AFI Dallas...The Cove, The Burning Plain, Valentino & Pearl are films to keep eye on! Festival a rousing success...

The Cove, an informative tale on wild-life preservation from a TV producer turned activist, is one of a handful of films I missed at AFI Dallas due to scheduling conflicts.

Many film buffs faced the same dilemma as they struggled over festival choices and ended up - like moi - tossing a coin!

All kidding aside, of the 180 or so AFI offerings this year, there were a few stand-outs worth catching at the local movie house or renting at the DVD outlet nearest you when they're released sometime in the near future.

Here is a run-down (and a synopsis) of a few of 'em.

The Burning Plain

In this intense drama, director Guillermo Arriago explores the past and present and the curious way both affect several people separated by time and space.

"It's all about a journey to redemption," according to the producers.

Starring Kim Basinger and Charlize Theron.

Valentino: The Last Emperor

An intimate peak into the scintillating world of legendary fashion designer Valentino.

The filmmaker insightfully pulls back the veil and artfully spotlights the icon and a celebrated career that spanned the decades - and in the process - impacted the rag trade immeasurably.

Tattooed Under Fire

Director Nancy Schiesari was passionate about her project when I spoke to her one day on-the-fly in the AFI lounge at Victory Park.

"Tattooed" is an in-depth look at military personnel and their penchant for body art.

"The tattoo is a language that soldiers use to bond and communicate with each other."

Ultimately, the life-changing filmmaking foray, amounts to a provocative, poignant, and highly personal look at the human and cultural cost of war, she alleges in the final analysis.

Pearl

The inspiring tale of a young Chickasaw woman with a passion for flying and mentor Wiley Post who helped the young dreamer accomplish her lofty goal to become an aviator.

Directed by King Hollis (The Accident)

Whatever it Takes

Director Christopher Wong focused his revealing lens on a remarkable man who runs a center for Science and Mathematics for underprivileged black youths in the Bronx.
(Documentary)

Push Button House

A delightful peak at an environmental wonder crafted by creative genius Adam Kalkin.

With a visionary eye towards the future, a packing crate is transformed into a sleek, modern pre-fabricated home.

Directed by Ryan Silbert & Robert Profusek

The Cove

Director Lois Psihoyos throws the spotlight on Richard O'Barry, the creator of the original "Flipper" TV Series.

In this riveting expose, the activist uncovers the ills that befall animals held in captivity against their will.

Zombie Girl: The Movie

A 12-year-old's journey into the topsy-turvy world of film production not only entertains, but ends up being instructive to young filmmakers in the throes of crafting their first project .

Directed by Aaron Marshall, Justin Johson, and Erik Mauck.

Hollywood Beats

In the wake of the success of Slumdog Millionaire, a dreamer's musings - which unfold in an uplifting manner in Bollywood

In a nutshell, it is a tale about a down-on-his-luck dancer who sees his fortunes change due to a chance encounter.

A celebration of the indomitable human spirit.

Director/Screenwriter: Mehul Shaw
Executive Producer: Kathryn Taylor
(Patron of the Arts)

As they say at MGM:

That's all for now, folks!

http://www.thetattler.biz

AFI Dallas...Drew Waters has star quality; Ella & Astronaut hits mark; Festival Scuttlebutt!

Occasionally, an individual stands out on the red carpet.

Call it the "it" factor, if you like.

For an actor, it is that indefinable "something" that sets them apart from any other performer.

And, Drew Waters - who is co-starring in a Dallas-shot feature (The Other Side of Paradise) - definitely has it in spades!

When I spied him strutting down the gauntlet last night, it was obvious to me - a former Theatrical Agent - that Mr. Waters was going to be catapulted into the stratosphere if only he got that lucky break.

"I nearly didn't get this part," he laughed.

"They thought I couldn't handle the role which is so unlike the characters I usually play."

Yes, he's clean cut and all American-looking - a dude who might conceivably play the hero, the Harvard Graduate, the All-Star Quarterback - or a myriad of other roles in that vein.

Since I don't intend to catch "The Other Side of Paradise" for a couple of reasons, I thought I'd copy-cat Robert Wright (the rock photographer from "Rock Prophecies" who took "Sick Puppies" under his wing and elevated them from relative obscurity to new levels of success in the music industry) and give this kid a mention with the hope that it will cast a spotlight on his career and stir up some interest.

I'll be watching from the sidelines and trust that my instinct is right on again!

Last night I also got to meet Alan Govenar who directed "Poetry of Exactitude".

It's a short film about Lucien Moucher, who has been crafting small-scale productions of carousels and fairground scenes, since 1946.

"It takes him one year to create one piece which is rendered with painstaking minute detail."

At a time when filmmakers are focusing on convoluted love stories, drug deals gone awry, glory films about the War in Iraq - you name it - it is darn refreshing to encounter an auteur who is documenting the work of gifted artists to ensure there is a chronicle of their efforts left behind.

There were some surprises over the weekend, too.

"Ella & the Astronaut", featured in Shorts Program I, blew me away.

It's a film about one girl's journey to her secret hiding spot where she and Astronaut Henry can travel to the stars. (Directed by Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck & Robert Machoian)

For me, it was delightful filmmaking, which hit the spot.

There were some go-getters hawking their wares on the carpet past week, too.

One that struck me as genuine and deserving of accollades was Benjamin Kegan who directed "Team Taliban".

Although I haven't seen this short, the buzz for it has been exceptional.

In fact, my peers this week, noted how impressed they were with the young man currently attending school in Washington State.

"Team Taliban" provides a provocative glimpse into the world of Adeel Adam, a devout Muslim-American wrestler, who struggles to find a balance between his faith and his wrestling career.

According to Kegan, his project explores the impact of the war on terror in American culture through the unique lens of professional wrestling.

http://www.teamtalibanfilm.com/
At some point, I hope to take in "Kassim: the Dream".

Director/Screenwriter Kief Davidson won me right-off-the-bat when he noted I reminded him of his Uncle!

Smart guy!

The intriguing tale is about a Junior Middleweight Champion of the world who was abducted when he was a child and inducted into a rebel army at the tender age of 6.

AFI Fest describes The Dream this way:
"Director Kief Davidson and Executive Producer Forest Whitaker gives us an intimate portrait of a captivating and charismatic young athlete who feels compelled to transform a legacy of sorrow into hope and inspiration."

Later in the week, "Hunger" - a film I was greatly impacted by at AFI LA last fall, will be screening locally.

I highly recommend the poignant story about a 1981 Hunger strike initiated by the Irish Republican Army leader Bobby Sands.

Post: 11/04/2008

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/11/afi-festhunger-knock-out-drama-about.html

George Wawa, an AFI photographer, has been on the ball with a his team - too - capturing all the events on film so that various media outlets will have professional stills to match-up with their news coverage.
I ended up down at the Festival Lounge later at Victory Park once my assignments for the day were covered, kicked up my heels, and mingled with the tony Dallas elite for a couple of hours.

A couture Swimwear fashion show by Shawari - featuring a bevy of buffed studs and sexy scantilly-clad female models, revved up the crowd, by the way.

Tonight, I plan to attend the Red Carpet event for "The Burning Plain" which is being touted as a must-see film, starring Charlize Theron and Kim Bassinger.

Sorry folks, word from my inside sources have informed me the tickets are sold out.

I'll attend the gala afterwards and report in tomorrow with all the juicy tidbits!

http://www.thetattler.biz