Public Classifieds and Announcements - Get The (D-)Word Out!

DocuMentors DOC TIP #7: Writing a Strong Treatment

Treatments are an invaluable tool at any step of the way in the filmmaking process. They are a succinct and descriptive way to get across the elements of your film to others. They are usually 1-2 pages and contain only the essential information about your project. (Sometimes a treatment can go up to 4 pages, and then would include a longer narrative story summary, and more character information). The writing should be well-organized, grammatically correct and exciting and tantalizing to read. You want to hook your reader and get them interested in your project so that they want to know more and so that they become a supporter of the project.

It’s essentially a marketing tool that is helpful in fundraising, distribution, and many other steps of the filmmaking process. Writing a treatment can also really help you sharpen your own ideas and concept of your film.

Your treatment should contain the following elements:

...for the rest of this doc tip, go to www.documentaryhowto.com and click on DOCUMENTARY TIPS.

CALL FOR ENTRIES
Held beneath the red rocks of Zion National Park, the international 4th Annual Red Rock Film Festival comes back in November of 2010 with more excellent programming that will both challenge and educate the mind. The Xtreme sports docs and off-the-charts dramatic features are just the accessories to the festival’s staple of political documentaries and foreign film.

The festival boasts a strict "no back-door" fairness policy directing all competition entrants, including friends and "high-profile" films to submit online where every film entered goes through "the red mill" previewing and selection process. Early entrants are treated to feedback upon request so they can resubmit new versions of their film, and we offer extremely low entry fees ;)

ENTRY FEES & DEADLINES
Triple Chance Deadline**: March 31, 2010, $13
Double Chance Deadline*: April 30, 2010, $14
Regular Deadline: May 30, 2010, $15
Late Deadline: June 30 2010, $20
**Enter 3 versions of the same film
*Enter 2 versions of the film
You may enter on withoutabox or at http://www.redrockfilmfestival.com/RedPages/entries.html

DocuClub Co-Hosts screening of PRODIGAL SONS on March 4, 7:20 p.m., New York City.

After a successful festival run full of accolades, Kimberly Reed’s autobiographical tour-de-force [www.prodigalsonsfilm.com] premieres in New York City at the Cinema Village on February 26, and then makes its way through San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia, among other cities.

DocuClub is proud to co-present New York’s screening at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street, between Fifth Avenue and University Place), on Thursday, MARCH 4TH, at 7:20 p.m. Director Reed will be available for a Q&A post-screening moderated by DocuClub’s Felix Endara.

Advance tickets are available for PRODIGAL SONS at Cinema Village can be purchased here:
http://www.cinemavillage.com/chc/cv/show_movie.asp?movieid=1760

SYNOPSIS:
Returning home to a small town in Montana for her high school reunion, filmmaker Kimberly Reed hopes for reconciliation with her long-estranged adopted brother, Marc. But along the way she uncovers stunning revelations, including his blood relationship with Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth, intense sibling rivalries and unforeseeable twists of plot and gender that forces them to face challenges no one could imagine.

Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival, Best Documentary Jury Prize at NewFest, and Special Jury Prizes for Fearless Filmmaking at the Florida Film Festival and Bravery in Storytelling at the Nashville Film Festival, PRODIGAL SONS is a raw and provocative examination of one family’s struggle to come to terms with its past and present.

PRODIGAL SONS is opening throughout the U.S. in March. For specific dates and locations, check:

www.firstrunfeatures.com/prodigalsons_playdates.html.

Seeking Manhattan Apt. Rental for March 24 – April 4 (11 days)

I am posting this for a friend:

Rental needed in Manhattan, for the visiting family of documentary film student :
2 parents, (architect/administrator) and 2 siblings (ages 15 and 28).
They are visiting from Madrid, Spain to see their daughter, Caye, who is studying film in NYC at Hunter.

They speak English, are quiet, and are non-smokers, and courteous housekeepers.
Because they will have to do a hotel reservation very soon if they don't find a rental, kindly reply ASAP.

LOCATION: if near East 23rd Street or Union Square is a plus, but not required. Convenient Williamsburg might work also.

Reply to:

ccaayyee@gmail.com
917-600-6448

Hi. I'm selling my nearly new Panasonic DVX 100B. The camera is in great shape and comes with a camera bag, charger, and three batteries.

