DIY Film Fest Gala Event in March

Just a glance back at last year's winner: Cody Blue Snider's "All that Remains."



 Made when he was 19 for a total of $15K it embodies what we look for in films at the DIY Film Festival. It has a beginning, middle and an end.  It tells a story in a way we've never seen before, and embodies the DIY spirit to tell a good story with the tools at hand.  Congrats Cody Blue, we expect great things from you.

Meanwhile, this year we've gotten hundreds of films from countries all over the world.  Thank you filmmakers from far and way and near and close to submitting your work to the film festival. We're hunkering down now and going through them all - (anyone who submits after the Jan 25th deadline, their film will roll into the next year's festival.) and good luck to all of those fabulous filmmakers who submitted films for this year's fest.

As always, we're surprised, amazed, in awe of you filmmakers who just dove in where angels feared to tread, picked up a camera and told a compelling story.  Kudos to all of you!

We all know how difficult it is to finish a film - and then to distribute it, get it out to the film festivals - applause to all of you who finished your films.  And the best of luck to you wherever it winds up.  It's key to just keep going forward  - never get up - never tire - and never forget why you picked up a camera in the first place.

To tell a story.

Results will be posted as soon as possible, and the winning films will be invited to a gala affair at the Roosevelt Hotel in early March (tentatively March 3rd).

Finalists will be notified as soon as the results are in, and excerpts from the winning films, and some of the winning films, will be screened at the event.  Details to follow.



Best wishes and luck and all that goes with saying that,

The folks at the DIY Film Festival.

Getting close to the finish line!

The deadline for submitting to the DIY Film Fest for films made in 2011 LOOMS LARGE.

The deadline is the 25th of January.

Films that arrive after the deadline, will be eligible for the following year's festival and awards.





Happened to hear the filmmaker Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog

 talking about his "Rogue Film School" on NPR the other day. He doesn't post the location of his school, he doesn't allow students to bring in camera, recorders, or laptops.  It's just you and him in a room. Alone. (oooh. scary!)

He teaches his students how to make rogue films.  He includes lessons in "how to pick locks" and "how to fake film permits" - I love his droll delivery and his dry sense of humor.  For any of you who've had to "get the shot no matter what" you'll appreciate what he has to say on the topic. (and here's more on FB)

One thing he did say jumped out for DIY Film Fest notice: "It only costs about ten thousand dollars nowadays to make a film.  You should take a job that allows you to get enough money to make that film and go and make the film.  Get a job that's interesting, a bouncer in a strip club, working in an emergency room, something that is exciting and gives you characters, so when you make your film it will be rich."

I'm paraphrasing, but you get the idea.  And nothing embodies the DIY spirit more than the above paragraph.  So here's to you Werner, and here's to your Rogue Film School!  Cheers!

Couple of New Books to Check Out

 Here's a couple of filmmaking books brought to our attention at the DIY Film Fest.  Check 'em out!

 FilmCraft: Editing

FilmCraft: Cinematography

Available Now!

 

New York, NY - November 30, 2011 - Ever wanted advice from today's most respected film insiders? Look no further than theFilmCraft Series, the latest books in filmmaking featuring a visually stunning look at each topic through the eyes of respected professionals in each field. The first releases in the series, entitled 'FilmCraft: Editing' by Justin Chang and 'FilmCraft: Cinematography,' by Mike Goodridge and Tim Grierson, each offer deep insight into the working practices of the world's most distinguished professionals, covering their inspiration, collaboration, and work on set.  These two installments in the FilmCraft Series feature interviews from Bob Murawski, (Oscar-winning Editor for "The Hurt Locker," "Spiderman"), Dylan Tichenor (Editor: "Boogie Nights," "Brokeback Mountain", "There Will Be Blood"), Pietro Scalia (Editor: "Gladiator," "Good Will Hunting," "JFK," "Black Hawk Down"), and Vittorio Storaro(Cinematographer: "Apocalypse Now") to name a few.

These two books provide readers with a fascinating inside look at the filmmaking art, and a wealth of knowledge that they can apply to their own work. For more information or to purchase your copies, visit: http://amzn.to/vkcjET (Editing) & http://amzn.to/ukQcKz(Cinematography).

