AIVF Jefferson County
Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers

Ezine Number 61, January 17, 2004
 
Highlights of the Salon meeting of January 13th
 
The meeting started a little before the scheduled time due to some early attendees. We exchanged resumes and e-mail addresses and discussed the present film industry climate. There was some discussion about the Disney studios closing the 2D animation productions in Burbank, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo. One of the attendees was part of the Southside Sundown Cinema, a film exhibition group that had shown independent films at the Garages several years ago (historical note: Bob Dillon, Courtney Hayden, Tom Goad, Gene Crutcher, now deceased, and others were involved). Also some discussion about how the change over from carbon arc lamp houses to the xenon bulbs contributed to the end of the projectionist's union.
 
The main discussion was about the formation of the Birmingham Film Commission. One person who works at another media company said that when Councilman Bert Miller's announcement arrived, they all were surprised about the news. This Editor, after repeated contact with Councilman Bert Miller on this issue was told 'we'll keep in touch' was equally not informed as was the rest of the film community. A bit perplexing that elected officials are not in touch with their professional constituency.
 
Other discussions and announcements;
 
"Camp D.O.A." is moving from pre-production to production.
 
"When Love Steps In" may be filmed here in the late spring to summer.
 
A person attended that has several scripts to produce. 
 
Next AIVF Jefferson County Salon meeting
 
The next AIVF Jefferson County Salon meeting will be 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at the Irondale Public Library (details at www.reelscene.com/jeffcosalon.html ). We will continuing our discussion about developing the film industry here. We would like to hear about your project. Come, contribute and make a difference to the film community. The meeting is free to the public.
 
News of the web site
 
Two new pages have been set up, a page for workshops and classes http://www.reelscene.com/classes/classindex.html   and a page for film festivals  http://www.reelscene.com/festivals/festindex.html . Information will be posted here first and announcements in the Ezine will be a shorter reference to the page.
 
Errors and corrections
 
In Ezine Number 60 was some workshops being offered by IMAGE in Atlanta, the contact information was inadvertently left out. For the latest news about those classes and workshops go to their web site at  www.imagefv.org .
 
"For One English Officer"
 
Huntsville based filmmaker T.N. Mohan's documentary "For One English Officer" will be showing on Alabama Public Television on Tuesday, January 20th at 9:30 p.m. and repeated on Tuesday, January 27th at 7:00 p.m. The film is about a Red Cross volunteer during World War 2 and was written by Hobart Groom and Angela Burchett. Since it's release (see Ezine Number 29) the film has won three Omni awards and a Telly award.
 
 
Script Development Workshop meeting
 
The next meeting of the Script Development Workshop will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 19, 2004 at Books & Co. in Brookwood Village. Bring a script you are working on and share it with like minded peers. The meeting generally last to 9:00 p.m. although you are free to stay and talk till store closing. For more information contact Angela at angela@boang.com .
 
At the January 15th meeting there were 17 people to attended including a contingent of middle school students who helped a writer with her feature length script. The focus of the February meeting will be the scripts that any of the returning students may bring. The meeting may be upstairs in the coffee shop area to accommodate the increase of participants.
 
 
 
Auditions, casting calls

Nick Conti / Professional Actors Studio will facilitate auditions for "VENEER"
Bring (copies) of / must be present with HEADSHOT & RESUME for role consideration. This is a SAG EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM PROJECT being shot & cast in Atlanta.
For more information about this production visit http://www.sagindie.org/breakdowns.html
All Auditions will take place on Saturday - January 17th and Sunday, January 18th, 2004 at the Professional Actors Studio - 2849 Piedmont Rd, Buckhead, Atlanta, GA. For Directions: visit www.proactorsstudio.com. Please do not make inquiries to the telephone number listed on this site. The Professional Actors Studio is merely serving as the audition location. Sides will be made available each day for actors by 8:30 AM. Actors will be seen per the SAG Sign-In Sheet. Role announcements will be made no later than Saturday, January 24, 2004. The 1st Cast read through will take place at the Professional Actors Studio, 2849 Piedmont Rd, Buckhead at 11:00 AM on Sat., January 31, 2004.

Filmmaking Grants
 
Creative Capital Foundation Grants 2004-05 for Film/Video and Visual Arts
To apply for a grant, you must first submit an Inquiry Form. On the form you will be asked about your project and how it, in conjunction with a Creative Capital grant, will be catalytic for your artistic and professional growth. In addition, you will need to describe the influences that inform your work and how your work takes an experimental approach to form and content. Be prepared to identify the audience(s) for your project and any possible presenting venues.
Submit online: www.creative-capital.org beginning February 16, 2004


IFP/New York to Award Documentary Production Grants
IFP/New York will begin funding independent documentary productions through the Anthony Radziwill Documentary Fund, the organization announced yesterday. For the first time since its founding 25 years ago, the group will award development grants twice a year beginning in June for new feature length non-fiction projects by American filmmakers. Unlike many organizations that give "seed money," this fund will not restrict eligibility based on subject matter or due to the state of residency of the filmmaker. Grants of $10,000 annually will be awarded to six to ten filmmakers, with the initial three to five grants slated to be given out this June.
Grants
 
BellSouth Foundation Opens Submission Period for Opportunity Grants
 
 Deadline: March 1, 2004 (Concept Papers)
 
 The BellSouth Foundation ( http://bellsouth.com/ ), an
 endowed trust of the BellSouth Corporation devoted to
 education in the southeastern United States and other
 communities where BellSouth operates, invests the majority
 of its Special Initiatives funds through a targeted
 request for proposal process. In addition, a limited
 number of Opportunity Grants are available for unsolicited
 proposals that compliment Special Initiatives or issues
 where the BellSouth Foundation is currently focusing its
 work.
 