All included for $1800 or best offer.

Please email sweinfield@gmail.com if you are interested.

Thanks!

DOCUMENTARY TIP #7: Distribution Strategies for a Changing World

The current state of Independent Film Distribution is complex and ever-shifting. Below is a run-down of a recent talk given at IDFA by indie film distribution guru and strategist Peter Broderick, as reported by our staff member, Carol Ann Short.

Seize the Future: The Cutting Edge of Distribution

There are currently unprecedented opportunities and challenges in what Peter Broderick calls the “New World of Distribution.” As traditional distribution has continued to decline, a growing number of filmmakers are using state-of-the-art models to maximize both audience and revenues. Peter consults with filmmakers and media companies to develop strategies to maximize distribution, audiences, and revenues.

First of all, Peter believes that the cornerstone of every distribution plan must include a Web site and a meaningful Distribution List. Many strategy steps will stem from these two items.

Here are some things to think about when crafting the distribution and marketing plan for your film.

Read more...

http://www.documentaryhowto.com/documentary-tips/138-documentary-tip-7-distribution-strategies-for-a-changing-world

I've worked with Peter for almost 6 years. He's a pathfinder in the world of documentary distribution and a fabulous person. If you're interested in distribution, he's the man to work for.

Associate (part-time)

Join us at the cutting edge of distribution. I'm Peter Broderick, an independent film consultant and distribution strategist. I'm looking for a resourceful, friendly, and committed teammate. You will manage scheduling, billing, and database of contacts; handle filmmaker relations; and research new distribution models. This is a great opportunity to provide support for exceptional films and pioneering filmmakers.

You must have an engaging personality, be diligent, and extremely well-organized. A passion for independent film is important, and a knowledge of documentaries a plus. Must be a self-starter with solid writing, typing, research, and Mac computer skills (owning a Mac laptop is essential). Flexible schedule--25-30 hours/week split between work at home and Westside Los Angeles office. Must be reachable outside scheduled hours for urgent questions. Minimum commitment of one year.

To learn more about Paradigm Consulting, visit www.peterbroderick.com.

To apply, send a resume and cover letter to associate at peterbroderick dot com with the exact subject line "Associate Application." The cover letter should state: why you want this job; your qualifications and relevant experience; and your long-term goals. Please write your letter with care since it will give me a sense of who you are, what's important to you, and how well you express yourself.

Please do not call.

Good luck!
Marisa

DocHouse & The Grierson Trust present: a day of award-winning documentaries
Spend the day at The Riverside Studios where you can watch the best docs of the year on the big screen, meet the directors and other filmmakers and have lunch or coffee with friends in the sun along the river

Saturday, 20 March 2010, Time: 12:30 – 23:00
Location: Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, W6 9RL, London, UK – www.riversidestudios.co.uk – www.dochouse.org – Box Office: 020 8237 1111 – Tickets: £5 per film or £18 for a day pass

AT 12:30 pm – BURMA VJ – Best Cinema Documentary
Anders Østergaard, Norway/Sweden/Denmark, 2009, 84 mins
Winner of over 40 International Awards and Academy Award® Nominee

Acclaimed filmmaker, Anders Østergaard follows Burma’s video journalists, who risk torture and life in jail by keeping the flow of news coming out of their closed country. Armed with small handycams, they smuggle out undercover reports, broadcast them back into Burma via satellite and offer them as free usage for international media.

AT 2:15 pm – THRILLER IN MANILA – Best Historical Documentary
Plus Q&A with Director John Dower
John Dower, UK, 2008, 91 mins
Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize World Cinema Documentary Nominee

Joe Frazier, now 63, takes us on an emotional journey back to 1975 and the most hyped boxing match in history. Frazier has never forgiven Ali for his racial taunting calling Frazier 'Gorilla' and 'Uncle Tom’. Although Ali beat Frazier in Manila in 1975 in their third and final fight, Frazier says, 'I clearly won the fight. The proof is in the pudding. I'm walkin', I'm talkin', I'm still havin' fun at 63’.

