Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

One of the GREAT things about going to Sundance is being able to come back and share what I discover with other folks who love independent film production! This year, there was an awesome panel on MACHINIMA. Basically, it’s using a video game device as a real-time virtual production studio with animated actors. I’m betting they’ll find a way to incorporate Maya models and Photoshop backgrounds soon. While I was at Sundance, I blogged about the process to create your own Machinima movie. Then, when I got back to teaching at MCC, I shared the process with students and other faculty.

Not surprisingly, Ross Ingle took in the information and immediately made a very clever MACHININMA MUSIC VIDEO He used WARCRAFT to cover Duran Duran’s Perfect Day. As usual, the production quality on Ross’s film quite high with an amusing twist at the end!! (Since Ross will be getting married next month, it’s amusing to see the romantic vs. married dynamic between the animated characters.)

Independent Spirit Awards Announced

SIDEWAYS was the big winner on Saturday, picking up six trophies, including one for best feature. Produced by Michael London, the film earned two awards for writer/director Alexander Payne as best director Payne. (co-writer Jim Taylor also earned a writing award for best screenplay.) Not surprisingly, lead actor Paul Giamatti took home honors. Likewise, supporting actors Thomas Haden Church and Virginia Madsen took home prizes.

2004 Sundance Award Winner MARIA FULL OF GRACE garnered best female lead for troubled drug runner Catalina Sandino Moreno. Writer/director Joshua Marston also received an award for best first screenplay.

Also screened at Sundance 2004, Zach Braff’s debut film, GARDEN STATE was named best first feature, while Sundance alum Jacob Aaron Estes‘ MEAN CREEK took the John Cassavetes Award for best feature made for under $500,000.