The bill was sponsored by Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (D., Seattle. The companion bill in the Senate was sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D., Seattle). WashingtonFilmWorks, a 501 (c) 6 non-profit organization, manages the state film program, which administers the incentive. Board Chair, Becky Bogard states "The 30% tax incentive increase comes just in time for WashingtonFilmWorks Staff to spread the news at Locations Trade Show in Santa Monica next week. It is a great story to tell; not only do we have the widest variety of filming locations in the country, but now we have an extremely competitive business plan."

Over 40 states offer anywhere from 5% to 42% in financial incentives hoping to lure film production's lucrative spending to their local economy. Production incentives started appearing around 2000 in order to combat the phenomenon known as "Runaway Production" (In the 90's Canada began aggressively pursing film by developing strong financial incentives, attracting millions of dollars in production spending each year). Due to our proximity, Washington was one of the states most affected.

Currently, while Vancouver B.C. is trying to lure $100M movies, Washington's incentive is strategically targeting  $2M - $15M productions.  At this budget level, productions will hire Washington's local cast and crew, as well as rent equipment from local vendors (instead of flying equipment and crew in from California), thereby leaving the production spending in-state.

Northwest Screenplay Competition Accepting Applications

Submission Deadlines:
June 1 - Earlybird Deadline ($35)
June 27 - Regular Deadline ($40)
July 8 - Late Deadline ($50)
July 12 - Withoutabox Deadline ($50)

First and second round entries will be judged by trained and experienced readers who are screenwriters and producers dedicated to the craft. An added bonus this year is the separate SUNBREAK AWARD honoring writers who reside in Washington or Oregon. The top three finalist scripts will be read by executives at established Hollywood production companies.

Other prizes include: Announcement as winner in Variety and the Hollywood Reporter, along with publicity releases to film industry and script-related publications; staged script reading with a cast of talented Seattle actors at the 12th annual Local Sightings Film Festival; one year membership to NWSG; one copy of the Final Draft; Michael Wiese Books Bundle; Yoneda Kathie Fong's "The Script Selling Game"; John Scott Lewinski's "Alone in A Room"; Save The Cat bundle; THE WEEKLY WORKBOOK: Twelve Weeks from Idea Through Rewrite by Pilar Alessandra.

Past finalists have been hired for writing assignments, secured representation, signed option agreements, and have had their work requested by film executives.

Details about the competition, including rules, deadlines and prizes, can be found at www.nwsg.org. For more information contact the competition coordinator at: competition@nwsg.org.

Governor Bill Richardson Announces “Retrain and Sustain”

Film Crew Training for Displaced Workers

The program will offer training for unemployed carpenters, painters, sheet metal fabricators, welders and landscapers. “Despite the economic downturn, the film and media industries continue to flourish and so does their demand for skilled labor,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “This is an opportunity to get unemployed New Mexicans back to work by helping match their skills to the needs of these growing industries.”

SWEET CRUDE FREEDOM MIX BENEFIT CONCERT

with special guests Catie Curtis, Erin McKeown and Zoe Lewis

In April 2008, members of a Seattle film crew returned to Nigeria to finish shooting a documentary about the country’s escalating oil conflict. The filmmakers had lined up interviews with major players including high-ranking government officials and the leader of the new militant group. A few days into their shoot, military police pulled the journalists from their boat and forced them into pick-up trucks. First, they confiscated their videotapes. Next, they took their cell phones. They were left only with an iPod. Surrounded by men with semi-automatic weapons, the filmmakers endured an eight-hour drive to a federal prison. They credit the power of music and the vast network of support back home for keeping their spirits high during their weeklong ordeal.

April 2009. Local musicians Karen Pernick, Jen Todd, Mel Watson, Karyn Schwartz, Jennifer Sutherland, Pam Barger, Barbara Marino and Kate Wolf, along with their special out-of-town guests, raise their voices to recreate the crew’s playlist.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009, Shows at 6 pm and 9 pm, Triple Door

Tickets $30 at www.thetripledoor.net or 206.838.4333. All proceeds will be used to complete the documentary Sweet Crude. For more information about the film visit www.sweetcrudemovie.com.

Emerald City Screens at STIFF!

