | | | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

09/26/2011

gen ñ - Taylor Lautner

gen ñ's Meli Hernandez talks to Taylor Lautner about his exciting new movie Abduction, going from wolf to sex symbol to action hero, the exciting cast and his favorite parts of making the film. They even answer questions from Taylor's Fans! There's even time for a few questions about Monday Night Football, The Patriots vs. Dolphins and Martial Arts! Welcome to Miami Mr. Lautner! We're happy to have you here! Abduction, from Lions Gate Films, starts this week. Get the theme song 'Welcome to Miami' at www.luisbeyra.com

 

 

Posted at 04:30 PM in Around South Florida, Film | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Reblog (0) | | | | | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

08/30/2011

Recapturing some Nerve

If you missed the XIII annual Optic Nerve film series held at MOCA this past weekend, you can screen all 18 finalists on uVu and meet some of the filmmakers.

Posted at 10:28 AM in Around South Florida, Arts, Film | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Reblog (0) | | | | | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

08/23/2011

You're Invited to the Optic Nerve XIII Film Festival!

In recognition of its 15th anniversary, the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami has broadened the scope of its annual Optic Nerve Film Festival featuring new short films and videos by artists. This year, in addition to selections from South Florida artists, films by artists from around the country will be screened.  

Optic Nerve XIII will be presented on Saturday, August 27 with two screenings at 7 pm and 9 pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art,  770 NE 125th Street,  North Miami, FL  33161.  The program includes 18 films by 15 artists and 2 artist collectives, all less than five minutes in length and made within the last two years which were selected from an open call for submissions.

One of the films will be purchased for MOCA’s permanent collection. The selection will be announced by MOCA Executive Director Bonnie Clearwater at the conclusion of the first screening.  Audience members will vote for their favorite film by ballot.    A reception will be held at 8 pm between the screenings with wines provided by Rex Goliath.

Optic Nerve XIII is free with museum admission ($5 adults; $3 seniors and students with ID; free for MOCA members, North Miami residents). Seating is very limited and RSVP is required.  For reservations, please call 305.893.6211 or email rsvp@mocanomi.org.

OPTIC NERVE XIII FILMS

John Bonafede, 21 Gestures, 2:50 min, New York, NY

An artist ascends into the frame with the statement "I'm Emerging." in both English and Japanese, cuing her companion to do another push up which in turn enables the artist to add another gesture to a portrait she is drawing above her head.  At the 21st attempt,  she is finished and he is exhausted.

Brian Bress, Alone, 1:02 min, Los Angeles, CA

 The artist uses a found photograph of a deserted, sparse landscape as the backdrop over which he video-collages his own totemic portrait as a woeful expression of loneliness.

Brian Bress, Its Been A Long Day, 2:13 min., Los Angeles, CA

What begins as care for an oozing wound turns into a lesson in painting and a portrait of deception. 
Jennifer Campbell, Unbridled :18 min,  Seattle, WAThe artist constructs images by posing with a variety of props in ways that de-contextualization of both the body and the object.

L. Ashwyn Collins, Remake, 3:50 min, Gifford, NH

Remake is a compilation of 16 distinct videos sourced from YouTube consisting of  the original shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 thriller, Psycho and 15 amateur recreations of the same scene. 

Christina Corfield, Hot Circuit, 5:00 min, San Francisco, CA

This film uses a traditional narrative to mimic a penny arcade machine - even to the extent that the characters within the story are themselves robotic, endlessly repeating the same actions and same story, raising  questions about our growing  dependence on new technologies and myths.

Kasia Houlihan, Hold On, 1:39 min, Chicago, IL

With a nod and a knowing half-smile, a girl suddenly breaks into a spasmodic dance of disorienting leaps, jerky falls, and floating zigzags. As the camera tries to follow  her sporadic dance, and keep its subject in the frame, it becomes a duet between camera and subject, subject and viewer.

