THE WORKSHOP WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 28TH HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO THE FORECAST SNOW AND ICE STORM.
Please check back for the rescheduled program.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Filmmakers Workshop - January 28, 2009
WEDNESDAY January 28, 6:30 - 9:00
Adventures in Independent Filmmaking
Join us as we screen Doug Block's terrific documentary "The Heck With Hollywood", about the trials and tribulations of getting an independent film marketed and distributed. The film follows three filmmakers for four years as they struggle to finish and find distribution for their films. Afterwards we'll hold discussion, share stories and trade resources.
Before the next workshop, you might also want to watch the Lunchbox Labs videotapes at http://www.motionmedia.org
&
The DIYDays New York dinner videos at : http://diydays.com/
Filmmakers Workshops are held at the new Center for Independent Documentary (CID) space at 93 Border Street in West Newton.
The workshop is FREE. While RSVPs are not required, we do appreciate knowing if you plan to attend so that we can plan refreshments.
Monday, November 24, 2008
December 10, 2008 EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO APPLY TO THE LEF MOVING IMAGE FUND
The LEF Foundation has recently released new guidelines for their Moving Image Fund. LEF program officers will explain their new funding initiative and answer all your questions about the application process. We will also leave some time to celebrate the season. The workshop is free, but we do ask that you RSVP. Please feel welcome to bring along something to add to the refreshment table(not required, but always appreciated!)
ABOUT THE LEF FOUNDATION:
The mission of LEF New England is to fund the work of independent film and video artists in the region and broaden recognition and support for their work locally and nationally.
LEF seeks to accomplish its mission through deeper, more focused, multi-year funding of selected film projects, and by sponsoring programs that highlight the rich history and ongoing legacy of innovation within New England’s independent film community.
Consistent with the Foundation’s original mission, LEF New England supports artists with an independent, creative vision whose work informs and animates the larger public conversation essential to a democracy.
LEF New England continues to be a regional funder, advocating for, and supporting, the innovative work of both emerging and established independent film and video artists. The overall purpose of LEF’s philanthropic investment is to help build a more sustainable and stronger community of support for artists and their work.
Moving Image Fund Overview
LEF New England launched the Moving Image Fund (MIF) in 2002 to support independent film and video artists creating work in all genres. In the current transition from a broader to a more defined funding strategy, LEF will focus its funding on documentary filmmaking, with the goal of applying the learning from this deeper investment in one genre.
LEF will provide multi-year funding to fewer projects, across all phases of production, providing support from the early risk-taking stage through a film’s completion. In this way, the Fund offers a continuum of support for selected projects, while continuing to identify new talent. With fewer projects being funded, LEF anticipates a highly competitive grant process. In identifying projects to support, LEF will follow the lead of artists whose innovative work continues to push the boundaries of independent filmmaking.
For the next several grant rounds, MIF will specifically support documentary filmmakers. However, the long term view for the Fund is to expand its support for the broader community of independent producers in New England in response to future trends and opportunities.
Eligible projects must have a running time of no less than 40 minutes.
Criteria for Project Funding:
• Quality of cinematic form and technique
• Originality of filmmaker’s voice, vision, and point of view
• Resonance and power of the film’s core idea or story
• Feasibility of production
ABOUT THE LEF FOUNDATION:
The mission of LEF New England is to fund the work of independent film and video artists in the region and broaden recognition and support for their work locally and nationally.
LEF seeks to accomplish its mission through deeper, more focused, multi-year funding of selected film projects, and by sponsoring programs that highlight the rich history and ongoing legacy of innovation within New England’s independent film community.
Consistent with the Foundation’s original mission, LEF New England supports artists with an independent, creative vision whose work informs and animates the larger public conversation essential to a democracy.
LEF New England continues to be a regional funder, advocating for, and supporting, the innovative work of both emerging and established independent film and video artists. The overall purpose of LEF’s philanthropic investment is to help build a more sustainable and stronger community of support for artists and their work.
Moving Image Fund Overview
LEF New England launched the Moving Image Fund (MIF) in 2002 to support independent film and video artists creating work in all genres. In the current transition from a broader to a more defined funding strategy, LEF will focus its funding on documentary filmmaking, with the goal of applying the learning from this deeper investment in one genre.
LEF will provide multi-year funding to fewer projects, across all phases of production, providing support from the early risk-taking stage through a film’s completion. In this way, the Fund offers a continuum of support for selected projects, while continuing to identify new talent. With fewer projects being funded, LEF anticipates a highly competitive grant process. In identifying projects to support, LEF will follow the lead of artists whose innovative work continues to push the boundaries of independent filmmaking.
