Spielberg Based Short "Courage and Stupidity" Coming to DVD

January 2005 -
BY Kit-Kat

A new independent short film is coming to DVD inspired by Steven Spielberg's experiences during his shooting of Jaws. The fan website 'Spielberg Films' reports:

While the film "Jaws" is a classic, the story behind "Jaws" production is legendary. It's this legend that inspired "Courage & Stupidity," a new short 25-minute film about the making of Spielberg's classic (the title is a reference to Spielberg's comment about what he thinks of when he remembers the production of "Jaws.")

The film, a loving, comedic re-imagining of the troubled production of "Jaws" was written and directed by Darin Beckstead and produced by Guillermo Suescum. The film recreates the difficulties Spielberg had filming "Jaws" while comically pinning the blame for the problematic sharks that nearly sank the "Jaws" production on Spielberg and his friend George (yeah, that George!)

"Courage & Stupidity" was filmed in Salt Lake City, Utah on 35mm with Panavision equipment. It's a very professional looking piece of work, as evidenced through the trailer's crisp photography by Brian Sullivan (who was the 2nd unit cinematographer on Chris Columbus' "Bicentennial Man.")

The film had its premiere last month in New York at the Queens Film Festival and will see release on DVD in early 2005.

You can watch the trailer and visit the official site by clicking on the links below!

Courage and Stupidity Trailer
Courage and Stupidity Official Site
Source: Spielberg Films

How to Promote Your Independent Film

Moviemakers should be ecstatic with the way that the internet and broadband technologies are redefining the film industry. There is nothing more important to any filmmaker than having their name get the recognition they deserve for their hard work and time spent. The internet is allowing all filmmakers to gain wider distribution of their work, to a world wide audience, if they take advantage of the many different ways to promote their films.

The Haydenfilms Team has a few suggestions for filmmakers: Take advantage of as many outlets and platforms as possible so your film gains maximum exposure. Submit your film to as many festivals as possible. We recommend using Withoutabox.com to find the best film festivals for your student or independent film. Back up your film with a web log like Molly.com, Blogger, MSN Spaces, Yahoo! Buzz Index - Buzz Log, and others. Promote your website using some of the great examples from Sysice.com.

Before hiring a web designer, thoroughly review their portfolio, and try to contact clients on the list, to verify that your project will be treated with respect, and your goals will be achieved. To make sure that they are using the most current web technology, see The Web Standards Project. Being proactive in the design of your Web Log or Website will enhance your page ranking and visitors’ experience.

Finally, when marketing your site, web log, and film, it is important to find people that share in your interest. Networking thorough sites such as Myspace, Imdb, LA and NY 411’s, and Haydenfilms.com Connections, can help to build a base audience for your film, and can help you gain contacts for future projects.

Remembering Johnny Carson

Remembering Johnny Carson

T.V. legend and Tonight Show host, Johnny Carson died at the age of 79 this past Sunday leaving America, the Haydenfilms Team, and the entertainment community in mourning. Carson made his debut as “Tonight”host in October 1962 and quickly won the hearts of families across the country. Carson was a heavy cigarette smoker for much of his life, onscreen, and off. A respiratory disease that is credited to smoking, called Emphysema regretfully captured the life of the “King of Late NightTelevision.”

Johnny Carson retired from late night television 13 years ago in May of 1992 after 30 years of mentoring comics such as Bill Cosby, and David Letterman. America had a hard time letting go, even then. While workingside by side with Ed McMahon, Carson is responsible for the fame andsuccess of a countless number of stars.

Haydenfilms President, Hayden Craddolph states..

“He Paved the way for the entertainment industry as a whole… he will be missed everyday, and certainly never forgotten.”

The Nominees are . . . 77th Academy Awards®

The Haydenfilms Team Congratulates.....

