Archive for 2007
Henderson Retires, Reflects, Looks to the Future
As the credits rolled on the 30th Starz Denver Film Festival, it also marked the end of the Ron Henderson era, who announced his retirement at the beginning of this year’s festival.
Henderson, founder of the Starz Denver Film Festival, held the first festival in 1978, guided it through 30 years of ups and downs, and has seen it become a mainstay of the annual Colorado arts calendar.
In this episode, Henderson looks back on 30 years with noted film critic Robert Denerstein, who has covered and critiqued the festival since its early years.
Posted on December 10, 2007 // No Comments »
CO Film Commision: Bringing Hollywood to Colorado
In an earlier episode we interviewed Kevin Shand, Executive Director of the Colorado Film Commission.
Shand’s mission is to bring film production to the state of Colorado. With it comes jobs for Colorado residents, a boost to the state’s economy during filming, and long-term tourism benefits due to increased exposure to Colorado’s cities and natural wonders.
The decision to bring film production to a certain location depends on multiple factors, including the quality of talent and crews, tax incentives and, of course, marketing. If you want to see how Colorado promotes itself as a location for filmmaking, check out the video below.
Posted on December 3, 2007 // No Comments »
Featured Interview Podcasts - Frownland and Juno
Two popular films at the 30th Starz Denver Film Festival are starting to gather critical acclaim and awards. In case you missed them, check out our exclusive podcast interviews with Frownland director Ronald Bronstein and Juno director, Jason Reitman.
Posted on November 29, 2007 // No Comments »
Let’s Talk Films! Starz Denver Film Festival Veterans
Since 2002, the Starz FilmCenter, a seven-screen independent moviehouse at the Tivoli Student Union, has been the home to the Starz Denver Film Festival, as well as quality cinematic programming throughout the year.
In this, the third and final video shot at the 30th Starz Denver Film Festival, we talk to two people who have been attending the festival since before it moved to its current home and who have fond memories of years past.
Posted on November 28, 2007 // No Comments »
Let’s Talk Films! Backstage at the Festival
In the second of three videos featuring patrons of the 30th Starz Denver Film Festival, we learn about the benefits of showing up without a plan to watch films, and we meet the man who can’t decide between Citizen Kane and Planet of the Apes.
Posted on November 27, 2007 // No Comments »
Let’s Talk Films! Starz Denver Film Festival Memories
The Starz Denver Film Festival has been an integral part of the Colorado arts community for 30 years. The support of the public has always been the driving force behind the festival, and this year was no exception.
Including the 125 sold-out screenings over the course of the 11-day festival, over 45,000 people attended this year’s films and events – a record number.
As they were exiting the theaters, we grabbed a few of these film fans from the crowd and asked them to tell us about their favorite movies, their most memorable Starz Denver Film Festival moments, and the things they love about Colorado.
This is the first of three videos that will be released this week.
Posted on November 26, 2007 // No Comments »
Kevin Shand Discusses Filmmaking in Colorado
Long before the Starz Denver Film Festival hosted its first event in 1978, the state of Colorado was a hotbed for filmmaking. In fact, the first movie made in Colorado was filmed back in the late 1800s.
Kevin Shand, Executive Director of the Colorado Film Commission, has been tasked with promoting movie making in Colorado and convincing producers of big-budget Hollywood films to bring production here.
In this age of bottom-line importance, film incentives are more likely than scenery to bring production to a certain locale. In this interview with noted film critic Robert Denerstein, Shand gives us a peek into the business side of filmmaking and explains what Colorado must do to become more competitive in this lucrative business.
Posted on November 21, 2007 // 2 Comments »
Stephen Goldblatt Illuminates the Art of Filmmaking
Born in South Africa and raised in England, cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt began his career as a still photographer and documentarian before turning to feature films. His 35mm debut, the 1980 rock drama Breaking Glass, went on to become a cult favorite.
Since then, Goldblatt has earned ASC and Academy Award nominations for his work on Batman Forever and The Prince of Tides. He recently garnered his third ASC nomination for Angels in America, HBO’s screen adaptation of Tony Kushner’s Tony Award–winning epic drama.
A short list of yet more artful and memorable credits includes The Hunger, The Cotton Club, Lethal Weapon, Joe Versus the Volcano, The Pelican Brief and Rent. The highly anticipated Christmas release of Charlie Wilson’s War will mark his third collaboration with director Mike Nichols, preceded by Closer and the aforementioned Angels in America, both of which played at the 30th Starz Denver Film Festival.
After receiving his tribute at this year’s festival, Goldblatt spoke with noted film critic Robert Denerstein, describing the many challenges a cinematographer must face in the course of making a movie, from issues of vision with directors to natural disasters distroying the set.
Posted on November 20, 2007 // No Comments »
Panel: Crossing The Blogosphere
When the Starz Denver Film Festival showed its first movie 30 years ago, the word “blog” didn’t even exist. Now movie blogs are proliferating across the Internet while newspapers continue to downsize. From the flip and hip to the ultra-serious, blogs impact every aspect of the world of cinema and our panel, “Crossing The Blogosphere,” explores this fast-growing phenomenon.
This panel was moderated by noted film critic Robert Denerstein, who also blogs at Denerstein Unleashed. He was joined by bloggers AJ Schnack of All These Wonderful Things, James Israel of Jump Cuts, Mark Rabinowitz of The Rabbi Report, Matt Dentler of Matt Dentler’s Blog, and Karina Longworth of Spout.
This episode also features an introduction by Britta Erickson, Media and Industry Relations Director of the Starz Denver Film Festival.
Posted on November 19, 2007 // No Comments »
Granny D’s Quest for Change in Run Granny Run
According to Doris “Granny D” Haddock, life begins at 65. Granny D first found the national spotlight in 2000 when, at the age of 90, the New Hampshire-based activist walked from coast to coast to publicize campaign finance reform.
Four years later, at age 94, she challenged her home state’s incumbent Republican senator in a grassroots bid for his seat. Filmmaker Marlo Poras’ documentary Run Granny Run captures this historic quest for change and equality.
After Run Granny Run showed at the 30th Starz Denver Film Festival, Granny D took time out of her busy schedule to chat with noted film critic Robert Denerstein. The two discussed the impact that both her walk across America and Senate run had on campaign finance reform, and why the golden years should be the richest time of a person’s life.
Posted on November 18, 2007 // No Comments »