For the next several grant rounds, MIF will specifically support documentary filmmakers. However, the long term view for the Fund is to expand its support for the broader community of independent producers in New England in response to future trends and opportunities.
Eligible projects must have a running time of no less than 40 minutes.
Criteria for Project Funding:
• Quality of cinematic form and technique
• Originality of filmmaker’s voice, vision, and point of view
• Resonance and power of the film’s core idea or story
• Feasibility of production
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
October 29 Filmmakers Workshop
Post Production in a Not So Brave New World
with Dave Allen and Jeff Herzog
Post-production today is more complicated than ever. What used to be a straight forward process has become a bewildering array of resolutions, formats, and frame rates. Do you shoot 29.97 in 1080i or 1080p? 720p or 30i? 59.94? DV? And what about P2? Then, which format do you offline in? Graphics delivery? Which codec do you use?
The purpose of this seminar is to help you understand and create a clear workflow path – from shooting through offline to online and delivery – for your upcoming and current projects. Let Dave Allen and Jeff Herzog help you get the picture straight!
THIS WORKSHOP IS FREE -BUT PLEASE RSVP
Dave Allen – Colorist/Online Editor:
In 2006, Dave Allen launched a Final Cut Pro/Avid finishing suite in Sudbury, MA, continuing his 25-year relationship with Boston's filmmaking community. Recent projects include Linda Harrar's "Roots of Health," Mark Davis' "Five Years on Mars: The Rovers," Nancy Porter and Harriet Reisen's "American Masters: Louisa May Alcott" (PBS), Michal Goldman's "At Home in Utopia," Linda Garmon's "The Truth About Cancer" (PBS), Allison Argo's "Crash: A Tale of Two Species" (Nature PBS), Marty Ostrow and Terry Rockefeller's "Renewal" (PBS), and David Huntley's 13-part History Channel series, "Tougher in Alaska."
Many in Boston are familiar with Dave's work from his 18 years as a documentary colorist at Multivision in Needham, MA. While there, he worked on such esteemed series as Blackside's "Eyes on the Prize," "I'll Make Me a World," and "The Great Depression," as well as David Sutherland's ambitious FRONTLINE series, "The Farmer's Wife," and Longbow's "The Gate of Heavenly Peace" – an epic two hour film about the uprising at Tienamen Square.
Working as an independent since 2003, Dave has continued to create a buzz and delight clients with his work. Past projects include Allison Argo's "Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History" (Nature/PBS), Melanie Perkins' "Have You Seen Andy?" (HBO/Cinmax), Linda Garmon's "American Experience: Sister Aimee" (PBS), Peter Frumkin's "American Masters: Woody Guthrie" (PBS), and Allie Humenuk's "Shadow of the House" (Theatrical Release). Dave has also been an offline editor on many projects, including the highly praised PBS cooking show, "Simply Ming."
with Dave Allen and Jeff Herzog
Post-production today is more complicated than ever. What used to be a straight forward process has become a bewildering array of resolutions, formats, and frame rates. Do you shoot 29.97 in 1080i or 1080p? 720p or 30i? 59.94? DV? And what about P2? Then, which format do you offline in? Graphics delivery? Which codec do you use?
The purpose of this seminar is to help you understand and create a clear workflow path – from shooting through offline to online and delivery – for your upcoming and current projects. Let Dave Allen and Jeff Herzog help you get the picture straight!
THIS WORKSHOP IS FREE -BUT PLEASE RSVP
Dave Allen – Colorist/Online Editor:
In 2006, Dave Allen launched a Final Cut Pro/Avid finishing suite in Sudbury, MA, continuing his 25-year relationship with Boston's filmmaking community. Recent projects include Linda Harrar's "Roots of Health," Mark Davis' "Five Years on Mars: The Rovers," Nancy Porter and Harriet Reisen's "American Masters: Louisa May Alcott" (PBS), Michal Goldman's "At Home in Utopia," Linda Garmon's "The Truth About Cancer" (PBS), Allison Argo's "Crash: A Tale of Two Species" (Nature PBS), Marty Ostrow and Terry Rockefeller's "Renewal" (PBS), and David Huntley's 13-part History Channel series, "Tougher in Alaska."
Many in Boston are familiar with Dave's work from his 18 years as a documentary colorist at Multivision in Needham, MA. While there, he worked on such esteemed series as Blackside's "Eyes on the Prize," "I'll Make Me a World," and "The Great Depression," as well as David Sutherland's ambitious FRONTLINE series, "The Farmer's Wife," and Longbow's "The Gate of Heavenly Peace" – an epic two hour film about the uprising at Tienamen Square.
