From the SM inbox, a video about the history and modern landscape of creative materials piracy as told by Matt Mason, author of The Pirate’s Dilemma: How Youth Culture Reinvented Capitalism. The question the video raised in our minds was whether or not there's validity to the claim that the state of capitalism is in fact enhanced by piracy, though surely there's no question that creative development is actually spurred on by manipulation of material. It's not a new topic for artists, but it's certainly always a relevant one. Thoughts?
Running August 7-10, 2008, the HollyShorts Film Festival in collaboration with the American Cinematheque will open with Josh Brolin's twisted Antigone narrative X. “I'm proud of the stark nature of this film, how it explores the parent/child relationship and appreciate the support of those willing to embrace my journey into filmmaking. We're excited to show the film and be apart of this event," said Brolin in a festival statement release.
Project of indie filmmakers Arin Crumley, Susan Buice, Lance Weiler & M dot Strange, From Here to Awesome proposes to present and support a new wave of film distribution. For more information visit http://www.fromheretoawesome.com.
Abroad for the first time starting late January, SM Contributing Columnist Mike Brune premiered his short film The Adventure in Rotterdam. Catching up on his journey here, we recap a few of his memorable moments. Visit his site for the full story..
The rough equivalent in density, intensity and humor to a literary Frownland, John Holliday's 'The Assembly' rushes along its own wonderfully, and wonderful, manic trajectory. To attempt to comprehend, or to likewise identify the roots of the lack of comprehension, or to in any other manner, find out where or how or why a thread of thought is lost and found once again, is near impossible while reading, and yet simultaneously, the story is perfectly comprehensible--which, if one was to think about the incomprehensible being comprehensible, one might find oneself quite confounded and then perhaps later overjoyed, as one easily is at the end of this very exhilarating, exhausting short story. Read the full story.
Running a series of interviews with SXSW Emerging Visions filmmakers, Spout Blog speaks with Present Company helmer Frank V. Ross. Read full interview.
Like most of the trades and film online outlets, SM expected the SXSW 2008 lineup to arrive sometime this afternoon. Last night an early, unauthorized release by The Hollywood Reporter broke the news. Following is the list of selections and highlighted a handful of the ones we're pumped to see.
At Saturday night's closing ceremony presenter William H. Macy honored Sundance 2008 award winners. Follow to read the list and our thoughts on the selections.
In a press statement released today, HollyShorts announced its official deadline for entry as May 16. Submission forms are available at both www.hollyshorts.com and on Withoutabox. Read for more detail.
Honeydripper's director John Sayles and producer Maggie Renzi speak with Jane Green over at Film Publicity Help. Following is an excerpt of the conversation:
MR: There’s a scene in the movie when Danny Glover’s character is waiting for the train carrying this guitar player who he thinks is going to come and rescue his club and his finances and his marriage and everything else and Keb Mo’s character is sitting there smirking at Danny Glover’s character while he’s waiting for the train, and says to him “nothing on that train gonna change your luck, Tyrone”. And that’s the way I really feel about distribution. I got a good look across the landscape that I’m quite familiar with because we’ve been doing this for a long time, and I thought there’s nobody there that’s going to change our luck, we’re going to have to change it ourselves.
Mid last week the Sundance Film Festival revealed its line of shorts, a programming mix of 83 films
produced from 17 countries. With 5,107 submissions, both domestic and international, the entries topped more than 15% from the previous year.
“It ain’t me babe, it ain’t me you’re looking for, babe.” In episode 19, Lily and Brooklyn Gang co-founder Rick Sayre review the highly anticipated, entirely unconventional Bob Dylan biopic, Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There. Listen in as they attempt to find some semblance of a storyline in the movie, try to remember film-related names and info without using imdb.com and contemplate the disappearance of Tim Robbins. Plus, the pair delve into their latest Netflix rentals–Away from Her,The Secret Life of Words and In the Land of Women.
Scarlett Cinema's Pamela Kerpius catches up with filmmaker Lena Dunham. 
