This week in Media Match’s world…

Editor
Media Match TV/Film Industry Career Profile : (Media Match Blog)

Halted
Feds Seize 16 Sites That Stream Live Sports : (Deadline)

Poster’d
If 2012′s Oscar-nominated movie posters told the truth : (The Shiznit)

Told
Sh*t Hollywood Execs Say : (Youtube)

3D
Why 3D movies need to die : (The Oatmeal)

Quick Tip of the Week

Customized Job Alerts : This Quick Tip will walk you through the process of tailoring your emailed Job Alerts to alert you of more job opportunities, in the regions you wish to work.

Video of the Week

A tribute to the 458th birthday of São Paulo city, with the b-boy Chaverinho dancing in various important spots of the city. prod. execultiva: BEATRIZ SANO / direção e edição: PEDRO GOMES / fotografia e colorização: FELIPE ABREU / produção: EDUARDA GALVÃO / trilha sonora: “E Se” RASHID e LAUDZ / b-boy: CHAVERINHO. uma produção Catatau.

Don’t forget to check out the latest US film/tv production jobs.

Enjoy your weekend!

The Media Match Team

Our latest film and TV production featured role dives into the creative post-production world.

Being a Film, TV or Video Editor involves taking the recorded footage and compiling it in a way that enhances the storytelling of the Director. Assembling the shots into scenes, and the scenes into a coherent order can be something of an ‘invisible art’, because when it is done well, the viewer is often unaware of the well-performed process. This will often also involve layering images, dialogue, music, and using technical skills and experience to gain the correct pacing and dramatic effects for the project.

Responsibilities

From even before the shoot begins, Editors will have to work closely with the Director to decide the style of the screenplay and in which ways the story will unfold. On the first day of principal photography, Editors will begin work in the cutting room, synchronizing the images with sound alongside the Assistant Editor. Throughout shooting, Editors may have to plan, check, and manage the technical visual effects on set, as well as oversee the evolving storyline and the actors’ performances. After the project wraps, the Editor will create the first cut, often known as the “assembly edit” or “rough cut”, and pass it over to the Director. The two will then collaborate to compile a “Director’s cut” and take this to the production company for any final revisions, and the “final cut” is made.

Skills

Working on scenes in different orders, communicating with and managing large teams, as well as deadline pressures mean that Editors need to have patience, attention to detail and good organizational skills in order to get along in the TV and film industry. Having a good understanding of storytelling technique and being able to create rhythm, timing and tension are a must. In addition, they must obviously be technically capable and flexible when it comes to the equipment and footage necessary to get the final appearance that the Director desires.

Experience

Traditionally, Editors progress along a path of being Runners, Trainees, Second Assistants, First Assistants, and eventually become full-time Editors. Some of these roles may be less heavily featured or may only appear on big film projects. That final leap is often a tough one, as large amounts of money can be involved in huge projects, and the trust of a proven Editor and their working relationship with a Director is highly valued. For this reason, Editors may often get their first full experience in the role on low-budget and independent works. Whilst there are no specific industry qualifications required to become an Editor, there are various short courses on offer that will teach many of the technical ropes to undergrads and post-graduates.

Associations

The Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG) is a national labor organization currently representing over 7,200 freelance and staff post-production professionals. MPEG negotiates in new union contracts and also enforces existing agreements with employers involved in post-production. editorsguild.com

by Lee Jarvis.

This week in Media Match’s world…

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
2012 Documentary of the Chinese dissident was premiered at Sundance this week : (Media Match Blog)

Hobbit-y
Elijah Wood talks filming in 3D, and the film’s similarity to Lord of the Rings : (Collider)

Scary
Simon Cowell & Will Smith Team With Sony TV For International Music Reality Series : (Deadline)

Rocky
Tracy Morgan Rushed to Hospital : (The Daily Beast)

Amaze-balls
Canon C300 Game Changer : (DoP Blog)

Quick Tip of the Week

Customized Job Alerts : This Quick Tip will walk you through the process of tailoring your emailed Job Alerts to alert you of more job opportunities, in the regions you wish to work.

Video of the Week

Gotye- Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra) (official video)
Film clip for the Gotye song ‘Somebody That I Used To Know (featuring Kimbra)’ from the album Making Mirrors. Directed, produced and edited by Natasha Pincus / Body art by Emma Hack / Cinematographer and colourist: Warwick Field / Scenic artist: Howard Clark / Key grip: Rob Hansford / Assistants: Rose Cidoni, Claire Leighton, Rob Murray / Original artwork by Frank De Backer.

