The Last Fall 2013 Review B+

The Last Fall is a independent film directed by Matthew Cherry.  It is about a professional football player transitioning to life after the game.  Its allot like Love and Basketball meets Any Given Sunday.  I enjoyed the myth busting aspect of this movie with regards to a professional athletes actual salary. Unlike other professional sports football players don't get a guaranteed contract.  When Kyle Bishop (played by Lance Gross) is cut from his team the situation is very jarring for him.  He returns to his hometown embarrassed and broke, his friends are surprised to see him and they are shocked when he is asking for a job.

Directed by Matthew Cherry a former professional football player himself Cherry relocated to Los Angeles and reinvented himself as a filmmaker.  He enrolled in Streetlights a non-profit production assistant training program that teaches people of limited means to become production assistants.  Cherry began his career on the sets of The Game, Heroes and Girlfriends.  The Last Fall was his directorial debut and I find it impressive how Cherry was able to wrangle all these elements in a effective manner.  

Watching this movie I felt the protagonist was sympathetic enough for me to root for however I find the ending a bit of a letdown.  Spoiler alert the main character has to make a critical decision but the movie ends before he makes it.  I can appreciate an opened ended ending but I found it unsatisfying.  I would have preferred to see the main character make the tough decision to continue playing football or explore a new life with his college sweetheart.  This ending nullifies his previous struggle.  

For an independent movie it is unique in that it is largely devoid of racial stereotypes contains little if any profanity or drug use and no nudity.  As a first time director this film is a triumph of technique and cinematography.  I applaud any minority filmmaker that can get a good movie in the can.  I am grading The Last Fall a B+ I look forward to Cherry's next project. 

Independent Film Distribution: That critical endgame.

In chess the endgame is most important because one wrong move will cause you to stalemate.  For an independent filmmaker it's the same problem.

 Every year countless indies are submitted to film festivals where one of two things happen.  Either they get in or they're rejected.  I could go on a rant pertaining to film festivals.  That's a blog for another time.  Film distribution has always been complicated because there are multiple ways to get your work seen.  Think of distribution as an open flea market where your trying to sale your digital product. 

Start by asking yourself what are you looking to accomplish.  Are you seeking fame or money?  Both are noble but there are benefits and limitations.  Fame will get you work but it might not get you money and fame costs money.  Money will get you paid but you'll be scratching for another gig so it's important to know what you're trying to accomplish with your content.  I'm going to list new distribution models that I think work in the internet age.

 
Mass email blast (assuming you know lots of people who like you)
Get mainstream success and acclaim (Wining the Oscar helps)
Blogs (Create a great blog)
Podcast-create an awesome show and grow a fan base
Showing your film on a portable device at a networking mixer
Sticker/graffiti projects
Priemum digital download/Try before you buy version (Mdot Strange)
Become a celebrity and sell directly your audience
Upload to Itunes/road trip your movie promoting it in theaters
Win awards at prestigious film festivals because your movie is that damn good.
Tom Leykis method- Create your own web channel provide your own content/premium content exclusive to subscribers and paid advertising (must become a celebrity)

The main idea here is to cultivate an audience and sell yourself and your content to them because your that damn good or interesting.

M Dot Strange - The new face of do it yourself filmmaking.

M dot Strange is a director who is silently on the come up.  If you've heard of him chances are your thinking outside the box.  Originally from California M dot is redefining what is to be an independent filmmaker.  With his skill set he could easily land a job at a reputable post production facility doing animation work but he is sticking to his guns and putting his visions on screen via the internet.

I have mad respect for this brother because he is a true artist in every since of the word.  He first appeared on the radar with his innovative film "We Are the Strange" which premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2007.  Budgeted at $20,000 M dot created a unique animation style called St8 anime---inspired by 8 bit Nintendo video games.  His style has been shamelessly ripped off by many copy cats but he continues to innovate.

His latest film "Heart String Marionette" has taken five years of his life to develop.  M dot has bypassed studio distribution and decided to released the film himself over the internet.  He has uploaded a try before you buy version and a premium download for $5.00.  According to his website he's sold 438 downloads as of this posting.

M dot is interested in moving onto other projects as of now but I suspect that "Heart String Marionette" could have done better if it was marketed a little bit more.  I haven't seen the whole film so I wont do a review but I feel that most of his fans like him as a person and artist.  I believe they will over look the narrative quality of his work and respect the effort. 

M dot's work isn't going away and cannot be ignored if he keeps putting stuff out there and doesn't quit he will reach his goals.  Countless unknown artists have inspiration to draw from thanks to M dot's work.

In numbers obsessed Hollywood it's refreshing to see someone creating visual art for the love but I hope his work finds a way to the big leagues.

Interview with independent filmmaker Robert McTyre Jr---Adventures of a Filmmaker Part 1

Listen to internet radio with rmctyre on Blog Talk Radio

4 Dayz Til Sundown teaser trailer

This is a trailer for my first feature film I am looking to shoot looking for investors and talent the screenplay is finshed.  Working on a graphic novel verson of the script---- story consist of one primary location and has losts of action and dramatic elements.... very happy with this one!

Marvel vs Capcom 3 release documentary shot @ Fight Club event Feburary 3rd 2011