SAGIndie

Joe Drake, Lionsgate co-COO and president of its Motion Picture Group, delivered the keynote speech Saturday morning at Film Independent’s 2010 Filmmaker Forum. If you weren’t lucky enough to attend, then you should definitely read the transcript that’s posted over at indieWIRE. It’s an extremely inspirational (albeit harshly realistic) talk about creating and maintaining traction in this business.

Some of my favorite quotes from Mr. Drake:

“Hard work is a prison sentence only if it does not have meaning. Once it does, it becomes the kind of thing that makes you grab your wife around the waist and dance a jig.”

“90% of your success is what you have in your briefcase. 10% of your success is how effective you are at influencing others to act on your behalf.”

“So, for all of you who want to ask me, “How do I get my movie financed?” Part of the answer is this: Forget about all the reasons not to do it. Forget about all the films that failed. Forget about all the films that didn’t get into Sundance, or got there, and didn’t get a distribution deal out of Sundance. Choose instead to focus on what has worked and learn from opening your eyes up to the marketplace around you.”

Read it all here: http://www.indiewire.com/article/test1

The New Orleans Film Festival is underway and SAGIndie’s Eliza Hajek is in attendance. Be sure to follow her on Twitter for all the fun updates from the Big Easy!

twitter.com/sagindie

The Screen Actors Guild is now accepting submissions for its next SAG Foundation short film showcase which will be presented in late January 2011 in New York.

ALL FILMS MUST BE PRODUCED UNDER A SAG CONTRACT.

Films must not be over fifteen minutes in length. We are open to all genres of cinematic expression, as long as it is not patently offensive. There is absolutely no cost involved in submitting the films, nor do we charge to attend the screening.

For more information please send an email, including a brief synopsis and the running time of your film to: shortsny@sagfoundation.org.

Best wishes,

SAGIndie

So, I arrived in Toronto fairly early on Sunday, but extremely tired. My impression of the city is pretty positive – it IS as clean as they say. I’ve only been here once before, and it was many years ago, so I had no idea if that would hold up. (Although it’s clean, it is NOT clean enough to go walking around barefoot – as some little chippy on the street next to us thought. Eewww!) I got my credentials and I’ve managed to actually see a movie already. I’m actually really interested in quite a few movies that are here. It’s an interesting mix of big and small, N. American and foreign. The theatres are good, too.

Know what was surprising? That there are plenty of volunteers on hand – and they actually seem to know what’s going on! Every festival has volunteers, and they should all be lauded and thanked upon spotting because no festival could last without them. But let’s face it, not all volunteers really know everything they should (shockingly, not every customer service operator you get on the phone is interested in helping you with your problem, either. I hate to be the one to tell you that).

We haven’t figured out the food, yet. I mean, what is Canadian cuisine? We had maybe the world’s worst Mexican food today. By people who have never SEEN anything Mexican beyond the fake pinata from the party store they have hanging from the ceiling. We had to show them how to make the margaritas better (um, if that’s what we were drinking – which is clearly NOT what we were drinking, of course). So we plan to explore a bit more, gastronomically. The lunch at the English pub yesterday was really quite good (and the cider we did NOT drink was tasty, too).

Films I’m looking forward to: NEVER LET ME GO; THE BLACK SWAN; LET ME IN, BEAUTIFUL BOY and maybe, just maybe L.A. ZOMBIE (if you know it, you know it. lol)

Stay tuned. And check out the statue of Winston Churchill. He looks like a crotchety old man swearing at kids to stay off his lawn.

UPDATE (9-14-10):

The weather in Toronto is a bit psychotic. Blazing hot one minute, threatening showers the next.  I feel like a pack mule – schlepping my  “oh so cool” aviators alongside my umbrella. What I need is my own Farnsworth Bentley to walk beside me and hold an umbrella over my head.  But my FB would never get a chance to talk!

UPDATE (9-15-10):

HENRY’S CRIME probably won’t win any awards, but it was a nice change of pace from the uber dramatic fare of festivals. Keanu Reeves, Vera Farmiga, and James Caan make for a cast with fun chemistry. It won’t make anyone’s Best of the Fest but I’m glad I saw it. I will say that, in a theater of over 1,200 people, I have never heard such a number of ridiculous questions asked by any group who are not 6th graders. I mean, really people.

