L.R.W. - BAGHEAD...The Duplass Brothers and Before You Submit

So,

“What is this Baghead all about?” or “Hey, did you see that trailer about the bag on that guys head, and scary cabin film?” is all I’m hearing for the past few weeks. YES! We all know, and this Friday, you NEED to know. Baghead is our pick for Limited Release Weds.
The Duplass Brothers have always been good to me, and the fests I work with. The connection between writer/director Jay Duplass and his lovely wife (soon to be parents) producer Jen Tracy Duplass is amazing. I was able to spend some time with them in 2004 at the Florida Film Festival. They had to cut their trip early and promised me they wouldn’t win any award for their short film, Scrabble (yes it was Scrabble then) before we had the jury pick their awards for best shorts. Actor/Writer/Brother Mark Duplass was on tour in Florida that week, with his band (at the time), Volcano, I’m Still Excited.
Well, wouldn’t you know it. They won GRAND JURY AWARD for the short and it was my duty to find Mark in Florida and get his ass to the Awards Ceremony. It was 1:00am when the films were decided, I knew Mark was 200 miles away, and I swear if it was any other short, I wouldn’t have thought twice since I was editing the awards CLIP REEL for the festival at 7am. On no sleep, and if I recall, coffee and I had yet to be introduced, so I called Mark (not expecting anything) and next morning, he promised he would make it.
Well, it worked! He drove the van down from Jacksonville, accepted the award and played Gainesville that night. Best acceptance speech ever, as he called Co-Star/Girlfriend at the time/Now wife Katie from the podium and was all smiles. CONGRATS!
Since then, we have kept in touch, Jay has given some amazing advice, and we have even done Q&A’s over cellphones and microphones because they were (and still are) taking over the world.
These guys have come to make some amazing, and some of the most honest shorts Sundance has ever had to offer. Their debut feature The Puffy Chair was accepted by so many critics, and fans for the style of filmmaking they are used to…camera (Jay), audio (Jen), actors (Mark and Katie) = FILM. They have brought some amazing talent with them through the years with the short The Intervention and then new friends and even parents in The Puffy Chair. Picked up by Roadside Attraction at Sundance, The Duplass Brothers and wives have proved this style of filmmaking (minimal budget, working with friends, and amazing ideas), works on SO MANY levels with their new “horror” film Baghead. Sony Picture Classics picked the film earlier this year at Sundance, and the film has been on EVERYONES Myspace’s, Facebooks, and now their Baghead Has A Posse style of marketing is genius. Put a bag on your head, go around, take pics of what Baghead is doing, upload and POST THEM! Try it.
I love these kids, and we at Before You Submit are EXTREMELY happy for EVERYTHING they have done. So this week’s Limited Release Weds. is for them, the fans, and everyone who is understanding how and what they are doing in filmmaking. I’m not saying grabbing a camera and friends will land you festivals, trust me, we watch DOZENS of films like this a week here at BEFORE YOU SUBMIT. But it’s the “what matters” content of these films that being accepted and that’s a start.
Thanks guys!
B.Quain
BYS IS WATCHING

CITIES and THEATERS

NEW YORK NY AMC EMPIRE 25 (Times Square)
NEW YORK NY SUNSHINE CINEMA
LOS ANGELES CA SUNSET 5
PASADENA CA LAEMMLE'S PLAYHOUSE 7
SANTA MONICA CA MONICA FOUR
IRVINE CA UNIVERSITY TOWN CTR 6 CINE
PORTLAND OR CLINTON STREET THEATER
PORTLAND OR LIVING ROOM THEATERS

A RARE LITTLE GEM!

The video for Volcano I’m Still Excited’s “In Green”
Directed by Jay Duplass

The DARK KNIGHT breaks the bank, so WE HEAD TO THE VAULTS: Delicatessen (1991)

So,

What new news can I tell you about The Dark Knight that you don’t know already. It made money… LOTS OF MONEY So, I can give my two cents on my IMAX Experience. A/A- film. UNBELIEVABLE. For Batman, you know it’s great and for a crime/police film…you know it’s amazing!!! Go see it, you know you’re going to anyway. IMAX it up too! OK! Now that we broke the bank on every level, let’s HEAD TO THE VAULT!!!!

THE BYS FILM VAULT



Delicatessen - 1991’s Jean Pierre Jeunet (Amelie, City Of Lost Children) and Marc Caro (City Of Lost Children and 2008’s Dante 01), both collaborated on this award winning (and we mean AWARD winning) French classic. Set in a 1950’s post-apocalyptic rural France, an un-employed Television performing circus clown follows a classified to work as a maintenance guy for a apartment building over a Delicatessen. But little does our circus clown really know what’s going on in the building.
If you love the vibe of Amelie, a film most people know from Jeunet, you will be amazed by his work with Delicatessen. Very dark, but the subtle comedy is there, and comes along with some familiar faces. If the dark comedies and the collapse of civilization is your cup of tea: AKA Fight Club, Brazil, Dr. Strangelove then we’ll leave the whole pot for you….DRINK UP!

