Xixax Film Forum

I was glued to my TV last season. Can't wait to watch the new season premiering tomorrow.


Hollywood patron saints BEN AFFLECK and MATT DAMON are helping to make more aspiring filmmakers' dreams come true. Starting June 22, the second season of the duo's "Project Greenlight" 13-episode documentary series debuts on HBO. This year's competition features separate writing -- ERICA BEENEY -- and directing winners -- the team of EFRAM POTELLE and KYLE RANKIN.

Documenting the entire process of creating a movie, the innovative HBO series takes a revealing, warts-and-all look at the pressures on first-time filmmakers as they navigate the Hollywood process. For the second season, both a writer and directing team were chosen to produce 'The Battle of Shaker Heights,' the story of a young war re-enactor who uses battlefield strategy to confront a high-school enemy.

Originally, Matt and Ben, who won an Academy Award® for writing 'Good Will Hunting,' wanted to help other talented up-and-coming filmmakers scale the industry's walls. The "Project Greenlight" competition was launched in September 2000, and Miramax Films committed $1 million to produce the winning screenplay. More than 10,000 aspiring filmmakers entered the competition on Project Greenlight's website. Then the pool was narrowed down to 250 screenplays, from which one winner was selected.

In the first-ever competition, PETE JONES, a young insurance man from Chicago, got the nod for his entry, 'Stolen Summer.' His low-budget film, which was guaranteed a theatrical release, is set in 1976, and tells the story of an eight-year-old Irish kid who befriends a seven-year-old Jewish boy dying of leukemia. Over the summer, the two try to find a way to get the dying boy into heaven. For Jones, the experience was an opportunity of a lifetime.

"Project Greenlight" premieres Sunday night, June 22 at 10:30 on HBO.

Did anyone see Stolen Summer?

i saw it. its an after school special. so-so

The plot of the second seem better to me ... at least funnier

Quote from: BoothThe plot of the second seem better to me ... at least funnier

But doesn't it sound like the "Bart The General" episode from The Simpsons? :yabbse-undecided:

:lol:  :lol: That's true !!!

macguffin -- is your avatar from THEY LIVE?

Quote from: MacGuffin
Originally, Matt and Ben, who won an Academy Award® for writing 'Good Will Hunting,'

Im so tired of hearing this

Quote from: cowboykurtismacguffin -- is your avatar from THEY LIVE?

Damn right!

Is that true ? He didn't even mention it in the Actor's Studio...humm

I think I may watch this season just because it is valuable watching on just seeing a movie being made. The movie from the first season was terrible though. I couldn't even finish watching it because the obviousness of everything was making my gums bleed. It was just a run through of everything I've seen with no pleasure involved.

~rougerum

Quote from: MacGuffin

Quote from: cowboykurtismacguffin -- is your avatar from THEY LIVE?

Damn right!

who was that pro wrestler in that? Rowdy Rowdy Piper, i think -- i have to get me some of those glasses.

Quote from: MacGuffinI was glued to my TV last season. Can't wait to watch the new season premiering tomorrow.

me too! it's a wonderful, inspiring show for anybody who wants to make movies.

But I would personally never send my script into project greenlight. would anybody else not feel like it was right if this was the way you got your movie made? d'y'know what I mean?

When I watched stolen summer i was going crazy everytime the kid said "gotta finish the decatholon to get to heaven" over and over and over again. Man, I just wanted to smack that lil kid, "shut up already! I get it!"

Quote from: EL__SCORCHOWhen I watched stolen summer i was going crazy everytime the kid said "gotta finish the decatholon to get to heaven" over and over and over again. Man, I just wanted to smack that lil kid, "shut up already! I get it!"

did you laugh when they "went handheld" during the scene with the fire?

My impressions from last night's episode:

-all the screenwriters looked like they wrote their life's story (i.e. the motherless nanny writer looked like some old haggard broad...)
-were the two authors of "Cheeks" witches?  
-the writer of prisoner seemed REALLY fucked up
-I think the selections were horrible
-the director team looks so corny.  after the inital sight of watching that dog get hit, their film was just gimmicky as hell.  their directing looks very amateurish.  of course this is all based on what they allowed us to see...

Quote from: lamas-the director team looks so corny.  after the inital sight of watching that dog get hit, their film was just gimmicky as hell.  their directing looks very amateurish.  of course this is all based on what they allowed us to see...

having never seen this show, from what i've read about it, that's my general impression of the whole thing.

it sounds like an american idol film thing.

What was that lopez shit for.  Honestly.

I'm so sick of that no-talent ho.  She and Affleck are perfect together.

Quote from: lamas-the writer of prisoner seemed REALLY fucked up

for real tho.

I was really disappointed that the chick that wanted that one movie so bad didn't get it.

After seeing her passion, it was like everyone else there was just a whore. She was ready to die for the script she fell in love with and they gave it to someone else.

Disappointing selection of directors, indeed.

I only watched the second half, but that chick that Xixax felt bad for... I was pretty glad she didn't win.

She kept calling the script her "baby", but she didn't fucking write it or anything, she was just trying to go for an angle she thought would impress the judges, it was such fake compassion.

I was just glad they didn't pick "Cheeks".

I get the feeling that there is a lot of Blockbuster influence with this one.  I just don't know about the screenplay choice.  The director choice doesn't bug me as much as others.

Interesting perpective, RK. I am gullible enough to assume that someone's passion is authentic.

I still say if it was authentic, that she'd have rocked the project.

The two dudes that won would have been my last choice. Thank God Prisoner didn't win.

Did anyone catch the previews for next week's show? I saw a clip where the 2 directors had a meeting with a possible actress and they just sat there saying nothing. What a couple of dorks!

Ya, I saw that. I try to keep a balance realizing that reality TV has to create tension so sometimes things may not be as they appear.

But still, those dudes are dorks.

I'm hoping that by the end of the series, I will come to like them, as I did the director last year.

By the way for those who have actually seen Stolen Summer... Would you not agree - what a terrible movie?!?

I can't believe these guys have the balls to ask for a car, tell a DP candidate to stop interrupting them, try to forego an editor and art director and, yet, not speak up at a script notes meeting and talk to an actress candidate. These guys are too caught up in the 'director as God' mentality and all the power they think they have, but no wanting to do what's required of the job. At the same time, I really do think the casting director was patronizing them.

These guys just keep getting more power hungry. Now they wanna take over the writer's job and do their own draft of the script?! What control freaks.

My summary so far:

The directors are clueless.
I want to have sexual intercourse with the writer.
The casting director guy is a dickhole.
Ben and Matt do jack shit for this "project".