AT 4:30 pm – THE MONA LISA CURSE – Best Arts Documentary
Plus Q&A with Director Mandy Chang
Mandy Chang, UK, 2009, 75 mins

The Mona Lisa Curse is a timely polemic by internationally renowned art critic Robert Hughes which examines how the world's most famous painting came to influence the art world. With his trademark style, Hughes explores how museums,the production of art and the way we experience it, have radically changed in the last 50 years.

AT 7 pm – AFGHAN STAR – Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue
Plus Q&A with Director Havana Marking
Havana Marking, UK/Afghanistan, 2009, 87 mins
Sundance Film Festival Audience and Directing World Cinema Documentary Award Winner

Afghan Star was watched by a third of the population of Afghanistan. Over 11 million people, in voting for their favourites, experienced a taste of democracy. Afghan Star is a small but significant unifying force for the country's diverse ethnic groups; a celebration of hope in the midst of adversity, 'the aim is to take the people’s hand from weapons to music'.

AT 9pm – THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD – Most Entertaining Documentary
Andy Bichlbaum/Mike Bonanno, France/USA/UK, 2009, 87 mins
Berlin International Film Festival Panorama Audience Award and IDFA DOC U! Award Winner

Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno are two guys who just can’t take “no” for an answer. They have an unusual hobby, posing as top executives of Corporations they hate. Armed with nothing but thrift-store suits, they lie their way into business conferences and parody their corporate nemeses in ever more extreme ways – basically doing everything they can to wake up their audiences to the danger of letting greed run our world.

Come join us in downtown Bethesda, MD Tuesday night for a Docs In Progress work-in-progress screening.

The Docs In Progress work-in-progress screenings provide an opportunity for Washington DC-area and visiting documentary filmmakers to screen their unfinished films to an audience and get valuable feedback. After screening each film, facilitators from Docs In Progress moderate a feedback session with the audience. This honest and constructive feedback is aimed at helping the filmmakers get to the next stage of completing and distributing the film. These programs are open to all.

WHAT'S SCREENING?

Sex, Lies and Asperger (13 minute rough cut)
by Richard Concepcion
Is there a connection between the high functioning autism known as Asperger's Syndrome and predilection for sexual crimes? This short documentary looks at the case of an Asperger's patient, Jacob Heinz, who was jailed in 2006 in a sting operation for having sexual conversations online with an underage girl.

Chiben Without Notes (40 minute rough cut)
by Yan Chun Su
Chiben is an emblematic musical instrument for the Lisu people in China, just south of Tibet. By following the daily life of a master Chiben maker and musician Ah-Cheng, this film explores the complexities facing an instrument which is losing audience and practicioners and by extension, the traditional life of an ethnic minority in modern day China.

WHEN?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
7:00-9:30 pm

WHERE?
The Writer's Center
4508 Walsh Street
Bethesda, MD 20815
In downtown Bethesda, a 10 minute walk from the Bethesda Metro.
Directions: https://www.writer.org/contact/index.asp

FEE?
This screening is free. However, donations are always welcome to support this and other Docs In Progress programs. No advance tickets or reservations are required.

ABOUT DOCS IN PROGRESS AND THE DOCS IN PROGRESS SCREENING SERIES
Docs In Progress is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Silver Spring, MD. Our mission is to give individuals the tools to tell stories through documentary film to educate, inspire, and transform the way people view their world. We do this through an array of programs including work-in-progress screenings, classes, workshops, one-on-one consultations, and documentary discussion groups.

The Work-in-Progress Screening Series is the flagship program of Docs In Progress and takes place in Washington DC and Bethesda, MD. It would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, The Documentary Center at the George Washington University and The Writer's Center. The Bethesda screenings are also supported in part through grants from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Maryland State Arts Council.

I apologize for the double post in advance...I put it in the wrong spot to begin with...

MUSIC COMPOSER AVAILABLE FOR WORK--

ZACK MARTIN, the fantastic composer for THE WAY WE GET BY is available for work on documentary projects. THE WAY WE GET BY was his first feature score, but he has since completed another and also composed music for a few shorts. He is located in Brooklyn, NY and very easy to work and collaborate with.

