In our coverage of the film festival circuit, perhaps the most exciting developments involve artists who have broken new career ground, diversifying into new areas. It’s a dynamic that in many respects is what festivals are all about–discovering not only new talent but also established talent discovering how they can be relevant in what for them is uncharted territory.
Consider the case of acclaimed cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto who made his directorial debut with the short film Likeness, which premieres at the ongoing Tribeca Film Festival. As previously reported (SHOOTonline, 4/5), the subject matter–the consequences of soceity defining the ideal female body image–is personal for Prieto who partnered creatively with his daughter Ximena on the project. (Rodrigo Prieto has representation as a spot, music video and branded content director via Little Minx.)
Then there’s USC Film School graduate Ryan Coogler who made his feature filmmaking debut with Fruitvale which won both the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Award and the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival (for more on Fruitvale, see SHOOT’s profile of producer Richard J. Bosner, 3/22).
Director Sean Dunne of Nonfiction Unlimited, known for his documentary shorts and commercials, broke into feature-length documentary fare with Oxyana, which too is debuting at Tribeca (SHOOTonline, 3/8).
Director David Shane–known for his comedy spots at production house O Positive–helmed his first short film, Playdate, which is also premiering at Tribeca (SHOOTonline, 4/12).
And look no further than this week’s SHOOT for more firsts. Editor Richard Mettler, profiled in our Editors & Post Series, made his official feature cutting debut with the Sean Ellis-directed Metro Manila which won the World Cinema-Dramatic Audience Award at Sundance. Mettler also cut Space Cadet, which is being screened at Tribeca and marks the first short directed by Paul Riccio whose spotmaking roost is Sandwick Media.
And Nice Shoes colorist Chris Ryan’s profile in this issue centers on his contributions to the feature documentary These Birds Walk, which premiered at this year’s South By Southwest Festival and represents the debut of co-directors Bassam Tariq and Omar Mullick. Tariq is a sr. copywriter at BBDO New York.
Writers of “Conclave,” “Say Nothing” Win Scripter Awards
The authors and screenwriters behind the film โConclaveโ and the series โSay Nothingโ won the 37th-annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards during a black-tie ceremony at USCโs Town and Gown ballroom on Saturday evening (2/22).
The Scripter Awards recognize the yearโs most accomplished adaptations of the written word for the screen, including both feature-length films and episodic series.
Novelist Robert Harris and screenwriter Peter Straughan took home the award for โConclave.โ
In accepting the award, Straughan said, โAdaptation is a really strange process, youโre very much the servant of two masters. In a way itโs an act of betrayal of one master for the other.โ He joked that โYou start off with a book that you love, you read it again and again, and then you end up throwing it over your shoulder,โ crediting author Robert Harris for being โso kind, so generous, so open throughout.โ
In the episodic series category, Joshua Zetumer and Patrick Radden Keefe won for the episode โThe People in the Dirtโ from the limited series โSay Nothing,โ which Zetumer adapted from Keefeโs nonfiction book about the Troubles in Ireland.
Zetumer referenced this yearโs extraordinary group of Scripter finalists, saying โprojects like these reminded me of why I wanted to become a writer when I was sitting in USCโs Leavey Library dreaming of becoming a screenwriter. If you fell in love with movies, or fell in love with TV, chances are you fell in love with something dangerous.โ
Special guest for the evening, actress and producer Jennifer Beals, shared her thoughts on the impact of libraries. โIf ever you are at a loss wondering if there is good in the world,โ she said, โyou have only to go to a... Read More