Independent's Day

Starring:Brian Flemming, Dan Mirvish, Sydney Pollack, Jeff Dowd, Rich Wilkes, Steven Soderbergh, Robert Redford, Neil LaBute, David Orr (III), Roger Ebert, Ira Deutchman, Geoffrey Gilmore, Greg Mottola, Robert Hawk, Aesha Waks, Parker Posey, Kevin Smith, John Pierson
Director: Marina Zenovich
Studio: New Video Group
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
So you wanna be an independent filmmaker? Then listen now to what Living in Oblivion director Tom DiCillo says: "Get a good haircut, good wardrobe, and a good publicist." And then head to Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival, where Hollywood suits vie for bragging rights to the discovery of the next Steven Soderbergh or Quentin Tarantino.

Independent's Day is the next best thing to being there. If Sundance is indeed "a monster," as founder Robert Redford has said, then Marina Zenovich's irreverent chronicle of the 1997 festival takes viewers into the belly of the beast. Make way for the film critics and the cell-phone-toting studio executives, the bedraggled filmmakers carrying their precious films around in Glad bags, and the actors looking for indie cred. (Hey look--it's Tori Spelling!) Ever since Soderbergh scored an unprecedented Hollywood windfall with sex, lies, and videotape in 1989, independent filmmakers have "set their clock" by Sundance. In 1997, this film informs us, 800 films were submitted to the festival, up from 50 in 1985. From breakout successes such as Neil Labute (In the Company of Men) and Kevin Smith (Chasing Amy) to lost-in-the-shuffle obscurities such as Jeremiah Bosgang, Independent's Day captures the exhilaration and gallows humor of the Sundance experience. Zenovich also detours to the alternative Slamdance Festival, which was created for films rejected by Sundance, and the alternative to the alternative, Slumdance.

For aspiring filmmakers, Independent's Day is an inspiring primer. Consider what one director suggests: "Anyone asks, tell them you went to film school. Preferably Canadian. No one knows anything about Canada anyway." --Donald Liebenson
Description
Always wanted to be at Sundance? Well here's your ticket.

Amazon.com

So you wanna be an independent filmmaker? Then listen now to what Living in Oblivion director Tom DiCillo says: "Get a good haircut, good wardrobe, and a good publicist." And then head to Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival, where Hollywood suits vie for bragging rights to the discovery of the next Steven Soderbergh or Quentin Tarantino.

Independent's Day is the next best thing to being there. If Sundance is indeed "a monster," as founder Robert Redford has said, then Marina Zenovich's irreverent chronicle of the 1997 festival takes viewers into the belly of the beast. Make way for the film critics and the cell-phone-toting studio executives, the bedraggled filmmakers carrying their precious films around in Glad bags, and the actors looking for indie cred. (Hey look--it's Tori Spelling!) Ever since Soderbergh scored an unprecedented Hollywood windfall with sex, lies, and videotape in 1989, independent filmmakers have "set their clock" by Sundance. In 1997, this film informs us, 800 films were submitted to the festival, up from 50 in 1985. From breakout successes such as Neil Labute (In the Company of Men) and Kevin Smith (Chasing Amy) to lost-in-the-shuffle obscurities such as Jeremiah Bosgang, Independent's Day captures the exhilaration and gallows humor of the Sundance experience. Zenovich also detours to the alternative Slamdance Festival, which was created for films rejected by Sundance, and the alternative to the alternative, Slumdance.

For aspiring filmmakers, Independent's Day is an inspiring primer. Consider what one director suggests: "Anyone asks, tell them you went to film school. Preferably Canadian. No one knows anything about Canada anyway." --Donald Liebenson

Description

Always wanted to be at Sundance? Well here's your ticket.

