What Would Batman Do?
What Would Batman Do?
48 Hour Film Project 2012: BEST FILM Winners (by City), Skiffleboom.com
This is a list of all the full-length “Best Film” winners of the 48 HOUR FILM PROJECT, 2012 (as of April 24, 2013). These city winners were screened at Filmapalooza March 7-10, 2013 at the official 48HFP Awards Weekend. 10 of the best films of the 2012 Tour will be screened at the Cannes Film Festival‘s Short Film Corner in 2013.
Please note: Some filmmakers opt not to post their videos. Several filmmakers enter their 48 Hour films into various film festivals—festivals whose rules prohibit sharing their films online. Updates to can be left in the comments, full length films only.
Compiled by Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com (Boston 2012 Best Film Winner, 48HFP – “MANNA“)
Albuquerque: “Where Sheep May Safely Graze” by Trinidad Mustache
Amsterdam: “Rauwtafel” by Tutti Crew
Asheville: “Hickory Dickory Dock” by Out of State Bank
Atlanta: “A Head Held High” by FUGO Studios
Austin: “Don’t Look at Me” by Out of State Bank
Baltimore: “Welcome To The Neighborhood” by Star Wipe Films
Barcelona: “Iron Man” by Los Churumbeles de Paca
Belgium: “<3” by Sjoerd de Bont
Berlin: “The Last City” by Tight Tonic
Boston: “Manna” by Skiffleboom
Brisbane: “The Fox & The Flightless Bird” by Team Rabriate
Buffalo: “Perdition” by Idle Entertainment
Cairo: “I’m Going to Space” by The Leaders
Chicago: “Module 47” by Back 40 Productions
Columbus: “Last Call” by CineMache
Dallas: “No Good Deed” by Bad and Classic Productions
Delhi: “Pen Chor” by Q
Denver: “Eleven 0 One” by Stranger Studios
Des Moines: “The Last Airbander” by Slater Maxwell Productions
Detroit: “It Came from Zarnek” by Camp Super Rad Fire
Dijon: “Pursuit” by CHapet Hill
Dundee: “GoodNewsBurningFire: The Musical” by Little Earth Productions
Edinburgh: “Coffin Up” by Dead Square
Fargo: “The Hardest Part” by Team Wilhelm Scream
Geneva: “Sinister Games” by Grahal
Glasgow: “Coast” by Uneffable
Granada: “Y yo Peor” by il Sceneggiatore
Greensboro: “Cake” by Amalgamated Filmworks
Hampton Roads: “Worst…Day…Ever!!!” by Synergy 757
Houston: “Crackerjack” by Raven Films
Hyderabad: “Anukokunda” by Vinoothna Geetha
Indianapolis: “The Days Before” by Invisible Magnets
Inland Empire: “Dark Horizons” by Men of Low Moral Fiber
Istanbul: “Nevred” by Nevred
Jackson: “The Retirement Party” by Eye Suck
Jacksonville: “Nora” by Moses von Holland
Johannesburg: “Beau Belle Cosmetics” by Team Pi R Squared
Kansas City: “Road Movie” by IZZO Productions
Kaohsiung: “Presence” by Mary Stewed Chicken Wings
Kraków: “48h TV” by Kinomelina Studio
Kuala Lumpur: “Misi Y.B.” by Splaspan
Las Vegas: “Super Awesome Buddy Squad” Light Forge Studios
Lisbon: “Os Indomáveis (The Unstoppables)” by GOLPE
![Little Rock: “La Petite Mort” by BrickHut [canwestartagain]](https://skiffleboom.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/little-rock-la-petite-mort-by-brickhut.jpg?w=300&h=170)
Little Rock: “La Petite Mort” by BrickHut [canwestartagain]
Los Angeles: “The Crossing” by B & C
Louisville: “Phenomenal Johnson” by Team HiHo!