Best motion picture of the year:

"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)
A Forward Pass/Appian Way/IMF Production
Nominees are still to be determined

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax)
A FilmColony Production
Richard N. Gladstein and Nellie Bellflower, Producers

"Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.)
A Warner Bros. Pictures Production
Nominees are still to be determined

"Ray" (Universal)
A Universal Pictures/Bristol Bay Production
Nominees are still to be determined

"Sideways" (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox)
A Sideways Productions, Inc. Production
Michael London, Producer


Best animated feature film of the year:

"The Incredibles" (Buena Vista)
Brad Bird

"Shark Tale" (DreamWorks)
Bill Damaschka

"Shrek 2" (DreamWorks)
Andrew Adamson


Performance by an actor in a leading role:

Don Cheadle in "Hotel Rwanda" (United Artists in association with Lions Gate Entertainment
through MGM Distribution Co.)

Johnny Depp in "Finding Neverland" (Miramax)

Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)

Clint Eastwood in "Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.)

Jamie Foxx in "Ray" (Universal)


Performance by an actor in a supporting role:

Alan Alda in "The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)

Thomas Haden Church in "Sideways" (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox)

Jamie Foxx in "Collateral" (DreamWorks and Paramount)

Morgan Freeman in "Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.)

Clive Owen in "Closer" (Sony Pictures Releasing)


Performance by an actress in a leading role:

Annette Bening in "Being Julia" (Sony Pictures Classics)

Catalina Sandino Moreno in "Maria Full of Grace" (HBO Films in association with Fine Line Features)

Imelda Staunton in "Vera Drake" (Fine Line Features, Alain Sarde and UK Film Council in association with Inside Track Films)

Hilary Swank in "Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.)

Kate Winslet in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (Focus Features)


Performance by an actress in a supporting role:

Cate Blanchett in "The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)

Laura Linney in "Kinsey" (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox)

Virginia Madsen in "Sideways" (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox)

Sophie Okonedo in "Hotel Rwanda" (United Artists in association with Lions Gate Entertainment through MGM Distribution Co.)

Natalie Portman in "Closer" (Sony Pictures Releasing)


Achievement in directing:

"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.), Martin Scorsese

"Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.), Clint Eastwood

"Ray" (Universal), TTaylor Hackford

"Sideways" (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox), Alexander Payne

"Vera Drake" (Fine Line Features, Alain Sarde and UK Film Council in association with Inside Track Films), Mike Leigh


Adapted screenplay:

"Before Sunset" (Warner Independent Pictures), Screenplay by Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke Story by Richard Linklater & Kim Krizan

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax), Screenplay by David Magee

"Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.), Screenplay by Paul Haggis

"The Motorcycle Diaries" (Focus Features and Film Four), Screenplay by José Rivera

"Sideways" (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox), Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor


Original screenplay:

"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.), Written by John Logan

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (Focus Features), Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman
Story by Charlie Kaufman & Michel Gondry & Pierre Bismuth

"Hotel Rwanda" (United Artists in association with Lions Gate Entertainment through MGM Distribution Co.), Written by Keir Pearson & Terry George

"The Incredibles" (Buena Vista), Written by Brad Bird

"Vera Drake" (Fine Line Features, Alain Sarde and UK Film Council in association with Inside Track Films), Written by Mike Leigh


Best foreign language film of the year:

"As It Is in Heaven" Sweden

"The Chorus (Les Choristes)" France

"Downfall" Germany

"The Sea Inside" Spain

"Yesterday" South Africa

See: Haydenfilms Online Film Festival Blog 2

Editorial Interns for Haydenfilms LLC Needed

Editorial Interns for Haydenfilms LLC; Four-month internships available on a rolling basis; 12-15 hours per week. Students are able to apply at any time. We are looking for qualified college juniors, seniors, or graduate students that are organized, dependable, independent, and ready to learn. We need responsible individuals that are able to multi-task, and follow each task through to completion. They must be Web savvy, have a professional phone manner, and excellent writing skills. Meticulous attention to detail is also vital.

