Fest Updates - Tulsa & Memphis To Enjoy UCF Films

After waiting expectedly for quite some time, we got the good news that four shorts from UCF FILM have been selected for screening at the Tulsa Uncensored Film Festival , happening September 30th in the OK state. Screening are: LOVE IS DEAF, directed by Andrew Gay ('06), MR MALIKAI BATTLES THE AEROPLANE, directed by Drew Blatman ('06), LOSING TOBY, directed by Drew Lindo ('06) and ON BEING YOUR AVERAGE JOE, direted by Ryan Pomeranz ('06).

We could make this an '06 reunion tour, huh?

Also on the festival front, LOVE IS DEAF was accepted for screening at the IndieMemphis Film Festival, the Soul of Southern Film, happening October 13 - 19 in Downtown Memphis. I would imagine the food and parties will be great at this one.

Fest Updates

Another week, another bunch of festival acceptances for UCF films. Yahoo!

First up, Maria Gabriella Pennington ('07) says her Directing 3 project, Social Experiments with Simon Snow has been accepted for screening at the Griffon International Film Festival.

The ever-busy Kyla Tomlin ('06) says her Capstone short, Katie & Kasey will screen at the Out In Akron Queer Shorts Film Festival. By our count, that makes number 11 for Kyla as well as a sale to LOGO, a new cable channel. A busy girl, no?

And from Ben Piety ('06), who recently bemoaned his film's lack of festival acceptances, came word that his Capstone short, Lonely Lights. The Color of Lemons, has been selected for programming in Reeling 2006: The 25th Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival, the second oldest LGBT film festival in the world! That's the third festival for Ben.

BTW - for those who might poo-poo all these festival acceptances because they aren't Sundance, please read the words of Andrew Gay, who's fine Directing 3 short LOVE IS DEAF, was featured on the 2005 FIVE STORIES dvd.

Sez Andrew:
I remember when "Love is Deaf" got into a Louisiana festival called Moviesauce, I heard a lot of jokes about Moviesauce being the Sundance of the Bayou. Fast forward a few months, and I wake up today to find an email from a man in Chicago asking me if there's any way he can purchase any of my films. As it happens, this man graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans and is now one of the managers of the Hotel Burnham, an historic luxury hotel in downtown Chicago. He recently ran into an old friend from New Orleans who told him about my film.

I offered to send him a copy of Five Stories for free. He was so appreciative, he's sending me a gift certificate for a free weekend stay at the Hotel Burnham. I'm thinking about surprising Angelyn (my wife) with a trip to Chicago next year (neither of us have ever been, and we never got a proper honeymoon either).

I guess a free weekend stay in a luxury hotel isn't much to someone with their sights set on Sundance, but I'm thrilled. I think it's just one more example of why Five Stories works, why it's better to have your film seen at small festivals than none at all, and why UCF deserves a lot of credit for promoting their student films in a way that few other schools do. My film's played 20 festivals, won 5 awards including a trip to Los Angeles to pitch to Mandalay Pictures, and has now garnered a free hotel stay in Chicago. All because of Five Stories. Thanks again, Steve, Rich, and everyone else at UCF Film.

DANNY D NEEDS YOUR VOTE!

PLEASE HELP ASAP* 12 HOURS TO CAST YOUR VOTE
http://www.floridafilmmakers.com/Afternoon_KS/contest.htm

Using any internet browser except for Safari (I don't know why) you can vote for my film GOODNIGHT CHARLIE at the Florida Filmmaker's $50,000 short film contest. Please vote, it takes 3 min to do, and pass it to as many people as you can tonight! A panel of judges will independently rate the films and will rely on the votes from this website to settle in the case of tie breaker. This being my year, I shoot my thesis feature length film, this prize grant would help me in so many ways. THANKS EVERYONE!!!!

Danny Daneau

Fest Update - LONELY LIGHTS, THE COLOR OF LEMONS To Screen In Norway

LONELY LIGHTS, THE COLOR OF LEMONS, Capstone short of Ben Piety ('06), will be making its European debut at the WT OS International Film Festival in Norway. According to Ben, UCF FILM Senior Engineer Art Cordoba added a bit of Mojo to this entry -- What was crazy - was I had Art personally bless 4 entries (including one in Spain, this one in Norway - and what have you) and Art - strangely said - "you'll get into this one." That guy was RIGHT! What a strange way this works... 12 rejections in a row and now 2 wonderful acceptances! That's crazy talk! I love life.

