"Project Greenlight is both a reality TV concept and lengthy Making-Of documentary, reducing the consequent film to this set’s preeminent special feature."
--Rumsey
Project Greenlight
Directors: Pete Jones
Producers: Chris Moore, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon
Writers: Pete Jones
Features: * Complete HBO Series plus the Completed Film "Stolen Summer" * 6 Hours of Bonus Materials * Audio commentary with director Pete Jones, producer Chris Moore, and co-producer Jeff Balls * Deleted scenes with commentary * Pete Jones "Project Greenlight" scene versus final film * All-New footage from the "Project Greenlight" contest including notable videos and top 10 3-minute scripted scenes * The Chris Moore Challenge * How to imitate Chris Moore, by Ben Affleck * Top 25 Chris Moore Challenge finalists * The Project Greenlight Experience: Inside a press punket, crew profiles, post-production, at Sundance, advice from Kevin Smith * Extensive CD-ROM materials * Number of discs: 4
Characters:
Joe O'Malley - Aidan Quinn, Margaret O'Malley - Bonnie Hunt, Rabbi Jacobsen - Kevin Pollack, Father Kelly - Brian Dennehy
Genre: Drama
Review:
Within a week of winning Project Greenlight – a contest held by Miramax films for aspiring filmmakers – Pete Jones calls his wife from the austere landscape of a bustling production office: “Honey, I’m gonna be late. I’ve gotta write a letter to Aidan Quinn.” It is a scenario that could only be fashioned by abruptly introducing an everyman to the film industry.
The Project Greenlight boxed set spans four discs and paints the contest’s entire scope, from the narrowing of contestants to Pete Jone’s completed film “Stolen Summer.” It is both a reality TV concept and lengthy Making-Of documentary, reducing the consequent film to this set’s preeminent special feature.
Project Greenlight stresses that filmmaking is dictated by politics rather than art, and that some producers are merely names in the end credits. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon coproduce the series, though they are only present in the first few of the season’s 12 episodes. Chris Moore is more apparent, though continually angry with some aspect of Stolen Summer’s making. His anger continually present, founded a secondary contest for the series’ companion website in which viewers were invited to submit mpeg videos of their impersonations of Moore. Several (most of which are ranked) are included on the fourth platter. Though it is a gag that requires abundant familiarity with the series, the joke is often hilarious.
Project Greenlight is an often thorough and fascinating examination of the filmmaking process – it is an introductory lesson for both Jones and the audience. Once preproduction ends the film’s shooting is told in sporadic segments. The film’s 25 day shoot is drastically summated, only the worst days are exploited. In depicting “Stolen Summer’s” shoot, which is otherwise redundant, the series resorts to common drama: Moore becomes displeased with multiple aspects of the troublesome shoot and blames a producer lower on the totem. It is an action that carries little benefit to the making of “Stolen Summer,” other than to display a humanistic aspect. What is learned is the most generic lesson in reality television: that arguments are resolved by accordant confrontation.
Pete Jones genuinely earns sympathy and interest, as he is at all times in the center ring at the focus of crewmembers, each of whom has little faith in his understanding of the technology. Most can form an idea, though only an artist can translate it through a medium.
The best feature of the DVD is the inclusion of videos shot by the contest’s finalists. Each is limited to three minutes, and possesses little criteria. The contestants routinely cite their favorite films and filmmakers, and use the opportunity to display humor and creativity. These shorts contain not a dull moment.
With such extensive material on the making and release of “Stolen Summer” the film itself is somewhat of an afterthought. Its strengths and weaknesses are familiar prior to viewing. Its very result is, however, of luck. It is a rarest opportunity of an everyman who emerges with a film that bears little contamination of the industry.
---Rumsey Taylor
http://www.notcoming.com