I really can't say enough about his talents, and I will be working with him on all future projects in some way or another. If anyone is interested in hearing samples of his music or contacting him, I am including his MySpace music page and his email below.

www.myspace.com/chinmusic627

chinmusic627@gmail.com

LEGAL ISSUES FOR DOCUMENTARY

WHEN? Saturday, March 13 from 9:00 am – 12 noon

WHERE? Docs In Progress Documentary House 8700 First Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, MD (outside of Washington DC)

WHAT? Knowing a few legal basics can make the difference between watching your work on the big screen or seeing your big dreams go up in smoke. Legal issues arise in every aspect of film production. This workshop, led by media and entertainment lawyer Laura Possessky, is designed to teach film professionals about key legal issues and concepts to navigate common legal problems and to determine when legal counsel may become necessary. Core concepts of copyright, contracts and business law will be covered. This is an interactive program with class exercises and discussions. Participants are encouraged to submit requests for discussion topics in advance and to come to the workshop with questions.

FEE? $150 ($125 for Docs In Progress Docs Insiders).

HOW TO REGISTER? Space limited to 12 participants so advance registration is recommended. For more information and to register, visit this link:
http://www.docsinprogress.org/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&agid=52&jevtype=jevent&year=2010&month=03&day=13&Itemid=1

DocuClub Collaborates with Chicken & Egg Pictures and Working Films on “Story Leads to Action” Series, March 18, 7:30 p.m., New York City

Please join us on a special installment of “Story Leads to Action.” We’ll be watching a fine-cut screening of Beth Davenport and Elizabeth Mandel’s ROSE & NANGABIRE (working title) followed by an interactive feedback discussion focused on outreach. The filmmakers and a panel will discuss how to balance the needs of the narrative with the needs of a highly effective and resonant engagement campaign focused on women and war, refugee rights and resettlement, and post-conflict peace building and reconciliation.

Moderated by Robert West, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Working Films. Panelists TBA.

ROSE & NANGABIRE (working title) is a feature-length documentary that tells the extraordinary story of a mother and daughter reunited after a decade separated by civil war. In the late 1990s, Rose Mapendo lost everything to the violence that engulfed the Democratic Republic of Congo. She emerged from the suffering advocating peace and reconciliation. But after helping numerous victims to rebuild their lives, there is one person Rose must still teach to forgive – her daughter Nangabire. For more information about the film, please visit: www.artsengine.net/rose_and_nangabire.

“Story Leads to Action” is a monthly series featuring Chicken & Egg/Working Films' filmmakers coming together with strategic advocates and educators to brainstorm and "design" on-the-spot community/audience engagement strategies for their films.

Thursday, March 18, 7:30 p.m.
Admission:
$10 DocuClub members
$12 Non-members

The screening will take place at 92YTribeca, located at 200 Hudson Street (at Canal).

Hi Dough,

Leonard here, if it is shocking to you then it is pleasantly do to us at transcriptionstar.

So please keep the one-liners coming in. Will try to kick start a few from my end soon after we break the ice with our non-verbal friendship protocol.

Regards.
Leonard.

In reply to Doug Block's post on Fri 12 Feb 2010 :

Sorry for the double post!

EDITOR / ASST. EDITOR / GRAPHIC ARTIST FOR HIRE:

Hello, My name is Derek Drouin. I'm an editor in the NY City area with a wide variety of experience. I have only one documentary additional-editing credit to my name, so I am open to working at any level to gain more experience. My number is 310.463.2501. Thanks!

Hi Melanie,

My name is Leonard, it sure is good to read about the alliance, and while wishing you all success, we at transcriptionstar would love to be part of your growth by offering our English to English AUDIO To TEXT TRANSCRIPTION SERVICE.

Best regards with all our good wishes and support.
Leonard

In reply to Melanie Sevcenko's post on Tue 2 Feb 2010 :

Leonard, I erased your double post (addressing it to a different person doesn't make it any less of a double post). We'll continue to delete your posts if you continue to do this. We hope that we won't have to delete your registration, too.

Thanks Dough, will not repeat, and hopefully I do not make any other mistakes which will lead to the last step.

Regards.
Leonard.

In reply to Doug Block's post on Mon 15 Mar 2010 :

Watch out for misspelling my name, too ;-)

We know you're just enthusiastic, Leonard.

