All Blog Posts (294)

Netflix is Betting The Future of Film Distribution is The Internet

An article in the 2-19 internet issue of IT Solutions tells of a deal struck between Warner Bros. and Netflix, where Netflix will refrain from renting new Warner releases for a month, in exchange for Digital Download rights in the future... What does that tell ya? Netflix sees the future of distribution to be in the Internet Digital Download. And so far Netflix has been right on most of the time.

So much so, we may be seeing the slow dissolution of Blockbuster with their incompetent… Continue

Added by Frank Casanova on February 19, 2010 at 10:22am — 1 Comment

News from the Berlin Film Market:

- Internet & Cable VOD as revenue streams are NOT as advanced as

they are in the U.S

- Of all the European countries, Germany still has the strongest market

with acquisition prices not dipping much in the last few years (unlike

other European countries where acquisition prices have been in

decline...)

- The most 'commercial' genres internationally are still Action,

Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi

& Family... So don't try to make a Romantic Comedy.… Continue

Added by Frank Casanova on February 17, 2010 at 2:14pm — No Comments

Thanks and HELP!!! on Sundance Grant Application

Hello fellow filmmakers, writers et al!

It was great meeting you all Friday night and I am very excited about the upcoming premiere of THIRD WORLD AMERICA at the Sacramento Film Festival on April 17th, 2010 at the Crest Theater.

On an immediate and urgent note, I am surging to make a postmark deadline of tomorrow, FEB 9. 2010 and was wondering if anyone had previously applied for and/or received a SUNDANCE Grant???

Any and all grant writing help or input… Continue

Added by Costa Mantis on February 8, 2010 at 10:10pm — No Comments

The Purpetual Padawan

So as we discuss what will really help local film making everybody has a take. Some will tell you that the most important thing is getting better state film incentives or getting a meeting with the state film commissioner, a Hollywood executive, the mayor or some other messianic figure who'll deliver us from our film netherworldlyness into a a film-Utopia created, constructed and delivered conveniently to our own porch, like some kind of amazing and delectable piping hot pizza from my…

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Added by Martin Anaya on February 8, 2010 at 2:00am — 1 Comment

CFAA Meeting with The Calif. Film Commissioner

Been getting personal invitations to this meeting as if it's THE most IMPORTANT event concerning Indy filmmaking in Sacramento. What??? I cannot understand exactly what effect the California Film Commissioner (Amy Lemisch ) would have on Independent filmmaking in Sacramento. Is she going to get me money? No. So can somebody explain that to me? Am I missing something? This seems like a great waste of time, like the last meeting at CFAA with the So Cal Assemblyman who basically… Continue

Added by Frank Casanova on February 6, 2010 at 6:25pm — No Comments

Sundance Distribution Offers

Some numbers are in for distribution offers at Sundance (as reported by Stacy Parks from Film Specific):

"In terms of ALL RIGHTS North American deals we're seeing ranges from the low to mid six figures up to the top price of $5 million (of course the $5 million acquisition has several A-list stars and director) with most acquisition prices hovering in the high six figure/low seven figure range.

The biggest question people want to know is this - will… Continue

Added by Frank Casanova on February 5, 2010 at 11:59am — 2 Comments

Is the Indy Filmmaker a Businessperson or an Artist...or both?

Now reading "Thinking Outside the Box Office" by Jon Reiss. Probably one of the best of the current thinking for Indy filmmakers. One huge point...Today's Indy Filmmaker must be 50% Businessperson / Marketing Exec to even have a chance. Gone are the days when you can say "I'm a filmmaker...I leave the business side to others".

Unfortunately, that's mostly what I see in Sacramento.... People who enjoy the art of filmmaking, but then in the next breath say they want a distribution… Continue

Added by Frank Casanova on February 2, 2010 at 1:07pm — 8 Comments

Local short film production, Before 12, by Sandy Stoltz is looking for a camera package, and crew people

Before 12 is gearing up to be shot soon and we are looking for all the pieces we still need. We are shooting a trailer for the film and already have a camera for that, but we are still looking for the actual camera package we will use for the film. It will need to be HD, and we'd like to create a 1080P image at 24p if we can.

Currently we have Mark Herzig as the DP, and an EX-1 camera to shoot the trailer with. It would be great to have the same kind of camera for the film as we use… Continue

Added by Mike H. Wilson on February 1, 2010 at 8:13pm — 1 Comment

Northern California Screenwriters Film and Actors Expo

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS FOR ALL ACTORS, AGENTS,

You dont want to miss out on this spectacular event happening this March!

Special Guest speakers

Gary Marshall and very special Guest Clint Eastwood!!

AGENCIES, CASTING DIRECTORS, AND ANYONE TRYING TO GET INTO THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY!