UPDATE (9-17-10):

One thing mroe I can say about Toronto – it has had great films. We’ve seen a good amount of them, and it was pretty easy. Usually, if you don’t have tickets when you arrive to a big festival, you are likely out of luck. But, Toronto has been surprisingly easy. We have managed to see every film we wanted. The biggest challenge was just getting out of bed (but that’s just typical for me). The festival is run smoothly, and everything has been easy. In fact, we kept arriving to films really early because we were sure that “this one” would be the one with crazy lines, etc. Never happened (and we often looked silly lined up so early. Like those guys in Seattle who waited in line for 2 weeks for Star Wars – episode 51a). The films, we’re really pleased with them.  I don’t often rave about a film. Usually, like most film people, I stay ambivalent so that, when I give my opinion, all my film snob friends can’t then say they hated it and make me feel stupid. (aahhh, good times). But I have to say that I loved, LOVED, BLACK SWAN. Darren Aronofsky has made a film so intense, so beautiful, so well crafted that I want to use words like “tour de force” and “revelatory” – you know, strange critic speech.

Seriously, I don’t think I’ve been so amazed by a film in recent years.  I came out breathless and exhausted.  I like Natalie Portman just fine, but I never knew she had THIS in her. This performance is better than any I’ve seen by an actress this year. And yes, we’re not done with the year. I know that there are holiday films coming and maybe one will be great. But she deserves a Best Actress nomination, and right now, she deserves to win. Period. However, there are nay-sayers. I haven’t heard of anyone saying they didn’t like the film. But there has been talk about whether the film is “too intense for an American audience”.  ???? When did we become such a soft, namby-pamby country that we’re too sensitive for a film ABOUT BALLET?  Really people.  It is crazy intense, it’s a bit frightening and surreal – but it’s a movie. If our American sensibilities are too fragile to appreciate this film, then we need to stop calling ourselves a Super Power (we might want to do that anyhow, but….).

So there you have it. I’ve said it. I think this is Aronofsky’s best work – even better than THE WRESTLER (though I nearly hurled at times from scenes in both). Anyone who doesn’t like it, come see me. I have a diaper I want you to wear.

The nation’s largest competitive multicultural film fest will convene in NYC Sept 15 – 19, 2010.

NEW YORK, NY (September 8, 2010) – The 14th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival, presented by BET Networks, is proud to announce Urbanworld Digital, an exciting addition to the festival that will be hosted by HBO® on September 15, 2010. This invite-only program will feature executives from Abrams Artists Agency, HBO, MTV Networks, NamcoBandai America, Screen Actors Guild, Writers Guild of America, East, and SAGindie, who will share their expertise in gaming, social media, new media contracts, and production. A collaboration between Jigsaw Global and the Urbanworld Foundation, Urbanworld Digital will serve as a primer for film professionals who want to learn more about digital media production and make new contacts on the tech side of the entertainment industry.

“We’re excited about our partnership with Jigsaw Global, which has allowed us to bring the digital aspect of the entertainment industry back to the festival in its own, unique programming track,” says Stacy Spikes, founder of Urbanworld. “HBO is the perfect host for Urbanworld Digital, because HBO continues to innovate in the worlds of film, TV, and digital media.”

The festival will continue September 16 – 19 at the AMC 34th St Theater in New York City. Unique programming features include BET Networks’ Inaugural TV Script Writing Competition, in which aspiring TV writers will have a chance to win $5,000, and the BET Networks with “My Black is Beautiful” Present: The Tasha Smith Actors Workshop, a two-day instructional seminar offering students the chance to hone their acting skills.