Henry Darrow McComas explains, "I found a character named Elijah. I identified with Elijah because he was a boy who was becoming a man and was starting to realize that he had to face his insecurities about his craft as well as his fears of death, a recurring theme in Elijah’s life. Emerald City has been to eight festivals across the globe, won two awards and received great reviews, but the news I found out today “takes the cake.”

Still from Emerald City

Seattleites and Washingtonions, Crooked Lake Productions’ short film, Emerald City, has just been officially selected by Seattle True Independent Film Festival! It has been a long time coming and well worth the wait. After covering the globe, our self-titled short film, Emerald City, will be screening in the 206. Words cannot express how excited I am to share this piece with you; this is a dream come true, maybe more like a vision."

Seattle’s True Independent Film Festival is held at multiple venues throughout Seattle. It is a celebration of off-beat independent films from the Northwest and the rest of the world. Combined with the companion Music and Stand-Up Comedy festival, STIFF Licks, both feature the best independent entertainment in the entire city. STIFF will be screening in remarkable theaters such as Northwest Film Forum, Rendezvous and Central Cinema as their screening rooms. The festival runs from June 5th through the 14th.

STIFF is still finalising the program and will be sending out the screening dates for all films within the next week. Tickets should be available for purchase in approximately two weeks. www.crookedlp.com will send an update with firm dates once all of the details are worked out.

NFFTY The National Film Festival for Talented Youth is looking for volunteers

NFFTY is looking for people of all ages (over 18), filmlovers, filmmakers and friends who are interested in helping with guest hospitality, driving transportation vehicles, set up and break down of venue equipment, and street team marketing of the festival during the month of April. Volunteers will receive free admission vouchers to the festival!

When: Starting this week for the Street Team, All other Volunteers will primarily work multiple 5 hour shifts over the weekend of April 24th - 26th!

Where: Opening Night Screening at Cinerama, Opening Night Gala at EMP, The rest of the festival takes place at SIFF Cinema and at EMP.

Compensation: Free admission to NFFTY's film programs, World Class Workshops by top industry professionals, world class entertainment all around!

About NFFTY

NFFTY is the largest film festival in the nation for the next generation of filmmakers. Directors 22 and younger submit their films to NFFTY from all over the world. This year our youngest director is 7 years old! Plus many films that are by up and coming directors! This year we are showing 113 films in many different genres. NFFTY is also a Green Festival, we are carbon neutral, all festival guides are printed on recycled material using organic soy inks and printed locally!

If you would like to be a volunteer this year please do the following! Go to their website: http://nffty.org/info-volunteer.html and follow the directions for applying as volunteer! There will be a NFFTY Volunteer Orientation, Saturday April 11th, at 12:00pm at EMP. Please register before attending!

African American Film Festival to Run April 18-26

Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center (LHPAC) will host its Sixth Annual African American Film Festival, featuring a powerful lineup of documentaries, narratives, workshops, film shorts and animation. The festival is thrilled to announce that American Violet , a true story about race, poverty and the criminal justice system starring Nicole Beharie and Alfre Woodard will open the festival on April 18th.

On April 26th the festival will wrap with the special partnership with the Seattle Latino International Film Festival and the West Coast Premiere of Celia The Queen, a documentary about the legendary Afro Cuban diva queen of salsa, Celia Cruz. The film’s director, Joe Cardona will be on hand to discuss his work.

The African American Film Festival runs nine consecutive nights from April 18th – 26th and all screenings will take place at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center. The festival includes a number of thoughtful, inspiring and irreverent entries from emerging and established filmmakers from across the U.S. and around the globe.

The selection of powerful, diverse, intelligent and evocative films include a Hip-Hop Film Mini-Fest, a GLBT Film Mini-Fest that specifically addresses lesbian and transgender issues, and a Katrina Film Series that spotlights the disaster from three unique perspectives. A wide array of talkbacks, panels and workshops are peppered throughout the festival and provide a much needed bridge for artists and community patrons to engage in meaningful dialogue.

For more information, please visit  the Festival website.

Local Composer Wins Big Prize

Nan, who has also been serving as co-publicist for the project, also created the film's web site at www.alistairmacleanthemovie.com. You can hear some of her score there.

So far the film has screened at the Philadelphia Independent, NYC First Sunday's Comedy, Miami Jewish and World Eye Jewish (Israel) festivals as well as a "work-in-progress" cut at the NWFF Local Sightings.

