Sundance's NEXT FEST Line-up Announced!

Check it out here!

http://www.sundance.org/next/line-up/

New Zooppa Brand Competitions!

We’re excited to share a few fun filmmaking opportunities with the members of the Filmmakers Alliance.

Zooppa is an online platform that connects brands with creative users. The way it works is, brands post their creative briefs on the Zooppa site for Zooppa members, at which point they may enter as many videos as they would like to win cash prizes and represent huge brands in online and broadcast advertisements. Ultimately, Zooppa is an online crowd-sourcing platform where brands turn to for refreshing and relevant user generate content. Signing up for the Zooppa community is 100% free and allows you access to all of our campaigns at any given time. This is a cool way to exercise your filmmaking skills and boost your portfolios!

As a fellow filmmaking community, Zooppa would like to share with the Filmmakers Alliance a few campaigns going on right now. Here they are!

Fun and Flavor with Lindsay Olives

Produce the next film advertisement for Lindsay Olives by submitting a video to the “Fun and Flavor with Lindsay Olives” Campaign!”

Lindsay has been bringing joy to people’s lives for over 100 years and is a staple in the American kitchen. The thing about olives is -- you either LOVE them or you don’t.

Lindsay’s California Black Ripe Olives is looking for 15 second or 30 second videos showcasing their product. Use your imagination to create an entertaining and humorous scene! To participate in this project, pledge now and receive $25 in product coupons that you can use in your film. Head to the brief to learn more!

Submitting a video is easy! Simply sign up for free at www.zooppa.com and upload your video.

Stats: The contest closes on July 14th at 4:00 PM PDT with $15,000 in total awards. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000.

Help Create a Brighter Future for Our Children

Project Sunlight is a growing movement of people who believe it is possible to build a world where everyone lives well and lives sustainably.

Faced with an increasingly apathetic an unengaged world, Unilever wants to stress the need for a positive outlook and willingness to act. Together, and through small actions everyday, we can begin to achieve the unprecedented possibilities of our world. The purpose of this campaign is to inspire others to join Unilever in making sustainable and informed decisions each day.

Through a compelling video (up to 90 seconds) or a series of 3 prints, show us an uplifting piece that inspires our society, especially parents, to create a brighter future for our children. Check out the contest brief on Zooppa’s website to learn more!

Your piece should be heartfelt and informative that ignites social change and a positive discussion surrounding how children will have a better, brighter future.

To participate in this campaign go to www.zooppa.com to create an account and begin submitting your work.

Stats: The contest closes on July 28th at 4pm PST with $70,000 in total awards. The grand prize winner will receive $20,000.

Filmmakers Alliance Celebrates LA MUSE at the LA Film Festival!

Broad Green Room / Filmmakers Alliance, Samy's Camera and Section 101 invites FA members, filmmakers, film lovers, festival friends, industry mavens, creatives, and culture vultures to a special celebration of the LA MUSE film series at The LA FILM FESTIVAL.

RSVP HERE!

Join us on June 15th for a pre-Father's Day Dinner toast at the historic Variety Arts Club on 940 S. Figueroa St., - a gorgeous 1920s landmark theatre in the heart of the downtown festival scene. Come celebrate the fest, it's LA MUSE film series and connect with LA's expansive filmmaking community with complimentary beer, wine, and cocktails - in an amazing space created by Broad Green Room.

The event is free for FA Members and invited guests. You should have received a promotional code. Otherwise JOIN FA! :)

BROAD GREEN ROOM, FILMMAKERS ALLIANCE, SAMY'S CAMERA and SECTION 101 bring you:

A CELEBRATION OF LA MUSE at THE LA FILM FESTIVAL

Variety Arts Club
940 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Sunday, June 15
5pm-7pm

        

Los Angeles is "Cine City" in June!!

Lotsa cine-stuff happening in Los Angeles this month and you will probably see me at ALL of it!!

Here's what's up in scheduled order:

Dances With Films - May 29th (TOMORROW NIGHT) thru June 8th
Los Angeles Greek Film Festival - June 4th thru June 8th
Cinegear - June 5th thru June 8th (don't worry, you can do both!) Exhibits are 6th and 7th
NALIP - June 5th thru June 8th
New Media Film Festival - June 10th and 11th
Los Angeles Film Festival - June 11th thru June 19th

And, I'm certain there's a much more that I'm forgetting - or simply not aware of. And, of course, there's also great stuff like LA Film Forum and Cinefamily, that happens on a regular basis.

Since I am an associate programmer of the LA Film Festival - as well as Filmmakers Alliance being a participating org - you will be hearing a lot more about that fest from me in the upcoming days. But I urge you, if you're in LA, to support your filmmaking community - and yourself - and get out to as much of this as you can!!

See ya there!!

