In an unprecedented move, the latest film from controversial documentarian Michael Moore (Sicko) will be released as a free, high-resolution download for a limited time. Slacker Uprising, a follow-up of sorts to the infamous Fahrenheit 9/11, follows Moore as he went from city to city back in 2004 in an attempt to get young people to vote. It was originally meant to be a theatrical release, but instead will be available on the website BlipTV during three weeks if you're a North American resident, beginning September 23rd. The DVD will come out October 7th.

"I thought it'd be a nice way to celebrate my 20th year of doing this," Moore said. "And also help get out the vote for November. I've been thinking about what I want to do to help with the election this year."

One can't help but wonder what influence, if any, this will have on movie distribution as a whole. As it is though, Michael Moore doesn't expect to make any profit from Slacker Uprising. To download the movie, you need to live either in the US or in Canada and sign up at the film's official website.

Source

The showing will take place on 09/09/08 at 21:00 at the Church of San Domenico (across from the Palazzo Ducale). It should be interesting! I don't know if there's a fee to get in, but it should be worth it. I plan on going.

I hope to see some of you there!

"Daijoubu de Aru you ni -Cocco Owaranai Tabi-" is a documentary based on popular (and a Karakui.com favorite) singer Cocco that will be released in theaters this December. The inspiration for the documentary is Cocco's performance of her single "Jugon no Mieru Oka" at the Live Earth concert last July.

The documentary will be helmed by acclaimed director Hirokazu Koreeda who had also directed two of Cocco's music videos.

(Via goo.)

I believe that documentary, no matter the medium it is presented in, is empty without some kind of story. Perhaps in saying that I have put myself up for a lot of criticism, but surely all documentaries are produced because the creator has something to say, a story to tell? Perhaps not in the structural way as detailed above, but perhaps elements of 'story' or a documentation of events or ideas in essence define what documentary is. Perhaps that's just my opinion.

Maybe I should refer to Nichols and his documentary modes of representation. Maybe I need to look more closely into how each incorporate the concept of story. Or don't. Maybe it isn't even necessary for me to do that.

With the continuous progression of technology, it is inevitable that we acknowledge the changes in how we create and interpret stories. No longer is it necessary for stories to be told in a linear way or be viewed over an extended period of time for us to understand and appreciate the narrative. Come to think of it, maybe it never has been necessary, we were just so captivated by the world of cinema that we chose to view films in their entirety. Many of us still are, but many have also become less patient.

There is much to be said about how much technology conditions us. How living in such a technologically-advanced society shapes the way we think, react, engage, comprehend, produce and interact. I myself have noticed a deterioration in the way I receive information. I get bored much more easily and become restless when I know my time will be occupied for a lengthy period.

I scan instead of read thoroughly and fast-foward through to the most interesting parts. I enjoy snippets of information. I don't think I'm alone here.

What does this mean then for storytellers and content-producers? What framework does this set up for them when considering how effectively they can disseminate information and reach audiences?

It is easy to generalise and I don't want to be notorious for drawing conclusions about society and people simply based on my own observations and experiences. I just think it's important to consider how the conventional concepts of 'documentary' and 'story' are being challenged by new technologies. How this is affecting my own practice as a documentary-maker.

Anyway, back to Bernard. Documentary stories with "a compelling beginning, an unexpected middle, a satisfying end." How does this apply to blog-based documentary? I'm not sure how it does.

The story I have revolves around a significant individual. Someone who has had quite an influential impact on a community. I know the beginning, I know the end. Sometimes I find it hard to see a middle. I'm hoping it unveils itself in the making.

I start to wonder though how relevant these three elements are in a blog. How can I direct the reader/viewer to understand the narrative threads in my story when I've chosen to tell it in a non-linear space? Is it viable? Will it be effective? How can I preserve the essence of the story with the blog's advantages? What limitations could potentially lose the story in cyberspace?

Powered by ScribeFire.

