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Let's Make a Movie

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Let's Make a Movie
File:Official Film Poster.jpg
Directed byElana Mugdan
Produced byUsher Morgan
StarringHallie York
Johnathan Fernandez
Brian Cheng
Eric James Eastman
CinematographyDave Dodds
Edited byRicky Monroe
Distributed byDigital Magic Entertainment
Release dates
  • December 14, 2010 (2010-12-14) (Hollywood Reel)
  • December 14, 2012 (2012-12-14) (United States)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Let's Make a Movie, originally titled Director's Cut is a 2010 American independent comedy-drama film and the directorial debut of Elana Mugdan. The film was financed by Mugdan in 2010 and was never released to the general public. The film was purchased by Digital Magic Entertainment and was re-released under its new title on December 14, 2012. Let's Make a Movie won Best Comedy at the NYC Downtown Feature Film Festival in 2011,[1] the Indie Spirit Award in the Boston International Film Festival[2] and the Indie Spirit Award at the New Hope Film Festival in 2011.[3]

Plot

Let's Make a Movie is the story of Cassie Thompson (played by York), a college dropout and ex-film student who is tired of being disrespected and downtrodden. In a subconscious effort to turn her life around, she decides to make a movie. The only problem is that she has no money, and her cast and crew are neurotic and inexperienced.[4][5]

Production

Elana Mugdan shot the film under the title, Director's Cut, in Little Neck as well as in several Long Island and Manhattan locales in February 2010. The film was said to be autobiographical and draws upon the films that Mugdan made as a child with a home video camera.[6] Mugdan wrote the screenplay for the film in August 2009 and shot it with a $30,000 budget in winter 2010, wrapping up principal photography by May.[7] The film premiered in December 2010 at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival and was later accepted to other festivals across the nation, winning a total of 4 awards.[8] The official trailer was released on September 15, 2012 [9]

Release

Producer Usher Morgan announced the acquisition of the film in June 2012. Morgan re-cut, renamed and re-released the film. The film had a limited release in New York City on December 14, 2012. It was produced and distributed by Digital Magic Entertainment under its new title, Let's Make a Movie.

Reception

The film received many early reviews and media attention by bloggers, independent filmmakers and websites promoting low budget, independent filmmaking, in addition to local newspapers and magazines.[10][11][12] Movie critic Mark Bell of Film Threat wrote, "Let's Make a Movie captures the innocence of filmmaking at that stage when you've just got to film something, do anything, or else you feel like you're going to be consumed by a life spent doing something you never wanted to do." Despite the positive review, Film Threat gave the film only 2 out of 5 stars.[13] Felix Vasquez Jr. of Cinema Crazed Magazine praised the film, and wrote "and in the end Let's Make a Movie is a charming and entertaining indie film about making indie films", the magazine gave the film 3 out of 3 stars.[14] Catherine Tosko, the editor for Filmmaking Review Magazine wrote "In my opinion, this film should be given out at film school. First time film students should be made to watch it as part of their syllabus", the magazine gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Duo Multicultural Arts Center - FILM". Duotheater.org. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  2. ^ "Queens Tribune". Queens Tribune. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  3. ^ D. F. Whipple (2011-07-18). "New Hope Film Festival: Announcing the 2011 Award Winners". Newhopefilmfest.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  4. ^ "Elana Mugdan - Director's Cut". NewFilmmakers Online. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  5. ^ ""Director's Cut" Review". The Independent Critic. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  6. ^ Duke, Nathan (2011-01-18). "Director Makes Douglaston, Little Neck Her Movie Set - Bayside, NY Patch". Douglaston.patch.com. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  7. ^ "On Set Director's Cut". Fempirefandom.com. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  8. ^ "HRIFF". Hollywoodreelindependentfilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  9. ^ http://lets-make-a-movie.com/
  10. ^ Duke, Nathan (2011-03-02). "Filmmaker Celebrates Second Debut in Two Months - Bayside, NY Patch". Douglaston.patch.com. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  11. ^ "Talk with Eleana Mugdan". Fempirefandom.com. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  12. ^ Duke, Nathan (2011-09-22). "Little Neck Filmmaker Brings Her Work Home - Bayside, NY Patch". Douglaston.patch.com. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  13. ^ http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/60829/
  14. ^ http://www.cinema-crazed.com/h-q/letsmakeamovie.htm
  15. ^ http://www.filmmakingreview.com/lets-make-a-movie/
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