Each book in the FilmCraft Series features:

• Discussions with the world's most notable filmmakers, giving concrete examples of their craft and insights into professional practice, working relationships, and influences
• Sidebars featuring practical advice on topics that filmmakers can apply to their own work
• "Legacy Sections" focusing on the work of past filmmaking greats

'FilmCraft: Editing'

This book employs stills and screenshots to show how an editor created a scene with the filmmaker and explores the complex relationship between a director who has just shot a movie and the editor who must complete the director's vision. Click here for an excerpt from this book: http://bit.ly/uTX9dX

'FilmCraft: Cinematography'

This book covers the complex craft of cinematography (motion picture photography) through interviews with well-known cinematographers. The book also features extraordinary photos and in-depth exploration of contemporary projects, such as Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago, and Nine.'Cinematography' gives readers exclusive access to lauded professionals, providing them with the perspective to think like professionals and create a compelling visual story. Click here for an excerpt from this book: http://bit.ly/uG3uKL

About The Authors:

Justin Chang - 'FilmCraft: Editing'

Justin Chang is senior film critic at Variety, editing and overseeing the paper's film reviews. He currently serves as secretary of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. He holds a journalism degree from USC. Before joining Variety in 2004, he was a freelance entertainment writer for the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times.

Mike Goodridge - 'FilmCraft: Cinematography'

Mike Goodridge is the editor of Screen International and has been writing about film for over twenty years. He is an accomplished critic and has written for many outlets including The Times, The Independent, The Evening Standard, El Mundo in Spain, and Sight & Sound. He is is a member of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the London Film Critics Circle, and FIPRESCI.

Tim Grierson - 'FilmCraft: Cinematography'

Tim Grierson is a film and music critic whose writing has appeared in Screen International, L.A. Weekly, Blender, Revolver, Vulture, Wired, and The Village Voice. He is the Rock Music guide at About.com and the author of the forthcoming book "Blinking Lights and Other Revelations: The Story of Eels." Tim has spoken at the Palm Springs International Film Society and the EMP Pop Conference in Seattle. He is currently vice president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.


Here's where to locate the books via FOCAL PRESS

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

We've been getting in quite a few films from around the planet - first off, congratulations on finishing your film! It's so very cool to be able to actually sit back and watch your finished project.  So congratulations are in order and its key to celebrate every step of the way!!!

DIY Fest co founder Rich Martini with FFC, Dean Tavoularis, Ed Bradley foto by John Glenn, NOLA

We at the DIY Film Fest are thankful for all the terrific filmmakers who take the time to find us and submit their films. We've been around for ten years, and the reason is because we do really care about completely independent film - if you build it, they will come.  If you film it, and cut it, and finish it - it will be seen.  Okay, not as catchy, but true either way.  As you may know, we began as an offshoot to the DIY Convention - (www.diyconvention.com) which highlights the best indie projects in music and books.  They're still going strong as well, and we join forces every year for a mutual love fest of do it yourself filmmakers and authors.

One of the biggest questions we get asked is about DIY Distribution.  We usually point people in the direction of those who've been really successful at it.  CD Baby is still going strong in the music world, and has spawned a number of other DIY music labels - (www.cdbaby.com) - but the model makes sense in finding a way to market and sell your product.  We're also a fan of Create Space (www.createspace.com) which has been purchased by Amazon - so if a filmmaker decides to market and sell the product by themselves, create space is a logical outlet as the resulting product is listed through Amazon.com.  They offer DIY packaging in simple (well, not totally simple, as little knowledge of how jpgs and photoshop helps) ways to producer your music, book or film and get it into the marketplace. They also offer live streaming of those films.

We've got submissions from Italy, Romania, Hungary, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand!

That puts the publicity into the filmmaker's own hands - and is key.  Let's say you can get your film into a festival at a college near you - you approach the college paper and ask to do an interview for the film, and list the website for the film when its shown. If the website includes a way to purchase the film, it's just another way to maker and sell your product.  Certainly putting up clips or trailers at youtube helps (see the panel to the right) but to include a link to the film's home page where someone can purchase it with a click is also a way to go.

The world is your oyster, and that's why we folks at the DIY Fest are happy to encourage any and all filmmakers to get their vision out into the planet. There's never been a time like today where anyone can pick up a camera and create something for people to see.

 "When the cost of filmmaking is as much as a pencil and piece of paper, then we'll see true art." Jean Cocteau

Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie

 

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