Lyon: “Les Dernières Marches (The Last Steps)” by Le Loups Blancs
Machinima: “Crueler Heads Prevail” by Oblivious Films
Madison: “Filling In” by Firmament Films
Madrid: “Lacrimal” by El Mono con Platillos
Malaga: “Los Pájaros” by AAOI
Melbourne: “The Anti-Social Network” by Ready to Roll
Memphis: “Dead Giveaway” by Hero Shot
Miami: “Split” by Underlab Studios
Milwaukee: “Until Death” by Flip Eleven Creative
Minneapolis: “Coming Out” by Above-the-Line Entertainment
Nashville: “George” by Just a Little Bit Films
New Hampshire: “Coming of Age” by Purple Finch Moving Picture Society
New Haven: “Kitty Carlson and the Hunt for the West Brookfield Creeper” by Password 123
New Orleans: “The Adventures of Keith Flippen, Didgeridoo Player from the 3rd Dimension” by Zombie and the Brain
New South Wales: “Resurrection” by The Starwipes
Nijmegen: “Exorsister” by Thinkfish Media
Oklahoma City: “Living Dead with the Decays” by Option D Productions
Orlando: “Bottomless” by Startfest
Osaka: “Holiday” by Captain Movie
Paducah: “TimmyVision” by Burning Bush Productions
Paris: “Le Dernier Role de Jacques Serres” by Equipe Avec Volontiers
Philadelphia: “Silent Treatment” by Thing Two
Pittsburgh: “Letter Die: A Gamut Sibling Mystery” by Mike & Andy
Portland, Maine: “Shaggy & Lola” by Round Bale Pictures
Prague: “Hlavní Chod” by Láska
Providence: “Relax” by Stand Up Films
Rotterdam: “Sorry” by Team Jeroen Houben
Rome: “Abbiamo Tutta La Notte (We Have All Night)” by Diero Productions
St. Louis: “Imagined Slights” by Boxing Clever
Salt Lake City: “Tic” by Al Kessler Centennial Squadron
San Antonio: “The Cow Jumped Over The Moon: The Musical” by Merky Water Films
San Francisco: “Always There” by Straight to DVD
San Jose “O’kane 1.0” by Fish Eye Films
Savannah: “American Sugar” by Pink Squirrel
Seattle: “The Vespa Vigilante” by Golden Doodle
Seville: “La Próxima Parada” by Entreleones
Tampa-St. Petersburg: “F” by Klingon Tears
Tel Aviv: “Everything is Alright” by Hebet
Utrecht: “Broerloos” by Extra Strong Productions
Warsaw: “Ile stopni ma cieply Glos” by Sahimoto Pictures
Washington D.C.: “Advancing Age” by Big Honkin’
JEAN-PIERRE MELVILLE: Film Director Podcast “THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH” – Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
http://www.dvdverdict.com/mp3s/podcast1245.mp3
Film Podcast “THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH“ features a uniquely Canadian perspective on the career and canon of renowned filmmakers. Released through DVDVerdict.com and available on iTunes, the podcast is hosted by the diabolical Steve Power (Newfoundland), Jon Mercer (Newfoundland), Andrew Forbes (Ontario), and Gabriel Girard (Montreal).
Each week, these Canucks offer up a hearty discussion regarding the “Good,” the “Bad,” and the “Ugly” from each filmmaker’s body of work:
The “Good” selection is often a film held in the highest esteem, for quality and enjoyment.
The “Bad” selection is more middle of the road, though NOT NECESSARILY bad! It can be a good film, but has some flaws that keep it from greatness. It can also be a film that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the canon.
The “Ugly” selection is the true bad selection. It is considered the lesser or least of the director’s films, and can be skewered Mystery Science Theater 3000 style (although in our opinion, Melville has NO “ugly” films).
For episode #28 of THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH (Podcast #1212 on DVD Verdict) the crew invited me as a special guest, and we had a grand time looking back on Jean-Pierre Melville’s oeuvre. You can download the podcast here, but BEWARE!—this 2 hour discussion is for movie geeks only:
http://www.dvdverdict.com/mp3s/podcast1245.mp3
Join Gabriel, Andrew, and guest Michael McVey as they celebrate and denigrate the life’s work of director/writer Jean-Pierre Melville. Le cercle rouge, Army of Shadows, Le Samouraï, Le Deuxieme Souffle, Magnet of Doom, Le Doulos, Léon Morin – Priest, Two Men in Manhattan, Bob le Flambeur, Les Enfants Terribles, Le silence de la mer … what’s not to love?
