According to the NY Times, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that Walt Disney and
Marvel Studios would spend about $200 million shooting the live-action series
in New York City. All of the shows will debut on Netflix.
This means opportunities for PA and AC positions on union shows in NYC! Check out the article!
We as film student who are going to film school to become directors get very excited easily when it comes to making our movie and we should be. It's our passion. It's the reason why we are attending film school in the first place. We write the script, we have actors come in for auditions, we get our fellow classmates to become our crew, we scout for locations and get the equipment we need to shoot the film. But there one thing that sometimes get's lost in the excitement of making the movie and that's living up to our obilgations as directors. When we are directing our films no matter what size the project is we are held to certain standard and must meet that standard. Many student directors at the last minute decide to drop out the project leaving everyone in limbo, not returning actors calls or not informing the crew on what they are filming that day on set. You never want to have a repuation where your cast and crew drop out of your project due to your behaivor on set. And you never want to drag into court because of it.
Allegedly, Director Lynne Ramsay, is being taken to court for breaking her contract for the film "Jane Gota Gun". One of the reasons she is being taken to court is not having proper contracts on set. She was paid $750,000 to rewrite the screenplay and direct, but on
the day shooting , she was nowhere to be found. Number of big name actors have drop out the project since then, allegedly due to her behavior on set. Ramsay, is also being taken to court for proper safety control for handling weapons on set, when pointing the prop gun at the camera, the camera crew before first taking proper safety procedures and coming to work drunk, allegedly.
So, film student directors stay professional at all times on your set, have the right contracts and paper on your set right, treat
your actors with care and crew with respect! P.S. - ALSO COME TO YOUR SET SOBER:)
failed
to adhere to proper safety protocol for handling weapons on set, when
she pointed a prop gun directly at a camera and, in turn, at the camera
crew before first taking proper precautions.” - See more at:
http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/jane-got-a-gun-lawsuit.php#sthash.wnes0S8Z.dpuf
failed
to adhere to proper safety protocol for handling weapons on set, when
she pointed a prop gun directly at a camera and, in turn, at the camera
crew before first taking proper precautions.” - See more at:
http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/jane-got-a-gun-lawsuit.php#sthash.wnes0S8Z.dpuf
Kickstarter, Indie Go-Go, I-Tunes, Netflix, Hulu, Google, Roku, Piracy, VOD, You Tube, Mobile Phones, Tablets
This is a list of factors Hollywood executives use to blame for the collapse of traditional economic systems in producer-run studios. Since the spring of 2012, we have reported on inventive ways young filmmakers (and old) have been using the power of the democratic internet to fund, produce, distribute, and market their projects. Our coverage has noticed a trend of critically respected filmmakers voicing their opinions on the issue. In general, directors are disappointed in the investments of Hollywood studios. The year 2015 will see 29 $100 + financed films as sequels and remakes. Predictions assume if a handful of these films do not earn back their budget, a major Hollywood studio will financially collapse. In reality, the US government will NOT label this business as "too big to fail".
Auteurs and independent artists agree the current system of film finance is an unfortunate result of the economy and expansion of inexpensive distribution outlets. Producers are regurgitating a formula, created by the Star Wars franchise, to bet on big audiences during the summer months. In my opinion, film producers and executives are not being attentive to content distribution and audience participation. Why did we see big budget movies in the summer? Because school is out, our favorite TV stations are recycling reruns. There was nothing else to see. Remember fifteen years ago when there was that one big film that everyone had to see that summer? Now there are 13 big films. Soon to be 29. Our pockets are not that big to accommodate so much expensive content. Our viewing habits are changing. The finance model of studios are not adjusting.
Cracked.com has published an opinion editorial that lists the major consequences of this speculation and how it will happen. Please click on the link below and read the article. From my observations, I don't think this satirical article is far from the truth. We'll keep covering this issue as it develops on our laptops and desktops.
Yesterday morning, Rob Thomas started a KickStarter campaign for a feature film version of "Veronica Mars", the cult, detective-noir TV show he created. After a few hours, fans raised an astounding $2 million dollars.