Professor Gokhale's Film Needs Your Vote in Online Festival

Dhyaas, a short film by adjunct professor Sukhada Gokhale has been selected in an online film festival and she WANTS YOUR VOTE. If Dhyaas gets ENOUGH VOTES it can be among the three films to compete in the final round and might have a chance to win $10.000.

The way to vote is as follows:

• Go to http://www.haydenfilms.com/
• Log in (on the left bottom) and become a member by entering your data,
• Then Go to Film Festival, View Films, and get a ticket (the receipt for which will be sent to the mail id that you have provided) for my film.
• Click on the link from your mail id and it will take you the film list page.
• Select Dhyaas and enjoy watching it
• VERY IMPORTANT: You have to vote for 9 more films for your vote to be counted for Dhyaas.

Free Tickets Available To KEVIN SMITH Q&A, Screening & Filmmaker Panel

As the result of a special arrangement betwen UCF FILM and Floridafilmmakers.com, we're pleased to offer FREE TICKETS to students and faculty of the UCF SCHOOL OF FILM & DIGITAL MEDIA for a special question and answer session with filmmaker Kevin Silent Bob Smith (Chasing Amy, Clerks 1 & 2), a screening of Smith's legendary indie debut CLERKS and a panel discussion entitled A Discussion on the State of Independent Filmmaking in Florida, featuring Florida’s top industry professionals.

The all-day event will happen on Saturday, September 23rd at the Orange County Convention Center (West Building 9800 International Drive, Orlando). Invited panelists include:

• Paul Sirmons – State of Florida’s Film Commissioner
• Dr Paul N. Lazarus, III – Veteran motion picture figure and director of the University of Miami film school
• Gregg Hale – Producer. Credits include The Blair Witch Project, one of the most profitable films ever made
• Wayne Morris – Producer. Credits include Miami Vice (2006), Two for the Money (2005), Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
• Ralph Clemente – Producer. Program Director of Valencia Community College Film School

The panel discussion will run between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm, followed by the CLERKS screening and the Kevin Smith event starting at 2:00pm.

To receive your free tickets to this event, send an email to info@floridafilmmakers.com. Tell them that you are a student or faculty member of the UCF SCHOOL OF FILM & DIGITAL MEDIA. They will send a ticket confirmation notice to you via email. Tickets are limit to one per email address and available only as long as supplies last.

If you already purchased a ticket for this event, you can use this offer to either get an additional ticket at no charge for a friend or a one year membership to Florida's Future Filmmakers (normally $50). The membership includes discounted tickets to all events, special events only for members, and much more.

Fest Update - LONELY LIGHTS, THE COLOR OF LEMONS To Screen At AFI FEST

Ben Piety ('06) emailed from LA to tell us his Capstone short, LONELY LIGHTS, THE COLOR OF LEMONS, has been accepted for screening at the AFI FEST 2006 (November 1-12).

AFI says: Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, AFI FEST is the longest-running film festival in Los Angeles and the only film festival in the United States accredited by FIAPF. AFI FEST provides a significant US platform for international cinema as the awards season kick-off event. Some of the recent films premiered at AFI FEST include WALK THE LINE, TRANSAMERICA, TSOTSI, SOPHIE SCHOLL, THE SEA INSIDE, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, HOTEL RWANDA, and BAD EDUCATION. The festival is headquarted at the state-of-the-art Arclight Hollywood complex and historic Cinerama Dome. For more information on the festival please go to: www.afifest.com.

Fest Update - Katie & Kasey Hits LA

The Double K Machine rolls onward! Katie & Kasey, Capstone short of Kyla Tomlin ('05) has been accepted for screening at the LA Femme Film Festival.

4th Annual National Film Challenge

Hello Filmmakers!

The time is here again for the 4th Annual National Film Challenge! The National Film Challenge is the nation's top filmmaking competition brought to you by KDHX Community Media and the creators of the 48 Hour Film Project (www.48hourfilm.com).

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL FILM CHALLENGE?
It's your chance to stop talking and start filming! The premise? Filmmaking teams have just one weekend to make a short film. All creativity - writing, shooting, editing and adding a musical soundtrack - must occur beginning Friday evening at 7 p.m. on October 20, 2006 and ending Monday October 23, 2006.