Editorial interns will assist senior staff with reporting, research, and fact checking. They will be required to pitch and write their own stories, which will vary in length (150-3000 words). Published clips are a plus, but not a requirement. Knowledge of independent film scene a must. Areas of interest should include the following: student and independent filmmaking, politics of moviemaking, book reviews, festival beat, and film reviews. The internship is unpaid, and academic credit applicants are encouraged, but not required. This is a great opportunity to see first hand -- and contribute to -- all levels of the independent film industry. Send us three writing clips along with your resume and cover letter, by using our online form. For more information about our organization, please visit us online at www.haydenfilms.com.

Haydenfilms Team Encourages You to Support Tsunami Victims

The Haydenfilms team is showing their support to relief efforts and victims of the South Asia Tsunami by utilizing their web presence. They encourage you to send all public service announcements to them to be posted on their website to reach a worldwide audience in order to save as many lives as possible


To find out how you can help, visit the USA Freedom Corps website. This site provides links to many aid agencies addressing relief needs such as:

American Red Cross, Americares, Doctors Without Borders, Share and Care Foundation, UNICEF, Direct Relief

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Haydenfilms Team Visits the University of Delaware Newark campus.

The Haydenfilms team led by Promotions Manager Jay Henderson visits the University of Delaware Newark campus. The team was creating buzz about their Online Festival. Featuring a $10,000 Grand Prize, Haydenfilms.com Online Film Festival is open to student and independent filmmakers alike. Haydenfilms.com is an online network for anyone and everyone who is or would like to be involved in the film industry.

The Haydenfilms team posted Call for Entries flyers throughout the University. The University's main location in Newark, Del., is a beautiful suburban setting where the classic Georgian campus invokes history and a sense of tradition. The Newark campus is nestled next to the downtown business district, which boasts the charm of a small-town community enriched and enlivened by the University community.

Click here to view a map of the University of Delaware Newark campus

Download a poster for your school:

Your friends in film,
The Haydenfilms Team

Haydenfilms LLC is looking for proven, energetic, self-starting sales professionals.

Account Executive - Ad Sales

Core responsibilities

Day-to-day

Calling on international advertising agencies and clients, both by telephone and personally Presenting Haydenfilms LLC, and positioning the company’s strengths vs. competing websites Taking briefs from agencies for ad sales business
Preparing proposals, including collating the appropriate research material, distribution, programming etc
Negotiating deals with clients and advertising agencies
Maintaining current client details
Preparing regular contact updates on account status
Achieve annual sales targets agreed with President

Ad-hoc

Monitoring of competing websites and trade press to maintain understanding of developing accounts

Requirements

Essential

3-4 years of Ad Sales experience of which 1-2 years must be in Media space selling
Should know the concerned people in ad agencies / clients on a first name basis
Proven track record of target achievement

Desirable

Excellent presentation skills
Ability to network and leverage contacts

IT competence

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree required

This position is also available in the following locations, Nationwide.

Haydenfilms LLC offers an aggressive 25% commission package.

It is the policy of Haydenfilms LLC to provide equal opportunities for employment and advancement to qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or veteran status.

You may submit your resume to us by clicking here.

Connections : : HaydenFilms.com

Haydenfilms LLC has created an Online portal for Haydenfilms.com Members. By navigating through our user-friendly Resources section, filmmakers can utilize our directory of links to industry professionals. They are also able to join our Crew Database, where they can search a list of Crew Members available for collaboration on independent or student films. Our Online Production Board is designed to attract production companies and facilitate filmmakers with listings for nation-wide open casting and crew calls. Our Screaming Room is an awesome opportunity to network with professionals and peers on a nation-wide basis!

Haydenfilms.com will strive to be a hub for all filmmakers and industry professionals.

Official Rules : Online Film Festival : : HaydenFilms.com

We are happy to present the First Annual Haydenfilms Online Film Festival! Haydenfilms is introducing a new way for independent, and student film producers to showcase their work, and get credit at the same time!

The Haydenfilms Online Film Festival is open to all student and independent films that have been created for production of all media. All genres will be accepted for review, including shorts, animation, experimental, and documentary.