Blog-o-STIFF

Symphony of the Superhero Tears the Roof off Benaroya Hall

Last Night I had the extreme pleasure of attending Mateo Messina’s benefit event for Children’s Hospital at Benaroya Hall.  A couple members of the Symphony Guild are also STIFF volunteers and one of our friends is a childhood friend of Matt’s, so we have actually gone for the last few years.  Many symphonies can be a bit on the boring, but these events never are.  Aside from the fact that Matt’s music is incredibly cinematic, he always includes unusual guests and I really look forward to these shows. 

 

 
This year’s was called Symphony of the Superhero and featured some incredible talent.  Seeing Cut Chemist standing in front of an orchestra and choir with a couple turntables and mixing in their sounds along with Lili Haydn’s violin and the music of The Malandros, in front of a large video screen was one of the coolest things I have ever seen (the phone pic really can’t even come close to doing it justice).  I have never wanted to stand on my seat and dance at Benaroya hall before.  The after party at the W Hotel was also pretty fun as Blake Lewis stopped by to jam with Cut Chemist.

 

I’m sure that the video from last night’s show is going to take a few months to cut together and get online, so in the meantime, check out this clip from a couple years ago featuring Alice in Chains performing Kashmir.  When you see the ads for this thing next year, make sure to buy a ticket.  Not only will you see something that will blow your mind, you are helping out an incredibly worthy cause

 

Couch Film Fest - Saturday November 7th

This Saturday, one of the strangest and most inventive film festivals I have ever heard of kicks off in Seattle. The Couch Film Fest isn't held in theaters.  It is held, as its name implies, in the living rooms of hospitable strangers all around Seattle.  For a total of ten bucks (all inclusive, not per-screening), you can walk from one home to another, plop yourself on their couch and bring your own snacks (bonus points if you can blame a fart on a nearby dog). 

Many of the films sound interesting, but the most intriguing program is titled "INAPPROPRIATELY AWESOME" (which will be screened at 5504 Brooklyn Ave)  >
5504 Brooklyn Ave., Seattle.

Catch The GRADUATES at Central Cinema!

IndieFlix presents
The GRADUATES (Winner of the STIFF 2009 Best Comedy Feature)

November 2, 3, 4, 5 at 7:00, 9:30(21+) at Central Cinema

Filmmaker discussion panel Tuesday Nov 3 at 5:30 will also feature STIFF Filmmaker Meredith Binder. 

Four friends graduate high school and head to Beach Week to party and get laid, hoping their one last hurrah will be everything they've been told it has to be. Through a mind-altering slew of parties and mornings after, each character tries to figure out their lives and relationships, but realizes they have a lot more learning to do. Check it out while you can!

Early Deadline - November 1st, 2009

 
The Early Deadline for STIFF 2010 is happening on November 1st, so be sure to submit now and save some hard earned money!

STIFF Nights October - A Necessary Death

STIFF Nights October

A Necessary Death       7PM @ Central Cinema $10 or FREE with STIFF 2009 Badge   Director: Daniel Stamm A Necessary Death is a gripping docu-drama, taking viewers along on the downward spiral with a suicidal individal who responded to the infamous interenet ad.  Edited from 142 video tapes chronicling the tragedy from first preparation to final act.   This crew of young film makers set out to break new ground in documentary subject matter, at the risk of unearthing the unknown. In this new dawn of sensational media, can they paint a truly honest portrait of this secret side to human nature, and should they?   A controversial STIFF Night you don't want to miss.  WATCH THE TRAILER    VIEW SHOWTIMES AT CENTRAL CINEMA

SUBMISSIONS FOR STIFF 2010 ARE NOW OPEN!

 

SUBMISSIONS FOR STIFF 2010 ARE NOW OPEN!

 

 

FILMMAKERS...

 

Submit your indie brainchild for the 6th annual Seattle's TRUE Independent Film Festival.  Save some money by submitting early! 

 

November 1st: Early Deadline

December 1st: Regular Deadline

January 1st: Late Deadline

February 1st: Last Chance Extendend Late Deadline 

 

 

Click to Submit

STIFF Congratulates Stranger Film Genius, Zia Mohajerjasbi!

Every year the Stranger gives $5,000 and a ton of attention to a handful of local artists.  This year's film genius is the extremely talented Zia Mohajerjasbi.  Zia screened his film, Manoj at STIFF 2008 and we have all been big fans of his many videos posted online - a favorite.

THE HUG SONG from Zia Mohajerjasbi on Vimeo.

MacGuffin Film Podcast - For Christ's Sake

iTunes quick links:

• MacGuffin Film Podcast Large Video (for iPhone/iPod Touch)
• MacGuffin Film Podcast Small Video (for all other video iPods)
• MacGuffin Film Podcast MP3 Version

STIFF Nights July - Your Beautiful Cul de Sac Home

 

 

7PM @ Central Cinema

$10 or FREE with STIFF 2009 Badge

 

 

Director: 

 Cameron Kirkwood

Ben McCleary is a former lawyer who starts a 'green' lawn care service in the name of doing something good, or at least as little bad as possible.

 

Trevor Brinkman is a loner whose vigil over his ailing mother seems driven by conscience, but may have a darker aspect.

 

In school they were friends, but now only one thing connects them: a subversive environmental polemic they coauthored, entitled 'The Suburban Lawn Dynamic.'

 

As the long-lost document once again becomes a focus in their lives, their paths unfold in counterpoint, revealing the self-deception and denial of suburban life in insightful and often hilarious ways. 

WATCH THE TRAILER

GET TICKETS NOW

David Carradine's Midget Sex Scene and Michael Jackson

I was at the Central Cinema watching Break tonight and I had the pleasure of seeing one of the last scenes that David Carradine ever recorded, in which he plays a weird sort of criminal type whose home is overrun with a bunch of sex slaves.  One of the sex slaves is a little person led around by Carradine on a leash.  Something about seeing David Carradine tighten that leash around his hand was quite surreal considering that the guy's death a couple weeks ago was dripping in sexual intrigue.  Having Carradine order our hero to nail The Luscious Brunette played by 2007 Penthouse Pet of the Year, Jamie Lynn was a nice way to top the scene off though.  (Break comes out on DVD July 14th - Load your Netflix queues)

But even with all that  weirdness to chew on, the only thing I can think about is this set of photo's of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch Auction taken by The Stranger's Lindy West.