What’s up, good people. Before we get into the movie and short film news of the week, ITSASHORT.COM would like to acknowledge the passing of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
Ali towered over his sport, but his influence was so vast that he impacted politics and entertainment.
Ali’s presence was most readily felt in film. The most famous of which is his biopic, Ali (2001), which featured Will Smith in the titular role.
Ali was also the subject of several highly-regarded documentaries. The sensational When We Were Kings (1997), which chronicled Ali’s 1974 championship bout against George Foreman, won the Academy Award for best documentary.
In the realm of short film, Ali’s impact was also felt. There was a short made about him in 2012 called “ALI SPEAKS.”
It is also believed that Ali was the inspiration behind a well-known character from the Rocky movies: Apollo Creed. In fact, Ali even said as much when he watched Rocky II with noted film critic Roger Ebert back in 1979.
At any rate, Ali’s colossal contributions won’t soon be forgotten. The abundance of films about him ensures that his legacy will continue in perpetuity.
Sequels: Who Needs ‘Em
A Variety report recently decried what many insiders have suspected for years: Hollywood has a sequel problem.
This argument was (again) brought up in light of the dismal reviews for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, the sequel to the 2014 reboot.
However, movie sequels are important. Sequels are an effective vehicle for telling critical stories, and they can generate substantial revenue. They can also extend a franchise’s brand globally while exporting U.S. culture.
For short filmmakers, sequels can be an effective storytelling device as well. What do you guys think?!
GIFF: A Powerfully Important Film Festival
The GI Film Festival (GIFF) is a unique film showcase that celebrates the film contributions of military service members.
About 68 short film, features and documentary films were screened at the nine-day festival, which commenced May 21-29. In fact, a few shorts made some powerful impressions, according to Examiner.com.
The short films explored the trauma experienced by a returning Marine (“Almost Home”), a paralyzed veteran fighting to live a fruitful life (“First Person Shooter”) and two retired Marines recalling their time at Iwo Jima (“Return to Iwo Jima”), among many others.
You can check out a report on these and other shorts at this link.
The importance of the GI Film Festival is perhaps exemplified in a quote once uttered by actor William Shatner:
“The basic quality that any great story must have is a story that illustrates the human condition.”
GIFF has that in spades.
For more information on GIFF, please visit this site.
Love Short Film?
Itsashort.com is a platform for filmmakers and creators the world over. We love the short film genre. Plus, we at itsashort.com want to introduce audiences to award-winning and award-nominated artists who create movies, web series and videos. Check out itsashort.com and subscribe for $2 a month to see the wonderful work of these creatives.
