The 1st Annual Vimeo Festival and Awards

There are two weeks left to enter your videos into the first-ever Vimeo Festival and Awards. If your video premiered online within the past two years, you should head over to vimeoawards.com and submit it ASAP! The grand prize includes a $25,000 grant to produce your next film/video. These awards are open to ALL videos online, not just videos on Vimeo. Judges include David Lynch (Blue Velvet ) and Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me).

Free Access to the NAB Show

If you are interested in attending the NAB Show in Las Vegas this month (April 18-23), Tuvel Communications is offering Filmlinker readers FREE access to the show. Below is a special registration code that will give you a FREE exhibits-only registration.

*Free Exhibits Passport Code: TP01

This pass includes access to the exhibit floor and the opening keynote – a $150 value. Visit nabshow.com/passport to redeem your admittance.

When there, check out their Post|Production World Conference which includes seven different Adobe, Apple, Avid and Mac Certification Courses.

*PLEASE NOTE:  the pass code provides free access to the NAB Show exhibit hall and the opening keynote ONLY, not any of the conferences being held in conjunction with the NAB Show.

Best Practices for “Green” Filmmaking

A new Code of Best Practices for Sustainable Filmmaking was just released by the American University School of Communication’s Center for Social Media and Center for Environmental Filmmaking.

…filmmakers create carbon debt with our work. However, as in other industry sectors, we can take action immediately to reduce consumption and waste in our profession; to educate peers, employees and interns; and to support policies that register the true environmental costs of production.” [from centerforsocialmedia.org]

This initiative also includes tools such as Checklists (actions needed to create a sustainability plan), Carbon trackers (track production activities that use energy and produce carbon emission) and some relevant web resource links. Check out the “downloads” below:

Continue reading Best Practices for “Green” Filmmaking…

Storybids Connects Content Creators with Advertisers

Storybids is an interesting site that looks to give content creators a link to the product placement marketplace. Storybids provides an outlet for auctioning online content to advertisers to include their products in online video content. Their tool provides an option for filmmakers/content creators to off-set production costs and even make a profit on their creation. If this endeavor is successful, it will lay a foundation for independent filmmakers to bridge to monetization resources traditionally only available to big budget productions.

Now advertisers are turning to the Internet and shifting their budget to online videos, product placements and viral videos. By 2010, experts estimate online advertising will grow to an $11 billion business. Agencies just aren’t geared for these types of media – and there is a new generation of computer savvy film and video makers out there who have great ideas that need a distribution channel. That’s what Storybids.com is all about.” [from storybids.com]

DV Cameras Comparison Guides

Are you trying to decide what DV camera to use/buy/rent on your next film? Check out these valuable sources which sort numerous options for you.

+ Slash Cam has 83 models in a database with sort able filters for you to compare different camera models. It has every conceivable category for you to choose from.

+ HD Cinema: HD and Digital Cinema Camera Blog has another CHART. This is a straight up list from cameraman, Ben Cain which includes some of the higher end DV cameras like the VariCams, The Red One and the Genesis. He also adds another list from Fletcher Camera (PDF file).

And last but not least… Zacuto, the Chicago based camera house has a great ‘comparison’ video (via Vimeo) that compares all of the new HD cameras on the market to each other in a same scene, same lighting set-up comparison test. Check it out (below):

+ “Zacuto’s Great Camera Shootout ’08”

Continue reading DV Cameras Comparison Guides…

YouTube PROJECT: DIRECT Can Get You to Sundance ‘09

2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the Sundance Film Festival and Youtube’s short film competition can send you there with PROJECT: DIRECT. The winner will go to the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and meet with Sundance’s Director of Programming, screen your film to a live audience, plus $2,500 cash. Submissions, no longer than 5 minutes long are due by December 14, 2008.

Here’s the gimmick: Your entry must include two props from their list – plus a red telephone. There are 25 props samples to choose from. Each represent a classic Sundance Film Festival film – i.e. a hockey stick from Clerks, an instant photo from Memento, a bunny suit from Donnie Darko, etc. Here’s the FAQs.

