The Queen of Versailles

by my dark apronPublished on June 24, 2012

Film

California-based director Lauren Greenfield is a photographer by heart / trade. Her latest documentary entitled The Queen of Versailles once again allows her to dual-wield her two roles in order to capture the darkly humorous and relevantly astonishing predicaments of the Siegel family’s riches-to-rags story. More official plot tidbits can be read as follows:

“With the epic dimensions of a Shakespearean tragedy, THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES follows billionaires Jackie and David’s rags-to-riches story to uncover the innate virtues and flaws of the American dream. We open on the triumphant construction of the biggest house in America, a sprawling, 90,000-square-foot mansion inspired by Versailles. Since a booming time-share business built on the real-estate bubble is financing it, the economic crisis brings progress to a halt and seals the fate of its owners. We witness the impact of this turn of fortune over the next two years in a riveting film fraught with delusion, denial, and self-effacing humor.”

Check out the trailer down below! Enjoy!

The Queen of Versailles, 2012

Posted in: Feature Film, Featured, Film
Tags: American Dream, documentary, Economy, Lauren Greenfield, The Queen of Versailles

It Felt Like Love ╳ Eliza Hittman

by my dark apron

June 18, 2013

Art Blog - Eliza Hittman - Empty Kingdom

Film

Director / writer Eliza Hittman embarks on a bold journey through the mind of an ever-growing sexually-minded teenage girl. It Felt Like Love is a film that never shies away from the consequences of understanding love. Check out more after the jump. More detailed tidbits can be read as follows (via Sundance FIlm Festival 2013): “Fourteen-year-old Lila is experiencing an ennui-filled Brooklyn summer. She awkwardly wears a Kabuki-esque mask of sunscreen at the beach and plays third wheel to Chiara, her more experienced friend, and Chiara’s boyfriend, Patrick. Determined to have a love interest of her own, a bravado-filled Lila pursues Sammy, a tough but handsome older boy. Though Sammy doesn’t respond to her overtures, he doesn’t reject her either, and Lila—unable to resist spinning delusional fables of a relationship with him—manipulates herself deeper into his world. When her desperation and posturing carry her too far into unfamiliar territory, her inexperience is exposed, and she is forced to confront reality. In this film shot from Lila’s point of view and constructed with precise—sometimes startling—imagery and intimate moments, first-time feature writer/director Eliza Hittman confidently constructs a viewing experience that is completely subjective. Bolstered by a perfectly modulated lead performance from Gina Piersanti, IT FELT LIKE LOVE unflinchingly reveals some of the rawest moments of girlhood in an authentic story of burgeoning identity and sexual awakening. - K.Y. About the Director Award-winning filmmaker Eliza Hittman was born in New York City and is still based there. In 2010, she received an MFA from California Institute of the Arts’s School of Film/Video and has been a guest artist and lecturer at Columbia University. Her short film Forever’s Gonna Start Tonight premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011 and was listed on Indiewire’s list of "The Best of the Best." IT FELT LIKE LOVE is Hittman’s first feature film.” Jump down below to view more screenshots and an embedded video interview about the film. --- [embed width="640"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2F3Qz2srsQ[/embed] No trailer as of yet, but here’s an interview with the cast and filmmaker (courtesy of Beyond Cinema Magazine). It Felt Like Love, 2013 --- Eliza Hittman

Braingasm ╳ Lindsay Ragone

by my dark apron

June 16, 2013

Art Blog - Lindsay Ragone - Empty Kingdom

Film

Director Lindsay Ragone’s in-production doc Braingasm, dives into the newly Internet-driven research of ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) and its potential therapeutic benefits. More info can be read as follows: “About the Documentary Imagine an online community where strangers actively help each other battle insomnia, depression, and even loneliness through creative expression. This community exists; It's the ASMR community. What is ASMR? The term "autonomous sensory meridian response" (ASMR) is marked by a pleasurable tingling sensation often felt in the head. This can be triggered by anything from getting a haircut, hearing a paint brush against canvas, to listening to someone whisper. Not everyone feels it, but some of the lucky ones have joined together to create a social media movement that's changing lives. BRAINGASM is a feature documentary that explores ASMR, the unique community surrounding it, and the scientific possibilities this phenomenon could provide.” Watch the teaser down at the bottom of this page. --- [embed width="640"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPJPSb-8q2I&feature=player_embedded[/embed] Teaser trailer for BRAINGASM. Braingasm, 2013 Facebook --- Lindsay Ragone

C.O.G. ╳ Kyle Patrick Alvarez

by my dark apron

June 13, 2013

Art Blog - Kyle Patrick Alvarez - Empty Kingdom

Film

In Kyle Patrick Alvarez’ second feature film C.O.G., David Sedaris’ essay of the same title becomes the adapted centerpiece about a man who gets the chance to work on an Oregonian apple farm. Check out more in depth details after the jump! Background info about the narrative and director can be read as follows (via Sundance Film Festival 2013): “David has it all figured out. His plan—more a Steinbeckian dream—is to spend his summer working on an apple farm in Oregon with his best friend, Jennifer. When she bails out on him, David is left to dirty his hands alone, watched over by Hobbs, the old farm owner and the first in a series of questionable mentors he encounters. First there’s Curly, the friendly forklift operator with a unique hobby, and then Jon, the born-again rock hound who helps David in a time of need. This first film adaptation of David Sedaris’s work tells the story of a prideful young man and what’s left of him after all he believes is chipped away piece by piece. With such beloved source material come great advantages and immense pressure. Writer/director Kyle Patrick Alvarez proves more than up to the challenge as he delivers a finely wrought story that remains true to both the author’s voice and his own. Jonathan Groff perfectly embodies David and imbues him with abundant wit that masks the uncertainty that he hides. C.O.G. is a funny and poignant portrait of a lost soul searching for himself among the amusing characters in life’s rich pageant. - T. G. About the Director In 2010, Kyle Patrick Alvarez won the Someone to Watch Award at the Independent Spirit Awards for his debut film, Easier with Practice. The film was also nominated for best first feature. Alvarez graduated from the University of Miami with degrees in film and English. He spent his first year in the film industry working for Warren Beatty. C.O.G. is his second feature film.” Jump down below to view a sneak peek interview with the film’s director. --- [embed width="640"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNT_nZY9oOw[/embed] Meet the Artist sneak peak for C.O.G. C.O.G., 2013 --- Kyle Patrick Alvarez Twitter