If you haven’t already heard, two bearded gents from Minneapolis have helmed a local Doritos spot that is creating a whole lotta national buzz.  “Snack Attack Samurai” – Cole Koehler and Ben Krueger’s entry in Doritos’ annual Crash The Super Bowl competition – has been culled from over 4,000 submissions to remain as one of 6 finalists with a shot at a million bucks and airtime at the Super Bowl.  (The fact that they have facial hair is really neither here nor there, I just dig their style.)

They need YOUR help to get there though; go to www.crashthesuperbowl.com to cast one vote a day until January 31st, at which point the top 3 vote-grabbing commercials will be aired as Doritos® brand commercials during Super Bowl XLIV! Not that I needed to mention it, but every vote you cast will be a chance for YOU to win Super Bowl tix as well.  And that’s not all. If any of the top 3 commercials is selected as the best by USA Today Ad Meter, Doritos® will award the makers of that commercial $1,000,000! With enough hometown support, we can make these talented fellows #1… plus, just think of all the beers they’ll owe us!

What’s just as impressive as the genuinely hilarious and well-done spot, is the giant friggin’ promotional onslaught these guys have waged.  Social networking sites have played a major part in their groundswell of support:

• Become a fan on Facebook here

• Follow them on Twitter here

…as well as a very slick website made especially for the spot:

• Peep the official “Snack Attack Samurai” website here

…even some great coverage in the local press:

• City Pages, Metromix, KARE 11 and WCCO have covered Cole & Ben

… not to mention the tight-knit, rockstar film production community that has spread the “Snack Attack” word far and wide.  Congrats to everyone involved thus far; may we be toasting even better news come February 7th!  Now get out there and vote!!!

www.crashthesuperbowl.com

Ladies, the deadline draws near on an opportunity to represent Minnesota in a global festival that showcases women’s perspectives in the art of filmmaking.  Minnesota’s chapter of Women In Film and Television (MN WIFT) is getting geared up for another WIFTI Short Film Showcase as part of the Walker Art Center’s 17th Annual Women with Vision Film Festival, and they’re looking for your short film submissions.  Send in your short under twenty minutes by January 15th and share your vision.  From the MN WIFT website:

“The 2010 WIFTI Short Film Showcase celebrates the creative strength of female filmmakers from across the globe and right in our own backyard. The accomplished selection of international short films, by and about women are from juried festivals around the world. From Sydney and Sweden to the Twin Cities, screenings will be held in honor of International Women’s Day.

When: The Showcase will be held at the Walker Art Center during the Women With Vision Film Festival in Minneapolis on Sunday, March 14, 2010.
Submission Deadline: January 15, 2010 (postmarked)
Submission Fee: None
Program: Short Films only of 20 minutes max in length
Completion Date: Films must have been completed no earlier than January, 2006

This year we will be accepting open submissions from all women filmmakers from all parts of the world, our sister chapters under WIFTI alliance and our own local MN WIFT chapter. One MN WIFT member will be presented the “Outstanding Achievement” award. In addition the honored filmmaker of the night will be given a cash prize.”

Head over to the website for complete submission details, and to learn more about becoming a member email membership@mnwift.org.  Whether you’re already in the industry or looking to get involved, WIFT is a fantastic opportunity for women of all walks to find inspiration, encouragement, and support from fellow female mediamakers.

A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste, indeed.  The filmmakers behind Dirty Country have taken a cue from that adage and documented, befriended, and ushered one of the dirtiest – and most prolific – minds into the spotlight with their 2007 SXSW Audience Award-winning feature documentary.  While extremely profane (and proudly so), Dirty Country is as touching and well-crafted as it is gutter-minded, telling the story of retired factory worker Larry Pierce as he pursues his savant-like talent for penning filthy songs.  (WARNING: Trailer not for the easily offended.)