On Friday, to make things interesting, each team is emailed a genre for its film, and a character, prop and line of dialogue that must appear in each team's movie. Then the film must be sent to National Film Challenge Headquarters with a postmark no later than Monday, October 23. In the following weeks the top films (determined by a panel of judges) will be available for viewing (and voting!) on our website (www.filmchallenge.org).

There will be two big winners this year - The Judges Winner and The Audience Award Winner (determined by the online voting.) Both films will screen with the 48 Hour Film Project City Winners at this year's 48 Hour Film Project end of year event (TBD.) In addition there will be cash prizes for the winning films!

HOW DO I SIGN UP MY TEAM?
Starting SEPTEMBER 1, 2006 you will be able to register your team at www.filmchallenge.org. This is going to be the largest Film Challenge ever - 250 teams will be selected to compete this year! Registration is on a first come first served basis. The Early Bird Entry Fee is $110 if you register on or before September 20, 2006 and $125 if you register between September 21, 2006 and October 29, 2006. Teams can be anywhere from 1 person to 30 or more people. Read all of the rules of the contest here: www.filmchallenge.org/rules.htm

The first 50 teams to register will receive a free Best of the 2005 National Film Challenge DVD!

Do you have any questions about the National Film Challenge? Please check our FAQ and then use our Bulletin Board to post questions you need answered: www.filmchallenge.org/faq.htm

The National Film Challenge is produced by KDHX, Community Media for Saint Louis, MO. www.kdhxtv.org and www.kdhx.org

Thanks,
Doug Whyte
NFC Producer

Fest Update - LOVE IS DEAF Wins @ Gloria

LOVE IS DEAF, directed by Andrew Gay ('06), has received the award for BEST STUDENT FILM at the recent Gloria Film Festival, held in Salt Lake City, Utah. For winning the prize, Andrew will be receiving a copy of Sony Vegas DVD software and a sure-to-be lovely certificate. Nice work!

HELP WANTED - SeaWorld Seeks Videographer/ Producer

SeaWorld's Marketing Department is seeking a full-time Videographer/ Producer. Responsibilities include editing major video projects for all A-B Florida parks, role of Producer on minor in- house projects, role of Director on field productions, function as Audio Engineer, and Camera Operator on EFP of Live Broadcasts.

Qualified candidates must have 3-5 years experience in video nonlinear editing, Final Cut Pro, or equivalent; knowledge of MAC systems OS9 & OS10; strong creative ability to produce high-end promotional, corporate, education, and sales videos. Knowledge of all phases of Live and ENG production is helpful.

If interested, please apply Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30am-5:00pm, Wednesday 8:00am-6:00pm at SeaWorld Staffing Center, 7007 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando or call (407) 370 -1JOB with questions. Equal Opportunity Employer .

Films In Search Of A Soundmix Needed NOW!

As I've mentioned to some students, the audio school we work with needs some new films to mix. You have to provide me with a quicktime and OMF output on one DVD, plus your anme and number, etc. Drop it off for me ASAP please. If I get more than I need, the audio school will pick what they want to work on and the order.

Fest Updates - A Big Honkin' Four-Pack of Success

Lots of good featival news coming this way, so let's go right to the play by play.

Fist, Mr Malikai Battles the Aeroplane, directed by Drew Blatman ('05), took home the award for BEST STUDENT FILM at the recent Atlanta Film Festival. Once again, nobody from the festival informed Drew of this, he simply found it by doing a random Google search.

Katie & Kasey, directed by Kyla Tomlin ('05), has been accepted for screening at Reel Pride Michigan and the Pittsburgh Lesbian & Gay Film Society. In addition, Kyla has made a broadcast deal for the film. She tells us:

"I have given the rights of Katie & Kasey to the LOGO channel to be shown for 2 years. It is not available on Bright House but, is available on Direct TV and Dish Network. LOGO is a gay and lesbian channel owned by MTV networks. People can go online and view my film as well. LOGOonline.com. My film should air in the beginning of October. Everyone needs to log on and vote for my film to win. The show is called The Click List: Best in Short Film. This is their second season of this show. If you can get the word out to the other students and faculty, it will be appreciated. I am almost done with the paperwork and will be paid for letting LOGO show my film. I am able to still show in festivals, but not other network channels. I am hoping to start work on another project soon. Thanks for all your help."

Nice work, huh? Kyla has been a model of persistence in screening her film regularly since graduating and making things happen. Rock on. Everybody make sure to log onto to LOGO and vote for Kyla's film.