In addition to festival ambassador Kerry Washington, celebs such as Nia Long, Jamie Hector, Omari Hardwick, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Evan Ross, Kid Capri and Clint Dyer will be in attendance to support their respective films.  Spotlight films and programs at Urbanworld this year include:

• HBO’s Boardwalk Empire℠, a 1920s-era drama set in Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition (series premiere) from Terence Winter, Emmy® Award-winning writer of The Sopranos® and Academy® Award- winning director Martin Scorsese
• BET’s My Mic Sounds Nice, a documentary exploring the role of female rappers in hip-hop (directed by Ava DuVernay and featuring interviews by Missy Elliott, EVE, Trina, Rah Digga, MC Lyte, Yo Yo and more)
• One Night in Vegas, part of ESPN’s “30 for 30” documentary series, this film details the evening of 1996 when Tupac Shakur was shot (directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood; starring Mike Tyson)
• Kid Capri Presents: The Lionz Den, a short film about an underground rap battle in Harlem (directed by Kid Capri and Loaded Lux, starring Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, and Rakim)
• Sus, a based-on-a-true-story drama centering on the controversial British “sus” laws and their inherent racism (directed by Robert Heath; starring Ralph Brown, Clint Dyer)
• Africa Rising, a documentary portraying the grassroots movement to end female genital mutilation (directed by Paula Heredia)

For the complete slate of films or ticket information, visit www.urbanworld.org. For more information on Urbanworld Digital, visit http://ow.ly/2x1gy.

About Urbanworld
The Urbanworld® Film Festival is the largest internationally competitive festival of its kind. The five-day festival includes features, documentaries, short films, as well as panel discussions, live staged screenplay readings, the celebrated Actor’s Spotlight, Actor’s Boot Camps, and introducing Urbanworld® Digital, a 1-day Conference during the festival focused on Digital and Social media.  Over the last thirteen years, Hollywood studios have consistently chosen Urbanworld® to premiere box office and award-winning hits.  Urbanworld® has also become home to some of today’s top brands who wish
to reach key influencers and social media leaders across the African American and Latino landscape.  The Urbanworld® Film Festival is an initiative of the Urbanworld® Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by Stacy Spikes dedicated to redefining the multicultural roles in contemporary cinema, television and online by implementing programs and initiatives that support the development of the urban content creation community.  Gabrielle Glore serves as Executive Producer of the Urbanworld Film Festival, as well as ancillary Urbanworld Foundation endeavors.  For this year’s 2010 festival, BET Networks returns as the Presenting Sponsor.  HBO continues support as the Founding Sponsor.  Principal Sponsors include My Black Is Beautiful, Lens On Talent, and Ford.  Media Sponsors include Essence, Vibe, Uptown, BlackPlanet.com, TheUrbanDaily, KISS FM, HOT 97, and Jigsaw Global.  Benefactor Sponsors include AMC Theatres, Directors Guild of America – New York, and urbanAdserve. The festival website is www.urbanworld.org.

About BET Networks
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks – BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

In case you missed it, check out coverage on the Sundance Institute’s inagural short film workshop in Los Angeles. Overall, it was a big success,with special indie speakers like Miguel Arteta, Peter Sollett, Jay Duplass, and even SAGIndie Director Darrien Gipson.

Read it now: Sundance Schools Short Filmmakers at First Ever ShortsLab: L.A.

The article was written by our friend, Kim Adelman, for indieWIRE.

Hey! If you’re attending the Traverse City Film Festival be sure to go see ME AND ORSON WELLES directed by Richard Linklater. SAGIndie is sponsoring the screening!

More info HERE.

The 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, starting June 17th and running until the 27th, will be happening downtown this year and, as a sponsor, we couldn’t be more excited!

As you can see from the map above, everything will be pretty much taking place at L.A. LIVE (right near the Staples Center), and also at venues only blocks away. If you’re in Southern California, we highly recommend you try and attend.

Check out the great line-up: http://filmguide.lafilmfest.com/tixSYS/2010/filmguide/
And more info on the venues: http://filmguide.lafilmfest.com/2010/venues/ 

It’s no secret that even though we have “Screen Actors Guild” in our name, we at SAGIndie are very much about the filmmaker. That’s not to say we’re not supportive of the professional actor, because we are. Very much so. We promote SAG low budget contracts in order to help actors get work. We LOVE professional actors.

]However, in order to get them work, we must connect with established and up-and-coming independent filmmakers. Producers, directors, writers, educators – basically anyone who needs to understand that just because you’re making a film on a shoestring, doesn’t mean you can’t hire a professional actor.