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The Russians are Coming to Hollywood (23 minutes) is a making-of featurette hosted by the director and producer of the movie, Norman Jewison. It is very interesting to hear Jewison enthusiastically talk about this movie, in what it looks like a recent interview made specifically for this DVD presentation. This wonderful director vividly recalls how the project came about, and some of the problems of making such a topical movie during the turbulent 1960s. Since the movie was made at the height of the Cold War, Jewison rightfully emphasizes the risky nature of the production. He doesn't waste any time in praising the crew and actors for their hard work and commitment to the project. Jewison seems quite fond of his work on this movie, and proudly states how The Russians are Coming The Russians are Coming became an unexpected, overnight sensation. This is a very well done brief documentary - kudos to MGM for their thoughtfulness in including such an interesting program, among the disc offerings.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

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Found @ http://www.youtube.com/user/LupineLooPine

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6464697696665901632&hl=en]

Papers may take a single film focus or make comparative considerations, and can take a theoretical or historical approach. Examples or suggested topics might include papers that examine the following areas in a single film, several films, or national cinemas:

*Genre studies in world cinema (Horror, Comedy, etc.)
*Film movements (New Wave, directors, films)
*Exploring representations of race, ethnicity, and gender in fiction or non-fiction film
*Representations of wars, borders, national characters and ideologies
*Social or political commentary
*National cinemas (Africa, Japan, etc.)
*Documentaries
*Technological and economic considerations/developments
*Comparative analyses between world and Hollywood film
*Third World Cinema

These ideas are suggestions only so any topic would be welcomed.

Please send a 250-300 word abstract and brief bio (2-3 sentences, including rank and affiliation and contact information) to: Dr. William Verrone: weverrone@una.edu; Please put "Global Film" in subject line. Deadline for submission is October 1, 2008.

The University of North Alabama Conference on Global Film will be held March 5-8, 2009, in historic Florence, Alabama.

Dr. William Verrone
University of North Alabama
Email: weverrone@una.edu

The catch is you have to fly to London should you be shortlisted for an interview. The Deadline is on Friday 26 September 2008. The chosen applicant would get £4,000 for their dream journey and a chance to make a radio documentary of it.

Great opportunity for those who would love to get their hands on some travel funding on their next dream trip. Go for it!

-------------------------------------
Journey of a Lifetime - A Grant

For those with a genuine curiosity about the world around them, the Journey of a Lifetime is a grant of £4,000 for an original and inspiring journey anywhere in the world. The winner will receive training in radio broadcasting from the BBC and will record their experiences for a BBC Radio 4 documentary.

The aim of the award is to inspire an interest in the people and places of the world
and to discover new radio broadcasting talent.

About the award
The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), in partnership with BBC Radio 4, offers you the chance to make a journey of a lifetime and to tell the world about it in a memorable piece of radio documentary-making. Each year the RGS-IBG and the BBC support the best idea for an original, exciting, and exceptional journey. It is important that the project takes you somewhere fresh, different and original. Therefore it is a good idea to bear in mind where the previous winners have been (Egypt in 2006, Kenya in 2007). For further details please see our website.

Your journey needs really to matter to you: we need to feel your passion and enthusiasm and Radio 4 listeners need to be fascinated. The BBC already broadcasts a lot of documentaries about faraway places. When developing your idea, make sure it is the sort of thing journalists rarely have the time to cover. Most reporters can only afford the time and money to make short visits to meet important people and do not get immersed in the local society.

The programme you will be making needs to tell your story – and that of the journey and the place you will be visiting – in a graphic and attractive way.

Think of all the audio potential in the idea – not just indigenous music and sounds, but how you are going to find interesting sounds within the substance of the journey (by keeping an audiodiary, for example). Radio is very good on atmospherics and imaginative pictures, but you need to think about what your journey and your destination offer to create those pictures.

In terms of where you choose to go –anywhere you can think of is potentially an interesting destination.