Eunjung Hwang, Feature Creatures, 5:00 min, New York, NY

 This film is part of a series of experimental animations, which explores the complexity of cryptic images from dreams and the subconscious.  The main aspect of the project is to produce visionary narratives inspired by the illusion of fragmented realities and compile them into a usable pictorial catalogue.

Karlo Andrei Ibarra, Crossover, 3:11 min, Miami Beach, FL

This video which depicts random Puerto Rican citizens singing the Star Spangled Banner, amplifies the socio-cultural distance between Puerto Rico and the United States.   Many long for statehood yet often do not know the language of the country in which they wish to assimilate.

Richard Jochum, Twenty Angry Dogs, Group Bark, :59 min, New York, NY

This one minute video is a single channel appendix to the sound and video installation “Twenty Angry Dogs", in which the artist asked 20 people to bark like an angry dog. 

Jennifer Levonian, Her Slip Is Showing, 4:12 min, Philadelphia, PA

This cut out watercolor animation of a suburban bridal shower explores the persistence of traditional gender roles, social awkwardness and the way in which friendship has evolved over time.

Jillian Mayer, I Am Your Grandma, 1:03 min, Miami, FL 

This autobiographical video diary log (vlog) which the artist created for her unborn grandchildren was posted on YouTube, inspiring copycats and creating fans. Envisioned as an authentic solution to fleshing out the detached model of the family tree, the artist hearkens to bygone times when ancestors could glimpse one another through a locket or lock of hair. By placing the video in a public forum, the film becomes a study of why people ultimately share their personal feelings with anonymous strangers, and whether this sharing effects the actual emotional significance of the piece. 

Ruben Millares & Antonia Wright, Job Creation In A Bad Economy, 2:15 min, Coral Gables, FL

This new video series by the collaborative Ruben Millares and Antonia Wright, is a playful commentary on the somber issue of the devaluation of the arts and education in our society.  The artists physically and metaphorically tackle the bureaucracy and walls that uphold these systems and leaving the viewer feeling sympathy for Millares and Wright, yet laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.  

Tara Nelson, Hull, 5:00 min, Jamaica Plains, MA 

This film is a journey between layers of corporal consciousness, exploring the physical memory of trauma and the psychological repercussions of a surgical disaster.

Zachary Ordonez, Resistance - Release - Recover, Part II, 4:30 min, Cutler Bay, FL

Using strength, endurance and willpower, various men compete to see who can last the longest hanging onto a pair of ropes.

Carlos Charlie Perez, Billy The Kids, 4:40 min, New York, NY

Billy The Kids depicts a group of teenagers pretending to be famous actors questioning life's meaning through a quirky "Cat In The Hat" rhyme scheme.

Perfect Lives, Marfa, 4:57 min, Oakland, CA

Artists D. Sadja and S. Martinez fuses elements of narrative film, music video and performance art in this story about two unsuspecting cowboys.  Marfa was shot in a single 18 hour period in Marfa, TX and is part of a larger body of video postcards depicting situations and narratives in various locations.

Sarada Rauch, Pile of Demon Heads, 1:51 min, Brooklyn, NY

This film is based on the 2nd episode of the Devil Mahatmyam Epic, and takes its aesthetic from the original Star Trek series.  It is the last fight scene between Our Hero and the Demon.  The world was under attack by the most powerful demon, who took many forms, including that of a buffalo.  The gods, fearing total annihilation, endowed Our Hero with their powers and sent her into battle.  During their long battle the demon changes forms many times, and each time our hero chops his head off.  The heads that Our Hero has chopped off accumulated in a field of daisies and created pile of demon heads.

All films featured at this event will be available to view on uvuvideo.org.

 

Posted at 12:38 PM in Arts, Film, Miami | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Reblog (0) | | | | | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

08/18/2011

Hitting a Nerve

Short films are magical. They are complete worlds unto themselves, but they are also windows into larger universes. On Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), a Knight Arts grantee, opens its doors to these short wonders when it presents its annual Optic Nerve Film Festival, featuring new short films and videos by artists from South Florida and across the nation.