After watching all the director submissions on projectgreenlight.com I've come to the conclusion that they picked the directors that would cause the most conflict (a la Real World) to make the show better. They certainly didn't pick the ones with the most talent or originality.

Also, if you have the time go read the screenplay for The Battle of Shaker Heights on projectgreenlight.com . It's much more fun watching the show knowing the story they are trying to turn into a film.

From seeing only the first episode, which looked at all hopefuls......

Am I the only one who didn't see much talent in the directors that much and the shorts they submitted. The person who did the retelling of the JFK assasination did his short with some maturity, meaning he went straight cut and just shot the information in the shot. All others felt immature and trying to impede gimmickry upon their directing. The directing contest felt just as much as a writing contest and prolly even more so. I say writing in being that it is the job of the writer to imagine a scenairo that would be smart and meaningful.

The comment that stuck out with me was one of the producers of the show commenting that the piece done by the girl, the tracking shot of the party and random people talking, was one of the best tracking shots he'd ever seen in a movie. The only noticeable thing for me about the shot was the zooming of the camera between people talking and nothing else. That wasn't very impressive because it didn't do much to add upon a lame idea on how to use that dialogue given considering the obvious idea of it is just random words anyways.

~rougerum

Quote from: The Gold Trumpet
Am I the only one who didn't see much talent in the directors that much and the shorts they submitted. The person who did the retelling of the JFK assasination did his short with some maturity, meaning he went straight cut and just shot the information in the shot. All others felt immature and trying to impede gimmickry upon their directing.

I completely agree. The entry by Dagen Merrill (JFK one) showcased the best talent as well as the cleanest adaptation of the material. Every other submission felt like there was at least one or two random lines thrown into the story because they didn't know how to handle it. Complete hack-jobs.

Quote from: The Gold Trumpet
The comment that stuck out with me was one of the producers of the show commenting that the piece done by the girl, the tracking shot of the party and random people talking, was one of the best tracking shots he'd ever seen in a movie. The only noticeable thing for me about the shot was the zooming of the camera between people talking and nothing else. That wasn't very impressive because it didn't do much to add upon a lame idea on how to use that dialogue given considering the obvious idea of it is just random words anyways.

Heh, I laughed when he said that. Go figure, he's a producer. It really was a pretty lame attempt... especially since it ended with a completely cheesy alien entrance and a shitty attempt at humor.

I forgot to mention: Chris Moore falling on his ass after the chair breaks was one of the funniest things I have ever seen.

Project Greenlight has the potential to find and nurture new, interesting talents who can give us something we haven't seen before, and now two years in a row they've chosen the biggest Hallmark Channel After-School Special they could find among the entries.  What, I ask, the fuck?

I'm entering another script next time, though, on the off-chance they'll finally come to their senses after "The Battle of Shaker Heights" bombs even more mightily than "Stolen Summer" did.  

Out of the four scripts I had to read and review when I entered this time, one was a plotless, unfilmable "trying really damn hard to be quirky", anti-structured dramedy, one was quite possibly the worst script I have ever read in my lifetime, one was mind-numbingly boring, without a single plot twist I didn't see coming or a character that talked differently from any other character, and one was actually a pretty good, tightly plotted, well-executed thriller/horror flick that I would have actually gone to see had it been made into a movie.

And which of this group makes it through to Round Two?  Why, the mind-numbingly boring one, of course!  Go, Matt and Ben!

It's a good thing I don't get HBO; otherwise I might feel compelled to watch this trainwreck.

Good lord, am I bitter.

I have to agree with you, polkablues. If ebeaman's still looking for teen movie cliches he need not look any farther than The Battle of Shaker Heights.

Quote from: polkabluesWhat, I ask, the fuck?

haha, ah-heh ha, haha...that has me laughing very hard right now (seriously)

Quote from: MacGuffinI forgot to mention: Chris Moore falling on his ass after the chair breaks was one of the funniest things I have ever seen.

Yeah, that was great. He was so embarassed. I love the show though.

I was pissed when the one guy, Efrum(sp?) got the car. And then he wastes the time he was supposed to spend in a meeting checking it out and stuff. God, I wanna punch that guy in the face (or balls) everytime I see him. He alone is gonna ruin the movie I feel. What's his problem with the chick from Malcomn in the Middle, y'know. Or that other kid they wanted except for him of course and couldn't get. And the thing he said to the DP runner-up and just everything he says in general, "welcome to Project Greenlight."  God, he's a douche bag.

What kind of a world do we live in where this guy's making movies and we're sitting around talking about him?

Quote from: poser
I was pissed when the one guy, Efrum(sp?) got the car. And then he wastes the time he was supposed to spend in a meeting checking it out and stuff. God, I wanna punch that guy in the face (or balls) everytime I see him. He alone is gonna ruin the movie I feel.
?

I agree, what a fucking moron! Couldn't he have checked out his ride some other time? Man, I really hate that guy. They should just fire him for being so whiny and stupid.

First off, these directors don't respect anybody. They think they know it all because they've made countless films by themselves. But they don't know shit about making a Hollywood film (Second Team means bring in the stand-ins, guys). They don't respect the 'suits' - people who have made numerous films in Hollywood. They don't respect the writer, and that has lead to another frustration. She starts the series very protective of her script/baby. But come production time, she lets them shit all over her script as she watches. It's only after they take the pages and wipe their asses with them, does she finally speak up, but by that time it's too late and she comes off as whiny and and sarcastic and ultimately lets others do the talking for her. At first, she doesn't know why she's there (You only wrote the fucking thing! You're The WRITER!!!!!), but come day seven, she finally gets it. She has a point and right as the writer to speak her mind if something doesn't look or sound right. But she doesn't; not wanting to rock the boat. You should only be mad at yourself then, honey. Chris Moore is right. As long as they let them get away with these things, they'll keep doing it.

Well said. These guys obviously don't understand their role. It looks to me like they are still way too caught up in the "director = creator" thing that happens when you write/direct or work on independent projects. THIS IS NOT THEIR MOVIE. Like Chris said towards the end of the episode, "Maybe one day you'll have final cut, but you don't right now."

I feel really bad for the writer right now. As I understand it, she has been given a unique opportunity (for Hollywood at least) to still be involved in the process at this stage and she's STILL getting shafted by the directos. Ouch.