Don’t forget to check out the latest US film/tv production jobs.

Enjoy your weekend!

The Media Match Team

Leading the tally with 11 nominations, including Best Picture, is Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, a 3D homage to film preservation. However, The Artist, a silent, black and white film about the Hollywood of yore, is considered to be the favorite for the Best Picture award. I was personally astonished by the inclusion of War Horse in the Best Picture category; while it was visually appealing I found the overall story uninteresting. Everyone was surprised about Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close getting nominated for Best Picture as it was very polarizing amongst critics and audiences alike, which is why it got shut out of the Golden Globes this year. The Tree of Life, another polarizing film, was also nominated for Best Picture, and Terrence Malick was nominated for Best Director.

Although it wasn’t surprising I was still a little disappointed to see that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 wasn’t nominated for Best Picture. I’m aware that it was no Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and you could always count on me to rank among the annoyed fans citing book vs. film criticisms, just the same, I would’ve liked to see the series get some recognition.

Drive was shut out completely, resulting in the offensive decision to not include Albert Brooks in the Best Supporting Actor nominations for his portrayal as chilling and deadly small-time mobster Bernie Rose. I firmly believe that this was a fantastic performance in an already illustrious career. Albert Brooks of course took the news with his patented sense of humor.

Rooney Mara got a surprising nomination for her performance in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, even though that movie was snubbed in regards to the Best Picture category. I was not that enthused over the film, so that didn’t bother me as much as David Fincher’s failure to be recognized in the Best Director category as he is one of my favorite directors of all time.

One of the best nominations was Bridesmaids for Best Original Screenplay. Given that it’s up against Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris and Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist I know that there is no chance it will actually win. However, after all the disparaging remarks made about women and comedy it makes me glad to see it honored. I hope if Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo do win we will end up seeing more comedies written and performed by talented comediennes.

50/50 and Young Adult were sadly rebuffed for Best Original Screenplay. They were both personal favorites of mine this year, and they were thought to have a good shot at being nominated. This was especially true of Young Adult, as people thought that Patton Oswalt was a shoe in for Best Supporting Actor. The comedian reacted to his snub in a hilarious string of tweets.

I was also quite excited to see “Man or Muppet” up for Best Original Song this year. Anyone who has seen Flight of the Conchords knows of Bret McKenzie’s masterful skills as a lyricist and musician, so it would come as no surprise that he has written a delightfully charming song for The Muppets. If he does not walk out an Oscar winner I will be filled with a righteous indignation.

Last, but far, far, from being least, there is the nomination of Gary Oldman as Best Actor for his role as George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Solider Spy. This is his first nomination, which seems to me to be a crime against humanity. Mr. Gary Oldman has been one of my favorite actors for many years now, and the idea that he has never been honored for his outstanding work as an actor is truly shocking. If I had my way he would’ve won for his portrayal of Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy back in 1986, or any one of the several performances that make up his filmography like Beethoven, Lee Harvey Oswald, or Norman Stansfield.

Those are my thoughts on this year’s Oscars. Please feel free to share yours below. For the full list of nominations for the 2012 Oscars click here.

2012 Documentary of the Chinese dissident was premiered at Sundance this week.

Utah is getting a lot of love from the film world this week, and one piece that caught our attention tells of the struggle of Beijing artist Ai Weiwei, who last year was detained for 81 days by the government due to his belief in (and actions of) freely expressing himself.

Ai’s story is depicted as a bold and brash artist who became somewhat cautious after his detention period in 2011. Understandably so, from some of the footage and reports unearthed; the dark edginess to the film is not just for dramatic effect, it is genuine uneasiness that manages to creep into the viewer from the shady goings on. The documentary also chronicles several years leading up to his arrest, from his childhood in Beijing, to his blossoming years in New York, to his high profile work and his growing politically-charged comments and works.

Director Alison Klayman, who lived in China from 2006 to 2010 working as a freelance journalist, says she made Never Sorry wanting to “record what happens when someone makes the choice to speak openly and provocatively and face down the consequences”, and that is exactly what Ai Weiwei has done. Crossing the line from popular artist into social activist sees him shy away from post-detention interviews, and choose his appearances wisely (Ai did not attend the premiere screening at Sundance).

