Films Gone Wild

Editor’s column/daily commentary welcoming feedback and opinions.

Women Texas Film Festival’s Justina Walford sees a benefit in film festivals going virtual that is very real

By Justina Walford 6 years ago

What I love about these films is that there are women of all ages watching these who have always settled for a protagonist kind of like them. And that is the great challenge for most of us women as we grew up with male protagonists, white female protagonsts, cis-hetero protagonists forcing us to fit our color, our identity, our queerness into those mainstream places. Nothing makes me feel better than hearing someone say, “Finally, I see me on that screen.”

FILMS GONE WILD: On this Juneteenth, Dallas International Film Festival Artistic Director James Faust gives a first person (and family) account of a life lived

By John Wildman 6 years ago

When you reach out to your friends of color and ask how they are doing…remember… you may be opening a box of systemic trauma that they don’t want to, or are ill equipped to deal with. Rancor and rage may come your way. I ask you to listen ..really listen… For every step forward…there’s a George Floyd. For every success story, there’s a Trayvon Martin. For every…you know what…it’s too much…there are too many. My mother shouldn’t have to check in on me and remind me how to act in front of cops.. I’m 50!

Co-Founders/Co-Directors Ben McCarthy and Megan Garbayo got it right with OUTstream Film Fest when it came to seeking inclusion with their debut virtual LGBTQIA+ film festival

By John Wildman 6 years ago

To quote McCarthy when the OUTstream Film Fest was first announced, “We have created OUTstream Film Fest to bring people together all across the country, of any sexual identity, to view these films, which we feel will entertain, touch, enlighten, and affect all audiences. Thanks to COVID-19, everyone in the world has received a stark reminder that we are all together and similar in many more ways than we are not. We believe this has the potential to bring people together virtually via this shared event – because art offers a rich opportunity to connect us all.”  He then added, “OUTstream Film Fest could reach people that want to have an understanding about LGBTQIA+ people or appreciation for queer cinema. It’s all about inclusivity. Films are made to tell someone’s unique story and if it’s only being seen by people that have “lived” that story, then it’s not reaching everyone that could legitimately connect with and be touched by that story.”

Dallas film producer Adam Donaghey: FILMS GONE WILD Thoughts on the Case

By John Wildman 6 years ago

The “asshole” thing. How has that colored all of this as the story gets rolled out? How DOES someone keep the sexual predator thing going while also not endearing themselves in the work space in order to get away with that behavior. Ultimately, why did those people and organizations I listed above keep hiring him back or keep him in the fold? By so many reports I have seen and heard, he was toxic and abusive on these productions. If not, why the raining down of these accounts. I have literally read one account (out of MANY that went the other direction) by someone that worked side-by-side with him that offered up surprise when he heard the news.

FILMS GONE WILD’s 10 Blu-Rays and DVDs from Kino Lorber to help get you through the quarantine

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Now, one of the best sources for the films in my library has been Kino Lorber. The range and reach of the films they have available now makes them my favorite source of Blu-Rays and DVDs to go to. Yes, yes, yes, I have my share of Criterion discs, but there is a whole lot of broccoli movies going on there with few hints of popcorn, for my tastes, while Kino Lorber seems to be much more on my wavelength.

FILMS GONE WILD: 10 Film Festival Programmers to Watch

By John Wildman 7 years ago

In the meantime, now that I have probably exhausted everyone’s patience by blathering on and ranting like an old man carrying a crumpled paper bag and out of date newspaper outside a deli, here is a quick list of ten people that I work with and for that I would suggest filmmakers, film industry types, and people reading the movie industry tea leaves SHOULD be paying attention to:

FILMS GONE WILD: Dallas Video Fest’s Alt: Fiction has CAN’T MISS films this weekend. Thanks, Bart Weiss!

By John Wildman 7 years ago

Here are a couple quick thoughts about Bart Weiss, the head of Dallas Video Fest and all of its film festival parts: He IS the film tastemaker of Dallas and Fort Worth and North Texas. He just is. Bart has his eyes, and ears, and heart, and most importantly – his brain On. The. Screen. Taste-wise, finger on the filmmaking pulse-wise, and eye out for what’s coming down the pike-wise, Bart Weiss is the benevolent leader we all take the lead from. Bottom line.