10.) Reindeer Games: A guilty-pleasure holiday movie. Need I say more? There’s a bit of a convoluted plot mixed into this sensual thriller, but, honestly, who cares? Bundle up under the covers and check out the acting talents of Ben Affleck and Charlize Theron this holiday season.

9.) Die Hard 2: Christmas Eve + an airport + a blizzard + terrorists who have taken control of said airport’s communication system X Bruce Willis = an action-packed holiday film with lots of thrills and holiday spirit! Don’t forget the fight scenes on a moving airplane wing and, of course, an explosive, fiery finish to cap off this second enjoyable installment in the Die Hard series.

8.) Little Women: This movie (in all its many renditions) may not immediately come to mind as a holiday film, since it moves through all seasons. The 1994 version stars Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, and (don’t forget!) Christian Bale as the March sisters’ male counterpart. Director Gillian Armstrong makes sure to summon the holiday spirit with caroling, snow-filled Concord, Mass, and, of course, the life-changing frozen pond scene. Little Women’s themes of love and forgiveness will go along nicely with your cup of hot chocolate and holiday cheer.

7.) Hot Tub Time Machine: This ridiculous romp through snow, time, and space stars John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Clark Duke, and Craig Robinson. The film is exactly what it sounds like: a time machine at a ski resort sends a group of friends back to 1986 where they re-live a very important night in their lives. Hot Tub Time Machine is a great film to accompany a ski lodge trip, or to help you relive the 1980s in all its color-blocking glory.

6.) The Ref: If family dysfunction and the holidays grate on your nerves, then this comedy will really speak to you. Denis Leary stars as Gus, a petty burglar who takes a dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas Eve. Much to his chagrin, Gus is forced to mediate the family’s problems.  Kevin Spacey and Christine Baranski round out the dysfunctional family cast in this unexpected holiday film.

5.) Trading Places: Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy give thoroughly enjoyable performances in this comedy that garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy. In case it’s been awhile: an upper class commodities broker and a street hustler have their fortunes reversed by billionaires who decide to have a little fun with a bet.

4.) Scrooged: Tired of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol? Granted, there may be no such thing as growing tired of A Christmas Carol; however, Scrooged puts a comedic spin on this classic tale, which makes this film a perfect addition to your holiday watch list. Bill Murray plays Francis Xavier “Frank” Cross, a soul-less television executive, who chose his career over love many years ago. Things get weird when Cross agrees to air a Christmas Eve broadcast of A Christmas Carol. Strangely, ghosts from his past start coming back to haunt him…

3.) Gremlins: We can point fingers as to who’s to blame, father Randall Peltzer for purchasing the little monster for his son as an ill-conceived Christmas present, or his son Billy Peltzer for breaking one of three simple rules while caring for the Mogwai. Either way, this black comedy is a classic creature feature and definitely an offbeat holiday classic.

2.) Edward Scissorhands: A friend of mine recently admitted to me that she has met resistance when trying to proclaim Edward Scissorhands as one of her favorite holiday movies. The film begins and ends during the holidays, and it is filled with whimsy and heart, two staples of the holiday season. Not only that, but it is a truly inventive film that demands a yearly re-watching.

1.) Die Hard: The original Die Hard takes the number one spot, hands down, as it is one of my favorite movies. Don’t let the lack of snow fool you, this movie is one-hundred-percent holiday film. The movie begins simply enough: New York cop John McClane lands in LA to visit his estranged wife and their two children for Christmas. He meets up with his wife at her work holiday party, an event taking place at the Nakatomi Plaza, an LA sky scraper.  His strained meeting with his wife, as well as the holiday celebration, is interrupted when Hans Gruber and his armed cohorts take the party-goers hostage. Alan Rickman plays Gruber over a decade before he took on the role of Harry Potter’s Severus Snape, and Rickman gives a wonderfully memorable performance as Die Hard’s ruthless and conniving villain. Gruber portrays himself to police as a terrorist, but things are not as they seem. He has his entire plan mapped out, step-by-step, and he is far ahead of the police. In fact, the only thorn in his side is the one party-goer who managed to slip away and who is now taking out his men, one-by-one. Die Hard is a smart, classic action movie with holiday spirit and a lot of heart.  I say it’s a must-see holiday movie!