Spring Filmmaking Challenge at Northwest Film Forum!

For more information, please visit

Acceptable formats are mini-DV, DVD, & Beta-SP. Include title, filmmaker’s name and contact info with submission. Drop off at Northwest Film Forum, c/o Adam Sekuler, 1515 12th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122. Stop by the NWFF offices to pick your beginning/end from a hat. All films will screen on on May 12 at NWFF.

Films are due by April 28 and should not exceed 5 minutes. Contact Adam Sekuler, adams@nwfilmforum.org, for more info.

Sweet Crude Finally Gets Premier

Prost Amerika is happy to announce the Sweet Crude world premiere after years of hard work.It will show at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, which runs from April 2nd through April 5th in Durham, NC. They have the primo Saturday night screening time, April 4th. Sweet Crude is one of 55 documentaries selected from more than 1200 submissions for the New Docs program. Learn more about the festival at the Full Frame website. They would love to see you there.

There will be more festivals – and we’ll pass along the details as soon as we know them.

Arts Funding at Risk

Arts Heritage is trying to get arts lovers to Olympia to attained a hearing scheduled in the Senate Ways and Means Committee this coming Wednesday, March 18th at 1:30 PM for Senate Bill 6116. Please attend this hearing if you can. There have rides heading down so if you want to car pool, let them know.

As you know, attending hearings is THE way to let our legislators know how the arts and heritage community feels about pending legislation. You can learn more about advocacy efforts and get in touch with them here: Email Art Heritage.

Lynn Messes with Texas!

Humpday to Screen at SXSW

Screening times are:
7:00 PM, Sunday March 15th - Alamo Ritz 1
12:00 PM, Thursday March 19th - Paramount

Prost Amerika film wishes this wonderful lady and seven more of our friends Mark DuPlass, Megan Griffiths, Jasminka Vukcevic, Joshua Leonard, Stephen Schardt, Sue Corcoran, and Ben Kasulke all the very best with this film.

Call for First Time Filmmakers

Statement from Howard Gertler, one of the producers from World's Greatest Dad

"I’m serving on the IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Labs Advisory Board this year. Submissions for the narrative lab are due by April 17, and I'm asking you to spread the word and send any interested filmmakers my way.

The lab is geared towards first-time filmmakers who are in rough-cut stage. The lab is a week-long program that helps & challenges filmmakers to realize the full potential of their footage and stories prior to industry exposure by providing mentorship and professional guidance in editing and post production, music selection and scoring, press and marketing, audience building, festival strategy, and sales and distribution models. The Lab provides an informative, low-pressure environment for emerging filmmakers to engage with industry professionals and to prepare a strategy to introduce their film to the world.

This is a terrific opportunity to connect new directors with some of the most talented & creative mentors in various fields, in a protected, collaborative space. Friends and colleagues who’ve participated both as filmmakers and mentors have raved to me about their experience, which is why I’m happy and excited to assist with outreach this year.

2008 was a great year for the Labs. Already, three 2008 Lab alumnus films have premiered at prestigious festivals – documentaries Tibet in Song (dir. Ngawang Choephel) premiered in competition at Sundance and Smile ‘Til It Hurts: The Up With People Story (dir. Lee Storey) showed in competition at Slamdance in a few weeks. Narrative Lab alum Zero Bridge (dir. Tariq Tapa) premiered at Venice, and is currently touring the international festival circuit.

All this in addition to past years’ alumni premiering and winning awards at major national and international 2008 festivals including Berlin (Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell), Los Angeles (Trinidad), Slamdance (The New Year Parade - Grand Jury Prize winner), Sundance (Half-Life), SXSW (Jumping Off Bridges, The Marconi Bros., Older Than America, Rainbow Around the Sun, Woodpecker) and Toronto (The Real Shaolin)." More application information can be found here: IFP Labs.

NFFTY Moves to New Website

Youth Film Festival Goes Interactive

There will be an AFTER HOURS on March 27, presented by EMP|SFM.

See NFFTY Website for further details.

