Have you heard? Our friends at the BLUE Theatre had a fire break out that damaged the building on Tuesday night, the night after they generously hosted our Lighting Workshop (for free). They had a fundraiser, the BLUE Light Special, planned for this Sunday, in order to replace the lights they currently have but are about to rightfully lose. Please check out these links for more information:

- http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/news/local/fire-damages-blue-theater-in-east-austin-072910-ktbcw

- http://weareaustin.com/entertainment-story?nxd_id=80345

- http://kut.org/items/show/21939

The BLUE has been incredibly gracious to the Austin Film Meet. Please show your support for the BLUE by attending their fundraiser this weekend…

Much thanks to Jeffrey Buras for a wonderful presentation last Monday night (May 17, 2010). If you missed it, you’re in luck. Jeff has offered his slides as a PDF.

To download, right click on THIS LINK and choose “save as” or “save file as”.

Thank you Jeffrey!

The following tips were presented by H.Cherdon Bedford at the Austin Film Meet on April 19, 2010 at Spiderhouse Cafe. The following info is intended to help you get gigs in the Austin independent film scene. Hopefully, it helps!

1 – Make friends. Be nice. Be friendly. Treat others as you want to be treated. Remember names and at least one thing about them.

2 – Strategic Networking, long-term networking, and regular network. Go to events where people are that might be able to get you a gig. Choose wisely, your time is valuable. Be a frequent face. Show up on a regular basis. Doesn’t have to be all the time, but at similar intervals.

3 – Remember people, their names and something about them. Figure out what kind of learner you are & use that to help you remember. If visual, try associating their name with something about the way they appear to you. If auditory learner, try to associate with their name with the way they sound. Put their business card on a board in front of you and remember that image.

4 – Let the smiles flow. When in doubt, smile.

5 – Business cards & branding. Get an image and stick to it. A logo if you will. A motto or title will send a clear message about who you are and what you do. Always have these on hand, even when you think you won’t need them.

6 – Be on time and on time is early. If you’re going to be late, call and let someone know. Know what materials are due when and be prepared on time.

7 – Get online. Find out where your community is on the internet and get connected. Get a Facebook account and use for networking. Get accustomed to email. A lot of people use this as their primary communication. Be willing to return phone calls with a decent, consistent time response. Get listed. List yourself in online galleries as often as possible. Most will render nothing, but at least this will help get your name and face out there.
• AustinFilmCasting
• ShortFilmTexas
• Film Texas
• Reel Women
• Austin Film Society
• ChannelAustin
• Network Austin Mixer
• Greater Austin Creative Alliance

8. Get a reel. Save copies of all the projects you work on so you will have them to take clips from for future reels. A reel is a necessity for actors, speakers, filmmakers, DPs, gaffers. For others, like illustrators, photographers, designers and set designers, a portfolio can take the place of a reel and is integral to ones success. A reel should be a representation of what you are capable of and the work you have done in the past. Only use your better work and replace old or lesser impressive pieces as you have new clips to replace them. Include your name, website, phone number or email.

9. Get a website with your resume and reel. Actors need a website with their headshots, a small photo gallery. Offer a subscription to an e-newsletter with updates on news about your performances, projects and recent news. This is getting your face in front of people regularly. Put together a downloadable PDF of your professional resume. Use proper formatting and good grammar. Maintain your resume.

10. Always be working on your craft. Continue study. Continue practicing. Of course, we always want to get paid for our work, but we never want to be out of work. So, work for free for your friends and special contacts. You’ll be more likable and this will give them a taste of how you might be an asset to them.

If you missed the Austin Film Meet’s recent Sustainable Filmmaking panel event at the Bluetiful BLUE theatre, you’re in luck. Robert Murphy recorded it for us. Thanks Robert!

A Casual Panel Discussion Featuring:
Marjorie Eber – our own local Eco-Coordinator & Green Film Blogger – www.MiscellaneousRentals.com/GreenSet.htm
Lauren Selman – Founder of Reel Green Media in LA – www.reelgreenmedia.com
Eva Radke – Founder/President of Film Biz Recycling in NY – filmbizrecycling.org
Hosted by: H.Cherdon Bedford

Thank you to everyone who made this fabulous event possible. Please post your comments and appreciation below.

What do you think is worse? Smoking pot or murder? The recent romantic comedy It’s Complicated received an “R” rating from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) because it featured two characters smoking pot without consequence. Yet, a “PG-13″ rating is given to other films with heavy violence, like Terminator: Salvation. Read about it here and tell us your opinion below.

