A reason to smile: Ink finally gets a theatrical run in LA
After packing the Los Angeles based Laemmle Sunset 5 theater three Thursdays in a row, Jamin Winan’s Ink has demonstrated enough audience power that the theater has confirmed it will finally give the film a full theatrical run.
Although session times still need to be finalized, the run will commence from September 11.
The film makers behind the exceptional Ink have released a new free mp3 for fans of the film.
‘The Forest Remix’ is the first official remix release of Jamin Winans music from the film.
You can grab a copy of the track on Ink’s Facebook page here.
The Jamin Winans directed independent film Ink has been widely reviewed as one of the top movies of 2009. Unfortunately many people have had to miss out on a theatrical screening due to the films [absurd] struggle to obtain distributorship.
Fortunately this won’t be the case for anyone living in or near Portland, OR where Ink will finally enjoy a theatrical run beginning Friday July 24th at 7:00pm.
If you live in Portland I highly recommend booking a ticket in advance (as historically Ink has sold out wherever it has played) and head out with your friends to see this exceptional movie. If you do you’ll also enjoy the added bonus of a Q&A session with film makers Jamin and Kiowa Winans who will be hosting a Q&A session at 7:00pm on opening night.
Tickets are available at: The Hollywood Theatre.
If you haven’t seen the most recent trailer, watch it below:
Despite the distributorship woes the film has endured (read about that here) more and more screenings are beginning to happen. You can view and keep up to date with the screening schedule at the Double Edge Films Blog.
Visit the Official Ink Website
Follow Double Edge Films on twitter
Visit Ink Fansite (Repercussions Magazine)
If you live in or near Knoxville and you want your chance to see the excellent independent sci-fi/fantasy film Ink then you might want to support JustUsLeeg in their push to have the film picked up by Regal Cinemas.
JustUsLeeg intend to approach the VP of Marketing at Regal in about a week’s time and are looking for the added support of 300+ people in the way of comments on their Help Bring ‘Ink’ To Knoxville blog post.
This is a movement where you really can make a difference in the quest to not only support quality independent film but where your actions may just lead to the opportunity to see one of 2009’s best films on the big screen.
Ink has yet to score a distributorship deal (you can read a little about that here) yet the film continues to sell out every time it screens. The latest took place last week on July 9 where the film played to a packed theater in New York.
An independent film selling out theaters and receiving reviews as one of the best films of 2009 is still struggling to secure distributorship – what gives? Ink has to be one of the lowest risk distributorship deals available in the film industry at the moment. Surely there must be a potential distributor somewhere willing to put their hand up? Surely?
In the meantime, head on over and post your comment on the Help Bring ‘Ink’ To Knoxville post.
Visit the Official Ink Website
Follow Double Edge Films on twitter
Visit Double Edge Films blog
Visit Ink Fansite (Repercussions Magazine)
Jamin Winans has to be one of the most talented new film makers in the business. His name recently buzzed across many movie websites as a result of the rave reviews received by his sci-fi fantasy film Ink – a film he wrote, co-produced (with his wife Kiowa), edited and directed.
You can also add music composer to that list.
I can’t think of a single movie that has done well without the support of a great supportive score and Ink is no different. Actually, Ink may be a little different because I’ve read reports of early screenings where the film had no score and, despite this, received excellent reviews. I wonder how these reviewers would respond now that the film has its brilliant score?
And a brilliant score it is.
When I obtained my copy of the Ink soundtrack I admit that my expectations were low. Though I have no hesitation in slapping the word ’superb’ against the film, as a soundtrack collector I am well aware that whilst some scores work well in film they aren’t always enjoyable as stand alone music. Not so with Ink.
The score to Ink is laced with an emotional quality that shines for the duration of the listening experience. From the moment I first pressed play I found myself addicted to the ‘feeling’ that the score evokes. As soon as I had finished playing the score for the first time I was compelled to play it again. As I worked behind my PC throughout the day (with headphones on) I left the soundtrack looping before, many hours later, I realized I had actually heard it dozens of times without once having grown tired of it.
Though Jamin Winans can play the piano he’ll humbly tell you that he’s not a real musician. Yet the score to Ink is unquestionably a work of emotional art and, to my mind, a musician is defined by the ability to produce such art. He’ll also tell you that music is one of the things he loves most about filmmaking and perhaps that is why his music is so touching – it quite obviously comes from the soul which, of course, is another hallmark of a ‘real’ musician.
Some reviewers have parallelled his style to John Murphy and Danny Elfman though I feel drawing parallels is only of value when those parallels are clear cut and obvious. If I had to reach I’d lean more towards Tangerine Dream but only if I had to reach – when it comes to Jamin Winan’s music there is, to my mind, no need for comparitive reference at all.
I am more of a fan of scores that are orchestral in nature rather than electronic. Yet despite being entirely electronic (composed in Reason I believe) the music to Ink, like the film, is brimming with emotion and so the listening experience offers a similar journey to the viewing experience. It is this quality that makes the music not only a part of the parcel for why Ink is one of the top films of 2009 (indie or otherwise) but also an album that is a must-have in the music collection.
Listen to short samples of the tracks on Ink below:
This isn’t a new Ink movie poster but it is the first time I’ve been able to lay my hands on a hi-res version, so here you go. Enjoy!
Check out images, the trailer and an interview with the film makers behind Ink here.
Read about this amazing film’s quest for distributorship here.