"Parents" to Premiere at Sedona International Film Festival

Movie features local actors and high school students

The film has also been selected by the International Family Film Festival held February 26 through March 1 in Hollywood. "The Day My Parents Became Cool" is a comedic short about a group of teenagers who wake up one morning to find that adults have adopted teen fashion, complete with tattoos, body piercings and sagging jeans. Edmiston describes the film as “Ferris Beuller’s Day Off" meets "Invasion of the Body Snatchers."

NFFTY VIP Festival Passes and Opening Night Gala Tickets Now on Sale

It will be held at Seattle's Cinerama Theater with the after party at EMP Music Project.

Warren Report Launches New Website

Director Steve Edmiston
on the set with Megan Joy
Photo: Jim Cayce

"Parents" to Premiere at Sedona Film Festival

"Parents" as it is affectionately known by those who worked on it, is set in a bizarre world where all of the adults on the entire planet have literally “become cool” and desire to look and act just like their teenage kids, which provides both comedy and horror.

Seattle Filmmakers Reach Grand Prix Film Racing Finals

Jason Adkins and Wayne Bastrup in Thr33

See the film and vote here.

Keith Rivers produced Thr33, and Paul reunited with cinematographer T.J. Williams and writer Steve Edmiston on the project. The three filmmakers collaborated last summer on "The Day My Parents Became Cool", which will premier at the Sedona International Film Festival in February.

Seattle Film Critics Association Issues First Ever Awards

The Flight Of The Red Balloon Voted Best Film of 2008

Here is the full list of awards.

The Five Best Films of 2008:
1. The Flight Of The Red Balloon (Hou Hsiao-hsien, France)
2. Frozen River (Courtney Hunt, USA)
3. Milk (Gus Van Sant, USA)
4. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, USA)
5. The Edge Of Heaven (Fatih Akin, Germany, Turkey, Italy)

Best Actor:
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"

Best Actress:
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
 

Northwest Film Forum to Host Benefit Party to Help Humpday Go to Sundance

Event Rescheduled and Very Much Still On

The original fundraiser set for December 20th was canceled due to the snow so it has been resceduled for January 10th.

Here are the details: Saturday January 10th, 2009 11pm-1am Northwest Film Forum 1515 12th Ave, Seattle 98122

The event is open to the public.

Highlights and prizes include:
• A re-enactment of the unveiling of the beautiful HUMPDAY trailer!
• An Exclusive 3-minute Sneak Peak of HUMPDAY gems!
• A reprise of "HUMPUNCH"! Along with our signature drink: "The Swordfight"!
• The ever-popular "DJ HUMP"!
• A new, fabulous HUMPDAY raffle! With HUMPTASTIC prizes like:
- A night at the Renaissance Hotel!
- HUMPaLICIOUS Treats from Babeland!
- Membership to Grand Illusion!
- $50 Ice Cream Gift Certificate!
- A Mariner's-Lover's Dream Package!

Humpday stars Mark Duplass (The Puffy Chair), Joshua Leonard (The Blair Witch Project) and Seattle actress Alycia Delmore. The film was produced with an all-local crew, including award-winning cinematographer Benjamin Kasulke.

For more information on the film, please visit: Humpday is Here.

Still, only $5/door!

Paid Crew Opportunities

CREW NEEDED:
(3) Hand-held camera operators/ $350 day rate- experience with network sports broadcast shoots
(2) Cable pullers/ $200 day rate

If interested, available and qualified please contact:
Denise Gibbs
gibbsdesign@comcast.net
425.246.2725

Please include resume. MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE.

Deirdre Timmons
Photo: Paul O'Connell

From Burlesque to Big Tent

Deirdre Timmons Runs away to the Circus and Calls it Research!

As part of her primary research, Deirdre ran away from the USA to England and joined Gifford’s Circus, a boutique traveling circus which tours the bucolic English Cotswolds. At Gifford’s, she worked in the box office and helped out where needed. But, why circus?

“I don’t know. It’s a funny thing. Gifford’s asked me to send them my photo. As I picked through years of old photos, I realized I had been dressing as a clown or some silly character most of my life. It sort of shocked me when I saw I had been drawn to this world and didn’t even realize it.”

The circus idea came to her in June, and she aims to complete the first draft this winter. Then she needs to settle on musicians to provide a score. But it isn’t just the circus that she feels inside her.

“All I watched when I was a child were musicals. There are so few made these days, and I miss them. I know there’s a huge untapped audience market like myself. Look at the Irish film “Once”; it’s an honest love story wrapped in a musical and it was hugely successful. I want to make musicals sexy again.”

