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In A YouTube Galaxy Not To Far Away... By Courtney Collins

"I'm not even a Star Wars fan - but I love Chad Vader!" These are the sorts of com-ments I've been hearing since episode 1 of "Chad Vader - Day Shift Manager" first ap-peared on YouTube in July of last year. I think comments like this are testament to the fact that the series' writers Matt Sloan and Aaron Yonda have managed to pull off a Star Wars parody that isn't just a "parody." The series chronicles the trials and triumphs that face "Chad Vader," Darth Vader's lesser-known and less charismatic younger brother who manages a grocery store. "Chad Vader" has been featured on Good Morning America, written up in the New York Times (and countless other newspapers worldwide), and most recently nominated as Best Series in the first annual YouTube awards. It's gar-nered over 13 million views on websites like YouTube and MySpace.Aaron and Matt have been collaborating as Blame Society Productions on short films for

over six years - since about the time they met at ComedySportz, the now defunct

Madison improv group. Aaron had been writing and filming his cable access show "The Splu Urtaf Show" since 1993, and Matt had been act-ing in theatrical p r o d u c t i o n s . They've had several films appear in re-gional and national film festivals, sev-eral of which have

won various awards, but their popularity skyrocketed with the success of Chad Vader.I never saw the Star Wars movies when I was a kid - it was only over a year ago that I first saw all six movies and I had just begun to "get into" Star Wars when.. continued on page 3...

FILM FORWARDWisconsin’s Expert on Film, Technology, Events, Festivals & More…

Opening Credits Ready to Roll By David Fantle

For years, the prospect for Wisconsin becoming a player in the $60 billion annual U.S. film economy seemed pretty blurry. With the passage last year of sweeping film incentives, the picture is coming more into focus.

When Wisconsin’s film incentives take effect Jan. 1, 2008, it will catapult the state from virtually “worst to first” in film friendliness. Thanks to the visionaries in state government who recognized this opportunity and took the lead: Lt. Gov-ernor Barb Lawton, State Sen. Ted Kanavas – they receive top billing! The sup-porting credits could roll on for a while, but they should include, Sen. Alberta Darling, former Rep. Curt Gielow, and more recently Sen. Lassa and Rep. Stro-chota. continued on page 4

Publisher/EditorWilliam P. ZenobiaWill-Zen Film Investmentswilliam@williamzenobia.com3215 Golf RoadSuite 114Delafield, WI 53018414-690=3386

VP MarketingWayne Clingman

Guest EditorialDave Fantle

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I would like to start this issue by thank-ing those who have taken their time to contribute to “Film Forward” .

Film Forward was developed to focus on people from different areas of our business as well as those who are in the entertainment industry. No article is unworthy and we welcome the chal-lenge of those who read our paper.

I would like to give special thanks to the Rock Agency. As an actor I have been represented by the Rock Agency for the past five years and have enjoyed get-ting to know them.

In the past couple of weeks Film For-ward was put into a position to help one of our fellow contributor’s (Scott Robbe). We found ourselves faced with a dilemma when it came to resources. I contacted Raquel Repka of the Rock Agency for some help. Raquel gra-ciously offered her time and efforts in helping us accomplish our goal and helping a good friend. Thank You

We have entered a time of change in Wisconsin. There are those who con-tribute time as volunteers, some con-tribute money, and others are building sound stages around the state to help us all realize the same dream and goals.

While I write this article I can name sev-eral instances where people who want to see film come to this WI are doing what they can, and in most cases get-ting very little for their efforts.

There are those on the other end of the spectrum who for political reasons or personal reasons don’t want to see the fruits of our labor.

I ask you, who is willing to fight for what they believe. Are you all talk, or do you really want to see good things come to WI? If your not just a talker, get involved with someone who is active in the film community. I am constantly surprised at how large the film community is, when I continue to meet people who are pur-suing their dreams. Let’s have those same people achieve those dreams here at home. Let’s stop sending our talented people to NYC, or LA.

Let’s stop telling film companies to go to another state. If you don’t know where to start, start by contacting Sen. Russ Decker who is holding up SB24 from coming before the Joint Finance Com-mittee which he Co-Chairs.