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In addition to her duties at SAGIndie, Ellen Tremiti is also a Contributor for Fanboy Comics, an independent comic book publishing company based in Los Angeles, CA. For more interviews, blogs, and reviews by Ellen and the FBC staff, check out the Fanboy Comics website at FanboyComics.net or sign up for the e-newsletter, The Fanboy Scoop, by emailing subscribe@fanboycomics.net.

You guys! Because I know a good time when I see one, I spent the beginning of the month in Tennessee at Indie Memphis. Also because someone finally recognized my genius and put me on a jury with Adam Donaghey and Chris Parnell.

On the flight to Memphis, I sat next to another festival juror, the criminally underrated Daniel Waters (and I’m not just calling him that because I happen to know that he googles “Daniel Waters, underrated”). Let me say that again: I sat next to the man who wrote Heathers. I was close enough to touch him! (I didn’t though, cause I wasn’t reared that way. Don’t worry, you guys, I played it cool.)

Upon my arrival I realized how much Indie Memphis does for the filmmakers (they let the jury tag along). My days there were a blur of movies and receptions and tours and panels and southern food and more movies and parties. It was like summer camp! And all with a free shuttle! (You’d be surprised to know how many festivals have expected attendees to figure out how to get back and forth from screenings that are 10-20 miles from the festival host hotel without going broke.)  This fest is really great to the filmmakers that attend, and that must be the word on the street, because the city was crawling with them. And because I am trying to be a person of use to society, I had a chance to do a SAGIndie workshop with quite a few of said filmmakers. It was really heartening to have the turn out I did. (Are you guys, like, “I can’t figure out which part of this story is supposed to be interesting”(?) OK! Enough sincerity!)

How about this: Indie Memphis was insane! Seriously, you have one white wine spritzer* and the next thing you know you’re wearing a horse mask sitting in a converted airstream trailer sitting in between two men you just went with to what may or may not have been a rave (?), one of whom wrote Heathers, and listen, the night is not even close to being over.**

On the final night, after our last deliberation, Adam and I walked back to the Playhouse on the Square with Chris to go watch his panel, which was super entertaining as I’m sure you can imagine. During the Q&A, I raised my hand and asked “Out of the two others serving on the Hometowner Jury with you, which one is your favorite?” That drew a  gasp from the crowd and a polite politician-y answer from Chris, who claimed he liked me and Adam equally, which we all know can’t be true. I have so much going for me, like awesome hair and a million pictures of my dog dressed up like Dracula! Adam? All he has is his own movie theater and a million producing credits.

After the panel was the awards ceremony, where the Hometowner Jury was pleased to award best Hometowner Feature to Morgan Jon Fox’s documentary This is What Love In Action Looks Like and Best Hometowner Short to Ryan Parker and G.B. Shannon’s Fresh Skweezed (which also won the Hometowner Audience Award). After the awards ceremony was the after party***, and after the party was the hotel lobby. And after that? Well, I guess I had to come home some time.

THE END

*Alright, it wasn’t a spritzer I was drinking!
**Actually, this sounds a lot like my Tuesday nights.
***At Ernestine and Hazels.

Video from a panel we did at New York Film Festival last month on casting and working with actors in low budget indies.

SAGIndie’s Michael Sladek moderated and panelists included Famke Janssen, Bruce Weiss, Jay Van Hoy, Paul Schnee, Mary Clay Boland, and Craig Zobel.

Every once in a while, an opportunity arises that you cannot resist. Riding camels in Egypt, giant wave surfing in Australia, nude sunbathing during Thailand’s monsoon season. Well, I’ve done none of these things, but I still got to do something pretty cool.