Although you’re going to have to wait a little while to see the film in full, you can check out the teaser preview below.

Director / Producer & Cinematographer: Alison Klayman
Executive Producers: Julie Goldman, Andrew Cohen, Karl Katz
Contributing Producer: Colin Jones
Producer: Adam Schlesinger
Editor: Jen Fineran
Music: Illan Isakov

This video was produced by independent filmmakers supported in part by the nonprofit Sundance Institute.

For more information, head to aiweiweineversorry.com/

by Lee Jarvis.

This week in Media Match’s world…

Back To…
The Movies : (Media Match Blog)

FCC
Bloomberg jabs at Comcast on anniversary of NBC deal approval : (LA Times)

Protest
Hactivists Attack MPAA And Universal Music Sites Following Megaupload Indictments : (Deadline)

Kerrching
How much money does a movie need to make to be profitable? : (io9)

Disaster
Top 5 Ways to Avoid Catastrophe in Production and Post : (Studio Daily)

Quick Tip of the Week

Customized Job Alerts : This Quick Tip will walk you through the process of tailoring your emailed Job Alerts to alert you of more job opportunities, in the regions you wish to work.

Video of the Week

Need4Speed: Insight
Incredible footage via the team at Need 4 Speed. This extended length video documentary is the first in a series of videos to be produced in 2012 featuring the members of the BASE proximity flying team, who skim close to the ground at speeds of over 100mph.

Pilots: Robert Pecnik, Jeannoel Itzstein, Joakim Sommer, Edo Senica
Camera: Ludo Woerth
Editing & Post Production: Jarno Cordia airrebels.com

Don’t forget to check out the latest US film and TV production jobs.

Enjoy your weekend!

The Media Match Team

Streamers, downloaders, “pirates”, and theater-regulars… lend me your ears.

I’m a lover of both convenience and nostalgia, and at some point, bang for your buck comes into play too. Hence, the last few years, I have been doing less movie theater-going (thanks, Hollywood), and more Netflix-ing of personal classics, missed Film Noir, and foreign indie flicks.

I do still venture out to a showing when I can, but it has to be a bit more special to entice me from my sofa (especially on a cold, dark January night). Gainsbourg was one such film. Tree of Life another semi-recent. It is also a very rare thing for me to watch a movie more than once – a combination of a fairly good memory, and a constant craving for new influence and information. An exception here would probably be something from my youth, a la The Zucker Brothers.

Last night, I was drawn out of hibernation, at the pinnacle of a week of excitement, for a screening of a film I had already seen; 24 Hour Party People – the story of the Manchester music scene via Tony Wilson. The difference this time, being that Chicago’s wonderful Music Box Theater hosted a special event, with local radio / newspaper faces Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis, and proceeds going to benefit Sound Opinions and Chicago Public Media.

Now this was a screening with multiple draws, reaching to all kinds of audience members. This was something that no streaming service, ripped DVD or illegal download can recreate. This was the kind of movie theater experience that would reassure the most jaded of film buffs, and, dare I say it, the kind of happening that could help save a worried industry. From the intimate, atmospheric style of the 1929 building, to the sense of local community, to the pleasant balance of interaction with hosts and fellow-goers. The entire evening was a joy for the senses, reasonable on the wallet, and a pleasant night off for my sofa. Majors and indies, take note.


by Lee Jarvis.

This week in Media Match’s world…

EEEk!
10 Films/TV Shows About Anxiety Disorders : (Media Match Blog)

TV/Film Industry Career Profile
Director of Photography : (Media Match Blog)

Oscars
Academy Award show may exit Hollywood : (LA Times)

Winning!
Hit Movies That Everybody Thinks Were Flops : (io9)

Failing?
Why The British Government’s Plan To Shake Up Film Financing Is Wrong-Headed & Doomed To Failure : (Indie Wire)

Quick Tip of the Week

Instant Job Alerts: Discover how to receive instant job alert emails, as well as notifications of friend requests and new messages. Go to http://www.media-match.com/usa/forum/using-the-media-match-system/quick-tips-instant-job-alerts-585645 for a full explanation.

