The Computer: Wonder of the Future Blog

2010-01-07T23:16:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who helped make 2009 wonderful for The Computer!

Look for the DVD release of The Computer: Wonder of the Future in 2010.

Read How the Future Was Created

2009-08-02T03:12:00.000-07:00

The Computer Wonder of the Future is featured in the current issue of Microfilmmaker Magazine, just out now.

In the article, "Tips & Tricks - News: LA Shorts Fest 09: A Great Festival to Feature Your Microbudget Short," director and co-writer Michael Kenneth Jackson shares some of the behind-the-scenes microbudget methods used to create the past in the Future.

Read the full article here (which includes four other films screened at the LA Shorts Fest) and see why The Computer truly is, "The Wonder of the Future."

MicroFilmmaker Magazine is dedicated to connecting and assisting producers of ultra-low budget independent 'Micro-Films, movies about the magic that can only come from the filmmakers' souls when they pour their life's blood into the art of making films.

LA Shorts Fest Closing Night Awards Ceremony

2009-08-02T03:07:00.000-07:00

Okay, let's get it out of the way right at the top here: The Computer: Wonder of the Future did not win the award for best comedy at the LA Shorts Fest awards gala.

But it is really okay; I have not lost one drip of sleep thinking about it. In the most honesty I have conjured up ever, I was so happy just to have been selected to screen at such a major festing right in the heart of Hollywood with so may other excellent films, winning was not everything.

The awards gala, held on the closing night of the festival, Friday, July 31 (2009) at CineSpace on Hollywood Boulevard was a blast. The majority of the winning films were screened -- The filmmakers made acceptance speeches, the audience cheered and applauded, and I had a Bud Light. (Those of you who know me, know I don't drink. However, when the President of the the United States drank the King of Beers, I was inspired. And now, I'm up to sixer a day. Not bad for a guy who, at this time last week, was a teetotaler!)

I was rather sad at the end of the night, realizing that the LA Shorts Fest was over. I really enjoyed my time at the Laemmle Sunset 5 cinemas watching the movies. I had a magical night the Sunday evening my movie screened -- having the company of all my dear friends during the program and celebrating at dinner afterwards. It's going to be a tough act to follow let alone top. But that's all the more reason to get going n my next movie for next year's festival.

MKJ

"Computer" Invited to West Hollywood International Film Festival

2009-07-29T18:48:00.000-07:00

Hot on the heels of its Hollywood premiere at the LA Shorts Film Fest, The Computer: Wonder of the Future has been selected to screen at the West Hollywood International Film Festival.

The festival is an intimate affair of A-list celebrities, not just from Hollywood, but from the whole world. The event takes place at several locations in West Hollywood over four days and feature events booths, entertainment, discussion panels and of course the best movies the world has to offer.

For those of you who were unable to make the LA Shorts Fest screening, this is your opportunity to see this little movie on the big screen, and at a great Los Angeles theatrical venue: The Regency Theatres Fairfax Cinemas.

The Computer: Wonder of the Future will screen Saturday, August 8 at 11:00 a.m.

Tickets are just $10 each for the program and can be purchased online through Brown Paper Tickets.
PURCHASE TICKETS
(Select "Aug 08, 2009 11:00 AM" from the pulldown menu.)

The Computer: Wonder of the Future
West Hollywood International Film Festival
Saturday, August 8, 2009
11:00 a.m.
Regency Theatres Fairfax Cinemas
7907 Beverly Boulevard (at Fairfax Ave.)
Los Angeles, CA 90048

For more on the film, and a link to purchase tickets, please visit the official C:WotF Website.

For more information on the festival, visit the West Hollywood International Film Festival Website.

ABOUT THE COMPUTER: WONDER OF THE FUTURE
Science-Tone Films, maker of children's educational movies in the 1950s, presents a fantastical look at how computers will one day simplify the lives of all who use them.

Our guide for this informative and astounding journey into the future is none other than the Science-Tone Professor himself. Delivering a lesson to Larry and Suzy, two well-mannered grade school students with excellent posture, The Professor foretells a time in the not too distant future when mechanical thinking machines, called "com-putors," will increase our quality of life, send rockets to Mars, and help fight communism.

The Professor concludes the day's lesson with a coda that will be proven true in decades to come: "At work, at home, or on the go, the computer truly is the wonder of the future."

THE COMPUTER: WONDER OF THE FUTURE Starring TOM ACORD as The Professor, CIARAN VEJBY as Larry, ERIC VEJBY as Bob, DEBORAH JEAN WELSH as Doris, and CAITLIN VEJBY as Suzy. Directed by MICHAEL KENNETH JACKSON, Written and Produced by ERIC VEJBY & MICHAEL KENNETH JACKSON, Cinematographer and Editor MICHAEL KENNETH JACKSON.
3 minutes, 35 seconds - Color - English - USA 2008 - Not Rated

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The West Hollywood International Film Festival (WHIFF) founded in 2007 by Martin De Luca, in its inaugural year, is soon to be West Hollywood's premier festival destination. Filmmaking, by nature, is an intensely collaborative, creative, and communicated art form. It takes a diverse range of personalities and talent to see a film to completion. Filmmaking is a dream of many around the planet, regardless of race, nationality, color or language. Filmmaking transcends and seeks to eliminate the barriers of society.

