Categories
Issues and Actions

Why Copyright Filtering Should Not Be Part Of The Natl Broadband Plan

http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/2568

Categories
Truly Free Film

Tools: Organizing Audiences

Mike Hedge pointed out to me that we now have a major distributor using Eventful to organize screenings on a local level. Back when Adventureland was released, I few fans found me to let me know that they had organized screening groups on MeetUp. Both of these are powerful tools, that the indie film community needs to make more use of.

And of course, let’s not forget where we first heard of this sort of thing. Arin & Susan paved the way for Dreamworks… ?! Let’s make sure this kind of thing becomes an indie filmmaker staple.
Imagine that when a filmmaker announced that their film is going to debut at a major film festival, that in addition to launching their trailer and going into a new phase with their blogging they also utilized these tools to aggregate audiences on a local level. There might be a film that was able to go on a tour immediately following the premiere taking the work directly to the core. I wonder what sort of impact it would have with the old school distributors to hear that a filmmaker already had thirty or more dates that the fans themselves requested.
Filmmakers could motivate fans to organize these screenings and to recruit audiences by offering a wide variety of incentives from exclusive music downloads to Skype Q&A’s afterwards. Film clubs could easily do the same. Heck, so could distributors. We have an Indie Film Promotional Army out there, already armed, and waiting for the call.
When I look at the number of tools we have at our disposal (check out the list on the right to start) that filmmakers are still underutilizing, I feel like we have all been given crate loads of matches but we still all live in the Dark Ages.
I would love to hear of some filmmakers direct experiences utilizing these specific tools.
Categories
Bowl Of Noses

Are You Ready To Become A Secret Agent?

The International Spy Museum in Washington, DC has a series of brain teasers up on their website to get you prepared to be a young James Bond. And they are a lot of fun!

http://www.spymuseum.org/programs/games.php
(hat tip to Caitlin McCarthy for this one!)
Categories
These Are Those Things

Recommended Viewing: More BLU – Combo w/ David Ellis

My favorite film of last year was BLU’s building piece. It may well be my favorite internet viewing of all time. My stomach’s been growling for something new from him to consume. What a delight to wake up and find this on my plate.

Categories
Bowl Of Noses

Silly Stuff: Baby Dancing To Beyonce

Got get some giggles over your cornflakes this morning? Put this diaper dude into your bowl. Forget the milk.

Categories
These Are Those Things

Great Rock Vocals: The Box Tops’ "The Letter"

Of all the songs that lodge in my head, THE LETTER is one that I hope never escapes. Granted my attempts to sing it are miles from that of Mr. Chilton’s, but some how his mix of cool and sadness covers all my inabilities. His vocal swims through my ears blocking out my geese-like honking.

Although The Box Tops are not what Big Star would go on to be (making one of my top ten albums of all time), but you have to love how much they are into not being into being there here on this video:

Categories
Truly Free Film

Required Reading: Recent Posts (Myself & Others)

1. Toronto Wrap: Indie Bloodbath – by Anne Thompson
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/09/19/toronto_film_festival_winners_and_losers/
2. 18 Actions Towards A Sustainable Truly Free Film Community – by Ted Hope
http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com/2009/09/18-actions-towards-sustainable-truly.html
3. Exploring New Routes to the Indies – by A.O. Scott & Manohla Dargis
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/movies/13darg.html?_r=1&ref=movies
4. Declaration of Independence: The Ten Principles of Hybrid Distribution – by Peter Broderick
http://www.indiewire.com/article/declaration_of_independence_the_ten_principles_of_hybrid_distribution/
5. Movies, Now More Than Ever – by Eugene Hernandez
http://www.indiewire.com/article/eugene_hernandez_movies_now_more_than_ever/
6. Toronto Festival Challenges Indie Film to Evolve – by Anne Thompson

http://www.thewrap.com/article/toronto-brings-chance-indie-film-evolution_6718
7. Roundtable: Indie film marketing specialists – By Stephen Galloway and Matthew Belloni
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i34ed7d659fd02963dc0e951b9b59b4af

8. How To Survive Indie Producer Hell – By Ted Hope
http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com/2009/09/ten-steps-plus-one-for-how-to-survive.html

9. Indie Alert Level: Severe – By Roger Ebert
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/09/indie_alert_level_severe.html