Projects in the Works: "Solid", "The Pass" and "Water from the Mountain"

Money is an ill-tempered mistress...I have no real bad news, aside from small delays. On the other hand, I have some great news, and that brings me to the first topic.

Bret has been out of contact until the past few days. My thoughts are with him as life punches him in the gut! The good news comes, first and foremost, from the fact that he has picked himself up off the ground, and is working his end for the production of "Solid", my first feature film. The final scenes will be shot this Autumn.

I will take the final cartridge of film for "The Pass" for developing Thursday. When the edit is made, the film will be transferred alongside "In the Corner of Myself" and "Colorswitch".

The only bad news is that "Water from the Mountain" will not be ready by June 30th for the Kurosawa Short Film Competition. In fact, I will probably have to wait until August for the funds to develop and transfer the film. I would like to say thanx to Joe (Sid) and Mallory for their patience.

That's it! I am scraping by, but finding a way to push forward as always. Until next time...

Friday, November 14th 2008 - Musical Headliner

I am proud to announce the headline act for our musical after party at this year's Festival. On our first night, Friday, November 14th, we will present Joe Higgins from Victoria, BC as our featured performer! The After Party Music Stage will be held at the Upper Crust Banquet Hall, on the Southeast corner of the Greenwood and North 85th intersection.

Joe Higgins is a native of Scotland, currently lives in Victoria and has traveled abroad with his music, playing all over Europe, Canada and the United States. He has a masterful wit, charming songs and a delightful acoustic touch.

I am proud to see such an amazing performer and good friend be a part of this gathering of good tidings!

Monday, April 28th - Greenwood.

Saturday's shoot did not take place, for either film, and Monday seemed a better choice for the footage I needed for "The Pass". Fae and I embarked from Bothell, where indifferent shitheads are tearing down trees and old town charm, to Greenwood...where indifferent shitheads are tearing down trees and old town charm. The thing is, the forecast was for rain, and I couldn't shoot on Saturday due to this abnormal sunshine. So, what did I have late Monday afternoon? Yep. I just used my blue Cokin filter and toyed with a few aperture settings...a few angles later and I had my footage! Aside from titles, I am done with this one!

I have been reviewing developed film reels, of which I have more than two dozen. Not only is "This Way and That" in this collection, I also found the footage for the 2005 production of "Chasing a Rainbow" starring the magnificant Derick Snow ("snoweyes") and the enstranged Bret Mix.

I hope to shoot for "Water from the Mountain" soon. June 30th is the deadline for this year's Kurosawa competition, and I feel I may be cramming at the very last.

African Movie Academy Awards

Hi!

I have been nominated for the AMAA's for the following productions:

BRIDGING THE GAP- documentary (to be screened on SABC1 on 06 May 2008, @21:00)

THE SKYLINE- short film

FAMILIES UNDER ATTACK- documentary

http://www.businessday.co.za/weekender/article.aspx?ID=BD4A734297

Wish me luck....

Lindokuhle Mnyandu

+27 12 664 0712 tel

+27 12 664 0712 fax

+27 76 888 1723 cell (SA)

001 417 496 7533 cell (USA)

mnyandufilms@gmail.com

www.mnyandufilms.com

‘VIVA’ opens at New York’s Cinema Village May 2, 2008

She was a housewife seeking kicks in

a world of sex, sin, and swingers…

‘VIVA’

opens at New York’s Cinema Village May 2, 2008

A candy-colored tribute to classic sexploitation films of the Sixties and Seventies, VIVA opens on Friday, May 2, 2008 at the Cinema Village at 22 East 12th Street in New York City. Artist, filmmaker and performer Anna Biller’s take on the sexual revolution is a lurid, retro romp set in the 1970s, featuring amazing period sets, costumes, and musical numbers that

will delight vintage vixens and time-traveling tramps alike.

Barbi (Biller) is living the perfect suburban life as a pampered housewife, when she finds herself abandoned by her perfect Ken-doll husband Rick (Chad England). Soon Barbi and her girlfriend Sheila (Bridget Brno), a buxom blonde with a taste for adventure, decide to get out there and see what they’re missing, and find themselves drawn into the baroque fantasyland that was the sexual revolution, including nudist camps, the hippie scene, wild orgies, bisexuality, sadism, drugs, and bohemia.

