™ A New Independent Voice! ™

NEW! Click on the XML icon to add our NewsFeed to your favorite reader!    The Memphis Digital Arts Cooperative is a co-op where people come together to both make and enjoy films. We have screenings of independent movies from Memphis and from around the world. We also have our Tuesday Evening Workshops. On Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., we plan, shoot, and show our own short subjects. We all participate in the pre-production, shooting, and viewing the finished product. Meetings are held at the MeDiA Co-op, in the basement of the First Congregational Church, 1000 South Cooper, just south of Young. Park on the south side of the church, and you'll see the door to the Co-op at the front corner of the building. On this page, you will find information on our projects, along with behind-the-scenes photos. Also, learn more about what's going on at the co-op, check out choice links and tasty happenings from the world of independent film, and see our listing of film-related TV shows.

Happenings    Film Clips    Projects    Choice Links    Film on TV    News

Co-op Happenings Every week, there's a new and fascinating workshop at the co-op. Drop in and see what your cooperative is offering this week! For information on our past projects, check out our Workshop Section below. Also, check out the Film Clips section, and learn about the latest goings on in the film world! Away Awake - Morgan's latest film played for a full week at the Malco Studio on the Square! Check out photos from the big premiere's after party, plus the articles written about it. The film is scheduled to be out in release this fall. Look for it! Here's a related article on the film:   Coming Out Again - Memphis Flyer Here are some of my photos from the Otherlands after party:   Amber Summons the Masses to Watch Tim's Documentary   Brandon, Amber and Company Wrestle with the Movie Screen   Saki Holds Court at the Party   Timm Attempts to Keep a Low Profile   Morgan, Suzi and Friends Chill on the Back Porch  BACK TO MENU

Film Clips This new section spotlights cool happenings in the film world, including new films out in theatres, on DVD, or on TV. I'll also tell you about cool TV shows on the film industry. J-Horror Japanese Horror is the new trend of horror films from Japanese filmmakers. Films like "Ju-on," "The Eye" or "Ringu" are great examples of this. They all get to what the purpose of horror is: to creep you out! Instead of the gallons of blood and gore approach in horror filmmaking, these films create the atmosphere of horror. By creating a sense of dread and forboding, I believe they get to what makes for a great horror film. J-Horror films hit the mark by slowly introducing the characters and situations, then leading into the great creep-out moments that send chills down your spine. "Ju-on" has been remade here as "The Grudge" and "Ringu" as "The Ring." "The Grudge" benefitted by being helmed by the original director, Takashi Shimizu. Plus, it was kept in Japan, instead of exporting its location to America. Check out these movies and see what you think. "The Eye" hasn't been remade here and will be fresh to you. It's been on cable recently, and is available on DVD. Project Greenlight is a great behind-the-scenes documentary that has finished its third season. It aired on Bravo, and will hopefully be released on DVD. The first two seasons are on DVD, so you can get caught up that way, if you like! While billed as a "reality show," Project Greenlight is made by filmmakers, so it really shows you how movies are made, from pre-production to post-production. Here are links to the Main Site and the Bravo Site. Check it out!  BACK TO MENU

Tuesday Night Workshop Projects Amber's Meisner Acting Workshop - Our very own Amber Barbarito conducted a very productive workshop on the Meisner Acting Technique. Behind-The-Scenes Photos (by John Miller):   Amber Makes Her Introduction to the Class   Amber Gets the Class Ready for the Exercise   Amber Observes the Participants "Ants in an Ant Farm" (2005) - Cast: John Thomas Appling - Claire Chaunu - Timm Scalita (and a cast of thousands!) - Director/Writer: Timm Scalita - Director of Photography: Sebastian O. - Sound: Al Lahiri Behind-The-Scenes Photos (by John Miller):   Claire Gets Ready to Perform   Timm, Sebastian and Al Get Ready to Shoot   Timm Preps the Crew for Their Next Shot   Timm Gets Ready to Do His Lines "The Engine Room" (2005) - Cast: Claire Chaunu - Rob Winfrey - Director: John Weeks - Director of Photography: Will Carter - Clapper/Loader: John Miller Behind-The-Scenes Photos (by John Miller):   Claire Waits for Her Big Entrance   Claire and Rob Go Over Their Lines   Will Lines Up His Next Shot   John Gives Direction to Claire and Rob "A Life Connected" (2005) - Cast: Timm Scalita - Rob Winfrey - Director: Al Lahiri - Writer: Rob Winfrey - Camera: John Miller - Sound: Michael Lorefice Behind-The-Scenes Photos (by John Weeks):   Discussing the Next Scene   Timm and Rob Rehearse an Important Scene   Our Crew Between Takes   Sebastian and Mike Discuss the Next Take "Dead Prattle" (2004) - Cast: Saki as Devin - Timm Scalita as Fish - Director/Writer: Rob Winfrey - Editor: John Miller - Camera: Mike Lorefice / John Miller - Sound: Seabastian O. Behind-The-Scenes Photos (by John Miller):   Sebastian and Mike Set Up Their Next Shot   Timm and Saki Take a Break Inbetween Takes   Rob Discusses a Scene with Timm and Saki   Sebastian and Mike Assemble Their Equipment "Untitled" (2004) - Cast: TBA - Director/Writer/Editor: Morgan Jon Fox - Director of Photography: Tim Morton - Sound: John Weeks Behind-The-Scenes Photos (by John Miller):   Setting Up An Exterior Shot of a Car   Our Simple Lighting Set-up   Cast and Crew Prepping an Interior Shot   Tim Gets Ready for a Floor-Level Shot  BACK TO MENU

Choice Links Academy Awards Coverage - "Million Dollar Baby" won big at this year's awards. It was a year for smaller, more independent movies, including "Sideways" and "Vera Drake." Here are some of the interesting Oscar sites:   Oscars.org - The Academy's site.   Oscar.org - ABC's site.   2005 Oscars - Yahoo! Movie News' site.   Hollywood Reporter Coverage - News and background stories on this year's awards.   New York Times Coverage - Oscars news, nominees & winners. Sundance Festival Coverage - This year saw big wins for Co-op friends Ira Sachs, whose "Forty Shades of Blue" won the Grand Jury Prize, and Craig Brewer, who won the Audience Award for "Hustle & Flow." The 2005 festival inspired a host of new and interesting sites:   BloggingSundance - Journal from an avid Sundance filmgoer.   RogerEbert.com - Sundance Articles - Critic Roger Ebert's adventures in Park City.   The New York Times - Sundance Film Festival Special - Critic A.O. Smith's take on the festival.   Sundance Online Film Festival - Check out some of this year's Short Subjects.  BACK TO MENU

Film on TV There are many shows on TV that spotlight the world of film. Quite a few involve independent film. Most are on cable, so check your local listings! I've provided links to the shows' websites when available.   Ebert & Roeper - Classic review show. Early Monday mornings @ 1:30 a.m. - UPN 30   Sunday Morning Shootout - Great insider opinion and interviews. Sundays @ 10:00 a.m. - AMC   Dinner for Five - John Favreau's actor's roundtable. Fridays @ 9:00 p.m. - IFC   Ultimate Film Fanatic - Chris Gore's movie trivia game show. Fridays @ 9:30 p.m. - IFC   At the Angelika - Alison Bailes' filmmaker interviews. Check listings - IFC   Project Greenlight - Great behind-the-scenes docu-series. Available on DVD. - Bravo  BACK TO MENU

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