Filmmakers Collaborative Blog

The Jermanok Brothers Seminar: THE REAL SCOOP: HOW TO MAKE A LIVING CREATIVELY

March 10th, 2010

The Jermanok Brothers are doing two seminars on THE REAL SCOOP: HOW TO MAKE A LIVING CREATIVELY on Saturday, March 20th at the Harvard Law School. For more information, go to www.howtomakealivingcreatively.com

jim-jermanok Award-winning filmmakers and creative professionals, The Jermanok Brothers, are excited to present their three-hour workshop for all actors, writers, directors, singers, comedians, musicians and artists in Boston. Called The Real Scoop: How to Make a Living Creatively, the workshop is a bottom line, pragmatic approach to everything one needs to know to make a living creatively.

This insider experience could save one many, many years. And put you on the road to building a genuine creative career….with a serious dose of motivation. Two three-hour seminars will take place on March 20th at Harvard. The first from 10-1 is for all actors, comedians, musicians, artists, and other performers. The second from 2-5 is best suited for writers, directors, producers, and filmmakers.

Using their real-life experiences, The Jermanok Brothers will cover how to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack, whether leaving your
hometown is necessary, the art of schmoozing, why learning the business side of your craft is important, how to pay the rent while pursuing your dream, and using your life history as a networking strength.

Jim Jermanok draws from his current experience as an active filmmaker, and from his prior professional background as an agent for a decade at America’s biggest talent agency, International Creative Management. Steve, who spent the past 20 years self-employed as a working screenwriter, journalist, and author. He’s written more than 1000 articles, from art to adventure, working as a columnist at National Geographic Adventure, contributing editor at Budget Travel Magazine, and guest editor on the annual travel and art issues for Boston Globe Magazine.

Learn more about the seminar and the Jermanok Brothers at www.howtomakealivingcreatively.com.
Cost of the seminar is $60.

5th Annual Music for Film Networking Event: Saturday, April 10th

March 10th, 2010

5th Annual Music for Film networking event and contest to draw top film talent

BOSTON—The Learning Center and the Film Scoring Department at Berklee College of Music will host the 5th Annual Music for Film networking event and associated film scoring contest on Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 1:30–7 p.m. in the Media Center at 150 Massachusetts Ave.

The event is free and open to the public. For further event information, contact Alison Plante, the assistant chair of the Film Scoring Department at aplante@berklee.edu, or visit http://learningcenter.berklee.edu.

As the only film event of its kind in New England, the Music for Film networking event draws over 200 Berklee students, faculty and alumni, film students from New England colleges, and professional filmmakers. The event is “an opportunity for filmmakers and composers to meet, interact and make connections that carry over into their professional lives.”

The event involves a speakers’ panel, a film scoring contest, and an exposition where students professionals will have booths, exchange demos and business cards, and talk about their work.

The confirmed speakers include film scorer and Emmy award-winner Mason Daring (Lone Star; Sunshine State), and students from Berklee’s Film Scoring Practicum. With more than 50 entries from Berklee students, the film scoring contest is sure to display a high caliber of talent. Prizes include nearly $2000 worth of audio equipment and software from MOTU.

Hope to see you there!

RULE Learning Lab Series: Wednesday March 10th

March 10th, 2010

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GREEN IS GOOD:
Integrating Green Lights into Your TV Studio Design

Award-winning Lighting Designer John Gates discusses design options for environmentally-conscious lighting by using what you might already own along with the latest green LED’s, fluorescent and arc discharge lights.

RSVP: events@rule.com

Time: 10am to 12 noon with breakfast

Location: Learning Lab

Paul Espinosa recieves Cultural Award

March 3rd, 2010

paulespinosaFilmmaker’s Collaborative member Dr. Paul Espinosa, Professor and Filmmaker, Arizona State University has been selected to receive the Outstanding Latino/a Cultural Award in Fine or Performing Arts, presented by the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) at the AAHHE 5th annual conference in Costa Mesa, CA. AAHHE is an agent of change for improving education, thus enabling Hispanic students to fully participate in a diverse society.

Dr. Paul Espinosa was selected by a panel of experts in higher education. The selection criteria focused on the recipient’s sustained contributions and efforts to showcase the significant accomplishments this award represents. Each year, this award is given to someone who has contributed significantly to our understanding of our Hispanic community and/or culture through a medium in the arts and/or performing arts.

“It’s wonderful to be acknowledged by your peers for the work you love doing. Documenting the experiences of my community on film has been a truly rewarding experience. Thank you to AAHHE for this recognition.”

Artists in Transition conference

February 10th, 2010

Visual/Performing Artists
Health/Disability Conference

Artists in Transition, an organization that works with artists and performers facing physical and/or mental health issues is having its inaugural conference on Sunday, April 11, 2010 from 12 noon – 5:00 pm at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT. We are co-sponsoring the conference, along with over 100 other local, state and national arts, health and advocacy organizations.

Inspiring architect/sculptor Tom Luckey will keynote, and awesome entertainment will be provided by Our Time Theatre. There will be outstanding networking opportunities and 15 information-packed breakout sessions on diverse subjects such as healthcare, maximizing employment potential, grant writing, etc., plus speakers will include artists and performers who themselves are dealing with health and disability issues and making their art and lives a creative force!