Working as an independent since 2003, Dave has continued to create a buzz and delight clients with his work. Past projects include Allison Argo's "Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History" (Nature/PBS), Melanie Perkins' "Have You Seen Andy?" (HBO/Cinmax), Linda Garmon's "American Experience: Sister Aimee" (PBS), Peter Frumkin's "American Masters: Woody Guthrie" (PBS), and Allie Humenuk's "Shadow of the House" (Theatrical Release). Dave has also been an offline editor on many projects, including the highly praised PBS cooking show, "Simply Ming."
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
AUGUST 13, 2008 ROUGH CUT SCREENING OF CHICO DAVID COLVARD'S "FAMILY AFFAIR" AT FILMMAKERS WORKSHOP
JOIN US ON AUGUST 13 AT 6:30PM FOR A ROUGH CUT SCREENING OF CHICO DAVID COLVARDS WORK IN PROGRESS "FAMILY AFFAIR". THIS IS A FREE EVENT- LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE (FEEL FREE TO BRING SOMETHING TO ADD TO THE TABLE!) RSVP'S ARE NOT REQUIRED, BUT WE DO APPRECIATE HAVING A HEAD COUNT FOR DRINKS AND CHAIRS! HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US. TO RSVP:
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/145194280
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT OUR NEW LOCATION IN WEST NEWTON AT 93 BORDER STREET.
“The ordinary response to atrocities is to banish them from consciousness. Certain violations of the social compact are too terrible to utter aloud: this is the meaning of the word unspeakable.”
Judith Herman, M.D.,
Author of Trauma & Recovery and Father-Daughter Incest
Like a scene torn from The Color Purple or Capturing the Friedmans, filmmaker Chico David Colvard’s deeply personal and uncompromising documentary examines the complex levels of pedophilia and how it can manipulate and control an entire family for life. The film is also a portrait of a family that struggles with issues we all face. Family Affair challenges the audience to take a more complicated view of child molesters like the filmmaker’s father, while fostering compassion for their victims, like his sisters. Their story is a universal one about resilience, survival and having the capacity to accommodate a parent’s past crimes in order to satisfy their longing for family.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL FILM FINANCING TUTORIAL- SPECIAL 2 NIGHT FILMMAKERS WORKSHOP
Domestic & International Film Financing Tutorial
June 18 & 19 from 6-10 pm BOTH NIGHTS
Location: 93 Border Street, West Newton MA 02465
(The NEW temporary space of the Center for Independent Documentary and the Filmmakers Workshop)
This tutorial will be taught by Sandra Schulberg (sschulberg@aol.com), one of the pioneers of international financing for independent movies. Ms. Schulberg has been active in raising money for independent productions and nurturing indie filmmakers for more than 20 years. From 1998 to 2001, Ms. Schulberg worked as Executive Producer for the private German media fund, Hollywood Partners, and structured its financing in a slate of films (including the Oscar-nominated movie QUILLS, starring Geoffrey Rush and Kate Winslet), all of which involved multiple international production partners. From 1989 to 1996, she served as a senior executive of "American Playhouse," the PBS drama series, charged with raising funds from abroad. During the last three years, she served as Senior Vice President of its movie production subsidiary, Playhouse International Pictures. Her production credits include SHADOW MAGIC, UNDISPUTED, THE LAST YELLOW, WAITING FOR THE MOON (Sundance Grand Prize winner), I'LL TAKE YOU THERE, SHIMMER, ROOSTERS, WILDROSE, BELIZAIRE THE CAJUN, NORTHERN LIGHTS, ALAMBRISTA. Additionally, she was involved in the financing and marketing of more than a dozen Playhouse films, including SAFE, I SHOT ANDY WARHOLL, ANGELS & INSECTS, THE MUSIC OF CHANCE, AMATEUR, SIMPLE MEN, etc., and she helped Barbara Kopple to raising finishing funds for her non-fiction feature, MY GENERATION. She has been a key figure in helping to create worldwide markets for independent films as founder and former president of the Independent Feature Project (IFP) and as creator of the IFP Market. In 1980, Ms. Schulberg co-founded the niche film distribution company, First Run Features, which is also still operating today. She was one of the first nominators to the Sundance Institute's Filmmakers Lab, and served on the Sundance Festival Advisory Committee for 5 years. She also served on the Board of ITVS (Independent Television Service) for 3 years, during which it created a new world affairs satellite channel, Link-TV, in cooperation with Internews. She served as a founding director of the New York Documentary Center and its Docfest film festival. In 1994, Ms. Schulberg received the IFP Spirit Award for her contributions to independent cinema. Her movies have been showcased and have won awards at film festivals throughout the world. She does a limited amount of private consulting to assist both experienced and fledgling producers.
