In her directorial debut, independent producer Dia Sokol — collaborator with Joe Swanberg (NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS) and Andrew Bujalski (MUTUAL APPRECIATION) — presents a funny yet refreshingly moral story about thirtysomething slackers. Max (Wiley Wiggins) and newly single Kira (Kenya Miles) impulsively hook up at a party. But their one-night-stand proves difficult to confine to the past, especially when Kira learns of Max’s girlfriend of three years (Ia Hernandez). “True and genuine… a sidelong charmer” — Los Angeles

His last feature film doc, “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold,” was interesting, too, but perhaps went over too many people’s heads.

My favorite quote:  ”I think the minute you start doubting, that doubt is contagious and everyone starts believing it won’t happen. You have to inspire faith in people, especially when they’re not getting paid. The one thing I never saw my father do in the midst of failure was quit. I don’t ever remember seeing him depressed. I was never allowed to quit anything – once you started, you carried it through to the end. Period.”

The second website, trailersfromhell.com, is even better.  It features modern day writers and directors given video introductions to preview trailers from cool feature films from yesteryear, as well as many forgotten by the sands of time.  I’m simply amazed that they put this all together–it’s fun.

“I was not around during the main VHS boom, but I’ve never liked DVDs,” said Mr. Justin, who has a VHS tape tattooed on his arm. “When I was younger and I went to the record store, my parents would push me to get the CD, but I wanted the cassette. I’m an analog nerd.”

Analog nerds unite.  VHS zombies rule!  NY Times exposes the VHZ zombie horde.

Bellflower

Flamethrowers, Mad Max, and a kick ass car named “Medusa.”  Whatever it takes to mend a broken heart.  This movie was awesome, was very impressed – it’s a love/revenge story inspired by Fight Club and Mad Max, totally genius.  With all due respect to George Miller, BELLFLOWER director, Even Glodell, should direct the long-rumoured “Mad Max 4.”

BELLFLOWER website.

Slacker 2011

Richard Linklater’s SLACKER inspired a generation of American filmmakers by exploring the subculture of Austin, Texas in a loose narrative with a tapestry of quirky characters. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of that iconic movie, 24 of Austin’s top filmmakers banded together to update SLACKER with their own perspectives on the city. SLACKER 2011 is a stream-of-consciousness chronicle of a day in Austin, presenting the city-dwellers, dragworms, proto-hipsters and locations that give the city its modern identity. The film showcases a transformed town next to things that never change. SLACKER 2011 is an homage to twenty years of independent filmmaking, presenting the city’s changing face and showcasing some of its most exciting talent.  Read all about it here.