To Live and Write in LA

Searching for Eddie Running Wolf, a feature length documentary by director Thomas Hartmann, defies easy classification.

Eight little girls at a birthday party on their neighbor’s farm; what could be more innocent than that?

At the Anthem Film Festival, part of the libertarian FreedomFest conference July 8-11, 2015, at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, I was discussing films with a young woman who commented, “I like documentaries, but so many of them are so depressing. I want to see positive stories.” She was in the …

Producer Ted Balaker said, “There has always been outrage, but now with technology, we can supercharge outrage.”

Ancient Greek philosopher Plato put in a couple of appearances at the Anthem Film Festival in Las Vegas, July 8-11. Two of the short films showed influence, if not direct inspiration, by Plato's tale of the cave, written 2,500 years ago. The films, 'The Cage' and 'Helio' both deserve praise for supporting the human quest for freedom and individualism. Cinematically, 'Helio' was a winner and 'The Cage' was not.

Chatting with Jo Ann Skousen, founder of the Anthem Film Festival, a venue for filmmakers who care about individuality and libertarian ideals.

Women are typically the victims in action and horror films, but two films at the Los Angeles Film Festival flipped these genre clichés on their heads.

The LA Film Festival chose to make 'Seoul Searching' one of its Gala Presentations. After the red carpet arrivals, the film was introduced by its director-screenwriter Benson Lee, and had its LA debut in Regal Cinemas’ Premier House. The entire event and the film itself gave that evening at the festival an old-time Hollywood feel. 'Seoul Searching' takes viewers on a nostalgia trip. Its theme, its style and its presentation are all retro in a good way. Prior to the screening, the audience did a stadium-style wave for the director. That’s getting into the 80s!

Morgan Spurlock made a name for himself eating burgers. His film 'Supersize Me' was an indictment of the fast food industry. Now he's moved on to ice cream, and Häagen-Dazs in particular, but, not to convince you not to eat it. Spurlock's new film 'Crafted' debuted at the Los Angeles Film Fest, June 10-18. 'Crafted' aims to take us into the mindset of modern craftsmen who choose quality and personal involvement over mass production.

Two films at the Los Angeles Film Festival, June 10-18, explored the Dude weltanschauung to bring us all closer to a profound understanding of the essence of dudeness. (Dude, that was heavy.) 'Flock of Dudes' looks at what happens when you put off becoming your father for too long. 'Dude Bro Party Massacre III' suggests that maybe dudeness could be a topic for satire.