Far to much has been put into this effort to allow it spoil on a tree like rotten fruit. The time for action is now, you just have to decide if you like ripe fruit or rotten fruit.

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SENATOR DECKER “WHERE’S OUR BILL!!”...

CALL SENATOR RUSS DECKER TODAY AND ASK HIM - WHERE IS OUR BILL? - SB24?- WHY IS NOT BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW? WE NEED HIS PROMPT ACTION NOW - CALL SEN. DECKER AT 608-266-2502 - REGISTER YOUR SUPPORT FOR SB24 !

IF YOU HAVEN’T CONTACTED SENATOR DECKER IT’S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IN ORDER TO KEEP FILM IN WISCONSIN MOVING FORWARD. PLEASE CONTACT HIM ASAP!!

the guys told me about the Chad Vader idea last summer. I was so excited about it and wanted to be involved in any ca-pacity that I could. I'm engaged to Aaron and have appeared in some of his films in the past and have helped out with his and Matt's projects "behind the scenes," but I really wanted to play a bigger part in making Chad Vader happen. I started doing organizational things, like scheduling, recruiting actors and ex-tras, and reserving locations, thus becoming the producer of

the series. Tona Williams, who is married to Matt, has been involved in past Blame Soci-ety films as cinematographer, and is also responsible for the camera work and art direction of Chad Vader. She too has been doing various "behind the scenes" work for Matt and Aaron in the past few years - most nota-bly creating and maintaining the website for Blame Society Productions (www.BlameSociety.net) . But this was the first time the four of us have really worked together as a team, and it's been so much fun to work to-gether as two couples and as a foursome of friends. We've also been really fortunate to work with talented regional actors and crew members. Each episode takes at least two five or six hour nights, and sometimes more for episodes that are filmed at locations other than the Willy Street Coop (the Madison grocery cooperative that has been kind enough to let us use the store as the series' primary location). Everyone volunteers their time, and we couldn't be luckier. A recent highlight was the appearance of Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz in episode 6. His office contacted us to let us know that Mayor Dave was a fan and that he'd love to be in an episode, which of course we took him up on!

Season 1 consists of eight episodes, the last of which we filmed in late March. Matt and Aaron recently appeared on VH-1's 40 Greatest Internet Superstars, and just returned from working with Mike Nelson and Kevin Murphy of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame for their latest endeavor "Rifftrax." Rifftrax is a website from which you can down-load humorous audio commentary that plays in sync along to popular movies, such as Lord Of The Rings, The Matrix, and The Phantom Menace. Rifftrax invited Matt and Aaron to San Diego last week to record a track which features the voice of Chad. Aaron and Matt also filmed their own special episode of Chad Vader featuring both Kevin Mur-phy and Mike Nelson, which should be available online within the next few weeks.

We'll be taking a short break from filming the series, but plan on beginning preparations for Chad Vader - season 2 within the next few months. It's been a hectic, but extremely rewarding and exciting year for us! Rifftrax will be releasing audio commentary for Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, featur-ing commentary by "Chad Vader," on Friday, April 6, via Rifftrax.com. The first season of Chad Vader - Day Shift Manager will be released on DVD by Blame Society Produc-tions sometime in late April.

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Opening Credits Read to Role (contin-ued from page 1.)

The cast behind the grassroots effort called Film Wisconsin to make this all happen is even longer. Since I’m lim-ited for space (sort of like an Oscar acceptance speech), let me just thank George Tzougros and Scott Robbe and all members of the Film Wisconsin “core” working group.

But the work is far from done. In many ways, it’s just starting. While there continues to be an effort to move the effective date of the incen-tives earlier (Senate Bill 24), these efforts have been stymied by Sen. Russ Decker, who refuses to place this bill on the Joint Finance Committee agenda, which he co-chairs. We’re not giving up. Starting earlier would mean jobs and new economic impact pour-ing into a state that has lagged in job growth (including seriously high un-employment with specific segments of our population) and is beset with “brain drain.” The industry also pre-sents opportunities for us to market the beauty and diversity of our state through the worldwide reach of film.

