PAH in the Press
Film Stew, 03/24/2006
Coppola to Train By Experience
by Mark Umbach
EARSXXI, the new media studio founded by filmmaker Christopher Coppola, is looking to bring filmmaking back to the people, or at least bring film training back to the people. Coppola and his company have created the new training and production program called "Project Alternative Hollywood," or PAH-Flicks, which will allow New Mexico residents to hone their skills and production experience.
"PAH-Flicks is 'special-forces' training, a kind of hands-on graduate program for film crew members in the state of New Mexico," Coppola said in a statement. "No one is doing what Roger Corman used to do in the 70's. Film crews and actors who worked for Corman made between 5-9 low budget films a year, and were able to get tremendous experience. Our goal is to bring a similar process back to the people."
PAH-Flicks was created to expand upon and enhance the existing film technologies of four New Mexico counties, including those in Santa Fe County, Bernalillo County, Dona Ana County and Chaves County. By assisting film veterans, PAH will allow crew members to gain invaluable experience and gear them toward union membership.
"The development of digital media in the state is essential to our growth and survival in this industry," stated Lisa Strout, Director of the New Mexico Film Office. "The PAH-Flicks model hires new film and media technicians on feature projects, giving them more hands-on experience particularly in the digital realm. Having continuous digital production in locations around the state creates a valuable training ground for the next generation of New Mexico's filmmakers".
The first project to come out of the PAH program will be Big Bad Voodoo Momma, to be directed by Coppola. The project, a "modern-day wrestling remake of the classic opera Turandot," is now in pre-production and will begin shooting in Grants, NM, this May.