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Underground Filmmaking Festival
2008-01-28 13:32:00
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More About: Festival , Underground , Filmmaking

8mm
2008-01-25 05:52:00
My next short is being shot on this tidy Eumig Double 8mm camera. Using 8mm or even 16mm film stock has really become an achievable option for filmmakers wanting to shoot cheaply on a medium that has... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Catering on a Low Budget
2008-01-24 00:57:00
I do all my own catering on set and it has taken me some time to know what feeds a band of cast and crew on a limited budget. The reason I do my own catering is because cooking is therapeutic for me,... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: Budget , Catering

6th Angry Film Festival
2008-01-23 06:13:00
It is that time of year again, indeed with festivals it is always that time of year when they call out for entries. The 6th Angry Film Festival is now open for entries to download an entry form go to... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Heath Ledger dead at 28
2008-01-22 23:47:00
Heath Ledger and Matt Damon in Terry Gilliam's Brother's Grimm Mortality is even more pronounced when it happens to a film star, especially a film star who dies young, and more so when it is someone... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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DigiSPAA 2008
2008-01-21 00:24:00
DigiSPAA 2008 (Entries Now Open) DigiSPAA is an exciting and bold initiative designed to encourage and foster digital feature film production. Now in its fourth year, DigiSPAA provides a forum for... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

I served the King of England
2008-01-16 01:31:00
I haven't seen this film by Jirí Menzel yet but after having watched the Trailer, I am impressed and want to see it. One thing that grabs me with films are "moments" and time taken to dress up those... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: England , The King , King

Co-writing
2008-01-14 08:24:00
My friend and I decided to co-write a script and made an arrangement to meet every Saturday to write it. Now this might be the traditional face-to-face way of penning scenes and working out narrative... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: Writing

Acne, Madness and Death
2008-01-06 23:26:00
I think Ken Russell rediscovered his freedom shooting movies in his backyard with a bunch of neighborhood friends playing the characters. This film I shot reminds me of that, nothing about it is... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: Acne , Death , Madness

snuffboxfilms 2008
2008-01-05 01:53:00
I'm hoping everyone had a terrific Christmas and New Years, and resolutions have been promptly broken as they are likely to be, especially for us smokers, who usually make the 'quit' smoking number... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Merry Christmas
2007-12-23 14:40:00
A Merry Christmas from all of us here, well me, at snuffboxfilms. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Script Smart
2007-12-20 10:52:00
An automatic script layout template for Word makes script writing easier, and I use Script Smart as supplied by our lovely Brits at the BBC - the reason I use the British layout is because in... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Our Media
2007-12-12 01:08:00
Ourmedia Org (channels of creativity) is a video sharing and general film scentric community that has just begun an Online video producing community for sourcing work in the industry. The site is... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: Media

FILMAKA Wild Card Competition
2007-12-10 23:37:00
Latest press release from Filmaka. "The response and feedback we've received to the first year of FILMAKA has been tremendous.....so many great films and so many great filmmakers! Thank You for your... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: Card , Competition , Wild , Wild Card

One Minute Film Festivals
2007-12-01 05:22:00
Here is a one minute list of the shortest of the short film festivals that will take you about sixty seconds to read. Got a lot to say with brevity? Then take note. I'll add more as they arise.Film Minute - the International One Minute Film Festival. One Minute Film and Video Festival - Toronto."One Minute" International Film and Video Festival - Switzerland.The New York Minute Film Festival - New YorkThe One Minutes - Beijing.60 Second Shakespeare - BBCThe One Minute Festival of SpainPassion for Cinema Online One Minute Movie FestivalRicky Thunder's 'Shit Fest' One Minute Movies - Los AngelesPravda Viena Minute Depict (90 Seconds)The 60 Second Southern Video Festival - Harmony Landing60-Second Film Competition - UW Film ClubThe 60 Second Film Festival Real Time Sixty Second Film Festival - Czech Republic (last held 2003?)
More About: Festivals