Please consider attending this informational and inspirational event. Go to www.artistsintransitionUSA.blogspot.com for registration information.

Rule Presents Learning Lab Series

February 4th, 2010

origRULE – Boston’s essential camera rental store is hosting weekly lab series for sharing the latest knowledge on production and post-production products, technologies and techniques featuring in house experts and guest speakers! The events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Please email events@rule.com to reserve your spot as space is limited.

Learning Lab Series – Green Is Good – Integrating Geen Lights Into Your Studio Design

March 10, 2010
Integrating Geen Lights Into Your Studio Design with John Gates
R.S.V.P to: events@rule.com
Learning Lab Series – Updated & New: Sony XDCAM & NXCAM

March 17, 2010
The Sony PMW350 XDCAM and HXRNX5U NXCAM
Learning Lab Series – Camera Assistant Workshop

March 24, 2010
Camera Assistant Workshop with IATSE 600 member Joe Christofori
R.S.V.P to: events@rule.com
Learning Lab Series – Acquire, Edit and Convert

March 31, 2010
Acquire, Edit and Convert with AJA KiPro, Io Express and mini converters
R.S.V.P to: events@rule.com

Click here for more information

Louisa May Alcott Screening & Book Reading

February 1st, 2010

lma_dvd_insert.thumbnailOn Tuesday, February 1st at 7 pm, at the Newton Free Library on Homer St in Newton, Producer/Director Nancy Porter and Producer/Writer Harriet Reisen will screen and read from “Louisa May Alcott: The Real Woman Behind Little Women.” If you missed seeing the film when it aired on American Masters, now is your chance.

Recent Grants & Awards

January 20th, 2010

Mark Lipman’s film Gaining Ground received an $80,000 production grant from the Riley Foundation.

Robin Hessman’s film My Perestroika recently received a $10,000 grant from Chicken and Egg. Congratulations!

Robbie Gemmel received a $15,000 post production grant from the Fledging Fund for his film Cape Wind.

Austin Hoyt received a $600,000 production grant from NEH for his project The Big Show in Bololand, a one hour documentary on the work of the American Relief Administration to combat starvation in the new Soviet Union.

The Film Posse (Tracy Heather Strain and Randy MacLowry) received a $15,000 grant from the New York Community Trust for their film on playwright Lorraine Hansberry.

Stephen Lyons received a $65,000 scripting grant from the NEH for his project Across the Pacific, a two hour documentary about the 1935 crossing of the Pacific Ocean by the Pan American Airways flying boat known as the China Clipper

A big thank you to Coordinator Jonah David and the Newton South Film Festival for their donation to Filmmakers Collaborative from the proceeds of their spring ‘09 film festival.

Tracy Heather Strain is one of eight local artists who recently received a no-strings-attached $15,000 fellowships from the Boston Foundation as a member of the first group of Brother Thomas Fellows.

The fellowships are made possible by the Brother Thomas Fund, established at the Boston Foundation in 2007 to honor the legacy of Brother Thomas Bezanson, a Benedictine monk and ceramic artist credited with elevating the status of ceramics from craft to fine art in the United States with the extraordinary quality of his work and his artistic vision.

The fund, which has been supplemented by discretionary grants from the Boston Foundation’s Permanent Fund for Boston, will help “struggling” artists, which was the wish of the donor. The individual fellowships are granted biennially, based on an intensive review by a seven member panel convened by Ann McQueen, Senior Program Officer at the Boston Foundation.

Rule Broadcast Learning Lab – free classes in February

January 6th, 2010

The Learning Lab Series is Rule | Boston Camera’s ongoing program dedicated to sharing the latest knowledge on production and post-production products, technologies and techniques featuring in-house experts and guest speakers.

For your ticket to Film. Video. Know-How, please RSVP to events@rule.com as space is limited.

These weekly events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Located at 395 Western Ave Boston, MA 02135

Check out Rule for more information. Classes are 10 am – 12 noon.

February 3, 2010 – Exploring Panasonic’s P2 Studio Control Systems
February 10, 2010 – Portable Light Kits: Selecting What’s Right For Your Project
February 17, 2010 – Tips & Techniques: Increasing Efficiency With Final Cut Pro
February 24, 2010 – Break for Rule / Sony Event at F1 Boston (outside event)

Louisa May Alcott Broadcast

December 24th, 2009

This Monday night at 9:00 pm!!
Broadcast on PBS’ American Masters on December 28, 2009 at 9pm.

lma_dvd_insert.thumbnailLouisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women is the story of the quest of a volatile talented woman, to rescue her family from grueling poverty and find wealth, fame and happiness. Featuring Tony winner/Oscar nominee Jane Alexander, and starring 3-time Obie winner Elizabeth Marvel as Louisa May Alcott.

Shot in HD, and using animation and digital effects as well as docudrama, this award winning 82-minute production is the first film biography of this American icon. Producer-Writer Harriet Reisen and Producer-Director Nancy Porter, working from a script drawn from primary sources and filming in many original locations, have used documentary and dramatic techniques as well as experimental and flash animation, green-screen, and digital effects to bring a fresh approach to the PBS historical documentary form.

Read a review!

This documentary was voted Top Video 2009 by the American Library Association’s Booklist editors.

picture-81The book Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women by Harriet Reisen, was chosen for the top 10 list for 2009 books of non-fiction.