WHIFF is here to celebrate that triumphant rise of Hollywood as a leader in filmmaking, its influence on filmmaking around the world, and now, with WHIFF, its celebratory return to the stage that made it famous. By bringing filmmakers and their films from around the world to West Hollywood , the WHIFF shows its support and dedication to the world being created all around us, an increasingly connected world.

C:WotF Screening At LA Shorts Fest

2009-07-27T18:03:00.000-07:00

Last night was The Computer: Wonder of the Future screening at the LA Shorts Fest.

Sunday at 7:45 p.m. was a sweet spot in the schedule; one of the two weekend nights and neither too early nor too late.

The FOCs (Friends of Computer) attended to lend their support to the movie during the screening were Eleanor, Luis, Jeffrey, Jeff, Paolina, Dawn, Marie and Justine.

Eleanor shows her enthusiasm for the Hollywood premiere of C:WotF.

Luis and Jeffery await the screening.

C:WotF screened about in the middle of the program - right after the premiere of the new R.E.M. video Hollow Man! (I was thinking to myself "Thanks for the spot following the new R.E.M. video -- now I'm like that poor bastard magician who had to follow The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show."). But my concern was for naught; the crowd was responsive to C:WotF and appeared to be having fun with the premise. While the laughs were not always as hearty as I wished for, they were there and I recievds an enthusiastic response from some audience members after the Q&A.

Jeff and Paolina arrive for the big screening.

Dawn and Marie on the photo walk just before the premiere screening.

After all the movies screened, there was a question and answer session with all the filmmakers present. I said a few things about the origin of the concept (Our Mr. Sun) and the premise (past prognostication versus future reality -- but stated in a far less pretentious way).

Paolina and Justine with Michael at the C:WotF screening.

After the screening, all the "Computer Contingent" headed over Palermo's in Los Feliz for a post-screening celebration dinner.

Mmmmm... Italian food.

MKJ

LA Shorts Fest - Day 3

2009-07-25T11:35:00.001-07:00

I'm here in West Hollywood at the Sunset Plaza on a beautiful Southern California July morning ready for day 3 of the LA SHORTS Fest.

Starting off the day is the Coffee Chat seminar series, today's topic: "Making It Big In Shorts. Starts at noon - on my way now...

Later tonight we're all catching the 7:45 PM film program of comedy and drama films.

Opening Day At The 13th Annual LA Shorts Fest

2009-07-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

Opening day of the LA Shorts Film Festival was a blast! The focus was more on the celebrity filmmakers in attendance (Scarlett Johansson, Courteney Cox and Kirsten ‘Kiwi’ Smith) and their respective short films (which were all very good).

The star power brought the main stream media to the festival along with some fanfare and recognition.

I also met some great folks (other filmmakers) there, the majority of whom strangely all had a San Francisco Connection (one fellow grew up a couple of miles from me, another is a S.F State alum, another just returned from San Francisco, even the London filmmaker I met is heading off to San Francisco next week... weird.)

Great opening day for easing into the rhythm of the festival. Now the real fun starts: seeing films and attending seminars.

MKJ

Checked-in to the Fest and Ready For Action.

2009-07-23T16:11:00.001-07:00

Arrived around 1:15 pm or so, right after the festival officially started. Checked-in and got ny lanyard and festival program.

Plenty of room on the table reserved for film collateral (postcards, tearsheets, tchotchkes, etc.) so I set out some postcards and badges.

Right now, I'm devising an easel to display the mini movie poster in the cinema lobby.

Director, co-writer, d.p., editor, and now collateral designer and marketer... In the indie world, you gotta do it all!

Follow The LA Shorts Fest Right Here!

2009-07-22T23:40:00.000-07:00

The LA Shorts Film Fest Opens Today, Thursday, July 23!

Follow the fest, including the premiere of The Computer: Wonder of the Future, right here on your very on "wonder of the future" thanks to the magical Internets!

I'll be attending much of the the festival, including the star-studded opening night, the C:WotF screening, the parties, and the closing night awards gala.

Throughout the fest (July 23-July 31) I'll be uploading photos to my Facebook page, posting right here on the C:WotF blog, and tweeting a tweet now and then again.

I'm looking forward to documenting this groovy event for its historical importance to future generations or perhaps even as insightful documentation on our civilization with which extra terrestrial visitors can learn more about us in order to foster universal peace. Either way, I hope you'll have an opportunity or two to check out my postings here and on...

Facebook

C:WotF on Twitter

Cheers,
Michael

LA Shorts Fest Selects Computer For Screening

2009-07-05T03:40:00.000-07:00

The Computer: Wonder of the Future will have its Hollywood premiere at this year's prestigious LA Shorts Fest.

The film has been selected to screen during the program #18 slot on Sunday, July 26 at 7:45 p.m. at L.A.'s premiere art house chain, the Laemmle Sunset 5, in the heart of Hollywood's Sunset Strip.

