DIPLOMACY on iTunes

Diplomacy has come to the iTunes Store! Download available in over 63 countries.

Link to the US iTunes store (1.99$ SD or 2.99$ HD):
http://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/diplomacy/id487803563

Everything you wanted to know about Global Frequency

...plus Diplomacy news and some savoury snippets.

In preparation for this article, I had a read through the first couple of issues of Global Frequency, and I really enjoyed it. There's an immense amount of possibilities for a potential TV series. In the hands of the right people, it could become great TV, whether with Michelle's involvement or not.

Global Frequency originates as a 12-issue comic series from Wildstorm Productions, consisting of a series of single-issue, standalone stories. Written by Ellis, with covers by Brian Wood, each stand-alone story in the series featured artwork by a different artist. Whilst separate, each of the stories centered around The Global Frequency, an independent, covert intelligence organization headed by a former intelligence agent who uses the alias of Miranda Zero. There are reportedly 1,001 people on the Global Frequency, forming an active smart mob communicating by specially modified video mobile phones through a central dispatch system coordinated by a young woman code-named Aleph.

The purpose of the organization is to protect and rescue the world from the consequences of the various secret projects that the governments of the world have established, which are unknown to the public at large. The people on the Global Frequency are chosen and called on for their specialized skills in a variety of areas, from military personnel, intelligence agents, police detectives to scientific researchers, academics, athletes, former criminals and assassins. These threats that the organization deals with are equally varied and usually world-threatening, ranging from rogue military operations and paranormal phenomena to terrorist attacks and religious cults.

If this news is true, this would be the second attempt by The CW (formally The WB) network to adapt the Wildstorm comic into a TV series, with the first attempt being in 2005, when they produced a pilot episode that was based heavily on the first issue of the comic. However, they never aired this pilot, and did not commission the series.



The original series proposal was prepared by Mark Burnett with Michelle Forbes as Miranda Zero, Josh Hopkins as Sean Flynn, Jenni Baird as Dr. Katrina Finch and Aimee Garcia as Aleph. The characters of Sean Flynn, an ex-policeman who accidentally stumbled on a Global Frequency mission and Katrina Finch, a brilliant scientist with expertise in multiple fields, were created especially for the series.

Unlike the comic book, which had an ever-changing cast of field agents, Flynn and Finch were to be regulars along with Zero and Aleph, with other Frequency members coming in as and when necessary in supporting roles. This would allow for the character continuity expected of a television series and yet allow other characters to be killed off as in the comic book.



John Rogers was the principal creative force behind the television incarnation, writing the pilot episode, with Ellis credited as producer and creator. Other writers waiting to come on board included David Slack, Ben Edlund and Diego Gutierrez. The pilot was directed by Nelson McCormick.

The unaired pilot was leaked onto the Internet in June 2005 and continues to be downloaded and shared, primarily via BitTorrent and other P2P networks. Although it was popular and critically acclaimed, according to Ellis himself the leaking of the pilot annoyed Warner Brothers to the extent that they killed the project.
Source:hypergeek.ca

...of course since it's coming to the CW than expect young GQ model looking performers and cheesy love triangles.
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I love those books. No way they can do them the same way on TV, given the gore and political overtones, but there's enough meat to the stories to make for a good show.
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It was an excellent comic. But without going to a cable station so they can swear, cut off limbs and the like... I'm not seeing it. :/ that's sad because it of so many comics from that era/genre/authorbunch would have been excellent with the right people behind it.
Source: boards.cityofheroes.com

I actually managed to somehow see said mystery pilot and freaking loved it. I thought Michelle Forbes was absolutely perfect as Miranda Zero and was hoping to see more. But it was never to be.

I’m cautiously optimistic. I despise the CW most greatly. It is all that is wrong with broadcast television. Suck suck sucking suck! I’m also worried that we won’t get to see Michelle Forbes reprise her role as Miranda Zero. I really think it’s time for her to get some steady work and Global Frequency would have been perfect. But we’ll see. I’m hoping Ellis gets some influence over the production. If it’s done right, Global Frequency will definitely fill the void left by Sara Conner Chronicles.
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I like the idea that while the Frequency is Global, we as a show focus on the exploits of the members in a large metropolitan area and the cases that they in particular are called on. Various members get called elsewhere for missions on occasion, but for the show to succeed we'd need a recurring cast in the field.

Plus that sets up the eventual "Global Frequency: London" "Global Frequency: Miami" "Global Frequency: LA" spin-offs.
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The problem is that, aside from holdovers Supernatural and Smallville, CW seems to be built around the teenage girl demographic.