You can play along at home with IMDB and Youtube pages open, looking up the facts and clips as we go. Here is the trailer to the cool, influential French noir classic LE SAMOURAI:
The WES CRAVEN Playlist at Skiffleboom’s Youtube
Film Director WES CRAVEN Podcast on “THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH,” with Special Guest Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
http://www.dvdverdict.com/mp3s/podcast1212.mp3
Film Podcast “THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH“ features a uniquely Canadian perspective on the career and canon of renowned filmmakers. Released through DVDVerdict.com and available on iTunes, the podcast is hosted by the diabolical Steve Power (Newfoundland), Jon Mercer (Newfoundland), Andrew Forbes (Ontario), and Gabriel Girard (Montreal).
Each week, these Canucks offer up a hearty discussion regarding the “Good,” the “Bad,” and the “Ugly” from each filmmaker’s body of work:
The “Good” selection is often a film held in the highest esteem, for quality and enjoyment.
The “Bad” selection is more middle of the road, though NOT NECESSARILY bad! It can be a good film, but has some flaws that keep it from greatness. It can also be a film that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the canon.
The “Ugly” selection is the true bad selection. It is considered the lesser or least of the director’s films, and can be skewered Mystery Science Theater 3000 style.
For episode #26 of THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH (Podcast #1212 on DVD Verdict) the crew invited me as a special guest, and we had a grand time looking back on Wes Craven’s oeuvre. You can download the podcast here, but BEWARE!—this 2 hour discussion is for movie geeks only:
http://www.dvdverdict.com/mp3s/podcast1212.mp3
Join Jon, Steve, Andrew, and special guest Michael McVey as they celebrate and denigrate the life’s work of director/writer Wes Craven. A Nightmare on Elm Street, Shocker, The Scream series, Red Eye, The Hills Have Eyes, The Last House on the Left… what’s not to love?
You can play along at home with IMDB and Youtube pages open, looking up the facts and clips as we go. Here is the infamous “Basketball Scene” from the 1986 cult classic “DEADLY FRIEND”—watch The Goonies‘ Anne Ramsey explode like a watermellon as Kristy Swanson does her Terminator impression:
The WES CRAVEN Playlist at Skiffleboom’s Youtube
Film Director GEORGE A. ROMERO Podcast on “THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH,” with Special Guest Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
http://www.dvdverdict.com/mp3s/podcast1203.mp3
Film Podcast “THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH“ features a uniquely Canadian perspective on the career and canon of renowned filmmakers. Released through DVDVerdict.com and available on iTunes, the podcast is hosted by the diabolical Steve Power (Newfoundland), Jon Mercer (Newfoundland), Andrew Forbes (Ontario), and Gabriel Girard (Montreal).
Each week, these Canucks offer up a hearty discussion regarding the “Good,” the “Bad,” and the “Ugly” from each filmmaker’s body of work:
The “Good” selection is often a film held in the highest esteem, for quality and enjoyment.
The “Bad” selection is more middle of the road, though NOT NECESSARILY bad! It can be a good film, but has some flaws that keep it from greatness. It can also be a film that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the canon.
The “Ugly” selection is the true bad selection. It is considered the lesser or least of the director’s films, and can be skewered Mystery Science Theater 3000 style.
For episode #24 of THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH (Podcast #1203 on DVD Verdict) the crew invited me as a special guest, and we had a grand time looking back on Romero’s oeuvre. You can download the podcast here, but BEWARE!—this 2 hour discussion is for movie geeks only:
http://www.dvdverdict.com/mp3s/podcast1203.mp3
Join Jon, Steve, Andrew, and special guest Michael McVey as they celebrate and denigrate the life’s work of director/writer George A. Romero. The Night of the Living Dead series, Monkey Shines, Knightriders, Creepshow, Season of the Witch… what’s not to love? (According to the Canadians, not a whole lot.)
You can play along at home with IMDB and Youtube pages open, looking up the facts and clips as we go. Here is the trailer from the 1982 horror anthology classic “CREEPSHOW”—watch Ted Danson drown while Leslie Nielsen shrugs:
The George A. Romero Playlist at Skiffleboom’s Youtube
Knightriders Tom Savini 1981 George Romero Skiffleboom
Film Director PETER HYAMS Podcast on “THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH,” with Special Guest Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
http://traffic.libsyn.com/dvdverdict/1189.mp3
Film Podcast “THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH“ features a uniquely Canadian perspective on the career and canon of renowned filmmakers. Released through DVDVerdict.com and available on iTunes, the podcast is hosted by the diabolical Steve Power (Newfoundland), Jon Mercer (Newfoundland), Andrew Forbes (Ontario), and Gabriel Girard (Montreal).
