RT's Visual Shorthand 4/29
RT's Visual Shorthand 4/29
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Red Balloons vs. Iraq War (Director's Redux Mix)
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I use this page as I would a notebook, or a canvas, or a white board; to constantly scribble down my thoughts, concepts, ideas, moods, tone and emotions; erasing, changing and re-arranging them. Thereby using this opportunity to communicate as a form of self-expression.

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Other things I can tell you... is that I am someone that was born on December 17th and that I fancy the cinema, advertising, curiosity, creativity, adventure, tone, emotion, the rabbit hole, new media, synesthesia, Chelsea FC and anyone with reckless passion.
"The only people for me are the mad ones.
The ones who are mad to love, mad to talk,
mad to be saved; the ones who never yawn
or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn
like fabulous yellow Roman candles
exploding like spiders across the stars."
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4/20/08
Some folks I like:
Painters:
Die Brucke group of German Expressionists, especially Schmidt-Rottluff, Nolde, and Kirchner; Vincent Van Gogh, Edvard Munch’s late paintings of models in the studio, (Post-Impressionism), Billy Childish, Joe Machine, Wolf Howard, Philip Absolon.
Filmmakers:
Fellini, Ford, Godard and French New Wave, Amos Poe and Nick Zedd and Wolf Howard, also FW Murnau, Carl Th. Dreyer, Yasujiro Ozu, Aki Kaurismaki, Wong Kar-wai, Nicholas Ray, Jules Dassin, Robert Bresson
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4/19/08

Yeah... I just dig that Claire Danes.

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“My movie is born first in my head, dies on paper; is resuscitated by the living persons and real objects I use, which are killed on film but, placed in a certain order and projected on to a screen, come to life again like flowers in water.”

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"The American method of making films left the audience with emotions and nothing else; I want to give the spectator the emotions along with the possibility of reflecting on and analyzing what he is feeling."-Rainer Werner Fassbinder
"Everyone must decide for himself whether it is better to have a brief but more intensely felt existence or to live a long and ordinary life." -Rainer Werner Fassbinder
============================================================ ======= Here is the "work-in-progress" ambient video I am directing/producing/editing for "Dead Factory".
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She walks in Beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
~Lord Byron

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Here is a kool little video for REI that I directed, BUT I couldn't have done it without the help and skills of a very talented bunch of creative peeps. These VERY talented kats are the ones I totally rely on and get to work with on things like this; and these awesome folks include: Jess, JoMo, Aly, Pragati, JP, Matt and Rachel. Not to mention the awesome guys from DP Kevin Hackenberg's production company Get-Kinetic.It's great to have creative collaborators and conspirators.
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Here is a spot I directed for Reebok's blacktop collection with the wonderful Bill Burke as my DP.
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I am currently working on my WWII drama, THE RED CHURCH (aka The Evasion of Michael Mullen).
Below is some concept art that Edania (my kick ass storyboard artist) and I are working with to show what I am thinking. Pulling the thinking out from the ether and right to you kats.
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Aside from THE RED CHURCH, here are some other things I am working out:
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THE GOOD THIEF (USA 2005) aka Saint Christopher:

"...Mr. Herwig is a filmmaker that will be heard from again and again."
"...high quality production values"
"...a bleak but ultimately poetic rumination on redemption"
"...R.T. Herwig strives for an expression of profound internal emotions"
"...mesmerizing and refreshing
"...never gives in to genre and narrative conventions"
"...Herwig achieves many moments of truth in his images"
"...a dreamscape"
"...very accomplished debut film"
"...beautiful cinematography"
"...superb acting performances"
"...a work of real lyrical beauty"
"...very striking"
"...RT Herwig's THE GOOD THIEF is a film you should see"
"...a very well made film!"

I actually had the title THE GOOD THIEF first (go look at the Hollywood Reporter), but after both films met up at the Philadelphia Film Festival and because of the cease and desist letter that followed, my attorney instructed me that I had to shelve my film until the Alliance Atlantis/Neil Jordan/Nick Nolte film of the same name came and went (theatrical-cable). Because of this, all momentum was lost and I had to sit on the sidelines for a few years.
Before this... I was able to take the film all around North America for public, festival and private screenings.
"RT Herwig's THE GOOD THIEF is the kind of movie that you can make too much of, or too little of. It is excellent, mind you, but having the wrong expectations will surely ruin your viewing pleasure. If you're looking for a sophisticated art film with thought-provoking ambiguities and dark psychological imagery, you'll be wanting more. If you're looking for a fast-paced urban crime drama, you'll also be wanting more. RT Herwig's THE GOOD THIEF falls between the two. It is a simple, straightforward story that is raised to the level of film art by its fully developed complex characters, extraordinary acting, and the director's eye for powerful natural imagery. I highly recommend it.
Jerry Jennings, Philadelphia
"RT Herwig's small, indie feature THE GOOD THIEF is a haunting and very atmospheric piece of cinema, wherein darkness rules not only the streets, but also the hearts of the people living within the shadows. This terrifically, well-crafted film, features excellent performances by its cast, a very effective score and beautiful cinematography. A stunning testament to independent filmmaking."
Philadelphia Film Festival
"RT Herwig's THE GOOD THIEF was one of the most talked about films at this year's festival. I was so glad to see something so completely original, odd, arty, technically mastered and impactful. I was mesmerized by the camera work and mood and applaud R.T.'s courageous choices while maintaining accessibility.
Sedona International Film Festival"I come across many talented directors with a sharp understanding and passion for films, filmmaking and acting. However, it is the rare talent who is able to develop a multi-dimensional grasp of the process and showcase it in his work. RT Herwig is one such rare director. Mr. Herwig handled the task of bringing a thought provoking and very atmospheric piece of cinema to an audience, and he delivered with THE GOOD THIEF. In an assured, well-crafted and stylized manner, his debut artfully and effectively deals with the questions of guilt and forgiveness from the internal POV of the lead character. THE GOOD THIEF shows the beginnings of a gifted storyteller with a firm grasp on his work; even more telling is that he directed, produced, co-wrote and edited the piece. With this work, Mr. Herwig has successfully proved himself and demonstrated that he could manage a budget, a union cast and crew, and deliver a successful feature film on time and within budget."
- Bob Zmuda,Executive Producer
MAN ON THE MOON and the founder of COMIC RELIEF
"Eclectic debut feature... ...it grows on you." Says Irv Slifkin in his new book FILMADELPHIA about SAINT CHRISTOPHER
(CLICK HERE FOR SAINT CHRISTOPHER'S MYSPACE FILM PAGE)
It's currently available on DVD. RENT IT AT NETFLIX. Check out Amazon.com | bn.com | blockbuster.com|etc. etc. etc.

I've added a Quicktime of production stills to wet your whistle. The NEW trailer is coming I promise. Check back soon.
I'm down with anyone who creates, inspires, and stays true to her/himself and their "art" and true inner passions; blah, blah, blah.