INDEPENDENT'S DAY gets behind the scenes at Sundance, Slamdance, and even the Slumdance film festivals in Park City, Utah to reveal the amusing and engaging stories of the maverick filmmakers who

Customer Reviews:

Interesting, But Lacks Depth.......2004-05-26

Independent's Day is a brief film shot on less than a modest budget. Interspersed between candid interviews with dozens of novice filmmakers are cuts of the infamous week at the Sundance Film Festival. Notable comments are made by Sydney Pollack, Robert Ebert, actress Parker Posey, director Steven Soderberg ("Sex, Lies & Videotape") and many others. Robert Redford appears briefly in archive footage from past Sundance events. There is much to hear from these young filmmakers, such as the horror stories of impossible deadlines, going into great debt and other hard luck stories, only to have their film dismissed and lost forever. More interesting is the offspring event for independent filmmakers like "Slamdance", a vital alternative to Sundance. It's worthy to note that in 1987, 50 films were submitted to Sundance and 800 were submitted in 1997. This is a direct result of the huge success of previous Sundance award winners. It would have been nice to have heard more stories of the parties and the extent to which filmmakers will go to get their films made. Some of them are outrageous. For a short, `independent' film, this documentary slightly satisfies, but falls short when considering what it might have been. A fitting example of what happens to most of the Sundance entries.

A great documentary for those interested in independent work.......2000-03-13

Is a great documentary, because it shows how Sundance Film Festival works. Interviews with new and not so new in the film arena directors. Is inspiring to see all kind of people talking about their work and points of view about the festival. What they gave for being there, what they won, what they lost. I ask to Director Zenovich to make a second part of this video, because with the new Digital Revolution, it would be interesting to see the impact in the film festivals, compared with the time when she did the current video (1997), when digital revolution had not begun yet.

Average customer rating:

BAD, BAD BAD MOVIE
An average slasher movie plus two good short films
Night Divides The Day, The... (2001) d: Burton, Jeff

The Night Divides The Day
Starring: Jeff Burton , Sara Kirby , and Sangster Collins
Director: Jeff Burton
Manufacturer: E.I. Independent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005NVX0
Release Date: 2001-08-03

Customer Reviews:

BAD, BAD BAD MOVIE.......2005-03-25

The first attribute of a good movie is---it should look like a movie. Who wants to watch a play on film. We go to movies to escape reality, not to watch live skits. Surprisingly, the acting was acceptable, but the story line and camera angles were pathetic.The two shorter extra movies were actually better than
"The Night Divides the Day"..TNDTD was unoriginal, stretched out with those uninspiring stories around the campfire, and very predictable. This was a Middle School Project at best. while I will retain my copy,it will probably be a lonely , boring, desperate day beofre I view this one again.

An average slasher movie plus two good short films.......2003-02-23

The Night Divides the Day is a perfectly adequate slasher film with nothing to make it stand out from the crowd. Hollows Pointe University has a serial killer running around campus, claiming four victims within a week. The group of kids in this film decides to get away for awhile and head off on a camping trip in the middle of the woods. I never got a good handle on exactly who the couples were because they seemed to change slightly over the course of the night, but there was a little sexual tension in the air at times. Sitting in front of the fire, the campers tell incredibly boring scary stories to each other, argue among themselves about the quality of those stories, and insult each other's choice of favorite authors (one is accused of ripping off H.P. Lovecraft, but I must say for the record that the trivial story referred to has absolutely nothing to do with Lovecraft). Eventually, they decide to start heading off into the woods in small groups. Three head off to smoke a little weed, another couple heads out for some unknown reason, the guy whose story was ridiculed stomps off by himself and is followed a little later by the offending party. You can see where all this is going. Everyone who wanders off does not return. Afraid that something dangerous is out in the surrounding woods, the remaining camp buddies decide-of course-to go look for the missing. Some of them are so scared they can't wait to get back to camp, but then they turn right around and go off into the dark again. You can't keep these kids from wandering out to meet their doom

There's a little blood, but there is really no gore to be found here. Of course, I could be wrong because I could hardly see any of the action in the movie's final half hour. There is basically no lighting at all during all of the wood scenes. There were many occasions upon which I watched a screen that was essentially pitch black for a significant amount of time, and my inability to follow the action became pretty annoying after awhile. I will say that the ending is not wholly predictable, but neither is it very climatic. In the end, this movie suffers from its lack of originality, although it does what it does fairly well.

