TIMECODE http://faisalazam.com/blog Blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:12:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 en hourly 1 “In the ’60s I thought that editing was the moment of law and order…” http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/22/in-the-60s-i-thought-that-editing-was-the-moment-of-law-and-order/ http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/22/in-the-60s-i-thought-that-editing-was-the-moment-of-law-and-order/#comments Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:12:55 +0000 Faisal http://faisalazam.com/blog/?p=713 “In the ’60s I thought that editing was the moment of law and order—like the police—on the body of a movie…but in the early ’70s I met [editor] Kim Arcalli, who made me discover that editing could be a fantastic moment, a creative moment…” –Bernardo Bertolucci

]]> http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/22/in-the-60s-i-thought-that-editing-was-the-moment-of-law-and-order/feed/ 0 Exhibit Earth to screen at The Danish Film Institute in Copenhagen for the U.N. Climate Conference http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/20/exhibit-earth-to-screen-at-the-danish-film-institute-in-copenhagen-for-the-u-n-climate-conference/ http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/20/exhibit-earth-to-screen-at-the-danish-film-institute-in-copenhagen-for-the-u-n-climate-conference/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:18:05 +0000 Faisal http://faisalazam.com/blog/?p=669 Exhibit Earth. In 2007, Exhibit Earth premiered at the Festival International du Film d'Environment in Paris, France, and was recently selected to screen at a very special film event. I'm pleased to announce that from December 7-19, 2009, the film will play at an environmental film festival in Copenhagen during the United Nations Climate Conference...]]> Three years ago, I cut an environmentally themed science-fiction short called Exhibit Earth. Written and directed by Kelvin C. Bias, this spare but dramatic film is a cautionary tale set in the year 3797, when all life on Earth is extinct, yet one haunting artifact remains. Comprised entirely of photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA footage of the Earth taken via satellite, the film presents our planet as viewed from space, looking distant and lonely; familiar, yet alien. Enhanced by an elaborate sound montage created by composer and sound designer, John Plenge, the film reminds us how small and precious our planet really is and paints a bleak final portrait of humanity—violent till the very end.

In 2007, Exhibit Earth premiered at the Festival International du Film d’Environment in Paris, France, and was recently selected to screen at a very special film event. I’m pleased to announce that from December 7-19, 2009, the film will play at an environmental film festival in Copenhagen during the United Nations Climate Conference. Screening at The Danish Film Institute, where a record audience is expected to attend, Exhibit Earth will be part of a program aimed at raising environmental awareness during the summit. Anticipated as one of the most important international events of the decade, the conference will be attended by high-ranking representatives from over 200 countries who will attempt to define an international framework for the fight against global warming. It’s an historic moment, and I’m truly honored that a small film I have edited will be seen by people who have the power to determine our future—for better, or worse. The film event is sponsored by The GoodPlanet Foundation.

Assuming you won’t be in Copenhagen for the summit, I’ve posted Exhibit Earth below. Take a look.

(Exhibit Earth, 2007)

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Credits: Writer/Director – Kelvin C. Bias, Editor/Titles/VFX – Faisal Azam, Sound Editor/Mixer – John Plenge

]]> http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/20/exhibit-earth-to-screen-at-the-danish-film-institute-in-copenhagen-for-the-u-n-climate-conference/feed/ 0 “I know that people who look attentively at my films see…” http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/19/i-know-that-people-who-look-attentively-at-my-films-see/ http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/19/i-know-that-people-who-look-attentively-at-my-films-see/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:25:30 +0000 Faisal http://faisalazam.com/blog/?p=667 “I know that people who look attentively at my films see a toughness in them…because my films are not sentimental, even if they are built on sentiment.” –Francois Truffaut

]]> http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/19/i-know-that-people-who-look-attentively-at-my-films-see/feed/ 2 Rockin’ it with Rolling Stone at Bonnaroo 2009 http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/12/rockin-it-with-rolling-stone-at-bonnaroo-2009/ http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/12/rockin-it-with-rolling-stone-at-bonnaroo-2009/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:46:39 +0000 Faisal http://faisalazam.com/blog/?p=601 Rolling Stone at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee. Featuring some of the biggest names in music, the festival is like a modern-day Woodstock but cleaner, more organized and admirably sustainable. For four crazy days I soaked in the Bonnaroo buzz and stayed up all night editing artist interviews and live performance footage. Unfortunately, it was more work than play but, even so, it was incredible to be there. Overall, I cut more than 10 videos; here are my five faves...]]> This past summer I got a chance to cut web videos for Rolling Stone at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee. Featuring some of the biggest names in music, the festival is like a modern-day Woodstock but cleaner, more organized and admirably sustainable. For four crazy days I soaked in the Bonnaroo buzz and stayed up all night editing artist interviews and live performance footage. Unfortunately, it was more work than play but, even so, it was incredible to be there. Overall, I cut more than 10 videos; here are my five faves:

1) Hear what the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have to say about the Bonnaroo vibe, pre-performance jitters and the benefits of drumming on towels. Bonus: Karen O looking awesomely 80s in her tiger striped leggings. The Frenchy lads of Phoenix discuss the difference between American and European festivals, extol the virtues of pure art and wonder if their lead singer is ever going to show up.