Continue reading here

Posted at 08:27 AM in Around South Florida, Arts, Film | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Reblog (0) | | | | | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

Next »

• Official uVu Blog
• uVu

Generation n's Melissa Hernandez sits down with the ultimate villain, The Avengers' nemesis Loki.

 

Since moving to the United States as a refugee at 15, Eduardo Padron has spent 41 years at Miami Dade College, working his way through the ranks at the only school he said would give him a chance after high school.

 

Since graduating from the college, Mr. Padron has worked as an assistant professor of economics, department chair, division director, associate dead, dean, vice president, campus president and now college president.

His goal is to ensure that all students, young and old, rich or poor, receive access to a quality education at a low cost.

“Opportunity changes everything,” he said, “and our concern is making sure that people who have the least opportunity are given a chance to get an education…Education is the passport to a better life and we’re worried about the low-income people and their ability to obtain a college [degree].”

As head of one of the most diverse institutions in the nation, in 2003 Mr. Padron pushed to receive state approval to offer bachelor’s degrees through the college. He has advocated on behalf of the Dream Act to provide those born outside of the US with cheaper tuition costs, and has been asked to serve on the White House Commission on Education Excellence for Hispanic Americans, where he works to provide educational opportunities to all nationalities.

“This institution has changed many lives,” he said, “and it’s demonstrated that you can have open access and excellent academic programs. The students who finish here are second to none and are able to compete in the best universities in the country.”

Mr. Padron discussed his plans to provide Miami-Dade residents with a quality education, how he plans to counter recent reductions in state funding and what the college is doing to better the community with Miami Today staff writer Ashley Hopkins at his downtown office.

As part of the closing night festivities for FLIFF 2011, "Like Crazy" producer Jonathan Schwartz took questions from the audience after the premiere of his film.

The film was directed by Drake Doremus and stars Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones and Jennifer Lawrence. The film won the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic Film at the 27th Sundance Film Festival, and Jones won a Special Grand Jury Prize for acting in a dramatic film.. It was shot with the inexpensive Canon EOS 7D DSLR camera, and its budget did not exceed $250,000.

 

Some know him as President David Palmer from the TV series 24, others remeber him from the Major League Trilogy and just about everyone knows him as the spokesman fro Allstate Insurance, but actor Dennis Haysbert has had an unprecedented career in film, television and even Broadway, in front of and behind the lens and in recognition of his accomplishments, The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival honored him with a Career Achievement Award during FLIFF 2011.

if you didn't make it to Cinema Paradiso to see the presentation, you can watch it here:

 

gen ñ's Meli Hernandez talks to Taylor Lautner about his exciting new movie Abduction, going from wolf to sex symbol to action hero, the exciting cast and his favorite parts of making the film. They even answer questions from Taylor's Fans! There's even time for a few questions about Monday Night Football, The Patriots vs. Dolphins and Martial Arts! Welcome to Miami Mr. Lautner! We're happy to have you here! Abduction, from Lions Gate Films, starts this week. Get the theme song 'Welcome to Miami' at www.luisbeyra.com

 

 

If you missed the XIII annual Optic Nerve film series held at MOCA this past weekend, you can screen all 18 finalists on uVu and meet some of the filmmakers.

In recognition of its 15th anniversary, the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami has broadened the scope of its annual Optic Nerve Film Festival featuring new short films and videos by artists. This year, in addition to selections from South Florida artists, films by artists from around the country will be screened.  

Optic Nerve XIII will be presented on Saturday, August 27 with two screenings at 7 pm and 9 pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art,  770 NE 125th Street,  North Miami, FL  33161.  The program includes 18 films by 15 artists and 2 artist collectives, all less than five minutes in length and made within the last two years which were selected from an open call for submissions.

One of the films will be purchased for MOCA’s permanent collection. The selection will be announced by MOCA Executive Director Bonnie Clearwater at the conclusion of the first screening.  Audience members will vote for their favorite film by ballot.    A reception will be held at 8 pm between the screenings with wines provided by Rex Goliath.