Session I: Domestic Film Financing
Combining For-Profit and Nonprofit Monies
▪ How a movie qualifies for tax-deductible contributions
▪ Understanding the notion of "mission" under non-profit law
▪ Appropriate use of a fiscal agent
▪ Obtaining a PRI, a Program-Related Investment, from a foundation
▪ Development loans from private individuals
Key Elements of a U.S. Investor Offering
▪ Determining the right financial instrument and when to form it
▪ What your offering plan tells investors
▪ Synopsis
▪ Cast/Crew Bios
▪ Chain of Title
▪ Summary of Talent Agreements (producer/writer/director)
▪ Production Budget & Schedule
▪ Financing Plan
▪ Deal Structure (description of investment units for sale and ROI)
▪ Marketing & Distribution Plan
▪ Risk Factors & Disclaimers
Session II: Foreign Film Financing
International Co-Production
▪ Official "treaty" co-productions
▪ Non-treaty co-financing
▪ Tax-driven funds
▪ Regional economic funds
▪ The key Co-Production Markets
Foreign Sales & Distribution
▪ Principles of pre-sale financing
▪ Selecting and contracting with a foreign sales company
▪ Structuring foreign sales and foreign distribution agreements
▪ The role of collection agencies
Session III: Project-specific guidance from Sandra Schulberg
During the final session, on the second night, Ms. Schulberg provides specific financing guidance for each participant's current feature project (whether fiction or non-fiction), applying her sense of the domestic and international opportunities and illustrating how they might be combined where appropriate. This aspect of the Tutorial has proved to be extremely useful and popular. It is conducted publicly, so each participant gets customized guidance but also learns from the discussion of the other projects.
REGISTRATION BY POSTAL MAIL:
Domestic and International Film Financing Tutorial
June 18 and 19 from 6-10pm both nights
Please fill out the form carefully and make sure your phone number and e-mail are correct, it is very important that we be able to contact you.
First Name
Last Name
Company or Organization
Email
Phone
Address
City, State
Zip
What is your primary role? (Producer, Director, editor etc….)
Are you a member of any of these organizations? (check all that apply) If so, you receive the discounted registration price ($40)
( ) Center for Independent Documentary (CID)
( ) MPC (Massachusetts Production Coalition)
( ) AIMM*
If you checked AIMM, specify which AIMM member:
*AIMM consists of Filmmakers Collaborative, Center for Independent Documentary, Central Productions, The Color of Film Collaborative, the LEF Foundation and WGBH Boston Media Productions. If you are a producer with CID, simply check the CID box above.
Registration fees:
$60 (regular)
$40 (discounted- member of one of the sponsoring organizations)
Please return this form along with your check payable to:
THE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY
And mail to:
680 South Main Street
Sharon, MA 02067
THIS WORKSHOP IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY SUPPORT FROM:
June 18 & 19 from 6-10 pm BOTH NIGHTS
Location: 93 Border Street, West Newton MA 02465
(The NEW temporary space of the Center for Independent Documentary and the Filmmakers Workshop)
This tutorial will be taught by Sandra Schulberg (sschulberg@aol.com), one of the pioneers of international financing for independent movies. Ms. Schulberg has been active in raising money for independent productions and nurturing indie filmmakers for more than 20 years. From 1998 to 2001, Ms. Schulberg worked as Executive Producer for the private German media fund, Hollywood Partners, and structured its financing in a slate of films (including the Oscar-nominated movie QUILLS, starring Geoffrey Rush and Kate Winslet), all of which involved multiple international production partners. From 1989 to 1996, she served as a senior executive of "American Playhouse," the PBS drama series, charged with raising funds from abroad. During the last three years, she served as Senior Vice President of its movie production subsidiary, Playhouse International Pictures. Her production credits include SHADOW MAGIC, UNDISPUTED, THE LAST YELLOW, WAITING FOR THE MOON (Sundance Grand Prize winner), I'LL TAKE YOU THERE, SHIMMER, ROOSTERS, WILDROSE, BELIZAIRE THE CAJUN, NORTHERN LIGHTS, ALAMBRISTA. Additionally, she was involved in the financing and marketing of more than a dozen Playhouse films, including SAFE, I SHOT ANDY WARHOLL, ANGELS & INSECTS, THE MUSIC OF CHANCE, AMATEUR, SIMPLE MEN, etc., and she helped Barbara Kopple to raising finishing funds for her non-fiction feature, MY GENERATION. She has been a key figure in helping to create worldwide markets for independent films as founder and former president of the Independent Feature Project (IFP) and as creator of the IFP Market. In 1980, Ms. Schulberg co-founded the niche film distribution company, First Run Features, which is also still operating today. She was one of the first nominators to the Sundance Institute's Filmmakers Lab, and served on the Sundance Festival Advisory Committee for 5 years. She also served on the Board of ITVS (Independent Television Service) for 3 years, during which it created a new world affairs satellite channel, Link-TV, in cooperation with Internews. She served as a founding director of the New York Documentary Center and its Docfest film festival. In 1994, Ms. Schulberg received the IFP Spirit Award for her contributions to independent cinema. Her movies have been showcased and have won awards at film festivals throughout the world. She does a limited amount of private consulting to assist both experienced and fledgling producers.