Each week, these Canucks offer up a hearty discussion regarding the “Good,” the “Bad,” and the “Ugly” from each filmmaker’s body of work:
The “Good” selection is often a film held in the highest esteem, for quality and enjoyment.
The “Bad” selection is more middle of the road, though NOT NECESSARILY bad! It can be a good film, but has some flaws that keep it from greatness. It can also be a film that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the canon.
The “Ugly” selection is the true bad selection. It is considered the lesser or least of the director’s films, and can be skewered Mystery Science Theater 3000 style.
For episode #22 of THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH (Podcast #1189 on DVD Verdict) the crew invited me as a special guest, and we had a grand time looking back on Hyams’ oeuvre. You can download the podcast here, but BEWARE!—this 2 hour discussion is for movie geeks only:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/dvdverdict/1189.mp3
Join Jon, Steve, Andrew, and special guest Michael McVey as they celebrate and denigrate the life’s work of director/cinematographer Peter Hyams. End of Days, Timecop, Sudden Death, Capricorn One, Outland, 2010, what’s not to love?
You can play along at home with IMDB and Youtube pages open, looking up the facts and clips as we go. Here is the trailer from the 1983 sci-fi classic “OUTLAND”—watch heads violently explode in the wake of Sean Connery’s machismo:
Film Director TIM BURTON Podcast on “THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH,” with Special Guest Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
http://traffic.libsyn.com/dvdverdict/1175.mp3
Movie podcasts can be a lot of fun. Film Podcast “THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH“ features a uniquely Canadian perspective on the career and canon of renowned filmmakers. Released through DVDVerdict.com and available on iTunes, the podcast is hosted by the diabolical Steve Power (Newfoundland), Jon Mercer (Newfoundland), Andrew Forbes (Ontario), and Gabriel Girard (Montreal).
Each week, these Canucks offer up a hearty discussion regarding the “Good,” the “Bad,” and the “Ugly” from each filmmaker’s body of work:
The “Good” selection is often a film held in the highest esteem, for quality and enjoyment.
The “Bad” selection is more middle of the road, though NOT NECESSARILY bad! It can be a good film, but has some flaws that keep it from greatness. It can also be a film that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the canon.
The “Ugly” selection is the true bad selection. It is considered the lesser or least of the director’s films, and can be skewered Mystery Science Theater 3000 style.
For episode #20 of THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH (Podcast #1175 on DVD Verdict) the crew invited me as a special guest, and we had a grand time looking back on Burton’s oeuvre. You can download the podcast here, but BEWARE!—this 2 hour discussion is for movie geeks only:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/dvdverdict/1175.mp3
You can play along at home with IMDB and Youtube pages open, looking up the facts and clips as we go. Here is the first track off the Edward Scissorhands original soundtrack to set the mood, composed by Danny Elfman…
Film Director MICHAEL MANN Podcast by “THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH,” with Special Guest Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
http://www.dvdverdict.com/mp3s/podcast1169.mp3
Movie podcasts can be a lot of fun. Film Podcast “THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH“ features a uniquely Canadian perspective on the career and canon of renowned filmmakers. Released through DVDVerdict.com and available on iTunes, the podcast is hosted by the diabolical Steve Power (Newfoundland), Jon Mercer (Newfoundland), Andrew Forbes (Ontario), and Gabriel Girard (Montreal).
Each week, these Canucks offer up a hearty discussion regarding the “Good,” the “Bad,” and the “Ugly” from each filmmaker’s body of work:
The “Good” selection is often a film held in the highest esteem, for quality and enjoyment.
The “Bad” selection is more middle of the road, though NOT NECESSARILY bad! It can be a good film, but has some flaws that keep it from greatness. It can also be a film that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the canon.
The “Ugly” selection is the true bad selection. It is considered the lesser or least of the director’s films, and can be skewered Mystery Science Theater 3000 style.