As much as I hate the directors, how funny was it when Christopher Lloyd passed and Efrum said "Great Scott"

I don't believe that show is even legitimate.  I caught one episode of the new season and I thought I was watching Joe Millionare or something of the like.........Same music, same mansion, pathetic!  And when all the directors were having their names called?  And then tears tears tears, IT WAS FUCKING JOE MILLIONARE!  Please pick me Joe!  I don't believe they even read the scripts they receive.

Trailer (http://progressive.stream.aol.com/aol/us/moviefone/movies/2003/battleofshakerheights_015172/battleofshakerheights_trlr_dl.mov) for "Battle Of Shaker Heights".

Interesting. Looks like Shia might have saved the show. God knows the directors are doing all they can to fuck it up.

Quote from: mindfuckGod knows the directors are doing all they can to fuck it up.

I can't wait to see next week's episode about them firing the boom guy because he stood in the wrong plave.

Quote from: MacGuffin
I can't wait to see next week's episode about them firing the boom guy because he stood in the wrong plave.

Heh yeah. I think Kyle's on to something with the notecard idea though. I fell in love with Chris Moore after last night's episode. After the whole meeting goes down and they agree to try to have an organized opinion before approaching the directors. The next scene goes off really well and Chris goes and asks Jeff and Erica if he can tell them that they thought it was good. I was laughing my ass off.

Quote from: MacGuffin

Quote from: mindfuckGod knows the directors are doing all they can to fuck it up.

I can't wait to see next week's episode about them firing the boom guy because he stood in the wrong plave.

I hope the boom guy beats Efram with the boom pole.  I can't get enough of that show.  It feels like it's over in 3 minutes not 30.

Quote from: RegularKarateI only watched the second half, but that chick that Xixax felt bad for... I was pretty glad she didn't win.

...she was just trying to go for an angle she thought would impress the judges, it was such fake compassion.

Actually, it was real enthusiasm, not any kind of angle.  PGL knew it was my favorite script before I ever got to Sundance -- I had to do extensive coverage on the Top 10 scripts as part of the contest -- but I had no idea how PGL felt about it.  Erica and I had been talking on the phone regularly for a couple of weeks before Sundance, so by the time we got to Utah, we were already buds, and I was very much in a Shaker-Heights frame 'o mind.

But the decision to withdraw from consideration for the other scripts was made only the night before my panel meeting, after a phone call with my parents when I told them how uncomfortable I was with the 24/7 HBO cameras.  They suggested I drop out of the contest, and I said, well, it would only be worth going through with it for that one script.  Until 1 mintue before the directors went in for our interviews, we didn't even know they had cut the 10 down to 4, so it was lucky my lone choice was in that 4, or I would have just withdrawn right then.  

:) Jessica

(sorry to jump into your message boards.  you find weird stuff trolling the internet late at night)

Wow, it's cool that you're here. YOU SHOULD'VE GOTTEN THAT MOVIE! I guess the show wouldn't have been as entertaining though right (in terms of drama). It feels as if that's one of the main reasons why they didn't pick you though. everyone I've watched it with thought you were gonna win and then they didn't pick you and focused on your reaction right after the decision was made straight up for the drama. I have to say you played it off very well though.
Wow, I just watched you on t.v. a few days ago, that's funny to me.
I gotta ask you though Jessica, truthfully, do you think those two guys efd up her script? they're horrible huh?

Quote from: Jessica310
(sorry to jump into your message boards.  you find weird stuff trolling the internet late at night)

...you really have no idea how weird.

Probably for the best anyway. The whole selection process seems pretty shady still. For the next one I think they should really choose a screenplay first and then have the writer in on the director choosing.

Quote from: poserWow, it's cool that you're here. YOU SHOULD'VE GOTTEN THAT MOVIE! I guess the show wouldn't have been as entertaining though right (in terms of drama). It feels as if that's one of the main reasons why they didn't pick you though. everyone I've watched it with thought you were gonna win and then they didn't pick you and focused on your reaction right after the decision was made straight up for the drama. I have to say you played it off very well though.
Wow, I just watched you on t.v. a few days ago, that's funny to me.
I gotta ask you though Jessica, truthfully, do you think those two guys efd up her script? they're horrible huh?

I think they just wanted a unique dynamic.  Not that two women isn't drama by itself (lol), but getting two guys as directors and a female writer really fucks things up, as you can see. It seems a lot of the arch rests in the writer not being notified there are changes constantly being made to the script.  For instance (and I've only seen two of the episodes), in the second to last, I believe, she was in the van calling one of the directors to complain about not calling her.  And it was completely set up.  The scene in the van even looked like it was shot on film.  They knew if the director had close ties with the writer and they were always on the same page, there'd be little drama, and thus, smaller ratings.   :roll:

Quote from: poserWow, it's cool that you're here. YOU SHOULD'VE GOTTEN THAT MOVIE! I guess the show wouldn't have been as entertaining though right (in terms of drama). It feels as if that's one of the main reasons why they didn't pick you though. everyone I've watched it with thought you were gonna win and then they didn't pick you and focused on your reaction right after the decision was made straight up for the drama. I have to say you played it off very well though.
Wow, I just watched you on t.v. a few days ago, that's funny to me.
I gotta ask you though Jessica, truthfully, do you think those two guys efd up her script? they're horrible huh?

Haha, you really are a poser.

Hey I'll remind of what I mean in a month when you get over this school girl crush and start acting all cool and detached again. Haha. Transparency rules.

Quote from: poser
The scene in the van even looked like it was shot on film.

Wow, that's so funny.  You're the only other person I know of who noticed that besides me.  After I saw the promo that included that shot, I called Erica and said "I'm going to show off some random film school b-s.  I can tell that van shot was on 35mm.  Aren't I cool for noticing!" (or something lame like that)...  But she said I was wrong and the PGL cameras only shot tape and, in fact, the camera dept for the movie was pretty uppity aboutt the HBO show (as they had every right to be, they had a hard job to do) and would never do anything just to accommodate them, etc...  

So I guess it's just the lighting in that particular shot.  But wow, I had the same gut reaction.   We're both geeks!    :)

Jessica, out of curiosity, has Chris Moore, or any other producer, approached about working on a different film.  Moore made a comment that he thought your short had one of the best shots he's ever seen, and that was a great shot by the way.

Quote from: Jessica310

Quote from: poser
The scene in the van even looked like it was shot on film.

Wow, that's so funny.  You're the only other person I know of who noticed that besides me.  After I saw the promo that included that shot, I called Erica and said "I'm going to show off some random film school b-s.  I can tell that van shot was on 35mm.  Aren't I cool for noticing!" (or something lame like that)...  But she said I was wrong and the PGL cameras only shot tape and, in fact, the camera dept for the movie was pretty uppity aboutt the HBO show (as they had every right to be, they had a hard job to do) and would never do anything just to accommodate them, etc...  

