Frozen River Film Fest to Screen Mad City Chickens!

On January 28, 2012, Mad City Chickens will play at the Frozen River Film Festival in Winona, Minnesota. Two screenings: 10:00 am, 120 Science Laboratory Center, Winona State University and again at 6:00 p.m. in Miller Auditorium.

Canon C300 Professional Video Camera

The next step beyond the DSLR video camera, the Canon C300 will be shipping soon. From the Canon website:

More than just a camera, the C300* and C300 PL* cameras mark the beginning of a whole new system for the motion picture industry. Form factor, ergonomics, image processing and lenses - re-imagined to tailor the experience of shooting to the needs of professional cinematography crews.

EF- and PL-Mount Versions - $15,999 (USD).

Images copyright Canon.

End Piracy, Not Liberty

Say no to SOPA/PIPA!

Take action to save the web from censorship: https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

How the misguided SOPA/PIPA can affect you: http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/how-sopa-pipa-can-affect-you/

MCC Heading Back to Canada!

Mad City Chickens will be screening on January 19th in Windsor, Ontario. The pubic showing is being presented by Windsor Essex Community Supported Agriculture and is a fundraiser for Ford City Community Garden. Film starts at 7:30 pm at the historic Capitol Theatre, 121 University Ave W. in Windsor.

The Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello

Love the look of this short! Two of our absolute favorite styles--silhouette animation and steampunk--are beautifully woven together in this independent film by director Anthony Lucas. The Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello (2005) was nominated for an Oscar and for a BAFTA award. The piece was inspired by the work of authors Edgar Alan Poe and Jules Verne.

Video posted by monsterdistributes

Shorts vs. Feature Films

We've been focusing our attention lately on the production of short films. Of course, the potential for financial payback is in features.

 Modern Times (1936) Charlie Chaplin Feature

Yet, here's a list of benefits, as we see it, to the making of shorts films over features (for now):

• Less time-consuming; easier to complete
• Less costly; easier on the pocketbook
• Opportunity to test ideas; see what works and what doesn't
• Make connections with actors and crew; see who works well and who doesn't
• Continue to build a portfolio/demo reel; easier to sell ourselves when the feature project comes along
• A chance to practice, practice, practice; sharpen our skill set

 The Rink (1916) Charlie Chaplin Short

And short films are just fun to watch. Hard to beat a good Chaplin.

Lotte Reiniger's Jack and the Beanstalk

A silhouette animation film by the master, Lotte Reiniger.

Jack and the Beanstalk (1955)...

Video posted by baroughter

2012 BABY!

It's a new year! New challenges. New opportunities. It also means new film projects! Can't wait to clear the decks and get started!!!

Tarazod Increased Production in 2011

When 2011 began, it'd been two years since we'd made a movie. We'd certainly worked on other projects, a couple of films with the Wisconsin Film School and numerous commercial endeavors for WYOU Community Television and others. And then there was the continued promotion of our Mad City Chickens documentary. Yet Tarazod itself hadn't produced anything since Chickens. The truth is, we just needed a break. The film, particularly the post-production, took a toll on us. It was a long intense process that lasted right up to and even past the imprinting of the first 1000 DVDs in the spring of 2009.

By the start of 2011, however, our creative wheels were beginning to turn again, and several story ideas were in development. Before production could begin, though, a badly needed upgrade to our equipment was in order. As we looked to raise funds for a new camera and computer, the ideas continued to flow. One of the goals we set for ourselves was to attempt projects that would stretch us beyond what we already knew in regards to filmmaking.

The first project we shot was back in late February and early March. We traveled to Orlando to interview a family that had moved there from Seattle for the express purpose of using Walt Disney World as a way of helping their autistic boy open up. The raw footage for this documentary had been sitting most of the year on hard drives, waiting for the upgrade to our editing station. Post-production has now begun and we hope to complete this short film early in the new year.

The second and most ambitious project of 2011 was Strindberg's Assistant. A narrative set both in 1910 Stockholm and modern day America, it would challenge us on many levels, not the least of which was locating sets and costumes for the period scenes. Hard work, but what fun it was! Post-production is underway for this as well.

The third film, a Tarazod collaboration with Exchange Productions, was a narrative short titled The Requiem Rider. The project edit was completed not long ago, and we are looking to promote it online.

Plenty more ideas are flowing, some in the outline stage, others not yet down on paper. But we're indeed excited about our production prospects for 2012.

Happy Holidays from Tarazod Films

Tashai and Robert