But ideas weren’t the only thing that fell into the lap of Deirdre’s company, Golden Echo Films this summer. Her husband Jack quit his Microsoft job and joined as a producer and to help with business development.

“Coming from a high-tech background, Jack didn’t know anything about the movie business. He went online to see if UCLA had any producer courses, and there was one beginning that very day. With one spot left in the program, Jack snagged it and flew out hours later. He actually found out that he’d been accepted into the program on the way to the airport.”

Deirdre’s career has made some incredible progress since Prost Amerika stumbled upon her while reviewing a burlesque show as part of its live arts coverage. However, she’s managed to keep her feet on the ground and has a realistic appraisal of what it has taken to propel her this far - she takes care of the simple things first.

“Talent is only a small part of the equation. If you do a shoot, follow through, finish the film, provide the product. It’s amazing how many people just don’t do that. Secondly, answer emails and return phone calls. You should never be too busy for anyone -- you just never know where your next Guardian Angel is going to surface. Besides, it’s just common courtesy. There’s also the hard work factor. Making films requires hard work, collaboration and patience at every level. And get used to rejection. That’s just one of the charming constants you can always count on in this business.”

The subject of rejection brought the conversation back nicely to the romantic element of her circus film. Does the guy get the girl in the end? “Ahhh, he only gets to find that out when the girl’s ready to tell him,” she answers. With a wink and a smile of course.

Washington State Bar Association Video Contest Announced

The contest offers a chance to win $1,000 in two categories: (1) Judged, and (2) People’s Choice. Entrants will create an original video - three minutes or less - about the promise of justice for all. Entries will be accepted between October 15, 2008, and June 15, 2009. All valid entries will be posted on YouTube.

The contest is being undertaken to advance and promote the public’s understanding of the rule of law and confidence in the legal system. The WSBA is reaching out to Washington residents of all ages, encouraging them to better understand the importance and value of the justice system in their daily lives, and to be more invested in the institutions that protect their civil rights.

“We know Washingtonians have opinions,” said WSBA President Mark Johnson. “We want to know what their thoughts are about a fundamental tenet of our legal system.”

The WSBA is hoping would-be filmmakers and television producers see the YouTube contest as a fun, creative, and entertaining way to articulate an important principle which affects everyone.

The contest is open to all Washington residents. Rules and an entry form are available at WSBA Justice for All. The WSBA will announce the contest winners in September 2009.

Northwest Film Forum Launches Winter Program

You can download the full calendar here.

Jordan Thomas

2008 Big Break Winners Announced

Seattle Filmmaker Scoops Second Place

Lynnwood's own 32 year-old Jordan Thomas came in second with "Arctic Air". The plot of the film concerns an Alaskan bush pilot who turns bootlegger to save the airplane which he believes houses his best friend's disembodied spirit.

He crash-lands the plane in a remote village inhabited by recovering alcoholics, not to mention the love of his life. If he can escape before the villagers get to the booze, he won't be forced to choose between the plane, or a promise made to his dead partner. Toronto's Terry O'Brien won first place for "Flesh and Blood" with "A Child of our Time" by England's Robert Bowden in third.

The top three winners were flown to Hollywood for the awards ceremony that featured Hall of Fame recipient Stephen J. Cannell (Rockford Files, A-Team, 21 Jump Street), who spoke of the importance of a writer's work ethic. The winners were then taken to the small mountain town of Idyllwild for an intensive three-day Cinestory workshop with various industry mentors. When all was over, all Jordan could tell us was "I left honored, humbled and inspired."

The Big Break contest was organized by Final Draft. More information about the contest can be found here.

Want to See Films for Free in Seattle?

Free screenings in Seattle

"Get Screened" Video Contest Announced

There are several cash prizes and incentives for the top videos. The first place winner will receive $2,500, two second place winners will receive $1,000, and two third place winners $500. Perhaps, more importantly, works of the best video producers will be promoted and displayed as part of our multi-faceted colon-cancer screening awareness campaign. They are looking for entries that raise awareness about colon cancer and emphasize the importance of colon-cancer screening. Winning videos would:

· Educate people about colon-cancer screening and the importance of prevention and early detection;
· Encourage people over 50 or at high risk to get screened and ask their friends and family to follow their example;
· Reduce apprehension and embarrassment about colon-cancer screening;
· Inform people about available screening resources;
· Encourage patient-physician communication to discuss colon-cancer risk factors, prevention strategies and screening options.

