JIM reports on film 'CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE' + Q&A & PANEL on Film Distribution

Printer-friendly versionE-mail page to friendPDF version

MIDWEST INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL Ceremonies re

screening of the film “CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE”

including a PANEL discussion on FILM DISTRIBUTION + Q&A on the film

I was pleased to attend this month’s ceremonies of the MIDWEST INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL (midwestfilm.com) at the Landmark Century Centre theater on August 3rd. A cocktail reception was held on the 6th floor, including booths with information from various Fest sponsors (including still and video cameras shown by Canon reps)…

… At 6:30 pm, a fascinating PRODUCER’S PANEL talk was held, with: FRED BLURTON, the Executive Producer & co-Director of the Chicago-made comedy “Osso Bucco”; ERIC LITYNSKI, the Director of Purchasing for Chicago-area-based kiosk DVD-rental company Redbox; and BRIAN MILLER, the Writer / Director of tonite’s Chicago premiere of the film “Caught in the Crossfire”…

… Ryan Jewell of IFP moderated the panel, designed to concentrate on the subject of distribution of indie films. From the questions posed, it was clear there were loads of eager filmmakers in the audience…

… Eric was asked how things “work” in the way they choose what films to offer & what their “policies” are re Indie films. He said, they DO encourage INDIE filmmakers to let them know what’s available, & they’re happy to OFFER such films in various of their 26,000 kiosks…

… Naturally, they are interested in the QUALITY of the films, & it’s always best to have a good presentation to them (either thru a distributor such as Lionsgate, or even directly at times) about the film involved. They work to “match” various films to specific areas known to SUPPORT such films or specific themes / genres involved in the films— and yes, that even means documentaries…

… While various people in the audience were concerned that it was very hard to GET such rental distribution, he cited some specific indie films that they order LARGE numbers of— including tonite’s upcoming presentation…

… He said, he knows competitor NETFLIX also is very open to considering such films. A black filmmaker in the audience volunteered that he knows that’s true, as they somehow found out about a “small” film he had made, contacted HIM about it, & ordered many THOUSANDS of copies of his film, to his surprise & pleasure!…

… Eric offered his thought that, filmmakers would be wise to consider the BOX ART for distributing what they make, citing how good box art catches people’s “eyes” & helps drive rentals. He cited specific examples of such good art, including how he’d made recommendations for improving such art on movies he was offered, & how the eye-appeal helped increase public interest. He urged those that make films to take a LOT of on-set STILL-photos, as they’re often great for later use in the box art…

… Fred offered his opinions on various subjects, & how he was pleased with the way STARZ cable has shown his film… He feels DVD sales are still important to indie filmmakers, because they help provide the MONEY to finance their work. Eric agreed, & said they are also considering ways of wider distribution by adding rentals over the internet in the future (as Netflix does now)…

… Brian offered a good deal of information about the film HE was showing tonite. He’d worked like 6 years on the overall story idea, & it was a huge help to do 9 months of detailed PRE-production work: he filmed in Michigan because of their tax benefits & the fact he GREW-UP in Grand Rapids where he set his film & thus he well knew the area & what it had to offer…

… Brian had done detailed story-boarding of specific scenes & locations, & that was a great help in speeding along the film-making process when he got to the actual film-making production (after lining up financing thru contacts such as co-star Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson who loved the story he’d written). Thanks to effective pre-planning — & hard work over long hours —, he was able to film in just 14 days…

… All the panelists happily offered their straight-forward thoughts on how best to handle certain film-making efforts & distribution of the finished product, & were encouraging to up-&-coming people in the industry…

* —————- *

“CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE”

MY rating of the R-rated (for violence & language) advance screening of film: 8 of 10 stars.

Festival Director MIKE McNAMARA thanked the various panelists & Sponsors of the Festival, and introduced a trailer for an upcoming film, a short film “THEY CAN SLEEP” by Chicago filmmaker Paul Matian (on the faculty of Tribeca Flashpoint) seen at the Chicago Int’l. Film Festival, & tonite’s Chicago premiere film “CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE”…

… In the feature film, Illinois native Chris Klein plays Detective Biggs, & Adam Rodriguez (from TV’s “CSI Miami”) plays his partner Detective Shepherd. They have seemingly become targets for certain gang-related people, &, when they try to investigate what’s going on, they appear to be increasingly confused:

… Short-tempered Chris doesn’t like the idea of trusting the words of supposed gang snitch Tino (50 Cent) who tries to tell them that some COPS are involved in some of the drug dealings they’ve been investigating…

… There are a number of shootouts, personal & police-related interrogations concerning various people (including some cop partners the detectives know), & the trail grows ever “murkier” as certain facts simply don’t “add-up” regarding the shootings & killings of important people…

… Is the “dirty cops” claim really TRUE?… If so, who ARE they, and are there “higher-ups” that need to be watched?… Who’s really BEHIND the unusual drug-dealing that’s going down?… Will Chris like the truths he eventually discovers?…

… The film is unusually SUSPENSEFUL & also REALISTIC in certain unusual ways (such as how many long-distance gunshots seldom find their intended targets)… It’s well acted, cleverly plotted with “twists & turns”, & enjoyable…

* ————- *

Q&A AFTER THE FILM

… After the film, “MAC” from the Festival hosted a Q&A with director BRIAN…

… To questions posed, Brian said, the film was made for “UNDER $ 1 million dollars”, & most of the time was spent in PRE-production — such as scouting-out exact locations, extensive planning for his shooting schedule, & rehearsing the supporting cast so the work of the main stars could be easily “plugged-in” to the overall story-telling…

… Brian answered questions about HOW the cast was put together, including contacts he’d made from his years of screen-writing work in the Los Angeles area. He said, it’s much easier (& far cheaper) shooting such a film in a small town like Grand Rapids than having to try to close-down streets & other areas in a LARGE city such as Chicago (where “TRANSFORMERS 3” is currently shooting)…

… A POST-show Reception was held at the FORNO DIABLO Italian restaurant on Diversey. There, besides shooting some more PHOTOS, I spoke to BRIAN, commenting on how I could see how practical it’d been to do extensive PRE-planning of his work, given the huge number of scene “set-ups” he’d done in just 14 days for the shoot. He said yes, and it was really vital to handle it that way, enabling him to handle everything in the “madhouse” that the production shooting had to be to get everything done as they’d wanted….

… Brian was very pleased the film — & the Panel discussion — had been well-received by the audience, & was particularly gratified at the way places were already showing the film [such as Comcast on-demand], & how Redbox had already ordered 60,000 copies of the film to distribute— already putting them in the “black” for the venture!…

… I also talked a bit to MAC, commenting on how effective I’d found the entire event to be tonite, which he was very pleased to hear…

… When he heard I at times post reviews on HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.com, he said, he appreciated the promotional efforts done for the (every-first-Tuesday-of-the-month) Festival by various people such as Adam there…