This year at the 20^th annual Raindance Film Festival in London, UK, SAGIndie was invited to share our knowledge on independent filmmaking and new media content.  I assumed it was the Queen herself, asking for me. I’m sure she went through “channels”.

Actually, our introduction came to Raindance in the best possible way; through filmmakers who liked our message.  Back in March we were at SXSW Film/Interactive/Music Festival.  There, SXSW had a section called SX-UK where they had a group of UK filmmakers doing business, meeting people, and generally trying to convince us that we don’t pronounce aluminum or centrifugal correctly.  Well, we quickly set them straight on that.  But it turns out that the folks from “across the pond” are also interested in filmmaking.  Too bad they do it so poorly… (Wait, what? They don’t do it poorly? Long history of filmmaking? What the heck is the King’s Speech?!)

Despite their obvious shortcomings (why can’t they speak English?) we met quite a few filmmakers who seemed cool. Several of them mentioned this great festival for indie filmmaking that takes place in October in London. Turns out, they were more than just talk, they actually mentioned me to the festival director, Elliot Grove and we met each other while in Cannes. One thing led to another and off I went to London.

The festival was very cool. Over the course of 12 days, Raindance showed movies, (opening with the much talked about ANOTHER EARTH), held panels, and threw some groovy parties (suddenly, I feel all Austin Powers). I was on s panel about creating a web series. While the internet is worldwide, it seems that the US of A is leading the pack in creating stories for it. Raindance wanted us to share the wisdom we’ve acquired over the years.

You all should know that, as a rule, I try not to acquire anything– not wisdom or anything else that might make my luggage heavier and harder to get through customs. But, as it turned out, I was able to share a bit about how web series are getting better, more prolific, and attracting really talented people to be a part of them. It seemed like a good time was had by all.

I also made a jump and visited a group of filmmakers in Dublin, Ireland. I had padded the trip by two days so I could roam around a little. Just as I was deciding between visiting Oxford or Canterbury for a little educational ME time, I got an email asking me if I’d come to Dublin and talk with a group of filmmakers, actors and even guild members (producer’s guild and directors). How could I pass that up?  Plus, their offices were mere blocks from the Jameson Irish Whiskey Distillery – if you like that kind of thing – which I do NOT (unless you have photographic evidence). So, I met a great group of professionals and students in filmmaking.

Clearly, I’m not the shyest person on the planet and I try to make friends wherever I go (except YOU Minnesota. Haven’t forgotten how you snowed on me in SEPTEMBER!!). But I can happily say that I met the nicest, warmest people on my trip. We had dinner, we talked film, we talked politics, we talked Princes (Will AND Harry), and I just generally felt welcomed in by our counterparts “over there”.  I would happily go back tomorrow, IF the dollar were just a little bit stronger.

Now, could someone please tell me how many pounds a STONE is? WHY CAN’T THEY JUST TALK AMERICAN?!

Win Win played at the Sundance film festival as a FoxSearchlight non-competition premiere. Paul Giamatti stars in this dramedy as family man Mike Flaherty. Flaherty runs a failing elder law practice, has two young girls, a loving, practical wife (Amy Ryan, The Office, Gone Baby Gone), and he coaches the unimpressive local high school wrestling team. His doctor recently told him to exercise as a form of stress relief, but, with money troubles piling up, and the future for himself and his family hanging in the balance, his worries increase. After enduring a panic attack while jogging with friend Terry Delfino (Bobby Cannavale, Will & Grace, The Other Guys), Flaherty knows something’s gotta give; so, when an opportunity presents itself for Flaherty to cheat the legal system in order to benefit himself, he jumps at the chance. Writer and director Thomas McCarthy (The Visitor, The Station Agent) wrote this heartwarming film that proves that some filmmakers still put their story and its characters above all else.

