Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The Short List - New Short Film Festival



Hey Filmmakers!!

Check out this very cool, unique new short film festival programmed by friend Nancy Collet.



Tuesday, August 28, 2012

SXSW and Me (Your Vote Needed....Again!)



Hey All!

I know you are sick of voting online for various things, but that seems to be all the rage these days, so…..

I've been submitted for a panel at SXSW where I'd be interviewing filmmaker Jayce Bartok with the focus on "Building An Audience Before Your Film Is Released".

SXSW picks the panels based on public voting, so….here we go again! It's a hassle, I know, but what's cool about all this voting stuff is that it puts the power in YOUR hands!
You must register to vote (it takes less than 20 seconds!). Then vote.

Register:

Vote:

Thanks so much!!

Best,
J.

"The Revenant" Opened on Friday!!



My buddy Kerry Prior's film "The Revenant" (on which I am generously credited as a Producer) opened on Friday!! Go see it if you can!! Here's the screening schedule: http://therevenantmovie.com/showings2.html

And you can vote for it to come to your town: http://therevenantmovie.com/vote1.html

Finally, here's a great review in Variety: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117948111/


Thursday, August 23, 2012

FINAL REMINDER: Filmmakers Alliance Screening at Echo Park Film Center Tomorrow Night!



Films and Filmmakers - that's what it's all about!

The next FA Screening at The Echo Park Film Center is Friday, August 24th at 7:30 p.m.

Come and see what FA members and other members of the LA and global filmmaking community are up to creatively, and support the great work that the EPFC people are doing in our community. The center is a volunteer run organization that offers fantastic super 8mm film classes, youth classes, and much more, so we do ask that you leave a $5 donation at the door to help keep the Center going.

There is a brief Q&A after each film, not to mention complimentary food & drinks. So come on out and eat, drink, connect and watch!

Screening sponsored by CAZT! (https://www.cazt.com/)

Here’s the line-up:

Dol (First Birthday)
11 mins.
Dir: Andrew Ahn
Nick is a gay Korean-American man living in Koreatown, Los Angeles with his partner Brian and their dog Chloe. When Nick attends his baby nephew's 'dol,' a traditional Korean first birthday party, he finds himself yearning for a life just out of reach.

Izzy & Salvador
6 mins.
Director: Jean-Pierre Caner
A road trip to meet the parents gives a couple time to discuss their future.

The Arm
9 mins.
Directors: Jessie Ennis, Sarah Ramos and Brie Larson
To keep up with social pressure in a technologically advanced world, Chance starts a texting relationship with Genevieve—a girl he meets at a yogurt shop. But tragedy forces Chance to realize that he was never in a relationship at all.

Avocados
7 mins.
Director: Kataneh Vahdani
Avocados takes us on a one-day journey in an unknown city, where we live through the points of view of different characters, from different cultures, all with different desires.

Playtime
14 mins.
Director: Lucas Mireles
A seamless journey of German youth and innocence on a Sunday afternoon.

Another Bullet Dodged
13 mins.
Director: Landon Zakheim
A wolf in sheep's clothing who thinks he is a sheep.

Total program running time: 60 mins.

Hope to see you all there!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Cinereach 2012 Grant Cycle is Open - Deadline September 4th



Hey All!!

That awesome org, Cinereach, is now accepting Letters of Inquiry for its 2012 Grant Cycle!!

The submission deadline is Tuesday, September 4th at 7:00 PM (EST).

Cinereach will award grants of up to $50,000 to a selection of feature length fiction and nonfiction films at any stage of production, from development through post.

If you intend to apply, please visit the How to Apply, Priorities & Guidelines, and FAQ on their website.


Thursday, August 2, 2012

Filmmakers Alliance Screening at Echo Park Film Center




Films and Filmmakers - that's what it's all about!

The next Filmmakers Alliance Screening at The Echo Park Film Center is Friday, August 24th at 7:30 p.m.

Come and see what FA members and other members of the LA and global filmmaking community are up to creatively, and support the great work that the EPFC people are doing in our community. The center is a volunteer run organization that offers fantastic super 8mm film classes, youth classes, and much more, so we do ask that you leave a $5 donation at the door to help keep the Center going.

There is a brief Q&A after each film, not to mention complimentary food & drinks. So come on out and eat, drink, connect and watch!

Screening sponsored by CAZT!

Here’s the line-up:

Dol (First Birthday)
11 mins.
Director: Andrew Ahn
When Nick attends his baby nephew's 'dol,' a traditional Korean first birthday party, he finds himself yearning for a life just out of reach.


Izzy & Salvador
6 mins.
Director: Jean-Pierre Caner
A road trip to meet the parents gives a couple time to discuss their future.


Avocados
7 mins.
Director: Kataneh Vahdani
Avocados takes us on a one-day journey in an unknown city, where we live through the points of view of different characters, from different cultures, all with different desires.


Playtime
14 mins.
Director: Lucas Mireles
A seamless journey of German youth and innocence on a Sunday afternoon.


Another Bullet Dodged
13 mins.
Director: Landon Zakheim
A wolf in sheep's clothing who thinks he is a sheep.


Total program running time: 51 mins.

Hope to see you all there!


FA Screening at The Echo Park Film Center
Friday, August 24th 7:30 p.m.
Echo Park Film Center
1200 N Alvarado Street
Los Angeles, CA 90026
www.echoparkfilmcenter.org

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

First Mondays!!