Whether Sen. Decker comes around is yet to be determined. What we do know is that we have a lot of work to do in marketing the state to potential filmmakers, building a crew base, es-tablishing infrastructure and funding and opening

the Film Wisconsin office. All of these things are taking place in anticipation of the Jan. 2008 start date, or hope-fully sooner. Our biggest need is film office funding. Sponsorship opportu-nities abound. Contact me for more information.

There’s no question that filmmakers, most based on the east and west coast are looking for a “new face” in the form of a new U.S. location to work. Since the buzz was generated about our incentives, we have re-ceived some 100 inquiries from pro-duction companies representing some $100 million in production work. If Sen. Decker budges, we have the op-portunity to possibly win a couple of $10 million dollar films for the state yet this year, including the Beacon Pictures production of “The Poker Kid,” the true story of

Madison poker phenom Phil Hellmuth Jr. If not, we’ll be closed for business until Jan. 1, 2008. But times goes quickly and we have a lot of work to do!

This drama is still being played out, but we’re optimistic that this will have a happy ending with many award-winning sequels in the future.

David Fantle is vice president of public relations for VISIT Milwaukee and a member of the Film Wisconsin task force. He can be reached at dfantle@milwaukee.org.

YOU NEED A GUN? A ZOMBIE? OR SOME SPECIAL EFFECTS THAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN YOU MOVIE CONTACT:

JIM BETTS, JR.

PO Box 270112

Milwaukee,WI 53227

414-329-0355

DO YOU KNOW WHO SENATOR DECKER IS? DO YOU KNOW WHY FILM MAY NOT COME TO WISCONSIN?

CALL SENATOR RUSS DECKER TODAY AND ASK HIM - WHERE IS OUR BILL? - SB24?- WHY IS NOT BEFORE THE FINANCE COM-MITTEE FOR REVIEW? WE NEED HIS PROMPT ACTION NOW - CALL SEN. DECKER AT 608-266-2502 - REGISTER YOUR SUPPORT FOR SB24 !

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Music, Lights, Editing by Duane L. Martin - Rogue Cinema

Music can really set the whole mood and feel of a scene. Making the right choices for the music you use in the various scenes is so important, because if you screw that up, you end up shooting yourself in the foot. Always make sure that the music you choose or write for a scene is appropriate, not obnoxious and flows well with the rest of the music in the film. Continuity of musical style is also im-portant. Keep the musical style consistent so the viewer doesn't feel like he's being hammed over the head with a mishmash of sound. The most im-portant thing however, is to lower the volume level of the music when people are talking, so you can actually hear what they're saying. No matter how much you like the music you wrote or chose for a scene, it's never as im-portant as the dialogue and should always be subtle and understated while people are talking. The only exception to this would be if the scene ac-tually calls for it to be otherwise. For example, someone and his neighbor arguing over the neigh-bor's loud music while it plays in the background and half drowns out their

argument. In a situation like that it's ok, other-wise, keep it down.

Poor Lighting:

How can you enjoy a movie if you can't see it? I've seen lots of movies that use darkness and poor lighting to "set a mood" while totally ig-noring the fact that the viewer can't see anything that's going on. What good is setting a mood if the viewer can't enjoy the film because he can't see it? The only mood that creates is a bad mood for the viewer who spent money to see your film. There are ways to give the impression of dark-ness while still allowing the viewer to see what's going on. I believe these are called day for night shots, meaning they're shot in the day, so you can see what's going on, but they're shot or proc-essed in a certain way so it looks like it's evening. This technique is espe-cially useful for those who shoot on digital video be-cause it allows you to keep your visual quality higher since you don't have to shoot in actual darkness, thereby avoid-ing the low-light video noise that so many cam-eras are prone to. Even the high end, multi-thousand dollar cameras suffer from it, but no-where near as much as

the consumer and pro-sumer level cameras that the lower budget film-makers just starting out would tend to use.

If you're unsure of how do achieve proper light-ing, there are many tu-torials for filmmakers on-line. Just do a search and you should be able to come up with a plethora of information on how to achieve a wide variety of lighting looks and effects.

