Congratulations Ben + Cole!!!

In a 4th quarter blitz, Doritos played their last spot of the night – Snack Attack Samurai by CBer, Minneapolis based team of Ben Krueger and Cole Koehler and starring a familiar face, Mike Rylander. So huge kudos to Ben, Cole, Mike and the whole team who surpassed 4,000 other entries and made it all the way to the Super Bowl! Way to represent Minnesota!

Day 2 of 3 for the YTY Video Wrapped

Saturday we finished shooting the first of two story scenes in the Youth Teaching Youth video. This short scenario entitled The Team, touches on the consequences of underage drinking.

It was great getting to work with a new age group – 10-14 year olds. They kept the set very entertaining, while delivering some great performances. Here are just a few more behind-the-scene shots from the locker room scene:

Vote on the Genres for this Year’s 48-Hour Film Project

The 48-Hour Film Project wants to hear from you – the filmmaker and the viewer! What are your favorite and least favorite genres? Do you have a suggestion for the character, prop or line of dialogue they should use? If so, click HERE to submit your suggestions now!

If you take the survey, we’d love to hear what your suggestions were and what genres you like and dislike. Post a comment with your answers – open dialogue!

Kristin’s Vote
Least Favorite Genre: stoner film
Favorite Genre: family film
Genre Suggestion: romantic-comedy
Character/Occupation: Belle or Beau Drummond, corporate executive
Prop: jump rope
Line of Dialogue: “Why didn’t I think of that!”

Justin’s Vote
Least Favorite Genre: Stoner Film – I honestly have no point of reference
Favorite Genre: Family Film – did wonders for us last year
Genre Suggestion: Kids, with guns and dogs – a producer’s nightmare [love you Kristin]
Character/Occupation: Mr. Bojangles, professional fly slapper
Prop: a novelty sized Q-tip
Line of Dialogue: “Yeah, you better run!”

Minneapolis Represents!

Last April, 26 teams from Minneapolis participated in the 24-Hour Film Race. The best film from each city moved on to compete against the other 19 best films from cities across the country. Blowing Bubbles by Team X [Joe Schneider] won best film for Minneapolis [our entry, A Chance with Destiny was first runner-up]. Of the top 20 films across the country, it was announced today that Blowing Bubbles was named Best Film of the 2009 Film Racing Tour!! Congratulations to Joe Schneider and Team X!

Another team that’s representing Minneapolis is Cole and Ben with their finalist status in Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest. Help them go all the way by voting everyday HERE!

Way to go Minnesota!!

ATL is with Team Coco!

This last week in entertainment has been full of drama that NBC only wished they could have written for a primetime show. Unfortunately, the drama has emerged from broken promises and tactless maneuvers from the big-wigs at NBC. After being asked if he would be willing to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 a.m. EST to accomodate Jay Leno moving back to 11:35 p.m., Conan O’Brien declined, releasing a statement that he would not accept an offer “that is [the Tonight Show's] destruction.”

As long time fans of Conan O’Brien, we are in full support of him and his decision to decline the NBC offer. It would be fantastic if NBC was to realize how ridiculous they are being and to retract the offer to Jay Leno and leave the Tonight Show as is. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case. So, wherever Conan goes, we will follow. After all, it’s Uncle Conzy.

In light of this dramatic-entertainment-whirl-wind, here’s a few links to some comedy that has emerged. Bittersweet – enjoy.

Day 1 of YTY video wrapped

Our most recent collaboration has been with the Youth Teaching Youth [YTY] organization sponsored by the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Anoka County + 4-H. Based on facts and statistics provided by YTY, we wrote a script for a 10-15 minute video about alcohol awareness. The video will be played in 5th grade classrooms.

On a very early Saturday morning, it was a monologue intensive shoot for these teens, but by 2:30 p.m. we were wrapped. We still have at least one and a half shoot days to go.

What Do You Want to See on the Super Bowl?

Here’s your chance to help decide what commercials you see during this year’s Super Bowl. Don’t forget to vote today and every day until January 31st for your favorite Crash the Super Bowl finalist. Not only will you help three of the six spots air during the biggest commercial night of the year, but you will also be entered for a chance to win Super Bowl tickets each time you vote!! Win/Win situation.

We encourage voting for Snack Attack Samurai click HERE to vote.

To view the other finalists, click here.

Entire Season of ‘Word on the Street’ Now Online

All six episodes of Word on the Street are now online. Here are sneak peeks for episodes 3-6. Check out the Word on the Street tab to view full episodes.

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Doritos’ Top 6 Finalists Announced!

Congratulations to this year’s top 6 finalists in the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl Contest!! With over 4,000 entries it’s quite a feat to be recognized as one of the six best. Now comes the final leg of the race – to be voted as one of the top 3 favorites and have your spot air during the 2010 Super Bowl! So, without further adieu, here are Doritos’ picks for their top 6:

Snack Attack Samurai by CBer
House Rules by de_jesus77
Kids These Days by BlackMariaStudios
Casket by ms
Underdog by jwsvoboda
The Smackout by BHAYWARD

It should be noted that two weeks ago we posted our picks/predictions for the top 6, two of which happen to actually be in the top 6. But one specifically stands out to us – ‘Snack Attack Samurai’ by CBer. Now, although this spot stars a good friend of Above-the-Line, Mike Rylander [aka 'Kevin Schnabel'], we chose this entry to be in our top 6 because we thought it was truly original and funny with great production value. Apparently Doritos also agreed.

So, it goes without saying that Above-the-Line Entertainment is fully supporting ‘Snack Attack Samurai’ by CBer in this year’s Crash the Super Bowl Contest. We hope that you will also get in on the fun and help to get their spot on the Super Bowl and a chance at winning $1,000,000. You can vote once a day, every day until January 31. And just by voting you could win a pair of tickets to the Super Bowl!

January 5 isn’t only the date 4,000+ teams have been waiting for for the last two months, it’s also the celebration of ATL’s good + loyal friend’s birthday, Logan Martin [as seen on the show Word on the Street] – Happy Birthday Logan!!

Here Comes 2010!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2009 has come and gone. We entered one online contest, produced 6 episodes of Word on the Street and made 3 short films – one in 24 hours, one in 48 hours and one in 504 hours. In addition, we both started new jobs outside of ATL in our roles – writer/director and producer. These positions have both challenged and strengthened our knowledge, skills and passion for what we do.

On the business front, we’re currently working on two educational videos. We’ve also become busy on requests for transferring VHS home videos to DVDs. This has been a great service for the business and very satisfying personally knowing that we’re helping families to preserve memories that may otherwise become lost on deteriorating tapes.

So, in addition to business needs and requests, what’s on the docket for Above-the-Line in 2010?
- focus on writing [features and shorts]
- partner with our friends at Black Dirt Theater on multiple upcoming projects
- participate in the 48-Hour Film Project
- participate in the 24-Hour Film Race
- produce at least one film outside the film competitions

Thank you to everyone for your support, encouragement, and interest in Above-the-Line over the last few years. Raise a glass and toast to 2010!