The Making of Errol Flynn's Pianist
2007-11-26 03:45:00
Guess what? My rejection arrived safely from Raw Nerve. The nerve of them to send such a polite rejection slip! Nevermind, a filmmaker becomes so immune to such things that being accepted by anything tastes ten times sweeter. Below I have created the "Making of Errol Flynn 's Pianist" using Voicethread. The reason for doing so in this way was because during the shoot we had a digital camera to capture some behind the scenes footage but because we were so pushed for time we shot very little, between set-ups I got my 1st AD to round up a small amount of behind the scenes action. However I was lucky enough to have Ben Richards on board playing the role of Orson Welles and he happens to be a professional photographer and so took about sixty snaps during the shoot. I then decided to be creative and use them with the commentary by the cast and crew, as well as myself on Voicethread. This is only very fresh at the moment and I've only just sent out invitations to cast and crew to comment,...

Red versus Blue
2007-11-24 16:32:00
No it isn't the classic Machinima series but the election here in Oz (it is a country by the way not a prison colony - actually it was a prison colony so I guess the television series has something in its title) which is well and truly over - but that is not why I've neglected to post. I've neglected to post because I've been concentrating on non-film like duties. Um, like cooking dinner, doing shopping, assignments which have an ever increasing mid-December deadline, waiting for the Raw Nerve funding rejection to come through (I didn't want to say anything because you can jinx these things y'know). I kind of like Baudelaire's method of warding off creditors by sending them fifty lines on some extraterrestrial subject and am thinking of doing the same to film festivals and funding bodies. They might get a fifty line treatise on why Daleks would make good indoor pets or whether or not they make window boxes big enough for Triffids. I've been also reading all the responses to ...
More About: Blue , Versus

James Jackson 07
2007-11-22 02:57:00
Ex-professional wrestler friend of mine turned poet James Jackson has created an election spoken word piece for 2007, you can catch a glimpse of me playing a priest marrying off two girls. I thought I might plonk it here.Here is another election video by some Aussie hip-hop enthusiasts I thought I might paste below the James Jackson 07 campaign.

Underground Filmmaker Festival
2007-11-22 02:23:00
The deadline has been extended for the Underground Filmmaker Festival orchestrated by one of my favourite media hosting sites Underground Film - the latest press statement I received from them says ..."As more films come in and more sponsors come on board with more awards, we have decided to extend the festival deadline and move our screening to January 31st.I would like to invite you to submit your films to the Undergroundfilm Maker Festival, a new way to celebrate film. Seagate Technologies is offering a Grand Prize of $5000 and Current TV will give winners the opportunity to have their work broadcast to 40 million cable TV subscribers. There is no entry fee.The UGFMF is a filmmaker-centered festival. To enter, you must submit a portfolio at least two films, old or new. The best portfolios will go to the next round, where the filmmakers will complete a videotaped interview and a short film assignment. Finalists will have their films, interviews and assignments screened at the R...

Sweeney Todd
2007-11-20 09:09:00
I have fond memories of the story of Sweeney Todd - The demon barber of Fleet Street. First as a young lad seeing a production of the stage show that aired on television and having been recorded was a staple re-watch along with Mike Batt's System 605 and Orpheus in the Underworld. My next experience was actually appearing in the stage show musical of Sweeney Todd as the magician. Now, as I hope with these stories, a competent director and cast have reproduced it for the big screen. Burton is a style master, like Gilliam, rarely straying from his own set of ingredients and I appreciate that. Although I probably these days would never be bowled over by anything Burton does, I do the one thing that I love about good cinema, enjoy it. Depp although not an obvious choice of lead but logical as he makes the lives of a certain class directors easier by coming on board continuously on projects will do nicely - his all too soon return to the cockney like accent not unexpected as this also i...