For many of us who launch similar campaigns on KickStarter or IndieGoGo for our own projects, we may view this as a positive thing as far as what can be achieved with these fund-raising campaigns. However, an article on First Showing makes note of what this can mean for big-time studios. Considering Veronica Mars is not your typical small, independent project (Mars is under Warner Brothers), there is concern that big-time studios might see this as an opportunity to let fans finance projects rather than shell out the money themselves. Although it might be too early to tell whether this will become a trend, studios will definitely be paying close attention.
What do you think about this? Do you think projects backed up by big studios and/or famous people should be allowed to use the same platform as smaller independent projects like Kickstarter? Or do you think this is a win-win situation for all?
Good news for New Yorkers involved in post-production: Gov. Cuomo signed a bill that will triple the state's post-production tax credit. Sorry, LA.
The new bill will increase the credit from 10% to 30% on post-production costs, making it the first of its kind in the country. This applies to projects that spend 75% of their post-productions costs in the state. This bill will surely encourage more projects to bring their post-production work to the Big Apple, which will benefit many in the industry.
As independent filmmakers, we have benefited from the digital takeover - digital media has enabled the filmmaking and distribution processes much more affordable and accessible for us - but the digital revolution has a much broader effect than one might be aware of. Digital media is affecting everything from how you watch your favorite films at the movie theater to how you save your own work.
Say goodbye to film projection: digital projection is quickly sweeping over movie theaters worldwide. Roger Ebert posted a letter from Twentieth Century Fox, who stated that "within a year or two" they will stop sending out film prints. Digital distribution is more economic than distributing film prints to theaters, but the change to digital projectors is a costly move for theater owners. Many movies are now filmed digitally, and this year alone has seen over thirty 3D releases. Observations on film and art reports: "No technological development since 1930 has demanded such a top-to-bottom overhaul of theatres. Assuming a modest $75,000 cost for upgrading a single auditorium, the digital conversion of US screens has cost $1.5 billion."
And if you're a fan of "the film look" like I am, you might worry about how digital projection is changing your experience at the movie theater. Roger Ebert writes: "Film carries more color and tone gradations than the eye can perceive. It has characteristics such as a nearly imperceptible jiggle that I suspect makes deep areas of my brain more active in interpreting it. Those characteristics somehow make the movie seem to be going on instead of simply existing." Although one would argue that many digital transfers today do a good job at preserving some of the film grain and "look", they are simply two different media and they produce two different experiences.
Outside of the filmgoing experience, the digital revolution affects filmmakers - mainly independent filmmakers who rely on digital storage for their work. An article in Variety notes that "digital storage, be it on hard drives, DVDs or solid-state memory, simply isn't on a par for anything close to the 100-plus-year lifespan of film. The life of digital media is measured in years, not decades, and file formats can go obsolete in months, not years", making preserving our work very vulnerable. Considering the extended amount of time independent filmmakers experience for possible distribution, preserving work is big issue for us. (Read more on this particular issue here)
Get more in-depth on this film vs. digital issue with these great articles from Observations on Film and Arthere and here.
How do you feel about the digital takeover in the industry? Is film truly dead?
Jason Moore's Professional Practice in the Film Industry covers online distribution and festival exposure. This class is the stepping stone for students to apply their school experience to the real world. A best practice for you is to be consistently aware of the industry from the moment you begin school. It is smart for all of you (regardless of your quarter) to follow up on important discussions happening in film distribution and creation. An article posted on the blog, Sub Genre, discusses how filmmakers are making smarter business decisions by making their content available online and utilizing crowd-sourcing in order create more work. This concept raises interesting questions. While it's a great model to get started, how does the future look when filmmakers need to sustain income for mortgages and children? Participate in the conversation! Do some research. Be involved in your career.
What classifies a film as independent? We assume that it means a starving artist puts ten thousand dollars on their credit card to fund their passion project. Actually, an independent film is defined as "a film financed in part by pre-sales to distributors, often on the basis of a script or a star attached to the project". The pre-production phase is done independently, without finance (ie. writing the script, casting, recruiting the creative crew etc.) The completion of the project is risked by a few financiers who believe in the project's success based on the creative materials provided. This differentiates from the studio system where a team of creatives are employed to create films within studio control. Critics and fans tend to look down on this system because creative control is dictated by producers that make business decisions in the creative process.