Videos must be submitted by Jan. 15, 2009. For more information about the contest including rules, timing, judging and the process for video submissions, please go to their website.

Seattle Filmmakers Finding Alternative Distribution Success

Second, the film was also one of ten hand-picked feature films to launch “film viewing into the 21st century” through 545 Productions 24/7 online film festival and distribution company, FilmGo.net. "A Relative Thing" tells the story of five brothers and sisters reunited for the first time in sixteen years when they are called home to visit their dying grandmother. Featuring an all-Seattle cast, the film received numerous awards at film festivals around the country, including a Best Film Audience Award at the Sedona International Film Festival, Best Ensemble at the Phoenix Film Festival, and was a finalist in the Seattle International Film Festival’s New American Cinema competition.

5th Avenue Theatre Production of Cabaret Wins Ivey Award

Cabaret was one of only five productions honored at the awards presentation and the musical was singled out for its outstanding costume design, scenic design and choreography. The Ordway Center’s Artistic Director James Rocco accepted the award on behalf of the three co-producing theatres. The evaluator who presented him with the award commented that this production's "sets and costumes transported the audience back to a different time.”

The production was directed by The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Associate Producing Artistic Director Bill Berry’s whose bold new take on the classic musical was inspired by extensive research into the look, feel and performance style of actual Berlin cabarets during the Weimar period in which CABARET is set. The production was choreographed by Bob Richard, with musical direction by Ian Eisendrath. The set and lighting design was by Tom Sturge, costume design was by Thomas G. Marquez, and hair and make-up design was by Sharon Ridge and Mary Pyanowski. CABARET starred Tari Kelly as Sally Bowles, Nick Garrison as the Emcee, Louis Hobson as Cliff Bradshaw, Suzy Hunt as Fraulein Schneider, and Allen Fitzpatrick as Herr Schultz.

Call for Entries to OpenLens Festival

December 1 is Registration Deadline

Three opportunities are available for regional filmmakers:

3 MINUTES VIDEO SHOWCASE
The 3 Minute Video Showcase is a non-competitive event that seeks to promote micro-cinema productions by students, amateurs, and professionals. Enter to showcase your 3-Minute ultra-short video. This is a chance for inexperienced communicators to take an initial step into video making and for professionals to showcase their story and image delivery.
Entry Deadline: November 21, 2008

YOUTHVISIONS TEEN VIDEO CHALLENGE
Diva's 2009 juried Youth Visions Teen Video Challenge announces a call for short 10 minute, or less, narrative, animation, music, experimental, or documentary videos. The challenge is open to all youth ages 13-18 living in Lane County. Cash prizes award top three entries.
Teen Registration Deadline: November 4, 2008.
Entry Deadline: December 1, 2008

SOUTHWEST OREGON SHORT FILM AND VIDEO COMPETITION The Southwest Oregon Short Film & Video Competition is the signature event of the OpenLens Festival weekend. It provides an opportunity for Southwest Oregon film and video makers to showcase their work in a competitive event. Prizes include Best Juried and Audience Choice Awards. Short videos of 15 minutes or less accepted.

For further details, please visit Diva Center website.

A Great Way for Scriptwriters to Keep Warm This Winter

Seattle Cold Readers - Read, Drink and be Merry

Space is limited. The event will only be available to the first 50 people in the door...that's the room capacity! If you want to attend please email seattlecoldreaders@gmail.com with a subject line of "GUEST LIST".

Readings begin at 8pm and entry is $6. There will be a DJ, drinks, networking, and plenty of creativity flowing, so don't feel guilty coming out on a Thursday night.

For more information, visit the Seattle Cold Readers website.

50-Hour Film Making Frenzy to Debut in Renton

Local Filmmakers Invited to Compete for Coveted Curvee Awards

Competing filmmakers will have from 5 p.m., Friday, October 17, through 7 p.m., Sunday, October 19, to write, shoot, edit and submit a completed short film for judging. At the beginning of the competition, participating filmmakers will be provided with other challenges, which may include incorporating a line of dialogue, a task and/or filming at a specific location in Renton.

