Month: June 2009

Categories
Truly Free Film

A Really Nice Filmmaker Blog

You know how I feel how important it is to bring your audience early into the process.  You know how I think it is critical to let people know what is that you love and appreciate.  You know that I believe that it is no longer about just the film, but about the ongoing conversation.  And of course it is obvious that I think that none of us can afford to just make good work, but that we need to make better films.

I was really excited to learn of Australian-based filmmaker Rhys Graham‘s blog The Bouy Archives.  It is simple but great (maybe it is great in part because it is simple).  Beautiful photographs.  Great quotes.  Passionate discussions on the work he admires.  And refreshingly free of business chatter.  It makes me want to see his films — and isn’t that the goal?
I got to read and consult on Rhys’ project “The Warmth” at Aurora Script Conference this spring.  It’s going to be a good movie.  I had no hesitation “following” this blog.  I suggest you do too.  I am going to follow it right into the theater.
Categories
These Are Those Things

WANDA’s Barbara Loden (& John & Yoko)

Indie Film has not progressed very much in 38 years.  I finally caught up with Barbara Loden‘s 1970’s WANDA last night.  It would feel pretty damn fresh today.  It ranks up there among the American Indie greats that’s for sure, particularly among the great debut features, and the ones that the director also stars in.  It made me wish that we had somewhere we could go where we could get an immersive course in Loden’s life.  If you know, let me know.
I couldn’t resist a trip to the Mike Douglas Show, co-hosted by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.  First off I learned Loden was married to Elia Kazan.  The struggles she faced as a female director are as real today as they were then.  Except back then you had the most famous creative couple in the world promoting her work.  And they were great & daring artists too; there is no equivalent today.

There’s been a lot of good writing done on the film, including this from driftingclouds and filmmaker Mary Brownstien’s piece from HammerToNail.  I was really struck by the quality of the performances and Loden’s willingness to let the camera linger.  You can tell she is working with a tiny crew (4 people evidently) and the level of intimacy she achieves is a marvel. The budget, back in the day, was $115,000.  It is required viewing.

8/31/10 Update: The New York Times just reported that WANDA is being restored.  Time to rejoice!

Categories
Bowl Of Noses

Crazy Animals #8: Best Friends

You ever meet someone who seems really different from you, but you just become the best of friends? Suryia and Roscoe did. And good thing for Suryia too, because orangutans are one of the most endangered species on this earth. Maybe we can all just get along after all, eh?

Categories
Truly Free Film

Cheat Sheet #7: Truly Free Film Highlights

Today’s post is again brought to you courtesy of Jon Dieringer, and is part of continuing series of cheat sheets from prior TFF posts.

-What a producer does (3 posts)/what the credit means
http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com/2009/03/producers-contribution-part-1-of-3.html
http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com/2009/06/producer-credit-what-it-means-to-me.html

-38 Indie Film Biz Concerns
http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com/2009/05/36-american-independent-film.html

-“The New Model for Indie Film”
http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-model-ongoing-conversation.html

-The Filmmaker / Exhibitor Collaboration (ArtHouse Convergence Key Note):
http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com/2009/01/art-house-convergence-closing-keynote.html
-The Call For A Truly Free Film Culture (Film Independent Key Note Address):
http://letsmakebetterfilms.blogspot.com/2008/09/film-independents-filmmaker-forums.html
-“52 Reasons Why Indie Film Will Flourish”
http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com/2009/05/52-reasons-why-american-indie-film-will.html
Categories
Truly Free Film

Cheat Sheet #6: The New DVD Thoughts

Today’s post is again brought to you courtesy of Jon Dieringer, and is part of continuing series of cheat sheets from prior TFF posts.

WE NEED TO UNLEASH THE POWER OF THE DVD. 

 There is a great deal more that we can do with the technology.

A few thoughts on what should be included and done differently:
-A Different Cut: usually this is the “Director’s Cut” but in TFF this would always be the same version. Sometimes this is an “Unrated” cut when changes are made for ratings purposes. Can more be done with though.
-Commentary: This is often just the director and other crew collaborators. There has been an increased openness to having other directors make commentary too. Sometimes they have been using opposing critics which can get kind of fun.
-Additional Scenes: This is usually limited to scenes that were shot to include in the movie and later removed in the edit process.
-“Added Value” Content: Generally this is elements used in the filmmaking process: script, storyboards, preliminary visual effect mock-ups.
-Publicity & Marketing Elements: Trailers, Posters, Stills, Electronic Press Kits (interviews).
-Behind The Scenes/Making Of Documentary: so-called B-roll of filmmaking process.
-Hyper-chaptering (allowing for tagging and greater commentary).
Categories
Truly Free Film

Cheat Sheet #5: More TFF Publicity Advice

Today’s post is again brought to you courtesy of Jon Dieringer, and is part of continuing series of cheat sheets from prior TFF posts.

-A good publicist might still be worthwhile (http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com/2008/10/film-festival-plan-still-need-to-hire.html)

-Postcards/business cards are good, can be cheaper than posters (http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com/2008/10/film-festival-plan-posters-postcards.html)
(http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com/2009/01/printing-posters-postcards.html)

-Target certain blogs and send DVDs of your film out in advance (http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com/2008/10/film-festival-plan-getting-word-out.html)

-Tech/Social networking/Web marketing things explained
(http://bethkanter.wikispaces.com/Making+Media+Conference)
(http://mashable.com/2008/12/27/how-to-2008/)

-Link to article on web design trends:
(http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/02/09/movie-website-designs-examples-and-current-practices/)

Categories
Truly Free Film

Cheat Sheet #4:Jon Reiss’ Web Marketing List

Today’s post is again brought to you courtesy of Jon Dieringer, and is part of continuing series of cheat sheets from prior TFF posts.


Jon Reiss’ web marketing list:

1. Go to Godaddy.com and purchase a domain name. Get one that ends with .com. Get your movie title. If it is unavailable add “movie” or “themovie” or “film” to the end. (You don’t need to purchase any other services during check-out.)
2. Sign up for WordPress.com. Make your blog the title of your movie/ domain. Start posting press releases and other articles, such as reviews.
3. Sign up for Youtube.com. Make your username title of your movie/ domain. Post your trailer, or you can do a video “pitch”.
4. Sign-up for an account on Facebook.com.
5. Sign-up for Flickr. Get your username title of your movie/ domain.
6. Sign up for an account at del.icio.us. Bookmark your domain, facebook page, blog page and you tube page.
7. Sign up for a google account, to use their alerts, place connect with people who talk about you.
8. Sign up for Box Office Widget. Place this on your website and on your blog. Use it as your signature on forums.
8. Sign up for Spottt. Place this banner code on your myspace page, blog, and the thank you page from Box Office Widget.
10. Go to Yahoo! Groups and find all the groups that may have interest to your film and join. Participate in the group, rather than just spam the group.