Yesterday was gorgeous.
I do everything in my power to prepare for a film, but at the end of the day I’ve shot what I’ve shot and I’ve cut what I’ve cut and it’s out of my hands. This is not to shirk responsibility — more to marvel at the moment when all of your time and thought leave your grasp and become something entirely new, all on its own.
Instead of high-tailing it to P-town or sunning ourselves out on the greenway, Emma and I spent our Sunday afternoon hovering over a heavy pot of sticky, viscous, brown liquid goodness. We let it boil (but only just barely), stirred the sediment (with a sanitized spoon) and we cooled the wort (in the coolest of ice-baths).
And after three hours of bubbling and timing and sanitizing and worrying and reassuring, we added the yeast, shut the lid and put the bucket in the corner. We have done all that we can do, now it’s up to the ingredients to mix and ferment and clarify into our first batch of Belgian Amber Ale. We hope. And it’s this exact out-of-control feeling — brewing it all up, breath held back — that’s a critical part of my creative process.
Production for I hope you find what you came here to see begins this Saturday. Glasses raised.
Jul 11, 2011 | Categories: blog, Brian, writing | Tags: beer, Boston, brew, Brian, Filmmaking, home brew, I hope you find what you came here to see, ideas, process, short film |
Our very own Brian Barth has officially stepped on to the festival circuit!
His experimental film RICKETS (2010) will be premiering at the Boston Underground Film Festival ’11 and the Kansas City FilmFest ’11.
RICKETS explores a transformed landscape as it follows the simplest aesthetic narrative — white to black. The textures and rhythms of the image come from the serious digital distortion (achieved entirely in-camera) of the perfectly scenic setting of a boat trip down the Hudson River. The camera captures an alternate, underlying world, an almost microscopic vibration that pervades our existence.
Keep an eye out (for all our loyal Boston followers) – make sure to pick up some tickets for BUFF.
And while you’re there, be sure to also check out the extraordinary nunsploitation film Thy Kill Be Done (2010, dirs. Greg Hanson and Casey Reagan). It’s exactly what you think it is in the best way possible.
Our shoulders are all waxed and ready to rub. Come out and support Brian, the Company, Boston filmmaking, and, heck, just to see some really great film.
Mar 09, 2011 | Categories: Adam, news, writing | Tags: Boston, Boston Underground Film Festival, Brian, Casey Regan, Cinema, Filmmaking, Greg Hanson, Kansas City FilmFest, Rickets, Thy Kill Be Done |
The Tillman Story (Amir Bar-Lev, 2010)
What a pleasant surprise!
What a horrible way to start this review. This is an infuriating film.
I had heard nothing about this film, but it gave me a lot to think about. The Tillman Story retells Pat Tillman’s decision to abandon his multimillion-dollar football contract in order to serve in the US Army in Afghanistan in 2002. Already a national football star, Tillman’s decision attracted a fair amount of press, but only in his death did he become a household name. The film examines how Tillman’s death was taken by the government and spun into a pro-war media spectacle. Tillman was depicted as an American hero, who died in an intense firefight with the opposition, when in reality he died by friendly fire.
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Sep 10, 2010 | Categories: Brian, reviews, writing | Tags: Amir Bar-Lev, Brian, documentary, Donald Rumsfeld, Fratricide, Friendly Fire, media, Pat Tillman, The Tillman Story |
Get Low (Aaron Schneider, 2009)
Yesterday was Sunday, September 26, and in my mind, the first fully realized day of fall. As I was riding to the Landmark Theater in Kendall to catch the 1:25 showing of Get Low, I saw that the humble Boston skyline was subdued under the thick cover of clouds. The muted gray seeped into everything, and though the summer smoldered it had lost contrast and color. What better time is there to turn to film, which in itself is just color and contrast? A descending day of white and gray is the perfect world to abandon for another; it is a variable, where nothing is being missed.
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Sep 10, 2010 | Categories: Brian, reviews, writing | Tags: Aaron Schneider, Bill Murray, Brian, Get Low, Kendall Square, Landmark Theater, Robert Duvall, There Will Be Blood |
The Town (Ben Affleck, 2010)
I’m always cautious of films made about Boston, and while Affleck makes sure to wear his location-specific windbreakers (Celtics, Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots) he sheds them after about the fifth scene and I felt a little less summarized. The accents are all there, too, which is probably thanks to endless coaching from Affleck. And I’m not going to lie, it was awesome watching my block in the North End get blown up in a car chase and seeing my apartment in most of the wide shots; I loved my direct connection to the setting.
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Sep 10, 2010 | Categories: Brian, reviews, writing | Tags: Bank Robbery, Ben Affleck, Boston, Brian, Jeremy Renner, North End, Rebecca Hall, The Town |
Ruchiki is the story of Rachel Moeltz, a fifteen year old girl living in Pickering, Ontario, whose profound sense of displacement–in her body, with her parents, in her school, and her country–finds expression in an obsession with a beautiful Japanese pop-star, Ayumi Takanawa.
Ruchiki is, secondarily, the story of nineteen year old Ayumi Takanawa, plucked from obscurity at a young age by GoJam record executive Mushiro Hiboshi, who has been sexually exploiting his pop starlet even as he guides her career to fame and fortune.
It is also the story of Barney and Maxine, Rachel’s quietly desperate parents; of Banner Tutilo, star of the sadistic reality show EAT IT!; of Clark and Mickey, who want only to grow up and join Banner’s gang; of Pickering and Tokyo, of fantasy, reality, naiveté, wisdom, high school, youtube, and of a girl’s insistence on following her dreams, even at the cost of her innocence.
It is, finally, a short narrative film, written by Peter Warren, directed by Matt Paley, produced by Fletcher Deitch, Liz Phelps and Jake Teresi, with cinematography by Brian Barth and Jeff Kulig, and art direction by Sasha Winters. It is the first true Company film; a collaboration that involves all eight of us in many different roles. Filming begins in February and ends in June, and we will document every step of the process here.
See the official website, ruchiki.com!
Contribute to our fundraising campaign at Ruchiki’s kickstarter!
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Ruchiki has been made possible by the generous contributions of the following individuals:
Laura Goldman and Scott Haas
Gail Davis and Stuart Manitsky
Charles and Nancy Barry
Neva and Yossi Chait
Mitchell and Arlene Frumpkin
Arnold and Seena Davis
Barbara Goldman and Neil Primack
Robert Haas
Alfred and Elaine Frumpkin
Arthur and Cynthia Fertman
Wendy and Stuart Schwam
Joel Becker and Rusty Wiggs
Robert Paley and Marianne Steiner
May 05, 2010 | Categories: Matt, news, Ruchiki, writing | Tags: Ayumi Takanawa, Banner Tutilo, Brian, Filmmaking, Jake, Jeff Julig, Liz Phelps, M. Fletcher Deitch, Matt, Peter, Rachel Moeltz, Ruchiki, Sasha Winters, short film |
Every once in a great while, Brian Barth emerges from his editing lair with a mysterious look in his eye and a DVD in hand. On the occasion of his last emergence, at the Company’s Thanksgiving get-together, we had the pleasure of viewing an early cut of Part II; needless to say, we’re very excited to get this baby finished and into the world. All in good time.
Yesterday, Brian emerged from his lair once again, with a first peek for sainteliotandco.com! See it here.
Dec 08, 2009 | Categories: Matt, news, writing | Tags: 16mm, Brian, Part II, short film, trailer |