Below is a great article that discusses how the Lord of the Rings Trilogy was funded independently. It's bizarre and inspiring to think that such a large franchise was funded in this way. I believe the success of this series was Peter Jackson's ability to retain creative control which was possible by fund-raising on the stipulation that his ideas remain intact. However, it's difficult get funding in this way without a solid reputation for being a successful filmmaker. Read and let us know what you think.
I wanted to bring your attention to an important shift in our industry - The 130 year old standard film production is moving toward digital production and distribution.
Last week, a report in LA Weekly discussed how movie studios are being forced to switch from film distribution and screening to digital. There are many reasons for this switch, mainly money. The following are topics discussed in this selection of articles - Union projectionists are losing their jobs to minimum wage ushers. $1500 multi-reel film print is being reduced to a $150 hard drive. Digital production (inexpensive and time saving) is now the preferred medium of producers over film production (cumbersome and expensive).
Christopher Nolan (Inception, Batman Series) is conducting a passionate PR campaign for film. His philosophy asks producers to support director's decisions for 35mm film production when budgeting. Nolan has been shooting exclusively on film since he began his career. From an archival standpoint, film is stable medium that can last hundreds of years when treated properly. Hard drives crash. Digital formats have changed six times last year alone. From a production standpoint, film is difficult to manage, expensive, and a time sucker. The goal for Nolan's campaign is for directors to be able to have the choice.
Feel free to review the articles below to make your own decisions.
A question I ask students at orientation, "What is your favorite film or TV show?" Every quarter I have at least one student who claims that there is nothing worth watching on TV. Guys, I am here to tell you this is an irresponsible assumption.
Just like YouTube, cable and network television has a sea of useless, mindless programming: 99% of reality shows, afternoon talk shows, opinionated editorial segments passing off as news. I agree that it would be easy to get lost when looking for intelligent, entertaining shows. The trick is to read and listen to film critics' suggestions. I have found numerous titles that can compete with the best features produced today. Below are a few suggestions to keep on your radar. I've broken them down by network. HBO - This network consistently has great programming in several genres on several budgets. Six Feet Under, Tales from the Crypt, Carnivale, Rome, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire and on and on. Their network recently won the Oscar for best short documentary, Saving Face, which is part of their Monday night documentary series. Below I have the trailer for their latest hit, Game of Thrones. If you are a fan of fantasy, you don't want to miss this!
AMC - Home of Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Rubicon, and the Walking Dead. Zombies, Drinking on the Job, Thrillers, and Drug Dealers. The line up sounds like an episode of Jerry Springer, however the quality of writing and acting is beyond compare. Below is the season 1 recap for Breaking Bad.
NBC - They are still culprits when it comes to reality TV and game show programming. However, Community and Awake are two shows that should be on your radar. Community is full of film and television references that only film geeks would enjoy. Below is the documentary episode which spoofs Hearts of Darkness- Apocalypse Now documentary.
I hope this expands your television pallet. You can find some of these shows on Netflix Instant, free on the internet or Hulu Plus. The HBO shows are network only or on DVD. Enjoy the suggestions and feel free to leave suggestions of your own. Remember to keep reading the blogs and listening to podcasts to get more exposure. - Eve
This science fiction short by Aaron Sims has been getting lots of buzz on the internet. The filmmaker made this film with favors and friends. He hopes to get enough recognition for someone to fund the feature.
Take the bull by the horns and make amazing work while your here! It will lead to bigger and better things.
Cheers, Eve.
Props to Josh Hays for this post. Your time spent here, as students, should be about self discovery. Self discovery means that you should answer the question, "What do I want to do in the filmmaking industry?" Take the time to watch the end credits of everything you watch on TV and/or film. Notice the length of the credit sequence. Hundreds of people work in the film industry, specializing in a particular task. Each job is vital to the success of the film or show. So, what do you like to do.
This leads me to discuss a blog : Scouting NY
This blog is written by NY location scout, Nick Carr. He talks about his job and some great things he's discovered while scouting in NY. If you are interested in production, this is recommended reading. It's entertaining and a great resource when you are going on your own scouts.
"A rather wonderful short film by Ian Fischer, Magritte Moment." - Roger Ebert
Hey Students!
I am reaching out to you today to support one of our own instructors. Ian Fischer has a film out in the world that is gaining recognition. Help him keep the momentum going by voting on his latest short, "Magritte Moment".