In July:
Downtown Film Festival LA - July 9th thru July 19th
Outfest - July 10th thru July 20th

Interesting BFI Report on "Borrowed Time"

Here's an interesting case study on the British film "Borrowed Time", which was done more like an American Indie than the kinds of foreign films that hit our shores. Much to be learned from it.

Check it out!

http://www.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/BFI-insight-report-borrowed-time-2014-05.pdf

LAST DAY to Join FA Super Cheap! Join. Connect. Get Stuff. Make Films.

Hey All,

Today is the final, final LAST DAY to take advantage of  Filmmakers Alliance's extended pre-launch  membership offer of $10 per year (normally $19.99) or $100 for a LIFETIME membership. Or  sign up ten filmmakers and receive a complimentary LIFETIME membership.

Not only will you get all the advantages of  membership, you'll be eligible to win one of the following perks*:

• A NEW PERK: A free AFM 2014 Badge. It includes access to Show Floor & Screenings, tickets to the AFM Conference Series, free Wi-Fi throughout the Loews Hotel, one year membership to AFM365™, the AFM's Online Community, access to the AFM Filmmakers Lounge at Le Merigot Hotel, access to the Industry Conversations Series (until full), invitation to an AFM Orientation with AFM Managing Director.

• A free trip to the Sundance Film Festival 2015. 

• A free test screening for your film and One-Hour follow-up distribution consultation with World Wide Motion Picture Group's George Zaver!

• A free, one-year subscription package of key cloud-based filmmaking tools. That includes IMDbPro, Section101, Celtx, Remark and more.

• A free one-hour screenwriting consultation from screenwriter/filmmaker (and founding FA member) Sean Hood.  

• A free No-Buget Film School Seminar and One-Hour follow-up consultation with producer and No Budget Film School founder Mark Stolaroff.

But again, you must  sign up  by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT to be eligible.

* Upon launch of site, regular competitions will be held for each perk . One perk per member per year.

Filmmakers Alliance: Connect. Get Stuff. Make Films.

THE NEW FA: COMING JULY 2014 

The NEW Filmmakers Alliance website is launching in July 2014, but we are offering an April-only “pre-launch” membership offer of $10 PER YEAR (regularly $19.99). Yes, per year! We are offering this to current and former FA members and others who are part of the FA family.  Sign up anytime between now and midnight TONIGHT for just $10 for membership lasting until May 31st, 2015. Connect with your filmmaking community, get access to amazing resources and  win a free trip to The Sundance Film Festival 2015!! 

SIGN UP HERE 

Here’s what membership in Filmmakers Alliance gets you:

• Member connectivity. Hook up with your filmmaking comrades. Get info, support and crew. Go make films together.

• Regional membership events.

• Profile pages. Detail who you are, what you’re making and what you need. Upload pics and videos. Create groups, forums and events.

• Downloadable info, education and resources. Actor, crew and vendor databases. Instructional videos. Production forms. Production Software and more.

• Key links to sites, blogs, tools and other great filmmaking stuff!!

• Access to donations, discounts, promotions and other partner offers. That includes equipment, software, site subscriptions, Org memberships, festival/competition submissions, event fees and much more.

• Eligibility for competitions and giveaways. Including cameras, software, insurance packages and more. Our first competition will earn you a free trip to The Sundance Film Festival 2015!

• Automatic enrollment in FA’s “Frequent Filmmaker Program”. Earn points for ANY online activity (posts, responses, click-thrus, purchases, etc.) which you can then redeem for tons of GREAT filmmaking stuff. Join NOW and get 1,000 points! That’s an awesome jumpstart on your free filmmaking reward.

We will also be brokering new discounts for FA members throughout the year to such things as festivals, seminars, workshops, rental houses, insurance packages and more. 

So, come be a part of the filmmaking community that Filmmaking Stuff called " one of the ten best filmmaking websites". You’ll get the connectivity, information, resources and support you've always needed, but now you'll also get an immense package of benefits that will make your filmmaking life cheaper and easier - freeing you to be the filmmaker you were born to be. 

For just $10 per year.

ALSO, the first 100 filmmakers will get a free gift card from one of these 4 partners*:

*gift cards or codes will be delivered within 8 weeks of launch.

Give yourself the gift of Filmmakers Alliance membership.  NOW.

Connect. Get Stuff. Make Films.

Filmmakers Alliance

1317 N. San Fernando Blvd, #366  

Burbank, CA 91504-4236 

310-568-0633 office

info@filmmakersalliance.org

http://www.filmmakersalliance.org

Make A "Connection" with me THIS Wednesday!!

Hey All,

As you probably know I'm making a film. It's called "Connection".

In support of the film, I'm doing a one-day fundraising webathon on Wednesday, March 26th starting at 7 a.m. and going until Midnight (PST). All the details are HERE.

