Emerging Artist Productions

Slamdance Opening Night Party: Raul-Style

2011-01-22T18:59:00.000-08:00

608 Main Street was the setting for the Slamdance Opening Night Party and Emerging Artist Productions was there, talking to filmmakers from all around the country both shorts and features, narratives and documentaries...

Raul Bustamante was there, handling the interview duties along with Phil Turner on Sound, Joel H Hinojosa shooting, Brett Sims doing triple duty as 1st AC/Grip (and photographer) with Bernard Fok & John Tulin producing along with Sinohui Hinojosa who also directed.

We'll have some of these interviews up on the blog over the course of the next few weeks, along with some first hand reviews of their films and more.

Park City: Music, Movies and Magic

2011-01-22T13:48:00.000-08:00

Access Film-Music brings Park City and the Sundance festivities a sense of musical charm, as live performances play to packed houses, filmmakers, music lovers and the like.

Originally conceived as a way to have independent performers play their music for filmmakers, it has grown to become a terrific way to to showcase live performances throughout the festival as performers from around the country take to the stage with stunning performances.

MIKE BECK, the host of this year's Access Film-Music has crafted an eclectic mix of performers from soulful jazz-infused singer-songwriters to country-folk and alternative genres with amazing results - all performing daily at this year's venue THE SPUR on Main Street.

We caught up with one of those performers last night, as Amber Rubarth transformed the stage with a beautiful live performance:

Amber Rubarth courtesy of Josh Mitchell and Wickid Pissa Publicity

Sundance Launch - An Elmo Connection and the Pumping Rythm

2011-01-20T23:05:00.000-08:00

As we stand in line for the opening night party....one of my producing partners (MacKenzie Smith) begins to work the people in line, finding out what they are in Park City for...

...what films they are supporting and first up is someone who has connections with Being Elmo, a film about Kevin Clash the muppet performer which is being featured at Sundance definitely a must see), next up we meet with Onur Tukel from SimianNation.com who we meet, having done design and art for one of the films here at the festival, then we meet David Miller (producer) and his director who are working on shorts now and plan to work on multiple feature films in the future...

Other than the draconian drink limitations (really, it's the opening party of the film festival and EVERYONE is limited to three drinks max) the party was a terrific mix of flamboyant party-goers and fun-seekers, but luckily we were only on the hunt for like-minded filmmakers and there were many to be had....

...tomorrow we are off to pick up our Slamdance passes and a whole new world of film festivals as we hit the indie fest pretty hard with interviews, photos and more...

...to be continued.

The Noisy neighbor

2011-01-18T15:51:00.000-08:00

So if you didn't know Sundance has an annoying neighbor that just won't go away. Slamdance aims to be bigger and better than ever before in 2011

22 features and 56 shorts means it make a lot of noise and not just a place to go if Sundance is too busy.

Check out a trailer for 'Little White Lines' that premiered at Slamdance in 2009 and was directed and shot by Emerging Artists co-founder Joel Hinojosa.

To read more about the Slamdance Film Festival click here

The Film Fund (Screenwriters Please READ THIS)

2011-01-16T23:01:00.000-08:00

Watching the Golden Globes, curious who would win for Best Screenplay, I commented aloud that I would love for Christopher Nolan's INCEPTION to win, but to be honest to myself, Aaron Sorkin deserved the title for the masterful dialogue in a film that is filled with people sitting in front of computers, typing.

While the imagery and insightful editing and effects of INCEPTION grabbed me from the very first moment, Sorkin's script did something different, it made me pay attention, not just to the spoken word, but the undertone coming from its inside place, it was a joy to hear and read. And just as he mentioned in his acceptance speech about (and I am paraphrasing here) treating the audience as if they are at least as intelligent as the filmmakers -it makes me think about all of the screenwriters out there that never get their projects made, receiving rejection notices and envelopes returned but never opened.

To read more about Sorkin's win.

Which leads us to the reason for this post, currently EAP is preparing a film fund, a multi-project fund for investors to support and ultimately film a minimum of five feature films.

We have four of those films locked in, a few with incredible A-list talent and production teams in place (sorry, but I can't discuss it here, yet), a couple that are still in rewrite, but at least one spot is completely open and available, so IF you are a struggling screenwriter, maybe this will be a good read for you...

