RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ENTRIES FOCUS ON HEALTH ISSUES Jump Cut - The Monthly Column on Film and Media Arts for the New England Entertainment Digest George T. Marshall, Rhode Island International Film Festival Executive Director/CEO January 2006 The brisk winds of winter are upon us. The New England landscape is once again locked in the grip of a freeze. A warm fire, a heavy sweater and something hot to drink are just the right ticket for this type of weather. Add in a great flick on DVD and kick back and let the season pass by. It’s the time for hibernation, seeking warmth, comfort and replenishing one’s energy. That is of course unless you’re in the film business. Down here in the Ocean State things have been bustling. The Showtime series, "The Brotherhood," has just wrapped after several months of production. The Mario Van Peebles action-thriller "Hard Luck," a new $15.5-million production starring Wesley Snipes and Cybill Shepherd recently spent 5-1/2 weeks in Rhode Island. The movie that has been described as "a cutting edge action drama in the spirit of Pulp Fiction meets Unforgiven." The independent feature, directed by Van Peebles, is the third major production to come to the state since lawmakers this summer granted tax breaks to TV shows and movies shot here. Next up from Walt Disney Pictures is Underdog that will be shooting here at the end of March. Yes, that's the animated TV series, which will be shot as a live-action feature. On our end at the RI Film Festival, we have been deluged with entries: over 300 at this writing. Last year we peaked at over 1,500 entries when our call for entries ended in June and early signs indicate that we will surpass that milestone. So far, we have had films that have come from Russia, Israel, Spain, Italy, Greece, New Zealand, India, Denmark, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Croatia, and films from throughout the US. One thing I've noticed in an early review of entries is that a fair number focus on issues of health and disabilities. From documentaries to narrative films, the human experience presented on film is so universal and compelling. Here is a brief look at some of the titles and their descriptions that I selected at random (and no, listing them does not mean they have been selected to the fest—that will be determined much later): (Some text omitted) • Doing Therapy USA dir. by Joe Giacobello A Hollywood actress develops a problem with panic attacks and is sent to a top anxiety specialist based in Pittsburgh. To avoid media attention, the unlikely couple is stuck together in the shrink's sloppy bachelor pad for an entire month for extensive 24-hour-a-day therapy. This heartwarming comedy redefines the doctor-patient relationship. (Remaining text omitted) Read this article in its entirety » Jump to Top