Raimi has Panic attack

A note to all you directors posting your short films online: keep it up and you just might get a seven-figure deal from Sam Raimi. Fede Alvarez posted his $500 short film ATAQUE DE PANICO! (PANIC ATTACK) earlier this month on YouTube and wound up getting quite a bit of notice after Kanye West posted the video on his site. Suddenly he was taking meetings all over Hollywood and signed a deal with David Fincher's Anonymous Content. Shortly thereafter, he met with Raimi and his Ghost House Productions team who signed him to lucrative deal to direct a new film based on an idea Alvarez pitched.

For now Alvarez will receive a six-figure holding deal while Raimi and his crew hire a screenwriter to flesh out the pitch, about an alien invasion, into a production-ready script. Raimi will produce the film and while Ghost House has a first look deal with Sony Pictures, it's unclear where the film will wind up.

I've included Alvarez's original short below so you can get a sample of his skills. Certainly looks like it cost a lot more than $500. Pretty impressive stuff, eh?

Source: Variety

Extra Tidbit: Alvarez is already being called the "next Neil Blomkamp."

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14 discussions Expand all

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+0

diblob
8:38AM on 12/01/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

It's like a Michael Bay film, but with District 9 style grit and effects. Not bad.

It's like a Michael Bay film, but with District 9 style grit and effects. Not bad.

 

+1

The Wretched
6:41AM on 12/01/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

Nope

There's no way once you add all the variables that this film cost a mere 500...I smell....bull!

There's no way once you add all the variables that this film cost a mere 500...I smell....bull!

 

+1

Housecoat man
7:27PM on 11/30/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

What's more impressive is the fact that Kanye West apparently put the spotlight on someone other than himself! Now that's amazing! I will say it has some wow factor going for it with the effects which is a good lesson to anyone trying to break into the biz.

What's more impressive is the fact that Kanye West apparently put the spotlight on someone other than himself! Now that's amazing! I will say it has some wow factor going for it with the effects which is a good lesson to anyone trying to break into the biz.

 

-1

Dead as History
6:00PM on 11/30/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

That was cool and everything, but do we really need another alien invasion movie? I love me some sci fi, but I'd rather see a fresh idea.

That was cool and everything, but do we really need another alien invasion movie? I love me some sci fi, but I'd rather see a fresh idea.

 

+2

frackinjackson
4:00PM on 11/30/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

Directors use actors.

A very good reel to get a job at an effects house... A 6 figure movie director? I'm not convinced. Anybody remember Spawn - directed by a special effects ace - crap film. Or Sky Captain? Where's the human element? At least Blompkamp used actors.

A very good reel to get a job at an effects house... A 6 figure movie director? I'm not convinced. Anybody remember Spawn - directed by a special effects ace - crap film. Or Sky Captain? Where's the human element? At least Blompkamp used actors.

 

+2

csdot
3:56PM on 11/30/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

wow. THAT got him a 7 figure deal?? as mentioned already, the only thing impressive about that is the effects, nothing about that shows me the guy can make a movie. theres absolutely nothing original about this and the shaky cam "real footage" crap needs to die off already. its just an overblown videogame cutscene.

wow. THAT got him a 7 figure deal?? as mentioned already, the only thing impressive about that is the effects, nothing about that shows me the guy can make a movie. theres absolutely nothing original about this and the shaky cam "real footage" crap needs to die off already. its just an overblown videogame cutscene.

 

-1

SoundGirl
2:27PM on 11/30/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

I'll agree that there's not much of a story in the short, but I don't think there needs to be. To me it feels like a filmed equivalent to a one liner. It works very well as a selling device for a feature (which can spend as much time as it wants developing characters affected by giant attacking robots).

I'll agree that there's not much of a story in the short, but I don't think there needs to be. To me it feels like a filmed equivalent to a one liner. It works very well as a selling device for a feature (which can spend as much time as it wants developing characters affected by giant attacking robots).

 

+0

AlcoholicZombie
2:16PM on 11/30/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

I dug it because of the 28 days later score. Fyi, when robots come walking in and raising their hands, they are not looking for handshakes. Don't do a report on the robots with such a calm attitude. :]

I dug it because of the 28 days later score. Fyi, when robots come walking in and raising their hands, they are not looking for handshakes. Don't do a report on the robots with such a calm attitude. :]

 

+0

Skellington
1:29PM on 11/30/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

So where are the skills ?
I mean, sure, it looks impressive for its cost, and the dude sure knows how to use that FX software, but there is no script, and nothing special about the directing. Its basically an overlong music video. Still impressive, I wish I could to that, but I dont care about anything going on, there is no story.

So where are the skills ?
I mean, sure, it looks impressive for its cost, and the dude sure knows how to use that FX software, but there is no script, and nothing special about the directing. Its basically an overlong music video. Still impressive, I wish I could to that, but I dont care about anything going on, there is no story.

 

+0

punkjumpu
12:42PM on 11/30/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

I agree with "IQuitMrWhite"; visually impressive but not enough to warrant the praise. GORGEOUS camera angles and I'm guessing he did the FX work with Blender (free 3D software)and a few of the other effects packages. All in all, nicely done and filmed but nothing spectacular. From a film makers standpoint though, the shots were breathtaking and what human actors were used were *well* staged.

I agree with "IQuitMrWhite"; visually impressive but not enough to warrant the praise. GORGEOUS camera angles and I'm guessing he did the FX work with Blender (free 3D software)and a few of the other effects packages. All in all, nicely done and filmed but nothing spectacular. From a film makers standpoint though, the shots were breathtaking and what human actors were used were *well* staged.

 

+0

The_DUDE_Abides
11:52AM on 11/30/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

It's not bad if did in fact only cost $500 to make. Otherwise it's just sci-fi channel quality special effects at best.

It's not bad if did in fact only cost $500 to make. Otherwise it's just sci-fi channel quality special effects at best.

 

+5

IQuitMrWhite
10:41AM on 11/30/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

Not impressed. Neil Blomkamp's early videos proved he could handle dialogue, human emotions, social commentary, and politics with ease and flair...this is just a guy showing off with whatever software he paid a shitload of money for. Thanks to District 9 and Cloverfield, I have a feeling we're gonna keep seeing more of these wannabees.

Not impressed. Neil Blomkamp's early videos proved he could handle dialogue, human emotions, social commentary, and politics with ease and flair...this is just a guy showing off with whatever software he paid a shitload of money for. Thanks to District 9 and Cloverfield, I have a feeling we're gonna keep seeing more of these wannabees.

 

+1

pcch7
10:28AM on 11/30/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

not that impressive.. well I mean, for 500$ it is but it´s just effects..

not that impressive.. well I mean, for 500$ it is but it´s just effects..

 

-2

Fancyclaps
10:11AM on 11/30/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile

Great short!

Really impressive for just 500$, but does a feature really need to be made about this? It's WotW all over again, mixed with ID4.

The director looks like he has talent (the opening was awesome) but give him a different script.

Really impressive for just 500$, but does a feature really need to be made about this? It's WotW all over again, mixed with ID4.

The director looks like he has talent (the opening was awesome) but give him a different script.