Effective immediately, from today through Feb 15th, 2011, Emerging Artist Productions will be accepting new feature film scripts for review.

Each film must be registered with the WGA, be a min of 80 pages in length and traditionally formatted. The film in question can have no production or actor attachments (but will consider on a case by case basis, you never know) and should have a strong narrative hook, dynamic dialogue and be a film YOU would want to go to the theaters, sit down with some popcorn and want to see.

That last part is important, because there are a large number of filmmakers out there that would rather craft an incomprehensible mess of a story together in the hope that the audience will be spellbound by it's audacity.

We would much rather watch a film that resonates with us, tell us a good story and we will produce something that you can be proud of...

So, to submit your scripts, you must first submit a LOGLINE, along with a listing of main characters and their ages, once we receive those, we will contact you with complete submission information. FYI, this is in no way a guarantee that we will read, accept or produce your screenplay, but if you have a story that needs to be seen, that compels us to read in one sitting, that moves us and makes us marvel at the unique nature of the characters, then we will definitely give it a fair shake.

Please send us your loglines and character information via the contact section above and we will get back to you within 7 calendar days.

DO NOT SEND ANY SCRIPTS AT THIS TIME - They will not be read.

Sunnyvale Company brings Wi-Fi to Sundance

2011-01-16T16:37:00.000-08:00

Park City Utah is about to be broadband enabled with a newly installed wireless network that will help keep festival goers online and web-ready.

Over the past few years the problem of too many wireless devices seeking the limited capacity bandwidth the ski destination had to offer all came to a head at last year's festival. Too many iPhones tied up the system and made it all but impossible to get a solid signal except at certain locations, luckily Cinergy Wi-Fi has been updating and setting up a new system that will keep the mobile devices up to speed.

Best of all, the Sundance Institute made sure that the access would be free. For more on the story, check out this article:

READ MORE...

For me, you or any other 'newbies' to Sundance

2011-01-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

Let's take a few moments explaining how you're going to survive Sundance. From 8:30 a.m. to midnight Sundance is showing movies nonstop at venues spread across Park City. That means that in any given day you could end up seeing four or even five movies. Have you ever tried to do two movies in a row at your local theater? Well, try doing five. It's exciting, but exhausting at the same time.

Check out Surviving Sundance, an article on inside advice and tips for a great festival experience.

Music makes a move in Park City.

2011-01-15T12:46:00.000-08:00

Variety has an interesting article about the Sundance music scene.

From acts like 50 Cent to Carole King, Sundance brings an incredible lineup to Utah, check out more at Variety's website.

READ MORE...

Oscar surprises

2011-01-14T21:30:00.000-08:00

Every year during Oscar season, you can always safely guess one thing: Before the awards are presented, critics will complain about how predictable the Oscars are. But while every year seems to have a few obvious results, you do get the occasional shocker.

Take the 1996 awards, for example, when Lauren Bacall was expected to be named Best Supporting Actress because, frankly, she was getting old. Instead, young Juliette Binoche’s name was announced, which was a problem, because she hadn’t even prepared a speech. “I don’t know why I got this,” she apologized. “I thought Lauren would win.” Yes, sometimes the Oscars can surprise.

Torchwood USA Now Torchwood: Miracle Day

2011-01-14T10:58:00.000-08:00

Coming this July to the Starz network and the BBC simultaneously, the new series of Torchwood episodes will be called Miracle Day. Not unlike last series' Children of Earth (one of the best five hours of television we have ever seen), the title evokes an immediate feel of the 10 episode arc.

For those of you not in the know, Torchwood is set in the Dr Who universe and while originally a BBC production, this series will take place in both Cardiff and the USA. The original UK show-runners have been holed up in Los Angeles and new writers have been brought in (including genre specialists like Jane Espenson - Battlestar Galactica, Buffy, Deep Space Nine, Firefly, Angel) to help out. All in all a pretty interesting experiment with the show being broadcast both here and across the pond (Dr Who pun, so sue me) starting in July.

For more on the show check out Televisionary's blog for more details.

If you can't be here, be there...

2011-01-14T08:22:00.000-08:00

Sundance invites you to take a seat.

The Sundance Film Festival expands to audiences across the country for one special night of film and dialogue.

On January 27, the Sundance Film Festival dispatches nine filmmakers from Park City to nine cities across the country to screen and discuss their direct-from-Festival films with audiences.