Eligibility guidelines

• You will be travelling between February and July 2009
• Applicants must be aged 18 or over
• BBC, RGS-IBC staff and their close relatives are not eligible to apply for grants
• The BBC will retain editorial control over any programme it may make. It cannot guarantee that any programme it may make will be broadcasted.
• Interviews will be held, in London. You must be able to attend these interviews in person
• Applications from small teams rather than solo travellers are accepted, but please make it clear in your application if this is the case
• The award is for independent travel. We will NOT consider any journey joining a commercial expedition or pre-paid tour, including organised charity fundraising tours

Application process

Applications may be submitted electronically in word format, by mail, or by fax by 26 September 2008.

Initial Proposal

Applying to the Journey of a Lifetime Award is easy. We are only looking for the 'pitch' of your
idea at this stage- the core idea that makes this your Journey of a Lifetime. Your pitch should be
no longer than 550 words and should provide;

1. A Two line summary- A very brief description of your planned journey. Think of this as what Journey of a Lifetime £4,000 and a BBC Radio 4 documentary for an inspiring and original journey would appear as your headline in the Radio Times.
2. A 250-300 word description of the journey in more detail. You do not have to include everything listed here, but it may help you to consider;

• Why is this a journey of a lifetime
• Why will this make a good radio broadcast - Why is this of interest to the audience
• How will you achieve the journey - What will you get out of it
• What will the audience get out of it
• Why you and not somebody else
• How did you hear about the award

Please remember to keep this brief. At this stage we are not looking for detailed route plans and
budgets.

Applications should be submitted by email, mail, or fax to the grants officer at the society by 26
September 2008. From the initial proposals, up to ten projects will be shortlisted by a panel of
judges. Those selected will be asked to prepare a detailed proposal.

Detailed Proposal
Applications should be submitted electronically in word format, by mail, or by fax and must contain the following information:

• Title and short abstract (max 100 words)
• Full contact details
• A description of your journey. This might include your motivation for the journey, a description of the aspects of the journey that would make interesting radio, your aspirations following the journey and your previous travel experience. (1,000 words)
• A breakdown of the budget for the different aspects of the journey.
• An outline timetable for the journey.
• A risk assessment and safety management plan (max 300 words).
• Please include the latitude and longitude of your destination (These are used by the RGS-IBG to geocode information about our grants programme in GIS)
• Please indicate how you heard about the Journey of a Lifetime Award.

Interviews

• Interviews will be held at the RGS-IBG in December 2008.
• After the interviews two of the applicants will be asked to attend a training day at the BBC. A final decision regarding the winner will be made following this training day. This training day is part of the evaluation.

Conditions

• Within a month of your return you should submit a 1000 word report detailing your journey and including three to five digital images that capture the spirit of the project.
• The award winner may be asked to present a lecture on the project work at the RGS-IBG at a mutually convenient date
• The Society’s support should be acknowledged in all publications and outputs. Copies of any such publications and outputs should be submitted to the Society
• Award details may be published in the Society’s publications and on the website
• The RGS-IBG requires that the projects it funds be conducted in an ethical and responsible manner and that recipients fulfil all their institution’s health and safety requirements and ethical approvals.
• Full details of the Society’s ethical guidelines for research can be found at www.rgs.org/OurWork/Grants/Grants.htm

Note: Digital photographs should be in JPEG or TIFF format and at a quality of 300 dpi or more in A5 size.

Contact/ Applications
Grants Officer
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
1 Kensington Gore
London
SW7 2AR
T: (0) 20 7591 3073
F: (0) 20 7591 3031
E: grants@rgs.org
W: www.rgs.org/grants

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) offers many other grants for different areas of geographical research at different career stages.
Full details of all grants can be found at www.rgs.org/grant

Please note: an application may only be made for one grant per project, with the exception of the Henrietta Hutton Research Grants and the Gilchrist Fieldwork Award.

Here are a few items of interest brought to you mostly by readers of this blog. How exciting!

