Category Archives: film

Courteney Cox to make feature film directorial debut at Tribeca Film Festival

Posted on March 7, 2014 by | Leave a comment

courteney_cox_0214_more_us_02The Tribeca Film Festival announced its 2014 lineup yesterday. Birmingham native Courteney Cox’s first cinematic directorial effort, Just Before I Go, will make its debut as one of the 31 films included in the festival’s Spotlight section.

Cox has previously directed nine episodes to date of of her television series Cougar Town, in addition to a 2012 Lifetime movie, Tall Hot Blonde. She’s also not the only one to take a turn behind the camera, as this post on Hollywood.com from last June when we first learned about it. The festival runs April 16 – 27.

The New Artists Alliance film is a comedy-drama based on a screenplay by producer/writer David Flebotte and starring Seann William Scott (American Pie), Olivia Thirlby (Juno), and Missi Pyle (The Artist).

Photo: via alien_artifact/Flickr.

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In the mood for some good Company?

Posted on June 14, 2011 by | Leave a comment

company promo bannerThose who watched the Tony Awards on June 12 saw a performance (quite similar to parts of this trailer) from the New York Philharmonic‘s production of Stephen Sondheim‘s Company. Fans of the theater realize just how impressive this revival of the play is – including such star power as Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Colbert, Christina Hendricks and Jon Cryer – though more folks are probably talking about @ActuallyNPH‘s closing rap at the Tonys (and for those interested, here are the lyrics).

Most of us here in Birmingham probably didn’t get the chance to fly up to The Big Apple in April to see any of the sold-out performances done as part of the Philharmonic’s spring gala. But it turns out we didn’t have to.

Folks wanting to see the revival can head to the Carmike Summit 16 and the Rave Motion Pictures at Lee Branch June 15 (tomorrow), 16, 19 or 21 and catch a screening of the adaptation (and some air conditioning too). You’ve got other options available to you here in Alabama (and all over the country) and they’re all included in this list of participating theaters.

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Sidewalk takes over The Bottletree Tuesday night

Posted on June 28, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Tomorrow night those that head out to The Bottletree will not only get a chance to help out Birmingham’s annual film festival – Sidewalk – but they’ll get to enjoy a pre-release screening of an incredible independent film before it’s released nationwide beginning July 9th.

Filmmaker Ben Steinbauer‘s documentary Winnebago Man is about Jack Rebney,  a.k.a. “the angriest man in the world.” Apparently he’s become famous due to some “hilariously foul-mouthed outtakes from an RV sales video.”

It’s even more impressive when you realize that his notoriety happened long before the days of YouTube, though it’s definitely helped the clips become even more recognizable.

The film chronicles Steinbauer’s journey to find and meet Rebney, who (according to the email reminder) “turns out to be more savvy, deep, weird, and cool than anyone could have imagined.”

Tickets will be $5 for members of Sidewalk and $8 for non-members. Bottletree’s offering $1 PBR drafts all night too so you’ve really got no good excuse not to go, do you?

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Riley signs film incentives into law

Posted on March 25, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Alabama Theater during Sidewalk Film FestivalThe Associated Press reported on Tuesday that Governor Riley had finally signed HB69 into law, creating tax incentives for the entertainment industry in Alabama. It was drafted and introduced to the Legislature by Rep. Richard Lindsey back in February, going through several revisions.

The bill was pushed along with the help of local supporters like Lindley Praytor, a local makeup artist and actress who prompted supporters into action and updated them via Facebook, and Alabama State Representative for District 60, Earl Hilliard. Hilliard serves on the Birmingham/Jefferson County Film Advisory Board and is a local film maker.

The law gives discounts on sales, income and lodging taxes to production companies spending at least $500,000 to film any type of commercial film or commercial in the state or spending at least $50,000 to make soundtracks. This will give Alabama the same chance as other states like Georgia and North Carolina to attract movie and TV production projects. Prior to this bill, film projects like Sweet Home Alabama (a movie with Alabama in its name!) were shot in neighboring Georgia because of the poor to non-existent tax incentives in the state.

Some recent film projects in Alabama include Honeydripper (directed by John Sayles) and Sony Pictures’ Talledega Nights.

Read HB69 here.

Photo: The Alabama. joshself/Flickr.