Dirty Country trailer

And now, Dirty Country is out on DVD, just in time for everyone on your naughty list this holiday season! The unrated Director’s Cut DVD includes never before seen footage, a full Larry Pierce concert with i-tis, filmmaker commentary, a how-to video on playing “warshers”, and much more!  Just listen to the glowing praise…

“Easily the funniest thing I’ve seen at SXSW” -Film.com

“I have rarely heard people laugh so much at a documentary –
and not just giggles but full-blown belly laughs.” -Cinematical

“At the heart of ‘Dirty Country’ is an upbeat underdog story.” -MLive.com

“Good (unclean) fun.” -Jim Ridley, Nashville Scene

“‘Dirty Country’ is as critically engaging as it is jaw-droppingly foul.”
-Calgary International Film Festival

“A raunchy, surprisingly affecting doc.” -Tracy McCormick, Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine

The film has quite a bit of Minnesota talent tied to it, from producers to editors to post-production support… even a live concert section filmed at Fridley, MN’s own Main Event!  Show your support – spread the word and help build buzz for this epic release by adding Dirty Country to your queues on Netflix and Blockbuster Online.  Become a fan on Facebook.  And check out the official site for all the latest info!

QUICK LINKS:
• Netflix (add DC to your queue!)
• Blockbuster Online (add DC to your queue!)
• Hastings (order the DVD!)
• Become a Fan on Facebook
• Visit our official site for all the latest info (and to order the DVD)

I encourage everyone to come down to BLB tomorrow and check out SCRAP, the new documentary from Paul von Stoetzel, which tells the tale of two men who live by a “something-from-nothing” ethos, creating massively amazing things from other people’s everyday junk.  The film is screening in the Twin Cities on Thursday, October 8th for a test run before it begins its stint on the festival circuit.

SCRAP follows the history of two eccentric builders and their amazing structures which were both built by a single man. The Forevertron, located in Wisconsin and built by Tom Every, is recognized as the world’s largest scrap metal sculpture which was created to send his soul into space after he dies. Bishop Castle, located in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and built by Jim Bishop, is a ten story castle that he has been erecting without any outside help since 1969. The film focuses on the eccentric architects of these structures, as they are as fascinating and awe inducing as their creations.

So grab a Vita.MN tomorrow, check out the first review of SCRAP, and then come out and show some support.  Paul’s been working on this doc for over 5 years and a lot of amazing and talented people worked on this such as Brianna Deihl, Kari Jo Skogquist, and a phenomenal score by local legends Mike Gunther and His Restless Souls.

Advance tickets are recommended as seating is limited.

WHAT- One Night Only Sneak Peak Screening of SCRAP
WHERE- Minneapolis Bryant-Lake Bowl,
810 West Lake Street, Minneapolis MN, 55408
WHEN- Thursday October 8th, Doors at 6:00pm, screening begins at 7:00pm
TICKETS- $8.00 at www.bryantlakebowl.com

The 10th Annual Sound Unseen Film Festival is in full swing, with a plethora of options for film and music fans tonight, Friday, and into the weekend.  It’s a fantastic line-up of feature-length music docs and narratives that provides something for everyone (kudos Programming Director Jim Brunzell!).

What’s that?  You’re far too ADD to sit through 90 minutes of film, no matter how rock-tastic it may be?  This post-MTV world of iTubes and MyBooks has you trained to hit refresh every few minutes?  Well then, this Saturday October 3rd the Oak Street has the perfect bite-size portion of rawk for those peepers: The Local Shorts Program.

This line-up is an all-MN cornucopia of music videos, band interviews, music-based docs and more.  And just when you’re craving something new, BAM!… on to the next tasty morsel of audio-visual magicalness (spell-check just told me that “magicalness” is not a word.  I’m pretty sure it’s wrong.)

Come out this Saturday and support the local artists that keep cranking out unbelievable work in our fair state.  From hip-hop fairy tales and live concert docs, to interstellar rock battles and beyond, the Local Shorts Program is a superb homegrown mix of what really makes Minnesota so “nice”: an arts culture that can support and serve the sonically AND cinematically inclined, as well as a festival that speaks to both.

