A Lesson In Pitching

In 1969, President Nixon wanted to cut funding for Public Broadcasting by half - to $10 million from $20 million. At a Congressional hearing, children's TV host Fred Rogers melted the cold heart of a hard-assed Senator. This is a great example of a perfectly aimed pitch. Watch, listen and learn. (6:50 from iFilm).

Fest Update - MALIKAI & LOVE IS DEAF To Play Long Island International Film Expo

Two UCF FILM shorts have been selected to screen at the upcoming Long Island International Film Expo - MR MALIKAI BATTLES THE AEROPLANE, directed by Drew Blatman ('05) and LOVE IS DEAF, directed by Andrew K. Gay ('06). The event is schedule to take place July 14 - 20. This marks a return to Long Island for Andrew, whose film NAKED played this festival last year.

Fest Update - Two UCF Filmmakers Win Awards At FMF Indie Film Jam

We're pleased to report that two UCF FILM students won awards at the recent INDIE FILM JAM, that was part of the Florida Music Festival. Drew Blatman ('06) took home BEST IN FEST AWARD for his Capstone short MR. MALIKAI BATTLES THE AEROPLANE and Ben Piety ('06) won the AUDIENCE AWARD for his music video Stickin' Around, featuring the Heathen's.

Fest Update - Professor Gokhale's DHYASS Wins Award At Trenton Film Fest

Hey folks. We're pleased and proud to inform you that Professor Sukhada Gokhale's short film DHYASS (Longing) won the Best Foreign Short category at the Trenton Film Festival, 2006. Cool.

Enzian Theater /FL Film Fest Seeks Summer Interns

Looking for something cool to do this summer? Why not work for EnzianTheater and learn from the inside how an art house cinema and the Florida Film Festival works. Here's what they're looking for:

• Programming Intern - Cleaning and resetting of the Withoutabox.com database for FFF entries, clearing out old files (may lead to programming assistant position for Festival)

• KidFest Summer Camp interns to assist the instructor (one week in July, help prep week before, may be some cash involved)

• Marketing interns

If you're interested, contact Shannon Lacek, Directing of Marketing and Development - slacek@enzian.org

Fest Update - Three UCF Shorts to Play Gloria Film Fest In Utah

Three shorts from UCF FILM students have been accepted to play the GLORIA FILM FESTIVAL held in Salt Lake City Utah this August. Those films are LOVE IS DEAF, directed by Andrew Gay ('06), and two from Danny Daneau ('05), GOOD NIGHT CHARLIE and NOVEMBER GUEST.

Fest Update - FOUR UCF SHORTS WIN AWARDS @ WORLDFEST HOUSTON

WorldFest Houston has once again smiled down on the filmmakers of UCF, presenting them with four REMI awards for their efforts - one more than UCF received last year.

MR MALIKAI BATTLES THE AEROPLANE, directed by Drew Blatman ('05) took home a Gold REMI for Comedy and also screened at WorldFest.

LOSING TOBY, (Drew Lindo, '06) won a Bronze REMI for Comedy while TEARS IN THE RAIN (David Estrada, '05) and ALL THAT REMAINS (Aaron Brownlee '06) also won Bronze REMIs in the category of College Level Student Production.

If you're wondering how award-winners didn't screen at Worldfest, it has to do with that festival's particular system. At Worldfest Houston, they view the films and give awards based on selection committee response. Then, they compile the festival from the award winners. This way, if they get a ton of great dramas, they can acknowledge them, even if they won't program than all.

Fest Update: KATIE & KASEY To Screen @ NewFest 2006 & Frameline30

KATIE & KASEY, the Capstone short of Kyla Tomlin ('05), has been accepted into NewFest 2006: The 18th New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival, which takes place this coming June 1-11.

In addition, KATIE & KASEY has been accepted at Frameline30: The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, which happening June 15 - 25. Rock on Kyla.

SUMMER HOURS IN EFFECT @ UCF FILM PRODUCTION

Following another year of wonderful students screenings (and a very nice screening poster, I might add), the Production Areas of UCF FILM are going into summer hiatus mode. For those of you not familiar with our hiatus, UCF FILM's Summer Hours are as follows:

Now through May 30
Monday - Friday 9 - 5
Closed Weekends and Evenings

June 1 - Start of School (Fall 2006)
Closed

Other divisions of the school close completly for the summer, but we hope this month of extra access allows you to finish your projects. As usual, we'll be upgrading and refurbishing all sorts of stuff between now and the start of school. The computers are a prime target, so if you're doing any work on the editing systems or the writing lab computers, be sure to save your material to your own hard drives. If you leave anything on the installed drives, there's a good chance it will be erased.