Susan and Arin

Posted on | April 24, 2007 | 3 Comments

I’ve followed these two for the past couple of years… it’s been amazing to watch them fulfill what the ongoing development of digital media has promised.

Susan Buice and Arin Crumley, and their project Four Eyed Monsters.

untitled-199149141.jpg

They are two filmmakers who, like many others, set out to make their first feature.

They were perhaps unwitting pioneers in a way, building an online presence around their project which ultimately absorbed their film and became bigger than it. it’s been great to follow it, each step of the way, not just uploading video, but building a community around their project, exploring everything from a premiere on Second Life to Google mashups for screenings.

They give me heart in that it’s not the future, it’s now. It’s the first time I’ve seen filmmakers act like musicians, making their stuff and marketing and distributing it themselves and operating at a certain level. The entire project is open and brave and full of humour and life, genuinely engaging…

The podcasts track the development of the film, its trials and tribulations through production and festival runs and now distribution. They’re funny and touching and really one of the best things on iTunes. I’d recommend watching the podcasts in sequence, including all the little bits promotional stuff… and then catching the film. They have the DVD on sale on their site.

It might tell you something of the impact of this project when you watch the purchasers of the DVD upload videos to YouTube of them opening the packages and popping them in their players. I love the fact that an audience felt that kind of connection, especially for an indie low budget feature.

Related Tags:

Category: culture, film, internet

Comments

3 Responses to “Susan and Arin”

  1. Christopher
    April 27th, 2007 @ 8:38 am

    You hit the nail on the head … it isn’t the future, it’s now! I’m trying to put what I’ve learned from Arin and Susan to work for my own projects now, and thanks to their dvd, podcasts, tutorials, and actually talking with them on ichat, I’m actually conducting an interstate co-production with my cousin in Arizona where we’re putting those skills and techniques to use!

    I feel a connection with the four eyed monsters, so much in fact that their actual dvd and film will make an appearance in my short film im currently producing, and think that they’ve opened the doors between filmmaker and audience.

    HELP THEM OUT OF DEBT, GO BUY THE DVD!

    :)

  2. Four Eyed Monsters on YouTube : TinyPlanet.eu
    June 10th, 2007 @ 5:09 pm

    [...] blogged about these two before. They have now put their feature, all of it, on YouTube for free and legal viewing for one week [...]

  3. Emily Snow
    June 20th, 2008 @ 2:44 pm

    I enjoy your writing – can’t wait for the next instalment![IMG]http://www.emoticon-village.com/img2.jpg[/IMG]

Leave a Reply





  • About Tiny Planet

    This is a blog maintained by Tommy Weir, a film maker based in the North West of Ireland.

    Janey Pictures - our company
    32A - our first feature

  • 32A DVD

    You can purchase the DVD of 32A, the feature film I produced, via the Buy Now button below. You can pay using any credit card. It's a PAL, region 2 DVD, so perfect for Europe but if you live in the US, be sure that your setup can cope with that.

    In Ireland, the DVD is also for sale in HMV, Easons, Golden Discs and many outlets in Ireland. 32A is also available for rent in Xtravision and other stores nationwide.

    You can also order via Amazon.co.uk