Friday, June 29, 2012

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Video Game High School Ep. 1

















And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. While short films have recently become the new proving ground for up-and-coming directors, there's also a group of filmmakers that have gone through, supported and created a new form of online television, the web-series. These can run the gamut of anything, but the general milieu of the series appears to be genre filmmaking, which I love. Here's a new series that has recently been posted online. There's 4-episodes to far, and while I'm not sure how long its supposed to run, I'm enjoying every minute of it. Here is the first 11-minute episode of the series Video Game High School from filmmakers Matt Arnold, Brandon Laatsch and Freddie Wong.

Here's the synopsis:

In a world where Video Gaming is the biggest sport, a young student finds himself enrolled in the premiere gaming high school and must use all his skills to survive. There's romance, action and of course head-shots.

Funded through the new social crowd-sourcing website Kickstarter, this one shows what a group of incredibly talented FX guys can do with a little budget and great ideas.When I first watched this I sat in awe on how well it was produced and how good it looked. To think this is a web-series, created to be seen for free blows my mind. This is a great calling card, a look at the skills he posses and hopefully more work will be soon coming for these guys. And who knows, some web-series have gone on to television life, like SyFy's Sanctuary (which I loved before it was cancelled). This is basically the movie Sky High but for video games, where the geeky new student who is trying to win the heart of the Queen of gaming at the school while also trying to survive from the other boys who are looking to take him down. This isn't Shakespeare, but should appeal to anyone who has every played a video game, especially those that like first person shooters. It won't be for everyone, but I know I enjoyed watching the 4 episodes released so far and cannot wait for more.

Check this out if you want to an amazing feature that belongs on dvd, one that is being released as a web-series for free! Check this out if you enjoy the culture of gaming and want to see an amazingly fun concept played out for every geek to enjoy. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with Video Game High School.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Division of Gravity (live-action)

















And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. Love and its many facets has always been a fascinating subject to me, the growth of friendship to love and the sad oftentimes dissolution of something you thought would last forever, creating a burning hole, a crevice of the heart that can seem insurmountable in the beginning. Some shorts hit really close to home, in the sense that they bring up feelings long forgotten, or make us face our worse fears. This short is one of those. Here is the 9-minute British dramatic short Division of Gravity from filmmaker Rob Chiu.

Here's the synopsis:

A look at the formation of love and its sad inevitable disintegration.

This is one of those "so real it hurts" kind of films, a short that evokes a lot of emotion from the viewer and its actors. However beyond that, the real selling point to this is the amazing cinematography. Filmmaker Rob Chiu is a photographer and it shows in each and every scene, each and every frame. This is just a beautiful looking movie, as Chiu shoots some amazing scenes in Ireland, and yeah, this may sound trite, but this short is just plain poetry. It's an amazing mood piece that has stayed with me days after having seen it, one that feels genuine and natural.

Check this out if you want to see a beautifully shot and raw short about how even the most hurtful times in our lives can teach us important life lessons. Check this out if you want to see what I honestly feel is one of the most beautiful shorts I've put on this site to date. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with Division of Gravity.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Episode 91: Prometheus

Hello there and welcome to the 91st episode of the Cinema Cafe Podcast, the bi-weekly, twice monthly film podcast by the fans, for the fans. Join us each week as we review new movies releases, look at some dvd's, talk some film news and share our general love for all things cinema. The main goal is to have some fun and hopefully provide the listener with some helpful insight. We are back and the podcasting world is alight once again.

We are finally back with recharged batteries and are ready once again to bring our loyal listeners some brand new bi-weekly content. Thanks for your patience and it feels so good to be back!!

This week we take a look at a few movies that has been recently released and also of a few that are currently on dvd or still in theaters. With that said here's a look at what we discuss on this weeks podcast:

* Prometheus
* You Are the Apple of My Eye
* FP
* Upcoming movie releases for the weekend of 6.22.12 and 6.29.12

Also, film news and more, only on the Cinema Cafe Podcast. We hope you enjoy and happy movie watching.

Thanks as always to all our loyal listeners for sharing the ride with us as we've once again started producing the show. It's all due to your support that we have kept things going and we hope you continue to share the ride with us in the coming months.