For episode #19 of THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH (Podcast #1169 on DVD Verdict) the crew invited me as a special guest, and we had a grand time looking back on Mann’s oeuvre. You can download the podcast here, but BEWARE!—this 2 hour discussion is for movie geeks only:
http://www.dvdverdict.com/mp3s/podcast1169.mp3
You can play along at home with IMDB and Youtube pages open, looking up the facts and clips as we go. For starters, here is the “Leave Nothing” Nike commercial directed by Mann using the Trevor Jones music from “The Last of the Mohicans.”
48HFP Awards and “THE MAKING OF MANNA” Documentary by Skiffleboom [Best Film Winner – 2012 Boston 48 Hour Film Project]
“Good news everyone!” Skiffleboom Productions’ entry into the 48 Hour Film Project, Boston 2012 made it all the way to the “Best of Boston” screening. On June 20th, 2012, a selection of the “best” competing 48HFP films were screened at the Kendall Square Theatre, where the judge’s awards were announced. Skiffleboom was awarded the following:
Audience Award, Screening “D”
Best Use of Genre
Best Cinematography – Seth Wood
Best Actor – Elise Manning
Best Directing – Michael McVey
Best Film
Our team is very humbled—we thank everyone who helped make “Manna” possible. Special thanks to 48HFP’s Boston Producer Ben Guaraldi and his team, the judges, and the 84 teams who successfully submitted films this year. We greatly encourage you to explore the 2012 entries and discover for yourself the variety of filmmaking talent and taste of the greater Boston area.
Here is a documentary I put together on the making of “Manna”
… This is a comprehensive look into our team’s approach to filmmaking under the 48-hour deadline, and provides some first-hand information and techniques for aspiring 48HFP participants.
“Experience is a brutal teacher, but you learn. My God, do you learn.”
― C.S. Lewis
Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
Listen to Michael McVey speak about the 48 Hour Film Project on WGBH, with Edgar B. Herwick III and Mark Green on BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO:
http://www.wgbh.org/programs/Boston-Public-Radio-1936/episodes/Thurs-71212Quick-Flicks-40165
and watch some of Mike’s favorites from Boston’s 2012 48HFP: http://wgbhnews.org/post/six-winning-48-hour-films
Abbie Barrett and The Last Date: “Disappointing You” Music Video
by Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
Here is a brand spanking new music video we made for Abbie Barrett and The Last Date. Song is called “Disappointing You” off the album Dying Day, (available on iTunes). www.AbbieBarrett.com
Bostonians will recognize Abbie Barrett and The Last Date from the Boston music scene. Her sound has been described as “not bad” and “good” by several people that are not related to her. Abbie’s blend of eclectic indie folk rock has inexplicably yielded her an Academy Award nomination for Best Special Effects in a Motion Picture for the movie “AVATAR.” Abbie Barrett and The Last Date are:
Abbie Barrett (Duh)
Alec Derian (Bass)
Jack Hamilton (Keys)
Josh Kiggans (Drums)
Steve Levy (E. Guitar)
Video by Skiffleboom:
Director of Photography: Seth Wood
Director of Photography: Sam Sacks
Producer: Kristen Hamill
Director, Editor, Producer: Michael McVey
Filmed in Somerville, MA. Music © 2011 Abbie Barrett. Video © 2011 Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com. All rights reserved.
THE MOST BADASS AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHARACTERS IN MOVIE HISTORY
By Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
Preface:
DVD Verdict’s “Objection” podcast created a list of their MOST BADASS AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHARACTERS IN MOVIE HISTORY for MLK day, 2011 (episode #756). Judge David Johnson and Judge Dan Mancini named their TOP 1o:
Honorable Mention: Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian – Star Wars Episodes 5-6
10. Reginald VelJohnson as Sgt. Al Powell – Die Hard
9. Richard Roundtree as John Shaft – Shaft
8. Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu – Star Wars Episodes 1-3
7. Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox – Batman Begins and The Dark Knight
6. Grace Jones as May Day – A View to a Kill
5. Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed – Rocky 1-4
4. Wesley Snipes as John Cutter – Passanger 57
3. Michael Jai White as Black Dynamite – Black Dynamite.
2. Mr. T as B. A. Baracus – The A-Team
1. Danny Glover as Lt. Mike Harrigan – Predator 2
The gentleman at “Objection” specialize in contrarian a-holery, and offer deliberately restive and hilarious positions on cinematic topics. A fine list, full of both mighty (HARRIGAN!) and unusual (Lucius Fox) choices. Conspicuously absent from the list is THE most BADASS African-American Character in Movie History: Samuel L. Jackson as Jules in “Pulp Fiction”. The role is so iconic, so utterly badass, that the Marine Corp plays his “Ezekiel” speech to fire up Jarheads for deployment.