For the full rundown, check out the clip below from writer/director Darren Aronofsky [IMDB]:

Continue reading YouTube PROJECT: DIRECT Can Get You to Sundance ‘09…

DETAILS Mag & NEHST Studios Want Your Film Pitch

NEHST Studios and Details Magazine are collaborating on a project to produce a film with you. Yes you! NEHST, whose founder produced Sling Blade [imdb] and Details, a men’s lifestyle and fashion magazine want your film pitch.

Here’s the gist:

The DETAILS/NEHST Movie Project is a unique initiative that enables aspiring filmmakers the access to get their film made. Anyone who has a movie idea can “pitch” their idea via this website. DETAILS and NEHST will then review the submissions and if they find the right project, they’ll greenlight the idea. The DETAILS/NEHST collaboration allows those wanting to break into film—or those just toying with a movie idea—to bypass the red tape of Hollywood and have their ideas reviewed by real producers.” [from the official DETAILS/NEHST Movie Project site]

If you have a script, treatment or just an idea for a film – they are interested in hearing from you. Go to their official “how-to pitch page” and submit your idea. There’s a $10 submission/administration fee – but that will also get you a one year subscription to Details Magazine.

Film on Facebook Debuts First Movie

Facebook is now embracing independent filmmakers with their FILM ON Facebook project. According to its official page, it’s described as “a place to interact with other filmmakers and movie-goers on Facebook and to share your experiences about marketing your film on Facebook.” It was first announced at this year’s SXSW Film Festival and now will finally premiere its first movie: One Track Mind, (a surfer flick shot on 16mm film – created by Woodshed Films).

The film will debut exclusively on Facebook on October 16-17, 2008 via the Kyte video application. Check out the 2 minute trailer by clicking below:

Continue reading Film on Facebook Debuts First Movie…

The Super 16 Digital Alternative – Ikonoskop A-cam dII

The digital revolution in filmmaking started several years ago, but it wasn’t until the Red One camera came along that a true comparable alternative to 35mm film was introduced to the filmmaking community. Now, another camera is jumping in the fold. What the Red One is attempting to do to replace the 35mm film market – the Swedish company, Ikonoskop is taking a similar course for the Super 16. The new Ikonoskop digital motion picture camera: A-cam dII is shaping to take that market segment for under $10k – semi-affordable for the indie filmmaker.

Like digital Super-16 — A-cam dII’s Super-16 sized sensor opens up for the use of Super-16 mm lenses. This enables you to use the best cine and prime lenses available. Our sensor and the technology around A-cam dII is built on the knowledge and experience from our much acclaimed A-cam SP-16 motion picture camera.” [Excerpt from ikonoskop.com ]

The camera records in 1920 x 1080 pixels on to an 80 GB memory cartridge which has a capacity of 15 minutes of footage, audio and metadata. Its compact size is ideal for documentary filmmaking. Check out all the specs on Ikonoskop’s official website.

Continue reading The Super 16 Digital Alternative – Ikonoskop A-cam dII…

New Film Distribution Site – MeDeploy

MeDeploy is a new online distribution platform that gives filmmakers and digital content creators a tool to monetize their work. It provides an API that utilizes distribution integration into all types of web outlets like blogs, social networks, widgets, mobile applications, etc. MeDeploy’s Distribution Dashboard allows users to manage all their sales and distribution points in one interface. All this with pricing consideration for indie filmmakers versus the more expensive “professional” scale reserved film distributors & TV networks.

Deliver pay-media content into consumer’s eager hands – easily and economically. MeDeploy’s unique revenue share model enables content holders to build a digital video distribution business with a distribution platform that scales as business grows. All without risk, or the exorbitant costs usually associated with launching a digital media business.”  [from MeDeploy’s Overview page]

The site was just launched last week at the DEMO conference. Here’s Christian Taylor – MeDeploy’s founder & CEO explaining the site’s features at the conference (click below for the video clip):

Continue reading New Film Distribution Site – MeDeploy…