Canon EOS Rebel T2i

My new camera. Here is a short video test. 18-55mm stock lens. 1920 x 1080 full HD. 24fps.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i camera test - 1920 x 1080 full HD - 24fps - 18-55mm stock lens from Alexander Monelli on Vimeo.

"Dingleberry" on Youtube

Just put the 2006 fairy tale, "Dingleberry" on youtube. It was previously on dailymotion.com as well. The youtube version contains one extra scene. So watch it now. You haven't seen anything, until you've seen everything!
(yes, I stole that line from the Star Wars special edition trailer).

"Making The Grave" Trailer

Here is the trailer for the new documentary I am cutting about the making of my college thesis film, "The Grave." Enjoy.

"The Grave" Documentary

Good news Grave fans (all 2 of you), I am currently cutting a documentary about the making of The Grave. It will include behind the scenes footage and pictures from the shooting of the film, interviews with myself and cast/crew members, scenes from the movie, and even some deleted scenes and bloopers, and more. It should be ready for sometime around the new year.

Sony HVR-Z1U HDV Camera Test

Sony HVR-Z1U HDV Camera Test from Alexander Monelli on Vimeo.

"The Grave" earns an Accolade Award

"The Grave" has won an Accolade Award. The contest has three levels of winners (Best in Show, Award of Excellence, Award of Merit). "The Grave" won the Award of Merit, which is the 3rd place category. Check out their website: http://www.accoladecompetition.org

"The Grave" wins Best Student Film

"The Grave" won the award for Best Student Film last weekend at the Prometheus Film Festival. The student film category also included animated films and music videos. http://www.ydr.com/living/ci_15951315?source=rss

Above: Me and "Actor" Rob Rudzinski at the event taking things seriously because film is serious... and doing a little Q&A after the screening.

New Trailer for "The Grave"

Check out this brand new short trailer I edited for "The Grave." It was made for the Prometheus Film Festival website (which is why I put the film festival logos in it) but I ended up not uploading it in the end... so I figured I would put it here... Let me know what you think:

"The Grave" trailer from Alexander Monelli on Vimeo.

More Critiques of "The Grave"

I submitted "The Grave" to the DC Shorts Film Festival (for the sole reason they give every entry feedback from judges about their movie). It did not get accepted, but they left me some good and some bad reviews. Here is what they said...

GOOD STUFF:

"The acting was great."

"Nice camerawork."

"Interesting ideas... good raw concepts."

BAD STUFF:

"Plot was extremely underdeveloped, lacking in any explanation or conclusion."

"The sound editing was not particularly good."

"Had so much potential. Very disappointed."

And someone actually wrote, "this movie cannot be Saved by the Bell"... Haha I think that one should go on the DVD cover.

Basically, they all seemed to think the plot was confusing or unexplained at the end. This is true and false. I could say they "didn't get the movie" or I can say I was lazy and left too much up to the audience to interpret. Instead, I will say that I would be honored to have this movie compared to Saved By The Bell.

Dingleberry: The Criterion Collection

The epic fairy tale "Dingleberry" and a special "Making of" documentary are now available to view online at dailymotion.com.

"Dingleberry" tells the story of Prince Engelbert, the man with the biggest wiener in all of Dingleberry. But when an evil witch places a spell on him, shrinking his giant penis down to the size of a baby's, an unlikely friendship with a talking tampon named String teaches him a valuable lesson.

The short film was made in 2006 for an editing class. The documentary was made in 2007 for a documentary class.

http://www.dailymotion.com/Monellifilms/1#hp-h-8

Prometheus Film Festival 8/27 - 8/28

"The Grave" will be screened at the Prometheus Film Festival on Friday August 27th and Saturday the 28th in York, PA. The screening on the 27th will be during the 9pm film block. The screening on the 28th will be in the afternoon at 12:45. Check out their website for more information: http://www.prometheusfilmfestival.org/

"The Grave" to screen at Vintage Theater in Scranton, PA

"The Grave" will be screened at the Vintage Theater in Scranton, Pennsylvania in mid-September. More details coming. Check out their website at http://www.scrantonsvintagetheater.com/

"The Grave" screens at LIIFE

"The Grave" screened at the Long Island International Film Expo last Thursday, July 8th. There was a big ass crowd on hand all night. I went with my girlfriend, Amanda, who took both of the pictures I posted. I went up on stage for a little Q&A afterwards and answered some questions from the crowd. Some people sought me out to tell me they enjoyed the film. Fuck those who didn't (just kidding... but seriously). Anyway, it was a great time. Looking forward to the next one..

http://liifilmexpo.org/sections/films10/The%20Grave.html

Imdb

Check out "The Grave" on imdb.com - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1458642/

Film Festivals

So far "The Grave" has been accepted to the following festivals:

Pocono Mountains Film Festival - (October 2009)
Long Island International Film Expo - (July 2010)
Long Island Film Festival - (October 2010)
Prometheus Film Festival - (August 2010)

Still waiting to hear from others and always looking for more to submit to.

Two Reviews of "The Grave"

Here is what some people have said about my senior thesis film, "The Grave."

"It was a distinct privilege to view your fine film and speak with you about your work.
I felt your film was one of the finer works in the festival.
In addition to its artful creation and execution, it also clearly held its audience.
This is the kind of work that deserves the exposure and recognition that a Festival can confer.
Your resonant work, with its grounding in tradition, has some importance and I hope that you will continue to refine your craft.
Clearly you have the potential to create some wonderful films in the future."
-Ken Fitch, Pocono Mountains Film Festival (October 2009)


"The Grave was super -- an old-school Poe-ish story, but shot with lots of atmosphere and, for me, a very seductive knack and attention to period detail, even when using [C.W.] Post locales, which I know ain't easy, so much so that this might be the first student film with a historical context I've ever seen."
-Mike Atkinson - Author, Film Critic, Professor

"The Grave" accepted to Long Island Film Festival - October 2010

"The Grave" has just been accepted into the 27th annual Long Island Film Festival. It will screen late October 2010 in the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, Long Island. Check out the website here: http://lifilm.org

Under the section "Film Previews for 2010" you can read about The Grave.

Long Island International Film Expo - July 8th

"The Grave" will be screened Thursday night, July 8th, at the Long Island International Film Expo in Bellmore, NY. So if you're in Long Island come out at 9:30pm to the Bellmore Theater for a taste of 1800's mystery and macabre.

http://liifilmexpo.org/sections/films10/The%20Grave.html