So I guess it's just the lighting in that particular shot.  But wow, I had the same gut reaction.   We're both geeks!    :)

Dang it.  I coulda sworn it by my mother, too.

I've been out and away lately, not watching PGL and not really posting or reading here.

So I missed being embarrassed by having a new board celebrity reply to my dick-post that just happened to be about her.

Don't know if you'll keep checking here, but I'll reply by saying "fair enough"... it's impossible to tell by watching the show what it's really like.

Actually, to be honest, while I thought your whole thing about only wanting to direct "Shaker" was bullshit and just an angle (I don't know the whole story, so I was admittedly jumping to conclusions) I thought it was kind of a good idea.

If you say it wasn't an angle, I'll take your word for it.  Maybe it was your nerves during the interview that made me think you were faking sincerity.

So, have you seen the whole thing yet?  Does it suck?  Is it completely different than you thought it would be?

Should I bother watching the rest of this series?  I keep starting an episode and growing bored...

Quote from: Newtron

Quote from: poserWow, it's cool that you're here. YOU SHOULD'VE GOTTEN THAT MOVIE! I guess the show wouldn't have been as entertaining though right (in terms of drama). It feels as if that's one of the main reasons why they didn't pick you though. everyone I've watched it with thought you were gonna win and then they didn't pick you and focused on your reaction right after the decision was made straight up for the drama. I have to say you played it off very well though.
Wow, I just watched you on t.v. a few days ago, that's funny to me.
I gotta ask you though Jessica, truthfully, do you think those two guys efd up her script? they're horrible huh?

Haha, you really are a poser.

Hey I'll remind of what I mean in a month when you get over this school girl crush and start acting all cool and detached again. Haha. Transparency rules.

true, true. ummmm, my little brother wrote that post.

I prolly deserved one more, But RK got shit kicked to the gut when words of criticism where met with the actual fucking person responding back. Some of the things that could have been lodged at me with personal remarks against some people is likely a staggering number. I just feel bad for RK, but still think it is insanely funny. I'm not sure who this celeb is, though I know she is of the show somewhat, but I haven't been following the show much. The guys directing seem like idiots (waits for them to appear on the boards now).

poser, that was classic posting. I thought pam anderson spilled onto the board at first with the way you were acting.

~rougerum

now, now. we all act a little gay now and then for unexplained reasons. Let's Move On

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.enc-online.org%2Fimages%2Feggpan.gif&hash=63a07b5eb2fc5f8d88a4d05a0f6b1bd50ded44a6) on (https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.msss.com%2Feducation%2Ffacepage%2Fface_icon.gif&hash=2b6c1ed7ec9e656ecdbcf625292a2a482165f735)

Nah, no eggs on any faces, peeps.   The only person who's required to think my shit smells like roses is my mother.

I'll respond to a couple of things I've read here, and then I'll leave you guys alone so you can play in peace.

Someone mentioned that the directors had "added lines" to their submissions to make them fit their chosen storylines.  That's false.  We weren't allowed to add or delete anything in the script.  We were allowed to change up to 3 words.  I changed only 1 ("it" to "ice".)

Someone asked about my working with Chris Moore.  No, I haven't talked with him about any projects, but I have thankfully booked other work since my embarrassing performance at Sundance.  I'm directing episodes of NYPD Blue and Judging Amy this fall, and there's a couple of movies I'm attached to packaging talent now.  Thank god I won't have to do any of the work with cameras following me.  I'd explode from the added pressure.

And yes, I've seen the movie and no, it doesn't suck.  But yes, it's nothing like I thought it would be.  

btw... one of you has an image from the movie "Love Liza" in your handle.  Great friggin actor, that Phillip Seymour Hoffman is.  But that movie?  Two hours of waiting for a guy to open his wife's suicide note?  Made me want to commit suicide myself.  

Don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he ever wanted...

:) Jessica

Quote from: Jessica310
btw... one of you has an image from the movie "Love Liza" in your handle.  Great friggin actor, that Phillip Seymour Hoffman is.  But that movie?  Two hours of waiting for a guy to open his wife's suicide note?  Made me want to commit suicide myself.  

Don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he ever wanted...

:) Jessica

that's me.  i liked the film.  I get into melancholy films that are slow and delibrate, and I agree about PSH, he's one of my favorites.  I've got no problem watching him for 2 hours.  I think the movie was 1 1/2 though.  Congrats and good luck on the jobs.  Good to see people making it happen.

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JESSICA: Don't you think the way Efram talks is annoying as hell? I mean the way he actually moves his lips and makes pauses, it freaks me out. I can;t imaginae what it must be like to have to talk to him in person.

Who of the 2 directors did you get along with better?

PS-Phillip Seymour Hoffman IS amazing. You should try and get that guy for anything you ever get the chance to do, seriously. He rocks!

Quote from: MacGuffin(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fffmedia.ign.com%2Ffilmforce%2Fimage%2Fbattleofshakerheights-1-sm.jpg&hash=8f8ea8122186162d6f67d54921390d51a5f89a42)

Do you know of a release date?

Quote from: jasper_windowDo you know of a release date?

Release Date: August 22nd, 2003 (LA/NY); expands to other cities at later dates.

Quote from: MacGuffin

Quote from: jasper_windowDo you know of a release date?

Release Date: August 22nd, 2003 (LA/NY); expands to other cities at later dates.

Thank You.

I saw the last episode. Definitely a blunder filled episode of these two directors screwing up at every single point because they are worried about their "position" and keeping it intact. I'm not going to say I know the first thing of movie making and set processes, but the obvious complaints against them by everyone smelled like fuck ups in the most minor of things to do. They just looked dumb and protective of the "Director is God" bullshit.

And yes, the producer Chris Moore is da man.

~rougerum

The guy from the last one is making a new movie...it started shooting today, is going to be finished in time for a Sundance submission, and is being chronicled over at Film Threat, at http://www.filmthreat.com/Features.asp?Id=750

It sounded good until he got to the part about casting the lead. Now I predict a debacle. But it's a nice subject, so maybe things will look up.

I watched the trailer  (http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/battleofshakerheights.html)for this...at first I was like .."oh, maybe, sorta"...but once I found out it was what won Greenlight..."this muthafucker is gay!"

I will still end up seeing it though, as it could be a sleeper.

Quote from: GhostboyIt sounded good until he got to the part about casting the lead. Now I predict a debacle. But it's a nice subject, so maybe things will look up.

