Interviews

Exhibitor FAQ: Emerging Pictures

Josh Green, VP of distribution at Emerging Pictures, explains how indie exhibitors and filmmakers can benefit from Emerging's growing network of theatrical venues.


"Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work," is one of the docs on Emergings' menu. Photo by George Lange.

With the largest network of digital theaters in the US, Emerging Pictures is helping exhibitors and filmmakers grasp hold of the future, which VP of distribution Josh Green says includes one-time screenings, easy access to classics, and front row seats to elite cultural programming.

With about 70 theatrical venues, Emerging Pictures is the largest network of digital theaters in the country. Existing and burgeoning theaters pay a fee for its servers, which come with hard drives chock full of specialty films, re-issues, mini-festivals and series, and their biggest hits—cultural programming—including opera and ballet.

The Show Must Go Green

"Going green" might be en vogue—and environmentally responsible, of course—but what does sustainable filmmaking really entail?


Miranda Bailey, director of the eco-documentary, <i>Greenlit</i>.

Prompted by Miranda Bailey's recent documentary, Greenlit, The Independent's Steven Abrams asks two eco-experts for tips on simple, environmentally conscious filmmaking methods.

Miranda Bailey's recent film-within-a-film documentary, Greenlit, portrays the hopes and eventual challenges of making the production of The River Why "green." There's an initial hope that making the Why production eco-friendly is doable, and even money-saving.

Distributor FAQ: FilmBuff

In an interview with FilmBuff's Chris Horton, The Independent asks about the evolving landscape of digital distribution, and whether or not it's an independent filmmaker's new best friend.


A still from "The Patriot Act: A Jeffrey Ross Home Movie."

More and more filmmakers use digital release platforms like iTunes, Netflix Streaming, and Video-on-Demand. Chris Horton, head of acquisitions for FilmBuff, explains the role his company can play in digital distribution.

FilmBuff is a digital distribution service provided by Cinetic Rights Management (CRM). Although FilmBuff is less than three years old, its sister company, Cinetic Media, has been a major player in film sales since 2001.

Exhibitor and Distributor FAQ: Seattle's Northwest Film Forum

Seattle’s Northwest Film Forum exhibits films, funds production, helps with distribution, and offers education and equipment to the independent community in the Pacific Northwest.


"The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle," produced with NWFF's Start-to-Finish Program.

Located in Seattle, the Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) is an invaluable resource for independent filmmakers in the Pacific Northwest, providing production grants and access to equipment and post-production facilities. The Independent spoke with film programmer Adam Sekuler to get the scoop on how NWFF puts together its exhibition calendar and their support programs for regional filmmakers, as well as some thoughts on the future of independent film distribution.

Located in Seattle, the Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) is an invaluable resource for independent filmmakers in the Pacific Northwest, providing production grants and access to equipment and post-production facilities. The Film Forum also boasts a 364-day exhibition calendar of independent films, many of which are hard to come by at other theaters in the region.

Struggle and Triumph for Haiti's Ciné Institute

Against all odds, students and faculty at Haiti's Ciné Institute use their cameras to transform pain and destruction into artful moving images.


The tent that functions as Ciné Institute's classroom.

In a special report for The Independent, Beth Brosnan speaks with students and staff of Ciné Institute, Haiti's only professional film school, about life after the region's devastating earthquake. Brosnan explores how, months later, they're using filmmaking techniques to cope with tragedy, rebuild, and even thrive in the face of adversity.

On January 12th, Haiti’s only professional film school, Ciné Institute, lost its main building in the massive earthquake that devastated the Port-au-Prince region.

Tribeca 2010: Travis Senger on "White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug"

Travis Senger takes on '80s hip-hop and an unsolved murder in his latest film, just named Best Documentary short at Tribeca 2010.


DJ Junebug at work.

With never-before-seen footage and interviews with Kurtis Blow, DJ Hollywood, and club owner Sal Abbatiello, the short documentary White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug portrays life in the ‘80s when hip-hop was young, cocaine was in, and life as a DJ often meant you did a little of both.

After winning a special jury prize at SXSW 2010, Filmmaker Travis Senger brings his short documentary White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug to the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival this week. His documentary explores the old days of hip-hop and the dangerous underworld at the legendary Disco Fever.

Tribeca 2010: Melanie Schiele on "Delilah, Before"

Melanie Schiele discusses how relocating to Singapore helped inspire her short film, "Delilah, Before."


A still from "Delilah, Before."

Shot entirely in Singapore as part of the NYU Tisch Asia MFA program, Delilah, Before marks the directorial debut of filmmaker Melanie Schiele. Here, she talks about the program and the film, as the film screens at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.

After working in various capacities as writer, director, producer and cinematographer on over 20 student shorts as part of New York University’s Tisch Asia in Singapore, Filmmaker Melanie Schiele makes her directorial debut with the short Delilah, Before.

Tribeca 2010: Mary Robertson on "Missed Connections"

Mary Robertson explains why eight minutes is a "delicious" length and then comes clean about whether or not she's had any "missed connections." Her short film screens at Tribeca 2010.


A still from "Missed Connections." Photo by Michelle Hayes.

Have you ever felt your eyes lock with someone across a crowded subway, only to wish later that you had ripped through the crowd to get some digits? You’re not the only one. That's the subject of director Mary Robertson’s short film Missed Connections now screening at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.

Have you ever felt your eyes lock with someone across a crowded subway, only to wish later that you had ripped through the crowd to get some digits? You’re not the only one.

Tribeca 2010: Michael Creagh on "The Crush"

Michael Creagh took a break from the ad world to direct his first film, "The Crush," a short that screens at Tribeca 2010.


Showdown in "The Crush."

Filmmaker Michael Creagh, a native of Belfast, takes the plunge into writing and directing with his debut film The Crush, a short featured in the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.

As an “ad man by day," filmmaker Michael Creagh had been “tinkering with ideas and scripts” for several years before acting on his dream. His debut film The Crush tells the story of an eight-year-old boy (played deftly by Creagh's son) in love with his teacher. When the boy's gift of a toy ring is outdone by an engagement ring, he plots his revenge against his nemesis.

Borat's Aftermath: A Romanian Town Seeks Damages

The Independent's Randi Cecchine interviews Mercedes Stalenhoef, the Dutch director of the documentary, "Carmen Meets Borat."


The star of <i>Carmen Meets Borat.</i>

Filmmaker Mercedes Stalenhoef thought she was filming a young woman with dreams of escaping her poor Romanian hometown for a better life. But then another film crew descended on Glod, Romania, to shoot scenes for Borat, forever changing the villagers' prospects and not necessarily for the better. The Independent's Randi Cecchine interviews Stalenhoef about the process of making and distributing her documentary, Carmen Meets Borat.

I had the pleasure of seeing Carmen Meets Borat at the International Women’s Film Festival in Seoul, and was deeply moved. Carmen tells the story of a young Romanian woman with big dreams but who lives in a poor town.

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