Visit the Official Ink Website
Follow Double Edge Films on twitter
Visit Double Edge Films blog
Visit Ink Fansite (Repercussions Magazine)
A scene from Ink, an indie film receiving rave reviews
If reviews are anything to go by director Jamin Winans’ fantasy thriller Ink is by far the stand out indie film of the year. Actually, to refer to Ink as a fantasy thriller does the film somewhat of a disservice. Ink is actually a film that seamlessly blends many genre’s including sci-fi, fantasy, action and suspense but is, at the core of them all, a deeply thoughtful drama about redemption of the spirit. It’s hybrid nature makes Ink a very unique film but one that is finding appeal amongst all kinds of different people.
Following are a selection of excerpts from some of the wide ranging positive reviews Ink has received, after which I’ve included the latest trailer if you haven’t seen it yet, a video interview with Ink filmmakers Jamin Winans and Kiowa Winans, an images gallery containing 20 images from the film, and finally a selection of related links.
First, excerpts from a range of reviews:
From SBCC Film Reviews:
The movie Ink was the first and the best movie that I have seen so far at the 2009 Santa Barbara International Film Festival (7 films)…I strongly suggest seeing Ink.
From Screen Geeks:
Once in a great while, you come across a film that is truly something special and sticks with you after seeing it. It’s the kind of movie that makes you believe in the local film scene. When it comes down to it, it’s worth sitting through 100 crappy movies if that 101st movie is something HALF as good as Ink.
From Film School Rejects:
This is a movie that needs to be seen, and it’s a film that deserves to be celebrated…All in all, Ink is a movie that has the potential to reach cult status…Director Jamin Winans has created an indie that sets itself apart from other indies by attacking the fantasy/science fiction genre and displaying some incredible visuals – so much so that it should stand as a beacon for what indies are truly capable of, pushing that boundary just a little further.
From Your Hub Denver:
Ink looks every bit the product of a major production company. Jamin Winans is taking chances with Ink. Moviegoers should do the same.
From Midnight Showing:
The first thing that one notices about Jamin Winans film Ink, is that it is in an entire league of its own in terms of visual style…The editing is so precise, so flawless, that it begins to feel almost euphoric…This film exudes an aura of tremendous planning brought to life by even more impressive execution…But if Ink is anything, it’s a damn good story. The story is so luminary, so rife with honest humanity and emotion that it’s near impossible not to invoke some kind of serious, introspective moment within you while watching…Ink deserves a special place inside the hollowed halls of great intellectual cinema, here’s to hoping it takes its rightful places in that gallery one day.
Jamin Winans’ (11:59) new Indie film Ink has every element that a typical commercial film distributor looks for. And yet as it stands, Ink has yet to find a distributor.
The story of Ink is one of good versus evil, of love and loss and ultimately heroic redemption. It is a visually stunning, thoughtful fantasy adventure that receives excellent reviews from viewers and critical acclaim from critics. There is no doubt amongst the minds of many that Ink is destined to be a cult classic and that it is one of the best indie flicks to have been produced in recent years.
Described as “A Wonderful Life Meets Sin City” Ink is an epic that follows an 8 year old girl named Emma (Quinn Hunchar) as she is dragged through a mysterious dream-world by a mercenary named Ink who intends to use the girl as a means to elevate his standing on the darkside. In the real world Emma is in a coma, and across both worlds a variety of characters step up to fight for her life, including her father (Chris Kelly) who must, at the same time, battle his own inner demons.
Watch the first trailer now:
Ever since seeing the trailer for Jamin Winan’s (11:59) new Indie film, Ink, I’ve been keen to see it. My eagerness just shot up a notch after reading an extremely complimentary review by Cole Abaius over at Film School Rejects. Abaius basically describes the film as a must see and a work of art to be celebrated.
From Film School Rejects:
The film itself tells the story through sweeping visuals. Comparisons to Dark City are warranted, but Ink is far more dynamic, blending moments of intense light with the dankness of the city sewers, the sepia tones of a dream-like forest, and the brutish reality of John’s office life. All of this makes the dark moments that much more striking. Plus, the FX work done by Jamin Winans and company is mind-blowing considering the budget. The incubuses feature a glass plate which distorts their features into what looks like an electrified green static field, the initial fight scene features a cool effect where anything damaged (tables, chairs, windows) reform instantly so that reality won’t be disturbed, storytellers and Ink jump between the dream world and reality with a camera flash of brilliant light.
Still, it’s difficult to describe in words. This is a movie that needs to be seen, and it’s a film that deserves to be celebrated.
He also suggests that the movie has the potential to become a cult hit:
All in all, Ink is a movie that has the potential to reach cult status. It’s a dark fairy tale that is never quite fully dreamlike and never fully set in the real world. Director Jamin Winans has created an indie that sets itself apart from other indies by attacking the fantasy/science fiction genre and displaying some incredible visuals -- so much so that it should stand as a beacon for what indies are truly capable of, pushing that boundary just a little further.
With all that in mind, it is mind blowing to think that, just like Heath Ledger’s final movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Ink is still seeking a distributor.
Ink is coming out on Friday, March 13th, at the Starz Film Center at the Tivoli in Denver. The filmmakers are hoping that the release will catch the attention of a distributor. If you happen to be in Denver, this is a good shot at seeing a great film.
I can’t wait to see Ink and hope it gets picked up for wide distribution.
Head on over and read the full review at Film School Rejects.
If you haven’t seen the trailer, here it is:
Film School Rejects have alerted me to the second trailer for Indie sci-fi/fantasy film Ink.
Although only from 17 votes, it already has an 8.7 rating on the IMDB (I imagine mostly related to its premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival). According to Film School Rejects it will be released in about two weeks in Colorado buy with limited distribution. Let’s hope it picks up a distribution deal quickly -- it certainly looks worthy.