I just read who he cast as the lead. Let me just say this: Hahahahahahahahahhahahahahaha... *breathe* ahahahahahhahaahhahahahahahahahahahahah... oooh boy *wipes away the tears*

does anybody else think the trailer looks pretty good?
I mean, it's not that I want to like this movie, but hell, if I knew nothing more than a preview I saw of it, I'd want to go see the movie...

Does anyone know how the film did at the box office this weekend?

Weekend Gross: $52,000
Number of Screens: 5
Per Screen Average: $10,400

Thank you much, Mac.

About like their test scores. Wanted a 90. Got a 45.

I'm very sad that Greenlight is over. I'm so addicted to it.

I was pretty amazed to see that Jessica (the director who I was rooting for in the veyr beginning) paid our humble little message board a visit.

There's no doubt in my mind that if she had won, that the movie would be far better.

Yeah, it's pretty pretentious of me to say that without even having seen Kyle and Efram's version, but I believed her. When she sold herself, I believed she had a vision for the script and I was really sad that it was given to a couple of dopes like Kyle and Efram.

i still think the film looks good tho, judging from the trailer

Quote from: ewardi still think the film looks good tho, judging from the trailer

Saved by Shia no doubt.

A story deserving of a bump:

http://www.msnbc.com/news/998321.asp?0si=-

Miramax, LivePlanet & Bravo Give the Greenlight
Source: Miramax

Miramax Television has joined forces with Bravo for a new season of Project Greenlight, the Emmy nominated filmmaking contest, feature film and warts-and-all behind-the-scenes filmmaking documentary TV series that chronicles the challenges of first-time-writers and directors given the opportunity of a lifetime. For the show's third season, partners LivePlanet and Miramax are hopeful they will be able to create a series and a film that will revolve around a genre script such as horror or thriller (The past two season's films were based on coming of age stories). The agreement with Bravo, which calls for nine, one-hour episodes to air on the network, was announced today by Miramax Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein and Bravo President Jeff Gaspin.

"'Project Greenlight' has tapped into this country's appetite for wanting to know how a film gets made, with all of the ups and downs that are a regular part of the process and thus we want to continue to bring this compelling series to audiences," said Harvey Weinstein. "Once it was decided to move the show to a network with a broader household reach, Bravo became a clear choice. We are proud to add 'Greenlight' to our wide ranging relationship with Bravo as we have seen what they have done to create a groundswell for some of their other series and we are confident they will be able to help us create similar interest in this series as well. The potential of a horror or thriller film is a great way to infuse a new angle into the show, just as we did last year by separating the screenwriter from the directors."

"We're thrilled to be partnered with Miramax and producers Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Chris Moore on the next installment of 'Project Greenlight,'" said Gaspin. "We have long admired Miramax's contribution to film and television, and this show represents our companies desire to offer viewers risk-taking and exciting programming. This glimpse into the creative process of filmmaking is a perfect fit for our brand and we're thrilled with the prospect of providing 'Project Greenlight' the kind of elevated platform it deserves on Bravo, as well as adding a new twist by focusing on a genre film."

Project Greenlight contest rules and dates will be announced shortly. Plans call for the contest winners to be selected by mid 2004 and the film is anticipated to begin production in late summer/early fall of the same year. The series is slated to begin airing on Bravo in early 2005. For more information interested contestants can log on to ProjectGreenlight.com or BravoTV.com.

Last season's Project Greenlight confirmed the public's appetite to be behind the scenes on a film production by demonstrating an increase in its viewing audience by twenty percent from the show's initial season in 2002. Additionally, the series' producers have been recognized by the Producers Guild of America as nominees for the organization's 2004 Producer of the Year Award in the category of best Reality, Game and Information series.

Miramax Home Entertainment has details for Project Greenlight 2 which contains thirteen episodes of the show. This 2003 documentary looks at the making of a feature film, and the difficulties involved. Featuring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the two-disc set will be available to own from the 13th July this year, and should set you back around $39.99. No further details on the set at the moment, although the packaging does boast 'hours of extra material plus footage not aired on HBO'.

Project Greenlight Teaming Up with Wes Craven
Source: USA Today, Los Angeles Daily News  Thursday, July 15, 2004

USA Today reports that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's Project Greenlight are teaming up with Scream director Wes Craven to produce their first horror film.

On Tuesday, the two announced the latest Project Greenlight winner. Written by first-timers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, Feast takes place in a remote bar ravaged by cannibalistic creatures. Newcomer John Gulager will direct.

Feast, as was the previous two Project Greenlight movies, will be filmed during production as a making-of, behind-the-scenes reality series that will air on Bravo, which picked up the series after it was dropped by HBO. The completed film is expected to reach theaters next year.

Ben Affleck also said at the event that Paramount and Tom Clancy are currently deciding whether the next Jack Ryan movie will be Red Rabbit or The Teeth of the Tiger. "When they settle that, then we'll figure it out. Under the right circumstances, I'd be into it."

Also, the Los Angeles Daily News caught up with The Village star Judy Greer who talked a bit more about Wes Craven's trouble-plagued Cursed.

"I just did four hours of ADR (automatic dialogue replacement), and it's just about done. They're hoping to have it out by Halloween," says Greer, who has a lead role in the film starring Christina Ricci, Shannon Elizabeth and Scott Foley.

Cursed was reportedly completely reshot with additional new actors after Craven became unhappy with initial footage of the werewolf film. Greer says, "We have enough for three or four movies now."

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bravotv.com%2FProject_Greenlight%2Fimages%2Fin_hdr_premiere.jpg&hash=67d192aca432ab224b44a900cb72962ed60eb294)

Project Greenlight 3 on Bravo Starts March 15th!

We are proud to announce that the Project Greenlight TV series will be airing on Bravo this season. The show will begin airing on March 15, 2005 at 9:00 pm.

Much like the second contest, PGL 3 sought both a screenwriter and a director through two concurrent contests.

The writers submitted a feature length screenplay online. The screenplay contestants were narrowed to a Top 1000 based on the results of an online peer review round. The scripts were then read offline by third-party reviewers hired by Project Greenlight and narrowed to a Top 100. The Top 100 were read and rated by the Review Panel which included Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Chris Moore and Wes Craven. The Top 5 were then named, given extensive script notes from the Panel and asked to revise their screenplays based on these notes. The scripts were re-read by the panel members and the Top 3 Finalists were named and flown to out to Hollywood for two days of meetings with the Director Finalists and the Review Panel.