We're also on Itunes so head over there and subscribe to the Cinema Cafe Podcast and don't forget to post a review! Thanks!!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Crayon Dragon (animated)

















And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. It's not often that you have the feeling that you're getting the chance to see the start of an upcoming artist, the start of animator that could hit it really it big one day. This short is a great example of how talent and ingenuity with hard work can create something magical regardless of experience or budget. Here is the 3-minute animated short Crayon Dragon from filmmaker Toniko Pantoja.

Here's the synopsis:

A girl is commissioned to paint over an old concrete illustration, in which to her surprise, [she] sinks into. She befriends a painted dragon who has a wing missing.

Toniko Pantoja created this short for a second-year project at CalArts animation. I just love the old school look and feel to this piece, like watching a storybook come to life, like being young again. There's great talent at work here and I'm just amazed by the results.

Check this out if you want to something both vibrant and heartwarming. Check this out if you want to remember the beauty of being a child filled with wonder. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with Crayon Dragon.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Apocalypse Pizza (animated)

















And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. This weeks short is a beautiful animated bit of zombie action that is both short and sweet. Here is the 4-minute French animated short Apocalypse Pizza from filmmaker Andres Fernandez.

Here's the synopsis:

A group of delivery workers try to deliver pizza and movies in the middle of the zombie apocalypse.

It's a simple premise beautifully executed in the best comedic video game way possible. The animation is fresh and while the story is familiar, the way its animated and shot and just the simple fact that its in Paris and there's a group of people who are living during the zombie apocalypse and are intent on bringing customers some microwaved pizza and dvds is so charming it borders on brilliance.

Check this out if you, like myself, enjoy a good zombie film. Check this out if you like beautifully animated works that will leave you smiling from ear to ear. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with Apocalypse Pizza.


Apocalypse Pizza by blankytwo

Monday, June 4, 2012

Episode 90: Snow White and the Huntsman and Battleship

Hello there and welcome to the 90th episode of the Cinema Cafe Podcast, the bi-weekly, twice monthly film podcast by the fans, for the fans. Join us each week as we review new movies releases, look at some dvd's, talk some film news and share our general love for all things cinema. The main goal is to have some fun and hopefully provide the listener with some helpful insight. We are back and the podcasting world is alight once again.

We are finally back with recharged batteries and are ready once again to bring our loyal listeners some brand new bi-weekly content. Thanks for your patience and it feels so good to be back!!

This week we take a look at a few movies that has been recently released and also of a few that are currently on dvd or still in theaters. With that said here's a look at what we discuss on this weeks podcast:

* Battleship
* Snow White and the Huntsman
* Crossfire
* Batman Year One
* Falling Up
* We Bough a Zoo
* Romantics Anonymous
* Upcoming movie releases for the weekend of 6.08.12 and 6.15.12

Also, film news and more, only on the Cinema Cafe Podcast. We hope you enjoy and happy movie watching.

Thanks as always to all our loyal listeners for sharing the ride with us as we've once again started producing the show. It's all due to your support that we have kept things going and we hope you continue to share the ride with us in the coming months.

We're also on Itunes so head over there and subscribe to the Cinema Cafe Podcast and don't forget to post a review! Thanks!!

Friday, June 1, 2012

Fantatsic Short Film Friday - Lovely Monster (live-action)

















And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. Sometimes a film just sneaks up on you. You're just watching it, waiting for something to happen and as you continue to wait for something to happen you become filled with more and more dread, and you come to realize how well the film is done, how well its shot, how well its acted. This is one of those films and what a lovely treat it is. Here is the 5-minute short Lovely Monster from filmmaker Francesco Calabrese.

Here's the synopsis:

"Lovely Monster" tells the true story of Sophia, a young woman dealing with a rare and very dangerous condition.

What I find so intriguing about this piece is that right to the very end you could imagine this short is about mental illness and how that's the monster inside Sophia that's ruining her life, making her feel different. Shot as a faux-documentary, the style really adds to the atmosphere, to the build of the piece. You can imagine how things will turn out, but again the film is shot as a wonderful allegory that you start to imagine maybe this isn't fantastical, maybe this could be about anyone with problems, and then bam, the ending hits you. Just wonderful.

Check this out if you want to see something thoughtful and provoking. Check this out if you want to see a wonderful and skewed version of the mockumentary genre. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with Lovely Monster.