What to expect to see before THE DARK KNIGHT?!?

So,

Some of you are in your roped off areas that lead you to go into your theater to see The Dark Knight. I know the anticipation of seeing Ledger playing what we hear is the greatest adaptation of Joker, EVER. I have yet to watch a trailer to the film, seeing as I DON’T WATCH TRAILERS. Never. And don’t ask “how is that possible?” If you have someone with you it’s easy and you learn after seeing 3 films a week in the theater to drown it out. But, then does this blog post make ANY sense at all then?
With that anticipation of Heath Ledger and what we’re expecting to be the darkest Batman in any film series, we may be forgetting one thing. TRAILERS! Which ones are we going to see? DC have some films coming out soon. Green Hornet? JLA? Harry Potter is WB, and they need to start spreading that word soon. When the hell are we going to see thisWatchman trailer? Any predictions of the trailers we’ll see, or have you seen this movie like two thirds of all Facebook statuses I get a day.
I may have to peek a little.

b.quain
BYS IS WATCHING

The Duplass Bros & Baghead in NYC Apple Store 7/18 7:00pm

So,

I was wondering how I can persuade many of you NOT to see The Dark Knight (but all my friends have seen it, so…) on a Friday night, seeing as I have tickets for Saturday. NO FAIR! So…all of you in New York City, I have up-to-the-minute and much more superior plans for you. Plus, for most of you who are still waiting to get a 3G IPhone because of activation, don’t be a silly, get it tomorrow will you are seeing The Duplass Brothers at the Soho Apple Store. Moderated by Cinetic Media’s Matt Dentler.
For those who are subscribed to the blog, or reading this, you know who these “mumblecore” pioneers are. With their amazing, and award winning short films, The Duplass Brothers made debut feature film gold with The Puffy Chair and recently Sony Picture Classics picked up Baghead at Sundance. Baghead will have a limited release date of July 25th. Joining the boys will be Baghead stars Greta Gerwig and Ross Partridge.
This discussion will be a must to see, and get there early, since it’s a first come first seat basis. Also, don’t be afraid to raid your favorite bodega and poke some holes in that paper bag, come dressed up.
Soho Apple Store (103 Prince Street, NYC) – 7:00pm and it’s FREE!

Tell them Brian Quain sent ya. And send your pictures to info@beforeyousubmit.com

b.quain
BYS is Watching

L.R.W. - The Dark Knight, Transsiberian, and Mama Mia...don't ask!

So,

As we all know, The Dark Knight launches on Thursday with thousands of midnight screenings. Most of us won’t be making it to those packed house viewings, so we all have to wait for Friday night. Then most of us who have a IMAX theater nearby, will have to wait Saturday or Sunday to see it on the exclusive IMAX since it’s sold out now for it’s opening weekend in MANY of these IMAX theaters. So…why is Mama Mia coming out on Friday? Well, if you’re an idiot and didn’t pre-purchase tickets this week, YOUR Dark Knight will be sold out, and now you’re stuck with MAMA MIA?
So, why a Mama Mia mention on a LIMITED RELEASE WEDNESDAY??! Well, most indie companies were smart not to release any new releases…BUT ONE, JUST ONE, does come to mind that should be a must see to break away from blockbuster madness!



TRANSSIBERIAN – Screenwriter/Director Brad Anderson (The Machinist, Session 9) returns to film, after trying his hand at television (Surface, Masters Of Horror). Transsiberian tells the tale of an American couple riding a Tran-Siberian train from China to Moscow. Emily Mortimer, Woody Harrelson, Kate Mara and Ben Kingsley star in this thriller that Brad Anderson promises won’t be as comedic as the 1973 film “Horror Express”.

MY HONEST OPINION: I have seen most of Brad Anderson’s work and have enjoyed the majority of it. The stellar cast is enough to get my rear in the theater. PLUS! This film is playing the Angelika! A film on a train, the Angelika…huh? I think you know what I mean!!! Friggin brilliant. You can’t ask for more. If you don’t get it, GO see this, and see it there!

That’s really it this week for Limited Release Wednesday. This is a new section of our blogging in which we will take care of you and list the new indie films that will be coming to LA and NYC. Expect to see some of them making their rounds nationwide in other indie-cinema outlets.

Well, enjoy the Dark Knight, and SEE IT ON IMAX!

b.quain

HELP the Zellners Brothers find GOLIATH On-Demand?!?!

Congrats to the Zellner Brothers and their massive work they have been doing for a decade now…with a few features and so many award winning shorts, the boys are now able to have EVERYONE see a FORTHQ masterpiece.

Yesterday, David Zellner announced that Goliath is on IFC Direct’s On-Demand.
IFC DIRECT

I was able to grab Rex Reed by his shoulders and ask him is he is paralyzed because he stated “I don’t feel anything for this film”, see why!! This film is EVERYTHING Zellner Brothers and brilliant.