On the same night, Utah Festivalgoers celebrate this collective moment with special screenings and other events.

check out the list of screenings and venues .....

sundance institute announces films selected to screen

75th Anniversary

2011-01-13T19:09:00.000-08:00

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has announced the nominees for the 2011 DGA Awards, to be held on January 29, 2011 in Los Angeles.

Past DGA Award winners, including Kathryn Bigelow, Clint Eastwood and Martin Scorsese, will serve as co-chairs of the event, which has in the past served as a reliable predictor of who will go on to win the Academy Award for Best Director.

Since the DGA Awards began only six of the winners for Best Feature Film Director have not gone on to win the corresponding Academy Award that same year.

Check out a list of nominees here....

http://www.dga.org/75years/index.php#features

Virtual Trade Show: The Future of Content Delivery?

2011-01-13T18:33:00.000-08:00

VIRTUAL Trade Show - less travel, no reservation mishaps and you can wear pajamas!!

On Jan 19th, Digital Vision 2011 will launch with an interactive website geared to the digital content creator, whether you are using DSLRs, 3D or other hot button equipment, all you need is a solid internet connection, a laptop and the URL to join in.

Did we mention it was free? REGISTER HERE

With thousands of attendees, a virtual networking lounge, scheduled online chats covering everything from sound mixing to post-production, plus conference sessions and product demos.

C'mon, what are you waiting for, grab your bunny slippers and register today!

Is this the largest Production crew ever ?

2011-01-13T17:18:00.000-08:00

A novel idea to make a movie and one I am sure will be repeated many times in the future.

Is this the new movie makers idea of a flash mob?

Check out more about "Life in a Day" and it's premiere at Sundance 2011.

Watch the trailer HERE

http://www.youtube.com/user/lifeinaday

Here or across the pond...Being Human.

2011-01-07T13:41:00.000-08:00

I'll be honest, not quite sure how to feel about this...

US Version:

Being Human has been one of our favorite shows on BBC America, fresh, well written and quite a unique way to present a ghost, a werewolf and a vampire and bring them to the 21st century. Now the show has been remade and the American version (above) will be launching on the SyFy Channel.

UK Version (Original):

No idea if the new version will be able to live up to the original, but we'll able to check it out when it launches on January 17th on the SyFy channel (check your local listings).

From TOHO with Love!

2011-01-06T17:39:00.000-08:00

The Hollywood Reporter just broke an exclusive and very interesting story that really made my day. As it turns out, the EAP team saw a film last Dec (in Los Angeles) that surprised and astonished us, a film that was originally described to us as a film with larger than life creatures from another world and two people caught up in their journey home.

MONSTERS is a look back at giant monsters movies of old with a current and modern twist - it's actually a road movie and the story is about the people that live in the world of alien giants. The creatures in question are both important and are part of the landscape, but it is a surprising large scale feeling film, that turned out to be made on a shoestring budget with a small seven-man crew handling the majority of the production duties.

Gareth Edwards not only directed the film, but shot and created all of the digital effects, using real life environments to accentuate the raw feel - the film will be coming out on Bluray in Feb (just ordered mine today, what are you waiting for...) and now it is being reported that the filmmaker may get the helm of the latest giant monster film being produced by, wait for it....

LEGEND.....ARY!

The same folks who brought us Inception, The Dark Knight and scores of other recent hits....even better the project comes as a Warner Bros. co-production from the source material licensed from Toho International, that said, it should come as no shock as Gareth will now get his chance to play with the king of the monsters, none other than:

GODZILLA!!!

Can't wait.

READ MORE...

Hate the Green, Like the Red: Trailer Makes the Difference

2011-01-04T00:15:00.000-08:00

Cinema Blend has the new Red Band trailer for the new Natalie Portman/Ashton Kutcher film, NO STRINGS ATTACHED. I've seen the poster, I watched the first general audience trailer and quite frankly I was in the thanks, but no thanks seats....

...but I think this Red Band trailer may have changed my mind and a good thing too, the dialogue (with it's frankness and occasional profanity) seems much sharper and more directed in this trailer, take a look and let us know what you think.

WATCH IT HERE...