Films can be up to four minutes in length and must be shot completely in Renton. All genres are welcome, although films must be appropriate for all audiences.

Renton FilmFrenzy filmmakers may enter their films in one of two categories: a Student Division (high school and below) and an Open Division. There is a $50 entry fee for the Open Division, while entry fees for student competitors will be waived to encourage student participation. There is no limit to the number of films that may be entered.

The films will be judged by local filmmakers, film critics, and a representative from the Renton Municipal Arts Commission. The deadline to apply to participate in the FilmFrenzy is 5 p.m., Monday, October 13.

Visit Renton Film Frenzy Website for application forms, rules and other information.

Terisa Greenan

Miss Shellagh's Miniskirt - from STIFF to Oakland

Festival Circuit Blitz Shows Way for Seattle Filmmakers

Seattle filmmakers Terisa Greenan, Scott Campbell and Larry Golding are packing their bags for the Oakland International Film Festival after their feature length film "Miss Shellagh's Miniskirt" was selected to show there. Asked if there was some secret formula to getting accepted on the festival circuit, she told us, "The Oakland Film Festival came about just by us entering lots of film festivals. That’s how it is with indie films, you just put it out there and see who likes it!"

"Miss Shellagh's Miniskirt" is the team's first ever feature film so it looks like they're doing something right however even if ignorance was their key to success.

"This was our very first film and we shot it for about $25,000 last year. My background is as an actor, and my creative partner Scott is a novelist, so we got together with Larry and all produced the film, with me adapting the screenplay from one of Scott’s novels and also directing. I think my utter lack of experience at actual filmmaking was a blessing in a way, because I didn’t know enough to know that it was too big a project, that most people start with a short film. So I just sort of dove in and learned everything I needed to know to pull it all together,"  Terisa explained.

Now that she has lost her naivety, she admits fear might be more of a factor. "The next time will be easier in a way, but also scarier because now I know what I will be in for!"

"Miss Shellagh" used Seattle actors and crew and premiered at Seattle’s True Independent Film Festival this past June. It will screen October 20th at the Oakland International Film Festival.

Lance Rosen

That’s Entertainment, M’lud!

Lance Rosen – Lawyer to Seattle's "Artistes" Speaks to Prost Amerika!

Well troops, you’re all creative, you’ve written the script, learned your lines and then one day, you have to deal with the big bad world of business. Who do you get to watch your backs? A lawyer of course!

Lance Rosen has been practicing entertainment law in Seattle for longer than he would tell us. Before that Lance was a professional actor with many television, film and stage credits. He also founded two theatre companies, where he produced and directed several plays. Once he agreed not to bill us by the hour, we asked him about his work and in particular, doing it in a town like Seattle.

Prost Amerika: What types of cases make up the majority of your workload?

Lance Rosen: You can’t be a full time private practice entertainment lawyer in the northwest and focus on just one angle within one facet of the entertainment industry. In New York or Los Angeles, it’s possible to be an entertainment lawyer who works solely on film finance deals, recording agreements, book deals, stage agreements, game industry licenses, industry tax issues, guild grievances or copyright litigation, and on and on. You can also establish yourself primarily as a studio / producer’s lawyer or an artist’s lawyer. A Seattle entertainment law practice is necessarily eclectic.

Prost Amerika: Can you give us some examples?

Lance Rosen: Last week, for example, I worked on star actor agreements for an independent film producer; on a book & film deal for a biography of a 1950’s swing dancer’s life story and on the music sound track rights for a film already in release. That’s just the film cases and it’s not an unusual day. It’s a wide spectrum. I have a lot more diversity in my practice than most LA or NYC entertainment lawyers can have. I know because I was one a long time ago and you get typecast. I thought it would be hard to keep up on new developments over such a wide array, but I’ve been doing this a long time and I think I keep up pretty well. I feel in league with my big city counterparts.

Full Interview Lance Rosen Speaks to Prost Amerika

Free Tickets for Seattle Premiere of “GO”

Makers of Invisible Children Invite You to Follow-up

Invisible Children was a powerful movie that gave birth to an inspiring youth movement with a radical mission: to change culture, policy, and lives. Go is about 20 young American students who travel to Africa in the adventure of a lifetime, to help give thousands of students in war-torn Uganda the opportunity of a lifetime: a quality education. Now its makers have completed GO: The School for Schools Documentary.