Tiina Treasure ('06) tells us her recent Capstone short Naked As A Jaybird, has been accepted to the St. Johns International Women's Film Festival. This marks the world premiere of what we expects will be many festivals for Tiina's animated post-apocalypso meditation.

Also on the debute front, Drew Lindo ('06) informs us that his Capstone short, In The Details, will be making its world premiere at the BendFilm Film Festival. Loyal readers will recall Drew's Directing 3 short, Losing Toby, played Bend last year. Drew attended and had a great time. As I've said countless times, filmmakers should really to develop festival contacts - if you get accepted one place, make sure you bring them your next film.

Growing Older On Camera

This guy shot a still picture of himself every day for six years and then strung them together. Andy Warhol lives.

The Future of Film Education?

"We know that the dominance of 35-millimeter film is over," said Peter Lehman, the director of the film and media studies program, and one of two professors who teaches the course. "We're in a period of massive change and uncertainty. We need a new kind of person in this industry who understands that entertainment and technology are converging, and who is fluent in the concepts and the language of both."

...from an excellent article in the NY Times you should all read (free registration required to access the NY Times online)

Fest Update - MR MALIKAI To Screen At Toofy Film Fest

Ever hear of The Onion? It's a very funny web zine, which makes it a good sign that they've signed on as a major sponsor of the Toofy Film Festival in Boulder, CO. We're proud to announced that MR MALIKAI BATTLES THE AEROPLANE, directed by Drew Blatman ('05), was accepted at Toofy and will be screening there in the impressive time slot of Saturday, 7pm in the SHORTS 1 PROGRAM at the Boulder Theater.

If you're in the area, stop by and laugh along.

Fest Update -TEARS IN THE RAIN To Screen In Boulder & Port Townsend

This morning I decided to check on a few festivals I hadn't heard back from and guess what I discovered? TEARS IN THE RAIN, the Capstone short of David Estrada ('06) has been accepted for screening at the Boulder Asian Film Festival (Colorado) and the Port Townsend Film Festival (Washignton).

It's amazing to me how many times our films get accepted into a festival and I'm the last to know. Go figure.

Ninjas VS Pirates Casting Call

From the offices of Interlude Films...

It's the casting you have all been waiting for!!! The controversial debate between Ninjas and Pirates is finally coming to the indie film scene in a new short film produced by iNterLude Films.

We will be holding our one and ONLY casting call on September 9th, 2006 in Orlando, Florida.

Casting Times: Noon - 6:00pm

Location:
Rogers Building (formerly known as the DMAC)
39 S. Magnolia Ave.
Orlando, FL 32801

Tentative Shoot Dates: October 27th-29th, 2006

Roles Available:

- Ninja Grand Master - Japanese Male (Age 30-65)
*Must be fluent in Japanese

- Ninja Troops. (All Genders - Age 18-45)
*Should have some basic combat/stunt experience

- Pirate Captain. (Male Age 35-45)
*Must be 6ft or Taller

- 1st Mate. (Male Age 25-40)
*Must be Under 5ft Tall

- Pirate Troops. (All Genders - Age 18-45)
*Should have some basic combat/stunt experience

We are requesting that all actors who have their own costumes and props should wear them to the casting call, or at least bring them with. If you do not have your own items, come as you are.

This film is a NO PAY production, but copies of the film will be provided upon completion, as well as a grand feast at the shoot, and the appropriate film credits. Although you won't get to line your pockets with our budget $$, we promise this project will be one heck of a good time for all those involved.and if not, we will feed you to the sharks.

For more info please contact us at: interludefilms@aol.com

Send a headshot and resume to:

iNterLude Films
ATTN: John Theisen
7905 Guardsmen St.
Orlando, FL 32822

2nd Place? A Set Of Steak Knives.

As readers of this blog already know, MR MALIKAI BATTLES THE AEROPLANE, directed by Drew Blatman ('05) took Grand Prize at the 8th Annual Seoul International Youth Film Festival (SIYFF).

To your left is the lovely trophy that arrived here for Drew, along with a program and an award certificate written completely in Korean except for the words "Drew Blatman."

This is probably one of the nicest Festival trophies I've ever seen, particularly for a shorts filmmaker from across the ocean.

The SIYFF is doing a really lovely job and we're happy to be part of the their show.