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Getting people to see a movie in a theater is a craft seemingly as mysterious as anything done to make the movie itself. It’s also one that is open to a wide degree of creativity, as proved by the degree of success Steven Lewis Simpson has achieved for his indie feature “Neither Wolf nor Dog.”

“I opened in certain theaters where I knew the film would do well,” says Simpson, who wrote, directed, produced, shot and edited the picture, and says it has had the longest first theatrical run of any film this decade. “Neither Wolf nor Dog” premiered Jan. 20, 2017, on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and went on to play small towns across the northern United States. It’s played in theaters in a dozen states, and is still booking them. The movie comes for the first time to the Los Angeles area with a run that started Sept.

Independent filmmaker Steven Lewis Simpson takes on many roles in “Neither Wolf Nor Dog”: He simultaneously serves as a director, producer, cinematographer, editor and co-screenwriter, and for some films, having the director serve in many roles benefits the storytelling.

However, in this particular movie (which is based on co-screenwriter Kent Nerburn’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name), it would have behooved Simpson to consult others — not just regarding direction, editing and writing, but perhaps just to speak to someone else before taking on this particular narrative and creating yet another Native American story told through a white man’s lens that benefits absolutely no one.

Kent Nerburn receives a mysterious call from a Native American woman who says her grandfather requested she call him, and that Newburn needs to come meet with him. Although hesitant (and seemingly angry) about it, Kent drives more than 400 miles to meet with the elderly grandfather,...

Two Brian Cox-starrers and a documentary focus on female directors are amongst this year’s programme of films.

The Edinburgh International Film Festival has unveiled the Scottish selection for it 69th edition (June 15-26).

As previously announced, the festival will open with Tommy’s Honour (world premiere), starring Peter Mullan and Jack Lowden, and will close with Whisky Galore!, starring Gregor Fisher, James Cosmo and Eddie Izzard (world premiere).

Veteran actor Brian Cox has two features in the selection, János Edelényi’s comedy The Carer [pictured] and Jon Cassar’s western Forsaken, in which he stars alongside both Kiefer and Donald Sutherland.

Scottish actor Rose Leslie will star alongside Ray Liotta and Gina Rodriguez in family drama Sticky Notes, from director Amanda Sharp.

Angus Macfadyen, known for playing Robert the Bruce in Braveheart, makes his directorial debut with Macbeth Unhinged, a black-and-white retelling of the Shakespearian tragedy.

This year’s Scottish Documentary Institute’s Bridging the Gap series...

London, Dec 6: A mysterious video has emerged on YouTube, which shows a glowing alien-like creature floating in the waters of Bristol Harbour.

The footage has caused a stir on social networking sites and even experts cannot agree on what the uploader, John Tombe has captured on camera.

Witnesses said that the squid-like being flashed brightly in the darkness for around half a minute before disappearing, the Independent reported.

Dr Steve Simpson, from the School of Biological Sciences at Bristol University, saw the footage and told the Bristol Post that it's very intriguing but he doesn't really know what to make.

This article originally appeared in If Magazine #148 (August-September 2012).

For his latest project, director Luke Eve took to the skies . literally. ABC TV.s new documentary series Great Southern Land had him soaring in helicopters and scaling skyscrapers in order to obtain a unique top-down view of the systems and networks that make our society tick.

It was a challenging project for the former Tropfest winner in more ways than one: .Before I shot this I was scared of heights,. he confesses to If Magazine. .Yet I spent the majority of the shoot either up on tall buildings or hanging out of helicopters. It was a bizarre project for me to take on board, considering that..

The series concept came from executive producer Steve Bibb of Cordell Jigsaw, who was inspired by international equivalents Britain From Above and America Revealed. .We look at systems we take for granted in everyday life,...

There is an ongoing love affair between established filmmakers and Tvc work, and the new Commonwealth Bank campaign is a perfect example of this phenomenon, having been helmed by acclaimed French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie, Micmacs).

How did this high-profile filmmaker end up shooting a poodle in the streets of Melbourne? Miguel Gonzalez writes.

The new Cba campaign is a departure from the previous ‘Agency’ concept.

“The main message is still the same, that the bank is determined to support the community in different ways (Grants, which presents a little girl in pure Amelie style and highlights the staff’s community efforts) and to solve your problems quickly (Bulldog, in which the romantic advances of a CGI-enhanced bulldog are frustrated by the bank’s quick service) or by calling you back if they don’t answer first time (Call You Back, the melodramatic story of a housewife rescued by bank staff),” explained Goodby,...