So…WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! Enjoy a man and his missing cat.
b.quain

David Redmon and Ashley Sabin start CARNIVALESQUE FILMS DVD

So Matthew Curtis (Programming Director) at the Enzian Theater and the Florida Film Festival keeps me updated on the films that have passed their offices from year to year. I have attended their festival for a decade now, and worked with them for 7 or 8, wow, how the time is flying. So when new news comes in for Matthew, usually I am the first to know. But, the best news came in this week for Florida and my friends over at Carnivalesque Films, David Redmon and Ashley Sabin. The two have started their own DVD label!!! For those who know David and Ashley are asking, “when the hell do they have time to do all this?”



In 2005, their documentary and the first release on their label, “Mardi Gras: Made In China” hit festivals, and hit HARD. A doc that follows the (teenage girls) workers of a bead-making factory in China. Beads made for necklaces that are thrown to woman who show their boobs at the annual New Orleans fest, Mardi Gras. Well, if it’s a doc, and it deals with teenage girls making next to worse than nothing, the film needs to be extremely riveting, and WOW! Their film won awards EVERYWHERE, including the (shameless plug) Grand Jury Award at Florida. Then…
2007, Redmon and Sabin made “Kamp Katrina” and they return to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina passes through, destroying homes, shops, cities, but not the hopes of survivors trying to survive day by day. Kamp Katrina portrays survivors of the devastating storm, and a closed camp who have hopes, but some scary problems at the same time. Brilliant film. A+
2008 comes and the kids are back with a new survival film of a different kind. “Intimidad” is a love film that follows a Mexican couple trying to make ends meet, just so they can get back to their daughter, who’s living with the grandparents in America. The film is still playing fests, so I won’t go too much into it. Just SEE IT! Well we asked before “how the hell do they do it?”
Ashley and David have to be in the hardest working company in film. Three massively award winning films in four years…still attending fests to meet the audience and accept their awards. Now have their own DVD LABEL, which other amazing award winning films will be distributed, and now you can finally see Mardi Gras: Made In China” on DVD, coming out on July 29th.
From their website: New news..
“Carnivalesque Films is a new production and distribution company whose goal is to explore how personal stories relate to complex social issues. David Redmon and Ashley Sabin - directors of the award winning films KAMP KATRINA and INTIMIDAD - founded Carnivalesque Films and will release three award winning films ORPHANS (Ry Russo-Young), THE HOLY MODAL ROUNDERS: BOUND TO LOSE (Paul Lovelace and Sam Douglas), and MANHATTAN, KANSAS (Tara Wray) on September 28, October 30, and November 16, 2008. “
Tara Wray’s Manhattan, Kansas is a must see. Tara was great at the IFP Market in NYC 3 years ago, looking for funding for the doc, and great to see how far she has come since her debut at SXSW in 2006, winning her the Audience Award.
You’ll be able to pick up Mardi Gras: Made In China (and we think you BETTER!) from Amazon, Best Buy, Borders, buy.com, etc. Also, rent online at Netflix!
Congrats KIDS! Love ya! See you soon!!!!

b.quain

Oh Poor Hancock...My Rant, and Review

Poor poor Hancock. Why all the bad rap? A 36% on Rottentomatoes?! Really? This film proves my theory of “If this critic hated it, it HAS to be bad!!!” Well, it’s not great. And, for the past two weeks, it has rained shit all over the new Will Smith film, so after seeing it, seriously….what the hell was everyone expecting? So, my basic 3 steps on how Hancock will NEVER get an “A Rating” from anyone.

1) Will Smith – yup, I said it. Plays the same role in every film. This was a gimmie.
2) Written by television screenwriters and producers, also TV directing from time to time. So, this means…predictable dialogue with shorter scenes, which means, a shorter film with bad character development.
3) Superhero films equal expectations. Thanks Marvel Studios, but it’s true.

So, why is Hancock getting a better rating from me than EVERY one else? Like I said, it’s not great. Is it good? To be honest, with those three reasons, then too many holes in the films plot, and a twist so predictable (M. Night your off the hook), this film was just instant eye candy. The 92 minute self absorbed alcoholic superhero film felt like an hour, so that gets a point. There were at least 12 kids in this theater out of 20 people in the seating room, and the film (for a superhero flick) threw shit, asshole, and fuck around like it was a 18 inning Houston Astros game. That gets a bigger point. Decent EFX. Plus, I was going to see Journey To the Center Of the World in 3D, but the theater didn’t have it in 3D, so we went to Hancock. NO EXPECTATIONS.
The film was never touched by MARVEL, so really, there was a plus there again. Was it targeting for kids? It has to be. No matter what Superhero film coming out right now, it’s targeted towards kids. Summer…schools out. Superhero means kids. Hancock can have his second half of his name hanging out and kids are in the seats, SUPERHEROS!!!
So for all of those who will not go see Hancock, GOOD! Perfect! Don’t! But for those who did and need some kind of explanation of why this film was SO BAD. It’s HANCOCK! Get over it. Go see The Dark Knight in 6 days. If I have to hear someone tell me Hancock was the worst film this year, you’re an idiot. Seriously!
So what did I give Hancock? Rating: C+