For those of you who don’t know, FIRST MONDAYS is the regular “hang” we started in Los Angeles with FA members and a bunch of other interesting filmmaking peeps we know. This is our 4th "First Mondays" and we'll be doing it the first Monday of every month somewhere in LA. Usually a bar, but sometimes a museum, art gallery, a library, somebody's house, etc. The idea is to continually bring together the most interesting and/or creative people we stumble across. And as we all well know, that certainly is not necessarily filmmakers. But that's where we're starting. Feel free, however, to bring whomever - hopefully, the most INTERESTING person or persons you know. And no need to fear, this is a hang, NOT a networking event. No agendas allowed.

Hope you can make it!

NEXT FIRST MONDAYS - August 6th, 2012!
6 p.m. until 10 p.m. (or anytime thereafter)

THE DEN (West Hollywood)
Featuring Mystery Monday:
$1 Mystery Beers
$2 Mystery Shots

8226 W. Sunset Blvd.
W. Hollywood, CA 90046

Parking:
The Den has its own parking lot with valet parking.
Valet parking is $5 from Sunday through Wednesday
There’s also street parking and other nearby lots.

Misfire: The Rise and Fall of The Shooting Gallery


Hey All,

This is from my friend filmmaker Whitney Ransick, who's doc is awesome. Please respond, if you can. In the meantime, please LIKE the film's Facebook page (if you are on FB, of course).


Thanks so much!!


Misfire: The Rise and Fall of The Shooting Gallery

As we're making the doc we're continuing to look for any and all media related to TSG; from production stills to videos...anything. It's amazing what people have found, many items people don't even realize they have (like this old business card). If you have anything and what to contribute, we'd be grateful for your help.

Please email us at TSGdocumentary@gmail.com


Best,
Whitney

No Budget Film School This Weekend!!

Below is from my friend and FA Board Member Mark Stolaroff. If you are serious about making films you can afford to make, DO NOT miss this seminar.

I will be teaching my two-day no-budget filmmaking class, "The Art & Science of No Budget Filmmaking" on August 4-5, 2012.

I will be joined by some excellent guest speakers, including writer/director Michael Mohan, who will discuss his no-budget feature One Too Many Mornings, which premiered in Sundance in 2010, and his new feature Save The Date, which premiered there this year, and was picked up by IFC Films; Louise Runge and Samantha Housman, producers of the recent no-budget hit, 28 Hotel Rooms, which premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and was picked up for distribution by Oscilloscope Pictures; post production guru Jacob Rosenberg, the Chief Technology Officer at Bandito Brothers, the media company best known for producing the studio film Act Of Valor, which was partially shot on inexpensive DSLR cameras; back by popular demand, my former colleague at Next Wave Films, Peter Broderick, President of Paradigm Consulting and one of the most sought-after distribution consultants in the world. And finally, Drake Doremus, director of Like Crazy and Douchebag.

Attendees can take each class separately, each day seperately, or, for the full no-budget filmmaking immersion, the whole two-weekend, four-day bundle together, at a special package price. Register before midnight July 21st and take advantage of the Early Bird discount, and Students with a valid ID save even more. And just to sweeten the pot, everyone who registers receives a free copy of Movie Magic's Screenwriter software absolutely FREE, (a $250 value!); and will also get valuable discounts on Showbiz Expo's Budgeting and Scheduling software and Quick Film Budget's innovative budget-creation tool.

For anyone who's ready to make a film and wondering how to do it with the little money they have access to, this is the class to take. After shooting my latest feature, I have new tricks up my sleeve, as well as some hard-learned lessons to pass along, and my guests will be passing along their no-budget secrets, too. These principles, tools and techniques can NOT be found in a book, at film school, or in other film classes, and this will be the only time I teach this class all year.

If you know anyone in the LA area who might be interested, please pass this information on. I've been teaching this class since 2005 and the feedback has always been strong:

"The absolute best class you can take on how to make your own low/no budget film. Seriously. I'm very indebted to Mark for sharing his experience. It allowed us to make Below Zero using many of the lessons I learned in his class." - Signe Olynyk, Founder, Great American Pitchfest; Writer/Producer, Below Zero (http://www.belowzeromovie.com/ ) Opening Theatrically in the Fall

"One of the best classes I've taken anywhere." - Elisabeth Fies, Director, The Commune (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104052/ ) Currently on Netflix and elsewhere

"Your class was the 'kick in the pants' that Joshua and I needed to go and just make our film." - Nick Loritsch, Producer, Born And Raised (http://www.bornandraisedmovie.com/ ) Currently playing festivals

"I wish I would have known about this before I went to an expensive film school. Your seminar and website offers real "nuts and bolts" practical advice that makes sense. After attending that weekend I felt energized and challenged creatively - I was thinking like a producer and not just a smug artist with tons of lofty ideas and no means to accomplish them." - Michael D. Okum, Writer/Director, Expressway To Your Skull Currently in production

"The most exhilarating educational experience we've ever had. And that's saying something since I'm 65 and my brother is 62. Your personal enthusiasm, your knowledge, and your care made it a fantastic weekend." - Ron Jackson, Producer, 5 Hour Friends, (http://www.5hourfriends.com/ ) Currently in post-production

To read more Student Testimonials, visit: http://www.nobudgetfilmschool.com/id36.html


No Budget Film School Presents "The Art & Science of No-Budget Filmmaking"

August 4 & 5, 2012 · 9:30am - 6:00pm

Raleigh Studios · Chaplin Theater

http://nobudgetfilmschool.eventbrite.com


Hope to see you there!

Mark