Over Editing and Proper Editing:

When you make a film, you're telling a story. If that story is edited to-gether in such a way that it becomes confusing to the viewer or just flat out annoying to watch be-cause the scenes are jumping around so much that visually the movie becomes nothing more than a blur of mindlessly quick edits, then you're pretty much guaranteed not only bad reviews, but also irritated viewers who won't want to see any more of your films. Over editing a film can kill it just as fast as a film that's under edited.

An under edited film is a film that holds on it's shots and scenes way too long, leaving the viewer bored and looking for the fast forward button. An example of this can be

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found in various Takashi Miike films, where he'll have a shot of someone just sitting, or walking somewhere or whatever for several minutes. There's nothing else going on...just several minutes of a single, unedited shot that can be cut down to several seconds with a fast forward button. Shots like that don't set a mood, they just make the viewer bored and antsy.

Another problem I've seen more times than I can count are films that have a conversation between two people, shot with one camera. Each person is shot delivering their lines indi-vidually and the scene is edited to cut back and forth between them. The unfortunate effects of this are two-fold. First, the conversation becomes disjointed because of the timing differ-ences between each person's lines of dialogue. If you don't get the timing down in the edit-ing just right, you can end up with a result that doesn't sound like a single fluid conversa-tion, but more like what it actually is - two separate dialogue recordings edited together in a rather awkward way. The other problem you end up with is a constantly fluctuating back-ground noise level. This particular problem however can be avoided by recording the dia-logue as tightly and as isolated as possible, and then recording a solid background noise track, which is then mixed just enough to mask any disjointment in the dialogue ed- its. When do-ing this however, you have to make sure that the tim-ing, inflections in the speech and every- thing else in the actual dialogue and the edits are worked out seamlessly, otherwise you'll just end up correcting one problem while leaving another.

Another editing problem comes into play when filmmakers leave in scenes that are point-less, don't work or are just flat out unnecessary. I can think of one film in particular that suffered from this problem. The film ended up being around three hours long or a bit more because the filmmaker basically included every single scene he shot rather than taking the time to make a tightly edited film which told a concise and well paced story. Needless to say, by the time I was finished watching said film, I was ready to put a bullet in my head. Not only did he include every single scene, but there were several, completely unnecessary montages included in those scenes who's only purpose seemed to be to give you something to watch while a full song played in the background. If you want to make a music video, then make one, but don't hog up screen time in an actual film with it.

Some films have the opposite problem. They'll edit down, or edit out completely scenes that were necessary in the telling of the story, which then leaves the viewer confused and scratching their heads. Make sure that you watch your film after you edit it, and definitely make sure that everything's in there that needs to be in there. Think of it this way. You speak English. If I type the sentence, "I lke mvies vry mch," you know what I'm saying be-cause your brain fills in the missing letters as you read it. Now think of the viewer as some-one who doesn't speak English and can't fill in the letters. You can sit there and watch the final edit of your movie and fill in the gaps as you watch it because you know the story and it all makes sense to you, but you always have to keep in mind that you're not making a film so you can sit around and watch it. You're making it for other people to watch, so make sure all the letters are there so they're not sitting there scratching their heads, wondering what's going on.

Locations:Northern WisconsinSoutheast Wisconsin

Wayne Clingman262-632-5336

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Shimmy Your Way to Fun and Fitness - Belly Dance! by Denise White

The art of belly dance has become popular as a fun and creative form of exercise. It is now offered at many YMCAs, recreation departments, and dance studios throughout Milwaukee and the suburbs. Galatea, a professional belly dancer and instructor in Germantown, Meno-monee Falls, and West Bend explains, "Belly Dance has many physical and psychological benefits. It's a low-impact dance style that improves muscle strength and flexibility, balance, pos-ture, and body awareness." It's not just your body that benefits from belly dancing. Galatea adds, "The mental effort needed to learn and correctly execute the movements allows the stu-dent to focus entirely on themselves, leaving day-to-day concerns to momen-tarily fade away." It is a great stress reducing activity, giving women the opportunity to do creative exercise in a supportive learning environment that fosters friendship and camara-derie. The ancient art of Egyptian belly dance, called Raks Sharki, or Dance of the Orient, is said to be the oldest and most universal dance of all. Its origins trace back to the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Africa. His-torical evidence shows Egyptian tomb paintings from 14 BC depicting belly dancers, as well as Persian paintings from 12 AD. The dance was considered sacred, danced by women for women, and not intended to be seen by men at all. Oriental dance is uniquely designed for the female body, with an empha-sis on abdominal muscles and hip moves. It is elemental and earthy, traditionally done with bare feet that are well-connected to the ground.