I personally feel as THE single most BADASS African-American Actor in Movie History, Samuel L. Jackson should be exempt from the list altogether. He’s a given. Like the answer to “who is the greatest basketball player of all time,” there’s just no arguing.
I hereby offer an addendum to the original “Objection” list, taken from my collection.
RULES…
I am not reusing any of the aforementioned actors, no matter how much I want to. For instance, Carl Weathers is an incredible bad ass in “Action Jackson” (where he jumps 20 feet over a speeding car), but as he was listed by “Objection” for “Rocky”, so I won’t include it.
I am only listing actors once. While Bill Duke was badass in “Commando” and “Pam Grier” is badass in everything, I included only my favorite choice.
I’ve only included movies I’ve seen in full, within the past 10 years (sorry Mario Van Peebles, sorry Billy Blanks). I also don’t include non-human characters (Sorry Michael Dorn)… though formerly human is okay. So please feel free to include your own suggestions in the comments section. And now, without further ado…
Skiffleboom.com:
THE MOST BADASS AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHARACTERS IN MOVIE HISTORY
Bill Duke as Mac – Predator
Turns jungle into parking lot with mini-gun. Kills boar with knife. Badass.
Ken Foree as Peter – Dawn of the Dead
Blows away loads of zombies, evil zombie kids. Owns the mall. Does his best buddy a solid. Zombie apocalypse survivor. Badass.
Woody Strode as Draba – Spartacus
Kicks the ass of the future slave rebellion leader. Shows him mercy. Defies class system through ultimate sacrifice, igniting spark in future slave rebellion leader. Ripped as hell. Badass.
Tina Turner as Aunty Entity – Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome
Redesigns future legal system to include chainsaws for civil disputes. Badass.
Denzel Washington and the entire cast of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers – Glory
Charge on Fort Wagner – ’nuff said. Badasses, one and all.
Fred Williamson, Jim Kelly, Jim Brown – Three the Hard Way
This hat trick defies description. Badassery abounds.
Eugene Clark as Big Daddy – Land of the Dead
Is technically dead with rotting brain, yet still figures out how to use machine gun. Leads revolution, destabilizes class system. Badass.
Pam Grier as Coffy – Coffy
Destroys mob, drug pushers, corruption. Blows drug dealer’s head off with shotgun: “This is the end of your rotten life, you: motherf#%kin’ dope pusher!” Badass.
Julius Carry as Sho’nuff – The Last Dragon
Sits wherever he wants in a movie theater. Glows in the dark. Badass.
Angela Bassett as Mace – Strange Days
Repeatedly saves incompetent hero. Beats the piss from corrupt cops. Badass.
Keith David as Frank – They Live
Brawls for absurdly interminable length of time with Rowdy Roddy Piper over sunglasses. Uncovers shocking societal truth, immediately enlists in suicide mission. Badass.
Rudy Ray Moore as Dolemite – Dolemite
Kicks at stuntman’s head, misses, and STILL knocks him out cold (presumably by the intense air pressure generated by foot) . Beds every woman in the movie, gets no STDs. Not the smartest idea in the world… but Badass.
Dennis Haysbert as Pedro Cerrano – Major League
Sees hat for bat, takes hat for bat. Keeps live snake in locker. Deadly lumber. Later elected President of the United States of America. Badass.
Charles S. Dutton as Dillon – Alien 3
Gives one of cinema’s greatest motivational speeches ever. Bare-knuckle boxes alien. While being torn to pieces by xenomorph, asks it: “Is that all you got?” SuperBadass.
Leave your own suggestions!
-m
Music Video: “Live in Dreams” by Wild Nothing
By Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
My hometown Warwick NY has lots of backroads. Driving late at night, the sprawling woodlands and fields become a dark, cerebral place. And though nobody can really outrun existential dread on a late night drive, it never hurts to try.
Watch this in Full Screen HD with volume up, if you dare…
Artist: Wild Nothing
Song: Live in Dreams
Album: Gemini (2010)
Shot and edited by by Michael McVey, http://www.Skiffleboom.com
Made with an HD Flip at 2AM on Thanksgiving weekend, 2010.