Video of the Week

Oh Yeah Wow – Rippled
#1 Best Music Video of 2011, Mess + Noise, listed as one of the top music videos of 2011, Faster Louder. Over 6 months in the making and almost 3 years on from ‘Lucky’ their first light painting collaboration, Darcy Prendergast and the creative team at OH YEAH WOW have again paired with the beautiful music of ALL INDIA RADIO to bring you their latest music video, ‘Rippled’. Painstakingly animated frame by frame, the piece is all shot in camera, by real people, in the real world, using long exposure techniques.

Don’t forget to check out the latest US film/tv production jobs.

Enjoy your weekend!

The Media Match Team

As someone that’s suffered from serious anxiety, I’m not always a fan of films and TV shows that focus on a fictional anxiety-ridden character. Often they sugarcoat what it’s like to really live with anxiety, and act as though it’s a fun little quirk that a character has because they’re weird.

That said, any time a mental health disorder is represented in media it provides an opportunity to create discussion about living with mental illness and surviving it. Even the worst representations of these disorders are still representations, and since there are millions of people suffering from these issues with little knowledge of their impact or the ability to seek professional treatment, any time the media showcases one of these characters, it’s possible that someone with anxiety is motivated to seek help.

So here are ten examples of movies and TV shows that have either an anxiety component or a character that is suffering from one of these diseases.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Joel Barish suffered from fairly serious social anxiety, but while he was stricken with the disorder, he’s a character that people instantly root for as he tries to rekindle a relationship with a forgotten love.

Monk
Adrian Monk was a character with severe OCD, although the show tended to refer to the character as “unusual” rather than acknowledging the OCD. Still, while Monk’s OCD was meant to be humorous, rather than educational, Monk was given a good “reason” for his OCD (his wife’s death and strange parents), and the character was likeable.

What About Bob?
A classic comedy voted one of the funniest movies of all time, “What About Bob?” centers around a character with phobias and a host of anxiety disorders. These fears don’t seem to stop Bob from successfully socializing with nearly everyone in the movie, which is pretty disingenuous to the disorder, but since his character is so likeable he puts a positive face on a serious mental health issue.

The Aviator
An excellent film adaptation about the real life story of Howard Hughes. The Aviator’s character progressively deteriorates, something that would have been likely without any successful treatments, and showcases the beginning of what happened to one of the most prominent individuals in America.

The Indiana Jones Series
No, Indiana Jones doesn’t exactly revolve around the anxiety disorder of the main character, but Jones does show what it’s like to have a serious phobia (in his case, snakes). There are millions of people living with phobias that they never address, and while a fear of spiders or a fear of crows is unlikely to have a profound effect on one’s life, some phobias can be far more debilitating, such as the character in the following movie.

The Truman Show
The Truman Show is a great example of how phobias – something that often go largely ignored – can truly affect someone’s life. Truman Burbank was so deathly terrified of the water that he was unable to find freedom elsewhere, and the show itself added a serious of subliminal messages to try to scare him away from ever attempting to find out his true place in the world.

Breakout Kings
While it may not be the most popular show on A&E, Julianne Sims from Breakout Kings is portrayed as having a serious social anxiety disorder and panic attacks which prevented her from working in law enforcement until she was recruited for the team.

Amélie
The main character in Amélie has a clear social anxiety disorder, but the character herself is still a good person that wants to improve the lives of others and pursue her own romantic interests. Amélie overcomes her shyness through friendship rather than therapy (which is wishful thinking for many social anxiety sufferers), but the character herself does a good job or portraying her shy/nervous character.

Analyze This
One of the few films that addresses the effects of generalized anxiety disorder, Analyze This is a comedy that does a surprisingly good job (albeit with humor) showing how living with anxiety can affect decision making, social interactions, and more.

Copycat
Holly Hunter exhibits an issue that affects many women after they’ve been attacked by becoming agoraphobic – an issue that isn’t addressed much in today’s society, especially for victims of assault.

As usual with movie portrayals of mental health disorders, most of these movies involve a main character that manages to overcome anxiety on their own, with very little additional treatment – something unlikely for most people that suffer from anxiety related issues. Still, suspending belief is the norm for Hollywood, and the fact that these movies highlight issues with anxiety can only be a net benefit for those that are actually living through it.

About the Author: Ryan Rivera suffered from intense anxiety attacks and phobias, and has become an advocate for anxiety related issues all over the world. He has in depth information available at www.calmclinic.com.