The directors were asked to send in a three-minute scene of their choosing. The scenes were reviewed by third-party viewers hired by Project Greenlight. The Top 250 were named and asked to submit a 3 minute bio video. The field was then narrowed to the Top 50 directors and their scene submissions and bio videos were reviewed by the Review Panel. At this point we were down to the The Top 10 Directors. Each Top 10 Director was given an identical scene assignment which challenged the contestants to be creative, while still following all the assignment parameters. At last we arrived at our Top 3 Director Finalists who were then flown out to Hollywood for meetings with the Screenplay Contest Finalists and the Review Panel

Good first ep. Loved how it showed the weasels in the business all the more clearly. And what about the directing choice? Substance over style? What's the world coming too (although his pitch meeting was embarrassingly horrific itself).

Reruns anytime soon?

Quote from: RaikusGood first ep. Loved how it showed the weasels in the business all the more clearly. And what about the directing choice? Substance over style? What's the world coming too (although his pitch meeting was embarrassingly horrific itself).

It was a pretty good start. 'Sitting in' on the meetings, I could see the reasoning for both sides. The choice of director, however... I guess they decided they want to make for a better TV series. How else to explain choosing him after a terrible pitch meeting where the guy made clapping sounds infront of his mouth?

The best part was the meeting about writing, but the label on the phone said, "Dail 9 first."

Quote from: Gamblor Ain'tWorthADollarReruns anytime soon?

http://www.bravotv.com/Schedule/search.bravo?month=2006-12&keyword=Project%20Greenlight&start=today

Haha well shut my mouth.

i've never seen this show before because i didnt have hbo when the first two seasons were on.  but i'm going to watch this season because i have bravo.  i have hbo currently too, so i guess that does me no good now.  anyways, although i despise reality tv, i will and am instantly hooked on this show i guess because its more like a dvd extra on making a movie and less like a competition or something once thats out of the way in the first episode.  and this stuff is interesting.  i cant believe they picked the crazy guy to direct after i was sure they were going to go with that confident kid.  this will probably be disastrous, but yeah it was interesting to see how even damon and afflecks pick for writer was totally shut down by the dimension and hte moneymen.  you could see how pissed damon was about it all episode.  what sucks is this probably will not be any good either and then everyone loses.  its a good idea for a show though, and a contest and started with very noble intentions.  so... yeah  :yabbse-thumbup:

I watched season 1, and it was just sad b/c Pete Jones was such an idiot.  I gave up on season 2 b/c the directors were such douchebags, it was infuriating to watch (4 years of school spent working on shoots for people this lame is enough for me-- don't need to watch it).  So I taped the premiere, though haven't watched it yet.  Someone told me that the crazy guy that got picked is Clu Gulager's son.  Who's that?  Director of 'A Day With the Boys' (excellent short on the George Washington criterion) and longtime character actor.  Oh yeah, he appeared in motherfuckin'  Nightmare on Elm Street 2.  Who's the 'master of horror' producing this greenlight movie?  There goes the whole idea of giving someone 'unknown' a shot.  The show has reached even new levels of lameness (yes, nepotism and people getting gigs b/c of showbiz families irk me).  I'm not even going to watch this, it'll probably piss me off even more.

If you saw Gulager's directing piece and the other two guys he was in contention with, there's no question why he was picked. It wasn't to "make the show better," or because of nepotism, it was because this guy truely has the ability to raise the script out of the gutter with good direction.

Now, it will be a trainwreck getting to a final product, but it has a much better chance of being a visually stunning film with a blah script, than blah direction along with it.

Quote from: RaikusIf you saw Gulager's directing piece and the other two guys he was in contention with, there's no question why he was picked. It wasn't to "make the show better," or because of nepotism, it was because this guy truely has the ability to raise the script out of the gutter with good direction.

But the studio picked the safe script. Why not go with the safe director? Afterall, it was the suits that had a problem with Gulager. I agree the guy directed a very good piece, but I dunno how they could believe the guy can be a "leader" based on that interview.

The feeling I got from it was that Damon and Affleck (behind the scenes in the director's meeting) said "you guys picked a shit script, we're picking the director. Period."

It was obvious the people in the room were far more for the first guy then Gulager. It was basically Matt and Ben fighting for him. Then, after break it was like "Gulager's the director."

At least that's how I imagine it went down.

Gulager might pull a Clark Kent and completely change his tone once he starts directing.
  But if he screws up, I just know he's gonna take a beating from Chris Moore, which would be a little excessive since we already saw the torture he put on himself in that god awful interview. Personally I'm gonna love seeing Gulager work. I'll watch him personify all my insecurities as a Director, then get yelled at by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Wes Craven. And no matter what I can always eat more cheetos in my living room and think how much of a douche Gulager is compared to me.

Any Xaxer's post scripts to Prj. Greenlight?

i think damon and affleck just pushed so hard for the weird guy to piss off the suits. i doubt it really hurts them if the movie sucks, so i just think they pushed for him out of spite after they shamed the spirit of the show.

Don't forget to watch tonight :yabbse-wink:

Wow, am I glad I caught this tonight.

I love Clu Gulager, he was the shit in The Killers and Last Picture Show. But his son is a fucking baby. He's 40 and hasn't learned how to speak to people. The way he wants to use only members of his family is fucking ridiculous. I could not stand watching this fat fucking schmoe.

Weak2ndAct, funny you mention nepotism in that sense. They don't pick him because he's got a connection, but he uses his position and doesn't even work with the casting director, he just tries to get his whole family in. It's puerile and despicable. I hate him.

I feel bad for the writers. Their script might have gotten the budget if Gulager could fucking articulate anything, but now they don't get the budget and the writing has to suffer.

After seeing Pete Jones half-ass his way through directing, and now we get this pathetic oaf, I might just switch majors... (not really).

Quote from: Gamblor Ain'tWorthADollarWeak2ndAct, funny you mention nepotism in that sense. They don't pick him because he's got a connection, but he uses his position and doesn't even work with the casting director, he just tries to get his whole family in. It's puerile and despicable. I hate him.

If only he were as passionate with the rest of the film as he his about casting his family. It's only when threats of not casting them arise does he get very defensive and really speak what's on his mind.

Him mugging the camera behind his brother's interview was the most 'active' I seen Gulager.

Quote from: MacGuffin
Him mugging the camera behind his brother's interview was the most 'active' I seen Gulager.

I have to believe they used that clip just to make a bigger ass out of Gulager.

yeah this is great.  i want to see the first two seasons now.  except its not as fun if you already know how the movie turns out.  i'll bet even if Feast sucks it will still make its money back if dimension puts enough into the marketing campaign, people will see it.

http://www.weeklyscript.com/Feast%20-%20Early%20Draft.txt

That's an early draft of Feast. Once you get pass the brownie troop opening, you get to the interesting introduction of 20 characters. While reading it, I couldn't help but think that these guys like Altman/PTA.