My Favorite Non-Sequitur Musical Moments in Classic Movie Comedies
My Favorite Non-Sequitur Musical Moments in Classic Movie Comedies
By Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
The Big Lebowski: Dust in the Wind, from Skiffleboom.com
By Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
You’re out of you’re element Donny – I made this image and mixed Donny’s Eulogy scene from The Big Lebowski + remix of Kansas’ “Dust in the Wind.” Enjoy.
Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains), from the Album “The Suburbs”
By Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
This is a video edit I made of the Arcade Fire’s Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains), from their album “The Suburbs.”
I came home from work late last night, caught a new episode of Mad Men at midnight, then stayed up til morning making this. I don’t know what it is about that show that gets me going. The whole things took about nine hours from start to upload, plus a little nap.
A youtube user named StocktoSong loves this album too – StocktoSong also made an Arcade Fire video from the original 1957 Suburba Prelinger footage. It’s interesting to compare and contrast how we both used the footage. We are reworking digitally something edited by hand half a century ago.
The original ephemeral film:
1957’s “In the Suburbs” is a thoughtfully made advertising sales promo film extolling 1950s suburbanites as citizens and consumers. It was produced by On Film, Inc., and sponsored by Redbook Magazine. It can be viewed at http://www.archive.org/details/IntheSub1957
Visit Arcade Fire
Secrets of the Harvard Map Revealed!!! from Skiffleboom.com
By Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
I draw and maintain illustrated walking maps throughout New York and Massachusetts.
This Harvard Map was completed in 2009. Most of the tourists don’t pick up on it, but there are some hidden secrets scattered all over the map!
You can pick up your own copy at Harvard Square, watch tour videos here, and take the Hahvahd Tour at www.UnofficialTours.com
Secrets of the Nyack, New York Map Revealed!!! from Skiffleboom.com
The Nyack Map, 2003-2010 – By Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
I drew an axiometric map of Nyack, New York in 2003, using pens and reference photos It’s an early Skiffleboom project, and was fun to make. I hid monsters on the map… and now their secret hiding places are revealed!
“The COMBOVER: How to Buy Beer” – Skiffleboom.com
Here is the Full Version of The COMBOVER (ad free). Enjoy!
— The Year 2000 —
Two under-age teens from upstate New York devise a radical new way to buy beer…
in
The Combover – by Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
“The Combover” is a short documentary by and about two underage teenagers who discover a crack in the system – they discover a way to buy beer. I made this with my friend Justin in the year 2000. We were both 19 at the time, bored out of our minds. There wasn’t much for us to do in our hometown of Warwick, New York. Warwick is a beautiful, rural place. It is the Shire to New York City’s Gondor, and <insert New Jersey city here>’s Mordor. But we were restless teenagers trying hard to get beer. We concocted the combover idea one night in Justin’s basement.
We were mulling about, and Justin asked me to shave his head bald. I suggested we mess around with it first, since we’re going to shave it all off anyway. There were lot of possibilities with long hair. Mohawk? Mullet? The “Krusty the Klown” look? “A COMBOVER!” We laughed so damn hard our sides hurt. The combover has got to be the most RIDICULOUS hairstyle of all time, we had to do it. It dawned on us that the combover is the perfect misdirection for buying beer. The question became this: Would a cashier believe a kid-trying-to-look-older-trying-to-look-younger as a man-trying-to-look-younger? Would pity blind the gawkers?
I’ve always been a filmmaker, and I wanted to make it a movie. I got the camcorder my parents gave me in high school, a SONY Handycam Video 8 XR with 180x Digital Zoom. Battle plan ready, I proceeded to cut Justin’s hair, giving birth to a healthy 7 1/2 lb. combover in his parent’s bathroom. I’ll never forget how Mrs. Kipp freaked when she saw what I had done to her son’s head, or how hard we laughed afterwards. It is an All-Time Top Five Laugh for me.
After finding the appropriate wardrobe and accessories (superfluous pipe, check, Mike’s glasses, check), we worked on getting into character. How would a 38-year-old man with a comb-over behave? Naturally, he would be a somewhat pathetic, trying to hold onto his fading youth. He would certainly not like being denied his only comfort in an otherwise lonely existence – that sweet, numbing booze. Whether we got it or not became irrelevant. We were buzzed from the adrenaline of making a film.
