tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88624083365232592022024-03-08T04:18:38.600-05:00Ciscovaras PicturesHome of Ciscovaras Pictures and filmmaker Francis AbbeyFrancis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.comBlogger558125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-49630213502753720652013-08-09T07:52:00.000-04:002013-08-09T07:53:44.338-04:00Spike Lee's Kickstarter past the halfway point<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://tribecafilm.com/blogs/spike-lee-kickstarter-hollywood-funded" target="_blank">Really good write up by Jane Hu</a> on tribecafilm.com about <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spikelee/the-newest-hottest-spike-lee-joint" target="_blank">Spike's Kickstarter</a> at the halfway point. Spike has had a lot of big backers, including one of my idols, Stephen Soderbergh. But the smaller backers, presumably the regular folk, represent a much smaller percentage. So the campaign isn't exactly setting the rest of the world on fire in the way that <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1869987317/wish-i-was-here-1?ref=live" target="_blank">Zach Braff's</a> and <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/559914737/the-veronica-mars-movie-project?ref=live" target="_blank">Veronica Mars gang's</a> did. I personally don't share the same level of outrage that some have over a man with a reported net worth of $40 million asking for money, but I do think Spike's campaign could be significantly better. Jane comments on this, too, as Spike's strategy seems to be: "I'm Spike Lee. You know my movies. Give me money for my next Joint."Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-81757228507292514642012-12-18T10:00:00.001-05:002012-12-18T10:00:44.249-05:00"Chris & Carol" - my 2012 Christmas card<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/55830785?badge=0" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/55830785">Chris & Carol</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2204888">Francis Manuel Abbey</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-45731535092312415522012-03-14T09:57:00.001-04:002012-03-14T09:57:49.633-04:00"Best Worst Movie" review<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5jEIv4aiBX0?fs=1" width="459"></iframe>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-65352876392274758762012-02-28T09:48:00.000-05:002012-02-28T09:48:11.546-05:00IndieCapitol podcast: "A Sweet and Vicious Beauty"<iframe width="459" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bQyaKJzD6uY?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-17353414663536447132012-01-27T14:21:00.003-05:002012-01-27T14:36:25.155-05:00The Fantasy IdeaWhile I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a fantasy buff, I've long been a fan of <span style="font-style:italic;">Lord of the Rings</span>, thanks to the Peter Jackson films. It created a set of rules for me on what fantasy fiction should contain. <br /><br />So when my brother, a one time avid reader of fantasy novels, told me about <span style="font-style:italic;">A Song of Ice and Fire</span>, I was very doubtful, due to my Tolkien-centric view of fantasy literature, anything without elves, dwarves, or goblins couldn't possibly be any good. <br /><br />That all changed with the arrival of <span style="font-style:italic;">Game of Thrones</span> on HBO. I was instantly hooked on the show and it motivated me to seek out the George R.R. Martin novels, which I ripped through in unprecedented fashion. My prior requirements for good fantasy literature were out the window and I saw how I might be able to make my own fantasy film/series without the more fantastical elements.<br /><br />That was the impetus for <span style="font-style:italic;">The Broken Continent</span>, which I'm currently in the process of fleshing out.<br /><br />I've been writing to stay within financial limitations for several years now. Consequently, I haven't let my imagination totally run rampant. While I still have to keep the budget in mind, just working in the fantasy genre has already drummed up a great deal more interest than I can typically muster.<br /><br />So on top of working on the project, I'll do my best to keep tabs on it here. Maybe call it a resolution for 2012.Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-87596407249735177712011-05-27T11:44:00.000-04:002011-05-27T11:44:17.668-04:00Lesson learned from the 48HFPHow the 48 Hour Film Project has made me a better filmmaker<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IJT14mJTf3I?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-86971793423789280952011-05-16T09:52:00.000-04:002011-05-16T09:52:07.281-04:00My screenplay gets produced. FTW!My buddy Steve Goldenberg starts production on Lizardman out in L.A.<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iucucMgBKVI?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-89431755136321108562011-04-18T22:16:00.000-04:002011-04-18T22:16:20.758-04:006 NONSMOKERS Official TrailerUpdated trailer for 6 Nonsmokers with color corrected footage and a few clip substitutions.<br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mETlkVuDYR0?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-87956586442314822762011-04-02T23:31:00.000-04:002011-04-02T23:31:33.851-04:00Why video games are indeed Art - Our far-flung correspondents<a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/foreignc/2011/04/video-games-are-art.html">Why video games are indeed Art - Our far-flung correspondents</a><br /><br />Tweeted by Roger Ebert. I've got a vlog topic for tonight...Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-16243896798199125382011-03-21T23:19:00.000-04:002011-03-21T23:19:12.090-04:00The N-Word and Huck FinnInspired by the 60 Minutes piece on the sanitized edition of <span style="font-style:italic;">The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</span>.<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PynMn_9QQBw?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-76444010463045354442011-03-18T10:21:00.000-04:002011-03-18T10:21:01.629-04:00RunCom #1142- My Red State with Kevin Smith experienceHere's my recap of Red State at the Warner Theater. I plan to talk more about Kevin Smith's self-distribution plans later.