December 2008

The 10 Best Academic Programs for Aspiring Screenwriters

Nikki — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:32:16 -0600

Whether or not to pursue an education in the film industry has long been a hot topic. Clearly, there are identifiable pros and cons of electing to formally study film, more particularly choosing to concentrate on a single element, such as screenwriting.

Distribution by Wal-Mart

Nikki — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:49:40 -0600

Jeremy Dean found a dusty VHS tape tucked away in the basement of a historical society and was captivated by its the black and white footage of the civil rights struggle. “As I sat alone watching Dr. King speaking to a packed church and the demonstrators fearlessly marching for freedom, it became a key that unlocked a mystery.

Grant Guidance: Government, State, and Private Funds for Filmmakers

michele — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:54:19 -0600

Although arts funding is not exactly at its peak, grants remain an essential source of financing for many independent filmmakers. Learning to navigate the grant research and application process, of course, can be quite a challenge. Some filmmakers jest that they spend more time fundraising than making their films.

ITVS: Has This Key Funding Partner Lost its Way?

mike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:32:55 -0600

In 2007, filmmaker Joanna Rudnick learned that her application for funding from the Independent Television Service (ITVS) had been accepted. Rudnick, a first-time director, had applied for ITVS funding to finance the completion of her documentary In the Family, a look at women who are aware they carry a genetic predisposition to breast or ovarian cancer.

5 Contract Tips for Filmmakers

michele — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:45:14 -0600

1. Get professional help. Always have a recommended entertainment lawyer review any contract (broadcasting, funding, licensing) before signing. If you can't bring a lawyer, bring an advocate to negotiation meetings. Having an experienced producer on your side during a negotiation is the next best thing to having a lawyer with you (and in some cases may even work better).

10 Terms From ITVS Standard Contract Revealed

mike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:43:32 -0600

At The Independent’s request, ITVS agreed to publish its standard contract details for the first time. Some of the terms are fixed across all projects. For example, because the ITVS mandate is for each film to air on public television, the contract prioritizes those broadcasts ahead of community screenings or film festivals.

Distributor FAQ: Talking to Oli Harbottle of Dogwoof Pictures

Nikki — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:13:39 -0600

Already a successful London-based distribution company, Dogwoof has launched its own DVD store, an independent distribution site called Dogwoof Indie (which allows filmmakers to keep all rights to their film), and Dogwoof TV, a platform that brings independent movies from the web to the television (in conjunction with blinkx BBTV).

The Doc Doctor's Anatomy of a Film: "Billy the Kid"

Nikki — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:53:32 -0600

About this column: Many filmmakers ponder in anguish, How do other people—celebrated people—do it? Am I taking too long to make this documentary? Does everybody spend as much money as I am spending, or am I spending too little? And when filmmakers share their lessons learned in interviews in the glossy trade magazines, their tales seem to follow the arc of otherworldy heroes rather than real documentary makers, i.e. human beings like you and me. So each month, the Doc Doctor will go out into the world (this real world) of filmmakers who are successful and find out how they made it. The "Anatomy of a Film Column" is a chance to learn from filmmakers' hits and misses in real life examples. —Fernanda Rossi, story consultant a.k.a. the Documentary Doctor

"Dare Not Walk Alone" Trailer

Nikki — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:03:21 -0600

"Age of Stupid" Trailer

Nikki — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:01:38 -0600