Jumpcut
2007-11-19 05:31:00
Sometimes you may find yourself stranded at a friend's house, just shot some footage, and not wanting to go home and kick start Final Cut for a piffy amount of footage it would be handy to have an Online editing suite at your disposal - well, Jumpcut is such a tool. Using images, video and audio, even text, putting together a quick Youtube, Myspace or Facebook cinematic ditty couldn't be any easier.But why stop there? Need to edit some title cards? Then try using Snipshot the Online photo editor. So now even with your laptop, wireless, and a camera phone you can truly live out the beatific lifestyle. Finally, if you feel locked out of the international market due to language barriers and can't afford expensive translator services - try doing your best using BubblePly where adding subtitles is as easy as un, deux, trois.And it is all FREE! So imaginary scenario one is that you managed to catch Mick Jagger having it off in the toilets and this ground breaking news just has to hit t...

Wildsound
2007-11-18 06:00:00
Wildsound is a peer review film festival in Toronto that screens films from around the world and allows for the audience to talk directly to the filmmakers about their project. The filmmaker then has the opportunity to respond to the audience and industry professionals either by discussion, shouting at them, or walking out the door making grunting noises as they veer straight to the nearest bar for a double whiskey.There is loads to rummage through on their website so follow the link at the start of this post and have a browse.

Dealing with the Dead Ends
2007-11-16 15:49:00
This happens a lot in the filmmaking industry especially on forums where keen filmmakers will post 'wanted' or 'interest' requests to a forum and then in due time drop the project leaving a bunch of hopefuls hanging onto the topic thread - inevitably the hopeful gets pissed off and complains about it. There are reasons perhaps why this happens and it is best that we examine several of them so that we can nurse our tempers better. Often when an idea is hit upon it can work in the same frame of mood of those ideas that sometimes pop into our head at 4am in the morning - yep, the great idea that we are going to execute the next morning which in hindsight whilst showering off an over-sleeping migraine we decide wasn't that good an idea after-all. So, what happens is a filmmaker is all in the mood to spark a project off and the communicating of that is the easiest part and therefore usually the first action that takes place in the sincere hope that production will magically come abo...
More About: Dead , Ends

Raw Nerve
2007-11-12 02:16:00
The press release for Raw Nerve below.OPEN CHANNEL is pleased to announce that entries for Raw Nerve 2008 are now open!Raw Nerve 2008 will give up to five new filmmakers, who have never previously produced or directed a film with full or part financing from a government film financing agency, the chance to move from no-budget filmmaking to a more professional approach with the help of a small budget, and equipment, technical support, advice and guidance from the Australian Film Commission and OPEN CHANNEL.OPEN CHANNEL is looking for projects that exhibit a strong authorial vision, a compelling story, and fresh, interesting characters. Directors, or director / producer teams with vision and ambition are invited to participate in Raw Nerve 2008. Aspiring filmmakers with very little, or no experience, are also welcome to apply.The deadline for entries is Monday 19 November. The finalists, selected by a Panel of representatives from OPEN CHANNEL and the AFC, will be announced on 17 Dece...

All things kinky
2007-11-09 03:15:00
Keeping with the kinky theme this week Video Inferno presents Amsterdam Alternative Erotica Film Festival 15-18th of November at the Cinema QT301 in Amsterdam for those who'll be either traveling there or live there. New York film festival Cinekink is closing in on its deadline (November 15th) for those who have films that represent sexuality in some way.I see independent filmmakers being compared to bands like The Kinks and The Troggs, whereas the mainstream fits with bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Being on the edge allows for a somewhat more flexible approach to ideas and concepts in film - sadly though independent filmmakers can't just lay their films down on a four track and canvass it 'round the record shops.
More About: Things , Kinky , Inky

Destfest
2007-11-08 07:55:00
A friend of mine is curating or programming a brand new film festival at Carriageworks in Eveleigh, apparently Sydney's most amazing new art space. I have not been there but Megan Spencer, the programmer says it is "a little slice of Berlin", and considering that my short film after having been banned by the OFLC from MUFF just won second place in the Pr0n category of Cum2Cut a partner program of the Berlin Porn Film Festival, I tend to be a little biased towards loving the Germans right now. Anyway I may just pluck up the courage again to ask Dale when she is feeling better to go and meet Megan because I think they would get along.Okay, so this film festival is called Destfest and the premise behind it is to present film in a cultural way, that is from my own interpretation, not just as a vehicle to hit the mark and pick up a prize, but something involved in our lives, something that inspires, or even perhaps helps fertilise our natures, our characteristics, our attitudes, as indi...