At the start of the film, Flaherty represents old man Leo Poplar (Burt Young, Rocky) in a lawsuit against the state of New Jersey. Leo needs a guardian in order to continue living alone; otherwise, he will be placed in an old folks’ home, which Leo does not want. A little out of touch, Leo cannot follow the legal proceedings very well, and Flaherty takes this opportunity to name himself as Leo’s guardian, cash in on the government’s assistance checks, and still place Leo in a home. Flaherty believes Leo will hardly notice the difference between his real home and the old folks’ home, and no one, including the state, will be the wiser. Leo’s grandson Kyle (newcomer Alex Shaffer) unknowingly enhances this idea when he shows up on the steps of Leo’s old house, looking to live with his grandfather.

Flaherty has no choice but to bring Kyle to his own home and sort out Kyle’s family drama. Kyle hints that he ran away from an absent and drug addicted mom and her loser boyfriend. This complication seems to make matters worse until Kyle accompanies Flaherty to wrestling practice. Kyle unwittingly shows off his outstanding wrestling skills (Shaffer is a successful high school wrestler in real life), and Flaherty uncovers an interesting fact about Kyle’s past: he used to rank at the state level before he quit wrestling at his old school. In this new environment, however, Kyle’s ready to take it up again. Flaherty is overjoyed, more money in his pocket and the solution to his team’s dismal record. This truly is a win-win situation.

By throwing a wrench into the normative daily activities of the Flaherty household, Kyle’s presence slowly affects the family for the better. Flaherty, a man who never was a bad person, just a good man who got a little selfish, warms up to Kyle and spends a good portion of the film digesting the choice that he has already made. But, Flaherty cannot undo what he has done, and, when it comes time, he will have to choose between money, possible disbarment, the abandonment of his family, and doing what is morally right. This film has a wonderfully light cadence that moves with grace to its inevitable, but not overly, predictable conclusion. Peppered with fun jokes and brilliant performances that are a pleasure to watch (notably Giamatti, Cannavale, and Shaffer), the overall result is a thoroughly enjoyable film. Win Win is a family-oriented dramedy that reflects modern family troubles: money, working through a recession, and not forgetting the important stuff amongst all of life’s stressors, which can be a tough thing to do. This film is a reminder to take a step back and appreciate what you have.

Win Win is finally available for internet or dvd rental!

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In addition to her duties at SAGIndie, Ellen Tremiti is also a Contributor for Fanboy Comics, an independent comic book publishing company based in Los Angeles, CA. For more interviews, blogs, and reviews by Ellen and the FBC staff, check out the Fanboy Comics website at FanboyComics.net or sign up for the e-newsletter, The Fanboy Scoop, by emailing subscribe@fanboycomics.net.

Next is the presentation of the VISION AWARD to an established filmmaker whose artistic ambition and consistent filmmaking excellence provides artistic inspiration to emerging filmmakers all around the world.  Past recipients include MIke Figgis, Terry Gilliam, Wim Wenders, Allison Anders, Alexander Payne, David O. Russell, Werner Herzog, Mark and Michael Polish, Kevin Smith, Ted Hope and last year’s recipient, Nicolas Winding Refn.

The evening finishes with a high-energy party on the rooftop of the Downtown Independent Theater catered by some of Los Angeles’ best restaurants.

REGISTER NOW: http://visionfest-2011.eventbrite.com

Why scheme, lie, cheat, and steal? Because an honest day’s work is so darn hard, and the payoff is usually higher; at least that’s what Mickey Prohaska would have you believe in the 2011 Sundance film The Convincer. Mickey (Greg Kinnear, As Good as It Gets, Little Miss Sunshine) enters every scene with one objective in mind: how can I get more out of this situation? His vile, unapologetic persona is always on the lookout for another scam, and he’s about to unearth his easiest con yet. Once his plot is put into motion, nothing, and no one, can stand in his way. Or, so he thinks.

