Days Off !!!!

The building is closed for Labor Day Sept 2nd 2013
Classes are cancelled on Thursday Sept 5th 2013 - Building and Cage are open!

Alpha Channel Poster Has Arrived!

Check out the Alpha Channel poster listed to the side. Submissions are due September 10th on the faculty drive by 9pm. Please remember to fill out the submission form and upload a full res version of your submission.

Fund Your Peers!

Funding takes an important role as you guys are planning for your thesis production. Social networking has made micro-funding easier than ever! I encourage all young filmmakers to take advantage of these platforms. The best method for funding is to create relationships with fellow film bloggers and critics. Engage in comments and networking on film sites. Once you are a consistent presences, you can utilize these sites to help advertise your campaign.

Two DFM students have projects up for funding! Please donate to Mi'Kele Long's Frenemies and Glenn McBride's Traffic Cops. Click on the links below to check out their projects and donate a dollar or two.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/frenemies
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/traffic-cops

Who Decides A Film's Success?

We have all come to the understanding that if a  $20 million budgeted film, like The Conjuring, earns $110 million in the box office it was a success. We also understand that if a $250 million budgeted film, *cough* Lone Ranger *cough cough,* earns $87 million in the box office, something went wrong.

  These numbers make me wonder if big studios will ever realize how powerful word-of-mouth can be. Films like Jack the Giant Slayer, White House Down, and After Earth overwhelmed us with marketing. Channing Tatum and the Smith duo could be seen all over the city (billboards, subway walls, bus, etc.) for about a months time, so, we all knew these films were going to release yet many of us decided to skip them. Why is that? Quite frankly, I have not heard a good thing about any of these films, so why spend the $13.

  Opening weekend box office results are the defining factor for whether a film gathers a profit. The marketing department of a film is responsible for getting viewers, but the film itself needs to be interesting enough to spread good word-of-mouth. The Heat started with a $39 million opening weekend, but, thanks to the constant praise from fans, it has been consistently in the top 10 for the last six weeks and has earned $150 million (more than a $100 million profit.)

  People don't search for the films that cost the most money to make, we want to see something that makes us laugh, makes us cry, or makes us want to spread the word. Good story needs to stand as a higher priority for these studios than explosions, sex appeal, and remakes if they plan on reaping any sort of profit. In the end, we're a complicated audience that doesn't want to see the same thing twice.We decide the success of a film and our word is final.

Speculations on the Hollywood Implosion

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. 

http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/4-reasons-2015-could-be-movie-industrys-worst-year-ever/

http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/4-ways-hollywood-completely-imploding/

Spike Lee's Exploitation?

The Kickstarter Exploitation continues with a new pitch. Our good old friend Spike Lee has taken to the crowdfunding site in hopes to pay for his newest project, whatever it might be. Something that has to do with vampires, I guess. I'm not going to discuss whether his pitch is worthy of $1.25 million or not, that's for you to decide ( the video is below.) I'm more concerned about the welfare of this once brilliant storyteller. What happened, Spike?

   His pitch basically states, "Hey, I'm Spike Lee, you know, the guy who made all those movies you've loved (way back when.) Give me some money and I can make another one." This might have caught my eye after The 25th Hour, but his track record is not what it was back in 2002. Maybe this isn't really about "The Newest Hottest Spike Lee Joint"; maybe this is about a man confused about his current status in the movie industry. Does he want to know just how many people still support him? We're currently at 2,733 people.



If you wish to support, click here.