DOC TALKS – Free and Open to Everyone! Thursday, March 18th at 5pm PST – Teleseminar with Documentary Storytelling Consultant, Karen Everett of NewDocEditing.com. We'll focus on strategies for crafting a compelling documentary, from creating a great opening to your film, to using the 3-Act Structure to generate suspense. We'll discuss character-driven documentaries and how to create an engaging film even if you don't have strong characters guiding your narrative. And much more! This call will be relevant no matter what stage you are in with your filmmaking process – from development
through post-production. REGISTER NOW FOR THE CALL! www.documentaryhowto.com. click on free teleseminar.

Hey anyone... especially those in the midwest... especially those in the Chicago vicinity. You are cordially invited to a giant dance party. Details in the below flier:

Here's a guest blog from our DOC TALKS expert interview for March 18th, Karen Everett of NewDocEditing.com.

Advice to Filmmakers: Reverse Engineer Your Psychobabble. I had the pleasure of having a former psychotherapist in my recent weekend seminar, "Structuring the Character Driven Documentary". When we began our story focusing exercises, he was picked to be the guinea pig. One of the documentary story exercises involves filling out three simple sentences, which provide the skeletal backbone for acts one, two and three.For example, the first sentence reads....

TO READ MORE: http://www.documentaryhowto.com/documentary-blog/139-guest-blog-by-karen-everett

Greetings,

I urge all artists using the CreateSpace fulfillment service to protest their new policy of withholding all purchaser information. Put all of your CreateSpace titles ON HOLD, followed by quitting the company if the policy is not reversed. Immediately seek alternative fulfillment services such as Filmbaby, CDbaby, CCNOW, Kunaki, IODA, Neoflix, and others.

CreateSpace used to be an excellent fulfillment service that does on-demand, one-off duplication of DVDs, CDs, and books, so that artists do not need to maintain inventory of the products they are selling. I have been using and actively advocating this fulfillment service since 2003 (when the name was Customflix). More about me and my films at: http://www.blastthemovie.com/about.html#bio

However, the company was acquired by Amazon a few years ago. Earlier this year, without notice, CreateSpace instituted a new policy that withholds all purchaser information from artists selling on their site. Their position is that people who purchase our products are THEIR customers rather than OUR customers (despite the fact that they do not actively promote OUR products). All purchaser information is withheld because of “privacy issues,” even though we may have direct personal relationships with our customers. This represents a profound misunderstanding of the customer relationship.

The new policy prevents artists from building their business around customer relationships and from building community around their titles. It is in direct conflict with the promise of the Internet that our community has been promoting the past few years: bypassing gatekeepers in order to engage directly core audiences, allowing artists to build sustainable businesses around their work. Our economic sustainability as independent artists will be severely threatened if CreateSpace’s new policy becomes a trend in the industry.

In response, I urge you not only to join me in boycotting CreateSpace’s service, but to participate in an aggressive, online, social networking campaign to inform colleagues of this new policy, and to encourage CreateSpace to reverse it.

Please respond by posting on relevant forums, blogs, facebook, twitter etc. Make suggestions on where colleagues can post. If you are a CreateSpace customer, make your voice heard on their “Community” forum, and by directly contacting:

Melissa Creeger
Member Support Team Lead
mcreeger@createspace.com
(843) 760-8079

If we succeed, it will be a newsworthy story of our community flexing our social networking muscle. If CreateSpace does not reverse its policy, at least we will have informed our community about the drawbacks of using this service.

Thanks and Good Luck!

Paul Devlin
Director, BLAST!, Power Trip, SlamNation
www.devlinpix.com

Melissa & Paul,
Thanks for posting this. There's a lot of aspects to distributing on Amazon through CreateSpace that are ridiculous, like not being able to choose a trailer or even link your DVD listing to your VOD listing.

Do any of the other on-demand services provide a listing through Amazon?

Hi all,

Any new documentaries in the pipe line needing our services?

Sorry Doug for spelling your name wrog.
Regards.
Lenny.

I need a soundperson, camera assistant, EX3 camera, sound & lighting equipment, for a shoot in New York on April 6th.
Please email kerrigan@mac.com and I'll pass the info on to the producer.

Bill Kerrigan
http://www.kerrigan.ca