What up Korea!
Towards the end of the night, we decided that one more denial would send Uncle Earl into a rage. We already had all the beer we needed, and we didn’t want our video to become redundant. We needed some drama. And when that denial came, Justin snapped in a spectacularly hilarious fashion. Dick move? Sure. Funny? You bet. But I suppose it’s a rorschach blot. Places where drinking laws are similarly Draconian will get the joke. America: the country where a teenager can be sent to war to kill and be killed, but doesn’t have the right to drink until three years after enlisting. Yeah, that makes sense. I withheld this video from public view for years; only a handful of people ever saw it. Now that a decade has past, “The Combover” is finally ready to see the light of day, thanks to New York Statute of Limitations Laws.
I love New York.
This video remains unchanged from the original in-camera edit 10 years ago. When I shot this back in 2000, I really didn’t know any way to edit VHS tapes. I edited simultaneously with shooting, all in-camera. I could review the footage and rewind the tape to find the right cue, or exit point. It was definitely fun to shoot. I particularly love the music in the car. It made us bolder, and gave the shoot a sense of rhythm and time. The album: Pee Wee Ellis’ “Twelve and More Blues,” with Bruce Cox on drums and Dwayne Dolphin on bass. A great album but hard to find, recorded in Köln, Germany – Minor Records, 1993. And again for all you knuckleheads out there, please don’t drink and drive – this is a documentary, not a mandate.
***”My original post of “The Combover” has copyright claims levied against it by predatory ad revenue businesses. They claim 30 seconds of background source music overheard in a supermarket gives them the right to put advertising on my video. I am trying to keep this video advertisement free. This version of “The Combover” is edited, removing said source music and audio of heard in the supermarket scene from 2:25 – 3:02.***
A Scene from “Casablanca” – Rick Helps the Bulgarian Couple, from Michael McVey, Skiffleboom.com
Film as Art
Week 08 Logical Storytelling, Assignment 8
By Michael McVey – April 21, 2010
Bunker Hill Community College – Charlestown, MA
Watch Casablanca. Chose a scene and identify what the hero wants. Choose one scene from the movie and describe what it is about by using Mamet’s method of analysis in one short paragraph. (What does the hero do in this scene to try and get what he wants?)
Casablanca: Rick Helps the Young Couple
About an hour into Casablanca, Rick helps a young Bulgarian couple desperate to reach America. Rick’s objective in the scene is to quietly facilitate the young couple. He needs to keep his help secret, to maintain his reputation. Rick does not want to see the newly wed Bulgarian girl forced to trade sexual favors for an exit visa. Rick sympathizes with the couple’s predicament – he does not want them to experience the pain of a compromised relationship. There are a few steps Rick takes to accomplish his objective.
Rick needs to secretly secure money for the couple’s exit visas. Rick enters the room and makes contact with the roulette dealer – a dealer who works for Rick. Rick straddles up to the young Bulgarian man. He advises the man to bet on 22. Rick needs to communicate with the dealer to fix the game. Rick repeats himself so that the dealer hears. The dealer correctly interprets Rick’s tone and look: roll a 22. The dealer rolls 22, and the man collects. Again, Rick advises the man to bet on 22. The dealer understands Rick’s unspoken orders. The man bets and wins. Rick succeeds in getting the Bulgarian couple enough money to exit Casablanca.
Rick’s second objective is to keep the whole affair quiet. Rick tells the man to cash out his chips and leave permanently. The man complies. Rick asks the dealer how they are doing? The dealer replies that they are down a couple thousand, and he winks knowingly. Since the other witnesses and participants work for Rick, the transaction remains secret. The Bulgarian woman approaches Rick and hugs him gratefully. This jeopardizes Rick’s objective of keeping his sentimental actions quiet. Rick coolly ends the hug and tells the woman her husband is “just a lucky guy.” He downplays the potentially emotional scene, keeping the whole affair quiet. Reputation intact, Rick succeeds in both helping the couple and maintaining secrecy. This scene is very efficient in handling Rick’s objectives. His goals are clear without being obvious. Rick’s true character is revealed, and the scene becomes more emotional by having characters conceal their emotions.
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