The audience reacts with a yawn, a stretch, and a nap. And this is good?

A rarity amongst films: WebcamMurder.com deliberately aims to put you to sleep

WebcamMurder.com, a 2006 independent film written and directed by Sondra Lowell, is a comedy that was conceived with a noble purpose: to "get our rushed, compulsive, stressed-out 21st century culture to slow down a bit and experience the rest and cellular renewal that only sleeping through a movie can bring."

"As for the theme and message of my own first feature, it's to encourage fans and other viewers to get more sleep. By sleeping through my movie," said Ms. Lowell.

The film makes no pretense about its primary purpose: "That's why we don't want to stress you out with a lot of action. Or a plot. Or character arcs or any of that other stuff you learned in film school. That's our mission. To not disturb your sleep. "

To compliment her film, Ms. Lowell has written an e-book, How to Make a Movie That Puts the Audience to Sleep: A Home Study Course, and also writes a blog about WebcamMurder.com.

It's rare for a filmmaker to acknowledge that film lovers want to watch so many movies, but we live our lives with little down-time to actually enjoy a film, or with little down-time, period. Some of my favorite movies are directed with a soothing pace; not every film should be like Cloverfield. As it is, sometimes the only way I get to watch many of the movies I rent through Netflix is to watch them in parts. I'll watch them late at night, after a hurried day, until I feel drowsy. If I decide to watch a movie in parts, it will usually take two, sometimes three, sittings to watch it through completion. I think Ms. Lowell is on to something. Without having to go to the degree Ms. Lowell has embraced, maybe filmmakers should consider making films in two or three acts, with deliberate intermissions -- precise points where we can safely pause a movie if we only have 45 to 60 minutes at a time to watch a movie.

The redeeming social commentary in WebcamMurder.com about our conflicting work-life balance issues applies to us all. We have to find more serenity in our hectic lives.

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Clay Cane: NAACP Nominates 'Dirty Laundry' for Image Award

The writer Clay Cane wrote a blog entry today, celebrating the nomination of the independent film Dirty Laundry for an NAACP Image Award. Written and directed by Maurice Jamal, Dirty Laundry screened during an abbreviated run at a New York cinema before it was abruptly closed in a controversial decision by theatre management. Following its premature closing, Keith Boykin wrote a blog post that celebrated what was positive about Dirty Laundry. As the community deals with the aftermath of the stunted success of Mr. Jamal's film, it is reassuring that the NAACP acknowledges the contribution made by Dirty Laundry.

Here is a listing of the 2008 NAACP nominees for the best independent/foreign film category:

Outstanding Independent or Foreign Film

• “A Mighty Heart” (Paramount Vantage)

• “Dirty Laundry” (Codeblack Entertainment)

• “Honeydripper” (Emerging Pictures)

• “My Brother” (Codeblack Entertainment)

• “Persepolis” (Sony Pictures Classics)

"The NAACP Image Awards honors projects and individuals that promote diversity in the arts in television, recording, literature and motion pictures." The NAACP has published a press release listing the complete Image Award Nominees. The 39th NAACP Image Awards will be broadcast tape-delayed on Thursday, February 14 (8:00 – 10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

For more information about Dirty Laundry, please read the movie review published by The New York Times and the nomination announcement by GLAAD.

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Clearview Cinemas brings back disasterous (and campy) movie experiences with 'Chelsea Classics'

While Hollywood continues its obsession with New York disaster films (I am Legend and Cloverfield), each Thursday during the month of January 2008, Manhattan theater-goers can pay $6.50 admission to a watch a handful of classic disaster films that, if nothing else, difuse the pain and agony.

On Thursday nights, Clearview Cinemas in Chelsea hosts a unique movie experience it calls Chelsea Classics. The movie theater typically screens a classic Hollywood film; usually, the featured film has a theme that appeals to the gay sensibility of the demographic of theater-goers of that Manhattan neighborhood. For example, a popular film in the Chelsea Classics program is Mommie Dearest, like that.

Before each film is screened, there is a pre-show that you can trust to be hilarious, but I feel the need to share a bit of caution: the campy live show by the personality Hedda Lettuce is inteded for Mature Audiences.

January 2008 Schedule for Chelsea Classics

The Poseidon Adventure (1972). Playing Thursday, January 3rd at 7:00pm & 9:30pm. The cruise ship Poseidon is on its last voyage.

The Towering Inferno (1974). Playing Thursday, January 10th at 7:00pm & 9:30pm. The world's tallest building catches on fire.

Burnt Offerings (1976). Playing Thursday, January 17th at 7:00pm & 9:30pm. A vacationing family rents a sprawling mansion for the summer.

Airport 1975 (1974). Playing Thursday, January 24th at 7:00pm & 9:30pm. In desperation, the head stewardess portrayed by Karen Black takes the controls of a troubled flight.

In This Our Life (1942). Playing Thursday, January 31st at 7:00pm & 9:30pm. A pairing of Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland in a drama approximately 24 years before their reunion for Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte.

For more information, visit the official website for Chelsea Classics.

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