Posted on July 8, 2009 by oste0081
A very cool Polish movie site, opium.org.pl, just posted a fun interview they did with me last week.
Here’s a bit:
Does the PHASMA EX MACHINA story have any reflection in your own convictions? Do you believe that there is something highly spiritual/metaphysical in high technology?
Absolutely, but maybe in a different way. I read a great quote the other day. It was something like, “humans are a clever bunch, but our cleverness is far outstripping our intelligence.” I took this to mean that humanity has the ability to create world-changing technology, yet we may be too stupid to understand the implications of doing so. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. As an example, the main character in the movie, Cody, creates this device to make up for his past mistakes. In his attempt to create the machine, he neglects the people around him and ultimately makes his situation even worse.
We live in an interesting world that is going to be increasingly so in the coming decades. A really smart guy named Ray Kurzweil predicts that computers will outperform human intelligence as early as 2050. Once computers are allowed to improve their own source code, all bets are off. I don’t want to get too philosophical, but the lines between technology and spirituality are beginning to blur. At some point, science may indeed be the key that answers all our big questions about life, death, and god.
Check out the rest of the english version or click here to read the translated version for all you Polish speakers out there.
Filed under: Filmmaking, Production Info | Tagged: interview, opium, phasma, poland | Leave a Comment »
Posted on June 15, 2009 by oste0081
We’re back and we’re exhausted…
An entire week of workshops, parties, panels, and subway hopping will do that to a person. We couldn’t be happier and more proud of how the experience turned out. A huge thanks to Amy, Scott, Gretchen, Rose, Iyabo, Lee, Lance, Alan, and all the other IFP mentors and workshop leaders. In addition, I’d also like to send out a huge thanks to all the other filmmakers who made the week a fun and unforgettable experience.
Filed under: Other | Tagged: IFP Narrative Lab 2009 | 2 Comments »
Posted on June 11, 2009 by oste0081
Wow. We’re having a complete blast in NYC. The Lab has been a phenomenal experience thus far and the feedback has been extremely validating and illuminating.
Our fellow filmmakers are all very cool folk and their respective films are as amazing as they are unique. It’s hard to share any significant developments or epiphanies we’ve had at this point, but I know once we return we’ll have quite the to-do list. So long for now!
Filed under: Other | Tagged: ifp labs | Leave a Comment »
Posted on June 4, 2009 by oste0081
The Minnesota Film Board just posted a complimentary article/interview about the film and our acceptance into the Lab.
Here’s a bit:
Acceptance into the program is just one achievement out of several that point to the fact that the film is headed for great things. Osterman was one of seven nominees for the McKnight Fellowship for Screenwriters last year for the Phasma script. And when they put the trailer online back in March, they had websites all over the world talking about it and sharing the video within two days. They experienced a tremendous rush of interest; festivals and sales agents swamped them with requests for the film. But Osterman, speaking like a true Minnesotan, warns that no one has seen the finished product yet so it may all be a moot point. “I think everyone got excited because they saw a spooky flick that didn’t fall back on cheap gags and or talk down to them,” he said. “I’ve found there’s a big subset of movie fans who abhor things like the Saw franchise and are desperate for smart supernatural fare. It seems most people pinned the trailer as a Primer-meets-The Six Sense. I’d say that’s pretty close to accurate in the most obvious way.”
You can read the entire article here.
And don’t forget to bookmark their MNdialog website. It’s always a great source of local and national film news/opinion.
Filed under: MN Filmmaking | Tagged: ifp labs, mcknight, mn film board, mndialog | Leave a Comment »
Posted on June 2, 2009 by oste0081
Phasma just got a few more write-ups in the trades and some other film-centered websites. Most of them are just re-purposing the IFP press release, but it’s pretty cool none-the-less.
Variety
Hollywood Reporter
IndieWire
ScreenDaily
Filmmaker Magazine
I’ll continue to add to this list on this post if more press comes in.
Filed under: Other | Tagged: IFP Narrative Lab 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Posted on June 1, 2009 by oste0081
IFP just announced the fellows for their 2009 lab. We’re extremely lucky to be one of them:
Au Pair Kansas
Director: JT O’Neal
Producers: Joan Jerkovich, Catherine A. McCabe & JT O’Neal
Editor: Brad Roszell
Helen, recently widowed, hires Oddmund, a fun-loving Norwegian soccer player, to work as a male au pair in a small town in Kansas and help raise her two boys and work on their bison farm. Featuring Tracy Lords (Zack & Miri Make a Porno, Crybaby) and Spencer Daniels (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).
