Issue 12 November 30th 2020

The Madness Continues

We are still deep in this Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday madhouse, but here are some other stories about what's going on in the industry.

I particularly liked the video from MovieMaker Magazine about putting two strangers together to make a film. It's an interesting idea - kind of like a low budget Project Greenlight.

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The Latest

Roberto Benigni New ‘Pinocchio’ Movie Going Wide This Holiday Season – Deadline

Roadside Attractions is opening Roberto Benigni’s new Pinocchio movie from filmmaker Matteo Garrone on Christmas Day stateside on 2,000 screens. It’s more good news for those theaters which are braving the Christmas holiday. This past Thanksgiving proved that families will venture out during the pandemic where they feel safe and head to the movies; Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods: A New Age moving to a $14.2M five-day opening.

'The Crow' and Its Sequels Land on HBO Max in December - iHorror

It can’t rain all the time. If there isn’t one phrase that everyone living in 2020 should be reminded of constantly it’s probably that one. Cause, as bad as things get it can’t rain all the time. Eric Draven’s band Hang Man’s Joke knew it and so do we. For example, we have a bit of good news coming our way from The Crow.

'Undoing' Finale: Hugh Grant on Elena's Murder - Variety

When Hugh Grant’s wife, Anna Eberstein, saw an early cut of his latest television project, HBO’s “The Undoing,” she told him she wanted the couple at the center of the story to get back together — something he considers “quite an interesting instinct,” given all they go through in the six-episode series from executive producer and writer David E. Kelley, and executive producer and director Susanne Bier.

Coyote trailer: Michael Chiklis stars in CBS All Access border drama

If there’s one thing that can unite this country and spread joy throughout the land, it’s a new TV series starring Michael Chiklis. We miss the man, and his VO work on Ducktales? It ain’t enough. Coyote, now a CBS All Access series, was slated to premiere last summer, but not even the man formerly known as Vic Mackey had the stones to stare down COVID-19. It now premieres on January 7, and the streamer has shared a new trailer for the border drama.

The Industry

They Asked Strangers to Make a Movie Together. What Could Go Wrong?

“Is it possible to put a writer and a director that have no working history – and potentially very different tastes — together, and make something that’s going to be successful, that everyone’s going to be happy with?”

That’s the question posed by Jess Jacklin, describing the main idea of the film festival she and Charles Irvine Beale created two years ago. StudioFest matches a promising writer and director to collaborate together on a $50,000 film.

Devon Sawa Talks 'Hunter Hunter' and Working With Bruce Campbell & Glenn Danzig on Upcoming Horror Movies [Interview] - Bloody Disgusting

Devon Sawa has arguably had a larger impact on pop culture than most other actors who were working in the early 2000s. We are no longer “fans” of anything, we “Stan” them. The very term now deeply embedded in the lexicon was co-opted from the name of a character Sawa famously portrayed in Eminem’s multi-platinum hit “Stan” (2000).

JIU JITSU Interview: Star Alain Moussi And Director Dimitri Logothetis Talk Martial Arts And Science Fiction

For Jiu Jitsu, his most recent feature film, Logothetis called Moussi again. “Alain is a 6th degree jiu jitsu master, he started training when he was about seven or eight years old. For a man in his age (39), he stills has this sort of innocence that he brings to this character. I think that the little boy and the little girl in all of us lives through him when he’s the lead, so that you can win when he’s winning. Again, he’s an exceptional martial artist, I mean how many men do you know that are 6 foot 1, weight 205 pounds, and can do a front aerial and a back aerial, and just do the kind of execution in kicks and punches that he can?”, stated the director.

Slamdance Unveils Full Lineup, Showcases Filmmakers With Disabilities

The Slamdance Film Festival announced what it calls its “most accessible festival ever” — an online and in-person hybrid event that will include 25 features, 107 shorts and episodic, and a new program called Unstoppable that will showcase creators with disabilities.

'The Mandalorian' Cracks Nielsen's Streaming Top 10 - Variety

The “Star Wars” series jets in at number three for the week of Oct. 26, placing only behind “The Queen’s Gambit” and “The Office” on Netflix. According to Nielsen, the show’s 9 episodes (including its Oct. 30 season 2 premiere) were watched for a total of over 1 billion minutes during that week. Expect “Mandalorian” to remain in the top 10 over the next few weeks as more of its second season is taken into account.

Topic Takes U.S. Streaming Rights to 'Once Upon a Time in Venezuela' - Variety

Topic, the fast-growing streaming service from First Look Media, has acquired North American streaming rights to Anabel Rodriguez Rios’ documentary feature debut, “Once Upon a Time in Venezuela.” The film, which explores the decline of the Venezuelan fishing village of Congo Mirador and, more broadly, the country’s complicated current political and social climate, made its world premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. It is Venezuela’s 2021 Academy Award submission for best international feature film, and was shortlisted for the 2020 IDA Documentary Awards. Topic plans an aggressive Oscar push for both documentary and foreign categories.

What's a Key Grip in Movies and What Does a Key Grip Do?

As part of our mission here at No Film School, we want to make sure everyone is educated as to the jobs they could have within the industry. Plus, if you stay for the credits to a movie, you want to be able to tell your friends what every title on the crew means. It makes you look cool. Trust us.