Optic Nerve XIII is free with museum admission ($5 adults; $3 seniors and students with ID; free for MOCA members, North Miami residents). Seating is very limited and RSVP is required.  For reservations, please call 305.893.6211 or email rsvp@mocanomi.org.

OPTIC NERVE XIII FILMS

John Bonafede, 21 Gestures, 2:50 min, New York, NY

An artist ascends into the frame with the statement "I'm Emerging." in both English and Japanese, cuing her companion to do another push up which in turn enables the artist to add another gesture to a portrait she is drawing above her head.  At the 21st attempt,  she is finished and he is exhausted.

Brian Bress, Alone, 1:02 min, Los Angeles, CA

 The artist uses a found photograph of a deserted, sparse landscape as the backdrop over which he video-collages his own totemic portrait as a woeful expression of loneliness.

Brian Bress, Its Been A Long Day, 2:13 min., Los Angeles, CA

What begins as care for an oozing wound turns into a lesson in painting and a portrait of deception. 
Jennifer Campbell, Unbridled :18 min,  Seattle, WAThe artist constructs images by posing with a variety of props in ways that de-contextualization of both the body and the object.

L. Ashwyn Collins, Remake, 3:50 min, Gifford, NH

Remake is a compilation of 16 distinct videos sourced from YouTube consisting of  the original shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 thriller, Psycho and 15 amateur recreations of the same scene. 

Christina Corfield, Hot Circuit, 5:00 min, San Francisco, CA

This film uses a traditional narrative to mimic a penny arcade machine - even to the extent that the characters within the story are themselves robotic, endlessly repeating the same actions and same story, raising  questions about our growing  dependence on new technologies and myths.

Kasia Houlihan, Hold On, 1:39 min, Chicago, IL

With a nod and a knowing half-smile, a girl suddenly breaks into a spasmodic dance of disorienting leaps, jerky falls, and floating zigzags. As the camera tries to follow  her sporadic dance, and keep its subject in the frame, it becomes a duet between camera and subject, subject and viewer.

Eunjung Hwang, Feature Creatures, 5:00 min, New York, NY

 This film is part of a series of experimental animations, which explores the complexity of cryptic images from dreams and the subconscious.  The main aspect of the project is to produce visionary narratives inspired by the illusion of fragmented realities and compile them into a usable pictorial catalogue.

Karlo Andrei Ibarra, Crossover, 3:11 min, Miami Beach, FL

This video which depicts random Puerto Rican citizens singing the Star Spangled Banner, amplifies the socio-cultural distance between Puerto Rico and the United States.   Many long for statehood yet often do not know the language of the country in which they wish to assimilate.

Richard Jochum, Twenty Angry Dogs, Group Bark, :59 min, New York, NY

This one minute video is a single channel appendix to the sound and video installation “Twenty Angry Dogs", in which the artist asked 20 people to bark like an angry dog. 

Jennifer Levonian, Her Slip Is Showing, 4:12 min, Philadelphia, PA

This cut out watercolor animation of a suburban bridal shower explores the persistence of traditional gender roles, social awkwardness and the way in which friendship has evolved over time.

Jillian Mayer, I Am Your Grandma, 1:03 min, Miami, FL 

This autobiographical video diary log (vlog) which the artist created for her unborn grandchildren was posted on YouTube, inspiring copycats and creating fans. Envisioned as an authentic solution to fleshing out the detached model of the family tree, the artist hearkens to bygone times when ancestors could glimpse one another through a locket or lock of hair. By placing the video in a public forum, the film becomes a study of why people ultimately share their personal feelings with anonymous strangers, and whether this sharing effects the actual emotional significance of the piece. 

Ruben Millares & Antonia Wright, Job Creation In A Bad Economy, 2:15 min, Coral Gables, FL

This new video series by the collaborative Ruben Millares and Antonia Wright, is a playful commentary on the somber issue of the devaluation of the arts and education in our society.  The artists physically and metaphorically tackle the bureaucracy and walls that uphold these systems and leaving the viewer feeling sympathy for Millares and Wright, yet laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.  