(The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Phoenix roll with the pre-performance punches.)

2) Chairlift waxes poetic about sunsets, trees, and getting high on contact. Bonus: Patrick Wimberly describes what it was like to brush up against his musical hero Mike Gordon from Phish. Get a glimpse of Janelle Monae’s electrifying performance and see why Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes gives this rising star mad props.

(Chairlift soaks it all in and Janelle Monae rocks it out.)

3) Best known for his role as Tom Haverford on Parks and Recreation, comedian Aziz Ansari pretends to be Bruce Springsteen’s road manager. His unusual (and hilarious) demands give him away but, whether you buy the act or not, he’s funny as hell.

(Aziz Ansari punks ‘em all…sort of.)

4) Famous for turning dance floors into free-for-alls and ordinary girls into booty-shakin’ hos, crazy mash-up DJ Girl Talk reflects on earlier days when his party-startin’ talents weren’t so appreciated. Watch the video to see Girl Talk whipping his audience into a total frenzy. True story: My cinematographer buddy Alexis Boling got kicked in the head while capturing this footage and, considering the dance riot that was going on, he and his camera were lucky to escape unscathed.

(Girl Talk tears it up.)

4) Sure, he’s been around awhile, but Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes isn’t just playing the same old tunes–he’s doing the unexpected. Check out the video to hear some snippets from his version of The Stones‘ “Helter Skelter” and Radiohead’s “Creep”.

(Warren Haynes keeps it fresh with “strange cover songs.”)

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Credits: DP – Alexis Boling, Editor – Faisal Azam

]]> http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/12/rockin-it-with-rolling-stone-at-bonnaroo-2009/feed/ 1 Why does Hollywood keep making the same movies? http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/10/why-does-hollywood-keep-making-the-same-movies/ http://faisalazam.com/blog/2009/11/10/why-does-hollywood-keep-making-the-same-movies/#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:38:05 +0000 Faisal http://faisalazam.com/blog/?p=544 Carrie online. When the movie was finished, Netflix recommended similar offerings I might possibly enjoy, and I sadly discovered that Carrie was remade for TV in 2002. Out of sheer curiosity, and with extremely low expectations, I watched the trailer. Not surprisingly, the TV version looked even worse than I imagined. It was a joke, a perversion of the original; a stale, vapid remake like so many other stale, vapid remakes...]]> A few nights ago, I watched (and enjoyed) the 70s cult classic Carrie online. When the movie was finished, Netflix recommended similar offerings I might possibly enjoy, and I sadly discovered that Carrie was remade for TV in 2002. Out of sheer curiosity, and with extremely low expectations, I watched the trailer. Not surprisingly, the TV version looked even worse than I imagined. It was a joke, a perversion of the original; a stale, vapid remake like so many other stale, vapid remakes.

Carrie original and bad remake posters

Please, no more bad remakes!

Why bother making it at all? I wondered. Really. Some things should just stand alone as great works. Like The Day the Earth Stood Still. Some things just shouldn’t be remade. Like Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Some things should be remembered with a certain reverence—and not cheaply cloned later on for an easy profit. Like the seminal TV series V. In a world that is exploding with talent, fresh ideas and thousands of aspiring writers jostling for exposure, there’s just no excuse for bad remakes. If you agree, you’ll be amused and encouraged by Joe Queenan’s article “Why does Hollywood keep making the same films?” published in The Guardian. He hits the nail on the head, humorously detailing what we’ve all seen enough of:

“It is said that, after three days, fish and house guests both start to stink. The same is true of movies—by the time you get to the third in a series, the stench is palpable. This is true whether the series is Halloween, The Ring, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or paranormal romances starring Sandra Bullock.”

Queenan makes some interesting suggestions as to what we should demand more of, which really boil down to films that fulfill three basic criteria: originality, a bit of imagination, and a fully and cleverly developed plot that isn’t totally predictable. Is that really so much to ask for? As Pedro Almodovar says, “No biopics, no prequels, no sequels, no hero movies, no antihero movies, and definitely no superhero movies. Anything else I can handle.” As viewers, I think it’s high time we start saying NO to bad sequels, dumbed-down adaptations of foreign movies, budget-bloated storyless CGI spectacles inspired by video games, fourth rate comic books and, stooping to a pathetic new low, movies inspired by amusement park rides. Driven disproportionately by profit and deathly afraid of risk, Hollywood has become creatively bankrupt. But as Queenan points out, it doesn’t have to be that way. Read the article here.

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