Remaking Leagues: Jules Verne in 3D

2011-01-03T09:06:00.000-08:00

While I am no big fan of remakes, or should I say, bad remakes of classic films (The Day the Earth Stood Still anyone?) I will have to admit, I am curious as to what David Fincher might do with Captain Nemo, in 3D no less. Check out ScreenRant for more.

RIP Pete Postlewaite

2011-01-03T08:37:00.000-08:00

1946-2011

Coming off a grand year with INCEPTION and THE TOWN under his belt, we are saddened to hear that Pete Postlewaite passed away last night in Shropshire, England, UK. To revisit some of his top roles including a turn in JURASSIC PARK: THE LOST WORLD & THE USUAL SUSPECTS, head over to the MTV Blog for more.

Aren't YOU an Emerging Artist?

2011-01-02T22:54:00.000-08:00

Emerging Artist Production's Digital Filmmaking Group

More than a year ago we decided to launch a new filmmaking initiative, a chance to network with other filmmakers, offer advice and support to new ones and create a safe space to explore the craft of digital filmmaking.

Our Meetup group launched in November of 2009 and since then we have had over 60 workshops, meetings and instructional get-togethers with over 250 filmmakers participating. The idea behind starting this group had more to do with the lack of support services for filmmakers in the San Jose South Bay Area, but since then we have helped to create multiple short films, specialty projects and web content.

If you are looking for individuals to help on your next project, want to network here in the South Bay or just find out what is going on, be sure to check us out, because when it all comes down to it....

...aren't we all emerging artists?

New Year's Long Shot

2011-01-02T13:41:00.000-08:00

For those of you that haven't seen one of the best performances of last year, you need to rush out and go see TRUE GRIT, the latest Coen Bros. film starring Hailee Steinfeld in the role of a lifetime. I'm pretty sure some other people are in it, but as she steals every scene she is in (about 85% of the film) she is truly the star of the piece.

Unfortunately she is being targeted by the studio as a Supporting Actress nominee, while for all intents and purposes she should land the Best Actress nod. We are in complete agreement with Guy Lodge, read more of his wishlist HERE... from his In Contention blog.

Life and death of 'Punk Goddess' Marian Anderson detailed onscreen at Slamdance 2011

2011-01-02T00:36:00.000-08:00

First-time director Lilly Scourtis Ayers will premiere her feature documentary in Park City. UT this January at the next Slamdance Film Festival. Narrated by Henry Rollins, the film details the life of the sexually charged performer who made Bay Area headlines in the 90's for a provocative performance and subsequent arrest in Berkeley...

Thinking Sundance, I know we are....

2011-01-02T00:20:00.000-08:00

Families, Sundance are compatible. By Lois M. Collins, Deseret News.

READ MORE...

FOX in league with the terrorists! Jack Bauer goes down.

2011-01-02T00:10:00.000-08:00

Entertainment Weekly and other websites report that FOX has done what scores of terrorists have failed to do, they have killed off Jack Bauer. Or rather, his cinema chances, as FOX has nixed a script by Billy Ray (State of Play) that would have continued the exploits of the beleaguered CTU agent.

Howard Gordon, one of the creative voices behind 24 (Fox-Television) continues to have high hopes in bringing the real-time stories to the big screen, unfortunately FOX needs to get behind the script and apparently this current draft just wasn't compelling enough.

Only time will tell if Jack and Chloe will ever make it back, but we can hope.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T21:58:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first new EAP blog of 2011

Coming off an extremely eventful and satisfying 2010, which included the second annual San Jose Short Film Festival, producing a children's television show for the local CW station, two editions of the 3 Day Film Challenge under our belts, our digital filmmaking group expanding to over 250 members, multiple new collaborations and film projects, not to mention the opening of our own studio near downtown Campbell, all in all, last year was very productive.

But now it's time to get busy.

No question, 2011 is going to be a big year for Emerging Artist Productions and Emerging Artist Studios as we venture into new areas, building on relationships and collaborations as we get ready to announce some big news, some new projects and the expansion of others.

So be sure to check back here for more news (as we will be returning to the blogging arena and plan regular updates), photos, videos and more.

Welcome to 2011, it's going to be one helluva ride.

Welcome to France!

2010-04-29T16:10:00.000-07:00

Day Four: Thursday

We took the Eurostar train from London to Paris. Nice train although nothing particularly spectacular. The meal was quite good (we were served breakfast), and the the trip was quick, only about 2 hours. I must say the station at St. Pancras International was really nice.