Sound Unseen Local Shorts Program
Saturday, October 3rd – 7pm
Oak Street Cinema
309 Oak St SE, Mpls

The line-up includes:

Todd Cobery and Scott Wenner – P.O.S. “Drum Roll” (music video)
Doomtree’s P.O.S. running from bombs.  Lots of bombs.

Chuck Statler – Suicide Commandos “Burn It Down” (music video), Fog Ditherer (press kit), City Boy “The Day the Earth Caught Fire” (music video)
A MN punk staple goes “en fuego”, an avant-garde promo for an avant-garde trio, and the greatest video ever, respectively.

Maria Juranic – “King Tales” (narrative short)
West Side Story meets Boyz in the Hood.

Sam Thompson – Mark Mallman “Invincible Criminal” (music video) and Robust “El Foto Grande” (music video)
Piano-rocker Mallman does intergalactic battle and a local indie rapper looks at the big picture.

Katie Maren – John Zambricki “Airport Goodbye” (music video)
This sweet animation set to a song from the Paper Heart soundtrack takes a nostalgic look at young love.

Vaughn Juares and Bridget McGrath – “LIE” (narrative)
This story of Dennis Wilson and Charles Manson making music together won the “Revelation Award” at this year’s 1968 Project Competition.

Coleman Miller – “Take the L” (experimental) and “Heaven” (experimental)
A Minnesota filmmaker happens to have his camera with him on Chicago’s elevated train, and ponders Heaven (and Hell).

Brian Barber – Black Eyed Snakes “Rise Up” (music video)
A mob of mutant pigeons overtake downtown Duluth.  The Mayor hits big red panic button.

Mark Har – “Gee As In Jesus” (documentary) and Chooglin “Father Time” (music video)
A punk-gospel-polka band spread their version of whiskey drenched gospel, and a Minneapolis rock band throw down at 7th St. Entry.

IFP Minnesota Music Video Bootcamp Class – Burning City Skyline “Saint Paul Sunday” (music video)
An impressive debut effort from a local media arts class – written, shot, edited, and produced in just three class periods.

Amy Buchanan and Paul Moehring – “Curtiss A: A Work In Progress” (documentary)
Excerpt of larger doc on godfather to the Minneapolis rock scene, and his annual John Lennon Tribute show at First Avenue.

Justin Staggs – The Reckless Ones “Dead & Gone” (music video) and Ernest Rhodes “Transistor” (music video)
Your average post-apocalyptic, rockabilly, biker love story.  And indie rapper Rhodes rocks the microphone.

Max Becker – Northern Outpost (documentary)
Webisodic series documents local music scene, proving the Twin Cities rock pretty damn hard.

“The Dude abides… I don’t know about you, but I take comfort in that. It’s good knowin’ he’s out there, the Dude, takin’ er easy for all us sinners.”

- The Stranger,
The Big Lebowski

This line – from what has become, if not one of the most beloved, then certainly one of the most quotable cult movies of the past few decades – nicely sums up the film’s protagonist and his outlook on life.  The Dude’s Zen-like affability has (gradually) endeared the Coen Brothers’ 1998 comedy to countless stoners, bowlers, and average Joe’s everywhere.  But it’s also the film’s plethora of genius dialogue and quotable phrases that’s shown an uncanny power to unite; a randomly overheard “Shut the fuck up, Donny” and the strange camaraderie that ensued was ultimately what gave birth to the fan-fueled party known as Lebowski Fest.

Lebowski Fest – or the celebration of all things Lebowski (if you’re not into the whole brevity thing) – spans two Kahlua-soaked days of bowling, drinking White Russians, live music and of course, watching The Big Lebowski.  Its modest seeds were sown back in 2002 when a complete stranger overheard the fest’s eventual founders dropping lines from Donnie, Walter, and the Dude, and shot right back with quotes of his own.  It was clear there were other Lebowski die-hards out there, so the two original “founding dudes” set about creating the ultimate Lebowski gathering.  The inaugural LF was in Louisville, KY, and about 150 people turned out.  But subsequent fests have been held in New York, LA, Chicago, Vegas, Austin, Seattle, London and Edinburgh and attendance has been 1,000+.  And on September 11th and 12th, the fun descends upon Minneapolis.  Dios mio, man!