Here’s a list of the ratings and what they mean. And here’s who rates the movies.

And much thanks to Joe Handley, who has been editing his booty off, we now have ALL videos from the Austin Film Meet Actor Showcase that was held on January 11, 2010.

Thanks to everyone who made this fabulous event happen! Austin Film Meet’s next Actor Showcase will be May 17, 2010, at the BLUE Theatre. Registration will open soon!

Please post your comments and thank yous below.

Sheila Bagir & John Hafner

Rion Wolf

LeRoy Beck III

Marie DuPont

Michael Hankin

Brandi Blevins & Jesse Ferraro

Michelle Joung

Kelli Bland

Kiri Weatherby & Milli Osemele

Roxanna Collingwood & Louis Weyrich

Bryan Lane

Shauna Danos & Holli Breedlove

Laura Elizabeth Ray

Jon Clickenbeard & Jono Frank

Shea Weaver Grubbs

Dimitrius Pulido

Summer Hamende & Rae Petersen

Kacey Samiee

Jenny Keto & Ashley Spillers

David Sturgeon

Travis Harley Nichols

David Gibson

Tara Oslick

Justin Richard

Richard Romeo

My experience as an illustrator of children’s picture books has taught me more than you might think about cinematic storytelling. To effectively tell a story using pictures, one must consider placement and scale as well as flow from one page or shot to the next.

Each year the Caldecott Medal is awarded for outstanding illustration in a children’s book. In 2008, Brian Selznick won for his book The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It’s the first book of this format to win. It’s long, 544 pages, about half and half text and images. The drawings are big beautiful pencil sketches. The story is even better, about magical things, like movies, automatons and well, just read the book. Film history buffs will recognize Georges Méliès’ movie a Trip to the Moon. Take notice of how the story flows between text and illustration and how these technique somehow apply to film. It’s beautiful. Check it out. Watch a New York Times video about it.

wiki/Caldecott_Medal
wiki/The_Invention_of_Hugo_Cabret
Buy the book on Amazon
wiki/GeorgeMiliese
wiki/A_Trip_to_the_Moon
NY Times Interview

I also mentioned a couple other books that explore some great topics on book illustration, including Writing with Pictures by Uri Shulevitz. This book does a great job of tackling layout and image selection.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Writing-Pictures-Write-Illustrate-Childrens/dp/0823059359/ref=pd_sim_b_2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Writing-Pictures-Write-Illustrate-Childrens/dp/0823059359/ref=pd_sim_b_2

This book is actually geared toward filmmakers, but I feel like it’s worth mentioning, especially for storyboarding skills. It’s Film Directing Shot By Shot and it has some fascinating boards. This is good for learning how to depict subject and camera motion in still drawings.

Please consider storyboards for your project. You will save valuable time and energy and lot of embarrassment.

On Monday, January 18, 2010, the Austin Film Meet gathered at the Rude Mechanicals’ Off Center theatre in Austin, Texas, for an amazing presentation by Meisner instructor CC Courtney. More than 60 people attended and two scenes and one monologue were performed.

Of course, Austin Film Meet events are always better in person, but luckily Val Gameiro generously recorded the event for those who weren’t able to make it. Watch below and you will learn some great tips on how to work direct your actors to outstanding performances. Feel free to share this, but please link to the blog page (http://www.austinfilmmeet.com/blog/2010/01/26/cccourtney/), not just the videos, so everyone gets appropriate credit.

Thank you so much to those who made this possible:
Presentation by: CC Courtney
1st Scene Actors: Louis Weyrich & Roxy Collingwood
2nd Scene Actors: Holli Breedlove & Shauna Danos
Monologue (not recorded): Richard Romeo
Videography & Editing: Val Gameiro of Ideal Scene Productions
Location Recommended by: Robert Arjet
Location Provided by: Shawn Sides & the Rude Mechanicals
Door manned by: Damon Williams
Austin Film Meet Organizer: me, H.Cherdon Bedford

Intro:

Scene 1:

Scene 2:

For all you iPhone folks who need to calculate your film or data storage requirements, check this out:

http://www.mobilizedtv.com/

Hey Filmmakers,

It’s time to cast your vote for the best Austin Film Meet locations. This group belongs to all of us and we would like to know your thoughts about our meeting locations. Every opinion counts! Please vote only once but you can vote for two options. So cast your vote and feel free to leave your comments below. Thank you!

=)