Tuesday The Playlist shared a first look at The Sand Storm, a short film directed by filmmaker Jason Wishnow and developed through Kickstarter that gained a lot of attention, and controversy, thanks to the involvement of famed Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.
As is his nature, Ai attracts controversy wherever he goes, but Wishnow’s film was notable because he agreed to a small role in Wishnow’s short, one that was made on the fly in China, without the consent of the Chinese government and specifically because Ai is under Chinese surveillance. In promoting his project, Wishnow touted that Ai starred in the film, and as a result he quickly earned over $100,000 of his just $33,000 Kickstarter goal back in June.
But The Washington Post later reported that the project’s Kickstarter page was frozen due to Ai publicly underselling his role in the film and objecting to the film on...
As is his nature, Ai attracts controversy wherever he goes, but Wishnow’s film was notable because he agreed to a small role in Wishnow’s short, one that was made on the fly in China, without the consent of the Chinese government and specifically because Ai is under Chinese surveillance. In promoting his project, Wishnow touted that Ai starred in the film, and as a result he quickly earned over $100,000 of his just $33,000 Kickstarter goal back in June.
But The Washington Post later reported that the project’s Kickstarter page was frozen due to Ai publicly underselling his role in the film and objecting to the film on...
- 9/10/2014
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is no stranger to controversy, especially in his homeland, where his outspoken views on human rights repeatedly land him in hot water with the government. This time, however, the controversy is of a different nature. Weiwei publicly accused the makers of a dystopian short film called “The Sand Storm” of stealing his name and image to promote their movie. To be fair, Weiwei has a low-key role in the film, but the filmmakers, looking for finishing funds on Kickstarter, plastered his face all over the page, along with some copyrighted pictures Weiwei didn’t give them permission to use, in order to make it look like he was the star of the project, and to use his fame to secure additional money. Since then, director Jason Wishnow has removed those images from the Kickstarter page and written a public apology letter. Perhaps the real reason Weiwei...
- 9/9/2014
- by Oktay Ege Kozak
- The Playlist
This morning's must watch short film comes from China, but also comes straight from the Telluride Film Festival. It's called The Sand Storm from filmmaker Jason Wishnow, who returns to narrative filmmaking after working on the TEDTalks web series. The short film just premiered at Telluride and is about a water smuggler, played by Ai Weiwei, in future where water is limited. It's not too long to watch and provides some insight on the struggles of our modern world, with some intuitive commentary. It's not my favorite short but I do recommend watching it if you're looking for something thought-provoking. Fire it up below. From the Vimeo description of the short: "Communications lines dissolve and a water smuggler navigates a tumultuous, dystopian city on the brink of calamity in this lyrical 'low-fi sci-fi' short, the implied set-up to an even bigger story." The Sand Storm is directed by Jason Wishnow,...
- 9/8/2014
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Earlier this year director Jason Wishnow launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund his latest short film. Mostly shot on location in China and starring world renowned artist Ai Weiwei, The Sand Storm premiered at Telluride over the weekend and is now available online.
I'm still not exactly sure how this all came together. Wishnow was shooting in China without permits, making a movie starring Weiwei who has famously been under Chinese surveillance for years for his work speaking out against the government. However he's done it, Wishnow pulled it off and the nine minute short is an interesting watch, a relationship drama which unfolds in the wake of a sand [Continued ...]...
I'm still not exactly sure how this all came together. Wishnow was shooting in China without permits, making a movie starring Weiwei who has famously been under Chinese surveillance for years for his work speaking out against the government. However he's done it, Wishnow pulled it off and the nine minute short is an interesting watch, a relationship drama which unfolds in the wake of a sand [Continued ...]...
- 9/2/2014
- QuietEarth.us
The 9-minute short was shot in secret in Beijing and had its Kickstarter campaign temporarily shut down by star Ai Wei Wei, China’s most prominent artist and dissident, after producer/writer/director/editor Jason Wishnow overstepped in his marketing of the project. The film, about four people in China dealing with a water shortage in the near future, premieres today at the Telluride Film Festival and on Fandor, the subscription film website.
Wishnow, a pioneer in quick-and-dirty video who has been director of film and video for tech conference Ted, created the short during a particularly daunting period last year in Beijing, which has some of the world’s worst air pollution. But after filming was done, Wishnow launched a Kickstarter campaign to finish the project, focusing on Ai’s role in his marketing. The resulting media notoriety outraged Ai, who had not been aware of the fundraising campaign,...
Wishnow, a pioneer in quick-and-dirty video who has been director of film and video for tech conference Ted, created the short during a particularly daunting period last year in Beijing, which has some of the world’s worst air pollution. But after filming was done, Wishnow launched a Kickstarter campaign to finish the project, focusing on Ai’s role in his marketing. The resulting media notoriety outraged Ai, who had not been aware of the fundraising campaign,...
- 8/31/2014
- by David Bloom
- Deadline
Exclusive: Indie film subcription service Fandor has acquired sci-fi short film The Sand Storm ahead of its Telluride debut this weekend, and has set a day and date release coinciding with its world premiere this Sunday, August 31. The narrative short is directed by Jason Wishnow, the filmmaker behind the viral idea-fostering Ted Talks. It co-stars Chinese art star Ai Weiwei (Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry) in the dystopian tale of a city facing a water crisis in the near future, told from the perspectives of a woman, a man, a lover and a water smuggler. Wishnow co-wrote the script with Li-Anne Huang.
Fandor is the indie subscription VOD service that independent producer Ted Hope took the reins of in January. The company will make The Sand Storm available online on Fandor.com simultaneous to its world premiere at Telluride this Sunday at 4pm Mt. Earlier this summer the filmmakers launched a...