No need to do anything in advance. Just show up. Screening is scheduled for 7.30pm.

"The Whole Truth" Set to Start Shooting September 22nd

They may still be looking for disabled vets to cast as extras in the film. If anyone has any leads or is in contact with the VA hospital, please email Denise Gibbs.

Manuela Horn Stars as Bolo in
Black Belt Bradley

Students Run the Show on Ambitious Project

"Black Belt Bradley" Trains Students in the Less Creative Arts of Filmmaking

The movie itself is about a teenage boy saddled with emotional baggage from a traumatic experience in his past. The boy is a gifted martial artist but struggles with using the arts properly.

Viennese acrobat Manuela Horn who has performed at Seattle's Teatro ZinZanni plays Bolo one of Evil Dude's main henchmen who will do whatever it takes to secure the book. "I put the N in nasty," she laughs.

The film received financial assistance from the City of Seattle and shooting is expected to wrap up by mid September.

NFFTY Call for Entries Goes Out

Filmmakers 22 and Under Sought

The early deadline is October 17, 2008 ($15) and entering by the standard deadline of December 5th will cost you $20. A late deadline has been added for January 16th, 2009 and entry by that date is $25. A WAB (Withoutabox) extended deadline falls on January 30, 2009 and entrants will need $40 if they can only make that date.

Eligibility

1. Feature. Any narrative film over 30 minutes in length.

2. Short. Any narrative short film under 30 minutes.
3. Documentary. Documentary of any length.
4. Music Video. Music video of any length.
5. Animation. Any form of animation, any length.
6. Experimental. Any length film that does not fit the mold of typical filmmaking.
7. International. Any genre, any length; made by a filmmaker 22 or under from outside the US.

You can read the complete rules here.

Cthulhu Comes to Seattle Screens

Opens Friday 12th at the Metro

Cthulhu was a big hit at SIFF 2007 with the best PR machine of any film in show. There were so many Cthulhu posters around town, it nearly became the Mayor Screening time is 7.10pm.

Short Film Festivals Abound

The deadline for the New York Festival is September 29th and categories include Categories include:
* Features/Shorts/Documentaries
* Education/Information Productions
* Home Video Productions
* Industrial Films
* Corporate Presentations/Business Theater
* Student Work.

For more information on the other festivals please visit Bend Film Festival, Portland Latin American Film Festival, and Ashland Film Festival for further details. Lastly, don't forget the Davey Awards for smaller agencies. More details available here.

Warren Report Now Available on Podcast

Subscription is free;  just click here. Thus far, The Warren Report has posted an overarching introduction to itself with KUOW's Megan Sukys, intimate talks with THE WACKNESS crew and a brand-new interview with Darryl Roberts from AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL.

The Warren Report will add new podcasts every Wednesday and Sunday, with longer pieces debuting in the weekend slot. Once again, subscribing to the podcast is free and easy; just click on this link or the buttons at the top of The Warren Report's homepage or blog.

Jeffcoat Finds Writing for TV Presents New Challenges

TV Spin-off Still on Schedule Despite Occasional Frustrations

John Jeffcoat
TV Show Could be Eight Months Away

This really highlighted the new situation Jeffcoat is dealing with. Whereas as an independent filmmaker, you are really only answerable to yourself and colleagues, he is now dealing with producers from NBC and Universal Studios. A good sign though was the early appointment of a 'show runner', a producer seconded from the network to the writing team. "It was an early vote of confidence in the project to get a 'runner' so early. It really helps us understand the needs of TV much better. It has been very beneficial."

Characters or Story, and Where to Begin?

One of the initial problems Jeffcoat and Wing had to deal with was how to adapt the existing story and characters in the film to TV. "One of the problems was where to start chronologically. It's been an education for George and I but we decided that tv viewers shouldn't need to have seen the film. A second sprung from one of the central difficulties between film and tv. A movie is about a story whereas a tv sitcom is essentially about the characters in it. To make it work, we've replaced and amended some of the characters in the film."

The third version will be turned in sometime in the next ten days and John estimates that the pilot should be ready for our screens in about eight months.

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