So, when we travel to festivals, we’re always looking for the ones that cater to the filmmaker. In general, we like to see that (A) filmmakers are attending and (B) they’re taken care of. Nothing makes us happier when a festival goes out of its way to make the attending filmmakers feel like royalty.

The Maryland Film Festival in Baltimore, which I recently attended, did exactly that. It was my first time in Baltimore and upon arriving downtown I was instantly enamored with the beautiful cityscape. By the time the opening night gala was getting underway, the festival HAD me. Minutes after checking in I ran into Festival Director, Jed Dietz, who was mingling with the crowd before the opening screening, treating everyone as a dear old friend. Then, when the actual screening commenced, they did something extremely fresh and unique– they screened a group of spectacular short films. Something I’ve rarely seen before. More surprising than that, they actually flew the short filmmakers out so they could attend.

It doesn’t stop there. The Maryland Film Fest also takes care of past participants. They invite alumni of the festival out to network and enjoy the great Baltimore weather. Many of whom had nothing but glowing things to say about the job Dietz and crew have been doing. Other highlights included the day-long industry panels, the historic Charles Theater as the primary venue, and special presentations from Baltimore greats Dan Deacon and John Waters.

Overall, it was a professionally run festival in an amazing part of the country. There was plenty to do and they treated the visiting filmmakers like family. Maryland Film Festival, you’ve captured our heart.

On June 6, 2010 Actor, writer, and film director Steve Buscemi will talk with Emmy Award-winning journalist and Co-Host of WNYC Radio and PRI’s The Takeaway, John Hockenberry, about creating unforgettable characters that ultimately drive a film’s narrative and impact. The afternoon will feature film clips from the actor’s career as well as brunch at an award-winning Brooklyn eatery.

It is our pleasure to extend an advance invitation to SAG and SAGIndie members. The event will be publicly announced this Friday May 14th, so please take advantage of this opportunity to secure seats to this intimate event.

Actor as Auteur Brunch To Benefit ISSUE Project Room
Presented in Collaboration With SAGIndie
Sunday, June 6, 12pm – 2pm
$125 Per Person ($95 tax-deductible, three-course brunch is included.)

SEATING IS LIMITED. BUY TICKETS
For more information please call 718-330-0313.

There are numerous iconic characters in film history, from The Little Tramp to Charles Foster Kane to Colonel Kurtz to Travis Bickle, all of them well drawn and directed. However, had Chaplin, Welles, Brando or DeNiro not played these roles would the film had the same powerful impact on our culture? Can a case be made for actor as auteur?

It is difficult to imagine Buscemi’s roles and their indelible effect on each film without his personal, stylized approach in bringing them to life. They emit essential energies striking a balance between deeply held neuroses and outward bombast. From lead roles in films like Fargo, Resevoir Dogs, Living in Oblivion, Trees Lounge, and Ghost World to supporting roles and cameos in films such as The Big Lebowski, and Barton Fink, his presence breathes life into every corner of a film. “Buscemi is a quiet tyrant of artistic fury who threatens to overrun every frame he’s in with the inner desperation he projects even in his most subtle performances,” says Hockenberry.

SAGIndie is a gentle and loving union between the hard working thespians of the world and the passionate filmmakers who buck the system. Since its formation in 1997, SAGIndie has been traveling to film festivals, trade shows and conventions spreading the word: Just because your film isn’t produced by a studio doesn’t mean you can’t use professional talent. www.SAGIndie.org

ISSUE Project Room, a registered 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 2003 by visionary artist Suzanne Fiol, and is a vibrant nexus for cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary arts in Brooklyn. ISSUE supports emerging and established experimental artists through more than 200 programs each year including music concerts, literary readings, films, videos, dance, visual and sound art, new media, critical theory lectures and discussions, site-specific work, commissions, educational workshops, master classes, and genre-defying interdisciplinary performances that challenge and expand conventional practices in art.  Support for ISSUE has been provided by CHORA, a project of the Metabolic Studio, a direct charitable activity of the Annenberg Foundation led by Artist and Foundation Director Lauren Bon. CHORA aims to support the intangibles that precede creativity. www.ISSUEProjectRoom.org