Quote from: themodernage02i want to see the first two seasons now.  except its not as fun if you already know how the movie turns out.

Actually, it is fun. Definitely check them out. You can't get how the co-directors went on power trips by asking for cars, telling a DP to stop interrupting them, trying to force out the screenwriter, not wanting an editor and firing a boom guy for standing in the wrong spot from seeing the final film.

Quote from: MacGuffinYou can't get how the co-directors went on power trips by asking for cars, telling a DP to stop interrupting them, trying to force out the screenwriter, not wanting an editor and firing a boom guy for standing in the wrong spot from seeing the final film.

but he can definitely get it from ur post..

Watch out Tonight its on at 8, not 9.

Thanks, Queer Eyes.

Brilliant how Chris Moore finally got through to Gullager using the wedding video analogy.

What a hypocrite the casting director is. She complains about Gullager trying to get his friends and family in, then back doors the production by getting her friend cast. Then gloats about getting what she wanted. Witch! I agree that that actress wasn't convincing in her audition.

Yeah though I don't think she was really, they made her out to be an almost complete bitch. She's definitely a hypocrite, though.

I was more impressed that Chris Moore actually calmed down to a level that he could communicate with Gulager. He went from being all bug-eyed to down-to-earth and sensible, even compassionate.

I liked seeing both Gulagers on the set, great moment.

Wow, a feel good episode from this season? It has been the equivalent of "The Office" with PG this year. Nearly every episode is crinch worthy for a couple of reasons. I was glad to see them finish shooting in a nice, upbeat way. This last episode actually make me a bit interested in seeing the finished film too. But damn is that one actress stuck up. And the whole haircut thing was funny too.

yeah i hope this movie is actually good.  it will probably make money either way if they dump enough money into marketing it.  but i hope its good.

I'm watching the marathon today to catch myself up.  They started the marathon a few episodes into it, basically after the script and director had been chosen (although maybe that was just one episode, no idea).  It's pretty good -- especially seeing the differences between the director and writers and their approaches.  The writers are going Hollywood while the director just wants to make a home movie (hate to beat that point to the ground).  He's a shit choice though, in my opinion.  You have to be the captain of the ship, or at least pretend like you can do so.  He's just a blubbering mouse, but a great heel for the show.  I can't see this going well but I'm loving it so far.

Most recent episode was good, i think it's hilarious how much everyone makes fun of Krista Allen. I hope this flick is good.

Another good episode, only one more to go. Well, we know Feast has been getting some test screenings. Do you think it will get a wide release though? I'm actually wanting to see this movie now--not because I think it will be great, but just to make fun of the actors and admire Gulager's direction.

I'm glad the casting director showed back up in this last episode. Every ep needs a villian.

I hope they release it just because I want to see how it all turned out, and see all the cool bits that they didn't show getting filmed. I wish on the dvd of this season that they would include one of the raw cuts of the film, that would be really interesting to see how a film can get really tightened up through editing. Just a wish, though.

Awesome final episode, it's exciting to see Gulager succeed and have everyone happy. I liked the sound of the coyote getting eaten by the monster in the cattle carcass. I really want to see this.

HaHa. They used Requiem For A Dream as their temp score.

Yay! An upbeat ending for Greenlight--talk about changing the formula. So I guess we can expect "Feast" in time for Christmas?

They said Fall on the show, so I'd guess Halloween.

Quote from: Gamblor Posts DrunkThey said Fall on the show, so I'd guess Halloween.

They said December actually.

And I guess they finally realized that, if you're documenting the making of a film and the PRODUCERS don't even like the movie, why should the viewers go see it?  

I actually can't wait to see this.  The cinematography seems to be not only better than the previous Greenlight features but better than a lot of horror movies that get major budgets these days.

I could've sworn they said Fall, but maybe they said that at first. Oh well.

And yeah, Gulager's got a good eye. They keep showing that one shot of the shotgun sliding across the floor, which looks awesome.

Quote from: Gamblor Posts DrunkI could've sworn they said Fall, but maybe they said that at first. Oh well.

At the meeting the morning after the test screening, Fall is mentioned. At the wrap party in Vegas, the VP of Dimension The Weinstein Co. specifically says it would premiere at The Palms hotel in December.

i hope this is good. what if its good?  

greenlight was a good show.  i hope theres another season.

It's not looking good for Greenlight the show. Chris Moore's final blog is basically a goodbye and thanks to all the people this season and in the past for making it this far. Even though this season got great reviews from critics, there were just no ratings.

Outlook: bleak.

Pulling Plug on "Project Greenlight"?
Source: E! Online

Project Greenlight may have hit a red light.

Chris Moore, who masterminded the Bravo reality show with pals Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, said Friday that the movie-making documentary series has likely aired its final episode.

The synergistic Greenlight finds neophyte directors and screenwriters via an Internet contest and shoots them as they try to make a movie for a TV reality show. The film is then released theatrically once the season ends.

Damon and Affleck conceived Greenlight as a way to discover would-be Spielbergs and give them a chance to make a movie. They cited their own Oscar-winning success with Good Will Hunting as the prototype.

The first two seasons of Project Greenlight aired on HBO, but the premium cable net axed the series in 2003. Bravo quickly snapped up broadcast rights and expanded the show from a half-hour to an hour. The nine-part third season wrapped Thursday.

However, Greenlight's ratings dwindled over the course of the season, jeopardizing the future of the show.

"Last night was probably the last new episode of Project Greenlight ever," Moore writes in his blog at Bravotv.com.

"I am sorry to be reporting this here, but anyone reading this blog is a devoted and loyal Project Greenlight fan. You have been loyal and vocal and true fans of what we have tried to do, so I want you all to know the truth first."

Further, Moore has left Live Planet, the multimedia company that coproduced Project Greenlight, to form his own company.

Another factor hurting the series' long-term viability is the split between Disney and Miramax bosses Bob and Harvey Weinstein. Miramax released the first two Project Greenlight films and its horror subsidiary, Dimension, will release the third season flick, Feast, later this year. Without Disney's deep pockets at their disposal, the Weinsteins are presumably reluctant to gamble on unproven talents.

While the filmmaking contest series drew a rabid, if small, following, the first two releases--season one's Stolen Summer and 2003's The Battle of Shaker Heights--both bombed at the box office.