Click on the link : http://www.ovationtv.com/events/filmcontest/ then click on VOTE. Pick the Drama catagory. "Magritte Moment" is the first film on the voting block. Vote before Friday, June 3rd!
Thank you for your support! - Eve.
The directing prize went to Winding Refn, for “Drive,” starring Ryan Gosling as a stunt wheelman for the movies who also works as a getaway driver. I've decided to let you know about this today because of the clip for "Drive", I found on YouTube. Take note to how the director works with the actor (Ryan Gosling as the driver), sound design, and editing to create a riveting chase sequence. Word to the wise: Do not just rely on the images to tell your story. Sound can sometimes work even better :) - Eve.
Every chance I get, I love to forward you examples of short films so you can get a sense of how your film can be circulated in the real world. I encourage you to check out this site by the cable network USA. They have an ad campaign that focuses on the network's character driven content. USA has just recently posted a series of eight short films to illustrate how "character" plays a role in their network. Here is the link to their site. http://characterproject.usanetwork.com/#!/
Check them out to see what commercial short films are out there! Cheers, Eve.
Like many of you, I have a Vimeo account. This site has a wealth of great information that caters to the professional video community. One of the perks to having a Vimeo account is having access to their staff blog. A segment on their blog is the Vimeo Video School. Below are two recent posts that I have found helpful in creating projects: How to Assemble a CrewFunding Your Project on Kickstarter
This isn't like you haven't heard this stuff before, it's just nice to be reminded once in a while, maybe get inspired.
Click on the picture for the APPLE STORE EVENTS PAGE
The Apple Store, SoHo, and the Apple Store, West 14th Street, are proud to take part in the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. Come celebrate the spirit of independent filmmaking with free workshops and events—including the exclusive Meet the Filmmakers series. Presented by Apple and indieWIRE, this series will feature some of the film industry's leading writers, directors, producers, and actors.
All Meet the Filmmaker events will be available as free podcasts on iTunes.
A list of filmmakers at the Meet the Filmmakers event: Will Ferrell Ed Burns Zach Braff Alex Gregory Jason Sudeikis Massy Tadjedin Eva Mendes Steven Silver Taylor Kitsch James Westby Gaukur Úlfarsson Jon Gnarr David Dusa Philip Gelatt Dan Rush
And this editorial has led us to believe they are once again, cool.
We have several active documentarians on our staff: Susi Graf with Lost in the Crowd, Ian Fischer with Rude Dude, and Francisco Vargas with Ulla. Whether a narrative or non-fiction, every film has a story as its backbone. I encourage you all to read this article to broaden your spectrum of film knowledge. - Eve
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According to the NY Times, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that Walt Disney and
Marvel Studios would spend about $200 million shooting the live-action series
in New York City. All of the shows will debut on Netflix.
for breaking her contract for the film "Jane Gota Gun". One of the reasons she is being taken to court is not having proper contracts on set. She was paid $750,000 to rewrite the screenplay and direct, but on
the day shooting , she was nowhere to be found. Number of big name actors have drop out the project since then, allegedly due to her behavior on set. Ramsay, is also being taken to court for proper safety control for handling weapons on set, when pointing the prop gun at the camera, the camera crew before first taking proper safety procedures and coming to work drunk, allegedly.
I wanted to bring your attention to an important shift in our industry - The 130 year old standard film production is moving toward digital production and distribution.
Your time spent here, as students, should be about self discovery. Self discovery means that you should answer the question, "What do I want to do in the filmmaking industry?" Take the time to watch the end credits of everything you watch on TV and/or film. Notice the length of the credit sequence. Hundreds of people work in the film industry, specializing in a particular task. Each job is vital to the success of the film or show. So, what do you like to do.
"A rather wonderful short film by Ian Fischer, Magritte Moment." - Roger Ebert 
Every chance I get, I love to forward you examples of short films so you can get a sense of how your film can be circulated in the real world. I encourage you to check out this site by the cable network USA. They have an ad campaign that focuses on the network's character driven content. USA has just recently posted a series of eight short films to illustrate how "character" plays a role in their network. Here is the link to their site.
And this editorial has led us to believe they are once again, cool. 