Filmmaker. Winter 07.

My, my. Filmmaker has not only a new issue but also a special (and very orange) Sundance section. The highlight on this opening day of the festival is "Risk Factors," a collection of around 20 filmmakers whose work will be screening at Sundance talking about, yes, the risks they've taken in getting their films made. And Holly Willis talks with John Cooper, Director of Festival Programming, about "key trends" and the like.

"As the transition from film to digital feature production ramps up before us, one thing is certain: HD is here," writes Jamie Stuart [site]. "Still to be answered, however, is the dilemma: is HD there yet?" He talks shop with the likes of Neil LaBute, Michel Gondry, cinematographers Harris Savides (David Fincher's Zodiac) and Ellen Kuras.

Four filmmakers offer "Lessons in DIY" - distribution, that is: Lance Weiler (Head Trauma), Stacy Schoolfield (Jumping Off Bridges), Jay Craven (Disappearances) and Eric Bassert (Inland Empire).

"Gary Tarn's first feature Black Sun defies definition and categorization," writes Peter Bowen, noting that it's "more cinematic essay or visual poem than traditional documentary." Tarn tells him how it became what it is.

"When feminist film pioneer Barbara Hammer was studying at San Francisco State University in the late 60s and early 70s, she was influenced by experimentalists like Maya Deren and Stan Brakhage," writes Astra Taylor. "Over three decades and 80 films later, Hammer hasn't lost her avant-garde sensibility."

Howard Feinstein has a long talk with Karen Moncrieff about The Dead Girl.

Lisa Y Garibay asks Maria Maggenti about making Puccini for Beginners.

Jason Guerrrasio offers quick takes on new DVDs: The Cave of the Yellow Dog, The US vs John Lennon, Lunacy and Cocaine Cowboys.

André Salas surveys a slew of soundtracks, retro and new.

And Allan Nicholls remembers Robert Altman.

Posted by dwhudson at January 18, 2007 7:46 AM