Tara Nelson, Hull, 5:00 min, Jamaica Plains, MA 

This film is a journey between layers of corporal consciousness, exploring the physical memory of trauma and the psychological repercussions of a surgical disaster.

Zachary Ordonez, Resistance - Release - Recover, Part II, 4:30 min, Cutler Bay, FL

Using strength, endurance and willpower, various men compete to see who can last the longest hanging onto a pair of ropes.

Carlos Charlie Perez, Billy The Kids, 4:40 min, New York, NY

Billy The Kids depicts a group of teenagers pretending to be famous actors questioning life's meaning through a quirky "Cat In The Hat" rhyme scheme.

Perfect Lives, Marfa, 4:57 min, Oakland, CA

Artists D. Sadja and S. Martinez fuses elements of narrative film, music video and performance art in this story about two unsuspecting cowboys.  Marfa was shot in a single 18 hour period in Marfa, TX and is part of a larger body of video postcards depicting situations and narratives in various locations.

Sarada Rauch, Pile of Demon Heads, 1:51 min, Brooklyn, NY

This film is based on the 2nd episode of the Devil Mahatmyam Epic, and takes its aesthetic from the original Star Trek series.  It is the last fight scene between Our Hero and the Demon.  The world was under attack by the most powerful demon, who took many forms, including that of a buffalo.  The gods, fearing total annihilation, endowed Our Hero with their powers and sent her into battle.  During their long battle the demon changes forms many times, and each time our hero chops his head off.  The heads that Our Hero has chopped off accumulated in a field of daisies and created pile of demon heads.

All films featured at this event will be available to view on uvuvideo.org.

 

Short films are magical. They are complete worlds unto themselves, but they are also windows into larger universes. On Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), a Knight Arts grantee, opens its doors to these short wonders when it presents its annual Optic Nerve Film Festival, featuring new short films and videos by artists from South Florida and across the nation.

Continue reading here

Something Wicked.....

Generation n's Melissa Hernandez sits down with the ultimate villain, The Avengers' nemesis Loki.

 

Miami Today Profile: Eduardo Padron

Since moving to the United States as a refugee at 15, Eduardo Padron has spent 41 years at Miami Dade College, working his way through the ranks at the only school he said would give him a chance after high school.

 

Since graduating from the college, Mr. Padron has worked as an assistant professor of economics, department chair, division director, associate dead, dean, vice president, campus president and now college president.

His goal is to ensure that all students, young and old, rich or poor, receive access to a quality education at a low cost.

“Opportunity changes everything,” he said, “and our concern is making sure that people who have the least opportunity are given a chance to get an education…Education is the passport to a better life and we’re worried about the low-income people and their ability to obtain a college [degree].”

As head of one of the most diverse institutions in the nation, in 2003 Mr. Padron pushed to receive state approval to offer bachelor’s degrees through the college. He has advocated on behalf of the Dream Act to provide those born outside of the US with cheaper tuition costs, and has been asked to serve on the White House Commission on Education Excellence for Hispanic Americans, where he works to provide educational opportunities to all nationalities.

“This institution has changed many lives,” he said, “and it’s demonstrated that you can have open access and excellent academic programs. The students who finish here are second to none and are able to compete in the best universities in the country.”

Mr. Padron discussed his plans to provide Miami-Dade residents with a quality education, how he plans to counter recent reductions in state funding and what the college is doing to better the community with Miami Today staff writer Ashley Hopkins at his downtown office.

Like Crazy

As part of the closing night festivities for FLIFF 2011, "Like Crazy" producer Jonathan Schwartz took questions from the audience after the premiere of his film.

The film was directed by Drake Doremus and stars Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones and Jennifer Lawrence. The film won the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic Film at the 27th Sundance Film Festival, and Jones won a Special Grand Jury Prize for acting in a dramatic film.. It was shot with the inexpensive Canon EOS 7D DSLR camera, and its budget did not exceed $250,000.