Tickets are on sale now at the Laemmle’s Sunset 5 Theater box office and online.

For more information on the festival, visit the LA Shorts Fest official Website.

The Computer: Wonder of the Future
The 13th Annual LA Shorts Fest
Sunday, July 26, 2009
7:45 p.m.
Laemmle Sunset 5
8000 Sunset Blvd. (at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Crescent Heights)
West Hollywood CA 90046

For more info on the movie, please visit The Computer: Wonder of the Future Official Website.

Hope to see you there!

Dam Short Film Festival: Day 1

2009-02-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

Eleanor and I set out from L.A. this morning... and arrived in Bolder City (the Nevada one) around 4:30 pm for day one of the Dam Short Film Festival (The Computer: Wonder of the Future screens Friday, February 13).

Boulder is a great little town! Very authentic; very friendly. I won't go into detail about the history of the town (as we are still learning more and more and that's what Wikipedia is for), but in general, the town was created for the workers building Boulder Dam (later re-named Hoover Dam), hence the name of the festival (Dam Short, not Hoover Short). An interesting note about Boulder City: while it is in Nevada, gambling is illegal here, which may greatly explain why the town is so clean, wholesome, and friendly.

We checked-in at the Filmmakers/Press Lounge inside the historic Boulder Hotel (a GORGEOUS hotel) where I was immediately showered with swag: a festival-branded t-shirt, baseball cap, canvas bag, assorted Boulder Dam memorabilia, and other nick-knacks, doo-dads, and curios. In addition to filmmaker/press relations, the lounge also houses lots of beverages and snacks (provided at no cost), free neck massages (by professional, legit... uh, professionals) and a film library (with copies of not only this year's films, but every film ever shown at the festival, watchable at the DVD viewing stations) as well.

After checking in and filling up, we set off for the home of the film screenings: The Boulder Theatre. This theatre is, simply put, amazing. It was originally built as a cinema back in 1931 when the dam was being built. After a long day working on the dam in the hot, dry Nevada climate, workers would pay their 25¢ to sit in the theatre to not so much enjoy the filmed entertainment, but because at that time, the theatre was the only building in town with cool air conditioning. The theatre has since been converted from a cinema to the home of the Boulder City ballet. While the original movie screen has since been removed, one has been installed for the film festival. A note of trivia regarding the theatre: It is owned by Desi Arnaz, Jr. In 1997, Arnaz and his wife Amy founded non-profit Boulder City Ballet Company (BCBC).

The festival programming is divided into category blocks, drama, comedy, super-natural, crime-drama, etc., with each block consisting of anywhere between five and seven films. Tonight, we watched the block titled Documentary: A Serious Issue (www.damshortfilm.org/2009/htm/doca.htm) -- and boy, were they indeed serious. I was struck at how much information and detail about such serious complex topics the filmmakers were able to deliver in such a short time format. After that block, we took in the Sci-FI: World's End program (www.damshortfilm.org/2009/htm/sci.htm).

After the festival we headed out to our lodgings: The Hacienda Inn Hotel and Casino, about a 10 minute drive from the festival, right outside of Boulder City at the Arizona border (gambling IS, obviously, legal here!). The room is made perfect by the fact that I won a drawing for one of seven comped rooms that the festival gave away!

Tomorrow will be our first full day at the festival. At 12-noon, we are checking out the block Drama D: Supernatural Stories to specifically see the film Cold October directed by a new friend we made here at the festival (www.damshortfilm.org/2009/htm/drad.htm).

That's all for now... it's after 1 a.m and I'm ready to hit the casino and win some big money to make my next film... More tomorrow...

Michael

Welcome, to the Future

2009-02-10T13:44:00.000-08:00

Welcome, to the maiden entry of the official blog for the short film The Computer: Wonder of the Future!

The blog is being launched in conjunction with The Computer: Wonder of the Future's festival premiere at the Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City, Nevada February 11-14, 2009. Eric (Vejby, co-writer, co-producer, and actor) and I (Michael Kenneth Jackson, co-writer, co-producer, and director) will be attending the festival where our movie screens in the comedy section on Friday the 13th.

Every day, throughout the day, we'll be posting first finger accounts (along with photos and maybe even a Quicktime movie or two) of the festival's goings-ons, culminating with the big Awards Gala on Saturday night, February 14 (where our movie is in the comedy competition).

It's going to be a lot of fun and we hope you'll join us thought the magic of the Webbernet and your computer... It truly is, the Wonder of the Future.

You can read more about the Film Festival here: www.damshortfilm.org/2009/2009.htm

And while you're riding the Information Super-Highway, you can checkout the film's official Website at this exit: www.computerofthefuture.com.

Finally, while you're at it, if you have yet to become an official fan of our movie, please head on over to our Facebook page and join up... it's free and relative painless. www.facebook.com/pages/The-Computer-Wonder-of-the-Future/58660194921

That's it for now -- see you all tomorrow, right here, same blog time, same blog channel.

Michael