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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Evan Ross attended the 5th Annual New York AIDS Festival Gala

The actor Evan Ross attended the World AIDS Day gala event of the New York AIDS Film Festival on December 1, 2007. Ross garnered critical attention for his supporting role in the HBO film, Life Support, which was a featured film during the New York AIDS Film Festival. At the gala event, Ross was joined by other members of the industry, such as the producer Suzanne Engo, who is also the founder of the New York AIDS Film Festival; the filmmaker Wolfgang Busch; BET executive Sonya Lockett, who was among the evening's honorees; and others.

Life Support, starring Queen Latifah, is based on the real life story of Andrea Williams, an HIV-positive woman. According to Wikipedia, the film premiered January 26, 2007, at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and premiered on HBO on March 10, 2007. The film featured Evan Ross in a supporting role. Life Support was nominated for 2 Emmys: Queen Latifah was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, while the film was nominated for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or Special.

Filmmakers Michael Eldridge, Enrique Menendez, and Wolfgang Busch discussed HIV/AIDS issues at New York University

In connection with the Fifth Annual New York AIDS Film Festival, excerpted screenings of three documentaries were presented free to the public at NYU's King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center on December 1, 2007. The first such screening was of director Michael Eldridge's film, GMHC at 25, a short documentary that takes the viewer through the harrowing first years of the AIDS/HIV crisis. The film takes the viewer from the beginning of GMHC to the agency's present -- and how we need to keep fighting AIDS/HIV today. Mr. Eldridge's story is told exclusively through first-person interviews of the men and women who have fought this pandemic for the last 25 years. Their voices weave both a hopeful and haunting look at this crisis.

The second documentary to be presented was an excerpt of Enrique Menendez's film, AboutFace. This first-person film introduces the filmmaker in his professional theatrical roles as a GI from the Vietnam War, sailor from WWII, and a student during the French revolution. We learn how he became infected. Through images of one of Enrique’s HIV pharmaceutical ads, the March on Washington, and the AIDS quilt, we learn how these battles deeply affect him. Upon HIV infection, we see how the virus has affected his body. Next, Enrique reminisces about his 40th and 30th birthday parties -- and how his medications take their toll. His desire to control is manifested in addiction.

The final documentary to be excerpted was Wolfgang Busch's documentary, How Do I Look, a decade-long community-based empowerment project about the Harlem "Ball" community. Following the screenings was a Q&A session.

World AIDS Day Screening of "How Do I Look" Documentary

On World AIDS Day 2007, the documentary How Do I Look was screened at the 15th Annual African Diaspora Film Festival at Riverside Theatre. This screening of How Do I Look was promoted with listings in Gay City News, The New York Blade, Time Out New York magazine, and NY1 Community Calendar, and the turn-out for the screening was impressive.

Before the screening began, the filmmaker and activist Wolfgang Busch and Reinaldo Barroso-Spech, a co-founder of the African Diaspora Film Festival, took a moment to pose for a photograph:

In connection with the World AIDS Day screening of his documentary How Do I Look, Wolfgang Busch attended the Red Ball fundraiser and awards event of the New York AIDS Film Festival. The event was co-produced by New York AIDS Film Festival founder Suzanne Engo and Brian Supler of Cement Marketing. Honored at the Red Ball were the agency Gay Mens Health Crisis (GMHC), the fashion design house Heatherette (for their collection at LIFE BALL 07), Miss Universe Riyo Mori (whose platform is AIDS), and Sonya Lockett, Vice President of Public Affairs, Black Enterntainment Television (BET).

Here is a photograph of Wolfgang Busch with Suzanne Engo:

Here is a photograph of Wolfgang Busch with Brian Supler, a co-producer of the New York AIDS Film Festival's Red Ball event:

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Buy Tickets to World AIDS Day screening of "How Do I Look"

Ticketweb.com is now selling tickets for the screenings of films during the 15th Annual African Diaspora Film Festival in New York. You can now buy your tickets online for the evening screening on Saturday, Dec. 1 for How Do I Look. The screening will take place at Riverside Theatre in Harlem.

How Do I Look (US, 2006, 80mins) is a documentary directed by Wolfgang Busch. The film is about the Harlem "Ball" community, a group of highly creative dancers and performance artists. Topher Campbell has described How Do I Look as, "Personal. Powerful. Inspirational."