The dance is characterized by smooth, flowing, sensual movements of the torso and hips, alternated with stac-cato shaking and shimmies. As Milwau-kee instructor and performer Shaia says, "Belly dance is tremendously popular, because it is sensuous, it will tone your core muscles, has great aerobic benefits, and is the most fun way to stay in shape that I have found." This popularity has resulted in an in-crease in local belly dance perform-ances, as well as classes. Dancers per-form regularly at area restaurants, fes-tivals and expos, including the Wiscon-sin State Fair. For example, a rare op-portunity to see an internationally-famous master belly dancer, Alexandra King, takes place on May 5, 2007, in Menomonee Falls. She will star in a belly dance performance showcase, featuring dancers and drummers from Milwaukee, Chicago and Madison. For more information about the show, visit dreamdancelive.org.

 For more information about belly dance classin your area visit galateadancer.comr milwaukeebellydance.com. Also check with your local YMCA, recreation depart-ment, or dance studio. And, enjoy yourself, as you shimmy your way to fun and fitness, the belly dance way!

Dreamdance, Inc. Presents An Evening of Belly Dance Starring Alexandra King

One-night-only performance on May 5, 2007 at 8:00PM, at North Junior High Audito-rium, in Menomonee Falls. For more information con-tact Denise White at 262-253-0508.

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ICFLM Rockets Beer Drinkers in Space to Success! by Frank Delle

In 1983, a group of friends working at Disney building EPCOT made a movie. None of them had ever made a feature-length movie be-fore, but they used their creative talents, project management skills and sense of teamwork from Dis-ney to create Beer Drinkers in Space. The movie took nine months to complete and consumed their lives and their homes as they constructed spaceship interior sets in family rooms, bedrooms, and garages. Elaborate models and pyrotechnics were shot. The script was transferred to cue cards and the intrepid movie makers popped open a few beers and got in front of the cameras to shoot this camp comedy feature.

The movie took aired on a few ca-ble TV systems around the country

A Beginning of a Beautiful Relationship by Wayne Clingman

Back in April 2005 a few men and women gathered in a Dinner in Madi-son, to talk about what we could do to either save the Wisconsin Film Of-fice or failing that make one of own creation. I no longer have the sign in sheet but I can recall many of those there that day, we were not Greek Hero’s holding a pass nor were we Gathered around “a Stiff Made of Pa-per”, no we were simple men and women faced with a task.

Some after attending a meeting or two dropped away, some never at-tending anything send everything from helpful advice to Death Threats. A few sat back and toss darts con-demning anything they could not control or make money on the rest of

us after gathering like-minded folk moved boldly forward, have done the incredible, we without paid lobbies (The blood suckers left fast) had a Bill written passed and signed!

Helped a lot that we have great lead-ership Helped that Film Wisconsin is for anyone who wants to pitch in.

Yes there is work and lots of it that till needs to be done. First among them is helping to educate Senator Decker that AB 24 should be brought to a vote TODAY! (if you have not called him please do (608) 266-2502.

However the day is coming and thatright soon where we will be saying,“Wisconsin is open for business, FilmBusiness!” Please join us as we moveforward, “ON WISCONSIN!”

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(including Green Bay, Wisconsin!) But because the filmmakers were so exhausted from their ordeal, there was no promotion of the movie and the project ended.

Then, in 2006, Beer Drinkers in Space writer and director Frank Delle revisited the movie by finding everyone involved in the project and interviewed them for a new documentary. Using these new interviews, as well as photo-graphs, raw footage, behind the scenes footage and clips from the movie, Frank created Keep Drink-ing Men! The Story of Beer Drink-ers in Space.

