1:1 Super 8 Cinema Soiree

For those looking for a warm super 8 escape, might we recommend the 4th Annual 1:1 Super 8 Cinema Soiree this Thursday night - December 1, 2011.

Returning to IWAN The Bubble in Fort Lauderdale, this showcase of brand new South Florida super 8 films (as always in true OTS8 form, no cuts no splices, and projected on super 8).

It's $5 at the door. For all the details, check out their Facebook page here.

We're heading down there, and will have a review of the show in early December (along with a long overdue recap of WNDX's 6th Annual show)

Stay warm everyone.

WNDX Wrap Up

We're wrapped in Winnipeg for another year! Six great years of super 8 summed up with 27 brand new films, and a DVD release of 25 films from the first 5 years. The Gas Station Theatre hosted us again, (it's feeling like a real home for us annually now). Here's a few teaser photos, with a review to follow soon (with more pics!)

Kevin Bacon makes a super 8 film!

It must be something to always be introduced, then follow it up with 'no, not that Kevin Bacon'. But if you've been a fan of the WNDX OTS8 since 2006, then you know where the real Bacon is, and how incredible these single reel films have been. Great narratives, perfectly timed shots, and always a thrilling finish, Kevin Bacon has quickly mastered the art of a perfect OTS8 film, and he's in the process of the finishing touches of his OTS8 film for this year's WNDX edition (mark your calendars for October 3!).

Granting a behind the scenes look at his super 8 production, this is a great photo essay of the work he invests into creating his 200 second masterpieces. Be sure to make note of a few things:

-a manfrotto tripod;

-a second tripod with a videocamera to capture timings and framings;

-a 500w worklamp!! hallelujah, every production can use on of these and rid OTS8 of underexposed films from now on (unless you're into underexposed super 8, in which case carry on);

-a tape measure to make sure your focus is critical.

Enjoy this sneak peak of his new film, and be sure to be at the world premiere on October 3 at the Gas Station Theatre as the finale wind up to this year's fantastic WNDX festival.

WNDX OTS8 #6

WNDX has opened its entry forms for submissions for their 6th annual OTS8, and true to form (and showing the continued popularity of this event), they only have two spots left. So, if you're reading this and inspired, quickly go to this link, fill out the form, and see if you can score that coveted last spot to see your film on the big screen in the 'peg in October. It'll be the hottest ticket in town, despite those who claim it'll be the Jets.

Syracuse review

Syracuse just celebrated it's 5th annual OTS8, changing venues from Funk'n Waffles to a vacant storefront in Syracuse (love that, but miss the thought of eating a fudge brownie while watching super 8). The event was another great success due to the hard work of Jason and Brianna Kohlbrenner and their dedicated team. 26 new films premiered, and by the sounds of this review, there are more new fans of the event, and things are looking strong for year 6 and beyond.

OTS8 at Prairie Scene

The great plains descend on Ottawa this spring with a showcase of 20 films made for OTS8 events in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Each province will have 10 films selected from the past 10 events in Regina, and 5 years in Winnipeg as part of the WNDX festival. The National Arts Centre's Prairie Scene is an expansive showcase and we're thrilled to be a part of it.

Here's a link to their site (check out their other great programming highlighting prairie artists).

If you're in Ottawa on April 27th, join us at the Mercury lounge (56 Byward Market Square) at 7:30pm, where our gracious hosts and partners from IFCO will be helping us to present the original films, as a rare opportunity to see them on super 8 again. If the location sounds familiar, it's where we held the Ottawa OTS8 back in 2007.

Here's the line up of films that will be screened.

Manitoba:

Arlea Ashcroft & Andrea von Wichert - Snapper Doodle

Jaimz Asmundson - Goths! On the Bus!

Clint Enns - The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse (1940/2010)

Mike Maryniuk - Fish Arms

Heidi Phillips - Spin

Sunny Sidhu - Singh

Danielle Sturk - a(éo)liens

Leslie Supnet - sun moon stars rain

Curtis Wiebe - Rocket John

Aaron Zeghers - Chaos Theory

Saskatchewan

Brent Braaten - Typewriter Oceanus

Shawn Fulton - Low Life

Jennifer Gennutt - Z Day

Eric Hill - Wind Up!

Kyle Ketchemonia - Confidential

Terry Mialkowsky & Shannon Jardine - Belt Buckle/Quonset Hut

Dianne Ouellette - Bootalicious

robert.daniel.pytlyk. - Still Life

Jennifer Sparrowhawk - The Last Time I Saw You

Daniel Suchoboki - Singularity on top of a Duration.

One Take Films hit Cowtown

Past One Take Super 8 Event films have another strong presence at this year's 19th Annual $100 film festival. We're pretty proud that these film stay true to the budgetary constraints (I'd bet most of them were made for less than half of that).

Films from past events in Regina, Winnipeg and Montreal are making premieres in Calgary on March 3-5. For all event and ticket details click here.