It all begins at an insurance convention where Mickey convinces a fresh, eager salesman, Bob Egan (David Harbour, War of the Worlds, The Quantum of Solace), to accept a position with Mickey’s insurance company, instead of a high-paying offer with a larger firm. Mickey exaggerates his office space, his staff, his clients, his income, everything really, so he can hook Bob. Bob joins his team, and Mickey assigns him to the clients who are the farthest drive away from their office. This little bit of employee abuse backfires when Bob comes across an old man, Grovy Hauer (Alan Arkin, Catch-22, Little Miss Sunshine), on a farm estate with a rare and valuable violin in his attic.

Mickey jumps on the chance to steal this client and handle Mr. Hauer’s insurance needs himself. He has the violin appraised by a persnickety violin shop owner (Bob Balaban, Gosford Park, The Majestic), who tells him the artifact is worth 30,000 dollars. This is the exact amount Mickey needs to patch things up with his wife. Prior to the start of the film, he had emptied their joint bank account without her knowledge, leading to their current separation. He sets his plan in motion to lift the violin from spacey Old Man Hauer, but neighbor BG (James Stordahl), as well as security installer Randy Kinney (Billy Crudup, Big Fish, Watchmen), foil his plans.

Have no fear; Mickey is a smart, conniving man, and he continually adjusts his plans; as one door closes, five more open. The Convincer is a maze of plot twists. The story unfolds with Mickey starring as stage director, the man behind-the-scenes, pulling the strings on his many puppets, but, really, Mickey may not be the show runner he’s convinced himself he is. Self-absorbed, Mickey sees the world with blinders on. He is so untrustworthy, it is undoubtedly his own fault that he doesn’t recognize dishonesty in others. His world and the cast of characters around him, truly, are not as they seem.

Kinnear, Harbour, Arkin, and Balaban feed off of each other’s energy. Their dynamics are entertaining to watch and each accomplished actor shines in their assigned role. The Convincer is an unexpected film. Writers Jill and Karen Sprecher have woven quite a yarn, and Jill’s steadfast direction completes this wry and guileful picture. Much like the film, I have waited until the last act to tell you what it’s really all about; The Convincer is fairly smart, dark, and oddly humorous in a toned-down kind of way. Mixed into this fun, mysterious farce is a splash of The Usual Suspects, a touch of Fargo, and just a hint of The Red Violin.  Ultimately, though, this movie stands up on its own with a unique, dark-humored tone and unraveling plot. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this film!—

If you can ever find it. I saw The Convincer when it premiered in January 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival, in Eccles Theater, in Park City, Utah. Since then, I have read that it has undergone many changes, and it is not the film I saw at Sundance. We will have to wait and see what its final version will be like. I have not seen this new version, so I cannot comment on it in any way. I can only hope that it somehow remains the film I enjoyed at Sundance. For information on the changes, check out this Indiewire article as a starting point.

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In addition to her duties at SAGIndie, Ellen Tremiti is also a Contributor for Fanboy Comics, an independent comic book publishing company based in Los Angeles, CA. For more interviews, blogs, and reviews by Ellen and the FBC staff, check out the Fanboy Comics website at FanboyComics.net or sign up for the e-newsletter, The Fanboy Scoop, by emailing subscribe@fanboycomics.net.

Read the article HERE.

Review of THE DETAILS

“Details of the Los Angeles Film Festival were unveiled today with 200 feature films, shorts, and music videos on tap for the event’s 2011 edition, including 19 films screening in the ten-day event’s Narrative and Documentary Competition. LAFF will return to its downtown hub at L.A. Live with 27 World, North American, and U.S. premieres set to screen.

The number of films competing in the narrative and documentary competition categories increased this year from 18 to 19, of which 11 are world premieres and 8 are North American or U.S. premieres. The number of female feature filmmakers also increased this year from 21 to 23.”

Read the rest at INDIEWIRE.