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Sidewalk Scramble Screening this week

Posted on March 16, 2009 by | 1 comment

A grungy plumber dressed in a jumpsuit casually walks into the Upside-down Plaza bar in 5 Points South, downtown Birmingham.  He gives a nod to a customer sitting at the bar as he passes by. A few minutes later the customer follows the plumber into the back bathroom. A tool box opens and guns are distributed. They both know what to do. An epic orchestral soundtrack starts. (Think “Batman: The Dark Knight”). Every aspect of the plan has been thought out as they bust open the office door where the winnings of the illegal gambling front are kept…

The director yells “CUT!” as the camera dollies out on the homemade track system made of PVC pipe and plywood.  Actors double as grips, lighting techs and cinematographers. Grip trucks consist of a fleet of old Honda Civics and Ford Rangers that also double as fast moving dollies and get road shots. Props and wardrobe are found by digging through the bins at the local thrift stores. Catering and craft services are provided by dollar stores and Big Lots usually consisting of a 5-pound bag of almost expired pretzels and Werther’s candy in some very bendy paper bowls and questionable Mexican fruit drinks.

This is short film in Birmingham.

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Holiday films for your consideration

Posted on November 26, 2008 by | Leave a comment

One of my favorite holiday traditions is getting together with the family and watching some hilarious holiday films.

It all starts at Thanksgiving…

The air is chilly, we play a game of touch football in the front yard and after we’re sweaty and shivering, mom tells us to “come in from the cold or we’ll catch pneumonia!”. Then she makes us some hot chocolate and we sit down in the living room and try to find something to watch on TV. Its usually a parade or a football game but, I always have the John Hughes classic, Planes, Trains and Automobiles staring John Candy and Steve Martin handy in the car on that Thanksgiving day. When everyone gets tired of the parades, I pop it in and we all laugh our asses off as Del Griffith and Neal Page go on an epic adventure to try to get back home safely to their families for Thanksgiving.

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See The Boy in the Striped Pajamas on Thursday

Posted on November 17, 2008 by | Leave a comment

There’s going to be a free screening of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas here in Birmingham on Thursday evening, November 20, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Rave Motions Pictures in Vestavia.

If you visit the film’s website, click on the advanced screenings link under the photo on the home page and follow the prompts, you’ll be able to register for your free pass. Thank the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival for the heads up.

Photo courtesy of the film’s website.

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A sit down with Chance Shirley

Posted on September 15, 2008 by | 3 comments

Chance Shirley/Crewless.com After knowing local filmmaker (and Crewless Productions co-founder) Chance Shirley for a little over a year now and hanging out with him in a maze of Kevin Bacon-like degrees of separation, I finally decided to give you guys an update on the legend that is his upcoming film: Interplanetary.

Oh, you’re gonna want to read this. There’s talk of blogging, editing trailers and, my personal favorite, Birmingham film parties involved. Thanks again to Chance and Crewless Productions!

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A Dark and Crowded ‘Knight’ in Vestavia

Posted on July 18, 2008 by | 1 comment

Hi guys! This is Whitney, with what can be best described as my futile attempt at being a movie critic. The benefit for you, the reader, is the comfort of knowing that I am a very experienced “hater” and have a pretty good track record when it comes to not wasting time. AND SO WE BEGIN!

After what seemed like years (and what was really a matter of months) of anticipation, I checked out the midnight screening of The Dark Knight.

Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight - official photo from Warner Bros.

Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight. Warner Bros.

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A few changes to Sidewalk’s Scramble

Posted on May 29, 2008 by | Leave a comment

The word came down this afternoon – there are some changes in store for the upcoming Sidewalk Scramble.

Sidewalk XToday the festival’s parent organization, the Alabama Moving Image Association, announced it’s plans for Scramble X, the first ever 10-day edition of the popular event.

Yeah, it’s just a little longer than the normal “caffeine-fueled 48 hour period, but that’s still not a lot of time. They’re promising a winner take all pot of $500 and a DVD of your creation included with your team’s entry fee.

It starts on July 11 with the films screened at WorkPlay on July 30. More details to come, but to get a better understanding of what this is all about, you may want to check out the competition’s info page on Sidewalk’s website (including a list of the winners of the Winter 2008 Scramble).

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