Shot in 35mm and saturated to the hilt with vibrant color, and exquisitely detailed in its depiction of the period, VIVA looks like a lost film from the late '60's, right down to the campy and self-assured performances, the big lighting, the plethora of negligées, and the delirious assortment of Salvation Army ashtrays, lamps, fabrics, and bric-a-brac. Whether you're looking for nude dancing, alcoholic swingers, stylish sex scenes, a sea of polyester, Hammond organ jams, glitzy show numbers, white horses, blondes in the bathtub, gay hairdressers, or psychedelic animation, VIVA has it all!

Anna Biller, producer/co-star Jared Sanford and various cast and crew will be in attendance opening weekend for select screenings.

"A meticulously designed re-imagining of "classy"-minded '70's-era soft porn...pops with parodic joy" --Robert Abele, L.A. TIMES

‘VIVA’

2008 | 120 minutes | 35 mm |

http://www.lifeofastar.com

The latest word on my newest film, "The Pass".

The two reels have undergone the editing process. A careful examination of each scene and every shot has revealed the wonder of this film production, in both the day it took place and the company in which the script was played. I am very excited about this film.

Tonight, I took another look over the footage to replace a few splices that I have been unhappy about. As I am winding back and forth, I noticed a scene in which Dylan walked through the door of the Green Bean, as a logo on a truck appears clearly in the background – cut, cut, splice.

The splices are delicate, and a steady hand and a feel for the maneuver are needed. It doesn’t always go well, but I am happy with the cuts I have made.

The next step is one that brings me to closer to another goal, the completion of my other project, “Water from the Mountain”. Plans have been made for this Saturday, to shoot the final scene needed for “The Pass”, preceded by the second to last shoot for “WFTM”, which will take place at Shilshole Beach.

This raises my excitement, as not only three new films reach fruition, but three new Super 8 films. With the completion of the final two, “Colorswitch” will finally join them as all are transferred.

Seattle's Newest Condo

Chrissie Hynde wrote about a government that had no pride in "My City Was Gone", and it holds true for the encroachment of upscale and bland housing that is dislocating and further alienating the poor and the weak here in Seattle, while simultaneously destroying the charm of local neighborhoods, small business and communities. I keep forgetting that I shouldn't worry about the Starbuck's and the Wal-Marts. The indifferent citizens will create greater damage. Greenwood is the next community that has the potential to disappear. They are still chipping away at Ballard, trees are falling everywhere and Fremont is a place for the young and stupid to drink themselves into bed with one another. Shades of Oklahoma, it seems...

Editing "The Pass"

I have all of my releases and permissions for this new short film, and after viewing the two newly developed reels from Alpha Cine, I am ready to beging editing.

Here is a sneak peak at scenes captured digitally from the view screen on my Vernon 808 editor:











Keep in mind that this is not how the final product will look, but it gives you an idea of the production. The unfortunate thing is that I am not happy with the final scene in the film (not shown), and I can do nothing more than shoot that scene again. As I begin to edit, the film cartridges will be ordered and the next phase will begin. This will more than likely push me into April.

Additional Venue

I acquired an alternate venue for our local music showcase occurring this November, and I wanted a possible second, maybe even a third location for movies, performances and awards. After riding high with the news of our after party location, I spent a weekend in Victoria where a good friend, Joe Higgins, agreed to play on the 14th. With that came the possibility of two more of our good friends that said they would come down and perform. I think we will have many returning favorites this year.

I spoke with a local theater about Sunday, November 16th. It took some time to get a response, and I was very excited to receive such. We spoke about the event and the details, only to arrive at the roadblock of their requirement for liability insurance. This was puzzling to me, since most establishments of this nature carried insurance for their building; why would I supply the same? The other thing is, I am not a business nor am I a nonprofit. The final nail in the coffin was the rental fee for four hours time. The rate was beyond our means, and to me, it was not a reasonable fee for the time allowed. I am certain there are allowances to insure their operation, and yet the fact remains that such a price kills our operation. The final word is, we are still looking.