It's been creeping up on me -- 'The Expendables 3' is not only the best in the series, it's going to be just plain good. Every camera set up, everything the actors do that could have been tailored by a director -- it's all solid, and the reason is Patrick Hughes.

The guy has everything under control, knows what he wants, and you can see it in every frame. That I didn't realize this before is probably due to denial. How can a movie like this be good, right? How can it be more than utilitarian action? Alas, there's so much crap out there, we get programmed. However, crappy and utilitarian this is not. 'The Expendables 3' is going to work.

Here's the new trailer/featurette, and below that is a short film by Hughes from a few years ago, 'Signs'. It has some issues, but fewer than a lot of feature films.

Hughes has the remake of 'The Raid' up next.

If you've never seen 'Urban Isolation' by Russell Houghten, you should check it out.


Urban Isolation from Russell Houghten on Vimeo.

Here's a short film by James Franco with Michael Shannon called 'Herbert White'.

You can read Franco's comments on the film, which he made while studying at NYU.

Just so you know, it's graphic.

Have you seen Bruce Springsteen's (with Thom Zimny) short film 'Hunter of Invisible Game'?

Shark Encounter Video Puts Found-Footage Horror Movies To Shame

Plays like a found footage horror/thriller except, well, it's better. This is truly compelling.

The screen capture on the video shows the shark's pectoral fins pointed down -- a classic sign it is considering attacking. As much as sharks 'consider' anything.

By the way, love the tagline. Appropriate.

When Dogs Fly

I don't usually think much of these short adventure films. They've gotten a bit old. But, this one is fun, has heart, and is kinda scary.

Mixing Drinks...Very Slowly

Latest short film from Philip Bloom.

How many of these visuals are sexual metaphors? Might be easier to count the ones that aren't.

Short Film Of The Day: People Kissing For The First Time

'First Kiss' From Vimeo filmmaker Tatia Pilieva. This has gotten over a million views in two days.


FIRST KISS from Tatia Pilieva on Vimeo.

Lumix GH4 Sample Footage

Available in April, the camera will sell for $2000 and records 4k internally. You can buy an interface and external recorder that will allow for 4k capture at a higher bitrate and color depth. These add-ons will cost thousands, but the option is there and the results will be acceptable for an indie film.

Till now, cameras that could capture 4k video cost at least $10k, and you needed an external recorder to handle the data stream. The only exception was the Canon 1D C which shoots 4k internally and costs $12k.

Here's a short film shot on the new Panasonic Lumix GH4 in 4k. 

Moon Transit Saturn

Also called an occultation. Shot in Perth at sunrise by Colin Legg. Check his Vimeo page for tech specs.

'Oculus' Short Film Becomes 'Oculus' Feature Film

A few years back Mike Flanagan made a short horror film called 'Oculus: The Man With The Plan'. It got some great reviews, snippets of which are in the trailer below.

Based on that short 'Oculus' was developed into a feature film. The trailer for that just came out.



What I really like is the premise: A mirror is haunted by a malevolent force. Everywhere the mirror goes, every family that owns it, evil follows and strikes the owners. Here's the complete synopsis:

Ten years ago, tragedy struck the Russell family, leaving the lives of teenage siblings Tim and Kaylie forever changed when Tim was convicted of the brutal murder of their parents. Now in his 20s, Tim is newly released from protective custody and only wants to move on with his life; but Kaylie, still haunted by that fateful night, is convinced her parents' deaths were caused by something else altogether: a malevolent supernatural forceSHYSHY unleashed through the Lasser Glass, an antique mirror in their childhood home. Determined to prove Tim's innocence, Kaylie tracks down the mirror, only to learn similar deaths have befallen previous owners over the past century. With the mysterious entity now back in their hands, Tim and Kaylie soon find their hold on reality shattered by terrifying hallucinations, and realize, too late, that their childhood nightmare is beginning again...