 This year, the categories for funding have been broadened
 to include proposals that address key issues of interest
 to the education community. These new issues of interest
 for 2004 are:
 
 Technology & Learning -- Grants in this area will be
 awarded to support further exploration of incorporating
 "student voice" to build meaningful use of technology for
 learning for students.
 
 No Child Left Behind -- Grants in this area will be
 awarded to districts seeking support to fulfill
 requirements of the national No Child Left Behind
 legislation.
 
 Business/Education Partnerships -- Grants to help
 strengthen existing partnerships between school districts
 and local businesses, and in helping to foster new
 partnerships for change that promise lasting results.
 
 The BellSouth Foundation generally does not provide
 funding for programs that have an impact outside of the
 nine southern states BellSouth serves or selected
 BellSouth markets, or for organizations that are not a
 501(c)(3) nonprofit or governmental entity.
 
 Initial Concept Papers may be submitted online. See the
 BellSouth Foundation Web site for complete guidelines,
 funding restrictions, and information on the foundation's
 Special Initiatives.
 
 
From National AIVF
 
FCC Public Hearing on Broadcast Localism
Wednesday, January 28, 2004 5:30 p.m. ­ 9:30 p.m.
City Council Chamber, Municipal Plaza Building, 103 Main Plaza
San Antonio, Texas
 
The Localism Task Force of the Federal Communications Commission announces
that the second of six scheduled public hearings on the subject of broadcast
localism will be held in San Antonio, Texas, on January 28, 2004.  Chairman
Michael K. Powell will preside and will be joined by Commissioners Kathleen
Q. Abernathy, Michael J. Copps, and Jonathan S. Adelstein.  The hearing is
open to the public, and seating will be available on a first-come,
first-served basis.  As you may know, AIVF has made considerable effort over
the past few years to ensure that the FCC review of media ownership rules be
public and transparent. We believe that a strong and diverse media culture
is imperative to sustaining our democracy.
 
This and other regional hearings came about in part because of the
unprecedented number of comments that were filed on this issue in the spring
of 2003, by concerned citizens such as yourself. The airwaves are a public
trust. The FCC simply cannot ignore that Americans are concerned with how
their determination will impact the future health of public media.
 
We hope you will be able to participate in this event. Together we must
demand policy that adequately considers the input that is being
collected and upholds the FCC's accountability to the public interest.
 
The hearing will be recorded, and the record will be made available to the
public.  The public may also file comments or other documents with the
Commission.  Filing instructions are provided at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-239578A1.doc
 
For more information on the Localism Task Force of the FCC visit:
http://www.fcc.gov/localism

For more information about AIVF media advocacy visit:
http://www.aivf.org/advocacy/
 
AIVF at Sundance 2004: Filmmaker Lodge
 
January 15-25
Park City, UT
 
This year Sundance continues the Filmmaker Lodge with a series of panels, a
resource library, and receptions and gatherings designed to cultivate
dialogue between established and emerging filmmakers, industry leaders, and
the press.
 
Stop by to visit with Sonia Malfa (Program Director, AIVF), and Elizabeth
Peters (Executive Director, AIVF) at the AIVF outreach table on Monday,
January 19 from 10 -1pm at the Filmmaker Lodge. Show your AIVF member card
and receive a gift and be eligible to win a copy of Final Draft Professional
Scriptwriting Software!
 
For more information visit http://www.sundance.org
 
AIVF Co-Sponsors:
Digital Independence 2004 Conference
 
San Francisco Marriott
January 31 - February 1, 2004
 
DI2004 will unite America¹s most innovative independents in plenary
sessions, panel discussions, presentations, screenings and pitch workshops
to explore the threats and opportunities facing independent media makers
today.
 
A special workshop session, ³Creating a Winning Pitch², will feature an open
question and answer session with film and television programming executives,
using three pitches from audience participants as models.
 
Panelists include:
Claire Aguilar - Director of Programming, Independent Television Service
(ITVS)
Cara Mertes - Executive Producer, PBS award winning series, P.O.V
Mark Samels - Executive Producer of American Experience, WGBH
Diane Weyermann - Documentary Film Program, Sundance Institute
Elizabeth Peters - Executive Director, AIVF
 
Conference Registration fees range from $65 ­ 150. For more info:
http://www.digitalindies.com
 
Dallas, TX
 
The Dallas Salon is the perfect blend of commerce and community. Composed of
enthusiastic film and video makers from Ft. Worth, Denton and Dallas, this
salon holds quarterly meetings addressing issues relevant to the indie film
community. The salon's greatest success is the partnerships and
collaborations forged between its members.
 
The Dallas Film and Video Festival, as the support of the salon, attracts a
familiar crowd. At each meeting, members are encouraged to discuss and
screen their current projects, with valuable feedback coming from
participants. Local film-oriented businesses, including post-production
facilities, take an active interest in the meetings.
 
 
For more info on Regional Salons and joint membership organizations, visit:
http://www.aivf.org/regional
 
Picture from Mars
 
As someone who is familar with the Mercury and Gemini missions, it certainly is exciting news about robot Rover as it explores the planet Mars. 
 
 
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