Fandor is the indie subscription VOD service that independent producer Ted Hope took the reins of in January. The company will make The Sand Storm available online on Fandor.com simultaneous to its world premiere at Telluride this Sunday at 4pm Mt. Earlier this summer the filmmakers launched a...
- 8/29/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
Feature Ryan Lambie 11 Apr 2014 - 06:26
This week's Crowdfunding Friday includes a sci-fi film secretly shot in Beijing and starring dissident artist Al Weiwei...
At the time of writing, there are just six days to go before Julian Gollop's Kickstarter campaign for Chaos Reborn comes to a close. In case you missed it, we covered the game in more detail a few weeks ago; based on the 80s Zx Spectrum game Chaos, it's both a revival and comprehensive expansion on that tactical fantasy classic.
We've had a chance to play with the prototype multiplayer bit of Chaos Reborn, and while it's still being polished, it's every bit the engrossing battle of wits an necromancy we were hoping. Each bout is short, sharp and tense, with the screen quickly filling up with goo, fire and fantastical monsters as each wizard casts their spells - Chaos was and is an appropriate...
This week's Crowdfunding Friday includes a sci-fi film secretly shot in Beijing and starring dissident artist Al Weiwei...
At the time of writing, there are just six days to go before Julian Gollop's Kickstarter campaign for Chaos Reborn comes to a close. In case you missed it, we covered the game in more detail a few weeks ago; based on the 80s Zx Spectrum game Chaos, it's both a revival and comprehensive expansion on that tactical fantasy classic.
We've had a chance to play with the prototype multiplayer bit of Chaos Reborn, and while it's still being polished, it's every bit the engrossing battle of wits an necromancy we were hoping. Each bout is short, sharp and tense, with the screen quickly filling up with goo, fire and fantastical monsters as each wizard casts their spells - Chaos was and is an appropriate...
- 4/10/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has been called everything from the most dangerous man in China to one of the most powerful artists working today and though he's been under heavy surveillance by the Chinese government for years, he's continued to create and his latest project, a dystopian sci-fi short, is of particular interest to us lovers of the post-apocalypse.
Written and directed by Jason Wishnow, the man behind the "Ted Talks," and featuring the talents of cinematographer Christopher Doyle (the genius cinematographer responsible for a number of Wong Kar-wai and Gus Van Sant films), The Sand Storm stars Weiwei as a smuggler working in a world without water.
There aren't many more details on the project other than to note that the short will be 10 minutes long and that they're h [Continued ...]...
Written and directed by Jason Wishnow, the man behind the "Ted Talks," and featuring the talents of cinematographer Christopher Doyle (the genius cinematographer responsible for a number of Wong Kar-wai and Gus Van Sant films), The Sand Storm stars Weiwei as a smuggler working in a world without water.
There aren't many more details on the project other than to note that the short will be 10 minutes long and that they're h [Continued ...]...
- 4/2/2014
- QuietEarth.us
Having been called “The Most Powerful Artist in the World” and “China’s Most Dangerous Man,” Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei has made much of an impact in the world of art, and some of his most notable pieces have been in the art of cinema. Now he teams up with writer/director Jason Wishnow (the filmmaker behind "Ted Talks") and Christopher Doyle (Dp of "In the Mood for Love," "Chungking Express," "Hero") to star in the upcoming low-fi sci-fi film entitled "The Sand Storm." Having already wrapped principal photography, the film is currently trying to raise $33,000 on Kickstarter for the post-production phase. Though the film score has been composed, "The Sand Storm," which depicts a dim and gritty not-too-distant dystopian future in which there is no water, still needs money for sound design, color correction and of course visual effects. The film, which is only 10 minutes long, was made...
- 4/2/2014
- by Ziyad Saadi
- Indiewire
Yesterday I posted a Preview of some of our most anticipated films at this year.s Tribeca Film Festival. Since there are a lot of other things going on besides movie screenings, I thought I.d share with you some of the coolest events also taking place as part of Tff. Unfortunately I will be unable to attend nearly all of these events but hopefully some of you will be able to check them out!
100 Years of Universal
In celebration of 100 years of Universal Pictures, join us for a conversation with iconic actors and directors Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep and Judd Apatow as they share their favorite moments and memories from Universal.s extraordinary history. Moderated by Film Editor for Deadline Hollywood Mike Fleming.
****This event will be streamed for Free at TribecaFilm.com today at 3 Pm! ***
Meet The Filmmakers At Apple
The SoHo and 14 St. Apple stores will...
100 Years of Universal
In celebration of 100 years of Universal Pictures, join us for a conversation with iconic actors and directors Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep and Judd Apatow as they share their favorite moments and memories from Universal.s extraordinary history. Moderated by Film Editor for Deadline Hollywood Mike Fleming.
****This event will be streamed for Free at TribecaFilm.com today at 3 Pm! ***
Meet The Filmmakers At Apple
The SoHo and 14 St. Apple stores will...
- 4/19/2012
- by Jerry Cavallaro
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Babelgum Online Film Festival names Van Poynton's 'Where the Monsters Go' as Best Narrative Short, production wraps on the set of Eilish Mernagh's 'The Prodigal Son' and Red Jam Productions' 'Mr Foley' wins Best Sound Scape at the Euopean Centre for the Arts. The Babelgum Online Film Festival's Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short has been awarded to 'Where the Monsters Go', from Irish director Van Poynton (Rough Patch). The renowned international jury of Carlos Battilana, Jean-Pierre Bekolo Obama, Richard Linklater, Sally Potter, Annie Sundberg, Rick Watson and Jason Wishnow judged the shortlisted films and the winning shorts will screen as part of a ceremony during the Tribeca Film Festival in New York on Wednesday 28th April.
- 4/27/2010
- IFTN
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