I found the two short films included on the DVD much better than the featured movie. 911 is a tight, suspenseful tale of murder. A killer sneaks into a house and attacks a young woman, but she manages to call 911. By the time the cops arrive, the story has taken a nice little twist. The other film, The Initiation, is also a tale of murder. First, we see two girls attacked after running out of gas in the woods, then we join a group of stranded motorists as they hitch a ride, get stranded again, and find themselves in the middle of some type of dangerous, almost certainly unapproved sorority initiation. All in all, this DVD is worth taking a look at, although the main feature is a fairly predictable slasher film.

Night Divides The Day, The... (2001) d: Burton, Jeff.......2001-10-16

"...Fear the dark and pray for dawn." A not so original story about a group of collage kids camping in the woods, while a dangerous psychopathic killer is on the loose. Like we haven't heard that one before huh? "...A night of partying and storytelling brightens their mood, but it can't stop an escalating sense of dread that something is out there in the dark."The dreadfully slow paced plot has the college kids one by one getting lost in the woods, only to have their buddies look for them and also getting lost in the woods. Occasionally someone is killed, however the characters concern for the lost school chum is everything from "Let's get the hell out of here"... To "Oh maybe they will be back", all at once, and left me confused to which way the plot was heading? This film seemed to be caught somewhere between a slasher film with very little gore, and a Blair Witch Project (1999)... Some interesting camera ideas show promise, although faster editing, should tighten future projects. I did however like the two bonus shorts included on the disc: 911 is the twisting story of women who calls the emergency number while being attacked, "...will a young woman's emergency phone call in the dead of night save her from a brutal killer?", when the police arrive the victim is accused of being the killer. Very interesting turn of events Another short entitled The Initiation: is about a college sorority who take initiation just a little too far. "...Three friends discover the terrifying secret behind a college sorority." Both shorts have great B-type cheesy ideas that the feature was lacking.

Average customer rating:

one day in may

Manufacturer: CustomFlix
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Description

Saturday-May 3, 9 a.m. The streets are quiet, but business is already booming at this midtown abortion clinic. Clients--ranging in age from 13 to 40--slowly take their seats in the waiting room. Among them: Angela Stone (Maria Bellantoni) a woman who can tolerate just about anything--except the truth. Enter Matt (John-Paul Lavoisier) and Drew (Chrisie Penna). Pained expressions aside, they're a couple of Xers in love. And in trouble. Although deep inside she knows it's wrong, Drew believes an abortion is her only option. Matt's far from convinced, but he'll do anything for Drew--including standing by as she carries out her fateful decision. As the couple waits, a tense, sometimes sad, sometimes bizarre, drama plays outs--and the supernatural battle for Drew's unborn baby rages. Will she change her mind before it's too late? And will Matt stand up for what he knows is right? An eye-opening look at the trauma and heartache unfolding daily across the U.S., one day in may will challenge your heart and mind with an intense story and excellent performances. "Most Creative Story Line"--3rd annual WYSIWYG Film Festival "Unlike anything you have ever seen--guaranteed...be prepared to experience emotions ranging from outrage to sorrow to compassion..."--Teens for Life "one day in may comes at a critical time in our society..."--Ken James, Christiananswers.net "Wow! The story is compelling, unique, non-predictable and well-written overall...told in a non-traditional story format with twists and turns that keep the viewer watching and wanting more. Hard hitting would be an understatement, and yet so very relevant and timely."--Dale Mason, author "Ambitious...Compelling...the producers are to be congratulated..."--Ted Baehr, MovieGuide Bonus Feature: This DVD also contains a full length, "neutral" Spanish-language version of the film called "un dia en mayo". Created by a professional production team and released in Mexico on video.

Average customer rating:

One Day, One LifeOne Day, One Life

Manufacturer: CustomFlix
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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