<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FCkyZBylXm8?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-44567335251192956022011-03-17T02:10:00.003-04:002011-03-17T02:12:28.484-04:00RunCom #1140 - Will Smith: The Last Movie StarOn the B.S. Report had William Goldman on a few weeks ago and he said that Will Smith was the last movie star left. You don't second guess William Goldman about these things.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-uwTFIf6glk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-49745518307552254182010-04-11T16:13:00.001-04:002010-04-11T16:15:00.937-04:00RunCom #800In my 800th vlog, I share my first film, "Truth or Consequences."<br /><br /><object width="360" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hmvlged2ZyQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hmvlged2ZyQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="360" height="300"></embed></object>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-855063670759345992010-04-07T22:34:00.002-04:002010-04-07T22:37:46.503-04:00Back in BlogI'm returning to blogging after nearly a year. I realized that a blog was the easiest way to provide a central location for all of my various endeavors. So this becomes Shill Headquarters.<br /><br />Now I'm tinkering with the design and trying to come up with something both aesthetically pleasing and functional. I may have to settle for functional.Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-16435955724544569702009-06-03T06:39:00.000-04:002009-06-03T06:41:52.084-04:00RunCom #489: Connecticut Film Festival boundRunning Commentary #489:<br /><br />I talk about going to the CTFF and my other film festival experiences<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EdZrU4ZqVHA&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EdZrU4ZqVHA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-84636941697070500962009-06-02T06:49:00.001-04:002009-06-02T06:55:32.703-04:00RunCom #488: Criminology 101: Cesare LombrosoRunning Commentary #488:<br /><br />I talk about the father of modern criminology and try to get my money's worth out of my degree<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HDKKv67UOQc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HDKKv67UOQc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-41870396848235540722009-05-31T23:06:00.000-04:002009-05-31T23:15:27.162-04:00RunCom #487: Box ElderRunning Commentary #487:<br /><br />A talk about a great indie film by Todd Sklar<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EdT4X-zxy2I&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EdT4X-zxy2I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-65988121975158409802009-05-31T02:39:00.001-04:002009-05-31T03:05:32.732-04:00RunCom #486: ZOMBthologyRunning Commentary #486:<br /><br />I talk about the premiere of a locally produced film<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wFfaqEemwMQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wFfaqEemwMQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-85219026168639357902009-05-29T23:46:00.001-04:002009-05-29T23:55:56.832-04:00RunCom #485: Learning how to be a producerRunning Commentary #485:<br /><br />I talk about getting my trial by fire as a producer<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qgn-R-YLODo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qgn-R-YLODo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-79299158844516655992009-05-29T00:19:00.001-04:002009-05-29T00:24:07.589-04:00RunCom #484: Fame sucks - Susan Boyle and the GosselinsRunning Commentary #484:<br /><br />I talk about how fame can affect real people<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mM247MZAcVs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mM247MZAcVs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-60699014153159517152009-05-28T00:24:00.000-04:002009-05-28T00:30:53.508-04:00RunCom #483: It is what it isRunning Commentary #483:<br /><br />I talk about a popular mantra in my line of work<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XXRMkJxW6C8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XXRMkJxW6C8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-55136346281795237802009-05-27T01:20:00.001-04:002009-05-27T01:26:00.688-04:00RunCom #482: Comfort Kills AmbitionRunning Commentary #482:<br /><br />I talk about how having it good gets in the way of your dreams<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JAB8dH2ULsg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JAB8dH2ULsg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-22525218798780745012009-05-26T00:16:00.000-04:002009-05-26T00:33:56.497-04:00RunCom #481: Memorial Day facts and Red Dwarf on my ipodRunning Commentary #481:<br /><br />I talk about the holiday formerly known as Decoration Day and watching my favorite shows on my ipod<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JWML05Xk53I&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JWML05Xk53I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-12375115650397230072009-05-25T00:17:00.001-04:002009-05-25T00:37:43.338-04:00RunCom #480: Terry Gilliam, Fear and Loathing, CraigslistRunning Commentary #480:<br /><br />I talk about one of my favorite films and not knowing what stuff costs<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yfVKlYnGygU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yfVKlYnGygU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862408336523259202.post-15764830994986767002009-05-23T23:25:00.001-04:002009-05-23T23:48:14.096-04:00RunCom #479: Terminator talk and AuditionsRunning Commentary #479:<br /><br />I talk about Terminator Salvation and holding auditions for the new film<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/P96BhymR-Yc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P96BhymR-Yc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Francis Abbeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849119454259623897noreply@blogger.com0