• First of all, in light of high gas prices and our waning summer, check out this economic road-trip mix care of Britt.
• Second, my good friend Kevin turned me on to this 45-minute documentary regarding famed director Stanley Kubrick (2001, Clockwork Orange, Eyes Wide Shut, Dr. Strangelove). His eccentricities are well known to movie fans and this film does well shedding a bit of light on his reclusive and obsessive behavior as much as it adds another layer of intrigue to his legend.
• Third, in this season of high stakes political theater, keep your head level and feed your cynicism by watching The Daily Show at Hulu.com (or on cable). Last week's episodes from the DNC were great and I can't wait to see what they do when they role into Saint Paul this week for the RNC. Satire at its best, there is a reason this show keeps winning Emmy awards year after year. (Hopefully they don't skewer Minnesota too badly, but we deserve it as much as any I guess.)
• Finally, ride the nostalgia wave provided by the clip below. (Watch six times for maximum funny: one time for each panel!)

Thanks to images of beauty promoted through a plethora of avenues, from celebs to advertisers to media to modeling to plastic and cosmetic surgeons, to sometimes even our own parents, our perceptions of what’s beautiful, and what makes an acceptable model, celebrity, woman, mate, person, beauty regime, etc., have evolved into something strange, toxic and sometimes shocking, and it’s influencing our children at younger and younger ages.

As part of the film, Roberts interviews a variety of media, entertainment and social professionals, from Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, to feminist playwright Eve Ensler to former Seventeen editor Atoosa Rubenstein. Much of the film focuses on the experiences of Gerren Taylor, who was discovered as a model at 12, became wildly successful, and then was dumped a couple years later because she no longer fit the modeling industry’s definition of perfection.

The film reveals a variety of sad and horrific realities, such as:

• A 1990s study of the effects of television on the native people of Fiji showed that, before the arrival of TV, no girls were bulimic or anorexic; three years after TV arrived in Fiji, 11 percent of girls admitted to throwing up to control their weight.
• The cocktail waitress who was fired from her job for not wearing makeup.
• Magazine industry reps who state that putting “average” people on the cover isn’t an option because it would cost them money.
• The 6 foot tall, 130 pound model who’s told she has to lose 15 pounds.

You can see the trailer on the website.

America the Beautiful has only recently been released in theaters and is making its way around the country. (NOTE: This movie is coming to Portland to the Regal Fox Tower Stadium 10 theater the weekend of September 5.)

Although the film is rated R (some strong language and shots of cosmetic surgery), it provides a great opportunity to explore and discuss issues of beauty, marketing and advertising, body image and more, especially with teenagers and pre-teens.

Find out more:

Roberts writes about his experiences in a Huffington Post article.

A recent article about the film from the Long Beach, CA, Press-Telegram.

~ Marsha

The New Heroes features changemakers who have stepped up and taken positive action to help others. We watched the stories of Albina Ruiz, Muhammad Yunus, and Kailash Satyarthi.

Albina Ruiz was devastated by the health and environmental problems caused by garbage in Peru. She decided to take action and is now working to revolutionize waste management, helping create jobs, promote sustainability and protect people and the planet.

Muhammad Yunus was teaching economics in Bangladesh when he became aware of the crushing poverty all around him. He started asking poor people what they needed, and ended up creating the Grameen Bank, which lends microcredit to the poor, asking for no collateral and inspiring and empowering thousands. The bank also focuses on loaning to women, which was unheard of in his country.  Yunus won a Nobel Prize for his efforts, and his system has been replicated all over the world.

Kailash Satyarthi has dedicated his life to helping free the millions of people -- many of them children -- who have been forced into slavery. Satyarthi conducts raids to free slaves, has established an Ashram so that freed slaves have a place of safety to begin again, has worked to develop child-friendly villages that support, educate and nurture their children, and established the Rugmark system, so that people can be assured of buying slave-free rugs.

The series profiles 11 other changemakers inspiring and empowering others around the world. It's easy to become depressed and pessimistic about the state of the world, but seeing these new heroes in action can uplift your spirits and infuse you with new hope, passion and commitment. Be sure to check it out!

Our next MOGO meeting will be Tuesday, September 9 at 7:00 pm at Cascadia Commons. We'll be focusing on the power of advertising and marketing (and our own power to counteract its influence). Come join us for a lively discussion and some fun activities! Contact pdxmogo@gmail.com for more information.

~ Marsha