 

Good Hands and a Damn Fine Actor

Some know him as President David Palmer from the TV series 24, others remeber him from the Major League Trilogy and just about everyone knows him as the spokesman fro Allstate Insurance, but actor Dennis Haysbert has had an unprecedented career in film, television and even Broadway, in front of and behind the lens and in recognition of his accomplishments, The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival honored him with a Career Achievement Award during FLIFF 2011.

if you didn't make it to Cinema Paradiso to see the presentation, you can watch it here:

 

gen ñ - Taylor Lautner

gen ñ's Meli Hernandez talks to Taylor Lautner about his exciting new movie Abduction, going from wolf to sex symbol to action hero, the exciting cast and his favorite parts of making the film. They even answer questions from Taylor's Fans! There's even time for a few questions about Monday Night Football, The Patriots vs. Dolphins and Martial Arts! Welcome to Miami Mr. Lautner! We're happy to have you here! Abduction, from Lions Gate Films, starts this week. Get the theme song 'Welcome to Miami' at www.luisbeyra.com

 

 

Recapturing some Nerve

If you missed the XIII annual Optic Nerve film series held at MOCA this past weekend, you can screen all 18 finalists on uVu and meet some of the filmmakers.

You're Invited to the Optic Nerve XIII Film Festival!

In recognition of its 15th anniversary, the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami has broadened the scope of its annual Optic Nerve Film Festival featuring new short films and videos by artists. This year, in addition to selections from South Florida artists, films by artists from around the country will be screened.  

Optic Nerve XIII will be presented on Saturday, August 27 with two screenings at 7 pm and 9 pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art,  770 NE 125th Street,  North Miami, FL  33161.  The program includes 18 films by 15 artists and 2 artist collectives, all less than five minutes in length and made within the last two years which were selected from an open call for submissions.

One of the films will be purchased for MOCA’s permanent collection. The selection will be announced by MOCA Executive Director Bonnie Clearwater at the conclusion of the first screening.  Audience members will vote for their favorite film by ballot.    A reception will be held at 8 pm between the screenings with wines provided by Rex Goliath.

Optic Nerve XIII is free with museum admission ($5 adults; $3 seniors and students with ID; free for MOCA members, North Miami residents). Seating is very limited and RSVP is required.  For reservations, please call 305.893.6211 or email rsvp@mocanomi.org.

OPTIC NERVE XIII FILMS

John Bonafede, 21 Gestures, 2:50 min, New York, NY

An artist ascends into the frame with the statement "I'm Emerging." in both English and Japanese, cuing her companion to do another push up which in turn enables the artist to add another gesture to a portrait she is drawing above her head.  At the 21st attempt,  she is finished and he is exhausted.

Brian Bress, Alone, 1:02 min, Los Angeles, CA

 The artist uses a found photograph of a deserted, sparse landscape as the backdrop over which he video-collages his own totemic portrait as a woeful expression of loneliness.

Brian Bress, Its Been A Long Day, 2:13 min., Los Angeles, CA

What begins as care for an oozing wound turns into a lesson in painting and a portrait of deception. 
Jennifer Campbell, Unbridled :18 min,  Seattle, WAThe artist constructs images by posing with a variety of props in ways that de-contextualization of both the body and the object.

L. Ashwyn Collins, Remake, 3:50 min, Gifford, NH

Remake is a compilation of 16 distinct videos sourced from YouTube consisting of  the original shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 thriller, Psycho and 15 amateur recreations of the same scene. 

Christina Corfield, Hot Circuit, 5:00 min, San Francisco, CA

This film uses a traditional narrative to mimic a penny arcade machine - even to the extent that the characters within the story are themselves robotic, endlessly repeating the same actions and same story, raising  questions about our growing  dependence on new technologies and myths.

Kasia Houlihan, Hold On, 1:39 min, Chicago, IL

With a nod and a knowing half-smile, a girl suddenly breaks into a spasmodic dance of disorienting leaps, jerky falls, and floating zigzags. As the camera tries to follow  her sporadic dance, and keep its subject in the frame, it becomes a duet between camera and subject, subject and viewer.