Sure, it might seem a tad silly that a grown man’s bucket list contains bowling in a bathrobe, drinking alcoholic milkshakes, and standing around quoting lines from a movie – but that’s just like… your opinion, man.  Because while the film is couched in a slacker haze of doobie smoke and f-bombs, the actual story is an intricate homage to the hard-boiled noirs of Raymond Chandler, brilliantly written with well-formed characters and incredibly rewarding comedic moments throughout.  It’s one movie I can pop in or catch on TV at any point in the film, and be thoroughly entertained till the credits roll.

The party begins on Friday with live music by the kick-ass blues-gospel-punk duo Black Diamond Heavies and a Lebowski screening at First Avenue, and culminates on Saturday with bowling, trivia, and costume contests at Memory Lanes.  I encourage all of my fellow Lebowski fans – “Achievers” is the handle we self-apply – to come down and partake in the madness.  Although the Coen brothers are quoted as having given neither their blessing nor their curse to the Fest and its proceedings, it should be interesting to see what the organizers have cooked up for the MN filmmakers’ hometown crowd.  Fuck it, dude… let’s go bowling.

– or, “A Film You Can Really Sink Your Teeth Into.”  Ha!  Okay, I’ll stop while I’m ahead; there’s already been mention of this film in MN Dialog, I just wanted to urge folks to check out the world premiere of locally-made horror film Living Arrangements this Thursday, March 19th.

There was a recent flurry of discussion on MN Dialog over the caliber of local screenwriting and the brutal honesty of a solid critique that’s sometimes hard to come by amidst “Minnesota nice”.  Lotta great points that spoke to various levels of expertise.  But for me the comments that rang true were those sentiments of getting out there and doing it.  As one eloquent blogger put it: “Grab a camera.  Get your friends.  Shoot the fucker”.  Another chimed in, “Nothing wrong with a great lowbrow horror film script…”

Enter Sam Thompson and Tucker Dryden.  Realized with the help of a well-timed tax return and a lot of willing friends, Living Arrangements is the feature version of their Slamdance short “There a Werewolf in my Attic” (or TAWIMA [Tah-wee-mah] to those in the know).  They “shot the fucker”, it looks great, so let’s go out and support them!   Free raffle prizes with price of admission.

What: World Premiere of Living Arrangements
When: Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 7pm
Where: Uptown Theater (1320 Lagoon Ave Mpls, 612.825.6006)
Price: $8

IFP MN’s Education Open House and RED Camera Workshop!
Saturday, January 17th, Noon – 6pm

IFP Minnesota’s wildly popular Education Program is giving potential students and members a sneak peek at what we’ve got to offer in ‘09. Our superstar instructors will be on-hand to showcase various classes by giving hands-on demonstrations in everything from HDV cinematography, editing with Final Cut Pro, special effects using After Effects, image manipulation in Photoshop, and more. There will also be tours through the Center for Media Arts facility, including printing demonstrations in our black and white photo darkrooms. Don’t miss this opportunity to check out IFP’s and meet some of the local professionals that make our Education Program rock.

The Open House is FREE and open to the general public.

Then…

RED Camera Workshop, Saturday, January 17th – 3pm-6pmThe afternoon will culminate in an exclusive RED Camera Workshop by local RED experts Steve Speers and Scott Ferril. The RED camera is today’s version of a digital motion picture camera. RED uses 35mm format lenses, shoots 4K images and brings the best of 35mm filmmaking along with the convenience of a purely digital workflow and on-set experience. RED has not only changed but has revolutionized the market of high end filmmaking.

This workshop will be a 2-part evening geared towards anyone in the industry: camera people, producers, editors, and directors. In the first half, Steve Speers of CineMechanics will lead a camera and hardware overview featuring a “Pro” RED camera package for high end users as well as an “indie” RED camera package. In the second half, editor/post supervisor Scott Ferril of Rent the Sky Films will lead a RED Post overview, with a mobile RED Assist cart that handles on-set color grading, editing, file management and video assist. Visit www.redonecine.com to find out more about the RED Camera and its availability to Minnesota filmmakers.