Check out the NCS - Actors/Film/Television Expo being held March 26, 27, 28 in Napa, CA. Oscar-winning screenwriters, A-list directors, producers, and actors all will be attending.… Continue

Added by Randall Licht on January 28, 2010 at 2:25pm — No Comments

Think You Got What it Takes??

go to www.sacramentofilmfestival.com today and Sign…

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Added by Martin Anaya on January 27, 2010 at 3:30am — No Comments

3 Big Contests For Sac Film Fest: Keep Reading 2010!

Hey Everybody! Excitement abounds as we make 3 huge announcements for The Sacramento Film Festival 2010.

First is the dates for the 2010 48 Hour Film Festival! So if you think you are good, here is the ultimate test: Make a compelling film in 48 Hours!! Can ya do it?? well each weekend in March we are gonna find out! Go to the calender on this site and check it out!

Second, we are announcing… Continue

Added by Martin Anaya on January 22, 2010 at 3:30pm — 4 Comments

The Importance of Being Ernesto

Marty my buddy, my pal, called me a few weeks back and asked me to write a blog post. I've been threatening the world for quite awhile about starting one of these things and well...as I am the king of procrastination it has simply never materialized. So when Marty called and said,."Hey you should do this." I gave him a dose of the blah blah blahs. To which he responded by calling me on the shit the way only good friends can.

Hence we who are about to ponder and drivel salute you! (And… Continue

Added by David W. Valentin on January 21, 2010 at 6:17pm — 6 Comments

ACTRESS NEEDED FOR FILM SHOOT!

We are in pre production for a short film to be shot the weekend of Jan. 30. We are looking for a dedicated actress (twenties to early thirties) to play the part of Anna, a woman who confronts the man who killed her sister. It is a twenty minute short, heavy on dialogue, and character driven. This is the only part of the production we still need to fill. Please email me (preferably with a headshot/picture and resume) if interested ASAP. I need to fill this role as soon as possible. My email is… Continue

Added by Julie Ivanovich on January 18, 2010 at 3:11pm — 1 Comment

And now...time for some gore.

In one of my past lives I was a makeup FX artist. This comes in handy working on my own productions and occasionally working with friends on theirs.

This weekend I'll be lending a bloody hand to Trash Film Orgy's shoot of Planet of the Vampire Women. I don't really have a clear idea what gore fx I'll be doing, but I have quite a few appliances that could be put to good use.

On a somewhat related note: I've recently switched from smoking cigarettes while I film to smoking… Continue

Added by Jace Witman on January 12, 2010 at 2:37pm — 1 Comment

Hello, what's up, and Bill Boyle's Personalized Workshops :)

Thanks for sharing the Christmas party photos - it looks as if you guys had a blast! Your new site looks very professional and user friendly - I'm going to have to delve deeper.

An answer to a previous question - I've just finished rewriting one of my screenplays and have started the submission process. It's quite interesting actually. I have several more to be rewritten and lots of new ideas. My favorites are fiction twisted with history - I think the past is so full of incredible… Continue

Added by Julie Sorci on January 12, 2010 at 2:26pm — 2 Comments

Paul Martin of the Director's Guild: This Friday Night!!

PAUL MARTIN

Chair Emeritus

Director's Guild of America

Northern California

Topic: Paul has been a 1st unit AD on many films throughout a long career. In addition, he has served on the board and is the chair emeritus of the Director's Guild of America, Northern California. Paul uses a unique teaching method to really inform and enlighten about the art of film. ALSO: We'll have info the upcoming Screenplay Challenge and the Sacramento Film Fest! Please join… Continue

Added by Martin Anaya on January 7, 2010 at 11:30am — 3 Comments

Looking for good quality old serials for a low budget show

I am looking to find good copies of old public domain serials for a television/internet show still in early pre-production. This is a pocket change budget show at the moment. I am currently working with and cleaning up footage from Archive.org and other sources but need better quality material. If anyone has a line or suggestion on where to track down good quality versions please contact me ASAP. Casting and crewing will come later.

Added by Ron Petersen on January 2, 2010 at 3:55am — No Comments

A call for actors

Whenever I involve myself with creative people, I come across something very interesting. Valerie Fioravanti, a talented writer of poetry and short stories has created an event called, Stories on Stage. This will be consecutive monthly readings of stories by Sacramento area short story writers and read by local actors who are able to interpret the literature well and give it their personal flavor. So, over the next few weeks, there will be a talent hunt and we'll have to move fast. First event… Continue

Added by Kirk Parker on December 29, 2009 at 12:04pm — No Comments

Movie Industry in Decline?

by Martin Anaya

Let me put your mind at ease. The short answer is "NO". In spite of the forcast demise of the Motion picture industry at the hands of illegal piracy as fortold by the MPAA, the truth is that In 2009, Hollywood made more movies and more revenue than ever before. In fact, for the first time ever, the domestic box office grosses will pass $10 billion according to many sources. And we haven't even kicked in all that crazy 'Avatar' money yet!

All this during the… Continue

Added by Martin Anaya on December 22, 2009 at 4:24am — 1 Comment