Yeah, this was what I meant upthread when I said I wasn't sure if the CW was the best place for Global Frequency which is, let's be honest, not really your typical teen girl property. Really, the "special effects budget" issue isn't...only some of GF stories would really require a heavy effects expenditure to make happen. But then you have the fun of pitching stories which involve, say, rogue military cyborgs planning to murder-fuck everyone in the greater Los Angeles area, crazy Japanese scientists sculpting a cathedral out of human beings, and "two biofeedback-enhanced people beat the shit out of each other for thirty minutes until one makes the other eat his own arm" to the network that brought you Gossip Girl.
Source: angryzenmaster.com



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I remember reading something by Rogers where he commented that one reason his version didn't get picked up was because it was "too much of a downer ending". Not that you can't have downer endings for TV, especially nowadays, but when your *pilot* goes that route, it might not be as easy a sell.
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I'll second the Michelle Forbes Needs To Be Miranda Zero sentiment.

Whenever I see her in other stuff (BSG, In Treatment) I always exclaim 'Yes! It's Miranda Zero!' She owns that role.
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As for the downer ending...I can imagine why people wouldn't like it, but on the other hand, world rescue situations don't always end with people in jail and the rescuers on a mountain with enough vermouth to tank ten elephants. People die. Some are innocent, some are merely victims and just ended up being a part of something bad and not really knowing. But in the end the world/city/town is saved. At least until the next time it's in danger. And in all honesty I think that makes the story stronger.
Source: freakangels.com

Global Frequency? Yes please!

Not so much on the Michelle Forbes tho. She kicked ass on the leaked pilot, but True Blood has ruined her for me for a little while...
Source: io9.com



Diplomacy website has seen a revamp. A director's statement and the full list of cast & crew have been added. Moreover, a DVD will be available sometime next year.

The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran face great hurdles in re-establishing democratic relations after thirty years of antagonism and mistrust. Recent elections in both countries have only confounded expectations. Language is how we bridge differences and build trust, but there is no telling whether a common language can be found. Interpreters play and essential role in bridging that divide.

I intended "Diplomacy" as a piece of diplomacy in itself, to strike up a certain conversation. The way these interpret diplomacy may be outrageous, it may be unwise, and it may have ulterior motives. But at least they're talking. - Jon Goldman.


And finally:

mkuplens: Thinking about recently-seen TV, Durham County is probably one of the best North American series I've seen in a while.
Absolutely brilliant.
200dollarshirt: Pizza, beer, opening two parter to BSG 2.5. Purrrr. Michelle Forbes is sexy as hell. Now sleep.
JBTakaTheStory: Just finished watching Durham County. Sucha bomb series dont yall think? Havnt seen it? Watch ion television
jillkill: Blown away by Can. TV series Durham County-suicide, multiple murders, abduction, rape, voyeurism, infidelity,
creepy children- 1st episode!

Diplomacy Screenings - Festival Circuit

The short film Diplomacy is making a circuit around Europe's film festivals. Screenings have been announced for Derry, Northern Ireland and Bilbao, Spain.

* Nov 20 - 28, 2009: The 22nd Foyle Film Festival celebrates ‘Art & The Cinema’ – embracing cinema as an art form in itself but also as the magical vehicle that can give the audience an exciting and inspiring glimpse into other artistic worlds.
Diplomacy is scheduled for Saturday, 21st November, 4:00pm (The Nerve Centre Cinema 2, Derry)

* Nov 23 - 28, 2009: The 51st Bilbao International Festival of Documentary and Short Films will be held in Bilbao from November 23th until November 28th 2009.



Diplomacy, USA 2009, 9min Short
Relations between the United States and Iran take an unexpected turn when two senior diplomats and their interpreters meet for a closed-door session.
Written and directed by Jon Goldman
Cast: Michelle Forbes, Navid Neghaban, Omid Abtahi, Nazanin Boniadi

In July Diplomacy won the 'Prix du Public' at the Paris Cinéma International Film Festival.

Diplomacy at RIFF

Diplomacy will be screened tomorrow during the Official Closing Night Presentation "HIP, HOT AND SHORT: SALUTING THE ART OF THE SHORT FILM" of the Rhode Island International Film Festival (Providence, Columbus Theatre Arts Center, 6 PM)


(Michelle Forbes as U.S. Secretary of State)

Link to HR photo: »» diplomacy03HR.jpg

Diplomacy Screenings

The 9min short film Diplomacy (2009) will be screened at two Film Festivals in the U.S.