The RED One Camera Workshop is FREE for IFP Members, and $10 for the general public. Call 651.644.1912 to pre-register. If you sign up for an IFP Membership while registering, get into the RED workshop for free AND save $10 off the price of membership.  

Alright, let’s get it goin, people.  The blogosphere is supposed to be an interactive affair, the place where you can leave angry comments for me, were I to name Beverly Hills Chihuahua best film of the year.  I won’t, but still… We haven’t had a comment on MnDialog, angry or otherwise, for over a month now.

So in the spirit of debate, it’s that time of year where we need to see some “Best Of” lists.  I’ll start it off:

Paul’s Top Ten Films of 2008:

1. Dark Knight
2. Man on Wire
3. Patti Smith: Dream of Life
4. The Visitor
5. Wall-E
6. Largo
7. Chop Shop
8. The Edge of Heaven
9. In Bruges
10. Bigger, Stronger, Faster

Note: Yes, yes, I know… as I look at my list, I’m realizing that there are some glaring omissions.  What I imagine would comprise others’ entire Top Ten lists – Benjamin Button, Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, Synecdoche, New York, Frozen River, The Wrestler… I could go on – are still somehow only on my “must see” list.  Proof I gotta get out into the theaters more.  Alright, that’s it for lame qualifying explanations.  Bring on the lists!

I’m all for going out and supporting an independent, locally-made film.  But in a Netflix world, it can be hard to get off your butt and brave the ticket price, parking hassle, and – these days especially – the weather.  As Minnesota filmmakers, writers, crew members, and members of orgs like Shoot in Minnesota and WIFT, we owe it to one another to make the effort to hit the theaters in support of one another’s art when we can.

That being said, relax.  There’s a freebie coming your way.  Starting this Sunday (12/14) and continuing every weekend in December, you can catch excellent short films – narrative, animation, documentary, music videos, experimental, and more – by Minnesota filmmakers… all from the comfort of your couch.  Tune in to TPT channel 2 at 10pm tomorrow night to watch the first episode of IFP’s 2008 MNTV broadcast and enjoy (guilt-free) some homegrown cinema without even leaving your living room.

The MNTV program is a collaboration of IFP MN, Twin Cities Public Television, the Walker Art Center, Intermedia Arts, and the Jerome Foundation, and puts cash in filmmakers’ hands and their short film works in front of the TPT audience.  It’s great exposure, the chance to make a little money, and most beneficial to you the viewer: an effortless way to support local independent filmmaking and see some great short films.

So tune in!  This Sunday’s line-up has a definite summer vibe… remember when it was warm?  These filmmakers have captured it for you:

MIDWAY by Brian Dehler
Midway was made from home video footage taken at the Midway area of the Minnesota State Fair. The rhythmic edit transforms our perception and understanding of everyday experiences.
(2007, 2 minutes)

MR. POSITIVE by Emily Rumsey and Mike Hazard
Carl Bentson has a great bike and a great attitude about life. His favorite word is “Yeah.” He works tirelessly to clean up the world. The co-director Media Mike says, “This is a community lesson for the whole world.” This documentary will make you feel great. Yeah. (2007, 28 minutes)

INDEPENDENCE PARADE by Brian Dehler
Independence Parade was made from home video footage of a small town parade and fair during the 4th of July holiday and then remixed into a rhythmic collage of synesthesia. (2008, 3 minutes)

MAY DAY by Mike Rivard
Mike Rivard has been videotaping the annual Heart of the Beast Theater’s May Day parade since 1976. This preview version of his upcoming documentary features the 2007 parade, showing the colorful and complex process behind the beloved community event. (2008, 20 minutes)

Scope film synopses, screen grabs, and the rest of the MNTV broadcast at www.ifpmn.org/mntv2.html – if you miss Sunday’s show, it will be re-aired on TPT 17 the following Saturday.  So there’s no excuse – Don’t miss it!