Naomi Watts' 'Penguin Bloom' Sells to Netflix in Key Territories - Variety

“Penguin Bloom,” the Toronto International Film Festival player led by Naomi Watts, has been acquired by Netflix in key territories.

The streamer will roll out the film in North America, the U.K., France and select countries in Asia on Jan. 27.

Amy Adams Reacts to Negative Hillbilly Elegy Reviews | IndieWire

“Hillbilly Elegy” has garnered some of the worst reviews of 2020 (the film’s MetaCritic score sits at 39), with several film critics condemning the Ron Howard-directed drama for how it portrays its Appalachian setting and characters. NME critic Richard Phippen wrote the film “betrays the very people it’s trying to celebrate” by “failing to acknowledge the legitimate problems they face,” while Adam Nayman of The Ringer added, “The movie focuses on the so-called ‘forgotten’ citizens of red state America—but it has zero interest in actually exploring the group.” What do stars Amy Adams and Glenn Close make of the critical beating? Adams told NME the film’s themes are what’s most important and far outweigh its politics.

Amy Guyler's 'The Jude Problem' Tops The Brit List 2020 - Variety

“The Jude Problem” by Amy Guyler (“Doctors,” “EastEnders”) has topped The Brit List, an annual showcase of unproduced screenplays out of the U.K.

The list was compiled from recommendations by British production companies, talent agencies, financiers and broadcasters.

Disney Quiet When it Comes to Potential 'Alien' TV Series - Bloody Disgusting

Long story short, Disney now owns all things Fox and the Alien franchise is included in that. News leaked just recently that they’ve been working in secret on a brand new entry in the Predator franchise, which lends credence to the belief that the Mouse will also revisit Ridley Scott’s Alien saga.

MZed Course Review – The Art & Technique of Film Editing with Tom Cross | CineD

Back in June 2020, the online educational platform MZed added a new course to its list: The Art & Technique of Film Editing, by Academy Award winning editor Tom Cross (read our initial coverage here). And, as an editor myself, I immediately got interested in taking this course. Here are my thoughts on it.

Less Than 24 Hours to Get the Ultimate Resolve Course Bundle for just $97 | 4K Shooters

Hey guys, this is just a quick head up that this year’s Black Friday sale of the Ultimate Resolve Course Bundle by Alex Jordan and his team at LearnColorGrading.com and Filmsimplified.com will be gone in less than 24 hours!

The Tech

Vazen Rolls Out a 65mm T2 1.8x Anamorphic Lens for Micro 4/3 Cameras | 4K Shooters

Chinese cinema lens maker Vazen has just announced the pricing and shipping availability of the Vazen 65mm T2 1.8x Anamorphic Lens for Micro Four Thirds (M43) cameras. The unit joins the previously launched 28mm and 40mm siblings, thus completing the entire Micro Four Thirds 1.8x Anamorphic lens set.

Cyber Monday Deals 2020 – iZotope, LockCircle & Loupedeck | CineD

for this season’s Cyber Monday we have some nice deals on software and accessories for you. iZotope has a quite impressive Holiday Bundle on offer, LockCircle gives up to 50% discount on the whole store and you can get a shiny new Loupedeck console for 10% off. Let us dive in.

Edelkrone Pan PRO Released - Motorized Panning Solution | CineD

Edelkrone has just released a new motorized pan head that is compatible with the edelkrone JibONE, edelkrone Sliders & Dollies, and virtually all camera tripods: the edelkrone Pan PRO. This head has a maximum payload capacity of 30lbs / 13.5kg, and you can control it either manually, with the edelkrone remote controller or via the iOS/Android app. Let’s take a closer look at it!

Zoom Am7 Microphone for USB-C Android Phones Announced | CineD

The Zoom Am7 is a new M/S stereo microphone for Android smartphones. It plugs directly into the USB-C port of the phone and provides 48 kHz/16-bit audio with a possibility to set stereo width, gain, and monitor the recording via a 3.5mm jack. The Am7 has a rotating capsule and is compatible with the Zoom Handy Recorder app for adjustments and sharing. Available soon for $99.99.

CAME-TV Mini-99 V-Lock Battery Review - Newsshooter

CAME-TV recently announced its new Mini-99 V-Lock Batteries. Power is crucial to everything we do. Without it, cameras don’t fire up, lights don’t come on, and everything else stays dormant. Batteries are a key component of any system, so it is important to make sure we don’t take them for granted.

What To Watch

Morning Watch: Ahsoka Tano Explained, Making Leather Armor for Mulan & More – /Film

In this edition, if you didn’t keep up with Star Wars: The Clone Wars or Star Wars Rebels, then you might want to watch a video explaining everything you need to know about the character Ahsoka Tano on The Mandalorian. Plus, find out how Weta Workshop creating leather armor for Mulan, and listen to Jude Law break down his most memorable characters.

Zappa - Movie Trailers - iTunes

Check out the trailer of the movie Zappa!

Misery at 30: a terrifying look at the toxicity of fandom | Film | The Guardian

Rob Reiner’s entertaining adaptation of Stephen King’s darkly funny novel remains horribly effective thanks in large part to a never-better Kathy Bates