AIVF Birmingham
Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers
 
Ezine Number 43, August 21, 2003
 
From the Ezine Editor
 
In case any one was wondering, my computer crashed just before the July 4th holiday and I've been the last six weeks checking out front side bus speeds, RAM chip integrity, CPU - motherboard compatibility, file allocation tables, network interface and all that good stuff that make computers go. With the help of another AIVF Salon member I was able to save all my files from my hard drive. Then when I went to log back on my monitor fried right in front of me. Now with the last of the system checks behind me, we'll be starting on the long planned for improvements. If anyone sent me an e-mail the week before July 4th I'm afraid those messages now reside in the digital afterlife.
 
One thing that popped up in my mail box when I logged back on was another e-chain letter about the so-call money give away by Bill Gates. Come on folks, this is at least the third time I've gotten this thing. First off, I don't think that there is any way that e-mails can contain the street address of those that forward a message. Second, if Bill Gates was that worried about the dollar amount he was taking in he would lower the retail price of Windows XP to compete against the price of Linux Red Hat. For a substantial and practical charitable contribution that Mr. Gates has done just look at all the computer centers he donated to a lot of the public libraries.
 
Don't forget, sending all those messages still require electricity to make them go. If you clog up the internet with worthless e-mails, well, the power has to come from some where. Let's don't overload the system again.
 
Script Development Workshop
 
The next meeting of the Script Development Workshop will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday Aug 21 at Book & Co. in Brookwood Village. Bring your own short story or script for discussion by like minded peers. The meeting generally last till 9:00 p.m.although you can stay and talk until store closing. For more information contact Angela at angela@boang.com .
 
Film festivals news

-sent in by Steve Moon

ALABAMA INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL SCHEDULED FOR FALL
2003 AT THE CARVER THEATRE

Anyone interested in entering a film, feature, short or documentary for this festival, please feel free to do so. There are no entry fees nor fees of any kind. This is simply a festival to showcase Alabama talent. To date we have received several films for this event. It will be held on a Monday - Thursday night at the Downtown Carver Theater.

I look forward to receiving you entries. Also, there is a challenge portion to all interested in participating. It is a feature night of the festival called "The 24 Hour Short", which is simply this: the filmmaker has 24 hours to script, cast, shoot, edit and produce a final short up to 24 minutes in length, any format. I have seen a couple of these, and they are great. It pushes the director's limits of producing, casting, writing and more. Also, at the end, after the credits, include a short documentary along the way of your work making this project.

Thanks,
Steve Moon
205-567-8518

Contests
 
AMD Athlon 64 Processor Animation and Digital Film Contest
 
64-bit computing will spark imagination and create new worlds. AMD is conducting the AMD Athlon 64 processor Animation and Digital Film Contest to seek out the best animation and film shorts from around the globe. Submit your work in one of two categories, Digital Cinematography or Computer Character Animation.
 
Six semifinalist will be selected - three in each category- by AMD and a panel of experts in the film  and animation industry. These six submissions will be re-rendered by AMD on an AMD Athlon 64 processor-based system at the conclusion of the contest on September 2, 2003.
 
One grand prize winner will be selected in each category and each will receive an AMD Athlon 64 processor-based desktop system and a $6,400 cash prize.
 
The six semifinalists' work will be showcased at AMD Athlon 64 launch events around the world on September 23, 2003.
 
To enter, print, fill out and mail the registration form with your entry to AMD, postmarked no later than September 2, 2003. The two grand prize winners will be announced on or about September 17, 2003, and the submissions of all six semifinalist will be available for viewing at www.amd.com/animationcontests.
 
For the registration form and more information go to the AMD contest web site at http://www.amd.com/us-en/0,,3715_9392,00.html
 
California film incentive program ends
 
A California film incentive program known as 'Film California First' will end as the state budget problem continues. With concerns of runaway productions to Canada as a way for the studios to lower costs, the 'Film California First' was started two years ago to keep movies jobs at home. A feature of the program was a subsidized fee to producers for governmental services during production. The program has resulted in about $16 million in state sponsored rebates to 2,800 productions.
 
This loss of the program comes at a time when a nonprofit agency created to curb the flow of productions from the LA area is under investigation for allegedly misusing public funds for expenses.
 
For more information go to the web site http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGABV8Q4UID.html
 
Disney studios in Burbank terminates traditional hand drawn animation.
 
From the web site Mouse Planet http://www.mouseplanet.com
 
As reported by David Koenig in the article 'Suspended Animation' http://www.mouseplanet.com/david/dk030814.htm the Disney studios in Burbank have ended the era of hand drawn animated movies. The last few 2D animators will be working on a part CGI and part traditional production titled 'Chicken Little' but with no other 2D movies in pre-production their contracts are expected to run out by next year. With the jobs of the artist finished on the upcoming 'Brother Bear' and 'Home On The Range' the animators desks were taken away and put in a warehouse to be sold. The former artist space were usurped by unknown administrators and 20+ vice-presidents that oversee Feature Animation.
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That's all for now. I got some more information another Ezine will come out in a few more days.
 
If you would like to respond with any comments, updates, announcements, blurbs, quips, jibs, exhortations or advice, you can contact,
 
Ezine Editor, aivfbham@bellsouth.net