Wait, so, what? What does the opening have to do with the rest of the film? What does the kid have to do with the rest of the film? Was the kid the mute? Was the mute the same mute? WHAT? How much longer do I have to watch this film?
Coming home, I watched the trailer (above). Yeah, the one that explains a bit of what’s going on. Georgy is on a journey… he gets stuck in a town… they don’t like outsiders… there are flashbacks to just after WWII… yeah.
Reviews from the New Zealand International Film Festival, 2011, Wellington
Saturday 30 June.
Interesting doco on the world’s most prominent newspaper, the decline in advertising revenue coupled with the increase in blogging. How does the paper stay afloat? One of the best documentary subjects is David Carr – his interview with Vibe Magazine was fantastic. I’d recommend it to those interested in journalism (especially you, Shannon), blogging, the relationship between the two. 4 out of 5.
Aka THE BEST FILM OF THE FESTIVAL SO FAR!!! Brilliant! I loved it! I want it in my collection! The perfect amount of violence and technique and twists. There’s this one shot where the lead character jumps out a window, and the camera follows him. COOL! And the lead actor looks like a young Keanu Reeves. I. Loved. It.
Korean action film about a loner who is befriended by a stripper junkie’s daughter. Said daughter and mother are kidnapped after a drug deal goes wrong. Loner goes after them. Straight actioner, I wonder whether it would have been in the festival if it was in English (probably not, but I might not have seen it otherwise). I’m giving it 5 out of 5. It was going to be 5.5 out of 5, but the music was a leetle cheesy at times.
Amendment: see Andy’s post on this movie for a better explanation.
I know Paul Wolffram, the filmmaker. It was a good ethnomusical/anthropological film. I’d recommend it to ethnomusicologists, anthropologists, those interested in Papua New Guinea and Pacific Culture, and those interested in insects. (Seriously, Paul, I’m just saying there were a lot of close-ups of insects.) 3.8 out of 5.
Doco on Venture Capitalism: the men who put money into early companies that exploded – Silicon Valley, Apple, etc. One woman. Some good graphics, a couple of good laughs, some interesting stories: what more do you need in a good all-round doco. I’m sure it would have been better had I been more interested in the subject. I’d recommend it to people interested in making money. Really good soundtrack composed by Laura Karpman (by the way, follow that link. Awesome graphics on her website. Cool!) 3.5 out of 5.
Footage by Swedish filmmakers shooting in the US during 1969-75 was recently found and turned into this documentary. I’d recommend it to those interested in Civil Rights (or any Rights Movement), US or Black History, and foreign (or Socialist) interpretations from the outside. Comparisons can be made to today (Vietnam War vs. Invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq). Definitely interesting. 4 out of 5.
Day One of the 2011 New Zealand International Film Festival (Wellington).
At one of the LFS events I went to whilst in London, I got to chatting with a woman who lectures in Documentary Film at a University in Wales. She was not familiar with any New Zealand documentaries or documentary filmmakers. So I wrote a list for her to look up:
*(yes, Docudramas, but I’m including them.)
and, for fun, Forgotten Silver, dir. Peter Jackson and Costa Botes; a film I would recommend it to any film buff for a good giggle.
There must have been more great documentaries that I missed. If you were asked to sum up New Zealand Documentary Filmmaking to someone unfamiliar with it, which films would you have listed? Which filmmakers?
I nearly shared my favourite documentary with her. However, knowing that the documentary was only available at the NZ Film Archive, and there was no way for her to see it, I didn’t list it. However, today, NZ On Screen announced that it is available in its entirety on their website. The film is Patu!, directed by Merata Mita. I am so excited that I can now watch the film again, and can share it with others. Please go to nzonscreen to watch it.
My previous email, patricia(at)masc.co.nz hasn’t been working since we migrated masc.co.nz to WordPress. I’ve now set up a personal email account at gmail. So if you would like to email me, my new address is on my About Me page.
I’m currently in London, visiting the bf. I got onto the mailing list for the London Film School before I left, on the off-chance that I could get along to a workshop or seminar or lecture while I’m here. Fortunately they’re running a series of Q+As, and I can make a couple of them.
The topic was Editing. It was a screening of ‘Deep End‘ (1970, dir. Jerzy Skolimowski). The editor, Barrie Vince, was on hand afterwards for the Q+A.
This morning I got to be an extra on my friend Phil’s short, Darling Bullets. He’s doing it as part of his Honours Film Production course. Everyone in the world has a gun, which the female protagonist challenges. If you get to see it, I’m in a crane shot before the cafe scene. Pretty cool.
Today I went to a Script Development Workshop run by the NZ Film Commission and the NZ Writer’s Guild at the NZ Film Archive.
Steve Barr talked about Assessment and taking notes, and later went into Loglines. Kathryn Burnett spoke about Rewriting, giving exercises for responding to assessment in rewriting, and later went into Synopses. Kath Athukata-Brown, a Script Executive at the NZFC spoke about changes in funding at the NZFC (in the Writer Development Loan, the Early Development Fund, and the Advanced Development Loan), and later went into Treatments.
I am very pleased to announce that I will be teaching a Beginner’s Bellydance class at the Victoria University Rec Centre in trimester 2. 
You do not need to be a current student or member of the Rec Centre to take part in these classes.
Classes will be held Wednesdays, 4-5pm. The first 6 week block starts on Weds 13 July and runs to Weds 17 August.
No experience is necessary. All are welcome.
Costs are $10 per class, or $54 for all 6 classes, paid at the first class. CDs with music from the class will be available for $5.
There is a Facebook invite here, with further details. If you are unable to RSVP on the event page, please contact me to let me know if you are coming.
On another dance related note, I am currently arranging a hafla for the Sirroco Middle Eastern Dancers. The hafla is a wonderful opportunity for our Advanced and Beginners Classes to perform. I hope to have a venue confirmed soon, and we are looking at a date in late August. The hafla will include performances from other local dance groups (who will be announced once they are 100% confirmed). Current students, friends, and family will be invited to the event.
Ladies, here are some directions on harem pants
The latter also has a tip on a body stocking.
If you’re going to wear a body stocking, it would be made out of a black sheer fabric.
The flare wrap tops are on TradeMe if you don’t want to make one. Links are here.
Further links on Bellydance costuming can be found at these sites:
Busy Times 