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SALLY SALIA: WHAT MAKES A REALLY GOOD FILM?


     Every year the creative part of society comes up with thousands of ideas and plans for the entertainment business. Some of those, forgotten to be jotted down, get lost overnight. A few hundred scripts are written, but only a certain amount actually makes it to the screen. Now out of that, one or two truly makes it in to people’s hearts and memories; and that is my definition of a truly good film.
    
      In my opinion, a truly great film is one that by far surpasses your expectations, even if they were sky high; One that leaves you trembling with emotion, tears, or laughter after leaving the theatre. A movie has to have a meaning. Ones that are just for entertainment with no moral are, in my opinion, not worth watching. A movie must be educative, while at the same time entertaining. It, and the characters, must be memorable. The situations and characters must relate to real people and problems [of coarse, I’m not talking about fiction]. The audience should be able to imagine themselves in the character’s shoes and see the world from a whole new angle.
       
     One of the most important parts of a movie is the script. The quality of the dialogues, in my opinion, makes or breaks the film. The dialogue should be realistic and natural, not cheesy and fake. Also, the sceneries/settings of a movie are very important. For example, it would certainly be more inspirational if someone proposed under fireworks in a beautiful restaurant, rather than at the park.
        
     I have to admit, I have a bad habit. I’m a fool for actors. I have my favorites and seeing a movie with them in it always blinds my judgment. I know that I should be observing the character and not the actor. I may even turn down a film because I don’t recognize or like the faces in the trailer. Even though ticket-selling, charming actors are necessary for a film’s success, there’s always room for new talent in Hollywood if given the opportunity. 

UNIQUE ACCESS FOR FRESHI NOW REPORTERS

Freshi's sister organization, the International Family Film Festival, will be held this year at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, From March 10-14.


For our official Freshi Now reporters, we're offering unique access to the people behind the winning films - filmmakers, actors, craftspeople and others - to bring to the Freshi Now audience exclusive behind-the-scenes info on the people, films and screenplays featured at the festival.  As a special added attraction this year, we'll be feature a special slate of Chinese Films, with noted Chinese filmmakers and actors in attendance.


Current Freshi Now reporters interested in taking part should contact Rich Samuels ASAP at rich.samuels@freshiflix.com .



RECOMMENDED LINK: VAREITY TECHNOTAINMENT

Variety, the entertainment industry's most prolific news portal, maintains Technotainment, a blog focusing on the latest in entertainment technology - from gaming to 3D television. It's a good way to keep up with the important news and developments in this rapidly changing area - and perhaps discover new career cooportunities while you're at it.!

ACADEMY AWARDS ANNOUNCED SCIENTIFIC / TECHNICAL AWARDS

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization that holds the Academy Awards each year, has announced the 2010 Scientific / Technical Awards.  Those are the awards that are given only brief mention on the actual Academy Awards broadcast, but which represent some of the most important achievements each year in the technology of moviemaking.

Most of these descriptions might seem extremely technical, but they offer a challenge to the technically-minded - here's a challenge to Google a bit and create a more user-friendly description for Freshi Now - any takers?

Contact your webmaster at rich.samuels@freshiflix.com

BULLETIN: YOUNG HAITIAN FILMMAKERS SEND OUT FOOTAGE

This article, on the Canadian Broadcasting Centre's website, details the efforts of young filmmakers in earthquake-ravaged Haiti to apply their unique skills to bring news and information on this tragedy to a world audience.  While media outlets from around the world are arriving in Haiti, these filmmakers are the only Haitians able to tell the story with a Haitian voice.

Can filmmakers make a difference?  This Haitians are.

CATHY LE'S MUNDANE MONDAY: "OLD PEOPLE AND NEW THINGS"



So I turned 18 on Sunday. I think it'll take some time to sink in that I'm now old.I mean, I know I'm not that old, but still. I wonder if things will change now. Will people stop helping me out because I'm no longer a small minor making films? Finding filming locations are so much easier when you're young because no one really expects pay.

I've been working on developing a story for my next semester film project and find myself unable to think of ideas for a short film. I'm a long story/ feature film kind of person. I've got tons of stories for that.

I wrote one at 3am on Wednesday (I tend to have my best creative moments that late, after I'm done with all the homework I've procrastinated on) and later that day during 6th period, presented it to Daniel Petrie Jr, a professional screenplay writer known for "The Big Easy" and "Beverly Hills Cop". I was just thinking how fortunate I was to have opportunities like this. Of course the film industry is about talent, but it's also about who you know and how lucky you are.I certainly hope I remain lucky.

CATHY LE: "MUNDANE MONDAY" ON TUESDAY!

"My only week of Winter Break"

I'm such a busybody, especially now that I finally have a car. This last week, I literally lost track of the time and day of week because I always had something to do. I'd wake up at 7am some days, 3.34pm other days. I'd sleep at 10pm some days and 4am other days.One day just blurred into the next day.

   Tuesday, I drove to Burbank, CA to visit Video Symphony, a school for professionals in the film industry, with our dear Serbian Exchange students. They used to be a retraining facility for professionals already working at companies like Universal, but now they're open to entry level (i.e. me!). I've known that Burbank was home to lots of film industry stuff since we filmed our semester project at St. Joseph's Hospital last year, but I didn't realize the magnitude of it until this day.
   It's interesting the different paths you can take after high school to get into the industry. Video Symphony focuses on post production, like editing, sound, and special effects. It's comforting to know that they really help you get a job after you graduate, but it's too specific for me to choose as a post secondary school. Learning how to make films is only one part of it.Becoming a well rounded person with lots of different experiences is a big part. But I gotta learn how to use Cinema 4D.


 

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