Highlights of the Salon meeting
of Nov.18
Or as an alternative title ' The Movie "Twister"
Fact Or Hollywood Fiction' . After personally experiencing sitting in a
tornado shelter and seeing first hand a five ton tree that smashed a small
house I can sympathize with the attendees that may have had more
serious things to deal with. The storms that swept through Tuesday afternoon
most likely kept a lot of people from coming. We did have a smaller than
expected turnout, one person intrepid enough to brave coming
from Montgomery , but just as good of a meeting none the
less. Introductions were made and interest in filmmaking made by those that
came.
We discussed briefly the status of several local
productions. We had heard that "Heaven's Fall" which had been
slated to start in October was pushed back to January so that the leaves would
fall off the trees to match a winter scene that was filmed up
north.
We discussed the problems we've had for the last year. We
had been meeting at production studios but that became a conflict when they had
schedule some commercial shoots during our proposed meeting times so we
lost that. We had tried meeting at a university but again scheduling conflicts
with classes so we lost that space. We had looked around the county for a
meeting space but the ones available were already booked by other groups or cost
money to rent resulting in having to charge admission to the
meeting.
The restaurants and coffee houses we looked at were, well
we could have met there, but we couldn't get a separate space and the
owners had the expectation that the group should purchase meals or imbibe in
their wares, ok in it's own self but not for a meeting (some of our members
don't drink and we are open to all ages, even those young people under
the legal drinking age).
The Irondale Public Library may not be in our
demographic center but the facilities will serve us for now.
We also discussed having a place where filmmakers can
meet each other. This is the exact sort of function the Salon did before
our 'hiatus'. Hopefully with the meeting place and getting through the upcoming
holidays we'll foster that kind of community spirit again. It may take a little
bit of time to do.
Another topic was about sharing technical and
practical information about equipment, again the sort of function that the Salon
did our 'hiatus'. The education programs planned some time back can be
restarted.
We talked about a production directory, again this was one
of the projects started then dropped by some other people. Now we can restart
that initiative. It will give a good basis for seeing who has what or can
do what.
One of the goals will be to talk with some of the
State agencies to see what we as business leaders can do to help and work
with them during this budget crisis.
To help with the communication will be the web site.
Information and announcements by members can be posted resulting in a 24/7
access rather than depend on a meeting or the Ezine. (see related
article-ed.)
There was more but this is just highlights not a
transcript, I guess you had to of been there.
Planned but not discussed; 'Velvet Stereo TV' and UPN 68 and
the Lights, Camera Alabama! Film Festival. Perhaps next time.