The hour-long documentary takes an affectionate look back at Beer Drinkers in Space and gives long overdue recognition and awareness for everyone involved in the project. The documentary has lots of laughs, looking back at the filmmakers’ inexperience, but it is also inspirational for anyone con-sidering making their own low-budget movie.

In 2006, Keep Drinking, Men! screened at several film festivals around the country, including the It Came From Lake Michigan Film Festival in Racine, Wisconsin. Frank Delle traveled from Florida to Racine to screen the documentary and the movie and to take ques-tions from the audience. It was during the ICFLM Film Festival that Frank Delle met Jason Paul Collum, another filmmaker in attendance. Jason had his movies distributed by Tempe Video and Frank had al-ready sent Keep Drinking, Men! to Tempe for consideration. Jason called Tempe on behalf of Frank and asked them to look for the Beer Drinkers in Space screener.

A week later, Frank received word from Tempe Video that they watched the screener and wanted

to distribute Beer Drinkers in Space and Keep Drinking, Men! The Story of Beer Drinkers in Space on DVD. Beer Drinkers in Space will be available in July at many online retailers like Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Circuit City, Net Flix and Critic’s Choice.

The success of this project may not have happened if not for the gra-ciousness of the It Came From Lake Michigan Film Festival’s di-rector, Wayne Clingman and the networking of the terrific profes-sionals he had in attendance. Frank and his team refer to Keep Drinking, Men! as “the little docu-mentary that could” and are sur-prised and grateful for its success. More information is available at www.beerdrinkersinspace.com

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GOOOD BLOOOD by Jim Betts, Jr.

For my first article on Special Effects Make-Up for the low budget filmmaker I fig-ured I’d concentrate on the fake blood and the different types you can make for different purposes.

I find in most low budget films people tend to just pour some Karo syrup in a bowl and mix in red food coloring which is a common misconception among effects peo-ple in the industry of Low Budget Filmmaking. The basics are the first steps to sell-ing any effect and blood is the most easily screwed up. Blood can be used to sell an effect as well as hide the fakeness of other effects that either didn’t turn out as well as hoped or just doesn’t look good on camera.Well start with a basic blood recipe:

"Basic Good Tasting Blood"...2 cups of white corn syrup (for thickness and as a base) 1 cup of water (for thining effect)10 table spoons of maize flour (makes the blood less translucent) 10 tea spoons red food coloring (for color) 5 drops blue food coloring (for color)A few drops concentrated mint (for taste)

This recipe can be used in your actor’s mouth or for pretty much any use you can think of. I do suggest the mint if it is to be used in the actors mouth though. Be pre-warned though this does tend to stain skin, clothes and certain materials.

This blood should be used when your actor will be in the same position or when you want it to look like the blood has been there for awhile. This blood will actually change color as it dries from a real red arterial blood to a brownish red as it dries. This is perfect to use if say you have a bullet hit and your going to use the same wardrobe throughout the production as it will look like actual blood drying.

"Drying Clotting Blood"...1-2 handfuls of Nesquick (or other cocoa milk mix)1 cup of water2 cups of White Karo Syrup 30 drops of red food coloring5-6 drops of blue food coloring

The last blood I will go through is what I like to call "Gore" Blood. This is a blood that is used when you want it to stay in a position for a very long time, Such as in a wound or on a laceration. This is perfect also if you are doing a zombie movie and have any sort of gut pulling or gut munching as it really heightens the look of your intestines.

"Gore and Guts Blood"...2/3 cup Oriental Dipping Sauce "Cherry" (oriental section of most grocers) 1/3 cup Water 1/2-1 Teaspoon Red Food Coloring(depending on redness needed)2 or 3 Drops Green or Blue Food Coloring1/3 cup Chocolate Sauce (optional - to darkend the blood)continued on page 12

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23rd Hour....

An infection is spreading rapidly through the midwest in a place called Racine, WI. They have instituted military checkpoints and a curfew to try and contain the infection; however some surround-

ing areas have been reporting signs...