Los Angeles Shorts Festival, Monday July 27, 2009
»» Visit their website for more info



Rhode Island International Film Festival, Sunday August 9, 2009
»» The RIFF website

"On August 9, 2009, the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) will present "HIP, HOT AND SHORT: SALUTING THE ART OF THE SHORT FILM" the Official 2009 Closing Night Presentation. It will be an amazing evening of short films from around the world. - The RIIFF Closing Night Screening will take place on August 9, 2009 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Columbus Theatre Arts Center, 270 Broadway, Providence, RI."

Diplomacy has got a website: »» Di·plo·ma·cy

Diplomacy - Prix du Public at Paris Cinema International Festival

On Monday night the short film Diplomacy won the Prix du Public (Audience Award) at the Paris Cinema International Festival.

»» Interview with the director Jon Goldman in Paris.

Emilie from France kindly translated the text for us. Welcome to our blog, Emilie, and thanks so much!

After 'Kind of a Blur' here is the second Jon Goldman's short film in the competition. Nine minutes between tension and comedy for a meeting at the top. Diplomacy offers a confidential entry into the world of international diplomacy...

You are yourself a translator. Is this movie autobiographical ?

Well it's a bit complicated. I don't work in the world of diplomacy but in the movie business. I translate scripts from French to English. However I've been familiar with this kind of situation because as a translator, you often have the opportunity to change words for the sake of a better meaning. It's impossible to translate directly: between two languages there are two cultures. So you have to understand and really know the culture, not just the meaning.



It is a very precise film with a lot of attention to the details. How did the filming go?

First there was a huge amount of work put into the writing. Each word had to find its place. We shot the movie in two days in February. We edited it three months ago. That was before the elections in Iran but Obama was already president. At this moment I was really interested in what was going on between Iran and the United States. I imagined there was a possibility for a dialogue between the two of them.
For me it It was a difficult project but very fascinating. The editing style had to follow the rhythm of the dialogue and, at the same time, give enough time to read the subtitles. And we needed to be able to listen to the person talking at that moment and observe the reactions of the others.

How did you direct the actors?

The directions were very precise. Rehearsals were intense. They often wanted to change something but it was really difficult to allow space for improvisation in this movie. If they did propose a modification I had to think about it for 24h just to be sure whether it was right or wrong.

Did people see the film in Iran? How did they react?

I showed it to some Iranian politicians and journalists. Everyone who's seen it loved it. I've been told it was very difficult to show it to the people in Iran but thankfully there is YouTube!
So I intend to add a translation in Farsi for the Iranian version because some details about the language escape the viewer of the English version.

Diplomacy synopsis:

The American Secretary of State is about to meet the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs. They both have an interpreter: Michael for the United States and Azar, a radiant young woman, for Iran. Faced with increasing tension, they improvise a tacit strategy and change the dignitaries’ words. Jon Goldman does a brilliant and energetic description of exchanges during negotiation, making us feel the tension which is about to explode. Based on a topical subject, the film brings up the latent lack of understanding between Iran and the United States and calls a general question on a possible dialogue between the two countries. Through a lucid sense of irony, the film suggests that, sometimes, moving a few words could change things, as diplomatic relations often hang by the subtle thread of rhetoric.

Cast: Michelle Forbes, Navid Neghaban, Omid Abtahi, Nazanin Boniadi

Diplomacy will have its U.S. premiere at the Rhode Island International Film Festival August 4-9.

DIPLOMACY - Screening at Festival Paris Cinéma

The 9min short film Diplomacy (2009) will be screened at the Festival Paris Cinéma (July 2-14, 2009). Michelle plays the U.S. Secretary of State.

Directed by Jon Goldman, the film will take part in the International Short Films Competition. Set against 16 other graceful, creative and promising films, to win awards from the audience, jury and a special 'Prize of Emotion'. I couldn't find a schedule (date and time) **, but the venue is MK2 Bibliothèque, 128-162, avenue de France, Métro: Bibliothèque François Mitterrand / Quai de la Gare :)

You can watch a short video clip on dailymotion.com

According to IMDb original music is provided by Christopher Tin. Head over to his website to listen to samples of his work!





** The website has been updated. Schedule:
Vendredi 10 juillet 2009
13h30 : Diplomacy, Jon Goldman, présenté par le réalisateur
Samedi 11 juillet 2009
13h30 : Diplomacy, Jon Goldman, présenté par le réalisateur
(--chris)