City on a Hill
Director: Amy Seimetz
Producer: Justin Barber
Editor: Adele Romanski
Present and past begin to merge when Paul finds out his old fling and quasi-revolutionary partner committed suicide. From the producers of Medicine for Melancholy, City on a Hill marks the directorial debut of actress Amy Seimetz (Alexander the Last, Wristcutters: A Love Story).
Phasma Ex Machina
Director: Matt Osterman
Producer: Jennifer Kramer
Editor: Matt Osterman
A young man tasked with raising his brother after the death of their parents invents a machine intended to be a conduit to the supernatural.
Read more »
Filed under: Events, Indie Films, Movie Business | Tagged: Au Pair Kansas, City on a Hill, The Imperialists Are Still Alive!, The Myth of Time, Perfection, Postales, Stranger Things, The Tested, Wanderlost, IFP Narrative Lab 2009 | 1 Comment »
Posted on May 29, 2009 by oste0081
We have another cool screening of the trailer lined up for all you Twin Cities folk. This one is on Wednesday June 3rd, 7pm, at the History Center in downtown St. Paul. It’s part of the very cool series called Sample Night Live. They present a dozen 7-minute previews of upcoming Twin Cities performing arts events (plus a new visual arts installation) on the first Wednesday of each month. Audiences use the playbill to opt into the groups they love. It’s a great way to learn what is happening in the arts scene and discover new companies and great local talent.
Everyone who shows up gets the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the Guthrie as well as many other prizes donated by the groups performing that evening. Use Discount Code PHASMA and get $5 off admission online. Buy tickets, check out the line-up and see the complete list of prizes at www.SampleNightLive.com. BTW – we get $2 of every ticket sold using our discount code. Please attend and buy your tix online!
Filed under: Events | Leave a Comment »
Posted on May 20, 2009 by oste0081
Found this in my email inbox:
Dear Matt Osterman,
On behalf of IFP and our Lab Leaders, Scott Macaulay and Gretchen McGowan, we are pleased to inform you that Phasma Ex Machina has been selected for the 2009 Narrative Independent Filmmaker Lab, held in New York, June 8-12, 2009. Your film is one of only ten narrative rough cuts chosen for its artistic vision and outstanding promise. Congratulations!
…
Sincerely,
Amy Dotson Rose Vincelli
Deputy Director, IFP IFP Program Manager
Repeat: One. Of. Ten. Films. In. The. Entire. Nation.
Amazing. This is such a huge development for a small film like ours.
IFP is one of the largest and most admired indie film organizations in the world. Since the program’s inception in 2005, the Labs have nurtured films that have gone on to premiere and win awards at major national and international festivals including Berlin, Los Angeles, Slamdance, Sundance, SXSW, Toronto, and Venice. In addition, acceptance into the Labs mean an automatic entry into Independent Film Week in September – a forum connecting filmmakers with industry professionals, buyers, sales agents, and festival programmers.
Thank you IFP! We’re looking forward to NYC!
Filed under: Events, Festivals, Indie Films | 2 Comments »
Posted on May 19, 2009 by oste0081
Here’s a little story that warms the cockles of our hearts:
Amid all the wealth and glamour of the Cote d’Azur, a British zombie movie made for just £45 could be the surprise success story of the Cannes Film Festival.
…
The film puts an unusual slant on the zombie genre, telling the story from the point of view of a zombie trying to understand what has happened to him, rather than a human trying to escape and survive.
Pretty cool, huh? Although I HIGHLY doubt they only spent £45 ($75) on the entire movie (the camera and editing system weren’t free I’m guessing), but what’s clear is the ingenuity and discipline it took to get it made. Director Marc Price goes on to say something that makes us smile:
“We wanted to focus on story and character, and rely on that to hook the audience.
…
The ultimate goal was rather than going for screams, we wanted to try to move the audience, to try to get them to cry, get a real emotional response from them,” Price said.
Amen brother. Amen.
Here’s the link to the Times article and here’s a link to the official website and trailer. Check it out!
Filed under: Festivals, Indie Films | Tagged: cannes, colin, zombie | 1 Comment »
Posted on May 17, 2009 by oste0081
Filed under: Other | 1 Comment »