It’s only been 32 hours and we are getting reports of a dis-tress call from Military Checkpoint Delta.... It seems they have deployed a team of five elite mercenaries in an ef-

fort to stop the infection and assist the Delta...

Four hours later the mercenaries have not found Delta, but a group of survivors. In an effort to

survive they stay together in hopes of being ex-tracted from the diseased city before it’s too

late..

The sun rises and the darkness falls. Anew day has begun. Take it by the horns and embrace the challenge.

The challenges you faced yesterdaymay still be there, but it doesn’t have to control you. Smile your

way through the day and things will get better with lit-

tle effort. Do something nice for someone you don’t know and you’ll reap the reward. Tell

those close to you, your proud of

them, and move forward....

Anonymous

Orson Welles was born in Kenosha, Wis-consin, but moved to Chicago as a very young boy. Whenever asked about his birth place, he stated he was born in “the Chicago area.” When pressed for the specific city, he refer to it as a “vast cultural wasteland.” Yet, we in Wisconsin embrace him as one of our own, and his birthplace in Kenosha is designated as a preserved landmark.Welles is a giant of the film industry, and for only a handful of films. Chiefly, this status comes from his very first movie, Citizen Kane, which was released by RKO studios in 1941. A monumental achievement on several levels, this study of a businessman’s rise in the world of journal-ism and his eventual descent into madness was said to be an unflattering portrait of William Randolph Hearst, who had any mention of the film banned from his newspapers. This caused the movie to have limited release, and even more limited box office success. Of course these limitations did not keep it from being hailed over generations as the greatest movie ever made.Of course to claim any film as the best from all eras and nations is dif-ficult as nobody has seen every other movie. Citizen Kane, however, still tops most Best Film lists as almost a given prerequisite. It is likely Welles’ greatest cinematic achievement, with his studying of time and space, his use of deep focus, and his mysteries about the human psyche, all combining in what can easily be considered among the most masterful creations in film history. Welles continued to work, but never matched the achievement of his first effort. The family dynasty epic The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) was butchered by studio editors (and later restored for cultural and historical preservation). Even in its truncated form, it is preferred by some even to Citizen Kane. Great noir classics like The Lady From Shanghai (1946) and Touch of Evil (1958) and his performance in Carol Reed’s masterful The Third Man (1949), are embraced, but never seem to undermine the impact of Citizen Kane, which has maintained its firm and lofty position over generations.

“Orsen Welles by James Niebur

It is oddly interesting that Citizen Kane also allows Welles that status of being among the only film-makers active during Hollywood’s golden age that are still talked about today (the others being John Ford and Alfred Hitchcock), while too casually overlooking equally talented directors even when limit-ing one’s appreciation to American movies.Welles himself became an unfortunate self-parody. While his explorations into Shakespeare on film, his brilliant-but-flawed efforts like The Stranger (1946) and Mr. Arkadin (1951), and his myriad of performances in films of others, from the deep drama of Martin Ritt’s The Long Hot Summer (1958) to the comedy of Bud Yorkin’s Start the Revolution Without Me (1969), all had some interest, his career ended badly. Toward the end of his years, his greatest status was as a talk show ranconteur, his work soon relegated to shilling wine on TV commercials and filling in as guest host on daytime gab fests. This writer vividly recalls Welles guesting for Merv Griffin when comedian Andy Kaufman showed clips of his pro wrestling exhibition. After the clips, a clearly bemused Welles intoned, “that can only be described as an experience.” Orson Welles died in 1985

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Call For Entries

October 26 - 28, 2007Milwaukee, Wisconsin

For Information & Entry Form - www.itcamefromlakemichigan.com

Good Blood by Jim Betts, Jr. (continued from page 10...)

As I said above this is perfect for any of your really gory chest or abdominal wounds as well as the deep cuts and lacerations on an actors face arm etc. As this blood stays in place and does not run like a normal runny and watery blood.

Thats all the room I have for now so remember........The More Blood TheBetter!

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The Rock Agency - Model & Talent Casting6312 Monona Dr

Madison, WI 53716http://therockagency.com

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