St Kilda Film Festival 2008
2007-11-05 13:22:00
I am no stranger to the St Kilda Film Festival having had a film I shot and lit many years ago accepted in called "Break-Up International", directed by Adam Zwar (Rats & Cats, Wilfred) but ever since I have flung my plucky short films their way and have had them bounce every time - next year may be no different as I'm submitting "Errol Flynn's Pianist" for their rejection just to keep the routine consistent. However ...You may want to have your film rejected by the St Kilda Film Festival 2008 because right now they are accepting entries all over again. The deadline is February the 1st 2008, and the prize as usual is the whopping big $10, 000 of which to put mildly could keep any filmmaker off the streets for a few months. There are a whole heap of entry conditions so you might want to zip along here and get reading.Otherwise the website is looking pretty slim pickings at the moment considering they are celebrating their 25th birthday but who knows, their website developers might h...

Screenwriter's Blues
2007-11-03 03:44:00
The Bluecat screenplay competition is now open for entries. The major prize is $10, 000 with four runner up prizes of $1, 500, the fee for entering is $50 which is probably part of the prize pool, so if you win you can thank all the hundreds of want to be screenwriters who didn't. Bluecat also offer an analysis for your script, they hold screenplay writing workshops and state that they offer genuine support to all writers.It is up to you if you want to submit but read on if you would like to enter a discussion about scriptwriting and some of the entrapment's set off by modern enterprise.I have never entered a screenplay writing competition so this post is as neutrally sided as can be but I tend to think that a writer should know the quality of their own work from instinct without having to have it picked apart by industry folk looking for some extra cash between jobs analyzing other writer's labor. Other writing fields have similar opportunities thrust their way for a fee and the...
More About: Blues

Writing for digital
2007-10-25 17:22:00
"Hey, who wants to be chained to a keyboard sweating to strengthen a character arc or imposing a three-act structure on a screenplay when you could be out there waving a camera in the streets with cool people and actors that amazingly ... make up their own dialogue.Too much digital stuff looks more like an acting workshop from a first-draft screenplay, shot by whoever could borrow a camera - and it is giving digital production a bad rep."Vincent Monton - cinematographerI'm about to embark on a Digital Feature and I thought I might examine some of the fundamentals when approaching this lucrative creative style. What does it mean when we say digital? Well I guess these days it represents the non-analogue technology that is used when shooting, in post, and in broadcasting our ideas. The closest thing we have to our minds which are Über digital in the way they handle and manipulate information. So when we say digital we mean everything is datafied, it is all streamed through chips, it...
More About: Writing

Underground Film Festival
2007-10-23 08:34:00
I haven't been posting so much due to much of my time taken up doing work and homework. Last night I attended a private screening of a feature film of which I had a cameo role in called "How to change the world" written and directed by Leo Berkeley. The film at the moment is still in the tweaking stages and having the screening was a tool used for the director to gain feedback, and for the cameo role people like myself to get drunk and babble rubbish all night.Anyway, those of you who aren't aware of Underground Film the film hosting site then it is about time you were. Underground Film is dedicated to works that are independent and their mission statement is extremely positive towards filmmakers working in the fringes of the film industry. Recently they have just developed an Undergroundfilm - Maker Festival with a grand prize of $5000. The screenings and awards to be held in December at the Roxie Cinema in San Francisco. I can't go because our Melbourne tram service unfortunate...
More About: Film Festival