Session I: Domestic Film Financing
Combining For-Profit and Nonprofit Monies
▪ How a movie qualifies for tax-deductible contributions
▪ Understanding the notion of "mission" under non-profit law
▪ Appropriate use of a fiscal agent
▪ Obtaining a PRI, a Program-Related Investment, from a foundation
▪ Development loans from private individuals
Key Elements of a U.S. Investor Offering
▪ Determining the right financial instrument and when to form it
▪ What your offering plan tells investors
▪ Synopsis
▪ Cast/Crew Bios
▪ Chain of Title
▪ Summary of Talent Agreements (producer/writer/director)
▪ Production Budget & Schedule
▪ Financing Plan
▪ Deal Structure (description of investment units for sale and ROI)
▪ Marketing & Distribution Plan
▪ Risk Factors & Disclaimers
Session II: Foreign Film Financing
International Co-Production
▪ Official "treaty" co-productions
▪ Non-treaty co-financing
▪ Tax-driven funds
▪ Regional economic funds
▪ The key Co-Production Markets
Foreign Sales & Distribution
▪ Principles of pre-sale financing
▪ Selecting and contracting with a foreign sales company
▪ Structuring foreign sales and foreign distribution agreements
▪ The role of collection agencies
Session III: Project-specific guidance from Sandra Schulberg
During the final session, on the second night, Ms. Schulberg provides specific financing guidance for each participant's current feature project (whether fiction or non-fiction), applying her sense of the domestic and international opportunities and illustrating how they might be combined where appropriate. This aspect of the Tutorial has proved to be extremely useful and popular. It is conducted publicly, so each participant gets customized guidance but also learns from the discussion of the other projects.
REGISTRATION BY POSTAL MAIL:
Domestic and International Film Financing Tutorial
June 18 and 19 from 6-10pm both nights
Please fill out the form carefully and make sure your phone number and e-mail are correct, it is very important that we be able to contact you.
First Name
Last Name
Company or Organization
Phone
Address
City, State
Zip
What is your primary role? (Producer, Director, editor etc….)
Are you a member of any of these organizations? (check all that apply) If so, you receive the discounted registration price ($40)
( ) Center for Independent Documentary (CID)
( ) MPC (Massachusetts Production Coalition)
( ) AIMM*
If you checked AIMM, specify which AIMM member:
*AIMM consists of Filmmakers Collaborative, Center for Independent Documentary, Central Productions, The Color of Film Collaborative, the LEF Foundation and WGBH Boston Media Productions. If you are a producer with CID, simply check the CID box above.
Registration fees:
$60 (regular)
$40 (discounted- member of one of the sponsoring organizations)
Please return this form along with your check payable to:
THE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY
And mail to:
680 South Main Street
Sharon, MA 02067
THIS WORKSHOP IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY SUPPORT FROM:
Saturday, April 5, 2008
LAW FIRM TO HOST LUNCH DISCUSSION ON MASSACHUSETTS FILM TAX CREDIT
Entertainment lawyers Sandy Forman and Mary Landergan will be hosting a lunch discussion on the Massachusetts Film Tax Credit law open to producers and filmmakers. The event will be held at the offices of the law firm of Rich May on May 8, 2008, at noon time at 176 Federal Street, Boston. Gerald May, Jr., a Rich May attorney with extensive tax law experience counseling clients in the non-profit and for-profit sectors, will give a presentation on the current film tax credit law in Massachusetts followed by a Q & A session. Food and beverage will be provided.
If you are planning to attend, please RSVP to Joanne Walsh, jwalsh@richmaylaw.com.
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