We're thrilled that Alexandre Larose is their guest filmmaker this year, and in addition to his film catalogue and a workshop (that we guarantee will be fantastic if you attend), he's showing 2 films made for past OTS8 events. Artifices, premiered at Pop Montreal OTS8 2007 (maybe the most well received and widely screened OTS8 film of all time?) will screen on Friday night, as will Brouillard (OTS8 Montreal 2009).

Other films to check out:

From Regina, Gerald Saul will screen his 2009 OTS8 film Memories of Uncle's House. Craig Orrett's Garbage Ghosts from 2008 (Regina) has also been programmed (also, see another of Craig's films, FOWLS shot on super 8 and blown up to 16mm).

A unique opportunity to see a father and son screen their films at the same festival, Ryan Hill's Send & Receive (Regina 2009) will screen on Friday night, while his dad Charlie Hill will show the first film he ever made for the 2009 Regina OTS8 Big Jim to close out the festival on Saturday night. Big Jim was probably the biggest surprise hit of the 2009 event, and we're thrilled that Charlie will get to premiere it in Calgary.

From Winnipeg, a few films are making their way west:

Noam Gonick's first OTS8 film The Island of Hermaphrodites ( Winnipeg 2010) is at the festival, and Craig Webber's suspenseful Not In Service (Winnipeg 2010) showcases his OTS8 prowess that Winnipeg has come to expect. Another surprise hit from this past WNDX OTS8 was Scott Fitzpatrick's Down (2010). It's a amazing feat of incredible planning and flawless execution. I won't say anymore as it's best seen than explained.

So, there you have it. If you're looking for a small gauge film fix, and want to see these super 8 originals, head on down to Calgary for the $100 film fest (I'm sure the rest of the films are great too!). If you are heading there, let us know. We'd love to get your review of the festival. Also, good luck to the past OTS8 filmmakers, and fingers crossed for the venerable super 8 prize. Past OTS8 films have walked away with the top super 8 prize a few times in the past, so it would be great to add to that collection.

Syracuse OTS8 #5

Celebrating their 5th Anniversary, The Syracuse One Take Super 8 Event has posted their call for submissions. Spots are filling up fast. $40 will get you one of the 25 coveted spots. And if you miss the deadline, you can still take part in the fun, by attending the screening at Funk N' Waffles with a sweet treat or savory supper before the show. Always guaranteed to be a fun night, we'll keep you posted on the details on our great partner south of the border, keeping super 8 strong in the Salt City. If you're looking for some inspiration, or can't wait to see some super 8 before the screening, check out some of last year's films posted at Syracuse Experimental Film & Video' site.

1:1 Super 8 Festival Review

And now a dispatch from our friends in sunny FLA, (with snow and a windchill here, wishing we could be there now). Congrats to Shane Eason and his team on their 3rd successful 1:1 Super 8 Festival.:

This past year marked the 3rd 1:1 Super 8 Film Festival in sunny Fort Lauderdale. On December 8th, 2010, 18 veteran (and rookie) super 8 filmmakers and artists from South Florida nervously showcased their fresh films at the historic (and supposedly haunted) Maxwell Room, built in 1925. These technically skillful, yet clever pieces of celluloid premiered before an energetic, rowdy audience of 120+. Most dressed in their best holiday threads. Others in the traditional, all black "I'm an artist, I have angst, so leave me alone!" garb.

The participants for this year's event included:

Adrienne Rose Gionta, Ian Rosenberg, Devin Scott, Eric Fuhrmann, Kohyi Sanchez, Paula Hart, Hector Romagosa, David Levine, Ammar Marimutu, Van-Eric Prevalus, Alex Stevens, Derek Taylor, Jason Forsyth, Verner Maldonado, Andreyna Sanchez, Nicolas Sacci, and Rhett Baron.

Of the films, three of them had live music accompaniment or performance. David Levine's "True Love" had an improvised trumpet from musician Dan Roddenberry. There was air playing, but actual smashing, of an acoustic guitar found wrapped underneath the 8 ft Christmas tree from Rhett Baron for "Guitarrista en Florida" by Hector Romagosa. And for Ian Rosenberg's and Devin Scott's two part science fiction film "Space Bar" and "Space Bar 2 in 3D", a distortion-noise performance that incorporated electric guitars, a crosscut handsaw, and foam meteorites that showered the audience carried out by Anteaters & The Women Who Love Them.

The screening was followed by a small wrap party at The Poorhouse. There, the filmmakers (and their groupies) gave into Super 8 and holiday salutations. This, of course, carried long into the wee morn'. I think I got home at 4 a.m.

S. C. Eason - Festival Director

The 2010 1:1 Super 8 Film Festival acknowledges the following for their generous support: Florida Atlantic University Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, Florida Atlantic University School of Communication and Multimedia Studies, The Downtowner Saloon, The Maxwell Room, Black Iron Film Artist Collective, The One Take Super 8 Event, PAC LAB INC & Eastman Kodak Films.