Competitions Massify News July 28th, 2008
Production Update, Perkins’ 14
Heather Tocquigny, the runner-up in the casting portion of Ghosts in the Machine, has been replaced by Shayla Beesley, who was in third place when voting ended.
Filmmaking Tips July 21st, 2008
Story comes from a well conceived character
While necessary and ultimately fulfilling, the process of developing compelling characters for their narratives can be challenging for writers and directors alike.
In this post, author and professor Jeff Bens gives advice on creating and developing characters for fiction and film, in addition to story structure and writing in general.
Jeff’s inspiring, professional insight is a must-read. Read on for the entire interview.
Other News July 18th, 2008
Raise your hand if you like free movies
Exactly.
SnagFilms just launched their beta site, which contains over 270 free documentaries. Divided up by topics like Environment, International, and Sports and Hobbies, you can stream the docs for free and donate to their causes.
A lot of these are movies that would normally only be seen in small festivals (though there are some bigger hits, like Super Size Me), so this is where Snag’s ’snag’ feature comes in. All of these documentaries are also widgets, so you can drag any of them into your facebook page, blog, or any other sites where they can find an audience.
Of course, that’s not the only recent news about SnagFilms.
Filmmaking Tips July 14th, 2008
Don’t let anybody see you reading this on set
This straightforward pocket manual is invaluable for those who work in production, especially if you are that ever abused but oh-so-necessary PA. No fluff here: It covers everything from basic set etiquette to the proper way to speak into a walkie talkie so you don’t embarrass yourself.
“The Production Assistant’s Pocket Handbook” is a free pdf download from Caleb J. Clark:
It may be the most witty PA survival guide this side of the world wide web.
Massify News July 10th, 2008
Check out this article
In his article last week in the LA Times, David Sarno talks about how the internet is not only becoming a more legitimate place for independent films to be seen but also created. He mentions Massify as an example of the latter, an ‘emerging online space’ for filmmakers.
The article really captures what we’re trying to do on Massify, which is giving you the tools to connect and create.
Filmmaking Tips July 8th, 2008
You are what you post
It’s easy to forget that online, we are what we post. And blog about. And share.
If you’re reading this, you’ve caught on that the internet is proving itself to be a powerful distributor, promotional tool, and partner for indie filmmakers and video creators. But like the recent news about Google and Viacom has reminded us, most things you post online are not even remotely private.
But this post isn’t about IP addresses. It’s about professionalism. In an age of virtual transparency, maintaining a professional image online has never been more important.
And for those who work in film, or aspire to, it never hurts to be reminded that being ‘professional’ isn’t about being paid. But don’t take my word for it…