This past season, Greenlight eschewed the coming-of-age plots of its first two seasons' films in favor of a more commercial horror flick called Feast.

Feast has no official release date, although producers say it will likely be out during the holiday season.

They should do a show where they take the cost of the next ill-advised, 9-digit-budgeted sequel to a moderately successful film and divide it equally amongst everyone on xixax.

so are they releasing Project Greenlight 3 on DVD?

Project Greenlight's Dim Future.
Damon talks about this past season and the future.

For those few people out there who followed Project Greenlight over to Bravo for season three, you know that Matt Damon was often the lone defender of the contest's original intent. While the first two season's had revolved around a more independent vibe, the lack of success for either of the first two features, Stolen Summer and The Battle of Shaker Heights, led to a different objective in season 3: Make a commercial film.

Damon was no great fan of the script the Greenlight group decided upon, a B-movie horror story entitled Feast. After that, he figured the least they could do is go with the most interesting director - but Damon wound up one of the few defenders of the meek but talented John Gulager. Damon won this battle and the film soon went into production, chronicalled through a microscope during the course of the season.

At the press day for Brothers Grimm, IGN asked Damon about his struggles this past season with Greenlight and whether he thought the show was done.

"Even though, by their own admission, the people who voted for that script didn't think it was the best script, it probably was the smartest movie to choose because it does, in an odd way, give the project the greatest chance of surviving, because the movie might actually make money."

Feast is set for release in the unlikely December slot. "Bob's gonna bring it out at Christmas and he was like, [imitating his accent] 'I released this movie The Darkness last year at Christmas. It's the worst movie I've ever seen in my life, this f****** Darkness, but it's a great slot. The Darkness made 22 million. So I'm putting Feast in the Darkness slot.' 'F****** Feast is Citizen Kane compared to The Darkness. (Laughs) So in an odd way, maybe it'll work out."

Besides the difficultly of the project within the show, Greenlight had a tough time convincing viewers to follow the show from HBO to Bravo. "Before, with HBO, because they promo the s*** out of what they run, they do so much great promotion that the show was always a big hit for their size viewership, even though they're not in that many homes, compared to Bravo. I defy anyone in this room to tell me what channel Bravo is."

"The show was really good this year and yet we had horrible, horrible ratings. When we were in conversation with Bravo, they were like, 'Look, the show is good. We got the best reviews of any show on television,' and they said, 'But there's a certain number,' and they showed us the number and I'm not a TV guy, but they said, 'Look, this number, no matter what, we can't bring the show back... This is just terrible, we can't justify keeping it on air.' So it looked like it was dead, but now we got nominated for an Emmy, so it might, if the show won the Emmy, maybe it would be enough juice..."

"It's up in the air right now. I suspect if the movie does well enough, maybe Bob would help with it, maybe there's some way to get them all to do it one more time, but it's on a respirator."

'Project Greenlight' revived by Affleck and Damon at HBO

After more than a decade off the air, Project Greenlight is coming back. HBO just gave a, well, a greenlight to a new edition of the series, with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon back on board as executive producers.

"Project Greenlight was ahead of its time," Affleck said. "Now that technology has caught up to the concept, we thought it was a perfect time to bring it back. A whole new generation of filmmakers has grown up sharing everything, and the next big director could be just an upload away. It is really great having Project Greenlight back at HBO."

"Project Greenlight works — careers have been launched and sustained as a direct result of this contest," Damon added. "Pete Jones, John Gulager, Patrick Melton, and Marcus Dunstan are just a few of the PGL alums who've gone on to do great things in Hollywood, and Ben and I are really proud of that."

Project Greenlight originally ran for two seasons on HBO, in 2002 and 2003 (the photo above is from the show's original run). The show will once again provide an uncensored look at the challenges facing a first-time director. It will launch with a digital competition to find a director, then follows the winner through pre-production and casting, principal photography, and post-production of a full-length film. The movie will be made from a "Hollywood-vetted script" and the director will be assisted by a team of industry professionals. From the release: "The fledgling director must learn to cope with pressure from the studio and producers, survive on-set politics, and lead a veteran cast and crew, all while trying to deliver a viable movie — on schedule and on budget."

The news comes on the heels of HBO rival Starz ordering The Chair, which is billed as a Project Greenlight follow-up series, from executive producer Chris Moore. That series follows two directors as they take their first feature film to the big screen with both projects using the same script.

I immensely enjoyed Season 1, it's like a perfect storm of awful. You can tell the second Pete Jones comes onscreen that Matt & Ben are going to pick him because he's a "guy's guy" like them, NOT for his screenwriting talent. That was their first mistake, because he wrote a TERRIBLE script. I only vaguely know the plot, two 8 year old kids, one has leukemia. One's die hard catholic and the other jewish. So, the pasty irish one spends the entire movie trying to get the kid to convert so he'll get into heaven? Goooooooooooo FUCK YOURSELF! If they were serious about the competition, they'd make it mandatory that he rewrite this horseshit. AT LEAST take some notes, make the kids a little older for god's sake. How about spend some time on rehearsals, or make a shot list? It doesn't make any sense how swiftly this all moves into gear when none of the cast or crew believes in what they're doing! No one's in this for Pete, they're doing it for MIRAMAX, HBO, just to be able to work NEXT TO Matt & Ben.

It's ridiculous how the whole competition is setup because they pick a winner and then entrust him with waaaay too much control in an industry he's never even worked in. You don't just hand an inexperienced guy a directing job on a million dollar movie. So, you get exactly what you pay for: No planning, no structure, no rapport with the actors, and worst of all, a guy who's GUNG HO about his awful ideas. It was such a pleasure seeing everything go wrong, especially with how little went into pre-production. For a minute, it kind of discouraged me about ever attempting the filmmaking process, but then I realized how sloppily everything was done here. When you start out making movies, you're not prepared for all the hollywood bullshit that goes behind it. The ONLY THING that should concern you is to tell a great story. Not the politics of the business or the producer riding your ass or whether this is going to make you famous. So, I think it does us all a service to operate outside of that power structure early in our careers. We need to find out how we work on our terms without everyone fucking rushing us to a deadline. Above all, it reminded me how important it is to work with people you like. Everybody on the crew for this show is up eachother's ass at any given moment, talking complete trash behind their backs, and just in it for the  paycheck. It's disheartening to watch, but I really gained some insight into how this filmmaking process is not something that can be co-opted. If there isn't anyone ready to lead that charge over the mountain then you might as well all go home.


You can watch it Here (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiJAiyvAX1B5wUL6KVB6f1rfPFfTSQqcA)