I know you are probably as tired of crowd funding solicitations as anyone else, so we're keeping a very short promotional window and doing it all on a single day!!

And on top of that we're going to host a really fun, informative and engaging show for 17 HOURS!! If you are not a fan of filmmaking, not a fan of the subject matter or not a fan of me, personally, :)…then hopefully the show will earn your support. PLEASE TUNE IN!

We'd love for you to be a part of it, too. During the show, post to us anytime on our Facebook page or Skype (connectionthefilm) us directly during our call-in segments and breaks in the show. Would love to feel the love from those of you I see all the time, would love to hear from those of you I haven't heard from in awhile, and would love to meet those of you I haven't met.

As some of you know, I've done this webathon thing before and it was a huge success. Our goal is to break our own single day record. And we can do it with YOUR support! Donate whatever you can and/or spread the word via email, Facebook, Twitter, whatever. Ideally, you will support and then let the world know that you did.

This film means a lot to me, being my first feature film as a director in over 12 years. So, I DEEPLY appreciate your support and consideration.

Hope to "Connect" this Wednesday!

Best,
J.

A Few Questions About The Creative Process For "Connection"

My good friend Sean Hood, who has his own blog (Genre Hacks), asked me to write something about "Connection"'s creative journey that he could post on his blog. He asked a number of questions, much of it about screenwriting/filmmaking, in general. But since it includes"Connection", I naturally had to post it here, too. Enjoy!

How is writing an independent, micro-budget movie different than writing traditional spec script?
The main difference is that in writing an indie, micro-budget feature,  you MUST write within the bounds of your resources. Meaning, you have to consider, with each scene/location/prop/stunt/etc. how you are going to shoot it and how much it will cost. It sounds restrictive, but it actually forces you to come up with imaginative ways to realize things that money can't simply buy. With a traditional spec script, your imagination is unhindered by such things.  The difference between the two kinds of scripts, however, are minimal for me, since even with an unlimited budget, I would be drawn toward telling the same kind of stories, in the same kind of way, that I am doing on a micro-budget: Character-driven pieces set in a compelling dynamic. I make lower budgeted films, not simply because I have to, but because I choose to.

How is your story, in structure and content, different from a "Save The Cat" screenplay?
The main difference is that in my story, people are too busy having sex (or trying to) to even notice the cat. I actually am not too familiar with the whole "Save The Cat" thing and not very motivated to understand it too deeply. My loose understanding is that a "Save The Cat" screenplay follows all the traditional Hollywood story-telling paradigms, including having the main character "Save The Cat" early on to build audience sympathy for them. Real people are more complex than any standard paradigms and that I'm vastly more interested in exploring that complexity than smoothing it out for entertainment value. My story doesn't answer questions. It asks them and leaves the audience to consider them.

How do your plans as director inform your choices in the writing process?
I actually tend to try to separate the two. Of course, I can't help but visualize the film and think about directorial issues while I'm writing, but I try not to let that hinder me in any significant way. I simply focus on what the characters and circumstances are telling me as I make creative choices. Is there tension? Is it compelling? Is it authentic? Is it working on multiple levels? These are my four main general concerns while I'm writing. Then, when I direct, I "bury" the writer. The script becomes nothing more than a blueprint that I am free to re-interpret based on visual style, pacing, location, casting, quality of performance and many other real-world factors once we are actually committing it to film (or HD video, as is usually the case these days).

Why did you decide to fund this film through kickstarter and other fundraising campaigns rather than through a traditional production company or studio?
Two reasons. Well, three actually. The first is that the budget I saw for this film was in that zone between self-financing (or raising money just from people you know) and traditional production company or studio financing. I couldn't have done the film the way I want to do it on a smaller budget. Of course, I could've gone the other direction and simply done the film for a larger budget, but that leads to the second reason I didn't go the traditional route: the film itself. The subject matter is challenging and I want to explore it in a challenging way. It will not be typical Hollywood fare and I don't have faith that traditional funding entities are interested in funding anything that doesn't have commercial appeal and/or serious star power. The third reason is that I don't know many people in the traditional production company or studio world, nor do I have much interest in developing those contacts. For the most part, I'm not at all a fan of the films they often choose to do.

How can people follow the making of this film, either as fans and fellow filmmakers who may involved in the same process?
Given the ubiquity of social media, there are numerous ways to "connect" with CONNECTION. Here are the ones we have thus far:
Our Crowd Funder: http://filmmakersalliance.org/CONNECTION_Fundraiser.html
Our website: http://connection-thefilm.com/
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/CONNECTION_film
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConnectionTheFilm
On YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ConnectionTheFilm
On Tumblr: http://connection-thefilm.tumblr.com
On Instagram: http://instagram.com/connectionthefilm