Eunjung Hwang, Feature Creatures, 5:00 min, New York, NY

 This film is part of a series of experimental animations, which explores the complexity of cryptic images from dreams and the subconscious.  The main aspect of the project is to produce visionary narratives inspired by the illusion of fragmented realities and compile them into a usable pictorial catalogue.

Karlo Andrei Ibarra, Crossover, 3:11 min, Miami Beach, FL

This video which depicts random Puerto Rican citizens singing the Star Spangled Banner, amplifies the socio-cultural distance between Puerto Rico and the United States.   Many long for statehood yet often do not know the language of the country in which they wish to assimilate.

Richard Jochum, Twenty Angry Dogs, Group Bark, :59 min, New York, NY

This one minute video is a single channel appendix to the sound and video installation “Twenty Angry Dogs", in which the artist asked 20 people to bark like an angry dog. 

Jennifer Levonian, Her Slip Is Showing, 4:12 min, Philadelphia, PA

This cut out watercolor animation of a suburban bridal shower explores the persistence of traditional gender roles, social awkwardness and the way in which friendship has evolved over time.

Jillian Mayer, I Am Your Grandma, 1:03 min, Miami, FL 

This autobiographical video diary log (vlog) which the artist created for her unborn grandchildren was posted on YouTube, inspiring copycats and creating fans. Envisioned as an authentic solution to fleshing out the detached model of the family tree, the artist hearkens to bygone times when ancestors could glimpse one another through a locket or lock of hair. By placing the video in a public forum, the film becomes a study of why people ultimately share their personal feelings with anonymous strangers, and whether this sharing effects the actual emotional significance of the piece. 

Ruben Millares & Antonia Wright, Job Creation In A Bad Economy, 2:15 min, Coral Gables, FL

This new video series by the collaborative Ruben Millares and Antonia Wright, is a playful commentary on the somber issue of the devaluation of the arts and education in our society.  The artists physically and metaphorically tackle the bureaucracy and walls that uphold these systems and leaving the viewer feeling sympathy for Millares and Wright, yet laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.  

Tara Nelson, Hull, 5:00 min, Jamaica Plains, MA 

This film is a journey between layers of corporal consciousness, exploring the physical memory of trauma and the psychological repercussions of a surgical disaster.

Zachary Ordonez, Resistance - Release - Recover, Part II, 4:30 min, Cutler Bay, FL

Using strength, endurance and willpower, various men compete to see who can last the longest hanging onto a pair of ropes.

Carlos Charlie Perez, Billy The Kids, 4:40 min, New York, NY

Billy The Kids depicts a group of teenagers pretending to be famous actors questioning life's meaning through a quirky "Cat In The Hat" rhyme scheme.

Perfect Lives, Marfa, 4:57 min, Oakland, CA

Artists D. Sadja and S. Martinez fuses elements of narrative film, music video and performance art in this story about two unsuspecting cowboys.  Marfa was shot in a single 18 hour period in Marfa, TX and is part of a larger body of video postcards depicting situations and narratives in various locations.

Sarada Rauch, Pile of Demon Heads, 1:51 min, Brooklyn, NY

This film is based on the 2nd episode of the Devil Mahatmyam Epic, and takes its aesthetic from the original Star Trek series.  It is the last fight scene between Our Hero and the Demon.  The world was under attack by the most powerful demon, who took many forms, including that of a buffalo.  The gods, fearing total annihilation, endowed Our Hero with their powers and sent her into battle.  During their long battle the demon changes forms many times, and each time our hero chops his head off.  The heads that Our Hero has chopped off accumulated in a field of daisies and created pile of demon heads.

All films featured at this event will be available to view on uvuvideo.org.

 

Hitting a Nerve

Short films are magical. They are complete worlds unto themselves, but they are also windows into larger universes. On Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), a Knight Arts grantee, opens its doors to these short wonders when it presents its annual Optic Nerve Film Festival, featuring new short films and videos by artists from South Florida and across the nation.

Continue reading here