We did have a few mishaps along the way....my cheap Chinese suitcase lost the use of one of its handles and we discovered that the entry gates for the Paris Metro are both strong and fast! My suitcase got caught in the gate door before I could get it through all the way and I had to muscle it through. I'm sure the Parisians were laughing at the retarded tourist.

After struggling to find the way out from the Les Halles station (exits in the middle of a multi-level shopping center), I was finally left with the feeling that I was in a different country, something that never really hit me in London, or at least not to the same degree.

Standing on the street in Paris I really felt that I was in a really old, really BIG city. I mean it just feels huge. New York and LA are big but neither feel to me like a cohesive city although they spread out over a huge area. Can't wait to get the camera out later to take some snaps and get some footage. Luckily, the T2i does 1080, although only in 7 minute increments.

After a short walk, we got all our bags and ourselves to the hotel which was pretty much as advertised. Very well situated, very friendly staff, and very TINY rooms. Quick tip, get a room with a bath if you can, because the standalone showers are freaking small. Like small enough that you probably wouldn't be able to turn around small.

After taking a nap, we made our way out to eat and to get a feel for the area. We ate at a nearby restaurant called Au Pied de Cochon, which had something to do with pigs. The food was fair but not great...looking forward to better food tomorrow. The creme brulee was pretty good and so was the espresso.

Oh yeah...on the way to the hotel we saw some strange dude who was dancing energetically (mostly power skipping if you can picture that in your mind) and a naked dude standing unfortunately close to a large window. At least he had his back to us.

Anyways, made me feel like I was at home in San Francisco.

Alexa getting ready to battle the Red One.

2010-04-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

This year at the recent NAB convention, we had the opportunity to check out the new Alexa camera from Arri - no question, it is the first camera created as a direct response to the Red One digital cinema camera. Brilliant engineering, great handling and a 35 CMOS Bayer Sensor make it more than a match for similar systems costing considerably more.

EndGadget has a great intro article about it HERE, one key aspect is it's ability for dual output (this camera can output to SxS card creating 1080 ProRes444 or 442 Quicktime files, while simultaneously outputting what they call 2k ARRIRAW - a high end digital ray file ready for color, comform and VFX work).

Truly the next generation of digital cinema cameras (though we can't wait for the head to head test with Red's new Epic line - which looks fantastic) - more on the Alexa on their site HERE.

3D Pushback - Nightmare Director Says No To 3D

2010-04-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

Interestingly enough, with (almost) everyone jumping on board the 3D bandwagon, turns out that Samuel Bayer, the director of the new Nightmare remake just said no.

Read the full story at Slashfilm HERE

Google Me featured on Oprah today!

2010-04-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

The feature documentary "Google Me" was featured today on Oprah, turns out Emerging Artist Productions produced the trailer, check it out here:

Welcome to England!

2010-04-26T23:30:00.000-07:00

Day One: Monday

After a somewhat long flight on Virgin Atlantic (lovely way to fly), I arrived (somewhat late) at London Heathrow Terminal 3 at around noon. Heathrow is a huge and incredibly busy airport, and is considered one of the top two airports in the world, in terms of traffic. I've been here once before and it's fairly straightforward to get around.

Unlike my first trip (where I was met by my brother and taken through a seemingly incomprehensible warren of connecting passages), my uncle picked me up at the airport in a car.

My last trip out I only was in a car once, when I took a cab somewhere. I assumed the somewhat reckless driving was merely due to the fact that it was a taxi driver. Nope! I'm pretty sure I got some gray hairs as my uncle zipped to his home in Ealing, on the outskirts of London.

After a brief lunch at home with my uncle and aunt, we walked to downtown Ealing and walked around a bit. It's a suburb of London but still large enough to have a few shopping malls. While some of the stores were different than here in the US, there were still quite a few familiar faces, such as my home away from home....Starbucks

Strangely enough, with the current exchange rate, my standard cappuccino costs almost exactly the same...lucky for me.

Well, after walking around for a bit, we went out for a good Chinese meal. I had only slept for a couple of hours on the flight, so I was pretty wiped at that point.

Time to get some zzz and get set for our first foray out to London proper and a chance to test out the new Canon T2i that I picked up for the trip.